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WEDNESDAY APRIL 14, 2021

136th YEAR ISSUE 22

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

Starkville will collect $5.78 million from American Rescue Act

KARIE PINNIX STAFF WRITER

Starkville, Mississippi, is expected to receive around $5.78 million from the American Rescue Act, according to funding estimates from the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. The American Rescue Act, a $1.9 trillion relief bill passed by Congress in March of 2021, is set to aid Americans with the negative economic effects of COVID-19.

The House Committee on Oversight and Reform reports that Mississippi will collect approximately $2.9 billion for its legislature, metropolitan cities, smaller towns and cities, counties and capital projects from the $350 billion total allocated to the 50 U.S. states, localities, tribal governments and territories.

The act passed by

Congress is different from other bills passed in previous periods of emergencies. The American Rescue Act has an amount of funds to be distributed directly to counties and metropolitan areas, rather than have each state’s government determine how much money a county or city gets.

Julius Nukpezah, an associate political science professor at Mississippi State University, explained how this provision will allow economic incentives for city governments to spend and therefore benefit from the funds.

“This is being made available directly to local government … and that removes, you know, the strings, the constraint that you might have that will reduce the level of spending that you want,” ACT, 2 Nukpezah said.

Power of the Almond brings keto, gluten-free options to Starkville HEATHER HARRISON NEWS EDITOR

Richard Lake | The Reflector

A sign posted outside the Humphrey Coliseum at Mississippi State University points students and faculty toward the COVID-19 vaccination site.

COVID-19 infection rates decline in Mississippi due to vaccines, masks JOSHUA STEWART STAFF WRITER

COVID-19 cases are on a steady decline in the state of Mississippi. After peaking on Jan. 9, 2021, the number of new cases in the state dropped to a low of 238 on April 10. According to the Mississippi State Department of Health statistics on coronavirus cases, only two of those cases came from Oktibbeha County.

Oktibbeha County has fared as well or better than counties with similar population sizes, according to the MSDH data. Hancock, Warren and Lafayette counties are the closest in population to Oktibbeha County, and the three counties have a close number of historical cases. Through April 10, Oktibbeha County had 4,552 cases, while Hancock County had 3,720 cases, Warren County had 4,280 cases and Lafayette County

had 6,027 cases.

Oktibbeha County’s African American community fared about the same as some of the counties close in population size. 36.6% of Oktibbeha County’s residents are African American, and they made up 36.7% of cases in the county. The same follows in Warren County, where African Americans make up 47% of the population, and 49% of COVID cases.

COVID, 2

A new health food restaurant and bakery with a focus on keto-friendly, gluten-free and diabeticsafe meals and desserts opened April 1 in Starkville.

Power of the Almond, located on Technology Boulevard, is owned by Kirk Hutchinson, an MSU graduate and the head pastry chef. He said he created Power of the Almond because he noticed a need for it in Starkville. As a person with diabetes, Hutchinson said he wanted to have a business that catered toward people like him and others who have dietary needs.

“So, I’m diabetic myself, and it’s hard finding diabetic-friendly products that are actually tasty,” Hutchinson said.

The restaurant incorporates a variety of cuisines and keto, gluten-free and diabetic options. With a frequently

rotating menu, Power of the Almond offers a new perspective on many dishes. The menu includes soups, dip and chips, casseroles and flatbreads with different options for every palette.

The bakery features desserts with keto-,

“We have a

lot of changes to typical dishes. We just put our own spin on it.”

Kirk Hutchinson Owner Power of the Almond

gluten- and celiac-friendly ingredients, like almond flour, coconut flour and monk fruit sweetener.

Guilt-free sweet treats include multiple types of fruit loaves, pancake poundcake loaves, chocolate zucchini bread,

cookies, muffins, cake and ‘magic bars.’

“We have a lot of changes to typical dishes,” Hutchinson said. “We just put our own spin on it.”

Hutchinson named Power of the Almond for its use of almond flour in most dishes. He said it was because of the flour substitute he is able to cater to multiple dietary restrictions while still making delicious food.

Hutchinson originally made the baked goods out of his house in Tupelo, Mississippi, and sold them online. Over nine months, he received enough support to open up a physical storefront in Starkville.

The owner expanded from selling baked goods only to opening a restaurant and bakery combination.

“It really just started out as a hobby when I first started … I honestly didn’t even know how to bake or cook, which is crazy because I actually am a really good baker now.”

ALMOND, 2

Women’s march highlights local activism in Starkville SARAH MORGAN JOHNSON

LIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Since the late 19th century, women have been fighting for equal treatment and equal rights.

Many people still feel that a woman’s place is to be quiet, but every day, women choose to stand up and change that narrative.

Abby Guy, a junior political science and Spanish major, stood up and changed that narrative in Starkville, Mississippi, by planning the “Fight From the South Women’s March.” The march was held on Saturday

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with goals to highlight and bring attention to the many issues women still face in the world today.

The march started at Fire Station Park, and Guy introduced herself and the guest speakers.

Guest speakers included Kimberly Kelly, the gender studies program director at MSU; Santee Ezell, the assistant director of Health Promotion & Wellness at MSU and founder of Black Girls Rock of MS, Inc.; Morgan Gray, the president of I.D.E.A.L. Woman and Akshita Singh, the vice president of Students for a

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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Sustainable Campus.

As an African American woman, Gray said she wanted to bring Black women to the forefront of the march and read a personal letter to her oppressors.

“I really wanted to represent African American women. I think that is my biggest thing to speak at this march. When we talk about feminism and women’s liberation, and we have those conversations, African American women are left out, and I wanted to take this opportunity to be in those spaces,” Gray said.

MARCH, 2

Landon Scheel | The Reflector

MSU students and Starkville residents march through downtown Starkville as part of the “Fight from the South” women’s march Saturday.

FORECAST: The temperatures this week will be more consistent, with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s. Wednesday will be stormy, but the rest of the week has a low chance of precipitation. During the weekend, sunny skies are predicted and temperatures will increase Sunday morning.

Courtesy of National Weather Service

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Policy: Any person may pick up a single copy of The Contact Info 4 Reflector for free. Additional Life&Entertainment 5 copies may be obtained Sports 6 from the Henry Meyer Student Media Center for 25 cents per copy.

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THE REFLECTOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14

MARCH

Slack explained that she was interested in learning more about women’s issues from the speakers at the event.

“I came out because I wanted to hear the speakers and just learn more about different women’s issues because we’ve been talking a lot recently during women’s history month about sexual assault, and there are just so many women that have experienced it, and we really need to be paying attention to it,” Slack said.

Even though the march

COVID

The same follows in Warren County, where African Americans make up 47% of the population, and 49% of COVID cases.

Vaccination numbers by county are unavailable at this point.

The decline is due in part to the vast acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccination in the state.

Available vaccination data from MSDH says that over 25% of Mississippians have received the first dose, while 19% are fully vaccinated.

Liz Sharlot, communications director at the Mississippi State Department of Health, credits this success to the

@REFLECTORONLINE CONTINUED FROM 1

didn’t highlight one specific women’s issue, it still allowed people to use their voices and come together to stand for what they believe in.

Guy said she wanted to raise awareness of activism in the South.

“I didn’t want people to see it as an extreme form of activism. I just wanted people to feel comfortable standing up for the thing that they find important in the community,” Guy said. “Because I know when you think of activism, you think more about the North or the

West because people are more outward and active there, but the South has always been a place where people have stood up for themselves, and we’ve had the most change over the past 200 years, so I just want that to continue.”

Having no experience planning an event of this magnitude, Guy managed to get the gears moving with help from a few organizations around Starkville. Strange Brew gave out water, Starkville Pride gave Guy advice for the event and Five Horizons of Starkville set

up a table at the event to help educate people.

“The community really helped me out when I asked for support or participation. I’ve got really positive feedback,” Guy said.

The march ended with speeches from the last two speakers and closing remarks from Guy. “The South is not a hopeless cause,” Guy said. “We may move slower than the rest of the country, but we still have people who are willing and want change to happen.”

Landon Scheel | The Reflector

A participant at the “Fight from the South” women’s march holds a sign on Saturday, April 10.

CONTINUED FROM 1

widespread availability of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“The MSDH has had a robust vaccination effort.

We are working with partners around the state to reach all communities and give Mississippians the opportunity to get vaccinated against COVID-19,” Sharlot said.

Sharlot explained the importance of wearing masks and social distancing, especially for those who have not received the vaccination.

“Combined with social distancing, masks are highly effective at preventing transmission of COVID-19 to others and yourself. Wearing one is

especially important when a distance of six feet cannot be easily maintained between persons,” Sharlot said.

Sharlot had a message for those who do not wear masks and do not want to be vaccinated.

“There is a measure of personal responsibility that we all have to accept to keep others safe,” Sharlot said. “Getting vaccinated is a protection not only for you but also for your friends and loved ones.”

Dr. Thomas Dobbs, infectious disease specialist and the state health officer of the MSDH, is hopeful about Mississippi’s progress but remains cautious.

“This is an opportunity.

We’re not out of the woods.

We see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we also have a train behind us,” Dobbs said. “We want to go ahead and get as many folks vaccinated as we can right now while our cases are low. We’re doing great, but we have challenges ahead.”

Dobbs also spoke about getting the vaccine for everyone. The COVID-19 vaccine is currently available for all residents 16 and older.

“It may very well be in the next few weeks or in the summer that we get the vaccine available for all age groups. Getting the vaccine

for 12 and older will be so important for keeping our schools open,” Dobbs said.

Dobbs noted the importance of getting the vaccine to decrease a person’s risk of having COVID-19.

“Under every circumstance, the vaccine is better than COVID. I have had people who work for me feel bad after getting the vaccine, and they say, ‘I’d do it 10 times over rather than have COVID again, and then some more,’ because COVID can be so bad.”

Dobbs continued, encouraging healthy people to get the vaccine too.

“People have asked me

MONEY

These funds can also be distributed to improve sewer, water and broadband infrastructure and must be spent by Dec. 24, 2024.

Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill said the city has not made a set decision about where to distribute the funds. However, the mayor and the Starkville Board of Aldermen have discussed reimbursing several Starkville workers first, such as the fire department and police and sanitation employees, for paid overtime last year during the height of the pandemic. The city will also use funds to improve tourism, water and sewer infrastructure.

According to Spruill, because of the pandemic,

CONTINUED FROM 1

many firefighters and police officers that responded to emergency situations had to quarantine last year to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As a result, backup firefighters and police officers who were off work received overtime pay to respond to several situations.

“So, they couldn’t work from home … unlike some of our other workers who can conceivably — a city planner, for example, can work from home,” Spruill said. “But in this case, we had to provide overtime to those folks who were unable to do anything else other than come in on their off time. And it mounted up. I mean, when you do that for eight months to

nine months to a year, it mounts up.”

To offset tourism losses from the pandemic, the city government has planned to build two additional baseball fields for Cornerstone Park, a Starkville sportsplex still in construction on South Highway 25. Spruill has mentioned how these two parks will be in addition to the ten baseball fields which would be built in about a year. The two baseball fields will cost approximately $2 million.

According to Ward 2 Alderwoman Sandra Sistrunk, the additional two baseball fields will allow high school baseball and softball teams to participate in tournaments

in Starkville and bring in a greater number of tourists.

“It fits the criteria for what we can spend the money for, and there’s a huge benefit,” Sistrunk said. “It is a program that’s designed to be a sports tourism park that our local kids get to use and have the benefit of having exceptional facilities for rec. baseball.”

Regarding the funds towards sewer and water infrastructure, Spruill mentioned many annexed areas in the city need this type of public service.

Other older neighborhoods in the city, such as Rolling Hills, Green Oaks and Oktibbeha Gardens, have aging sewer and water systems that either need

long-term repairing or replacing.

Since the process of replacing and repairing decades-old water and sewer pipes can take several months, Starkville’s city government has already decided to start improving the sewer and water infrastructure of several neighborhoods. Spruill said previous work completed in areas such as Pleasant Acres has allowed the city to have a head start on the work needed.

“Fortunately, for us, we’ve already begun the plans of making those replacements because we knew they needed to be done,” Spruill said. “So, we’ve got preliminary engineering work in

ALMOND

The bakery features desserts with keto-, gluten- and celiac-friendly ingredients, like almond flour, coconut flour and monk fruit sweetener.

Guilt-free sweet treats include multiple types of fruit loaves, pancake poundcake loaves, chocolate zucchini bread, cookies, muffins, cake and ‘magic bars.’

“We have a lot of changes to typical dishes,” Hutchinson said. “We just put our own spin on it.”

Hutchinson named Power of the Almond for its use of almond flour in most dishes. He said it was because of the flour substitute he is able to cater to multiple dietary restrictions while still making delicious food.

Hutchinson originally made the baked goods out of his house in Tupelo, Mississippi, and sold them online. Over nine months,

before, ‘If I am young and healthy, why do I need the vaccine?’ Obviously, some young folks die, not often, but it happens. We’ve seen young folks across the country end up on a ventilator,” Dobbs said.

“It’s so you don’t get sick, miss work, you don’t have to quarantine, your family doesn’t get it and they don’t have to quarantine.

Because you do not have to deal with all that, it seems very well worth it.”

The COVID-19 vaccine is available to all Mississippi residents above the age of 16. According to the MSDH, local providers and pharmacies are offering the shot.

progress, which puts us well ahead of the game.”

Sistrunk said although three years to spend millions of dollars towards areas beneficial to the city is difficult, it is an investment to improve Starkville’s neighborhoods in ways that the city has not had the chance to before.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for the city … so we want to be sure that we spend it wisely. We

want to be sure that we are compliant with what their intentions were,” Sistrunk said. “And we want to be sure that we spend it in a way that benefits the community, not just today, but long term.”

CONTINUED FROM 1

Courtesty Photo| Power of the Almond

Gluten-free, celiac-friendly and keto sweet treats are available at Power of the Almond. Pictured is their homemade chocolate chip cookies.

he received enough support to open up a physical storefront in Starkville.

The owner expanded from selling baked goods only to opening a restaurant and bakery combination.

“It really just started

out as a hobby when I first started … I honestly didn’t even know how to bake or cook, which is crazy because I actually am a really good baker now. I had no experience whatsoever, and I taught

myself,” Hutchinson said.

Customers of all kinds come to Power of the Almond, not just people with dietary restrictions.

Nurses, college students, police officers and hospital personnel all show their

support by eating at Power of the Almond.

Paige Beasley, a freshman biochemistry major at Itawamba Community College, said she is on a keto diet and Power of the Almond has plenty of options to suit her needs.

“We got a margarita flatbread and the buffalo chicken dip, and then I got this vanilla monk fruit iced coffee and a magic bar,” Beasley said.

Kanden Utley, a freshman kinesiology major at Itawamba Community College, said his favorite thing he has tried is the lemon blueberry pound cake.

“This is so good,” Utley said while pointing at the pound cake. “It’s one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.”

Like Beasley and Utley, Hutchinson said he enjoys the pound cake loaves, specifically the pancake

pound cake loaf. He said they taste so good, even though he uses cleaner ingredients to make the baked goods. The owner also raved about the different types of cookies Power of the Almond sells.

Power of the Almond advertises its menu on social media, with Facebook being its primary social media outlet. The health food restaurant has amassed over 1,200 followers on the platform and frequently posts pictures of the baked goods for sale. Hutchinson said he wanted to reach out to a broader audience to offer them a new spot to eat in Starkville.

Hutchinson said his few weeks in business have been busy, and he is thankful for the encouragement he has received since opening.

Power of the Almond is open from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays.

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THE REFLECTOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021 @REFLECTORONLINE

BULLETIN BOARD

An In-Class Distraction

Reflector 4/14/21 Crossword

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

SUDOKU

PuzzleJunction.com

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

Across 1 4 8 11

12 13 16 17 18 19 21 23 24 25 27 29 30 32 35 38 39

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3 Charades, e.g.

Hot springs 4 Plead Type size 5 Acquired relative Fishing item 6 Assert Kind of fork 7 Lip-___ Irregularly notched 8 Cohort Potting need 9 “Farewell, mon Like some memories ami” Risk 10 Dragnet name

5

6

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Copyright ©2021 PuzzleJunction.com

14 Debate position 15 Paddle 16 Tax preparer, at times (Abbr.)

20 Dry dock 22 Make well 26 School mo.

28 Mythical oceanic place 29 Egyptian boy king 30 Not be frugal 31 Cover 32 Zither’s cousin 33 Woodwind 34 Corrals 35 Competent 36 Dugout, for one 37 Boxer’s wear

41 River inlet 43 Mincemeat dessert 46 Fall, with over 47 Hero 51 Desert sight 52 Pretend 53 Ski run 54 Gasps 55 Combine 56 Oomph 57 Ill temper 58 Mrs. Dithers in Blondie 60 Brought into play 61 Was a passenger 63 Many miles away 65 Wapiti 67 Allow

Solution on next page

Copyright ©2021 PuzzleJunction.com

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Copyright ©2021 PuzzleJunction.com PARKER’S PITCH: WEEKLY MUSIC REVIEW

By Parker Dorsey intricate harmonies and This week’s album review swinging time signatures showcasing why he was so is on “Metaphysics” by influential for many muHasaan Ibn Ali. This sicians in the 1950s-1960s release is unique, as it is Philadelphia jazz scene, a full mixing/mastering such as John Coltrane and restoration of an unreMcCoy Tyner. Eccentric leased Ibn Ali recording Follow us on and avant-garde, “Metasession from 1965 which Instagram, Twitter physics” is a magical had been essentially and Facebook @ release which shines a shelved for over five reflector-online decades. “Metaphysics” is spotlight on the brilliant, an absolute force of a jazz yet criminally underappreciated piano virtuoso. recording, with Ibn Ali’s

Stay in the know!

Sudoku Solution CLUB INFO

Student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to managing@reflector.msstate.edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO.” The deadline for Wednesday’s paper is by 3 p.m. on Friday.

MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info.

The Oktibbeha County Humane Society Student Chapter is a student-driven organization dedicated to raising money and awareness about the local Oktibbeha County Humane Society. They volunteer at the humane society and host events on campus that directly benefit it.

Their upcoming meeting date is April 8. They are always looking for new club members and can be reached on any of their social media platforms or at msu.ochssc@ gmail.com.

Publicize your 9 2 7 4 6 8 1 5 3 club!

4 8 Email 1 6 managing@reflector.msstate.edu 5 7 3 9 2 1 8 4 6 3 7 5

Sudoku Solution

5 4 8 1 3 7 6 9 2

9 6 1 8 4 2 7 3 5

3 7 2 9 5 6 4 1 8

6 9 5 4 7 1 2 8 3

4 8 7 2 9 3 1 5 6

1 2 3 6 8 5 9 4 7

8 1 6 3 2 4 5 7 9

2 5 9 7 1 8 3 6 4

7 3 4 5 6 9 8 2 1

3 5 4 8 6 1 9 2

7 9 6 2 3 5 8 1

5 3 1 7 8 2 4 9

1 2 9 5 4 6 7 3

2 8 3 4 7 9 5 6

BAD DAWGS

6 7 8 1 9 3 2 4

9 4 2 6 5 7 1 8

Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Monday, April 5, 2021

Employee arrested in A1 parking lot for active warrants. Justice Court citation was issued for suspended driver’s license.

Employee reported hitting an I-Bean pole, causing damages to university owned vehicle and the pole on Buckner Lane.

Two students were issued referrals for possession of marijuana in Cresswell Hall.

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Wednesday, March 31, 2021 Student arrested on Hardy Road for speeding and possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle.

Thursday, April 1, 2021 Student reported her vehicle was damaged on March 29 in the D9 parking lot.

Saturday, April 2, 2021 Student arrested in E9 parking lot for public drunkenness.

Student reported his bicycle missing from Dogwood Hall.

Student reported she was bitten by a dog while on campus. Subject went to State Urgent Care for assistance.

Wednesday, April 7, 2021 Student was issued a referral for possession of marijuana and speeding on College View Street.

Thursday, April 8, 2021 Student was issued a student referral for possession of marijuana following a traffic stop on Hardy Road.

4

THE REFLECTOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021 @REFLECTORONLINE

OPINION

Cancel culture wrongfully punishes individuals with differing opinions

MICHAEL BOURGEOIS is a senior majoring in English. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

Two weeks ago, coffee chain Strange Brew found themselves in hot water when their company was threatened with boycotts and harassment online following the termination of one of the chain’s employees. The employee had eaten a pastry during her shift and had forgotten to pay for the product before leaving. Upon realizing her mistake, she apologized and vowed to return to reimburse the company, but by that point it was too late and she was fired from her position. After the word got out about her termination, the mob rallied to her defense in an effort to punish Strange Brew for their actions and make right the wrongs done to the employee by hurting the company in the only place

it matters to them— their wallets.

From a strictly economic perspective, there is no issue. Every company is forced to make complex decisions and the forces of the free market will adjust accordingly as a consequence. Consumers vote with their dollars, rewarding business models which enrich society as a whole and punishing those that do not, which is how an economy left to its own devices is supposed to work. Unfortunately, we are not confronting a strictly economic issue. Instead we are waging war in American culture, and it is being weaponized.

Cancel culture, as it

has come to be known, is the cancerous idea which gives the mob the right to bludgeon an individual, business, piece of media and a host of other aspects into political submission for expressing a contrary opinion or seemingly dangerous thought. What immediately follows is expulsion from polite society and a total ruination of the victim, and unfortunately the mob is succeeding in their mission.

They are coming for all of us. We need to re-empower the pariahs of cancel culture and restore the level playing field in the arena of ideas.

Cancel culture at its very core is a mobilization effort wielded as a political club in

order to suppress the views of the canceled victim.

This is the fundamental controversy associated with cancel culture. It is an unAmerican idea which denies an equal voice inside of the cultural sphere opposed to letting ideas speak on their own merit. Danielle Kurtzleben at NPR writes, “What one person might see as being canceled for controversial statements, another might see as being held accountable for offensive or harmful views.” Either way, the issue is problematic.

Culture holds individuals to unrealistic standards as angels and threatens social condemnation should these impossible standards not be maintained. Culture assigns a predominant opinion to society and any deviation is other-ized and must be obliterated for the common good.

But that raises another question, what grave sins did these societal villains commit to make them worthy of being destroyed? Gina Carano for example, former star on the hit Disney+ show “The Mandalorian,” committed the ultimate crime of being a

Trivia Time!

conservative in Hollywood.

Two days after the 2020 presidential election, Carano tweeted about a need for voter reform in the coming elections, so we do not have a contentious result. Carano called for laws against voter fraud, filmed counting of the votes and requiring voter ID, which are mainstream conservative principles.

As a result, according to Peter Suciu of Forbes, The Walt Disney Co. pulled her upcoming series, fired her from all future production of “The Mandalorian,” the action figures of her character Cara Dune were recalled by Hasbro and Lucasfilm has pulled the press she did for the series.

All of this because she refused to apologize for her beliefs. Gina Carano showed a tremendous amount of courage by standing up for her beliefs instead of bowing to the mob and sacrificing her principles for popularity in order to salvage as much societal credit as possible.

Carano is simply one of many examples, but a particularly extreme one demonstrates even in death people cannot escape

cancellation. Dr. Seuss, a prolific children’s author beloved by millions, had six of his books dubbed as offensive because, according to Alexandra Alter and Elizabeth A. Harris of the New York Times, the books “portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong.” Among these six dangerous titles are terrifying pieces of racist indoctrination such as “If I Ran the Zoo,” and “And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street.” Alter and Harris continue by quoting a children’s book scholar who says this banning of Seuss’ books will cause people to rethink the legacy of Dr. Seuss, and that is a good thing.

Destroying all historical significance of another person in the past all for the sake of sparing the sensibilities of people in a modern context is a slippery slope which will spell disaster for the American culture. Instead we must reinstitute the principles of debate by not condemning those with whom we disagree, lest we all may be canceled and forced to grovel to the whims of the relentless mob.

REFLECTIONS Barack Obama

1. Mark Twain’s 1885 novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was set along which river?

2. China’s Terracotta Army depicts the soldiers of what emperor?

3. What was Walt Disney’s original name for Mickey Mouse before his wife convinced him to change it?

4. In China, what number is considered unlucky because its pronunciation is similar to that for the word “death”?

Source: trivia.fyi

“All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time.

The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort–a sustained effort–to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.”

L

O w

M

S

S M h F u A t L w m A

r t l T a m c r p f w t

w M t w e

a s a e p

m e f o a f

Answer: 1. Mississippi River 2. Qin Shi Huang 3. Mortimer Mouse 4. Four

Chinese communities in the Delta have an overlooked history

LUKE COPLEY

is a sophomore majoring in English.

Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate. edu.

Racism against Asian Americans has been prolific since Asian workers began immigrating into the U.S. in the mid-1800s.

Even before the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and long before Japanese internment during WWII, the concept of “Yellow Peril” was born, which existed as sort of a catchall for the threats that white America felt as Eastern Asian immigrants started coming here to work in large numbers.

Particularly, the white American working class was afraid they would be put out of work by Chinese immigrants who were willing to work for less.

Yellow Peril is a term I learned last summer. I saw it at a protest against police brutality, written in big black letters on a red poster board: “Yellow Peril supports Black Power.” I had no idea what the term meant at the time, but I felt like I understood it within the context of the situation.

The sign was really just

talking about solidarity between victims of white supremacy.

Though the slogan is divisive, it still offers up the idea the relationship between Black America and Asian America is one of overlap. In fact, the slogan was coined by the only Asian field marshal in the Black Panther Party, Richard Aoki, in 1969. According to the author of Aoki’s biography, Diane Fujino, as referenced in an article written by Taylor Weik of NBC News, “The Panthers understood that racism against Japanese Americans and Asian Americans was linked to black liberation, and that these communities were both oppressed by white supremacy.”

This last year in particular, Asian Americans were subjected to a new wave of racism and violence as white supremacists blamed Asians for COVID-19.

Former President Donald Trump and other conservative leaders referred to the pandemic as the “China Virus” for months. However, it does not stop there. Just a couple weeks ago, a white man named Robert Long shot and killed eight people in a spa, six of the victims being Asian.

According to a report released by the group known as Stop Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Hate, some 3700 hate incidents occurred

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against the Asian American and Pacific Islander populations in 2020, 42% of which were perpetrated against Chinese individuals specifically.

As these events have brought Asian American communities around America into the spotlight, one which piqued my attention is surprisingly close to home and illustrates the concept of Asian-Black solidarity: the Chinese community of the Mississippi Delta.

This populace initially came to work in Mississippi’s booming agricultural industry directly following the Civil War and bled into the early 1900s.

According to Melissa Block with NPR, many

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Chinese citizens switched to the grocery business in the 1930s en masse.

The town of Greenville boasted as many as 50 different Chinese-owned grocery stores for 40,000 people. Mississippi was still segregated when the original Chinese population arrived in the early 1900s, meaning that Chinese families were subjected to adhoc redlining to keep the minority group out of “white neighborhoods.”

Subsequently, Chinese families opened up shops in Black neighborhoods, creating an uncanny cultural meeting in a place with a historically absolute race binary. Segregation led to an inevitable and purposeful sense of separation between racial

groups, and the Chinese population integrating with the Black population offered one of the first looks at the future of diversity in Mississippi.

Many of these families still live in the Delta today, even though the area, much like the rest of Mississippi, has been subject to the Brain Drain, which is a trend among college graduates leaving their hometowns for areas with better opportunities.

As explained by Taylor Pang in an article written

by James Estrin with the New York Times about the Chinese communities in the Delta, “The only reason why you are still stuck in the Delta is because you are a farmer, teacher or someone in the medical field. There

is nothing really here anymore.”

Regardless, in a time when hate crimes are on the rise and racial tension is a prolific issue in pop culture and social media, idiosyncratic stories of culture-mixing and solidarity are both a comfort and a reminder of the possibility of coexistence without assimilation.

The Chinese community of the Delta is still Chinese but has also become something new and lovely. It has become an extension of the culture it came from, pushing itself into an uncanny new context and becoming something Mississippians can and should appreciate about our history and culture.

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LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT 5 THE REFLECTOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021 @REFLECTORONLINE

Old Main Music Festival resurrects with sold-out Mt. Joy performance

MARY BLAKE BRASHIER

STAFF WRITER

On April 10, Mississippi State University’s Music Maker Productions (MMP) hosted the Old Main Music Festival. The festival, usually hosted at Old Main Amphitheater, was planned to be at the Swamp Parking Lot. Due to inclement weather, it ended up being moved to Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall.

Students scrambled to reserve tickets to attend the concert as there was a limited amount of passes.

The concert was free to attend. Originally, it was meant to be a drive-in concert due to COVID-19 restrictions. All 220 car passes sold out within a few days, and attendance was still high even when the event was moved.

The bands that played were Hello Forever and Mt. Joy. Hello Forever was the opener, and Mt. Joy was the long-awaited main event.

Christopher Hawkins, assistant director for student activities and advisor for MMP, expressed his excitement prior to the event.

“Get ready for live music, good times, safe environment and overall fun,” Hawkins said. “It’s our first big show in over a year. The last one was in fall 2019.”

MMP is known for bringing live entertainment to campus. However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, it has been difficult to plan fun activities. This year, MMP did the best with what they had. Some of the COVID-19-safe events they hosted include Battle of the Bands, a showing of Beyonce’s documentary “Homecoming” and a virtual Q&A with artist Waka Flocka Flame.

“This year we got creative because we haven’t gotten to do too many concerts,” Hawkins said.

MMP hoped to have a good turnout, and their hopes were more than exceeded.

The quick sell-out was extremely encouraging. The concert was meant to be a light in the midst of finals preparations as students are getting close to their breaking points.

“One, if you like the artist you’ll come. Two, if you like live music you’ll come. Three, if you want a unique experience,” Hawkins said. “It’s the end of the school year so I think this is a great way to relax and have some fun. “ Attendance was fairly high. Many students who attended enjoyed their time immensely and expressed their hopes for other concerts like this one in the future.

Olivia Lumpkin, a

freshman communication major at MSU, was one such student.

“It was super awesome to feel some sense of normalcy again, whenever we were in the crowd and we were singing,” Lumpkin said. “You would stop singing and hear everyone else’s voices. That was so cool to feel a crowd again.”

MMP enforced COVID-19 restrictions.

Every attendee was required to wear a mask.

Students sat in pairs with pairs of empty chairs in between them. They were allowed to stand up, but were encouraged to stay in front of their designated seats.

“The event exceeded my expectations,” Lumpkin said. “I am a huge Mt. Joy fan. There is nothing like getting to see your favorite band play your favorite songs live. It is such a surreal experience.”

Along with being great entertainment, the concert was a good way for students to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

“It just felt so good to forget school and COVID for a while. It felt so good to be surrounded by other people,” Lumpkin said.

Cy Powell, a freshman in building construction at MSU, also enjoyed his time at the concert.

“It was a really good stress reliever,” Powell said.

Adam Sullivan| The Reflector

Mt. Joy frontman Matt Quinn sings onstage at the Bettersworth Auditorium in Lee Hall for the 2021 Old Main Music Festival.

“I really needed that for the weekend.”

The music festival also displayed a number of artists, vendors and creators.

They were showcased on wide screens between set changes.

“I really did enjoy my time there, it was a good

time,” Powell said. “I have been wanting to see Mt. Joy for a good minute and they just blew me away. Mt. Joy is a great band.”

Lumpkin said the adjustments the university had to make for the concert to be safe did not hinder her enjoyment of

the show.

“Overall the experience was really great,” Lumpkin said. “I think that given COVID and everything that State did a really awesome job of making it feel as normal as possible.

None of the quality of the show was skipped out on.”

Mississippi Today: state and local politics

SARAH MORGAN JOHNSON

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Like a middle school student at a family reunion, many Mississippians have felt misunderstood and overlooked by the rest of the country when it comes to state politics. Between the presidential and state elections, the COVID-19 pandemic and the fight for racial justice, 2020 and the first four months of 2021 have been a hyper-political time to exist in any state. Due to Mississippi’s sometimes unfair reputation and inarguably broken history, politics in the Magnolia State are an especially complex affair.

Dallas Breen is the executive director at the John C. Stennis Institute of Government as well as an assistant research professor for the department of political science and public administration at Mississippi State University. Breen has been a Mississippian for 25 years and has worked at MSU for 21 years. His time spent studying and experiencing state politics has given him the perspective needed to spot political trends. He explained that in the last 10 years he has seen a steady rise in conservative votes.

“The state, as far as the state-wide elected officials, is actually completely Republican in the state-wide offices. It’s been almost that way for quite some time ...

Over the course of probably the last 10 years, we’ve seen

a steady concentration of votes going conservative for both statewide and for presidential races,” Breen said.

Mississippi has a reputation for being a place where time has stood still, in all the wrong ways.

Between the remnants of Jim Crow-era laws, failing education systems and a recurring top ranking for the highest poverty rates, Mississippi’s problems have always taken center stage. However, according to Mississippi state senator Jeremy England, the tides of change are stirring, as Mississippians on both sides of the aisle work together to better their state.

“Mississippi has a long history of not wanting to change a lot of things. The flag is an obvious issue, but there have been others.

That’s not a conservative or a liberal statement, but a lot of times it’s hard to do anything really big in Mississippi quickly. That’s a good thing in a sense because we let the laboratory of democracy work around us, and we can come in and make some changes. But I think that atmosphere is changing a little bit with newer people coming in ... here in Mississippi you really do have across the political spectrum a willingness to listen and work together,” England said.

On the 2020 election ballot, Mississippians voted to change the electoral vote requirement

for gubernatorial and state office elections and to legalize medical marijuana. According to Ballotpedia, nearly 73% of Mississippians also voted in favor of the New Magnolia flag. According to Breen, the new flag symbolizes a truer Mississippi to the rest of the country.

“The flag vote was one that crossed political lines and political leanings; you saw people rallying together for change.

Mississippi sometimes gets that reputation of not being open to change or being slow to change, and this was a big megaphone into the country saying that Mississippi is ready to move forward,” Breen said.

As many changes have rolled through the state, one thing has remained constant in the past year— the looming presence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cases have been on a steady decline since early January, and have continued to decrease by 23% according to data reported by the New York Times. As of March 16, all Mississippians are eligible for vaccination, and according to data reported

by Mississippi Today, 18% of the population has been fully vaccinated.

COVID-19 also drastically changed the way state governments fulfilled their responsibilities. Jeremy England’s first session as a state senator for the 51st district did not look at all as he thought it would,

as the pandemic shifted and intensified his duties.

According to England, this clear sense of purpose highlighted state leaders’ passion for service.

“We have some of the best people here in this chamber. Every community in Mississippi is represented well, many may not agree with that, but I can say I’ve been super impressed with the kindness and the intellect and the overall love of state and community which I’ve found here in both the senate and in meeting with the house numbers. I don’t know if that would have come across if my first year wasn’t one where we were dealing with a pandemic,” England said.

Breen echoed England’s emphasis on the importance of engaging local leaders in the state in regards to the trajectory of future Mississippi. He praised Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill for her dedication to active community engagement.

“To have a mayor like we have here, who is active, who is engaging, who will actually respond to positive and negative tweets, is encouraging ... If people want something to look forward to or to keep their eyes on, it’s the response to more engaging politicians around the state. I think that as you watch this you’ll start to see things take shape that you thought wouldn’t happen in the state of Mississippi. A lot of that, I tend to feel, is the result of

people having a voice in the state,” Breen said.

Spruill is a Starkville native and MSU graduate who has served as mayor for four years this July. She is running unopposed for the next four year term.

Along with being an active Twitter user, Spruill is also a Democratic mayor.

She shared what it is like to be a more progressive-leaning leader in an overwhelmingly conservative state.

“Starkville has a large contingent of Democrats and Republicans. The split is very close, so our elections are very close. But local politics is potholes and water leaks and traffic. It is not the divisiveness you see on a national level, and we try to keep it that way because we still all have to work together.

It’s challenging only when it comes to getting elected, but once you’re elected you’re elected to do the same things,” Spruill said.

As Mississippian leaders on both sides of the political aisle work together, there is real tangible change which improves their beloved Magnolia State. On the local level, Spruill is very excited about several current projects she is working on in Starkville.

These include a cornerstone sports tourism project, a new industrial park, a new annexation to bring more people into the city limits as well as infrastructure improvements.

England shared that one big change to watch for on

a state level is workforce development, which would bring more high paying jobs to the state. This in turn would encourage college graduates and young professionals to stay in Mississippi.

Breen shared that as the state government engages with individuals and improves the quality of life in Mississippi, more and more people will pursue a life here.

“As a state who is currently working on trying to keep people here, one of the best ways to keep some of the young talents in the state is to show them that they have a voice in their local communities and in the state. Other places may pay more, but if you show people that they have a place and that they matter, I think people then start looking at other things like the communities and the people.

And the state of Mississippi has great people,” Breen said.

Spruill echoed this hope for a brighter Mississippi, and added that this is only attained through a commitment to change.

“The state of Mississippi has nowhere to go but up and I am very hopeful that we will continue to work to improve our statistics in things like healthcare, and poverty and education.

All the things that keep us behind other states have got to be improved. We will continue to work on that,” Spruill said.

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MSU women’s tennis falls to University of Kentucky in hours-long tie breaker match

BRONWEN MADDOX CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Mississippi State University’s own women’s tennis team took on the University of Kentucky at home on April 8.

MSU, currently ranked 41st, hoped to get the upset against 23rd-ranked Kentucky, but lost 3-4.

Head coach Daryl Greenan spoke on the loss and the pride he has for his team.

“I am really proud of our effort today,” Greenan said. “We played well enough and put ourselves in a winning position against a solid top-25 team. We were just a little unlucky not to come out with the upset.

We were a couple points away from getting the doubles point, which in theory would have given us a 4-1 victory. I really think we are getting better each week.”

Despite the large ranking gap, the match was very close. Kentucky won the first doubles match 6-1 against senior Magda Adaloglou and junior Tamara Racine. The other two both went into tiebreakers, but Kentucky pulled ahead against Emma Antonaki and

sophomore Marta Falceto to win the doubles point.

MSU went into singles losing 0-1.

Starting the singles matches with confidence, the Bulldogs fought hard in every match, making for a close game in every facet of the action.

Emma Antonaki, a junior management major, spoke on the determination she held throughout her match.

“I was a little stressed in the beginning (of my singles match). That was obvious in the first set.

I lost the first set 6-0 in 20 minutes. I thought to myself, ‘I cannot let my teammates down. You have to fight for it.’ I went back to the court and started the second set.

The set was really close, but after I broke her serve, I eventually finished my set 6-3. In the third set, I was focused the whole time. I was really proud of myself. It was a really tough match and she was a really good opponent,” Antonaki said.

After losing the first set, Antonaki won the following two and scored MSU a point.

MSU earned another point from sophomore psychology major

Alexandra Mikhailuk’s 7-5, 6-2 victory. She attributed her win to encouragement from the team and the energy that support allows her to bring to the court day in and day out.

“It was a tough loss today for the Bulldogs but I’m very proud of them,” Mikhailuk said. “It’s been a long time coming, for me personally as well. I’ve been struggling with a lot of tough matches recently in the SEC and the team helped me get that win today. In training, I always

feel the support from my teammates. Today I looked over and felt the energy of my teammates.

That’s what really helped me close out that win today. I’m very proud of my Bulldogs for the energy and the heart they displayed today.”

The Kentucky Wildcats made up two points against freshman Chloé Cirotte and senior Lilian Poling in hardfought matches.

Adaloglou finished her match in two sets and a

tie breaker, 7-6, 7-5. This match tied the score at three. The final match, to break this tie, lasted 3 1/2 hours between Kentucky Wildcat Morante and Bulldog Marta Falceto.

This three-set match eventually ended 5-7,64,6-7 after a tiebreaker.

This ended the match in favor of Kentucky, to the disappointment of MSU. MSU players fought hard all the way through to the end of the day, and Magda Adaloglou was proud of this.

“Today was a tough loss but a very good battle for our team,” Adaloglou said. “I’m very proud of how we fought. Everyone fought hard and left their hearts out there. It hurts, but we will keep looking forward.”

The team also fell to Vanderbilt University on Saturday to close out their regular season. They will take the court next in the SEC Women’s Tennis Championship which will be held April 19-23 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Chamberlain Smith | Mississippi State Athletics

Freshman Chloe’ Cirotte, a native of Orleans, France, focuses on a return in this past week’s action against the University of Kentucky.

Mississippi State University Spring 2021 Commencement Ceremonies April 29, 2021 8:30 a.m. Ceremony Arts & Sciences (undergraduates only)

1:30 p.m. Ceremony Education/Business/ACCESS (undergraduates only)

April 30, 2021 8:30 a.m. Ceremony ALL Graduate Students (masters/specialists/doctoral) and Agriculture & Life Sciences *Graduate students from all colleges will attend the 8:30am ceremony*

1:30 p.m. Ceremony

Engineering/Architecture, Art & Design/ Forest Resources/Vet Med/Academic Affairs (undergraduates only)

Humphrey Coliseum

• • • • •

Doors open 1.5 hours prior to each ceremony Tickets required for guests (4 guests per graduate) Total capacity limited to 50% of Coliseum Facial coverings required for everyone in attendance Social distancing will be enforced

Please allow additional time for security screening ALL BAGS ARE SUBJECT TO SEARCH Additional information regarding the ceremonies may be found at www.registrar.msstate.edu/students/graduation

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR GRADUATES!!