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132nd YEAR ISSUE 6

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

PETA demands investigation of MSU meat lab workers KATIE POE

STAFF WRITER

On Sept. 7, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent an official letter to Mississippi State University’s police department asking for an investigation to be launched against the university’s meat laboratory workers for failing to stun cows before killing them.

The letter indicated that the conduct seems to defy Section 97-41-1 of the Mississippi code which states, “[I]f any person shall intentionally or with criminal negligence . . . torture, torment, unjustifiably injure . . . or cruelly beat or needlessly mutilate . . . any living creature, every such offender shall, for every offense, be guilty of a misdemeanor.”

PETA is armed with

People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

two U.S. Department of Agriculture records which outline the details of both incidences, which occurred March 2 and Aug. 17.

The March report states an MSU team member using a “knock box” ineffectively stunned a steer, whose neck was then slashed while it was conscious. The

bleeding animal stood up and walked around for three minutes while workers fired a second captive-bolt shot into his neck and, finally, a third into his head.

In August, the USDA reports that a team member initiated a captive-bolt shot into a cow’s head, and after the shot the bovine was

still standing, vocalizing and making eye movement.

Then a worker cut the cow’s throat while the animal was still fully conscious.

“PETA is calling for a criminal investigation of this slaughterhouse and the workers who caused a steer to stagger about with blood pouring from his neck,” says PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch. “There’s no difference between the pain and terror that these animals felt and the way that dogs or cats would feel if their throats were slit while they were fully conscious.”

However, the university claims PETA is distorting the information. MSU Chief of Communications Officer Sid Salter was reported in the Starkville Daily News saying the incidents were due to new equipment failing. Salter

said the meat laboratory, located on 850 Stone Boulevard, closed for a period after the incidents in order to find a solution.

He said the school and USDA have now reached resolutions.

PETA attorney Melissa Wilson said the meat laboratory workers should still be held accountable.

“MSU’s misleading claims—which dodge responsibility for workers who repeatedly cut the throats of fully conscious cattle at its slaughterhouse— only demonstrate the necessity of PETA’s call for a criminal investigation, which we reiterate,” Wilson said. “MSU personnel—not the box where cattle are restrained while a bolt is driven into their skulls— are responsible for cutting into these animals’ throats while they could feel pain and while one was even still

standing upright.”

Salter was quoted in the SND saying the knock box does subdue animals; however, there is “wiggle room.”

Wilson said while there is no humane way to kill animals, the workers should at least stand up to the law’s standards.

“There is no ‘wiggle room’ in the decades-old federal law that requires that cattle be stunned before their jugular veins are cut or the state law that bars humans from unjustifiably injuring an animal,” Wilson said. “There is no such thing as humane slaughter, but this slaughterhouse and its workers must meet at least the bare minimum standards of the law and ensure that cattle are unconscious before slashing their throats and hanging them up to bleed out.”

Brooklyn Prewett | The Reflector

MSU’s Pi Kapp chapter partnered with the Special Education department of SOCSD to put on Bulldogs on the Move, a regular event that helps students with disabilities.

Lindsay Pace | The Reflector

Mississippi State University students had the opportunity to decorate lantern bags with encouraging words to support suicide awareness and prevention. The lanterns lined the trail of a Suicide Prevention and Awareness 5K and Fun Run that occurred Sunday night, hosted by Living for Tomorrow, a student organization on campus.

JOSH BECK

‘Living for Tomorrow’ spreads suicide awareness on MSU campus KATIE POE

STAFF WRITER

Living For Tomorrow, an organization focused on mental health awareness, hosted its first 5K and one-mile remembrance walk this weekend.

About 100 people showed up to run or walk a on Sunday night, commencing National Suicide Prevention Week.

The participants accessorized themselves with glow sticks— purple for suicide prevention and green for mental health. They were encouraged on their route by bright lanterns with messages written on them, such as “Don’t give up” and “You got this.”

Living for Tomorrow director Layton Little said he became involved with the organization because of a scholarship he received his freshman year.

The scholarship is given in memory of a student who committed suicide in his first year at a four-year university.

“The similarities between their son and myself were crazy,” Little said. “We played the same sports in high school, we were in the same leadership positions in high school and same leadership positions in my fraternity. I just realized that this person had everything put together and was going far and in one instant he decided to take his life. That could happen to me, that could happen to my best friend or my brother or sister. I just felt the need to start this and raise awareness on Mississippi State’s campus for a topic that’s not typically discussed unless you’re personally affected by it.”

McKenzie Amis, an MSU senior and Living For Tomorrow’s

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co-director of the week, said the organization is partnering with Student Counseling to do anonymous, free mental health testing on the Drill Field today.

Then, the group is doing a project called “Dear MSU.” Amis said the idea stemmed from an endeavor called “Dear World.”

“Basically, we’re going to take a photograph without the students’ faces in it where they can write down just a sentence or two, a story about themselves or maybe how they struggled,” she said.

Tonight there is a lantern release in remembrance of those who committed suicide. It begins at 8 p.m. at Chadwick Lake.

On Wednesday, there will be a backpack display where each backpack represents a student who commits suicide every year at four-year universities.

LIVING, 2

FORECAST: Clouds and cooler temperatures will stick with Reader’s Guide: us for the next couple of days with Irma moving through.

Bad Dawgs

By Wednesday afternoon into the evening, we’ll start to clear out just a bit while staying in the 70’s. Sunny skies and Bulletin Board 80’s return heading into the end of the week.

-Damon Matson, Campus Connect Meteorologist

‘Bulldogs on the Move’ serves SOCSD students with disabilities

Opinion Contact Info

The sound of laughter and euphoria quickly fill the cavernous indoor tennis court as local elementary school students stream into McCarthy Gymnasium on the Mississippi State University campus.

Immediately, the MSU student-volunteers are put to work with requests to play catch, tag and give piggyback rides.

With smiles from ear to ear, running in no distinct pattern, these children are guided by what catches their eye next. Many types of balls fill the air, whizzing past people, and yet no teacher tries to implement order to the seemingly chaotic atmosphere; this is the children’s time.

At “Bulldogs on the Move,” the ability to play far outweighs any of the elementary school students’ disabilities.

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Puzzles Classifieds Life&Entertainment Sports

It is an event where a high-five can fix most things and a smile or laugh convey more than even the most eloquent of sentences.

Bulldogs on the Move is a partnered philanthropy event created by the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and the Special Education department of the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District. It was inspired by Pi Kappa Phi’s national philanthropy organization “The Ability Experience,” a program designed to serve and raise awareness for people with disabilities.

MSU’s “Pi Kapp” chapter founded Bulldogs on the Move in 2013 to support children with disabilities in Starkville.

Harrison Bond, a sophomore from Cumming, Georgia, serves as the philanthropy chair for MSU Pi Kapp.

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Policy: Any person may pick up a single copy of The Reflector for free. Additional copies may be obtained from the Henry Meyer Student Media Center for 25 cents per copy.

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

@REFLECTORONLINE

BULLDOGS

BAD DAWGS Thursday, September 6 6:13 a.m. Student reported her vehicle was hit while parked in the Sessums Hall parking lot.

Friday, September 8 11:06 a.m. Student reported her vehicle burglarized while parked at Fresh Foods.

8:03 p.m. Student reported his bicycle stolen from a bike rack at Oak Hall.

Sunday, September 10 6:10 p.m. Student reported receiving unwanted text messages from an unknown person.

10:37 p.m. Resident of city/county was issued an arrest citation on Blackjack Rd. for failure to dim headlights and possession of marijuana.

The landscape contracting major said he has always enjoyed the Bulldogs on the Move events, but now he finds immense value in coordinating them.

“It has been cool to talk with the people from the school system and to see how much the kids really love it and hear them ask ‘Why haven’t we done it yet?’ It’s just a lot of fun,” Bond said.

Over 50 students from four different elementary schools participated in Bulldogs on the Move.

Many did not know each other before arriving but seemed like best friends by the event’s end.

Tiffany Livingston, a special education teacher at Sudduth Elementary, understands the importance of Bulldogs on the Move from both an educator’s perspective and as a person who simply cares for her students.

“They’re not always my students. I need to play and have fun with them as well, but it’s fun to watch them

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let loose because we can’t always do that in a classroom setting,” Livingston said.

In addition, Livingston said there are significant educational benefits for her students on top of all the

her students’ ability to focus when they return to school after Bulldogs on the Move.

While the event is organized by Pi Kapp, they encourage any student to come and support the cause.

“It’s a cliché, but you never realize how much something little can make a difference, so just being here for an hour makes their entire week. They just look forward to coming to the MSU campus and just throwing the football with us or getting a piggyback ride.”

-Harrison Bond, Pi Kapp Philanthropy Chair fun and excitement.

The SPED teacher said the large and open environment helps her students with autism cope with sensory overload.

She also said there is a noticeable improvement in

Haleigh Smith, a senior from Biloxi, uses Bulldogs on the Move to reset after a long school week.

“It’s a good stress relief—it is easy to come for an hour on a Friday. We are just coming here to spend

time with them. They’ve had a hard week, too, so we can come together and just hang out and play and get to know them,” the biological science major said.

As the song “Closing Time” ushered the elementary students out of the gym, it was hard not to see the change in the overall atmosphere.

College students who had not known each other before the event were now laughing and joking as they collected the scattered balls and frisbees; they were brought together by a group of students with the ability to unify.

“It’s a cliché, but you never realize how much something little can make a difference,” Bond said. “So just being here for an hour makes their entire week.

They just look forward to coming to the MSU campus and just throwing the football with us or getting a piggyback ride.”

Upcoming Bulldogs on the Move dates are Sept. 22, Oct. 13 and 27, and Nov. 10.

LIVING

CONTINUED FROM 1

Lindsay Pace| The Reflector

Taylor Reeves, a sophomore marketing major, cheers as he completes a 5K race Sunday night. The event raised awareness for suicide prevention.

Wednesday night, Andy Taggart from Madison, Mississippi, is coming to speak on behalf of his son, Brad.

This event will be in the Colvard Student Union, but the room is to be decided.

“I can’t remember how many years ago, but they came and spoke to my high school, and I just know that it meant a lot to people to hear just how you should care and love on people,” Amis said. “You can never tell what’s going on with somebody.”

On Thursday, the organization hosts “Take What You Need, Give

What You Can” on the Drill Field. This event includes passing out Post-Its with words of encouragement written on them.

There are also blank ones, if people want to write their own messages.

Amis said she wants to see them spread all over campus.

“Our main goal this week is just to make people feel like they are important and loved and valued as a student because I know sometimes you feel disconnected at college,” she said.

Then, on Saturday, Living for Tomorrow has

5,000 game day stickers to pass out with “Beat LSU” written on them, and they are passing out suicide prevention ribbons, which are teal and purple.

Amis said although she has not been directly affected by suicide, she was able to connect with other students who have gone through difficult times through this group.

“After being able to talk with students who have friends and family (who have dealt with this), I was able to make a personal connection and was able to serve in a bigger capacity,” Amis said.

Don’t miss out on the extraordinary.

Do the unexpected.

Apply by October 1: peacecorps.gov/apply

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 @REFLECTORONLINE

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT The Reflector 9/12/17 Sudoku

Local band battles its way to Bulldog Bash’s main stage

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

COURTNEY O’BRIEN STAFF WRITER

Hood Baby and the Barnacles won the right to open for Friday’s Bulldog Bash at Music Maker’s Presents’ annual Battle of the Bands on Thursday in Lee Hall.

This year’s Bulldog Bash is expected to have about 35,000 attendees. The Bash is free with no minimum age requirements.

Six local bands competed in this year’s battle.

Allie Nichols, artists relations chair of Music Makers Presents and a junior from Gulfport said this year’s Battle of the Bands was a great success.

“We had a diverse lineup of local bands,” said Nichols. “I think Hood Baby and the Barnacles will do a great opening on the Bash stage.”

This year’s Bulldog Bash, which is the largest free outdoor concert in our state, is mixing it up a little.

For the first the first time ever, the event will not be held in the Cotton District.

Instead, it will be held in Downtown Starkville, at the corner of Main and Jackson streets.

Bulldog Bash kicks off at 2 p.m. on Friday with the

musician for over half a decade now, and I can absolutely say that this is the best project I’ve ever been a part of,” Carver said. “I think you can really feel that we have something special going on.”

Wes Toner, guitarist for Hood Baby and the Barnacles, said he could not be more excited for the opportunity winning Battle of the Bands provided his band with.

“It’s incredible that we’ve been able to find this kind of chemistry after such a short amount of time playing together,” Toner said. “It’s only been a handful of weeks, and the music comes out so organically.”

After Hood Baby and the Barnacles play, bands Vinyl Theater and Elliott Root will play before Jeremy Hinds| The Reflector DNCE, the Bulldog Bash Hood Baby and the Barnacles will open Bulldog Bash this Friday. The band is made up of lead singer Ronnie Bullock, drummer Jalen Jackson, bassist Garrett Caver and guitarist Wes Toner. headliners.

Vinyl Theater, an indie Maroon Market, an event drummer. “Ever since I we’re excited to play,” said at Rick’s Cafe in the past, rock band from Wisconsin, featuring lines of vendors started playing drums, I Ronnie Bullock, the band’s including a recent concert recently toured with Twentyselling local art and culinary always imagined playing on lead singer. “I’ve wanted where the group OnePuzzleJunction.com Pilots, while Elliott opened Copyright ©2017 treats. the big stage for thousands to do something of this for the 2016 Battle of the Root is an alternative band The Maroon Market will of people. Now that dream caliber for as long as I can Bands’ winner, Jake Slinkard from Nashville, Tennessee end at 6 p.m. when Hood is finally a reality.” remember. This group is & Co. with a new album.

Baby and the Barnacles Hood Baby and the the reason I wake up in the DNCE, a dance-rock Garret Carver, Hood takes the stage.

Barnacles is a Starkville morning every day. Playing Baby’s bass player, said band fronted by Joe Jonas, “Playing Bash is a based band whose music with them is truly an honor.” being a part of the group is is expected to take the dream come true,” said features rock, soul and funk.

Some students might very rewarding. stage at 7 p.m. on Friday in Chase Carlton, the band’s “We’re still in shock, but have seen the group play “I’ve been a gigging Downtown Starkville.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Mississippi will celebrate its 200th birthday this year on Dec. 10.

In honor of this momentous occasion, the Mississippi Humanities Council and Visit Mississippi are sponsoring a statewide celebration, much of which is taking place on Mississippi State University’s campus.

One of the celebration’s first events was a lecture given by MSU’s own Jim Giesen, associate history professor, entitled “Farming in Mississippi: A Brief History.”

Giesen spoke about three different periods in Mississippi’s history and the impact things like slavery or the boll weevil had on the state.

“Lots of people around the world think of Mississippi as a place apart from the rest of the nation,” Giesen said.

Giesen said Mississippi is a place with a rich, unique history, and he hopes by learning a little bit about the state’s history in farming, people learned Mississippi connects with the rest of the world through agriculture.

Giesen’s lecture is just one of many that will take place

udoku

throughout the celebration.

On Wednesday, Donald Shaffer, associate English professor, will give a lecture called “Writing Across the Color Line.”

Then, in mid-October, art professor Brent Funderburk will speak on the importance

“Mississippi is a dynamic place, but we still have those core values that make people feel like they’re Mississippians.”

-Amy MoeHoffman, chair of the Museums and Galleries Committee. of art and landscape and how they influence each other.

Just a few days later, Jeff Harris, research professor of biochemistry, molecular biology, and entomology, will speak on Mississippi’s history of bee-keeping.

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On the night of Harris’s lecture, MSU’s Bug Zoo will open for visitors 4 years and older beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The Old Main Gallery will also host the exhibit “Symbols of Our State: A Walk Through Mississippi Culture and Industry,” which will showcase different objects and artifacts from Mississippi’s history.

There will be an opening reception at 5 through 7 p.m. on Sept. 22 After this reception, the exhibit will be open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov. 29.

Amy Moe-Hoffman, chair of the Museums and Galleries Committee, said she hopes people from all over Mississippi feel welcomed to participate.

“There is something The Reflector 9/12/17 Crossword interesting for everybody,” Hoffman said. “I hope that they take away a sense of belonging, whether they’re long-term residents or Across 1 new here. Mississippi is a 13 dynamic place, but we still 1 Sleeveless have those core values that garment 16 make people feel like they’re 5 Colossal Mississippians.”

19 Visit the MSU Museums 9 Carpentry tool 13 Hindu sage and Galleries page on Facebook for more 14 Pop information about the 15 Come into view 26 27 celebration and for updates 16 Comforts 35 17 Barber’s job on upcoming events.

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

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MSU celebrates Mississippi’s birthday LINDSEY DOWNS

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Alphonse 48 Suffix with 26 1962 Jimmy 47 Some brews social Down Stewart comedy, 50 Composition 49 Fajita filler Mr. ___ Takes a 52 Gypsy’s deck 51 Rebellious 1 Medicine bottle Vacation 53 Glimpse Turner 2 To be, to Tiberius 27 Cupid’s projectile 54 Narrative 53 Use acid 3 Prune 28 Not fresh 55 Mountain goat’s 56 Resort 4 Cold aid 30 Refinable rock perch 57 Small terrestrial 5 id ___; n’ -ce-pas? 32 Mite 58 Whipped up lizards 6 Foreboding 33 French 59 Chop-chop 61 Rani’s wear 7 High degree of impressionist 60 Cambodian coin 62 Variety foolishness Edgar 63 Your (Fr.)

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 @REFLECTORONLINE

OPINION

! !!!

For years, the Rohingya Muslims have suffered at the hands of the Myanmar (formerly Burmese) government.

Even though they can trace their lineage inside of the country back to the 19th century, the Rohingyas had their citizenship rights stricken and are officially regarded by the government as foreigners.

According to CNN, since the Rohingyas are not regarded as citizens of the country, they do not have access to the services and resources officiallyrecognized citizens are able to use.

Despite it seeming like the Myanmar government does not want them, Rohingya Muslims are not allowed to leave their region of the country, which is known as the Rakhine State, where most of them live in government-sanctioned tent cities.

This combination of abuses has led several human rights groups to refer to the Rohingya Muslims as the

! !!!

is state counsellor of Myanmar and leader of the National League for Democracy. For years, she was a symbol of peaceful activism in Southeast Asia, as she worked to bring democracy to her home nation.

She helped her country reach democracy despite her habitual jailing—a punishment she received for speaking against the state.

According to the BBC, Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for her work, which elevated her to a position of global recognition.

In 2015, it seemed her struggles finally paid off when she was elected as the civilian leader of Myanmar, a moment met with praise from world leaders.

It is this incredible story of perseverance and persistence that makes it so hard to swallow her inaction regarding one of the most pressing human rights issues in the world.

Suu Kyi’s appears as though she is trying her hardest to avoid the conflict.

Despite the fact Suu Kyi rose to prominence for being a defender of citizens against an oppressive government, she has chosen to maintain a mostly neutral stance on this issue.

Her most recent statement on the matter seems almost in defense of the government, as she said

!!!! !! !!!

STEVEN WEIRICH

is a senior majoring in economics. Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

most persecuted minorities on Earth.

Unfortunately for these oppressed people, circumstances recently went from bad to worse.

It is common for the Rohingyas to attempt to flee to other countries.

This year, the UN Refugee Agency estimated 270,000 Rohingyas people have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh.

This was spurred by recent conflicts between the Burmese military and members of the Rohingya, whom the government claims attacked police posts.

According to BBC, the Rohingyas fleeing into Bangladesh have claimed military forces, as well as armed Buddhist citizens, lit their tent homes ablaze and fired shots at the occupants.

As expected, some military leaders contradicted details of the stories.

However, there is no way to deny that the Burmese military appears to be targeting Rohingya Muslims with a fresh round of violence and persecution, which has caused hundreds of thousands to flee for other countries.

With all of the injustices the Rohingya people face, it is important to look to leaders for guidance and support of these oppressed people. The person with the loudest voice is Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi’s official title

!!! ! !!!! ! !!!! !! !!! ! ! !! !

A leader’s silence is endangering her people

Jennifer McFadden, The Reflector

they were doing all they could.

Other world leaders were not afraid to decry the situation. The UN’s special rapporteur for human rights in Myanmar, Yanghee Lee, expressed his disapproval of her inaction.

“The de facto leader needs to step in—that is what we would expect from any government, to protect everybody within their own jurisdictions,” Lee said.

Other human rights’ figures such as Desmond Tutu and Malala Yousafzai have also spoken out in support of the Rohingyas.

According to an article in the Washington Post

by Ishaan Tharoor, this

pattern of indifference is unfortunately not out of step with what Suu Kyi has failed to do in the past.

It is still nearly impossible for humanitarian resources of any kind to reach the Rohingya people, and independent news media is mostly restricted from fully investigating the events in the Rakhine State.

Combining these past failures to act with Suu Kyi’s current lack of response to the aggressions by the Myanmar military, it paints a devastating picture of a leader without the intestinal fortitude to confront the dire issues facing the Rohingya Muslims.

Of course, some of

her defenders note it is challenging for the de facto civilian leader to directly confront a military that was once her jailer. However, this is not an excuse history will smile upon.

The greatest power Suu Kyi possesses is the ability to speak out against violence and to speak for the Rohingya people. The fact she has not done so already will undoubtedly tarnish the sterling reputation she once possessed.

Her inaction will continue to endanger the lives of thousands of innocent people who have already suffered enough at the hands of the Myanmar government.

DeVos fails sexual assault Diversity means nothing victims on college campuses unless people take action

DYLAN BUFKIN

is a freshman majoring in communication.

Contact him at opinion@reflector. msstate.edu.

According to the National Sexual Violence Research Center, one in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted in some way during college.

In addition, an estimated 90 percent of all sexual assaults against women in college go unreported.

If this sounds like a monumental problem, that’s because it is. The odds of college students suffering from either rape, domestic abuse, stalking or sexual harassment before leaving their collegiate experiences are horrifically high.

Former President Barack Obama attempted to tackle this issue head-on in his controversial 2011 “Dear Colleague” letter, which laid out guidelines for campuses to combat sexual assault. Many of the programs pushed by Obama, like Haven Sexual Assault training, are at Mississippi State University.

While successful at

Title IX Jenn McFadden, TR

MSU, the guidelines set by the Obama Administration were not always followed as logically on other campuses.

Janet Halley, a Harvardeducated feminist law expert, describes the mass over-corrections made by terrified college administrators in a letter to the Department of Education.

After all, Obama’s guidelines threatened to remove federal funding if ignored, and many colleges scrambled to meet deadlines by cobbling together new unfair policies.

This leads us to Betsy DeVos, the current secretary of education, and her decision to rescind the Obama-era guidelines.

DeVos asked Congress to make laws changing how campuses deal with sexual assault, calling the former program a failure and an outrage.

The people who used Haven to deal with the unspeakable acts committed against them must be extremely hurt by DeVos’ flippancy.

Did the Obama-era guidelines always work as they were supposed to?

No. There were cases in which a college’s sexual assault policies allowed for unreasonable blame to be thrust onto unsuspecting persons.

Because the guidelines were not entirely dependable, there should be legislation uniformly dealing with sexual assault on every campus in the U.S. This legislation should give fair treatment to both parties involved.

However, the mere idea of a better program does not justify the disparaging and politicizing of a system which helped many receive closure after sexual assault.

If DeVos truly wanted to help, she would have announced plans for legislation to bolster and define Title IX practices in schools countrywide.

Instead, like the current administration is known to do, DeVos created a cruel political circus by condemning and nullifying Obama’s program.

CONTACT INFORMATION Editor in Chief/Emmalyne Kwasny

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is a junior majoring in communication and The Reflector opinion editor. Contact her at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

Over Labor Day weekend, I had the opportunity to go to the Big Dawgs Leadership Summit as one of the representatives for The Reflector. The Big Dawgs are the leaders of the most prominent and impactful student organizations at Mississippi State University.

While we were there, we heard a lot about how to better reach out to the diverse demographics at MSU. Then, a representative for the Student Veteran’s Association, Daniel Wells, who served in the United States Air Force for six years, stood up to say something that silenced the room.

Wells told us MSU’s “diversity” is used as a bragging right when it really should not be a word used flippantly.

Diversity means nothing until we bridge the gap and get to know one another.

While diversity is a great thing, it does nothing for us unless we act on it for

“Diversity means nothing until we bridge the gap and get to know one another.”

Today, she is only 63 years old. Segregation is not such an old phenomenon.

How are we supposed to tackle something like diversity when it is on such a large scale? After all, millennials are constantly being told we are ruining America and society.

However, we really hold the power in our hands. We may not be able to afford a house, but we can change the way people feel.

In order to do this, we all have to start taking steps to better ourselves.

One of the best ways to become a better person is by meeting more people— people completely different from you.

Only knowing cookiecutter versions of yourself will never help you grow.

It will never help you see different perspectives and walks of life.

Talk to someone who celebrates a different religion—you do not have to agree with it, but it is so important for you to understand it and respect their right to believe in something.

Talk to someone with a different economic status than yours, a different race or a different ethnicity. Get to know people and imagine yourself in their places.

Imagine what it took them to get to where they are now.

If we continue to gravitate toward ourselves, we will never learn or grow. Making a difference will not be easy.

You will be uncomfortable at times, and you will disagree with cultures and viewpoints, but if we are in a constant state of comfort, we will never change.

Instead of judging, we need to start trying to understand people.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Life Editor/Will Wells

325-7905 editor@reflector.msstate.edu

News Editor/Devin Edgar

KRISTINA DOMITROVICH

ourselves. Whatever your political ideology is, however you interpret top news stories and scandals, we can all agree: something is wrong in America.

There is too much unrest, injustice and prejudice to be ignored. People are constantly saying we have come a long way as a country, and sometimes they may add there is still further we have to go.

However, while we may have come a long way, most people do not realize just how close our past looms in the rear view mirror.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, Ruby Bridges was the first African American to attend a white school in the South.

Her first day at the segregated elementary school was in 1960.

Circulation/Erin Blake circulation@reflector.msstate.edu

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.

Letters must include name and telephone number for verification purposes. The editor reserves the right to edit or refuse to publish a letter.

EDITORIAL POLICY

The Reflector is the official student newspaper of Mississippi State University.

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

CORRECTIONS

The Reflector staff strives to maintain the integrity of this paper through accurate and honest reporting. If we publish an error we will correct it. To report an error, call 325-7905.

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2017 @SPORTSREFLECTOR

SPORTS

Soccer dogs lose perfect season, look ahead to SEC play

were obviously the better team and the fact that we were already down 1-0,” Robicheaux said. “I had the opportunity to score and I said to myself this needs to go in because we are better

than this team, we should be beating this team.”

MSU did not only win the time of possession battle, but was statistically superior in all other areas.

MSU led in corner kicks as well as only allowing four shots on goal. USA had 14 fouls to MSU’s nine including two yellow cards on the Jaguars.

The score remained 1-1 until the end of the game, and through two overtime periods, but the team and coaches are already moving on to the next stretch of games. The Bulldogs begin SEC play on Friday with an away game against Arkansas in Fayetteville.

“We’ve got to recover and get our bodies and minds right, with our day off and just get ready to prepare for them, because it’s going to be by far the most difficult game we’ve played so far,” Anagnost said.

Anagnost spoke highly of Arkansas and talked

leader. I can’t have room for errors or a bad attitude because people are watching me.”

Coach Schaefer and the 10 returning Bulldogs have welcomed their newcomers with open arms. With strong leadership and a solid support system, they should not have trouble finding their identity.

Blair Schaefer also sees the importance of building chemistry before attacking their goals this season.

“I think they’ve gelled tremendously well,” Blair Schaefer said. “I definitely think our chemistry is growing. It’s a process, but we’re doing great.”

The Bulldogs 2017-2018 roster consists of six guards.

This is the first time coach Schaefer will have such depth and talent at guard, as freshmen Nyah Tate and Myah Taylor begin their journey in college basketball.

In the backcourt, the Bulldogs add Australian

freshman Chloe Bibby at the forward position.

Bibby’s challenge will be transitioning from international-style basketball to college basketball.

Previously, Bibby represented the Australian national U-18 team, where she won gold at the 2016 FIBA Oceania U-18 Championship in Fiji.

“She looks good and runs the floor well,” coach Schaefer said. “You are going to find that she’s a really skilled basketball player. The only thing young about her is her classification. She’s played a lot of competitive basketball. It shows.”

The goal remains the same for the Bulldogs this season: win the minute, win the hour and win the day.

“We’ve got large guard combinations,” coach Schaefer said. “These kids know that I don’t have a starting five. I want to see who wants to come to the top. Sometimes it’s not those first five.”

MELISSA WEITZEL STAFF WRITER

It was a day of frustration for the Mississippi State University women’s soccer team, after two overtime periods and more than 110 minutes of play, State lost its perfect record on a 1-1 draw with the University of South Alabama.

While MSU (6-0-1) was in control of the ball for most of the game, shooting 24 shots compared to USA’s (2-4-1) 10, this was not reflected in the overall score.

Head coach Tom Anagnost acknowledged this discrepancy after the game.

“We had the ball most of the time, so we need to do a better job in the build of making decisions and connecting and distribution decisions, technically and tactically we were below average and it showed on the score board,” Anagnost said. “We had 24 shots and a lot of them weren’t on target

Alayna Stevens| The Reflector

Senior forward Mallory Eubanks, of Lexington, Kentucky, fights off the South Alabama defender during MSUʼs 1-1 tie on Sunday.

and we could have received balls and done a better job of testing the goal keeper, that was the plan and we just didn’t do it, and so we deserve the result.”

The lone score by

MSU came from defender Courtney Robicheaux on a foul kick in the 17th minute of the game after USA’s goal just a minute earlier.

“I just had a lot of motivation because we

The task remains unfinished for women’s basketball AMBER DODD STAFF WRITER

Head coach Vic Schaefer’s planning, plus his team’s talent and smooth cooperation, lifted the Mississippi State University Bulldogs to a programbest 34-5 season record last year. This culminated in the first Final Four and national championship appearance in school history.

However, there is not a national championship banner in Humphrey Coliseum.

The season opener for the 2017-2018 season is quickly approaching for the Bulldogs, and the national championship title remains unreached. This year there is pressure for the team to reinvent themselves but also maintain their grit and fearlessness.

“Last year’s done,” coach Schaefer said. “That’s over. Those four seniors aren’t here anymore, and somebody will have to step up.”

The seniors he is referring to are Dominique Dillingham, Chinwe Okorie, Breanna Richardson and Ketera Chapel.

They were the winningest class of seniors at MSU, collecting 111 wins. This leaves the remaining Bulldogs with big shoes to fill in the terms of performances and leadership.

Olivia Zeringue| The Reflector

Victoria Vivians, of Carthage, led the team in scoring last season. She averaged 16.2 points.

Coach Schaefer will not have to look far for new leadership, however. He is entering his sixth season at MSU with a trio familiar to his team blueprint.

Blair Schaefer, Victoria Vivians and Morgan William are the new senior class that will lead their additional 12 teammates in the hunt for a national championship.

“We had four great seniors before us,” Vivians said. “I feel like we have to do the same thing they did but a little bit better, because we didn’t really reach the goal that we wanted last year.

We have to lead by example and be more positive so our younger girls can follow

years after us.”

Vivians will be held at a high standard for the guards, with William by her side.

The two players combined averaged 27.1 points per game last season.

They are the only returning starters from the historic winning class and will be asked to help the younger players adjust to their new roles.

William was named team captain for the season, which she said will push her to grow in ways she never imagined.

“I’m trying to grow in different spots—leadership and communication,” William said. “I need to improve every day as a team

Whatshappenin in Starkville this weekend Bulldog Bash

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about the challenges MSU will face playing them. “(As) a perennial NCAA tournament team, they play very different,” Anagnost said. “They are going to be in our faces in the beginning and we’ve got to be mentally and psychologically tough and ready to battle for the entire time.”

Robicheaux spoke on the difficulty they will face in SEC play and the rest of the season going forward.

“It’s just going to be harder,” Robicheaux said.

“Every SEC team is like a rival and every SEC is hard so it is going to be a battle every single game so we just have to learn how to fight through it and get the results we need to.”

MSU’s game against Arkansas starts at 7 p.m. and can be streamed on SEC Network+. The Bulldog’s next home game is Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. versus Missouri.

Admission is free and the game can be watched on the SEC Network+.

ON SNAPCHAT!

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THE REFLECTOR TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

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