9.21.22

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884 Election Edition

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

138TH YEAR | ISSUE 4

Voter awareness efforts led by state, university community PAYTON bROWN NEWS EDITOR

In 2021, Mississippi State University was awarded a “voterfriendly” status for student voter turn-out in the 2020 elections.

State officials and MSU student organizations and departments have made efforts to maintain youth participation in the upcoming midterm election.

Professor Thessalia Merivaki from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration said increasing both voter participation and

Landon Scheel | File Photo

Courtesy Photo | State of Mississippi

SA Vice President Ann Olivia Radicioni.

Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson.

awareness have been important in her department’s work.

“Hopefully, that can have some spillover effects to increase trust in elections,” Merivaki said.

Ann Olivia Radicioni, vice president of Student Association, said SA was alongside Merivaki on Voter Registration Day.

Anne Louise Phillips | The Reflector

Volunteers were on the Drill Field Tuesday registering students and faculty to vote. The next voter registration drive is Thursday.

Merivaki and other faculty in her department prepared for National Voter Registration Day

on Sept. 20.

With help from students in her Political Behavior and American

Government classes, Merivaki set up several voter registration booths on campus.

AWARENESS, 2

College Democrats, Republicans encourage student voting Where should students register to vote? Registration process explained ROSE DOYLE

CONTRIbuTINg WRITER

This fall, Mississippi’s midterm elections will take place Nov. 8.

A midterm election is an election that is held between presidential elections. The election ballot will include candidates for both local and district elections. Local positions on the ballot include Circuit, Chancery and Court of Appeals judge seats.

In Starkville, District positions on the ballot will include the House of Representative seat for the Third Congressional District.

Shuwaski Young is the Democratic candidate running for the House of Representative seat, now held by Republican candidate, Michael Guest.

According to his website, Young has promoted policies that support low-income residents, bring jobs into rural areas and fund criminal justice reform.

Guest’s website said he has promoted policies that align with limited

DEVIN HuTCHINS

CONTRIbuTINg WRITER

government intervention, traditional Mississippi values and free market economic principles.

Mississippi State University’s College Democrats and College Republicans have been preparing for the upcoming elections by actively supporting their chosen candidates.

College Democrats President Justin Childs said his organization was working to elect all of the democratic candidates on this year’s ballot.

“We are planning to canvass campus, phone bank and door knock for

the Shuwaski Young campaign, as he is our Democratic nominee for Mississippi’s Third Congressional District, which encompasses Mississippi State University,” Childs said.

According to Childs, College Democrats' goal is to move Mississippi forward toward ensured equity, freedom and justice for all.

Christopher Denmark, chairman of College Republicans, said his organization is planning a fundraiser to support the Republican candidate, Michael Guest.

COLLEGE, 2

As it is nearing election season in Mississippi, Oct. 10 marks the final day to register to vote.

Tony Rook, Oktibbeha County’s Circuit Court Clerk, said while students have the option of registering to vote either here in Oktibbeha County or at home, students should start to weigh their options.

Rook said there were many pros and cons to registering in Starkville versus at home.

“If you register as a

student here but you’re called for jury duty, you’ll be treated just like anyone else. Just because you’re a student does not mean you’re excused from jury duty,” Rook said.

It is not uncommon for students to be called into jury duty. Rook said he knows of two grad students in jury duty currently.

Often, students are summoned by the court and could serve for weeks at a time.

According to Rook, students who register to vote outside of Starkville can be legally excused from

jury duty.

“Students need to ask themselves this: where would you rather affect change? Here, or where you and your family are from, where you know the community and where you might even end up living?”

Rook said.

Some Mississippi State University students are unsure of how to register or have not been exposed to the topic.

Sawyer Sterling, a sophomore studying kinesiology, said he fit into this category.

REGISTER, 2

Anne Louise Phillips| The Reflector

Kaleigh Allen (left) and Brayden Flanagan (right) participated in the voter registration drive Tuesday on MSU’s campus.

What's the difference between Mississippi courts? from inside Oktibbeha County’s jurisdiction but outside of Starkville’s city limits. People charged with crimes on Mississippi State University’s campus must appear in Justice Court for their hearings.

The Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department, the MSU Police Department, the Mississippi Highway Patrol and Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks have legal power over the county. The civil jurisdiction of the Justice Court goes up to $3,500.

Citizens vote for judges in partisan elections, and the judges have four-year terms.

“So, Justice Court and Municipal Court are similar in many ways; they have, essentially, the same levels of jurisdiction,” Circuit Clerk Court Rook said.

HEATHER HARRISON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Oktibbeha County houses four courts and is creating a new county court set to open next year. This November, Starkville citizens will vote for County, Circuit, Chancery and appellate court judges.

The lower courts The Municipal Court handles cases that occur within Starkville city limits.

The city's police department issues citations, which typically begin the court’s process, including traffic tickets, city ordinance violations and misdemeanors.

However, law enforcement officers do not witness every crime citizens commit. Circuit Court Clerk Tony Rook explained how victims report cases.

Courtesy Photo | Tony Rook

Oktibbeha Circuit Court Clerk Tony Rook.

Kathryn Beatty | The Reflector

Oktibbeha County’s Justice Court covers cases from inside Oktibbeha County but outside of Starkville city limits.

“If an individual is a victim of a crime that is not witnessed by law enforcement, they have the authority to report to Justice Court or Municipal Court and talk to the prosecutor and/or the judge,” Rook said. “They can sign an affidavit, and

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the judge could find probable cause that an individual may have committed a crime. And the judge has the authority to issue an arrest warrant for the individual.”

The Board of Aldermen votes for the Municipal Court judge.

The preliminary hearings for felony cases, like murder or robberies, also occur within the Municipal Court.

Preliminary hearings determine whether there is enough probable cause to bring in the Starkville grand jury. However, this

FORECAST: Here comes the sun, and it is all right. This week, Starkville will be walking on sunshine with temperatures in the high 90s and high 80s. Be sure to wear sunscreen, pack sunglasses and wear shorts because it will be “burning up,” as the Jonas Brothers once said.

Courtesy of The Weather Channel

court can only sentence offenders with up to six months in jail, and Rook said most felonies eventually appear in Circuit Court.

Similarly, the Oktibbeha County Justice Court judge may only sentence offenders to up to six months in jail. Unlike Municipal Court, the Justice Court hears cases

COURT, 2

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AWARENESS

“What we have going on right now is our voter registration drive, and they are going to be on the 20th, and I believe we also have another date on the 22nd,” Radicioni said.

Additionally, Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson was on campus to spend time with students and spread awareness.

Watson said there is a clear link between civic education and voter participation.

“What we have found over the time that we educate more people about the process, the more comfortable they feel with the process, the more engaged or more willing to be engaged they are,” Watson said.

The Mississippi

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Secretary of State Ambassador Program has been working with over 50 high school seniors to increase voter education and awareness. The students have been participating in symposiums in Jackson and meet monthly via Zoom.

“The more engagement you see from the younger community, the more it spreads among them,” Watson said.

Merivaki said students should be motivated to vote since recent controversial federal policies were established.

“We're talking about policies that directly affect your lives – like student debt,” Merivaki said. “With a recent Supreme Court decision,

abortion has also become a major topic for several students across the nation.”

According to Watson, more involvement from the student body would result in a better government.

Along with voter registration assistance, Radicioni said the SA executive board was working to declare federal election day as a holiday. As a result, students would be relieved from class for the day to vote.

“So, the route that we think will be most beneficial to try and get federal election days off would be to appeal directly to IHL or Institute of Higher Learning,” Radicioni said.

If the appeal was approved, Radicioni said the change would impact other universities in Mississippi, too.

“Having that ability to actually get out there and vote is blocked by so many students who have been caught in classes all day or who have really busy on-campus schedules. Whether it be organizations, work or just courses, we thought it would be very important to go ahead and lobby at the source,” Radicioni said.

Additionally, she said SA honored the connection it had to the city.

“Progress can happen to be right in your city.

That's something that we've always advocated for,”

Radicioni said.

Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill said the city had no voting efforts planned this fall because of the impacts of other agencies like the NAACP and MSU organizations.

However, Spruill emphasized the significance of voting in local elections.

In a past election, Spruill won by only six votes. She recalled other instances where a local election resulted in a runoff.

“It may be sexy to vote for president, but it is critical to vote for aldermen or mayor or county supervisors because those votes actually are counted individually and matter when the tallies are done,” Spruill said.

Courtesy Photo | MSU

Assistant Professor Dr. Thessalia Merivaki.

Mary Georgia Hamilton | File Photo

Mayor Lynn Spruill sits at her desk.

REGISTER

“I have absolutely no idea how to register to vote.

I think you get a piece of paper in the mail, fill it out and send it to the government and you’re registered,” Sterling said.

Rook described two different ways to register.

“First, you could report to your Circuit Clerk’s office and fill out a form.

Second, you can go on the Secretary of State’s website, print out a voter registration form, fill it out and mail it to your Circuit Clerk’s office and then you’re registered,” Rook said.

Once registered in their

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preferred area, Rook said students should decide who to vote for after they educate themselves on candidates.

“This is an important personal decision that you make, and you have the power to choose who represents your interests, so you shouldn’t arbitrarily decide who that person is,” Rook said.

After participating in his first election, Sterling said he wished he had done more research before voting.

“When I had voted in my first election, though it was heavily promoted and

the information was out there, I was not nearly as educated as I should’ve been,” Sterling said.

Even though Rook described registration as a fairly easy process, some students, like Sterling, have still been unaware of the voter registration process.

Zac Clay, elections commissioner of Student Association, said educating students on the elections process was the first step in growing student participation.

“I believe that better voting education and a class excuse for students to vote would be a great way to

promote this privilege that so many have fought for,” Clay said.

Kylah Hooks, chief justice of SA’s Judicial Council, agreed with Clay.

Hooks said large organizations should be educated on how to teach their students how to register to vote. If this trend were to start, Hooks said she felt smaller organizations would follow suit, and the youth participation rate would grow.

For more information on voter registration, visit the Mississippi Secretary of State's website.

Courtesy Photo | Kylah Hooks

Chief Justice Kylah Hooks said student organizations should focus on voting outreach.

COLLEGE “We are partnering with the county Republican party to have a fundraiser for Michael Guest and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith in October. There will be a dinner, and both will speak,” Denmark said.

According to Denmark, students who wish to become involved in elections can fill out volunteer forms online.

“If students want to get involved, most organizations have a volunteer page where they can put in their email addresses and be contacted to make phone calls or to knock on doors,” Denmark said.

Denmark shared

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locations where students could register to vote.

“There will be a voting drive with the Student Association and the College Democrats next Tuesday and students can register to vote there,” Denmark said.

The last day to register to vote is Oct. 10.

Despite representing different parties, Denmark and Childs agreed that the most important thing students can do is register to vote and show up on election day to cast their ballots.

Both organizations often work together to encourage students to vote.

“Whether you vote blue or red, everyone should

vote maroon in November,” Childs said.

JC Watson, a freshman majoring in chemistry, said he has heard positive feedback about both organizations.

“From what I know, both groups have been very civil in their debates, intellectually sound and very respectful,” Watson said.

Regardless of which party an individual plans to vote for, Watson said students should learn more about each candidate’s campaign goals.

“Take it upon yourself to vote knowledgeably and educate yourself,” Watson said.

Heather Harrison | File Photo

Last year, students from political science classes conducted voter registration drives and spread voter awareness on the Drill Field.

COURT The “middle man” Oktibbeha County grew in population from the 2010 to 2021 census, so it is required to form a county court to hear both misdemeanor and felony cases. The county court has a civil jurisdiction of $3,500 to $250,000 and will begin hearing cases in early 2023.

If the Municipal or Justice Court charges an individual, the person may appeal the case in county court.

Additionally, youth court will fall under the new county court.

Citizens will vote for one judge for the county court this November.

The trial courts Oktibbeha County Circuit Court is in the 16th district, which has three judges who travel to each county to hear cases.

If the Justice or Municipal Courts cannot hear a felony case, it is transferred to the Circuit Court.

The Circuit Court handles civil lawsuits and felony criminal prosecution cases using a 12-member jury and a judge. Common felony cases include murder,

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robbery, rape, burglary, aggravated assault and drug offenses. These cases require more than a six-month jail sentence or fines greater than $3,500.

“Circuit Court has the most jurisdiction over any court in the county,” Rook said.

Chancery Court deals with family court and related matters. Divorces, custody agreements, land divisions and adoptions are heard within the court. Unlike Circuit Court cases, Chancery cases are not transferred from municipal or justice courts; the hearings originate in the Chancery Court.

“Chances are, students would not have much involvement with Chancery Court,” Rook said.

Oktibbeha County is in the Chancery Court’s 14th district, which also has three judges who travel from county to county.

Additionally, juries are not present in a typical chancery trial, but individuals may request a jury, according to state law.

After January, the Chancery Court will no longer handle youth court because the new county

court will take over.

Citizens elect nonpartisan Chancery and Circuit Court judges to serve four-year terms.

The high courts Outside of Oktibbeha County, the Court of Appeals and Mississippi Supreme Court are housed in Jackson, Mississippi, and they are the highest courts in the state. The Supreme Court can only hear cases in Jackson, but the appellate court can sit in different locations around the state.

Created by Mississippi’s legislature in 1993, the Court of Appeals is an intermediate appellate court. The legislature formed the court because the Mississippi Supreme Court had a backlog of appeals cases and needed alleviation.

The Mississippi Supreme Court refers some appeals cases to the appellate court.

“All appeals are decided within 270 days of the filing of the final briefs in the case,” said Beverly Kraft, the public information officer for the Administrative Office of Courts.

Jahari Bell | The Reflector

Oktibbeha County’s Circuit Court encapsulates a broad range of criminal and civil cases and works with the lower courts.

The Court of Appeals has 10 judges presiding, and three judges hear one case. Kraft said 55% of cases in the Supreme Court were decided by the appellate court in 2021, while the Supreme Court decided 45% of cases.

“The more complex cases go to the Supreme Court,” Kraft said.

There are eight instances in which the Supreme Court must hear a case, including death penalty cases, challenges of the Constitution and

bond issues; otherwise, cases may appear in appellate court.

The Mississippi Supreme Court may appeal cases from the Circuit, Chancery, County and appellate courts. Citizens elect nine justices from three districts to serve the Supreme Court for eightyear terms.

Both the Supreme and appellate courts have staggered elections to prevent a complete turnover in leadership in one election.

Voting Although this year’s election is smaller, Rook said it is important to vote for experienced judges who follow the law and have high levels of integrity.

Agreeing with Rook, Chancery Court Clerk Sharon Livingston urged voters to know who their leaders are.

“It’s very important for (voters) to go out and at least meet people who are in office,” Livingston said.

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THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 | @REFLECTORONLINE

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Today’s Motivation Life is like a toaster. Nobody cares until the bread pops up.

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Libra - Your conversational skills are at an all-time high right now. You can use that to your advantage and possibly meet new people from near and far.

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Scorpio - Surprising informational sources could come your way very soon.

Keep your ears to the ground for new opportunites and potentially job offers.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Saturday, September 17, 2022

Students of Deavenport Hall reported a suspecious male on the fourth floor offering money to stay in residents’ rooms.

Student arrested on Bulldog Way for careless driving and a DUI. A Justice Court citation was issued.

Sunday, September Thursday, September 18, 2022 15, 2022 MSU citation was issued for speeding 50 in a 20.

Dates to Remember September 28 - First progress grade reporting deadline (30th day of class) October 6 - Last day to drop a course with a “W” grade (36th class day) 5:00 p.m.

October 13, 14 - Fall break, no classes scheduled (subject to change)

Stay in the know!

Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @reflectoronline

Officers responded to McComas Hall for a report of a visitor harassing staff.

Friday, September 16, 2022 Employee reported missing departmental property from Rula Building.

Justice Court citation issued for a suspended license on Blackjack Road.

Monday, September 19, 2022 Student issued a post arrest citation and referral for possession of marijuana in C1 parking lot. 3 students were issued referrals for being in a vehicle where marijuana was being used.

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THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 | @REFLECTORONLINE

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Landon Scheel | The Reflector

The crowd from last year’s Bulldog Bash stands at the intersection of Main St. and Jackson St. to see HARDY perform. Count how many cowboy hats you can find in this photo and email your guess to opinion@reflector.msstate.edu for brownie points.

Feeling Good: Surfaces and Brice Vine are great picks for Bulldog Bash JOHN BALADI

cONTrIBuTINg WrITEr

According to the Bulldog Bash website, around 35,000 students, alumni and Starkville locals come out to the concert. Finding artists everyone will love is difficult. This year is no different.

At the YMCA Plaza last week, students came out in spades to hear the announcement of the headlining artists for everyone’s favorite annual free concert. The instant that the names Surfaces and Bryce Vine hit the screen, cheers as well as astonishment echoed in the crowd. The second the music of these two artists played though, the crowd's energy immediately went from intrigue to excitement.

Last year, a crowd that had not seen Bulldog Bash in two years came

out in droves for HARDY, an up-andcoming name in the country music scene.

Experiences seemed to vary from person to person, but HARDY put on a great show. For me, HARDY was my first ever concert experience, and I loved every second of it.

My opinion of it was changed, however, when I took a trip to Oxford, Mississippi, of all places, to experience Double Decker.

The culture between Starkville and Oxford is extremely different, so Double Decker’s lineup was not necessarily like one you would see here in Starkville. That being said, my friend is the lead singer of a band from Oxford called Happy Landing, who just so happened to be opening the day on Saturday at 11 a.m.

After a long night, a smaller crowd of 100 to

200 people came out to listen to the local folkrock sensations. While I expected to be extremely impressed by the band themselves, which I was, the greatest surprise came from the crowd. I saw people all around me singing along, interacting, dancing and having the time of their lives with people they had never met. All simply enjoying themselves with music about nothing more than the simplicities and beauties life has to offer. This has shaped my opinion on Bulldog Bash since.

After every artist announcement for Bulldog Bash, criticisms come. Students seem to focus on which genre of music they want to hear every year, and if it is not your particular genre, this year's line up sucks.

That is fine, but my opinion overall is that genre does not matter.

The constant that is needed at Bulldog Bash is music that brings people together. Music about things that college students can relate to is what is going to bring students to love any given artist.

This is why I think this Bulldog Bash lineup is going to be amazing.

According to ChaseAnthony Ray at The Lantern, "If I could sum up a Bryce Vine show in one word, it would simply be 'energy.'"

The energy, ultimately, will be what leads audiences to love Bulldog Bash this year.

On top of Bryce Vine and Surfaces performing, the recent Battle of the Bands competition declared local band Government Plates would be opening the night. As someone who was there as Government Plates took the stage at Battle of the Bands, I can attest I will

be at Bash from start to finish.

The most you can ask for out of any given band or artist is to play music well, but so far, I have witnessed all of these artists far go further than that. It is no shock that the winner of Battle of the Bands had the crowd smiling, but it is a bit of a shock to see a crowd actively fall in love with who they are listening to.

When asked about the crowd energy for Bulldog Bash, Government Plates' lead guitarist Max Rooks said the crowd will enjoy this year's concert.

"I think the crowd will have a great time," Rooks said. "Surfaces is a fantastic band; we even covered a song of theirs at our first show. I know the energy will be through the roof, and we’re definitely going to try to match it."

A s s u m i n g Government Plates once

again brings that energy to the table, they will be perfect to open the show.

Bryce Vine and Surfaces make music meant to put a smile on your face. One of the lines in Bryce Vine’s most popular song on Spotify is, "I don’t want to worry about nothing for a while; I just want to go around living like a child." This is music students will relate to, and it will put smiles on students' faces. This, I hope, will be the theme of the night.

The reason Bulldog Bash exists is for attendees to enjoy themselves and come together. In my opinion, this lineup will do that better than that. On that stage Oct. 21, I believe nothing short of happiness and elation will be brought to the crowd, and people will walk away feeling good, like they should.

Dress to impress: Sweats and Crocs are comfy, but dressing up for class is worth the extra effort EMMA NISBET STAFF WrITEr

"Dress for success."

"Dress for the job you want, not the job you have." We have all heard these little platitudes, especially as college students.

A university-level education is a golden ticket opportunity to truly focus our gazes — and futures — on a single career path of our choosing. As a journalism student, I have a great number of opportunities at my feet to gather experience, build a portfolio and open as many doors as possible during these four years.

Although my point here is not specific to journalism majors.

Start here: simply ask yourself, "Do I look the part?"

We have all had to dress up — or dress accordingly — at one point or another. I would actually wager to guess that there has been an event fairly recently in each and every one of our lives that warranted a more dapper dress code. Ca-

reer fairs, internship interviews, a long-awaited date with the special someone that you finally worked up the courage to shoot your shot with all require fancier attire. Either you have been there, or you wore a T-shirt to your niece's baptism. No judgement.

Why should we not give the same attention to detail in our everyday lives?

When I took Fundamentals of Public Speaking, I would intentionally wear a nicer outfit to class on a day that I was scheduled to present a speech I had prepared. The simple act of stepping up to the podium in a dress and sandals, rather than a T-shirt, shorts and sneakers combo made all the difference. I felt that if I looked the part for the occasion, I could rise to the occasion.

The results of a study from Social Psychological and Personality Science in August 2015 revealed that wearing business attire has the power to increase “abstract thinking, creativity and long-term

strategizing." Not only does dressing nicer positively affect a person's mood, it can also carry some sway on our mental and physical performances.

Cognition, abstract thinking, productivity and the overall power to work both efficiently and effectively can all be heightened by simply suiting up for the day. You will feel more put together because you are more put together.

Now, I am not saying that all college students should walk into their labs and lectures in formal suits and ties or dresses and heels. Though, I am saying that there should be a distinct difference between what you wear at home and what you wear to work.

Yes, work. Just like any job, being a student is often also described as being either parttime or full-time. It makes sense that our attire should reflect that mentality.

Cathleen Swody, an organizational psychologist and founding partner of the executive-coaching firm Thrive Leadership, told The Wall

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Street Journal the difference between "work" clothes and "home" clothes also has to do with getting meaningful rest.

"Putting on your relaxation clothes or your 'at home' clothes, shifts your brain into, 'I can relax now. I can shift gears,'" Swody explained.

Another benefit to dressing just a little nicer is that clothing is one of the best ways to wordlessly express who you are to everyone around you.

We all have a signature style whether we want it or not. As someone who attended schools with uniforms — the ever classic polo and khaki duo — for more than eight years before entering college, I quickly discovered how fun it can be to coordinate each piece of my outfit before I step outside my front door and greet the day.

Another benefit of dressing stylishly is that people compliment your clothes.

Nothing makes my day more than when someone acknowledges that little extra care I put in before I left the house that

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morning. So, make yourself presentable for that presentation tomorrow. After all, as Brandon Vallorani from

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.

Forbes said in his article on looking the part, "It never hurts to be the best dressed person in a room."

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

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THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, SETPEMBER 21, 2022 | @REFLECTORONLINE

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

5

Student voting movement ramps up

lizzie tomlin

staff Writer

As November approaches, students at Mississippi State University are encouraging their counterparts to register to vote in the upcoming elections.

This past week, the Drill Field has been busy with students motivating others to get out and vote. Whether t be student body elections or elections within our local and national government, students are passionate about increasing voter turnout.

The Department of Political Science and Public Administration s pushing its students to participate in voter registration drives this week. Jacob Walters, a senior political science major, shared why he was eager to get involved.

“I am participating in the voter registration drive for class credit, but I am passionate about the cause,” Walters said.

Walters attended the voter registration drive Tuesday on the Drill Field. He shared his motivation to participate.

“More people voting s a sign that our Democratic system is healthy.

A lot of students are disaffected with poltics today, and I think voting is one of the

only ways we can make our voices heard,” Walters said.

Walters said he values the importance of the upcoming election and its influence on the control of Congress.

No matter their political beliefs, Walters explained why students should go out and vote.

“If you’re happy with the way things are going, then you should vote,” Walters said. “In addition, if you’re upset, then you should vote in an attempt to change what you are upset about.”

Mary-Catherine McCreary, a graduate student who participated in the drive, de-

scribed her passion for getting students to the polls.

“My passion for voting and elections began in 2018 while taking a state and elections policy course,” McCreary said. “I discovered that counties and states with a high minority population had higher wait times at their respective polling stations.”

McCreary said learning about these issues inspired her to volunteer with local organizations to promote equal access to voting in her community.

“Recent research has shown that a lot of young voters have not

been participating in recent elections, meaning their voices are not heard. In order for a democracy to be representative of them, young voters have to get out to vote,” McCreary said.

McCreary said since 2014, the voter turnout of students at Mississippi State has increased. She attributes this increase to the efforts made by students and faculty, as well as voter registration drives.

As the political climate changes, many members of younger generations are becoming unhappy with election results. However,

according to Maya King and Jonathan Weisman from The New York Times, just 32% of young voters were "almost certain" they would vote in the November 2022 midterm elections.

Walker Harris, a junior political science major, explained his point of view on the issue.

“The less voter turnout, the more opportunity for less popular opinions to win. I can’t tell you how many times I hear people who don’t vote complain about election results when their very lack of participation is what allows those results to

transpire,” Harris said.

According to Jordan Mirsa for the United States Census Bureau, voter turnout for the 2018 midterms was 35.6% among 18-24 year olds.

Harris said he hopes more students are encouraged to vote in the future.

“The more people that go out to vote, the clearer the picture becomes of what the people truly think and need in terms of infrastructure and policy among other things,” Harris said. “It's the greatest power you are granted as an American citizen, so you better use it.”

“They shall not die in vain”

Fo r g o t t e n d o c u m e n t a r i e s h i g h l i g h t c i v i l r i g h t s v o t i n g s t r u g g l e s i n M S

hailey jenkins

contributing Writer

The 1994 documentary, "Freedom on My Mind," opens with the line: "you don't dream about things you can't imagine."

The documentary chronicles the Mississippi voter registration movement lasting from 1961 to 1964. Personal stories, television footage and many gospel songs help to convey the message.

Featured in the documentary is L.C. Dorsey, a Shelby, Mississippi, native who tells her story of the fear that engulfed Mississippi at the time.

She vividly remembered the power white men and women held over her.

"You learned how to negotiate life with white folks. You also learned the fear associated with them of how much power they actually have over you, (and) how they could determine when you continue to live or whether you die," Dorsey said while holding back tears.

Within the documentary is the harsh reality many Black women and men lived every single day. The first Black farmer who attempted to register to vote was fatally shot by a Mississippi State Representative, and many others lost their jobs after registering.

Scenes show footage of old images and films from marches and peaceful protests that advertised the new Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. In one mage you see a woman holding a sign that states, "MFDP is the true Democratic Party."

By the year 1965, all people were able to regster to vote in Mississippi. Dorsey reflects upon this victory at the end of the documentary.

"The most significant thing that the movement gave to us was the freedom from fear. The gener-

Warren K. Leffler | Library of Congress

Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party supporters held signs of three murdered civil rights workers at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jesey, 1964.

Courtesy Photo | Tara Releasing

Warren K. Leffler | Library of Congress

Connie Field and Marilyn Mulford produced and directed “Freedom on My Mind.”

MFDP supporters demonstrated in front of the convention hall in New Jersey in 1964.

ation since the movement has not been taught to stay in their place for white and black," Dorsey said before the credits rolled.

While similar to "Freedom on My Mind" in theme, the 2014 documentary "1964: The Fight for a Right" primarily focuses on the Free-

mittee leader, discussed the barriers many African Americans faced in the 1960s.

"It’s murder, terror and violence preventing Blacks from voting or doing this political work that they had been doing," Moses said.

The documentary highlights how the Freedom

dom Summer project, a 1964 voter registration campaign created to register African Americans to vote.

Featured in the documentary was Bob Moses, who also appeared in "Freedom on My Mind."

Moses, a Harvard graduate and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Com-

Summer Project benefited from the recruitment of white students from Ivy League colleges and fought to make a difference. However, it was not until the kidnapping and murder of three volunteers when the movement took a real turn.

James Chaney, a Mississippi native, along with

Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman, who had both been in Mississippi for a short time, drove to Neshoba County together. The trio were there investigating a fire at a Black church and supporting local parishioners before tragedy struck.

The three men had gone missing, and their burnt car was found. Their deceased bodies were found two months later. Eventually, it was discovered that the local White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office and the Philadelphia (Mississippi) Police Department were all involved.

The murder of these men was a huge catalyst in the Freedom Summer movement. In the documentary's interview with the Rev. Ed King, a Freedom Summer organizer, he remembered the feeling that overcame every volunteer following the devastating news.

"We had determined then they shall not die in vain, so instead of intimidating us, it had the opposite effect on us," King said.

Both documentaries highlight the history of voting rights in Mississippi and the injustices that Black women and men had to endure for decades. Voting is one of the biggest ways to make a difference within one's local community, and the documentaries showcase the importance of a single vote.

Mississippi State University is hosting a voter registration pop-up Sept.

22 and will have many more in the following weeks.

Last year, the university hosted the same event and the volunteers are willing to help. It is a simple event that prepares visitors for the opportunity to exercise their right to vote.

THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 | @SPORTSREFLECTOR

6

SPORTS

White hot MSU soccer defeats No.14 Arkansas The Bulldogs remain undefeated after huge upset over the Razorbacks

Mychaela ReynaRd Staff wRiteR

Mississippi State University soccer opened conference play with a huge upset over the University of Arkansas by a score of 20 on Friday night.

Prior to the start of the match, the Bulldogs memorialized the 50th Anniversary of Title IX. The ladies sported special Title IX jerseys before changing into their usual Maroon and White.

KK Pavatt, a junior from Conway, Arkansas, made her first start of the season as MSU utilized their bench to battle injury.

Some hard-hits-turned-

injuries plagued the Bulldogs during the Arkansas match as well.

Freshman forward Maggie Wadsworth spoke after the win on Friday about how the team is battling the adversity.

“We hope we don’t take any more hits that are too bad,” Wadsworth said. “Thankfully, we have a very deep bench, and everyone is stepping up to the challenge.”

The two teams played a rather uneventful first half, until the 25-minute mark, as Wadsworth netted one goal with a swift kick past the Arkansas goalkeeper.

Wadsworth was named SEC Freshman of the Week last week and

undoubtedly defended her title during the game.

After the upset against the 14th ranked team in the country, Wadsworth said the goal of the game was to make a statement.

“I am just speechless; this hasn’t hit me yet,” Wadsworth said as she searched to find words.

“In the locker room, we talked about coming out here and making a statement, and I think we did just that tonight.”

The squads suffered a yellow card during the first half due to u n s p o r t i n g .

Wadsworth’s goal would remain unanswered, closing out the first half

with MSU on top.

During the second half of the match, the Bulldogs and the Razorbacks possessed the ball equally. MSU had possession of the ball over half of the time in the first.

MSU soccer head coach James Armstrong spoke to the press after the win about the time of possession.

“This game is one of those where possession is not the end all be all, it was a fiercely contested battle,” Armstrong said. “If we had 55% possession in the first half, I am happy with that.”

With time winding down in the second half, graduate student Jojo

Ngongo passed to Wadsworth. Wadsworth found an opening and acted quickly. The goal resulted in a Bulldog upset over Arkansas.

Mississippi State walked away victorious over the ranked Arkansas Razorbacks.

The Bulldog’s goalkeeper, Maddy Anderson left with MSU’s career-shutout record in her name. The record stood for nearly a decade, and Anderson shattered it with her 13th career shutout.

The win over Arkansas gave coach Armstrong his first win over a top-15 ranked team.

After the big win against the Hogs, coach

Armstrong said he's proud of the team's performance as a whole.

“It is impossible to single anybody out. As a coaching staff, we are proud of everyone tonight,” Armstrong said.

The win sparked a post-game rally on the field among the team.

The ladies ran to cling onto their beloved goalkeeper, celebrating her accomplishment.

Fans watched as the Bulldogs ended their night under the lights after the special win.

MSU soccer will look to remain undefeated as they travel to College Station, Texas. They will meet Texas A&M Thursday at 7 p.m.

Kathryn Beatty | The Reflector

Kathryn Beatty | The Reflector

After Friday’s win, sophomore goalkeeper Maddy Anderson now holds the record for most career-shutouts (13).

MSU’s win against the Hogs was the first top-15 win for the program under Bulldog head coach James Armstrong.

Marlar: LSU game leaves three burning questions

tanneR MaRlaR Managing editoR

BATON ROUGE, La. – Mississippi State University walked into Baton Rouge Saturday with nothing but high hopes and an undefeated record.

The air was light, there was a sense of optimism around the new season and the Bulldogs were 2-0 headed into a conference game with a team that lost to an iffy at best Florida State team in their season opener.

Even through the first quarter, it looked like MSU had an opportunity to grab control of a very

hostile atmosphere and walk out with a win, even if only narrowly.

However, once the LSU defense adjusted, that narrative flipped on its own head.

MSU was favored by many, arguably most, but when the dust had settled, the final score rested at 31-16, Tiger's game.

The loss was marred by inconsistencies on both sides of the ball, inconsistencies I was worried about all the way through the first two games. Memphis and Arizona weren't putting the type of physical specimens on the field that LSU does, and until that

happened, the offensive line was going to be a question mark.

That question was answered when the final stat sheets read that they allowed Rogers to be sacked four times. In comparison, the Tigers started two freshmen at the tackle spots and only allowed three. There is no way to replace Charles Cross, but Saturday showed just how much of a void will need to be filled.

Another question that fans now have a much clearer picture of is just how far this receiving corps has to go before head coach Mike Leach is happy with it.

Leach cited how explosive the group is during postgame conferences, but also voiced his current concerns.

"We're explosive, just inconsistent. We've got to be consistent, so explosive is fun, (if you're) explosive (you) can get on a run and hit a bunch of dingers on somebody, but that'll catch up to you if you're not consistent," Leach said.

Those inconsistencies in the passing game lead to numerous three and outs that cost what was viewed as a high powered offense greatly. There's still a lot left to figure out with the

receiving corps, but they'll have next week at home to get some easier reps.

The final question lies with the special teams staff. There were four attempts on fourth and short by MSU, but only one was successful. The confidence Mike Leach showed in his offense is welcomed, but it was the miscues by the special teams unit that made keeping the offense out on the field understandable.

A muffed punt at the opposing goal line, missed PAT and a near 90-yard kick return called back to their own 17 yard line all vexed the Bulldogs

Saturday, and they could not have come at more inopportune times. Those mistakes let the crowd into the game, and once Tiger Stadium made its presence felt, the momentum was all on the side of LSU. The Bulldogs will have a chance to somewhat rectify the situation next weekend, as they face off against a Bowling Green that is fresh off of back-toback overtime performances.

After that, the real grind of the SEC schedule starts, and there won't be any more time to have questions about which MSU team shows up on Saturdays.

Landon Scheel | The Reflector

After playing in Saturday’s game in Death Valley against the LSU Tigers, graduate senior Austin Williams broke the record for most career games played in program history at 53 total games.