F
A
S
E
S
OPINION | 4
E
X
DRUGS... DRUGS... DRUGS...
...LIFE | 7
Reflector The
FRIDAY
JANUARY 27, 2012
REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM 124TH YEAR | ISSUE 30
TWITTER.COM/REFLECTORONLINE FACEBOOK.COM/REFLECTORONLINE
THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
TIGERS
Cheating reports continue to increase
ROAR INTO SEC
BY KAITLYN BYRNE Copy Editor
During the fall 2011 semester, 201 cases of academic dishonesty were reported at Mississippi State University. By comparison, 271 cases of academic dishonesty were reported for the entire 2010-2011 academic year. James Orr, director of the student honor code office, said the increase in reported academic dishonesty cases is not due to an increase in cheating. Instead, the increase is due to professors taking a more active involvement in reporting students who are caught cheating. “Faculty members and other students are vigilant in reporting and discovering academic dishonesty,” Orr said. “Professors understand that a major part of deterring academic dishonesty involves reporting incidents and ensuring that students receive the appropriate sanction.” Orr said sanctions for violating the student honor code could include receiving a zero on the assignment, lowered course grade, dismissal from MSU and/or the course grade of “XF.” SEE CODE, 3
Cases Reported
155
07-08
212 220
08-09
09-10
271 201
10-11
BY CANDACE BARNETTE | Staff Writer
T
he University of Missouri is officially adding its name and traditions among the ranks of other universities in the Southeastern Conference. The news is cause for enthusiasm from Mizzou fans all over. Chad Moller, associate athletic director for media relations, said Mizzou fans are anxious to be a part of the SEC. “We’re all extremely excited and proud to be joining a conference that’s as distinguished and recognized as the SEC, and we’re really looking forward to getting to know our conference partners so we can share our traditions and what we’re all about here at Mizzou,” he said. Many of the traditions at Mizzou are similar to those at Mississippi State University. According to Cathy Scroggs, vice chancellor for student affairs at MU, the fans are also devoted to tailgating, despite the difference in temperature. “We have quite a bit of tailgating that goes on at our football games,” Scroggs said. “In Missouri it’s pretty warm at the first few games, but when it starts to get colder, that gives us even more energy.” Moller also commented on the tailgating crowd for games in Missouri. SEE MIZZOU, 2
Fall
ZACK ORSBORN | THE REFLECTOR
COURTESY PHOTO | MISSOURI MEDIA RELATIONS
Mobile apps enhance study habits, learning Students, faculty use technology for academic productivity BY LINDSAY MCMURTRAY
MICAH GREEN | THE REFLECTOR
Staff Writer
Pi Kappa Phi is expected to move into the newly renovated Alpha Gamma Rho house the first week in July.
As the use of smart phones becomes increasingly popular, students are finding mobile applications to enhance all aspects of life, including classroom assignments. The most popular school-related applications among students polled include Dictionary, Wikipanion, Google Translate and Twitter. Students said these applications were useful in multiple classes and are usually free for mobile users. Lauren Joffrion, freshman biology major, said she uses mobile applications specifically for organization and note taking. She recommends using the calendar pre-loaded to the phone to keep up with assignments and Evernote to record and organize lectures. “I have a schedule on my phone and schedule events and assignments,” Joffrion said. “Evernote records my notes and (tries) to type them out for me.” Shelly Hargis, transfer sophomore biology major, said when she was a student at Lamar University, she used the Blackboard application to complete many of her online assignments. Chris Wilbourn, freshman political science major, said he finds functionality in In Class, a free application that helps organize everything school related. In Class features a schedule, to-do list and note section. “My favorite app is In Class. It’s an organizer that has multiple features that lists professors and has a contact book with office hours,” he said. Many teachers use mobile applications to improve their productivity as well as their students’. Dan White, English instructor, said he uses applications on his iPad that are not specifically for teacher use. “Almost everything my students read from me is typed in Apple Pages. I use the app to build lecture notes, essay assignments, fliers for the Writing Center and other special events,” he said. “It’s convenient to give lectures with my notes and have an almost limitless research tool in hand.” SEE APPS, 2
READERʼS GUIDE CAMPUS CALENDAR..................2 BAD DAWGS..............................3 OPINION ...............................4 CONTACT INFO......................4
POLICY CROSSWORD .................. .....5 CLASSIFIEDS..........................5 LIFE.....................................6 SPORTS..................................8
Pi Kapp takes AGR house BY CANDACE BARNETTE Staff Writer
Pi Kappa Phi fraternity will have a new home by the end of this summer. Davis Dodson, previous Interfraternity Council president, said Pi Kappa Phi has already begun its renovations on what was previously the Alpha Gamma Rho house. Once it is completed, the house will be one the Pi Kapps can call their own. “The chapters have already done a lot of work cleaning out everything in there,” Dodson said. “The basic plan is to use the structure of the
ANY PERSON MAY PICK UP A SINGLE COPY OF THE REFLECTOR FOR FREE. ADDITIONAL COPIES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE MEYER STUDENT MEDIA CENTER FOR 25 CENTS PER COPY.
house that is already there, but when it’s finished, you won’t recognize the house at all.” The renovations are expected to be complete by the first week of July. Jay Stuckel, board member for the national organizations of Pi Kappa Phi, said they did not yet have a number for the cost of the renovations. “We can say that it will be a substantial amount of money for a very nice livable condition for our chapter,” Stuckel said. This is the first time Pi Kappa Phi has ever been at Mississippi State University.
FRIDAY Partly Cloudy
According to Cody McClanahan, president of Pi Kappa Phi, there are currently 43 members, but they expect more during fall rush after the renovations. “I think having a house will greatly increase the amount of people that will show interest toward Pi Kappa Phi,” McClanahan said. Rhett Hobart, Student Association president, said he agreed the fraternity growth will be beneficial for everyone on campus. “I think it shows great expansion in our university as a way for students to continue to get involved,” Hobart said.
SUNDAY
SATURDAY HIGH
59 38 LOW
Partly Cloudy
HIGH
57 30 LOW
Partly Cloudy
HIGH
58 27 LOW