9.29.21

THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

137TH YEAR | ISSUE 4

Starkville sees first bank robbery in over a decade HEATHER HARRISON NEWS EDITOR

Last Tuesday marked the first bank robbery in Starkville in over 10 years, according to the Starkville Police Department's records. In fact, the Reflector has no recent archives of an article about a bank robbery in the town.

At around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, a male individual, now identified as 31-yearold Starkville resident Laquavis Collier, arrived at Renasant Bank on East Lampkin Street, demanded money from a bankteller and "fled on foot with a bag," according to the Starkville Police Department's press release.

SPD received a phone call reporting the armed robbery moments later and quickly jumped into action.

The department found the suspect just a couple of streets away at the intersection of Gillespie and Spring streets. The officers immediately detained Collier, investigated the scenario and then charged the suspect with robbery. SPD then transported Collier to Oktibbeha County Jail.

Police Chief Mark Ballard noted the uncommon nature of bank robberies in Starkville in his press release statement.

"Today marked one of the first bank robberies within the city in a very long time," he said. "…The high

level of communication between all parties (was) critical in the apprehension of the subject."

Agreeing with Ballard, Sergeant Brandon Lovelady, the public information officer at SPD, commended the training the banks in Starkville use and said Renasant Bank employees and SPD handled the situation appropriately.

"The system works," Lovelady simply said.

Lovelady continued and said he thinks bank robberies in Starkville, and in general, have become less common due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and advancements in technology.

Courtesy Photo l | Starkville Police Department

Laquavis Collier, the robbery suspect.

Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill echoed Lovelady's thoughts and said she thinks since security cameras are more highquality than ever before, it is hard for a thief to rob a Heather Harrison | The Reflector bank without immediately being caught or identified. Last Tuesday, a bank robbery occurred at Renasant Bank on East Lampkin Street.

ROBBERY

Starkville educators discuss working in nation's lowest-paying state for teachers Mississippi ranks 51st in teachers’ salaries despite recent pay increase this March, according to the National Education Association.

JOSHUA STEWART STAFF WRITER

Teachers' salaries in the state of Mississippi are lower than every other state in the U.S. According to the National Education Association (page 27), Mississippi ranks 51st for teachers' pay, coming in at $45,105.

The average educator's salary across the country is $62,304.

Despite pay increases for new teachers in the last several years, take-home pay still remains low. First-year educators take home an average salary of $27,851

Courtesy Photo | Sudduth Elementary School

Kellie Gartman, Sudduth Elementary.

after taxes.

The Mississippi State Legislature last increased teacher pay in March 2021

by approximately $1,000 per year. Governor Tate Reeves and the state legislature are currently exploring a plan that would allocate an extra $3,300 per year to all teachers over the next four years.

Starkville-Oktibbeha County School District teachers are no strangers to the topic of low pay. Sudduth Elementary School teacher Kellie Gartman said she was aware of the salary discrepancy when she entered the education field but still loves her career choice.

"I knew coming into education that it was not some-

Courtesy Photo | Sudduth Elementary School

Amy McReynolds, Sudduth Elementary.

thing I was going to make a lot of money in," Gartman said. "It truly is a calling, but it is not great for

ville High School for 21 years before teaching elementary education, echoed Gartman's points about salary and economic troubles.

McReynolds spoke about the pay discrepancy between teaching positions and other career paths.

"You know you're not going to be the highest-paid person. Other occupations make so much more than us, and our starting pay is just so much lower than most, especially when I started out," McReynolds said.

"Every penny has to be accounted for."

money."

While her pay has improved over her career, Gartman said that starting as a teacher was immensely difficult.

"I started teaching in 1997, and I was making around $18,000 a year. I started out living at home with my parents because, at the time, Starkville was just starting to boom," the elementary school teacher said.

"I could not afford to teach and do the things I wanted to do in my classroom while also living on my own."

Amy McReynolds, a teacher who taught at Stark-

SALARY

The Cotton District Arts New faith-based organization ser ves local community, sees rapid growth Festival returns to Starkville MAGGIE ROBERTS STAFF WRITER

At the beginning of the spring 2020 semester, recently-graduated students created Hands & Feet, a service-based organization which allows students to serve the Mississippi State University campus, Starkville community and others in need.

As one of the more popular groups on campus, Hands and Feet has grown to up to 280 members in the three semesters it has been at Mississippi State University. The service organization promotes itself on social media platforms and Cowbell Connect.

Hands & Feet is no longer taking applications for volunteers in the fall semester but will reopen the application in the spring for those who are interested.

Maggie Cayson, a senior biochemistry major, leads the club as president. Cayson explained that the club is rooted in Christ; however, members do not have to have those beliefs to be involved in the organization.

"I want the message of our club to be that anyone can be involved in service. I also want others to see the value and importance of giving back to our community," Cayson said.

Kathleen Tucker, a junior kinesiology major, is the marketing chair of Hands & Feet.

Tucker said she joined the club because of what the club's misCourtesy Photo | Hands & Feet sion of service meant Hands & Feet club members recently volunteered at the West Point Animal Shelter. to her.

"We are (Jesus') arises from a felt involved in service but hands and feet, so we need— that many don't know how. I want want to serve others. people want to serve Hands & Feet to be an We can come together but sometimes can be organization that and give back to Stark- intimidated searching breaks these barriers ville, which is a place for a place to go and for people so that they that has given us so serve alone. can feel the joy of servmuch," Tucker said.

"I realized that so ing others," Cayson Cayson said the club many people want to be said.

SERVICE

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

HI: 85 LO: 67 SKY: Mostly rainy POP: 60

HI: 84 LO: 67 SKY: Mostly stormy POP: 50

HI: 84 LO: 70 SKY: Mostly rainy POP: 60

FORECAST: Hope everyone enjoyed the nice weather last week because this week will be rain, rain and more rain. Temperatures will reach the high 80s , with lows being in the high 60s. Keep your umbrella handy and stay safe during the potential thunderstorms Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. However, the weekend is looking to be mostly sunny with temperatures in the 80s.

Courtesy of National Weather Service

moved to the area, this weekend may be the first experience they have with the Cotton District Arts Festival.

SARAH MORGAN JOHNSON

LIFE AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

While a fall weekend in Starkville may typically conjure images of tailgating tents and ringing cowbells, this weekend students and residents can expect a completely different experience from Mississippi's College Town. On Saturday, the Cotton District Arts Festival will return to Starkville, transforming University Drive into one of the largest arts festivals in the state of Mississippi. The free event will run down University Drive, Maxwell Street and Paige Avenue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Typically held during Super Bulldog Weekend, the Cotton District Arts Festival has been a Mississippi staple since its first occurrence in 1986. The Starkville Area Arts Council (SAAC) has hosted the festival for over 22 years, with support from sponsors and volunteers, as well as the city.

However, for Mississippi State University students or those who have recently

“Not only does the festival benefit the Cotton District, but it benefits Starkville as a whole because of tourism.”

Juliette Reid Volunteer Chair Cotton District Arts Festival

Emily Corban Camp, the chair of this year's festival, explained that this festival has been especially anticipated, as it has been two years in the making.

"In 2019 the festival was scheduled to go forward, we just had terrible weather, so we had to cancel it even though everything was all set up to go as normal. After that, we were planning for the festival in 2020 and then the world just shut down," Camp said.

ARTS

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ARTS "We looked into having it in the spring of 2021, but the COVID numbers just weren't where we wanted them, so we weren't comfortable doing it with the traditional date in the spring. But we didn't want to wait a whole year to have it in the spring of 2022, so that is why we are having it in the fall."

This year, Starkville pets will kick off the festival with a pet parade at 9 a.m.

Throughout the day patrons can expect to experience the Artisan's Village, where over 145 artisans will display and sell their handmade goods. The festival will also feature an International Village similar to MSU's annual International Fiesta, a Children's Village for children to explore their artistic abilities and a Writer's Village with various events including a poetry competition.

Additionally, there are three stages which will feature live music from local bands such as Huge Ghost and Celery Teeth, as well as community performances. Over 20 local food vendors will present, and the SAAC is excited to serve beer for the first time at the festival.

According to the Cotton District Arts Festival's website, between 30,000 to 40,000 people typically gather to attend one of Mississippi's top 5 festivals.

Juliette Reid, this year's administrative support and

volunteer chair for the festival, noted the benefit this has for the city.

"Not only does the festival benefit the Cotton District, but it benefits Starkville as a whole because of tourism. People are staying at a hotel, people are eating at local restaurants, people are shopping. You have people supporting all kinds of different businesses whether we know about it or not," Reid said.

While the numbers in past years have grown consistently, due to the new date as well as the COVID19 pandemic, the SAAC does not know what to expect for this year's turnout. Corban explained that while they hope for a great crowd, the focus of this year's festival is supporting vendors.

"The main thing is we just want to support our vendors and give them a platform to sell their products," Corban said.

These vendors will be selling everything from jewelry, to ceramics, to leather goods, to paintings, to photographs, to handmade soaps and much more. Heather Warren, a local business owner, has participated in the festival as a patron, a vendor and this year will be participating as a volunteer.

Warren expressed how valuable the festival is for vendors specifically.

"I really liked being

there as a vendor. I felt like the arts council did a lot to support the vendors, as well as pulling people in to attend the event as well. The Cotton District Arts Festival is an artisan's festival. It is for people who make things with their hands, and for people who operate in a very small business way," Warren said.

Over the course of the 17 years that Warren has lived in Starkville, she has seen the positive impact of the festival on the city of Starkville, especially the art community.

"I think the Cotton District Arts Festival is really an amazing thing for the city of Starkville, but larger than that, the art community in general. This is one of the largest arts festivals in the area, and people come from all over to be a part of it. It brings a lot of people to Starkville that may not be a part of our traditional community, which is more sportsoriented. For people who aren't sports-oriented like me, that is one of the things that I get really excited about," Warren said.

As students and residents celebrate gathering together again, the Cotton District Arts Festival offers a unique and creative experience for both loyal supporters and students looking for something to do during an away game.

Across

Courtesy Photo | Starkville Area Arts Council

After a two-year hiatus, the Cotton District Arts Festival is returning to Starkville this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CONTINUED FROM 1

cost of living. In addition, the educator said it is difficult to find an affordable house in Starkville on a teacher's low salary.

S t a r k v i l l e administrators are not blind to the problems teachers face every day.

Eddie Peasant, superintendent of the Starkville-Oktibbeha School District, noted the troubles involved with teacher compensation.

"We have a base pay scale that is set by the state legislature, and districts can add a local supplement to it," Peasant said.

"While salary is compared from state to state, we are

blessed by a low cost of living in Mississippi. It is not an apples-to-apples

“It truly is a calling , but it is not great for money.”

Kellie Gartman Teacher Sudduth Elementary School

comparison, but it goes back to the priorities of the legislature. I will say that

our current lieutenant governor is giving the issue more attention and is leading discussions about that salary."

The superintendent said the current teacher shortage is partly related to the lower salaries they receive.

"We have great teachers in the state, for the most part, and they are given lofty expectations and goals, and they work extremely hard to reach those goals," Peasant said.

Sudduth Elementary School teacher Gartman emphasized the time and dedication needed to teach all levels of education.

"It's not a nine to five

job. It's not even a seven to three job. It is a 'take stuff home with you and work on it after the rest of your family has gone to bed' job," Gartman said.

"There is an emotional drain involved. We see a lot of teachers getting their degrees and teaching for less than three years and leaving because of the pressure involved. I think that's why the state has a low retention rate for teachers."

Agreeing with Gartman, Peasant explained how the Mississippi school systems need teachers and other workers to continue working in the field.

protected from theft.

Spruill emphasized further security measures the city officials and police department are taking to guard the city.

"We have been very focused on setting up security cameras around locations in town, banks being one of them that have participated with

SERVICE

When choosing what service project or v o l u n t e e r i n g opportunity to participate in next, Cayson said she tries to keep an open mind and search for what the community needs.

"Sometimes we choose (service projects) based on a specific need that we've seen recently.

For example, our upcoming project is collecting donations for Hurricane Ida relief. Other times, we ask our members for ways they are wanting to serve," Cayson said.

Reagan Read, a junior biological sciences major, serves as the vice president of the organization. Her role is to assist President Cayson as needed, call potential

"We're dealing with a teacher shortage right now, and we have been working hard to attract the best and brightest to the education field in the state," Peasant said. "Low salary plays a major role in that."

Peasant concluded by highlighting the need to support those in the education field.

The superintendent said that schools need to connect the teachers, students and parents to link these issues to the outside world.

"In today's society, what happens in the K-12 world heavily impacts the greater world," Peasant said.

CONTINUED FROM 1

hopes this incident remains the only bank robbery in Starkville and says the city and SPD are constantly reevaluating their plans to see what they can improve to keep the citizens and city of Starkville safe. SPD and the mayor both said the local banks are very hands-on in this process to keep their businesses

us in that aspect for security purposes," the mayor said.

Although bank robberies may not be as common anymore, across the U.S., studies have shown an increase in crime levels during the pandemic.

"I think everywhere has seen an increase in crime since the

beginning of last year," Lovelady said. "There has been an upward trend."

Lovelady said Starkville Police Department noticed the rising crime rates in Starkville and requested funds from the American Rescue Act to further assist the department's goal to protect the town.

Starkville Police Department requests anyone who has more information regarding the recent bank robbery to call the department at 662-323-413 or submit an anonymous tip on its website. People may also contact Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 800530-7151 and possibly receive a cash reward.

CONTINUED FROM 1

service partners and help the other executive members carry out their responsibilities. Read initially joined Hands & Feet because a previous executive member encouraged her to participate in the club to volunteer in the community. "(Hands & Feet) was really cool because I liked everything it stood for, and I really wanted to get more involved with service," Read said.

Other than serving, Hands & Feet conducts meetings for all of the service club's participants where they gather ideas and announce the newest projects.

Currently, the club does not have a permanent place to meet, but bounces

from the Colvard Student Union to other locations on campus, depending on the week.

Marketing chair Tucker began as a member and recently became an executive member.

Tucker explained how Hands & Feet pushed her outside of her comfort zone by inspiring her to assume a leadership position to guide others.

"It is really unlike me to want to be in an exec position like that, but there is just something about this club that is so special.

It is everything that I stand for and resembles my morals.

When it is so important, it is easy to want to step up to be a leader and encourage others," Tucker said.

SUDOKU

An In-Class Distraction

ROBBERY Spruill also said the pandemic affected how the banks operate, and it is more difficult for someone to rob a bank because the lobbies are often closed to the public.

"I just don't see that as a good path forward for bank robberies," Spruill said.

Of course, Spruill

BULLETIN BOARD

CONTINUED FROM 1

SALARY In addition to receiving a lower salary, Gartman also spoke about the difficulty of teachers continuing their personal education while also teaching their own students.

"If you do not go ahead and get your master's degree, your doctorate and your National Board certification, your pay scale will suffer," Gartman said. "Until there is more value placed on the quality of what teachers do, I do not think we will get out of this."

McReynolds said the cost of living has increased, but her salary does not reflect the new

THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 | @REFLECTORONLINE

Courtesy Photo | Hands & Feet

Hands & Feet collected donations to supply to those in need. Pictured are three club members with a trunk of pantry goods.

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September 22 Puzzle Solutions

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Friday, September 24, 2021

Student reported leaving his laptop on one of the transit buses.

Student was issued a post arrest citation for public drunkenness in F11 parking lot. Student was transported Non-resident/visitor arrested at to OCH via ambulance.

Cresswell Hall for aggravated domestic violence.

Saturday, September 25, 2021 Wednesday, September 22, 2021 Two students issued referrals for petit larceny.

Student reported her vehicle was hit in the E12 parking lot Student arrested in the Junction for disorderly conduct, and the subject left the possession of a fake I.D. and scene. possession of paraphernalia.

Thursday, September Four students were issued 23, 2021 referrals for involvement in Student was having difficulty golf car accident and leaving the scene in front of Phi breathing at Humphrey Gamma Delta fraternity Coliseum. Student was house. Golf cart was imtransported to OCH via pounded by A1 towing. ambulance.

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THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 | @REFLECTORONLINE

OPINION

Op-ed: The case for raising the student activity fee GARRETT SMITH SA PRESIDENT

Mississippi State University students are going to have the opportunity to vote on Tuesday to raise the student activity fee from $5 to $25 a semester. There are dozens of reasons for MSU students to vote in favor of this change, far too many to fit in one article, so I will have to try and hit the highlights.

First, I need to be extremely clear: this is not a tuition raise. Tuition raises are determined by the university and the Mississippi Legislature, and the increased funding they provide can go towards whatever the university chooses.

Students have no guarantee that their own interests will be prioritized.

The student activity fee, however, is a different story. When it was created several years ago, a campus-wide vote demonstrated significant support for a student activity fee which funded programs and projects on campus designated free for all students. The same poll showed students specifically prioritized campus concerts and events, funding for student

organizations and recreational opportunities as destinations for the newly created funding pool.

This is fundamentally different from tuition raises because it puts power back in the hands of students, allowing them to dictate where the money goes in a given semester through campuswide polling or Student Association representation. By raising it for the next academic year, we will only put more power in the hands of students.

Here is what we want to do with it.

The student activity fee will continue to fund the things it has traditionally gone to, such as Bulldog Bash, homecoming festivities and student organizations who apply for funding through the Student Association. In addition, the Student Association intends to direct much of the newly acquired funding from the fee raise to the Sanderson Center and other university recreation facilities.

This is an area of campus that is falling behind compared to our Southeastern Conference (SEC) counterparts, and students want to see it addressed.

The best way to do that is to do it ourselves.

In the first four semesters after raising the fee, 60% of the funds will be directed towards the Sanderson, an approximate $1.1 million in funding for massive renovations and upgrades.

After working with President Mark Keenum and Chief Financial Officer Don Zant, the university has agreed to match student investment, meaning upwards of $2 million earmarked for moving MSU's recreation facilities forward over the next two years. There are multiple projects this money will go to, from small things like Wi-Fi at the intramural fields to larger scale projects like the creation of an entirely new workout facility upstairs which will replace some of the Sanderson's existing racquetball courts.

Additionally, significant funds will be directed towards the "old intramural fields," located south of Fresh Food Company, to revamp the space into an attractive multi-use recreational area, with lighting for 24-hour usage. These changes are a huge win for students, and I have not even mentioned what bigger,

better campus concerts and events like Bulldog Bash and Cowbell Yell might look like if we secure this additional funding.

It is also useful to examine our student activity fee in comparison with the rest of the state and the SEC. MSU's $5a-semester student activity fee simply does not compare. It is the lowest in both categories, tied with The University of Mississippi, a school that is also making preliminary plans to raise their fee along with us.

Dear Editor, One must appreciate the irony that, a few weeks ago, Delta Gamma boasted that they "controlled" a massive percentage of the Student Association Senate. Today, SA pleads for students to increase their activity fee by 400%.

Only about 20% of students on MSU's campus are involved in Greek life, yet, on the

Executive Council, five of nine members list a Greek affiliation— and this is leaps and bounds better than previous years.

The Student Association has had a long history of Greek dominance. Simply put, it is extremely difficult to garner support when you do not have a well-financed, exclusive organization behind you to guarantee a few hundred votes.

As a friend once told me: "You have to either know someone or

be Greek to join the Student Association cult."

That being said, very rarely does SA support something which is blatantly in the interest of only Greek life. President Garrett Smith's administration has made massive strides thus far, and I personally know several passionate members who are, in fact, non-Greek.

Bulldog Bash, the Sanderson, clubs— these are all things that we generally agree are worth funding, but I understand

the frustration. As I leave Mississippi State University, I am extremely disappointed to have witnessed many, many people feeling ostracized when trying to join.

I will be voting for the increase and encourage everyone to as well. However, I once again call for SA to do better in terms of non-Greek representation. If I am willing to pay more, the Student Association best be willing to make sure every student feels represented.

Delta State University and Jackson State University lead Mississippi with $25-a-semester student activity fee. The vast majority of SEC schools are above $100 a semester in student activity fees, with the average hovering around $250, and Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee leading the way at $715 and $519 a semester, respectively.

While we by no means intend to raise our fees this high, a simple $20-asemester raise could mean so much more for

our students. Since I am a senior, I will not get to see it go into effect next year. Instead, I look forward to watching from afar as MSU students enjoy the benefits of more campus concerts and events, more funding for student organizations and more recreation opportunities. It is past time for us to take the next step, to give more power to our students. I hope you will vote yes on the Oct. 5 homecoming ballot, and you will remember exactly what that vote will mean for students.

What do you want to see in The Reector?

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Michael Bourgeois is a senior majoring in English.

Contact him at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu

Mississippi will be making significant strides in the coming year to meet the mental health needs of the state's residents. The impetus to improve mental health resources in the state follows the recent ruling in a lawsuit imposed by the U.S. Department of Justice. According to Leah Willingham with the Associated Press, Judge Carlton Reeves ruled that the state was in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a result of this ruling, new standards will be put in place to ensure Mississippi falls in line with federal mandate. Willingham writes Mississippi will be required to track a wide array of data, including state hospital admissions, the number of patients who remain in state hospitals for more than 180 days and those who are put in jail while waiting for a state hospital bed. Of course, ensuring citizens with mental illness are taken care of in

John Lawrence | The Reflector

Counseling ser vices on campus are available for all MSU students. Their office is located in Hathorn Hall.

Mississippi should be a top concern for our lawmakers, and these new standards are a welcome change.

The issue however lies at the root— the over-diagnosis of mental illness as well as the stigmatization of those afflicted.

Especially in the collegiate environment, students have the tendency to self-diagnose their everyday feelings and struggles as true psychiatric problems associated with real medical issues. In using the same terminology, those suffering become overshadowed. In a way,

mental illness and how little it is understood by people on the outside becomes trendy and trivialized to the point of oversaturation. In order to better address the prevalence of mental illness across our society, a medical diagnosis should be reserved for those who desperately need the psychiatric help.

That way, those who need the attention can focus on getting the help they need, as opposed to mental health professionals misdiagnosing common human emotions as clinical mental health issues.

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Mental health issues have become over-diagnosed to the point where true mental health concerns become blurred with everyday problems facing most people. According to Katti Gray for CNN Health, a growing number of psychiatrists, psychologists and clinical social workers argue depression and other natural responses to life's challenges are too often labeled as disorders and come with demands for medicine with dangerous side effects. These clinical diagnostics demand a certain degree of treatment either

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor can be sent to the Meyer Student Media Center or mailed to The Reflector, PO Box 5407, Mississippi State, MS. They can also be emailed to editor@reflector.msstate.edu and have a maximum wordcount of 350 words.

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

Since opening on Sept.

9, T-YUMMÌ has been serving Mississippi State University students and Starkville residents Vietnamese cuisine and bubble teas out of its shop on Highway 12. While the restaurant offers food items such as phở, many people go for their extensive list of boba, or bubble teas.

Boba is a delicious Tawainese-originated drink that made its way to the U.S. during the 90s. According to foodandwine.com, boba's popularity spread from Taiwan all across the world, and grew to include more toppings such as jellies.

I have personally loved boba since first trying it a year or two ago. Before TYUMMÌ came to Starkville, I would get my boba fix at the Asian Market. That being said, I was incredibly excited to try the boba at TYUMMÌ.

My favorite thing to order is not traditional boba, but the popping boba with fresh tea. However, for this review I tried several of the drinks on the menu at T-YUMMÌ so that I could have a well-rounded review and description.

The first time I went to TYUMMÌ I ordered Vietnamese coffee with coffee jelly. Normally I would have just ordered the Vietnamese coffee on its own, but the person at the register recommended I add the coffee jelly.

with hospitalization, therapy or prescription drugs for a disorder which might be misdiagnosed.

According to Gray, the prevalence of mental illness has skyrocketed. Gray writes that the frequency of bipolar disorder in children has jumped 40-fold over the last two decades. Many kids go through life with this serious medical diagnosis having not even experienced a manic episode, which is the true mark of the disorder. This results in an artificial increase in the seeming prevalence of bipolar disorder.

The epidemic of over-diagnoses blurs the line between those who need help to overcome their mental illness and those who are misdiagnosed.

In examining how the importance of mental illness became so heightened over the course of recent years, one of the factors is the trivialization of the mental health concerns to the point where it has become almost trendy to suffer from these adverse effects. Social media serves as a tool for people to interact with the world, and in the modern age people are more comfortable to talk about mental health to de-stigmatize those conversations and re-embrace those suffering into society. The social media market, however, has become oversaturated, and as Jess Joho from Mashable argues

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.

"We might have forgotten the fundamental and vital distinction between sad feels and the terms used to diagnose mental disorders, like anxiety and depression." Words have power.

People use them to neatly sort things into categories, and when the words become trivialized and overused, they no longer hold any power. Sadness does not equate to depression and nervousness does not equate to anxiety, as these are passing feelings that will ultimately go away given enough time.

Clinical depression and chronic anxiety, however, need to be addressed at a deeper level because there are often psychological problems as the root cause that require therapy and medication. The problem does not lie with people increasingly sharing their mental health issues with others on the internet, it lies with the ones who glorify and misappropriate those struggles without context. For many, having a platform to unload all of an individual's frustrations upon can be a blessing, especially for those who do not have a community to help them through their emotional struggles.

However, it is essential we do not overshadow mental illness and equate our everyday struggles to true psychological disorders which demand medical attention.

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.

If you have never had Vietnamese coffee, it is basically drip coffee with sweetened condensed milk poured over ice. I have been drinking it for years at my local Vietnamese restaurants back home, and it is one of my favorite treats.

Though I have had Vietnamese coffee dozens of times, I had never heard of coffee jelly before. The coffee jelly was in little squares and chewy like a gummy bear. It was sweet and so delicious, the serving was large, and though a bit pricey, it was the perfect after-class treat.

Another drink I tried was fresh tea with rainbow jelly.

It was fruity and fresh and the gummies added a fun aspect to it that went beyond just a fruity tea. It was refreshing and was not too sweet.

Sophomore landscape architecture major Laurel Kelton also made a visit to T-YUMMÌ. She got the honeydew milk tea with boba, and her overall rating was a 7/10.

"I thought it was really good. I probably should have gotten a different flavor, but I really enjoyed it. I have been wanting to go again ever since," Kelton said.

Junior psychology major Catherine Sims tried the strawberry milk tea with rainbow. One aspect that stood out to her was just how many options they had.

"I really enjoyed how many options you could choose from. With so many choices, there is something for everyone," Sims said.

Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

T-YUMMÍ Cafe recently opened in the building shared by Umi Japanese Steakhouse and Lost Pizza Co. The new restaurant offers traditional Vietnamese cuisine, as well as an extensive bubble tea menu.

My last visit I got the brown sugar milk tea with U.S. boba, which is basically just the traditional tapioca pearl boba. It was less sweet than the other drinks I tried, and overall pretty tasty. Since the drink is so creamy, it was difficult to drink all of it, but I tried to make sure I finished it since it was over $6, which is pretty high to spend for one drink.

Though I am more of a fruity tea type of person, the creamier milk teas are delicious as well.

While my main review was concerning the drinks, they also serve Vietnamese food at T-YUMMÌ. I ordered the spring rolls and was not too impressed, and I have heard similar accounts from others who

have tried it. While I definitely recommend TYUMMÌ for the drinks, I do not recommend it for the food they have there. It was bland and the meat in the spring rolls tasted like it had not been seasoned at all.

If I had to give an overall rating for the drinks, it would be an 8/10. Though a pretty high score, the reasons for deductions include just how pricey the drinks get, on top of how the wait can sometimes be a little longer than ideal.

This, of course, does not diminish the taste of the drinks and how much I enjoyed them. Ever since trying it, I have gone back multiple times craving it, especially the delicious Vietnamese coffee.

Ivy Rose Ball | The Reflector

Mississippi State University student Shali Rader enjoys boba at T-YUMMÍ on Friday afternoon.

SPORTS

T. Smith:Bulldog offense needs confidence The Mississippi State University Bulldogs were faced with their first Southeastern Conference opponent of the season,LouisianaStateUniversity, and unfortunately shot themselves in the foot multiple times. This is the second time this season we have seen the last-second scramble to win from the Dawgs, and fans should commend the athletes for never giving up, but this time it was not enough. However, this does not mean fans should give up on the team. This same "never give up" grit won the baseball team a national championship. If the offense can become more confident and stop overthinking plays in the first three quarters, this team can make a comeback and

end the season in a bowl game.

This team can consistently be what they were against NC State.

The defense made some mistakes, one resulting in the injuryofkeyplayerandsophomore cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, but they are the reason the Bulldogs were not completely blown out of the water. Looking at the scoreboard, one would assume thedefensewassubpar,buteachof theLSUtouchdownswasawarded due to a deep ball. The shortest yardage on an LSU touchdown was11yards,andthatistheoutlier.

The other three were 64, 58 and 41 yards respectively. When a defense relies heavily on the blitz, big plays are inevitably going to be given up to the opposing team, but it is up to the Bulldog offense to answer to those big plays with deep balls of their own. It is also worth noting that when the offense had

that fire lit under them in the final quarter, the defense held LSU to 28 points after their final touchdown occurred with 11:32 left on the clock. That gave the offense plenty of opportunity to make up the 18 points they were down. In the fourth quarter, directly before MSU's final touchdown and two-point conversion, the defense refused to allow LSU to gain so much as a first down.

The offense and special teams equally share the blame for this week's loss. Will Rogers threw a total of 14 incomplete passes while LSU quarterback Max Johnson only threw nine. While the accuracy was a bit off on a few of those throws, it seemed as if the receivers had butter fingers more inthisgamethananyother.Ontop of that, the team was unable to make that final drive for a

1. Alabama....................(-) 2. Georgia.....................(-) 3. Oregon.....................(-) 4. Iowa.........................+1 5. Oklahoma..................-1 6. Penn State.................+2 7. Cincinnati..................-1 8. Notre Dame..............+3 9. Ohio State.................(-) 10. Florida...................+2 11. Arkansas................+6 12. Mississippi..............+1 13. Coastal Carolina......+2 14. BYU.......................+2 15. Texas A&M..............-8 16. Michigan.................+4 17. Michigan State.........+4

18. Clemon....................-8 19. UCLA.....................+3 20. Fresno State............+3 21. Oklahoma State.......NR T-22. Baylor.................NR T-22. Auburn................+2 24. Iowa State..............-10 25. Wake Forest...........NR Receiving Votes: NC State (94), Texas (76), Boston College (70), Wisconsin (69), Maryland (63), Kentcky (50), Virginia Tech (32), SMU (32), UTSA (28), Arizona State (24), North Carolina (23), LSU (19), Army (19),

Mississippi State (19), Western Michigan (9), TCU (3), Rutgers (3), Boise State (3), Georgia Tech (1), Appalachian State (1), Louisville (1), West Virginia (1), Nebraska (1)

Tara SmiTh

conTribuTing WriTer

Mental health self-diagnoses overshadow those who need true medical attention

5

Restaurant Review: these teas are "T-YUMMÌ" STaff WriTer

Th e S t u d e n t A s s o c i a t i o n n e e d s t o b e m o re i n c l u s ive i f s t u d e n t s a re p ay i n g a h i g h e r s t u d e n t a c t iv i t y f e e CONTRIBUTING WRITER

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT emily buTler

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: BRADY KRUSE

THE REFLECTOR | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 | @REFLECTORONLINE

Following one of the wildest weeks of the season up to this point, teams jumped and lost as much as 10 spots in the Student Media Top 25 Poll, with MSU receiving 19 votes as NC State managed an upset over Clemson. A win in week 5 should ensure a top 25 ranking for MSU.

touchdown on multiple occasions and regularly weakened tremendously when in the red zone. This comes back to playing without confidence.

"We're a team that has to know good things are going to happen. Right now, we kind of hope things will happen. What I see is a team that can make a lot of plays, and I see a team that will take themselves out of drives because they don't have that focus," Head Coach Mike Leach said after the game.

Coach Leach sees the lack of confidence in his players and attributes that to the lack of experience.

"There's got to be an expectation,somethingthatcomes with experience," Leach said.

Fans often jump to message boards and social media pages to berate the team, but forget how

young they are. Rogers, Walley, Forbes and McCord are all sophomores, some with only freshman eligibility. Many of the key players have not been playing college football as long as fans like to believe.However, their age does not excuse making seemingly silly mistakessuchasamissedfieldgoal, shield jump or repeatedly dropping balls. These mistakes are what cost the Bulldogs the win this weekend, but with every loss, the team and coaches become more aware of vital focus points in practice.

"We have got to be more consistent; we have to expect success...Thefirsthalfisapointwe need to focus on for sure. We pick it up in the second half and look good ... We have to do four 15 minutes," senior wide receiver Austin Williams said.

Williams said he shares coach

Leach's judgements on the offense's confidence and expecting the success the team has proven to be capable of. This is a focal point Williams is looking to improve on heading into the weekend against Texas A&M. Another point worth noting, the Bulldogs almost doubled the Tigers'averageyardsperrush.Not only does this highlight how the run game has been more evident under Leach this season, but also how the defense holds back the offense when it does not come to deep plays. The defense also totaled -15 yards for LSU in sacks where the Tiger defense only cost the Bulldogs -2 yards. The defense is the backbone of this team at the moment, but if the offense can garner confidence, get out of their heads and instinctively perform, the Bulldogs have a solid shot at giving the Aggies hail.

Landon Scheel | The Reflector

Malik Heath eyes down his own fumble on the opening drive of this past weekend’s game against the LSU Tigers.

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