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Chew on This!

to winning

Tailgate Edition

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Joe

4(non-Offensive)keys

Apaio

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132nd YEAR ISSUE 4

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

SA to add 22 organizational seats to senate class

DEVIN EDGAR NEWS EDITOR

In an effort to ring true to Mississippi State University’s diverse population, the Student Association is revamping the Senate class.

Currently, each student is given two votes to put towards a senator in their respective college, with the

larger colleges having more candidates and senators elected.

Each candidate is given one week to campaign, and after election, 22 senators are voted into senate.

Now, each student will have two more votes during election season—two votes that go towards an organizational senate seat.

Senator-at-large Lexi

MSU graduate students chase eye of Harvey; campus prepares to assist

Landry said the 400 plus student organizations registered on OrgSync will are split into 11 voting categories, including cultural, departmental/professional, faith-based, performing arts and recreational. Two senators will represent each category, creating 22 organizational senate seats.

Landry, a senior marketing major, said the current senate

class is made up mostly of white, Greek students, which is not representative of the amount of diversity on MSU’s campus.

“This is not to say we don’t want Greek students on senate,” Landry said. “But not a lot of people have a chapter of 200+ people to back them during campaigning. Adding organizational seats means it will be more about the merit

of the candidate.”

In addition to adding organizational seats, SA Vice President Layton Little said Bill 20 also created two senate seats for transfer students, which will accommodate the growing number of transfer students MSU receives each year.

The addition of organizational and transferstudent seats have been

discussed for several years, but after continuously seeing efforts fall short, Little said he and SA President Tyler McMurray took matters into their own hands.

“This is important because these seats encourage students that typically would not run within their college to run and represent the student body,” Little said.

SENATE, 2

Teaching: ‘A joy rather than a job’

Cedar Bayou, TX 51.88” Mary's Creek, TX 50.04" Clear creek, Tx 48.20" Dayton, TX 49.23"

Jennifer McFadden, The Reflector

JORDAN DARENSBOURG STAFF WRITER

The Mississippi State University Maroon Volunteer Center is actively assisting the Houston metro area and much of southeast Texas after Hurricane Harvey lashed the region with three different landfalls last Friday.

When all was said and done in Houston, areas received over 50 inches of rain, shattering the record for a tropical cyclone in the Continental United States (see inset).

As a result, record flooding was seen in Houston and the surrounding areas.

The flooding forced over 8,000 water rescues in the city as well as suburbs such as Dickinson, Texas and Katy, Texas.

The flooding also caused the closure of both Houston airports, William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, as well as the cancellation of athletic activities at the University of Houston this upcoming weekend, which affects MSU’s home soccer match Friday vs Houston.

Unfortunately, as of Thursday, the storm claimed 29 lives, including a family of six who was attempting to escape the floodwaters and their van was swept away.

With the recovery that

lies ahead for southeast Texas as a result of the flooding in Houston, among other damaged areas such as Rockport, Texas and Beaumont, Texas, there are a plethora of resources that are deploying to the area to assist.

Among those that are willing to help is the MSU Maroon Volunteer Center.

Meggan Franks, the assistant director for Student Leadership & Community Engagement, said that money is the biggest need in the recovery efforts as of Thursday.

“We are currently promoting fundraising efforts and donations of money to areas of need.” Franks said.

In addition to the monetary donations, Franks said for volunteers to not self-deploy and to sign up before showing up.

“Capacity is stretched during disasters,” Franks said. “and you need to make sure that you can be utilized.”

In addition to the work being done by the Maroon Volunteer Center, MSU’s College of Forest Resources (CFR) Dean’s Student Council and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences’ (CALS) Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club, is launching a fundraising campaign to collect contributions that will be donated to the Houston Food Bank.

Read more at reflector-online.com

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

Lindsay Pace | The Reflector

Dr. Robert Wolverton, Sr., teaches a Classical Mythology class Monday in McCain Hall. Wolverton, 92, has spent over 65 years as an educator, with 40 of those years being at Mississippi State.

TORI BOATNER STAFF WRITER

Born into humble beginnings in the metro-area of Indianapolis, Indiana, Robert Wolverton, 92, was destined for a life full of victory.

Before fulfilling his duties as the current Professor of Classics in the Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures here on campus, he spent his entire

childhood and adolescence growing up in the city of Shelbyville, Indiana.

Aware of the need to provide for his family, Wolverton sought out work as soon as he was able.

Tireless in his work and education, Wolverton began his undergraduate studies just along the Ohio River at Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana. There he studied psychology and classics, intrigued by different languages and ways of thinking.

Years later, Wolverton’s educational success allowed him to receive a fellowship to pursue a graduate degree in the field of classics from the University of Michigan.

After gaining a master’s degree, he headed south, eager to gain quality experience in the field of classics. As a result of his skillfulness in Greek and Latin, Wolverton received a job in Chattanooga, Tennessee at The McCallie School as the head of the Latin department.

WOLVERTON, 2

Starkville residents ‘Get Swept Up’ KATIE POE

STAFF WRITER

A cloudy morning with a threat of rain did not stop hundreds of volunteers from sprucing up Starkville Wednesday morning.

Every football season, an event called “Get Swept Up” asks Starkville residents to clean up the city’s streets on Wednesdays before home football games.

The goal is to make the city as appealing as possible to visitors driving into town for the game.

Jennifer Prather, director of Tourism for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, said about 450 volunteers signed up for the first cleanup.

“That’s typically our number each year,” Prather said. “We are Katie Poe | The Reflector

Volunteer Mollye Jackson cleaned up Lafayette Street during Get Swept Up. FORECAST: We are watching rain and thunderstorms

Reader’s Guide:

able to expand it every time we have more and more volunteers, which is really exciting. We obviously start in the center of town and expand from there as much as we can. The number of volunteers we have determines the capacity for cleanup area.”

Prather said the event allows volunteers from the city come together to make it beautiful, which is a task the community does in harmony.

“This event gives us a unique opportunity for everyone in the community to have one day where we are all focused on the same like-minded goal, and that’s the ability to spruce up our houses, our storefronts and our streets so that we can roll out the red carpet for our visitors that are coming to town,” Prather said.

Read more at reflector-online.com Policy: Any person may

2

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

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WOLVERTON

CONTINUED FROM 1

BAD DAWGS Monday, August 28, 2017 7:30 p.m. MSU Dispatch Center reported receiving a harassing 911 call from an unknown person. Detective was notified of the call.

Wednesay, August 30, 2017 5:04 p.m. Officer found a checkbook, belonging to another subject, inside of a vehicle at a traffic stop on campus.

12:20 a.m. Student reported being harassed on campus by her child’s father, non-student.

12:23 a.m. Student reported his bicycle missing from bike rack at McCool Hall.

Last seen three weeks ago.

SENATE “These new voices on senate, we hope, will represent all the different voices on campus to voice concerns for the organization they ran from and the entire classification that they represent,” he continued.

Students who are interested in running for senate can fill out a form of intent on OrgSync.

Once logged in, students need to visit the SA OrgSync page to find the correct form.

After completing the form of intent, students are required to attend a mandatory candidates meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Taylor Auditorium in McCool Hall. Each candidate will have two full weeks to campaign, and votes will be casted Sept. 19.

Lindsay Pace | The Reflector

Wolverton laughs as he teaches his Monday morning Classical Mythology class at MSU. CONTINUED FROM 1

The newly elected senators, Little added, will be announced that night and sworn into office by Tyler McMurray. Newly-elected senators will complete the rest of the term with the current senate class.

Throughout her time on Senate, Landry said she has grown as a person, which is why she encourages everyone who is interested to run.

“Of course we are nervous to add 22 more senators to our class, but we are all still so excited,” Landry said. “It is just more fun when you have more ideas in the room.”

For more information on organizational or transferstudent senate seats, email Layton Little at wll85@ sa.msstate.edu.

Unwavering to the underrated field of classics, Wolverton pursued a doctorate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. One year into gaining a Ph.D. in the areas of Ancient History, Greek, and Latin, Wolverton took a job at Florida State University for one year, while the head of the department completed her doctorate program.

Aside from taking on a new position in Florida, Wolverton’s interest in music drew him near to a young lady who shared a love for music as well.

Two weeks later they were married, and they will be celebrating 65 years of marriage this September.

“I call her my Florida souvenir,” Wolverton said.

A newly wed, Wolverton later completed his doctorate in 1954. Enthusiastic about taking on another adventure in the field of classics, he received a position in Athens, Georgia, at the

University of Georgia for five years. Purposeful in every task, Wolverton gave a dissertation that impressed many. As a result of his first impressions, he received a job offer at Tufts University,

D.C., sponsored by the Ford Foundation were asked to identify professors who “displayed characteristics of an administrator.” He was selected as one of 25 participants for an internship at Mills College in Oakland, California, and the University of California at Berkley.

“Interning at a private college like Mills and public university like the University of California were like night and day, but the experience was worthwhile,” Wolverton said.

New to the ideas of administration, Wolverton soaked up every conversation within meetings and lectures with his mentors. As a result of his acquired competence in the field of administration, offers began to flow in left and right. This was a result of administrators being slim to none in the 1960s.

Wolverton accepted a position at the University of Illinois, that offered a very strong classics department. With so many opportunities, he moved quite often. From serving as the Dean of Graduate School at the University of Miami in Oxford, Ohio, to receiving a position as the first male President at Mount St. Joseph’s, a women’s university at the time, Wolverton was no

“He has inspired his students, his colleagues, and the administration of MSU for over 40 years. In all, Dr. Wolverton’s investment as a lifelong educator has spanned well over six decades.”

-MSU President Mark Keenum in Medford, Massachusetts, a city outside of Boston.

Drawn to the South, Wolverton received another position at Florida State eight years later. There he was presented an experience of a life time. The American Council of Education (ACE) out of Washington

stranger to a challenge.

After spending time at various schools who were unique in their own way, Wolverton received a call from Mississippi State University in the late 70s. MSU was seeking a role for a Vice President of Academic Affairs. A

competitive position, with five perspective employees.

Wolverton was chosen.

In 1977, Mr. and Mrs. Wolverton packed their bags and headed to StarkVegas.

“It was a very nice transition,” Wolverton said.

“I liked the atmosphere, and people really work together here.”

Throughout Wolverton’s many years of service, MSU President Mark Keenum said honoring him, specifically at the Old Main Rotunda unveiling, has been a highlight of many of Keenum’s days.

“He has inspired his students, his colleagues, and the administration of MSU for over 40 years,” Keenum said. “In all, Dr. Wolverton’s investment as a lifelong educator has spanned well over six decades. He continues, to this day, to inspire our students and faculty.”

After years of pouring out his expertise in the field of classics, Wolverton does not plan on stopping soon. “The students keep me going,” Wolverton said.

Taking a break outside of the office and the classroom, Wolverton enjoys giving back and participating in various community activities within the city of Starkville. He served on the Board of Trustees at the Starkville Public Library and assisted in developing the community theatre.

He also enjoys singing and has participated in various community plays. Wolverton has four children, three sons and a daughter. He also has one dog, a 14-year-old Yorkshire Terrier. When asked what he loved the most about MSU, Wolverton smiled and said “The students and a friendly, supportive, environment that genuinely has a concern for people.”

In his next life, Wolverton said he would come back as a conductor, because of his love of music. Until then, he will continue to keep classics alive at Mississippi State University.

“I don’t have a job,” he said. “I have a joy.”

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 @REFLECTORONLINE

BULLETIN BOARD

CLASSIFIEDS The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday.

The deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Classifieds are listed at $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are listed at $3 per issue, pre-paid. Lost and found items: Found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed at standard ad cost.

FOR RENT House for Rent, very nice 3 bedroom, 1 bath. 1 mile from MSU. Washer and ryer, large living area, kitchen and carport. $825.00 For more information call 662-418-2087 1 room in a 4 bedroom

house with 2 full bathrooms for rent. Hardwood and ceramic tile flooring, garage parking, fenced in backyard and a large living area with a fire place. Other 3 rooms occupied by MSU students. Only available to MSU students. Only 7 minutes from campus.

For more information call 662-312-5630.

HELP WANTED JOB OPPORTUNITY: Administrative assistant, clerical and domestic duties, strong computer skills required. $8.50/hour.

Work is as needed. Call 662-312-5630.

CLUB INFO

The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday;. The deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. MSU student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email club_info@reflector. to with the msstate.edu subject heading “CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed at The Reflector office in the Student Media Center. A contact name, phone number and requested run dates must be included for club info to appear in The Reflector.

All submissions are subject to exemption according to space availability.

3

An In-Class Distraction

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Be seen on the most popular page of the paper every issue.

SPONSOR OUR PUZZLES! Find out how by calling: 662-325-2374.

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THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 @REFLECTORONLINE

OPINION

India sets a standard to follow on privacy

CHRIS LOWE

is a junior majoring in business information systems. He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

Last week, the Indian Supreme Court ruled privacy was a fundamental human right protected by its constitution. This ruling was a response to the backlash against Aadhaar, a government-mandated biometric identification program.

While this does not affect the United States, in particular, it bothers me victories like this are not met with widespread praise.

Aadhaar was a program based on retinal scans and fingerprints.

Governments having access to basic information like this for every citizen is dangerous. In an age where being “off the radar” is becoming more and more impossible, Aadhaar is the next step to the total sacrifice of privacy.

This recent ruling by the Indian government should set the bar for countries across the world.

Establishing privacy as something fundamentally protected is the only way to ensure it will not be trivialized in the face of further technological advancements.

Within most developed countries, basic physical privacy is generally protected.

The government cannot simply barge into your home without a probable cause, and you are not obligated to share sensitive information with anyone in most circumstances.

However, the age of the internet has made it simple child’s play for governments and private companies to

do. This has made having a digital fingerprint almost impossible to avoid.

While most do not live in a country where the government or corporations act as a “Big Brother” to its citizens, the fact digital identities can be so easily constructed means its prevention should be made a top priority.

Al Jazeera, an online international news hub, states, “Activists say Aadhaar links enough data to create a comprehensive profile of a person’s spending habits, their friends and acquaintances, the property they own, and a trove of other information.”

The very idea of this happening should be terrifying to people.

“Establishing privacy as something fundamentally protected is the only way to ensure it will not be trivialized in the face of further technological advancements.” learn personal information about individuals. Social media sites and search engines like Google can track what you say, what you search and what you

Our own country is one that should be analyzed on how it handles privacy.

We are just as prone to having our data collected by companies. Government

agencies, like the NSA, are proven to have access to practically anyone’s information.

We may have court precedents for specific privacy issues but no comprehensive protection of privacy as a whole.

The U.S. in particular should follow the lead of India or at least institute a set of guidelines like the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, which Fortune said protects

Maroon Friday!

personal control over data and complaints against misuse of this data.

Of course, this is about much more than just the U.S. This is an issue I suspect to become a major topic of discussion in most of the world within a decade or so.

We should all be able to remain certain our computer cameras are not being hacked to counter terrorists, and we should be able to rest easy when allowing a company to

know who we are.

If those do not sound like they should be fundamental rights, I do not know what does.

Regardless of whether or not intentions are pure when collecting information, rulings like the one made by the Indian Supreme Court should spark an international trend.

If it does, the world may delay a privacy-free future which has the potential to go terribly wrong.

REFLECTIONS

1. Mississippi State University first fielded a football

Stephen M. Ross

“Sports is the common denominator in the world that brings everyone together. If there’s any one place in the world where there is equality, it is porbably sports. That was something that didn’t always exist. We’ve come a long way in sports. Why can’t society use sports as a way to bring people together and create change?”

team in what year?

2.Don Smith is second in MSU history in career touchdowns with 52. Who is first and how many does he have?

3. How many MSU players have been drafted in the first round of the NFL draft?

Answer: 1. 1895, 2. Dak Prescott, 114, 3. 11

Joe Arpaio’s rightful place is in prison JESSICA LINDSEY

of color who are racially profiled and suffer from it.

After some small justice, not even a month after Arpaio is convicted, our justice system’s verdict is over-turned by the most powerful man in the country.

This is not encouraging.

In fact, it’s terrifying.

Arpaio was a man in power of a community with a large Latino population.

Arpaio abused his power and illegally detained many

STAFF WRITER

On Aug. 25, President Donald Trump gave his first presidential pardon to Joe Arpaio. Like most of Trump’s actions since his announcement to run for office, this decision to pardon the former sheriff is controversial.

Arpaio was a sheriff who served six 4-year terms in Maricopa County, Arizona. On Nov. 8, 2016, Arpaio lost his re-election as sheriff the same day Trump won the presidency.

According to Jacey Fortin from the New York Times, throughout his time in law enforcement, Arpaio was accused of unfairly targeting Latinos, abusing power and misusing funds.

He is also accused of failing to investigate many sexually violent crimes and illegally enforcing immigration laws.

On top of these accusations, he was known for upholding harsh prison conditions. With the self-proclaimed title of “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” he banned various items from correctional facilities, including coffee.

Arpaio is also known

“As a Latina, seeing a man get convicted of crimes like this makes me feel like some sort of justice is actually, finally happening in this country.”

Jennifer McFadden, The Reflector

for sending a group of individuals to Hawaii for former President Barack Obama’s birth certificate.

According to Richard Pérez-Peña for New York Times, the conviction he received the presidential pardon for, however, lies in his racist prejudice toward Latinos.

Arpaio was convicted in July 2017 for criminal contempt after failing

to follow a court order.

According to David Morris for Fortune, this order demanded Arpaio to stop illegally detaining Latinos, some of which were undocumented immigrants.

The whole affair of pardoning Arpaio was utterly tasteless. From Trump completely ignoring the process for a presidential pardon and purposefully announcing

CONTACT INFORMATION Editor in Chief/Emmalyne Kwasny

life@reflector.msstate.edu

Managing Editor/Sam Gibson

Photography Editor/Olivia Zeringue

managing@reflector.msstate.edu news@reflector.msstate.edu

the pardon in a time of crisis, the day Hurricane Harvey made landfall, to the actual actions which caused Arpaio to be charged.

As a Latina, seeing a man get convicted of crimes like this makes me feel like some sort of justice is actually, finally happening in this country.

Like some sort of headway can be gained for people

Latinos over the years; so many that the court had to intervene and order him to stop.

He did not stop, however, and he faced consequences for it.

It seemed as though a white man, who the system is built for, finally had to take responsibility for his actions after at least 23 years of hurting people of color.

After 23 years of

excusing racism.

It is saying it is permissible to racially profile people, it is perfectly fine to act out illegally against certain races, and it is perfectly fine to disrupt someone else’s way of life just because of their race.

It is a dismissal of life.

It is the people in power telling the minorities they don’t matter. It is infuriating.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Life Editor/Will Wells

325-7905 editor@reflector.msstate.edu

News Editor/Devin Edgar

injustice, Arpaio faced his consequences for only a month.

This makes a huge statement, not only to me or to the Latino/Hispanic community, but to other minorities as well. It says, “Hey, you’re not wanted here and we don’t care about your lives. We don’t care if you suffer at the hands of those in power.”

This pardon is not simply a dismissal of racism, it is absolutely

Online Editor/Collin Smith multimedia_editor@reflector.msstate.edu Advertising Sales/Johnson Cooke

Letters to the editor should be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. Letters may also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu.

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

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 @REFLECTORONLINE

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

5

Chew on This: taking tailgaiting to new heights Courtney o’Brien Staff WritEr

It is tailgating time and I have some easy recipes to share.

Many of you might be excited to attend a tailgate this weekend before Mississippi State University football team’s first game of the season on Saturday against Charlston Southern University.

However, some of you might feel that you cannot contribute to tailgates for a variety of reasons.

These tailgate-friendly recipes are for those who have no time the night before game day, are on a strict budget or use their ovens to store their shoes.

Tailgating is for everyone, after all, even those who usually buy their snacks or do not contribute anything at all (you know who you are, don’t be ashamed).

However, I would like to put an end to the lastminute buying of storebought goods.

I have a full menu of tailgate recipes lined up.

Make one or all three, depending on what the rest of the folks in your

tent plan to bring. None of them require any skill or practice.

All the ingredients can be found at any dollar store or Walmart and most can be bought in the exact measurements.

Each of these recipes feed at least four to six people. Let’s get started!

First is crack dip, which was given its name because it is so delicious, it is addictive. This recipe takes 5 minutes and can feed 5people.

Delicious as it may be, one cannot survive on crack dip alone. Luckily, it also tastes great alongside the second recipie, a quick chick sandwich.

Four ingredients are needed and this recipe feeds about four people.

Desserts make football season even sweeter.

Everyone will ask for your recipe when you bring this four ingredient peach cobbler to your tailgate.

The cobbler has only four ingredients and takes about an hour to cook.

If you follow these recipes, you will be guaranteed to impress your family, friends and more.

Quick Chick Sandwich 1 loaf of French bread

Crack Dip 8 ounces cream cheese 1/4 cup mayo

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup sour cream

10 ounces of angel hair coleslaw

Simple Peach Cobbler

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup honey mustard dressing or Chickfila sauce

1 package ranch dressing seasoning mix

1 bag of chicken tenders (about 20 tenders)

1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder

1 cup white sugar 1/2 cup butter 20 ounces of peaches (this recipe works best with canned peaches)

1/4 teaspoon minced onion 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1. Cut the loaf in half longwise and scoop out the soft bread part.

2. Throw the bready part into a bowl for later.

3. Throw the coleslaw and the sauce/dressing into a bowl and mix it all up.

4. Layer the sandwich with coleslaw and tenders.

5. Put the soft bread on top, then add the top shell.

6. Slice it into sandwiches.

1 teaspoon chili powder 7 ounces of green chilies, drained if from a can 4 slices of cooked and shredded bacon

1. Preheat your oven to 350.

2. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar and butter until it forms into small crumbles.

3. Pour the can of peaches into your baking pan and sprinkle the flour mixture evenly over the top.

1. Mix together the cream cheese, 4. Bake for 45 minutes . mayo and sour cream until it is a rich and creamy mixture.

2. Throw in other ingredients and stir.

3. Put it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve it.

Jenn McFadden, The Reflector

Starkville Community Theatre kicks off a new season Emma moffEtt

Contributing WritEr

Those looking for a good laugh or just something different to do in Starkville can make plans to see the Starkville Community Theatre’s newest play “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

General admission tickets to this 1939 classic are currently on sale for $10 with a valid student ID or $15 for adult admission.

Opening night is Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m., and the play will run each day except for Labor Day until Sept. 14.

Director Karen Thead said she is excited to direct the Starkville Community Theatre’s first play of the season.

“It is a classic show by Joseph Kesselring,” Thead said. “The play came out in the late 30s and was followed by a movie remake with many

of the same actors from the play.”

“Arsenic and Old Lace” follows a young man who discovers his aunts’ dark secrets.

During the play, the young man must overcome a range of insane circumstances to help himself and his aunts make it out unscathed.

Ben Christmas will play the role of Johnathan Brewster, the brother of

ARSENIC &

OLD LACE

Jenn McFadden, The Reflector

the lead in “Arsenic and Old Lace.” He said the entire cast is looking forward to being able to share what they have been working on with the world.

“I’m excited and I know the whole cast is excited,” Christmas said. “It’ll be a fun show and just a little crazy.

Thead said people of all ages can find something to enjoy in “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

THEATRE, 6

6

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2017

@REFLECTORONLINE

Weekend events in Starkville range from concerts to shopping WILL WELLS

for free until 10 p.m.

LIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

While many students will have a lightning focus on Mississippi State University’s first football game of the season on Saturday, there are a variety of other events scheduled to take place this weekend.

With a variety of musical performances taking place on Friday and Saturday night, every music lover will find an artist who fits their personal taste.

For fans of shopping, Bulldog Brunch and Browse will allow locals and visitors alike to stop in some of Starkville’s most popular stores during their extended hours on Sunday.

Night Market

To kick off the first football weekend of the year in Starkville the Greater Starkville Development partnership will host Night Market. This event, which is kicking off this year’s first New South Weekend, will feature a variety of vendors, including many local resturaunts and retailers, in an open air market.

The Night Market will run from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday at Fire Station Park.

Rooster Blues concert

Rooster Blues will play at 10 p.m.

Friday at Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern. The band has played at Dave’s frequently and with good reason; the Hattiesburg-based duo is a big crowd pleaser.

There will be a $5 cover beginning at 8:30 p.m. for men, while women can enter

U.S. concert

U.S. will perform at 10 p.m. on Friday at Rick’s Cafe. The band U.S. performs covers of 1980s hair metal songs. The doors will open two hours before the performance begins. General admission tickets can be purchased in advance on Rick’s website for $8.

Karaoke

Individuals who prefer to take part in their entertainment can participate in karaoke from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Saturday at Rosey Baby.

Bill Cooke concert

Those unfamiliar with Bill Cooke might be surprised to hear a professor of geosciences performing at Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern, but after hearing Cooke they will understand why he is a regular performer on many local stages.

Saturday is ladies’ night at Dave’s, meaning women can see the performance for free. Men will have to pay a $10 cover charge if they arrive after 8:30 p.m. Cooke will perform at 10 p.m. Saturday at Dave’s Dark Horse Tavern.

The Spunk Monkees concert

The Spunk Monkees are a Tupelo based group has played covers of 80s rock songs to audiences across the United States, including a performance

Jennifer McFadden, The Reflector

in Anchorage, Alaska. The group will perform at 10 p.m. on Saturday at Rick’s Cafe. The doors will open at 8 p.m. for the show and tickets are between $5 and $10. You must be at least 18 years old to attend this performance.

New South Weekends. During Bulldog Brunch and Browse, 15 Main Street member shops will have special hours.

The event will take place at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Bulldog Brunch and Browse

Moore has toured the south and played country music for over a decade. He toured nationally alongside Maroon 5 and Hootie and the Blowfish. He is playing at 10 p.m. Saturday at Cowbells Sports Grill.

The concert is $10, 18 and up.

Anyone who likes to spend their free time shopping should head downtown on Sunday for the Bulldog Brunch and Browse, an event part of the Greater Starkville Development Partnership’s

J. R. Moore concert

THEATRE “It appeals to a lot of different people,” Thead said. “Comedies are good like that because everyone wants to see something

Continued from page 5

that’s funny. Especially in this day and age, people want to be amused.”

While humor is subjective, Thead said she has no doubts this play will be a success.

“It’s quirky. It’s dark, but it’s funny,” Thead said.

“When someone is thrown into a crazy situation like the characters in this play, you know it’s going to be funny.”

Casting for “Arsenic and Old Lace” was completed at the end of July, with practice for the play starting

immediately. Since then, the cast has worked full-force

decisions and believes everyone cast fits into their

“Even if you are not somebody who regularly goes to the theatre, you can still relate to what will be happening.”

-Karen Thead, Director in order to have everything ready for opening night.

Thead said she is very confident about the casting

roles perfectly.

Thead said she has worked on ideas for set design since she learned she

would be directing “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

“When I read the script and found out I was going to be doing the show, I started designing the set,” Thead said. “That was done early in the process.”

Thead said planning for costumes began shortly after set design began “We are trying to go very period for the 40s, and we have a lot of great costumes picked out that represent the era perfectly,” Thead said.

While many people

might not see themselves as “theatre people,” Thead said she hopes that everyone will give “Arsenic and Old Lace”a chance.

“Even if you are not somebody who regularly goes to the theatre, you can still relate to what will be happening,” Thead said.

“There are going to be many similarities to what you see in TV dramas or sitcoms. The only change is that you’re going to be seeing it live, which will make a difference in a good way.”

7

THE REFLECTOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 @SPORTSREFLECTOR

SPORTS

Fitzgerald, Bulldogs open season against Charleston Southern from 2002-2003 at the University of Utah. After several stints on pro teams, Elliott traded in the helmet for a headset.

He worked under Mullen as a graduate assistant and then as an offensive quality control coach, where he worked closely with Dak Prescott and at-the-time red shirt freshman Nick Fitzgerald. After the historic 2014 season, Elliott left MSU to pursue other coaching opportunities.

Returning to the fold in spring of this year, Elliott’s pre-existing relationship with Fitzgerald provided a smooth transition for both player and coach. No longer the raw freshman he once was, Fitzgerald, with Elliott’s help, is now focusing on the intricacies of the QB position.

“We have a great relationship,” Fitzgerald said.

“Just working on the small things, tweaking throwing

JOSH BECK

STAFF WRITER

With second year starter Nick Fitzgerald at the helm, the Mississippi State University Bulldogs aim to reach new heights as they open their season tomorrow against Charleston Southern University.

The Dak hangover is officially over, as Fitzgerald squashed any quarterback controversies. Last season, Fitzgerald proved to his teammates and MSU fans alike he is the man for the job.

The dual threat QB blazed past defenses last year for an SEC record of eight 100-yard rushing games for a QB, and said he wants 2017 to be the season he showcases his talent as a passer.

The redshirt junior from Richmond Hill, Georgia, entered this preseason confident in his role on the team. Fitzgerald’s confidence allowed him to focus solely on improving his skills as a QB, without worrying about other players vying for his starting position.

“During camp, I wasn’t worrying about what other guys were doing and what play another quarterback made and how he looks,” Fitzgerald said. “It was more of me going in there focusing on things I need to focus on or working on things I need to work on and building those relationships.”

However, Fitzgerald’s new-found confidence and raw athleticism can only carry him so far. To truly distinguish himself as an elite passer, Fitzgerald will have to rely on new QB coach Brett Elliott.

A former college quarterback himself, Elliott played under Dan Mullen

Noah Siano| The Reflector

Nick Fitzgerald looks down field during MSUʼs upset win over Texas A&M last season.

Bulldog fans can expect a very different defense heading into Saturday’s game. MSU’s new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham hopes to turn the Bulldog’s defense into an offense’s worst nightmare.

“I’m excited. I think our players have worked hard and bought into our system, and now it’s time to go produce and show our abilities,” Grantham said. “We got work to do, and we certainly look forward to playing in front of our home fans and giving them something to be proud of.”

Charleston Southern, a team known for its optionstyle offense, will put pressure on MSU’s defensive front seven. It will be crucial to stymie the Buccaneers’ offense, clear communication between the defensivelineman and linebackers, to understand who has the quarterback and who is getting the pitch-man.

In addition, the

WHiTE It’s a

Out.

mechanics here and there, but mainly he (Elliott) makes sure I’m in the film room learning everything I can.”

This season, Elliott said he looks to improve Fitzgerald’s completion percentage. In the 2016 season, Fitzgerald’s passing completion was second to last in the SEC,

completing only 54.3 percent of his passes.

Elliott believes it is imperative to have at least a 60 percent completion rate to keep the offense moving down the field.

“We just got to get completions, even if it’s a 2-yard check down,” Elliott

said, “It makes people feel good. We get into a rhythm, but then as soon as you throw an incompletion everything stops, the rhythm stops. It’s been a big point for us this preseason.”

While there might be continuity on offense from last season to this season,

Buccaneers’ offensive line tends to line up with wider splits (a gap between each lineman) which will make MSU’s three down linemen’s job harder as they try to plug the gaps.

This game will be a test of discipline for the MSU secondary. The safeties

cannot be lulled to sleep by the Buccaneers’ running game and then exposed by a long play action pass.

It will also be key for the corners to be physical at the line of scrimmage and shed their blocks during option plays to force the runners back into the middle.

MSU’s offense needs to use this game to find their balance for the season. Last year’s offense relied too heavily on Fitzgerald in the running game, ultimately; making the offense one dimensional.

This game should allow starting running back, Aeris Williams, to get plenty of touches and bring balance to the offense.

Similar to the offense as a whole, Fitzgerald needs to equal out his passing attempts per player and not rely heavily on one receiver.

Non-conference games like this should be utilized to build in-game chemistry between quarterback and receivers.

Look to see if the tight ends play a bigger role in the passing offense this season, as Fitzgerald becomes a more consistent pocket passer.

The main goal for the Bulldogs, other than waking up Sunday morning 1-0, will be to get an early lead on CSU and then allow the younger and inexperienced players to get playing time. This experience, while limited, will be fortuitous for the Bulldogs as the season continues and the inevitable injuries start to pile up.

The Bulldogs have the fourth hardest schedule in the SEC this season and cannot afford a mishap in week one.

This is a white-out game and the SEC Network will televise it. The game starts at 3 p.m.

PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2017 SEASON

JOSH BECK Football Beat Writer (9-3, 5-3)

TAYLOR RAYBURN Sports Editor (9-3, 6-2)

MSU 38-10

MSU vs Charleston Southern

MSU 45-7

MSU 24-17

MSU at Louisiana Tech

MSU 35-14

MSU 28-24

MSU vs LSU

MSU 35-17

UGA 21-17

MSU at Georgia

MSU 24-14

AUB 24-10

MSU at Auburn

AUB 21-17

MSU 31-17

MSU vs BYU

BYU 28-21

MSU 35-24

MSU vs Kentucky

MSU 35-14

MSU 24-14

MSU at Texas A&M

MSU 42-14

MSU 38-10

MSU Umass

MSU 51-7

BAMA 38-24

MSU vs Alabama

BAMA 38-10

MSU17-10

MSU at Arkansas

ARKANSAS 21-17

MSU 38-31

MSU vs T.S.U.N.

MSU 42-7

Jennifer McFadden, The Reflector

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8

THE REFLECTOR Friday September 1, 2017

@SPORTSREFLECTOR

Four non-offensive keys for MSU to win 10 games Taylor rayburn SporTS ediTor

Mississippi State University is set to open their season tomorrow against Charleston Southern University and expectations for the team differ depending on who you talk to, but I believe this team is capable of winning 10 games.

To have this successful season, there are eight things, four offensive and four nonoffensive MSU has to do this year. The four offensive ran in Tuesday’s edition of The Reflector.

Going into this season, MSU also has one of the most experienced defensive coordinators in the SEC after hiring Todd Grantham from Louisville. Combine him with Dan Mullen’s stellar offensive play-calling and there is potential for success.

However, in order for MSU to hit that nine or 10-win mark, there are four offensive and four non-offensive keys for MSU this season.

Find a kicker MSU needs to find someone to kick the football through the yellow post.

Oh, the MSU kicker position. How bad have you been over the years?

Going into last year MSU thought they had this problem relatively solved in Westin Graves, but he comes out in the season opening game and misses a game winning field goal against South Alabama and just never mentally recovered afterwards.

MSU was 11-19 last season on field goals. Twentyfour missed points can make a huge difference when MSU lost four games by five points or less last year (including the 7-point BYU loss because it was in overtime, so the game ended in a tie). Not only did MSU miss a lot of field goals, but Mullen changed his play calling because of the lack of a kicker. Towards the end of the season he came close to just abandoning kicking field goals and playing four down football on the opponent’s side of the 50.

Now there are kickers on MSU’s roster. This fall, MSU has seen a three way kicking battle between Tucker Day, Jordan Lawless, and Daniel

Mills. The hope of MSU fans rests on the true freshman, Tucker Day. Day has a leg, he was an U.S. Army AllAmerican at the punter position in high school and ranked as the 10th best punter in his class last year — but that is the catch. He is a punter first, which is not always a skill that translates to kicking field goals. Some punters can kick field goals, a lot cannot. Logan Cooke is MSU’s other punter who has a great leg, has told me he can not really kick field goals.

MSU has some other kickers on the roster, but they did not look good in the spring game. Brad Wall missed a 46-yard field goal and made a 26-yard field goal. Jace Christman missed a 26-yard field goal. So MSU is still looking for the kicker who can kick field goals for MSU’s shot at success this year, MSU fans should hope the Day’s skill translates.

Mullen said the he may not decide on a kicker till just before kickoff.

Healthy secondary The secondary, more specifically the cornerbacks, needs to stay healthy this year.

Now yes, it is important for every team to stay healthy to have success, but MSU has had some terrible luck with their secondary getting hurt. MSU’s secondary was decimated by injuries before the season even started last season.

Tolando Cleveland tore his ACL and missed the whole year and Cedric Jiles

“Combine him (Grantham) with Dan Mullen’s stellar offensive play-calling and there is potential for success.” broke his arm and missed significant time. In 2015, Will Redmond tore his ACL half way through the season and safety Kendrick Market tore his ACL against Texas A&M, just five games into

the season.

Both seasons, especially last year, the injuries hurt the team more than the average injury does. MSU was thin at the corner spot last season even before the injuries. As a result of the injuries, safety Jamal Peters moved to the corner position. The injuries contributed to MSU having the 120th out of 128 teams in FBS in pass yards allowed

MSU has better depth this year than last season. If injuries do occur, Lashard Durr and Cam Dantzler are two more players who could step in. Durr is a senior and Dantzler showed out in the spring game.

A MSU has more players at corner than they have had behind the starters in the past, but MSU has struggled for years to defend the pass

someone to step up. The defensive line does not have a senior player, so it is on younger stars, like Jeffrey Simmons, to step into that role.

The only place on the defense with experience is the linebacker spot with Jung and Dezmond Harris.

Overall someone will need to fill those voids left in the locker room by Brown,

Noah Siano| The Reflector

J.T. Gray makes a tackle during MSU’s 56-41 win over Samford last season. Gray will be a part of Todd Granthams 3-4 defense tomorrow.

last season.

By the season’s end, Peters began to play well and figure out how to play the position. Peters, a 4-star recruit (at safety) out of Bassfield, has the talent and length to play there. He is 6’2 with good athleticism and speed. It is just a matter of him staying healthy and learning the position.

Tolando Cleveland is really the only corner who has locked down a starting job and will look to return to form after his ACL injury.

The hope is that the injury does not slow him down.

Cleveland will be a fifth year senior and saw time in 2014 when Redmond was injured. MSU mainly needs to keep the corners healthy because they have already lost two cornerbacks this offseason.

Jamoral Graham left the team in the spring and Cedric Jiles transferred over the summer to Wake Forest University.

and they can not afford injuries in the secondary.

Fill leadership void Players need to step up and fill the leadership void left by A.J. Jefferson, Richie Brown, and Kivon Coman.

The biggest loss from last season to this season is not just the talent MSU lost in the defensive trio last year, but the veteran presence and the leadership they provided.

Every week Richie Brown and A.J. Jefferson would talk to the media and were the leaders on team.

The offense has leaders in Nick Fitzgerald and Donald Gray, but the defense lost their leaders on all three defensive levels. There are multiple candidates to step up. Gerri Green talked this spring about having to step into Richie Brown’s shoes.

Tolando Cleveland is another senior who could step into that roll in the secondary.

The defensive line is the biggest question mark for

Jefferson and Coman. These three provided as much benefit off the field as on it and if MSU wants to succeed this season they need someone to keep the defense together in the locker room.

Bring pressure Gerri Green and the other outside players have to put pressure on the quarterback.

Grantham joined the Bulldog staff in January.

Grantham is the fourth defensive coordinator MSU has had in as many years.

Grantham previously led the defenses of the University of Georgia and the University of Louisville.

Grantham brings the ability to bring pressure to the quarterback from the outside linebacker position.

MSU has the athletes at linebacker to fit Grantham’s scheme with Gerri Green, a former four-star recruit out of Greenville, who is a freak athlete and Traver Jung, a three-star junior college linebacker who played at Holmes Community College.

MSU struggled to get into the backfield last season, as they only sacked the quarterback 24 times. This put them at ninth in the SEC and 21 sacks behind first place team Alabama.

Traver Jung was MSU’s leading linebacker in sacks with seven but finished 12th in the conference among linebackers. MSU struggled to get pressure off the edge last season which was a big part of the reason they ranked 110th in total defense.

Grantham has a history of producing great outside pass rushers in Jarvis Jones and Justin Houston. Both outside linebackers, Jones was the SEC defensive player of the year in 2012 as well as being an All-American in 2011 and 2012, and Houston was an all-American at outside linebacker in 2010.

He runs a 3-4 scheme that Gerri Green said was very similar to a 4-2-5 at times. Green, Montez Sweat and Marquiss Spencer can all expect to play “Buck” linebacker as they called it in the spring. “Buck” linebacker is similar to what Grantham did with Houston and Jones— a linebacker who hybrids down to a defensive end a lot of the time. Green has talked about how badly he wants to get pressure on the QB this season in fall camp.

The position is designed to get pressure on the QB. This will be a welcome sign for MSU fans, because MSU has struggled to generate pressure in the last couple years, and their defensive numbers have been affected by it. If MSU wants to win 10 games this year, they have to get stops, which will happen if MSU can generate pressure.