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LIFE | 6 125th YEAR | ISSUE 10 @REFLECTORONLINE f /REFLECTORONLINE

SEPTEMBER 24, 2013

TUESDAY

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

Fake reports compromise Maroon Alert functionality, campus safety

BY MARY KATE MCGOWAN Assistant News Editor

On Sept. 11, Mississippi State University students and faculty received a Maroon Alert reporting an attempted abduction was reported behind Sessums Hall. A few days later, the MSU Police Department determined it was a hoax.

On Feb. 29, 2012, another on-campus abduction was also ruled a hoax. On this occasion, a Maroon Alert was also dispatched to notify the public of the alleged abduction.

Brad Massey, MSU chief detective, said he investigated both reports and he does not know why the people made false reports.

“Sometimes I think it might be for attention,” Massey said.

“Everything is looked at that as it is originally reported. You can go into it with an open mind that the person is telling the truth.”

Because of campus detectives like Massey, false reports are recognized and prosecuted.

Ann Bailey, director of Housing and Residence Life, said if a story is not matching up, the detectives will figure it out.

“Generally, the individual will break,” Bailey said. “At some point, we will publicly admit that it did not occur the way that they said it did or not.”

When that happens, the student who filed the false report faces the consequences.

Thomas Bourgeois, dean of students, said filing a false report is committing fraud and falls under the MSU Student Code of Conduct.

“Any student who violates

MISSISSIPPI STATE’S UNSUNG HEROES

any of those codes of conducts are subject to being charged under the student code of conduct,” he said. “Of course, if you are found responsible, there are sanctions that range from warnings up to being expelled from campus depending on the nature of the event.”

People who file false reports must repay the police department for overtime hours that occurred while investigating the false report.

“We take a false report of a crime very seriously,” Massey said. “It takes away our abilities to investigate real crimes when we are having to put our resources and efforts to something that didn’t occur.”

Massey also said false reports and their outcome hurt the university’s image when a crime is said to have happened on campus when it has not.

“It gives people who are possibly sending their children to the university saying they don’t want to go there because they have this happening,” Massey said. “It gives the university a bad image, and we take it very seriously. “ But when a report is decided to be crucial to campus safety, the Dean of Students Office coordinates the campus crisis response.

“There’s six different oncall people as well as four incident commanders — Bill Kibler (vice president of Student Affairs), Amy Tuck (vice president for Campus Services), myself and Bill Broyles (assistant vice president of Student Affairs) — who kind of decide on what threshold needs to be met when a message is sent out to campus and how that message is sent out,” Bourgeois said.

BY LACRETIA WIMBLEY Staff Writer

Mississippi State University’s Henry Isaac, chef at Perry Cafeteria, has mixed his love for students with his talent of cook-

ing and has served MSU for 60 years.

Isaac was born in 1936, and he and his late wife raised three children together. Isaac started his career at State in 1953 by cleaning up trash with his father.

P

Henry Isaac demonstrates loyalty as he celebrates 60 years of service at MSU

Isaac said he knew he wanted to work in the kitchen when he smelled the food.

“I first started washing glasses for about a year and a half. I’ve always loved cooking. It started at home. Then

I knew I wanted to do it here,” Isaac said.

Bill Broyles, assistant vice president for Student Affairs, said he has worked with Isaac for 34 wonderful years.

SEE ISAAC, 2

EMMA KATE POINDEXTER | THE REFLECTOR

Henry Isaac, long-time Perry cafeteria worker, found a passion for food when he started serving MSU students in 1953.

SEE FAKE REPORTS, 2

Honors college performs outdoor comedy

Clothesline Project provides creative outlet

BY MAGAN FORD Staff Writer

BY JAMIE ALLEN Staff Writer

The Shackouls Honors College presents its performance of Plautus’s Greek play, “The Brothers Menaechmus,” Thursday and Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the courtyard of Zacharias Village or, in the event of rain, in Griffis Hall.

This interactive play, in conjunction with the honors college’s second annual “Classical Week” will be the first outdoor play Mississippi State University has seen in several years. Admission is free; however, donations are accepted and will go toward the honors college and its programs.

Audience members are encouraged to bring a blanket and arrive around 5 p.m.

EMMA KATHERINE HUTTO | THE REFLECTOR because there will be live entertainment and an art Members of the Honors College rehearse for upcoming play. exhibit before the play. On Thursday evening, there will “This year, the play that dents, Colin Baylot, senior be free food provided, and we chose is a comedy, which communication major with on Friday audience mem- is different from anything concentrations in theatre bers can bring a picnic to eat we have done in the past,” and broadcasting, is part of during the play.

Clevinger said. “When we the publicity and marketDirector of the play, Don- decided to conduct the play ing team associated with the na Clevinger, Ph.D. senior outdoors, it seemed the best play. He said another thing faculty fellow for the Shack- fit to have it be a comedy.” different about the play is ouls Honor College and proClevinger has incorpo- that, besides Clevinger’s thefessor of communication, rated her theatre manage- atre management class, it is said this year the honors col- ment class to help out with not associated with the thelege wants to do something a the management aspect of atre department, but with little different. the play. One of her stu- the honors college.

Mississippi State University students raise awareness for sexual assault by hanging their stories on clotheslines on the Drill Field. The Clothesline Project is a threeday event where volunteers can decorate a T-shirt representing how they, or someone they know, has been affected by sexual assault.

In 1990, a group of women from Cape Cod, Mass., decided it wanted to break the silence. One of the women, Rachel Carey-Harper, presented the idea to make T-shirts and hang them on a clothesline to make the well-kept secrets of so many known.

According to The Clothesline Project official website, the event raises awareness and creates freedom for victims of sexual assault, while letting women share their individual stories through artwork on T-shirts. After decorated, the T-shirts are hung on clotheslines.

“This very action serves many purposes. It acts as an educational tool for those who come to view the clothesline.

It becomes a healing tool for anyone who makes a shirt.

By hanging the shirt on the line, survivors, friends and family can literally turn their back

on some of that pain of their experience and walk away.

Finally, it allows those who are still suffering in silence to understand that they are not alone,” the website stated.

The MSU Clothesline Project allows any child or adult, male or female, to participate.

Each colored T-shirt holds a different meaning. Yellow stands for men and women who have been battered or assaulted. Red, pink or orange stand for men and women who have been raped or sexually assaulted. White stands for men and women who have died of violence. Blue or green stand for for men and women who have been victims of incest or child sexual abuse. Purple stands for men and women who have been attacked because of their sexual orientation. Black stands for men and women who have been attacked for political reasons.

Leah Pylate, assistant director of Health Education Wellness and Sexual As-

sault, said it is vital the public is made aware of sexual violence and begins to take action.

“We cannot ignore the issue. The Clothesline Project brings awareness to crimes of violence against men, women and children, and it is important for the campus community to take action and not allow these crimes to continue,” she said. “According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, in a woman’s lifetime, one in five have been raped and one in six have been stalked. Also, according to the same report, one in four women have experience severe physical violence from an 3 intimate partE, N I ner,” Pylate SL said.

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NEWS

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ISAAC

THE REFLECTOR

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“Henry is a great colleague, La’Tia Davis, freshman biolog- MSU, and with this being my school pride when it comes to and if you want to see what de- ical sciences major, said Isaac first year, a friendly and helpful being part of MSU. votion looks like, just look at has helped to make her transi- person is exactly what I need“I’m not in a hurry to leave. ed. With his uplifting spirit I’m 77 years old, and I can still Henry. He is truly a one-of-a tion to college easier.

“He is a really sweet and and daily kindness, he is really come out and work just like anykind person, and anyone who ever meets Henry would look nice person. The fact that he like a father figure to me,” Da- one else can. I’m going to start has been here so long makes vis said. up to him,” Broyles said. going to ball games, too, just Isaac displays positivity and to be in the atmosphere,” Isaac Throughout his years at him very knowledgeable about MSU, Isaac said he has seen many historical changes on campus.

“When I first started here, there were dairy departments, animals and farmland to the highway. Now there are dormitories taking their place. I started cooking meals in what is now the union, and my priorities were always keeping the students happy. When students are satisfied, I am satisfied,” Isaac said.

Isaac also said he witnessed the first 10 African-American students transition to MSU around 1960. He said integration united MSU and was a beautiful thing to witness.

Lloyd Rodgers, cashier at the State Fountain Bakery, said Isaac really combines love with dedication when preparing meals.

“I love his pasta entrées, and whenever I see him, he is always smiling and open to talk about anything. He is like a role model for me, and being that I love to work with food as well, I hope to be in his position one day,” EMMA KATE POINDEXTER | THE REFLECTOR Rodgers said.

As well as being a role model, Perry Cafeteria servers Henry Isaac and Kiera Powel work to provide a positive dining atmosphere.

FAKE REPORTS At this time, the crisis action team assembles in the command center at the Butler Guest House on campus located next to the MSU Police Department. Kibler

generally serves as the incident commander. The team consists of around 30 experts in different areas concerning campus and the university.

Bailey is also member of the crisis action team. She said members of the crisis action team are there until the incident has been taken care of — all night long, if necessary.

“Whenever there is a report of a shooting or an assault or anything where the campus community needs to be immediately notified, we all kick into high gear,” Bailey said. “We immediately determine if we need to or not issue a Maroon Alert because we are

BAD D WGS

Saturday, Sept. 21

• 12:55 a.m. An officer responded to a male subject yelling behind a building on President’s Circle.

• 5:59 p.m. A student was arrested at Davis Wade Stadium for public drunkenness.

• 7:01 p.m. Juveniles were drinking and fighting in the Junction. The subjects were held until their parents arrived.

• 8:56 p.m. A visitor reported his golf cart stolen from the Newell Grissom Building parking lot. The golf cart was later found on Fraternity Row. • 11:27 p.m. Binoculars and a cowbell were found in Davis Wade Stadium.

• 11:28 p.m. A visitor was transported to OCH from the Sigma Chi house for medical assistance.

Sunday, Sept. 22 • 12:16 a.m. A visitor was arrested at the Sigma Chi house for public drunkenness.

• 1:44 a.m. A student requested a counselor. The subject was transported to Willow Brook for treatment.

• 7:12 p.m. A visitor reported all his tailgating equipment was stolen from the tailgating area.

• 8:17 p.m. A visitor had fallen off a brick embankment in the Junction. The subject was transported to OCH.

Citations:

• 10 citations were issued for speeding.

• 5 citations were issued for running a stop sign.

• 5 citations were issued for disregard of a traffic device.

• 3 citations were issued for driving the wrong way on a oneway street. continued from 1

required to notify all of campus.

So, the resident adviser wouldn’t necessarily notify their residents about that issue. It would come from a higher authority.”

MSU police are immediately contacted in the case of a campus emergency. The police get in touch with Dean Bourgeois or the crisis action team member who is on-call at that time of the emergency.

Georgia Lindley, MSU chief of police and member of the crisis action team, said the police department responds immediately when notified by a Maroon Alert.

“I keep the other members apprised of any safety and security

matters that they may need to know about — for instance, the housing office or the dean of students or just someone who might not be aware of what exactly the police department is doing,” Lindley said.

Bailey said members of the crisis action team work until the incident and its aftermath have been addressed.

“You may go without food.

You may go without sleep, but every minute is critical when you are responding to an incident,” Bailey said. “Personal comforts take a break.”

The crisis action team also updates the school’s website in-

formation that details more of the information originally sent in Maroon Alerts. In light of recent false reports, some people doubt Maroon Alerts.

“I think the Maroon Alert is one of the most misunderstood systems,” Bourgeois said. “The Maroon Alert system is more than text messaging. That is one of the small aspects. The only time we are going to send a text message is if we are telling someone to do something.”

The Maroon Alert system includes information displayed on the university’s website, GroupWise Messenger and by calling 325-5555. Also, sirens on cam-

pus have speaker abilities in case of an emergency.

“FM Alert” is a new app available to keep people connected with campus updates by directing messages to phones.

Even though false reports have happened in the recent past, members of the crisis action team stress the importance of taking the alerts seriously.

“I would hope that everyone would take every Maroon Alert seriously,” Bailey said. “I can tell you that we go to great lengths and debate whether or not to send them. At the end of the day, we know that we have a duty.”

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 | 3

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“Working with the honors college has been a good experience. They have been very helpful and are great about getting us anything we need,” Baylot said.

Becca Horton, senior communication major with concentrations in theatre and journalism, is also a member of the publicity and marketing team.

She said the hardest part of being a part of this play is that the

management of the play is completely student-led.

“Dr. Clevinger wants us to get experience for the real world. We want it to be the best it can be, which is a lot of pressure, but it is also a great experience,” Horton said.

The cast is made up of students with different majors, including engineering to psychology. However, every member of the cast is also a

member of the honors college.

Cast member Bailey Brotherton, freshman psychology and philosophy major, said she decided to try out for the play as a way to get more involved during her freshman year at MSU. “I was very involved in community theatre at home and am very interested in the classics,” Brotherton said. “I also wanted to be able to meet new people within the honors college.”

The schedule for the actors and management team is rigorous, as the cast has had practice almost every day for about two and a half hours each day.

Michael Waldrop, junior political science major, plays the character Messenio in the play. He said as the only junior in a cast of freshmen, he has seen a change in many of the other cast members as they realize the importance of managing their time wisely in or-

der to get all of their homework done.

“In the first couple rehearsals, I was the only one who sat quietly to the side reading a book whenever I was not on stage. However, as the semester has been picking up, I have noticed more people bringing their homework to do while they are at rehearsal,” Waldrop said.

Clevinger said this play shows the strong interest these students

and many like them have in the arts.

“I have been able to provide a vehicle for artist, musicians, actors that want to be a part of this,” Clevinger said. “I have realized that students from a wide variety of majors do art in their spare time, which is the reason I wanted to be able to provide this outlet for them.”

For more information on the play, visit honors.msstate.edu or call 325-2522.

Fides crowned champions of Plazapalooza, will open for Bulldog Bash

BY EMMA CRAWFORD Copy Editor

Hailing from across the state of Mississippi — Clinton, Cleveland and Starkville — the four members of indie rock band Fides came together Friday night to compete in MSU’s second Plazapalooza: A battle of the bands and took home first place, along with the opportunity to perform as the opening act at this year’s Bulldog Bash.

Dean Harrison, lead guitarist for Fides, said although he thought the band had a good chance to win going into the competition, he and his bandmates were wary of Oxford-based group The Red Thangs, who came in second place.

“I feel like we had a pretty good chance. We had played with The Red Thangs before, and we knew that they were really good,” he said. “But we had never really heard of any of the other bands. We felt really good about the actual show.”

Fides is composed of bass-

ist and vocalist Tommy Bobo, drummer Cody Sparkman, guitarist and vocalist Reed Smith and guitarist Dean Harrison.

Fides also competed in last year’s Plazapalooza, coming in third place in the public vote, but falling short of the final four who advanced to the last round of the competition. This year, Harrison said he felt the judging panel was more objective than last year’s panel which was comprised of members of The Weeks, a Mississippi-based Southern rock band.

“I feel like having business owners judge it rather than just a band was probably a better idea,” he said. “Because obviously the band’s view on music would be more subjective on music than the other guys.’”

Marshall Scruggs, co-director of the event, said the switch from a band to Starkville locals as a judging panel this year was an effort to ensure a level playing field for bands of all genres in the competition.

“If you get a band, let’s say a country band had entered and

CLOTHESLINE

Lesley Hammers, senior educational psychology major, was a volunteer for last year’s Clothesline Project. Hammers said the experience changed the way she views her life and the lives of others.

“Before volunteering with the Clothesline Project, I never thought about how other

CHALLENGE:

for my life and hope to make others aware of the hurt that is happening to so many people around us.”

The decision of a small group of women from Cape Cod, Mass., to stand up for what they believed in has grown and spread to reach people throughout the nation.

Wednesday, September 25th 7:30 PM MSU Drill Field

Bring a blanket or lawn chair!

Rain location: Colvard Union ballroom The Greek Organization with the most attendees will win a $200 donation for the charity of their choice!

The Clothesline Project Mississippi State University The Clothesline Project is a visual display that bears witness to sexual violence against women and men.

September 24�26, 2013 Drill Field 9:00am�3:00pm

If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please contact Kayla Roden at Department of kr217@saffairs.msstate.edu or Health Education & Wellness www.health.msstate.edu Leah Pylate at 662-325-2090 lpylate@saffairs.msstae.edu

Sponsored By:

talking to the judges at one point and they said, ‘Man why did you pick us for this? Because this is so hard to pick, all of these bands have so much talent,’” he said. “Everybody was professional and they all had extreme talent, both bandwise and vocals-wise.”

Harrison said he and his bandmates look forward to playing at Bulldog Bash, and after the gig he said hopes the band can garner more opportunities to play locally.

“We’d love to play at Rick’s.

We played there once, but he (Rick) said we kind of have to wait for a big band to come in that doesn’t have an opening act because most of them bring bands with them,” he said.

Scruggs said he believes Fides will be an enjoyable complement to this year’s Bulldog Bash lineup.

“I think they’ll be a good match with The Black Crowes. They put on a good show, so I think The Black Crowes will enjoy that,” he said. “And I think they’re just a good en-

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students my age were going through really hard experiences. Walking through and reading the T-shirts was really eye opening. A lot of times we take our lives for granted, not realizing how much others have been and are going through right now,” she said.

“I am now a lot more grateful

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we got The Weeks again, they could’ve been more inclined to choose somebody that was more that style of music,” he said. “So we just wanted to take that option out and make it more open to every kind of genre or songwriters, and we think the faculty helped better play that role than another band.”

This year’s event was held inside the Colvard Student Union instead of on the plaza outside of it primarily, Scruggs said, because of the heavy rain on Friday night. Despite the last-minute venue change, Scruggs said the competition generated a good crowd.

“We were pleased with the turnout,” he said. “We had a lot of active fans in the audience, and the audience was really active in supporting all the bands.”

Scruggs also said he was impressed with the amount of talent the competition drew in.

“I thought the talent was better than last year. I was

In October of 1990, 31 people hung up their stories. Today, an estimated 500 projects nationally and internationally make an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 T-shirts.

MSU’s Clothesline Project will be held on the Drill Field Sept. 24-26 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

TAYLOR HOWELL | COURTESY PHOTO

Fides, Battle of the Bands winner, rocked this year’s concert. tertainer, and college students will like them. And even if there’s not college students that are there, they’re family-oriented, so they’ll put on a good show for everybody.”

Tweet tweet. @reflectoronline

Fides will open for The Black Crowes and Chris Young at Bulldog Bash Oct. 4 in the Cotton District.

Fides’s self-titled EP is available on iTunes and Spotify.

OPINION

4 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013

OPINION EDITOR: ALIE DALEE | opinion@reflector.msstate.edu

THE REFLECTOR

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WISDOM FROM A FOOL

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

What is equality in opportunity? Voyager 1: a scientific ambassador to the stars

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t should offend no one for arbitrary obstacles from using me to accuse politicians of his or her own talents and abilhaving a propensity to stretch ities to pursue his or her own the truth. This is hardly regarded happiness. If someone is denied as a secret. But in an even more a position, for which he or she sinister tactic, distorting familiar is well qualified, because of their words and phrases into politi- religion, sex, orientation or skin cally charged talking points has color, he or she is denied equal become the status quo in today’s protection and, by the same topolitical culture. It seems the ken, equal opportunity.

When you hear President fewer words into which a side can condense its argument, the Obama speak of equality of opmore persuasive it proves to be portunity, his understanding of when repeated by the foaming the phrase finds its foundation in mouths on cable news programs. a desire to take from those who The issue of equality of oppor- have more than their “fair share” tunity is a spectacular example and give to those with less. The c o n s e to reduce quence political being that debates to To guarantee under the nothing uniform guise of more than outcomes would e q u a l i t y, slogans. be to weaken your liberIronically, ty is being equality the successful, eroded. of oppornot lift the In her estunity is say “Man’s a phrase defeated...For the left, it Rights,” i n v o k e d requires the government by both to manufacture uniformity 20th century phisides of the in outcomes. For the losopher political Ayn Rand spectrum. right, equal opportunity described The right is to limit obstacles and it this way, d e c l a r e s clearing impediments for “If some it exists, individuals to make their men are while the entitled by left main- own way.” right to the tains that products there is much work to be done to see of the work of others, it means it come to fruition. So beyond that those others are deprived of the rhetoric, what does it really rights and condemned to slave mean? The key is understanding labor. Any alleged ‘right’ of one the two sides’ differing concepts man, which necessitates the violation of the rights of another, is of equality of opportunity.

Conservatives contend that not and cannot be right.”

When the left calls for equality equal opportunity means equal protection under the law; that of opportunity he or she really no one should be hindered by argues for something closer to

JOJO DODD Jojo Dodd is a sophomore majoring in economics. He can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.

equality of outcome, an idea that is in obvious conflict with liberty.

In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville, famed French political philosopher, noted in his book “Democracy in America” that, “there exists in the human heart a depraved taste for equality, which impels the weak to attempt to lower the powerful to their own level, and reduces men to prefer equality in slavery to inequality with freedom.”

We can all agree that everyone shares an equal right to a fair trial, but none would argue that everyone has a right to an“innocent” verdict. Similarly, he or she has a right to the same opportunity to direct his or her talents, efforts and passions toward whatever pursuit he or she deems worthy, but not everyone is entitled to the same outcome of his or her pursuit. To guarantee uniform outcomes would be to weaken the successful, not lift the defeated.

The debate is not merely between equality of opportunity and equality of outcome. It is also about the very definition of equality of opportunity. For the left, it requires the government to manufacture uniformity in outcomes. For the right, equal opportunity is to limit obstacles and clearing impediments for individuals to make their own way. This difference allows both sides to claim the same song but sing entirely different tunes.

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or over 36 years a repre- to extra-solar space. The inisentative of the human tial findings during Voyager’s race has explored outer transition revealed the further space, sharing company with away from the heliosphere it ancient gods in order to devel- traveled, the more high-enop our understanding of space. ergy particle collisions were After having passed by Jupi- detected. These high-energy ter and Saturn, the Voyager 1 particles are important because spacecraft continued its mis- their origins stem from exsion away from Earth, and on plosions caused by ancient Sept. 12 NASA announced it supernovas, which will help crossed the heliopause, exiting increase knowledge of the earthe solar system. In an inter- ly universe. While the spaceview with the New York Times, craft collects environmental NASA’s Edward C. Stone, data and records the universe’s ancient who has history, it worked on also stands the VoyIf Voyager 1’s ager misGolden Record is as the sole physical sions since ever discovered re p re s e n the 1970s, in the expanse tative of said this is, humanity “now the beyond the solar system, reaching start of a mankind would live on as into the whole new mission.” a transient species, as well cosmos.

While at With its as become a member of this time it p r i m a - the galactic community.” is doubtry work ful there accomis more plished Voyager 1 will continue to col- intelligent life in our solar syslect empirical data, and serve tem beyond Earth, Voyager 1 as an ambassador to the stars represents the closest we have as its work has been extended come to contact with another civilization. The passage beto 2025 Crossing into interstellar yond known space stands as an space, Voyager 1 now has the opportunity for other beings to chance to gather information come across Voyager’s Golden and analyze. Researchers at Record, phonographic records NASA have received the first aboard. According to NASA. bits of data revealing mea- gov, the disc is a collection surements of space beyond the of 115 natural images, sound sun’s influence. In The LA bites and depictions of human Times, Voyager project scien- achievement. If there ever was tist Don Gurnett said, “We lit- an instance where our planet erally jumped out of our seats,” or species became extinct, the in regard to the data collected information provided on this during Voyager 1’s transition record would be the voice of

T.J. Legler T.J. Legler is a senior majoring in cultural anthropology. He can be contacted at opinion @ reflector.msstate.edu.

our existence on Earth. President Jimmy Carter, who was in office at the time of its creation, said the records were an attempt to, “survive our time, so we may live into yours.” If Voyager 1’s Golden Record is ever discovered in the expanse beyond the solar system, mankind would live on as a transient species, as well as become a member of the galactic community.

Now that a part of the human race has left our solar system, we can begin to turn our attention once more to the stars. Exiting the solar system is our first step into the final frontier, and some day we may look back on when Voyager 1 as being the beginning to the colonization of our galaxy.

Presently, the measurements currently collected from the spacecraft provide us with a window into the universe’s past, and the Golden Record onboard seeks to find someone curious enough to listen to the story of Earth.

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Textbook definitions: the Second Amendment, increased senstitivity

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t is a known fact that the or not the freedom of citizens subject of gun control has to keep firearms is “safe” still always been one of the most arises. heated topics that can come In America, people are entitled about in any given discussion. to their opinions and are free The Second Amendment has to defend them if they choose received a to do so. lot of pubS o m e The bottom lic attentimes this line is that it is tion since is a good important for the 2008 thing, as it Supreme encourages people to use Court case ndividutheir knowledge to express iality.

District of But, C o l u m b i a their opinions, instead dependv. Heller, of letting strong feelings ing on the which up- linked with public issues topic, is holds the it possible cause them to lose touch rights given for people to citizens with reality.” to go a litof the Unittle too far? ed States to Maybe a bear firerecent case arms. Even today, in 2013, the in Texas can help in determinoccasional question of whether ing that answer.

Last week, Fox News reported a case in which the parents of students at a local school in Texas caused an uproar in regards to a workbook definition of the Second Amendment.

The workbook summarizes the definition of the textbook by stating that the U.S. has the right to “keep and bear arms in a state militia.” The wording of the definition led many parents to believe that the authors wrote the definition in favor of gun control.

The article in Fox News reports the co-author of the workbook, “The United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination,” confirmed the book simply intended to state a “summary definition” of the Second Amendment, and there were no “devious intentions” behind the

wording of the definition. The case concluded with the authors of the book admitting the definition in the book is incorrect and that there will be an edited edition sold in 2014, in which the definition is changed to: “A militia is necessary for a free state, and people have the right to keep and bear arms.”

This new definition is clearly more in tune with the actual Second Amendment to the Constitution, which states that “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

While it is appropriate that the definition used in the workbook was corrected, was it really necessary for the authors to be accused of “distorting the Second Amendment in terms of gun

control?” Rather than focusing on the fact that the definition was incorrect, the people in this particular case were automatically under the impression that the textbook was trying to encourage gun control in schools.

It is obvious that most workbooks attempt to summarize information in a way that makes information easier for students to understand. They are written for the benefit of the students.

The article in Fox News said this particular workbook was published before District of Columbia v. Heller. If this is the case, why wasn’t the incorrect definition within the workbook a big deal before? While there are many factors that could contribute to this, such as lack of parental knowledge about the workbook, it could lead the consideration of other theories.

BROOKLYN TUCKER Brooklyn Tucker is a junior majoring in kinesiology. She can be contacted at opinion@ reflector.msstate.edu.

Is it possible that current public issues cause increased sensitivity to the subject they address? If so, how far will people go to defend their opinions? And where should we draw the line?

The answers to these questions are expected to vary from person to person. The fact is that each individual is different.

Perhaps the bottom line is that it is important for people to use their knowledge to express their opinions, instead of letting strong feelings linked with public issues cause them to lose touch with reality.

INTERNATIONAL INK

U.S. economy may be in need of a lifeboat

Managing Editor

Editor in Chief

News Editor

Kristen Spink

Kaitlyn Byrne

Anna Wolfe

Multimedia Editor

Life Editor

Opinion Editor

Zack Orsborn

Daniel Hart

Alie Dalee

Sports Editor John Galatas

Photography Editor Kaitlin Mullins

Copy Editor Emma Crawford

CONTACT INFORMATION

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Editor in Chief/Kaitlyn Byrne

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

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

325-7905 editor@reflector.msstate.edu Managing Editor/Kristen Spink 325-8991 managing@reflector.msstate.edu News Editor/Anna Wolfe 325-8819 news@reflector.msstate.edu Opinion Editor/Alie Dalee opinion@reflector.msstate.edu Sports Editor/John Galatas 325-5118 reflectorsports@gmail.com Life Editor/Daniel Hart 325-8883 life@reflector.msstate.edu Photography Editor/Kaitlin Mullins 325-1584 photo@reflector.msstate.edu Multimedia Editor/Zack Orsborn multimedia_editor@reflector.msstate.edu Advertising Sales/Julia Pendley 325-7907 advertise@reflector.msstate.edu

CORRECTIONS

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.

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

W

ith a two percent increase in Mississippi’s poverty rate, we continue to drift as the poorest state in the United States. In the same lifeboat with us drifts the fragile U.S. economy.

The president, Congress and Senate will be in disaster-management mode as we lynch to yet another recession, as predicted by expert economists.

Unless you are one of the lucky few, there is little about the economy that looks robust, the Wall Street Journal reports.

In her principles of macroeconomics class at Mississippi State University, professor Meghan Millea informed her students about durable goods and the logic of relating it with the economy.

“When people start buying more durable goods which lasts three years or longer, we can say the economy is doing well. It is simple,” Millea said.

Reuters, an international news agency said in a report on Aug. 26, “Orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods recorded their biggest drop in nearly a year in July, and a gauge of planned business spending on capital goods also tumbled, casting a shadow over the economy early in the third quarter.”

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s recently released report, highly skilled

young workers have traditionally provided a vital influx of new, affluent consumers to U.S. housing and auto markets. Unprecedented student debt may dampen their influence in today’s marketplace.

The House of Representatives is expected to pass a resolution on Friday that will allow government spending to continue beyond Sept. 30 only if funding is withdrawn from Obamacare.

Anyone who has followed American politics closely since Obama’s victory in 2008 will agree that the Democrats in the Senate or the president will deny this at the very outset.

The vote sets up 10 days of tense political brinkmanship that could lead to a partial government shutdown.

Experts warn the danger of an accidental government shutdown or debt default, which may pose a serious risk to the U.S. economy.

Robert Reich, political economist, writes on his personal website, “A shutdown would be crippling. Soldiers would get IOUs instead of paychecks. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees would be furloughed without pay. National parks would close.

Millions of Americans would feel the effects.”

According to a recent CNN poll, 51 percent of Americans

would blame the Republicans for a shutdown and 33 percent would blame the President.

A recession will be the last thing we want on our plate. President Obama has done a considerably good job in raising the numbers of economic growth and decreasing the ones for unemployment.

He will want to continue this success streak.

Harry Dent, a financial author, wrote in his September H.S. Dent Forecast newsletter, “Economists who believe the U.S. economy is now firmly on the road to a sustainable recovery are utterly deluded.” He sees the possibility of a sharp decline starting in the first half of next year. He expects the economy “gets worse, possibly dramatically worse, in the first three quarters of 2014.”

The electorate cares less about the economy during normal functioning, but it turns into a hot topic of debate during elections. For voters, the state of the economy is one of the defining factors when they go out to vote.

Thirty-three out of the 100 Senate seats run for elections in November next year. The Republican Party will look to make inroads into the Senate, where they do not enjoy a majority at present.

The party policies and stands taken today could haunt the

PRANAAV JADHAV Pranaav Jadhav is a junior majoring in communication He can be contacted at opinion@reflector.msstate.edu.

GOP in the near future, a government shut-down will only multiply, if not solve, any problems.

As common tax-paying citizens, we will want the president, the Democrats or the Republicans to ease the tense situation in Washington to prevent this potential shut down affecting all of us. Someone will have to take the moral high ground and call it quits or prepare for a negotiation.

What will be interesting is to see who will have the last laugh in this heated contentious issue? A potential military engagement followed by a government shutdown will be hard to digest in the coming weeks.

At present, I neither want to be the president nor a politician in Washington, D.C.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 | 5

REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

AN IN-CLASS DISTRACTION ...

9-24-13

BULLETIN BOARD CLASSIFIEDS POLICY

The deadline for Tuesday’s paper is 3 p.m. Thursday; the deadline for Friday’s paper is 3 p.m. Tuesday. Classifieds are $5 per issue. Student and staff ads are $3 per issue, pre-paid.

Lost and found: found items can be listed for free; lost items are listed for standard ad cost.

HELP WANTED Church looking for a fulltime pianist. If interested, please call 662.323.3426 or 662.418.5280.

FOR SALE Home for sale. Three bedroom, two bathroom. 1,650 square feet. Three miles from campus. Country atmosphere.

Fireplace, wood floors, wraparound porch, one acre. $84,900 negotiable price. Call 325.203.1169.

CLUB INFO

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

student organizations may place free announcements in Club Info. Information may be submitted by email to club_info@reflector.msstate. edu with the subject heading “CLUB INFO,” or a form may be completed at The Reflector office in the Student Media Center. A contact name, phone number and requested run dates must be included for club info to appear in The Reflector. All submissions are subject to exemption according to space availability.

STUDENTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE CAMPUS

Interested in a greener future?

Come to SSC every Thursday at 6 p.m. in McCool 111. Optin for the Green Fund.

WESLEY FOUNDATION

Insight Bible study and worship Tuesdays at 8 p.m. at 286 East Lee Blvd. next to Campus Book Mart. Follow on Twitter @MSStateWesley or on Facebook.

MANIFESTING GLORY PRAISE TEAM

We are looking for talented singers and musicians to be a part of our campus ministry.

If interested, please call 662.648.8128.

MSU PRE-VETERINARY CLUB

MSU’s Pre-Vet Club will have a meeting Wed., Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. in Tait Butler with food and drinks at 6:30 p.m.

KAPPA KAPPA PSI

Cardboard box boat race Oct. 6 at 2:30 p.m. at the Sanderson Center pool.

Teams of one to five people can compete for a cash prize with a $50 registration fee. Register online at www. squareup.com/market/KKpsiepsilon/cardboard-boat-raceregistration. Proceeds go to the Palmer Home for Children.

SOCIOLOGICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION

SSA meets the last Thursday of every month in Bowen 250 at 5 p.m. Every major is welcome.

Solutions for 9-20-13

Open year round!

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THE REFLECTOR

6 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

LIFE EDITOR: DANIEL HART | life@reflector.msstate.edu

MIGHTY MISSISSIPPIAN:

UNIVERSITY RELATIONS | COURTESY PHOTO

Natasha Trethewey, U.S. Poet Laureate, speaks at 5:30 Tuesday in the Colvard Student Union Ballroom.

BY DANIEL HART Life Editor

From William Faulkner and Eudora Welty to Tennessee Williams and Barry Hannah, Mississippi’s literary heritage is a wellspring that continuously flows.

One of the latest women of letters in the state’s long line of award-winning writers makes a stop at Mississippi State University Tuesday. Natasha Trethewey, U.S. Poet Laureate, speaks in the Colvard Student Union Ballroom at 5:30 p.m. Tickets for the talk are free but must be retrieved at the Center for Student Activities, Union Suite 314.

Shirley Hanshaw, associate professor of English, said

Trethewey could have been chosen to speak on MSU’s campus for a multitude of reasons. Trethewey is not only U.S. Poet Laureate but has won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship and was named Mississippi’s first African-American Poet Laureate.

Trethewey’s carefully crafted poems explore the South and racial perceptions that haunt Mississippi and even Trethewey’s own life. As a child who grew up in the South with bi-racial heritage, Trethewey’s understanding and questioning of racial categorization intertwines with her personal history and family as well as the history of Mississippi. Her 2006 collection, “Native Guard,” details

FASHION FOR ALL:

the native guard regiment of African-American slaves stationed off the Mississippi coast on Ship Island and focuses on this intersection of history and race.

Hanshaw said “Native Guard” comes as an unearthing and a record of history not often selectively forgotten.

“Her book ‘Native Guard’ supplies that history about the all Black regiment of exslaves during the Civil War that the history books omit,” she said. “Since she is of bi-racial heritage, she said she often felt like ‘an outsider’ when she was growing up.”

Hanshaw said Trethewey’s poetry often reconsiders those forgotten but necessary to American society.

Though Trethewey’s poetry explores topics of immense weight, she crafts these themes with grace and eloquence. Hanshaw said Trethewey’s visit will display the care Trethewey pours into her craft as well as her excitement about her work.

“I think the audience will find the way she interweaves these topics in her poetry to be extraordinarily enjoyable.

Also, in a recent interview, Ms. Tretheway described herself as ‘a cheerleader for poetry.’ Consequently, I think the audience will gain a greater appreciation for poetry by hearing her read poems from her own collections,” she said.

Amanda Treptow, assistant director for Student Activities, said Trethewey’s visit is remarkable because it allows students to hear a U.S. Poet Laureate speak but also allows students to speak with Trethewey.

“It is a very rare and special opportunity to not only be in the presence of someone of Ms. Trethewey’s status, but there is also an opportunity

MELISSA ARCHER Melissa Archer is a sophomore majoring in communication.

She can be contacted at life@ reflector.msstate.edu.

LA TIMES | COURTESY PHOTO

Fashion week includes models wearing new fashions around the world in New York, London and Milan. taneously by anyone with Internet access. Though to some it feels as if constant coverage takes the mystery

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to be able to ask her questions during her presentation,” she said.

Ted Atkinson, associate professor of English, is interim co-editor of Mississippi Quarterly, a journal published through MSU and one of the organizations that worked to bring Trethewey to campus.

Atkinson said when Trethewey’s poetry comes up in his classes, students respond positively, and he expects a similar reaction from students at Tuesday’s event.

“When I teach Natasha Trethewey’s poetry, students respond to it with great enthusiasm and interest,” he said. “I’ve had several students — including some not majoring in English — tell me how much they appreciated reading her work. I am confident that students who attend this reading will find

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT

that Trethewey’s poetry speaks to them in meaningful ways.”

Atkinson said though Trethewey is a young poet, she has made a name for herself quickly. Her stunning use of her Mississippi heritage as fuel for creative expression, Atkinson said, already places her among Mississippi’s writing pantheon.

“Trethewey’s personal life and literary accomplishments suggest that confronting the troubled history and current conditions of Mississippi remains a source of consternation and creative inspiration for artists, particularly writers,” he said. “Trethewey has taken her place in a line of writers — William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Richard Wright and Tennessee Williams, among many others — whose experiences in Mississippi helped to generate powerful literary expression.”

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COURTESY PHOTO

Trethewey will read from her latest collection of poems, “Thrall,” on Tuesday.

Atkinson also said Trethewey’s ties to Mississippi and firsthand experiences of the state’s racial prejudices past and present allow her to write on race as dire, pressing issues and not as theoretical concerns.

“Trethewey’s poetry challenges readers to think about the social construction of race and the color line not as abstractions but as practices that leave deep emotional and psychological impacts and lasting memories,” he said.

Treptow said Trethewey will read from her newest work, “Thrall.” Catherine Pierce, associate professor of English, co-director of MSU’s creative writing program and published poet, will moderate a Q&A session with Trethewey. A book signing will follow the event.

For more information, call 662-325-2930.

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT

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COURTESY PHOTO

Trethewey’s 2006 collection of poems “Native Guard” won her a Pulitzer Prize.

Fashion Week 2013 available over Internet to those miles away from the runway, makes international style part of average households via computer

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In the past three weeks, thousands of viewers experienced Fashion Week in New York, London and Milan without leaving their laptop, tablet or smart phone. A front-row vantage point to every show is available streaming live throughout the events.

What used to be highly exclusive events for the social elite are now viewed instan-

U.S. Poet Laureaute, Miss. native Natasha Trethewey gives reading, holds dialogue with MSU students

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easier for ordinary people to gain an appreciation for the latest high-fashion styles. The mass audience may view the designs as something to apply to their own personal style, or they may simply appreciate the designer’s contribution to the fashion industry. Either way, the media’s promotion of international fashion weeks creates a connectedness between the designs and the consumer that has previously been unavailable.

Influences from ancient Mediterranean civilizations filled Dolce and Gabbana’s spring 2014 line, with designs incorporating Greek and Roman coins and architecture. The Milan Fashion Week show brought these influences to life with a classic, muse-like energy that an ad campaign alone cannot quite convey. In New York, Nicole Miller’s designs mixed bold geometric patterns with soft floral prints. After watching several shows, (usually streaming through a laptop while my roommate and I danced around the room to the music) I realized that each show created its own atmosphere and mood.

Odds are, every viewer can relate to one or more of these themes.

“Street Style,” online photo slideshows by

LA TIMES | COURTESY PHOTO

Thanks to Internet streaming, viewers participate in Fashion Week thousands of miles from the runway.

“Vogue,” encourage con- ion shows from New York, sumers to go out on a limb London and Milan is an enand try styles they see on tertaining way to keep up the runway. In these slide- with fresh creativity comshows, “Vogue” features ing from our generation’s people in the midst of large most talented designers. I events like internation- am thrilled with the new al fashion weeks who are accessibility of these shows models but instead incor- by means of social media. It porate the featured designs gets average people talking into their daily wardrobe. about style that could poThese photos are great com- tentially define an entire parisons to the styles on the decade or more of style. runway because they show There will always be styles how versatile and relatable that seem silly and obscure high-fashion can be. This to the majority of viewers. is just one way the media However, by staying conshows people that having nected with these designs, fun with fashion isn’t just consumers become more for the “Gossip Girl” set. confident and invested, not International fashion only in their personal style, weeks are not about labels but also the style that repor status. Streaming fash- resents their generation.

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 | 7

LIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

Apple’s iOS 7 introduces functional changes for iPhone users

BY ALEX MONIÉ Staff Writer

Apple Inc. released the new iOS 7 iPhone software to the public Sept.18. The update is available for the iPhone 4, 4S, 5 and the iPad 2. Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook described the release as the most significant update to the iPhone since its introduction in 2007. iOS 7 gives the apps already on the iPhone a major upgrade. Messages, calendar, maps and camera all receive aesthetic and functional updates. iOS 7 especially focuses on making the camera app

faster and allows more picture-taking options. Camera now has optional filters and view screens, which makes pictures easier to upload to Instagram, Facebook or any other platform and look better at the same time.

Control center is now accessible by swiping up from the bottom of the screen, allowing control of basic features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and airplane mode. Shortcuts can be found accessing camera, compass, calculator and flashlight. The menu also includes access to brightness and audio controls. Control Center can run over already

Falling for Starkville: CATIE MARIE MARTIN Catie Marie Martin is a junior majoring in English. She can be contacted at life@reflector. msstate.edu.

Y

ou know how every now and then you will hear a sentence or a collection of words that is just so beautiful it makes you wish you had written it? Just me? How about this lovely sentiment by F. Scott

Fitzgerald, “life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall”? Although Fitz refers to Long Island, N.Y., and not Starkville, I maintain there is something about golden leaves and soft, sweet autumn air that can make any town feel special.

1. Starkville trees are some of the most vividly colored I have seen. I’m no botanist, but I know a thing or two about how great the yellow-leafed trees on engineering row look against the bright blue sky. My personal favorite Mississippi State University trees can be found in front of Middleton Hall and Howell Hall (Middleton is on engineering row, and Howell is the art building near the coliseum). There’s also a particularly gigantic

opened apps, which makes for a smoother operating interface.

Chase Hacker, fifth year senior chemical engineering major, said control center is one of the best changes iOS 7 introduces.

“I like being able to swipe up and have those basic features instead of searching through them in settings,” Hacker said. iTunes Radio comes with iOS 7 and is Apple’s attempt to rival Pandora and Spotify. iTunes Radio is free, but like other Internet radio stations, there is a limit to how many songs a listener can skip.

There is an option to subscribe for $24.99 a year to listen without ads and keep music in iCloud with iTunes Match.

Olivia Lunsford, senior wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture major, said she thinks iTunes Radio is a dangerous competitor for Pandora.

“I definitely think iTunes Radio has the potential to impact Pandora, as their concepts are almost identical,” she said. “Spotify, being more customizable and interactive, will probably remain unfazed.”

Apple did not reinvent smartphones with iOS 7;

EMMA CRAWFORD | THE REFLECTOR

iOS 7 brings a new home screen and iTunes Radio. however, hundreds of small design and internal changes make iOS 7 a welcome update. With the new operat-

ing system, Apple introduces a more modern platform for the iPhone with plenty of room to grow in the future.

The best things fall brings include scarves, swirling leaves and evenings spent cozily with sweater-clad friends, among blue skies and cooler days

FILE PHOTO | THE REFLECTOR

MSU’s colorful foliage is tree in one of the fields across from the chapel on the north side of campus. Any one of these trees is perfect to spread out a quilt beneath and read

one fall’s many delights. that Faulkner novel you’ve been trying to complete since August. Don’t forget to drop by the union and grab a pumpkin spice latte for a

mere $4.01 to complete the picture.

2. If fall were an article of clothing, it would be that warm, soft flannel shirt that probably belonged to your grandfather or your ex-boyfriend that you just can’t bear to throw out. Fall is familiar.

It’s comfortable. It’s inviting, and the contradictory warmth that accompanies the drop in temperature is all encompassed in that one shirt. By the time the weather changes, I am all too ready to box up my tank tops and pull out my scarves. I could write entire volumes of poetry in honor of my button-downs and Levi’s. Fashion is just easier in the fall. It’s casual yet classic. And don’t even get me started on the heart flutters that accompany the

right pair of corduroy pants paired with the right cardigan on the right boy.

3. After growing up in an Alabama city without much of a downtown area, I have come to absolutely adore Main Street strolls in Starkville. With a coffee shop, a bookstore and quite a few trendy boutiques within walking distance, it’s like autumnal paradise is always just around the corner. Walks are better in the fall, and so are friends. You just want to hang out with each other more when you’re all wearing knit sweaters. Gather your friends, and hold them close as the days slip by. Wrap them up in your best quilts, and let the nights grow longer as your company grows finer.

Hindus in India celebrate Ganpati festival as America celebrates fall to more than 100 feet tall. in British-colonized India) Priests chant holy mantras thought this festival could be to invoke the presence of Ga- used to destabilize the Britnesha using the clay statue as ish and spread the message of a channel, or body for ener- “Swarajya” (self-rule). gy. This ritual is known as As much as Gandhi’s the Pranapratishthapana. non-violence has helped InThe Ganpati festival’s dia achieve independence, one beginnings in India are un- must not discredit the contriknown, but historians believe bution of thousands of other it dates back to several thou- Indian leaders at that time. Bal sand years ago.

Gangadhar Tilak was one such Originally limited to sin- leader. gle households, the Ganpati Tilak initiated these public Pranaav Jadhav is a junior majoring in communication. He can festival was not a public affair gatherings under the guise of until 1893 A.D., when Bal celebrating Ganpati festival be contacted at life@reflector. msstate.edu.

Gangadhar Tilak, a freedom and spread his message of defighter from Pune (a city an pendence among the youth. hile the United hour away from Mumbai He is often credited as the faStates transitions into fall, India resonates with three words in this season: ‘Ganpati Bappa Morya,’ which means Hail the lord Ganpati!

The annual Ganpati festival, usually held in late August or September, begins with resounding drum beats and cymbals playing the festival’s signature tune.

Hindus worship the god Ganpati, the God of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune, SAROJ SAHU | COURTESY PHOTO who Hindus invoke at the The Ganpati festival takes place in the streets of India as start of any new venture.

Hindus all over the world Hindus worship Ganpati, god of wisdom and prosperity. celebrate this 10-day festival, which begins on Chaturthi (the first day of the festival) when patrons bring home a clay idol of Ganpati. The idols come in various sizes and shapes, from several inches tall

PRANAAV JADHAV

W

ther of Indian unrest against the British colonial authorities.

Public celebrations of this festival are hugely popular.

Two local groups, or “mandals,” often compete with each other to put up the biggest idol.

This festival also draws socially-conscious activities, such as free medical checkups and blood donation camps.

Rituals and traditional food fill the Indian festival as close family and relatives gather to ADITYA JOSHI | COURTESY PHOTO celebrate these 10 days of euphoria. Most Indians have a Festivalgoers carry images, shrines and clay idols of sweet tooth, and meat is whol- Ganpati, eventually sinking them into bodies of water. ly avoided during the 10 days It is believed that lord Gan- colored powder. If you hate the clay idol is at home. loud noise and pandemonium, Ganpati festival food in- pati loved these.

Today, the Ganesh Festival is this is one day you will want to cludes “Puran Poli,” an Indian bread stuffed with jaggery. not only a popular festival, but avoid traveling to India. The “Motichur laddoo,” which also an economic hub in India. colorful procession culminates come in a variety of sizes, are Many industries and business- when the idols are immersed offered to the lord as Prasad es survive on the annual event. into lakes, rivers or the sea.

In India, not only Hindus, but Millions of dollars are gen(sacred offering).

The most important meal, many other religions, like Mus- erated in these 10 days, with though, is of “modaks,” a sweet lims, Jains and Christians, also devotees donating generously to the mandals. dumpling with a soft shell participate in the celebration.

On the tenth day, the idols While fall is beloved in made of rice flour and stuffed with grated coconut and sweet are a part of a huge proces- America, if you plan on visiting jaggery. When steamed, the sion consisting of loud music, India, you may consider skipdumplings become “ukdiche drums and dancing. The peo- ping a few days of autumn in modak,”which taste best eaten ple involved in these proces- the U.S., as this is one Indian sions cover each other with festival you don’t want to miss. hot with ghee.

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8 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013

SPORTS EDITOR: JOHN GALATAS | reflectorsports@gmail.com

SPORTS

STAT OF THE DAY:

THE REFLECTOR

In Saturday’s 62-7 win, quarterback Dak Prescott and receiver Jameon Lewis became the first Bulldogs in 53 years to each record a rushing, passing and receiving touchdown.

Football earns second home win, rests before LSU matchup

By Forrest Buck Staff Writer

Following its SEC-opening loss, Mississippi State University improved to 2-0 at home Saturday after dismantling the Troy Trojans 62-7. Both the offense and defense had successful performances as the Bulldogs had the game well in hand by halftime.

MSU went into the half with a 45-7 lead, which was the second-most points scored in a half in school history and the most since 1950.

Offensively, the Bulldogs executed their game plan and did not punt the entire game.

As great as the offense was, the defense may have had the biggest impact on the game. The Bulldog defense held Troy to only seven points and star quarterback Corey Robinson to only 105 passing yards, which is the lowest total of his career in a game. The performance was total domination by the Dogs against a team that posed a threat in a key part of the season for MSU. The defense set the tone for the night, forcing two huge turnovers — none bigger perhaps than Jamerson Love’s interception he took 70 yards the other way for a score.

Love credited the defensive linemen up front with the assist on a pivotal play.

“It all started up front with the D-line because they got good pressure,” Love said. “In the secondary, we just focused all week on disguising our coverages, and I just disguised it. I read the play, and he threw it right to me and you saw the result.”

ing the football. Not only did Prescott throw for a touchdown and rush for two more, but he caught a 36-yard pass from junior Jameon Lewis.

Prescott and Lewis got the hat trick as both had at least one touchdown passing, rushing and receiving in the game.

Prescott said everyone in the huddle was excited when the trick play was called, and he credited his teammates for the successful execution.

“It was a play we practiced all week, and it was just a good time to call it,” Prescott said. “Everybody did a good job. Jameon (Lewis) sold it, the offensive line pulled out and blocked well and everything just worked out.”

Prescott’s play the past three weeks has started talks of a potential quarterback controversy among fans and some media members, but Prescott put any doubt to rest after the game about who the quarterback of this team is. “(Tyler Russell) is the leader of our team, and he’s the guy, and when he’s back and emma katherine hutto, jason simpson | the reflector ready to go, we’re going to all Quarterback Dak Prescott (left) points near the crowd in the student section after scoring a rushing touchdown in follow behind him,“ Prescott Saturday’s home win. Robert Johnson (12) and Jameon Lewis (4) celebrate following a score in the win against Troy. said.

Mullen also reiterated Prescott’s statement by namThe play of the secondary in and had some injuries, and then lead, the Trojans put together pressure and made things un- ing Russell the starting quarthe game was not perfect, but it on top of that we found out a drive to land themselves in- comfortable for Robinson the terback for the LSU game. was improved from last week. before the game that (Taveze side the Bulldog 10-yard line. rest of the way. The Trojans “Tyler is our starting quarYounger players in the group Calhoun) was not going to be On third-and-goal, Matthew posted 148 total yards of of- terback, and we plan on Tyler stepped up and delivered, es- able to play, and I was just really Wells applied pressure and fense in the first quarter but being our starting quarterpecially considering all of the proud of the job they did,” Mul- recorded a sack and forced a only 37 yards total the rest of back against LSU,” Mullen injuries they have had in the len said. “I felt like our coaches fumble that was recovered by the game. said.

MSU sophomore quarterdid a great job of getting them Benardrick McKinney. Troy position.

The Bulldogs now stand at Head Coach Dan Mullen ready to play this week, and I did not have any notable pos- back Dak Prescott provided 2-2, and the LSU Tigers come said he was pleased with the play thought we made a bunch of big itives on offense for the rest of another good performance as to town after an open date. the game after that play, and he generated offense by pass- The Bulldogs kick off against plays in the secondary.” of his secondary.

After MSU took an early 10-7 the MSU front seven applied ing, running and even catch- the Tigers at 6 p.m.

“We were already really young

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 | 9

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REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM

Bulldog soccer falls in SEC opener

BY QUENTIN SMITH Staff Writer

In hopes to continue its successful non-conference play of the 2013 season, the Mississippi State University Bulldogs took action this past weekend hosting the Missouri Tigers to open conference play. The Bulldogs fought hard all game long but eventually fell to the Tigers 3-1.

MSU allowed two costly goals in the first half, which gave the team a 0-2 deficit at halftime. Senior forward Elisabeth Sullivan scored MSU’s first goal in the 78th-minute of the game, but unfortunately, it would be the team’s only goal of the night.

Despite the loss, head coach Aaron Gordon said he could not be more proud of the way his team continued to fight.

“I think we competed hard tonight. Conditions were tough, and unfortunately, our team is ravaged by injuries,” Gordon said. “I can’t complain with the way we competed. We fought hard to get back in it, but in the end, I think we ran out of legs.”

The weather conditions were far from ideal as a heavy dose of rain soaked the SEC opener. The rain came down hard, and Gordon said the conditions made it tough for both teams.

“When it rains like this, it affects everything. The ball gets a little bit heavier. The field is certainly softer, but it’s heavier so it takes more energy,” he said. “The conditions make it where it’s real scrappy, and people got to fight for lose balls because it gets away from them in the weather.”

Alongside the team opening conference play, Gordon

also made his SEC debut as head coach of the Bulldogs.

Gordon comes from Texas Tech in the Big 12 conference, and he said the playing styles between the two conferences are similar.

“Both conferences are very athletic, and the quality of play is good. I think the biggest difference is the depth of the SEC in terms of teams and athletes. A lot of teams can flex their muscle in roster size,” he said.

The team played 13 players this past weekend, and six of them were freshmen.

Freshman defender Tiffany Huddleston was one of the freshmen that got her first taste of SEC competition this past weekend. Huddleston played all 90 minutes of the game Friday, and she said she is glad to have her first SEC game out of the way.

“It was much faster, stronger and more athletic than what we’ve been playing in the nonSEC games, and that’s pretty much how I thought it would be,” Huddleston said.

Senior goalkeeper C.J. Winship said she was impressed with the way the freshmen defenders stepped up and played in the SEC opener.

“Every freshman that took a turn on the back line tonight really did well, and I think that’s evident in the score. Because of the rain, things were a little bit difficult, but I really couldn’t have asked for much more out of my freshmen defenders tonight,” Winship said.

The injury bug has bitten the Bulldogs hard this season, forcing them to play many underclassmen.

Experience will play a key factor on the team this year.

The Bulldogs have played in

Bulldog Athletics over the weekend Men’s Golf Behind Chad Ramey’s 4-under par 138, the Mississippi State University’s men’s golf team finished the first two rounds 11-over par 579 in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Collegiate Challenge Cup, an ACC vs.

SEC challenge. On the final day of competition, MSU defeated Boston College in match play to help the SEC claim “Top Conference” honors.

The Bulldogs beat the Eagles 3-2, helping set the SEC total score of 17-8 against the ACC. Other SEC wins included Tennessee over Wake Forest 3-2, Georgia over Clemson 5-0 and Vanderbilt over Duke 4-1.

Women’s Golf The No. 8 women’s golf team posted its 13th-straight top-10 finish in the Mercedes Benz Collegiate Classic. The 25-over par 593 gave the Bulldogs a ninth-place finished highlighted by junior Ally McDonald’s even-par finish at the tournament. The Bulldogs return to action Monday as it hosts the second annual Old Waverly Bulldog Invitational in West Point.

DEREK VAN WINKLE | THE REFLECTOR

MSU senior defender Morganne Grimes (right) fights for a loose ball in the Bulldog’s SEC opener against Missouri. The Dogs fell 3-1 in the rain-soaked match. seven non-conference games, which allowed many freshmen to play and helped them gain early, valuable experience. Winship said she believes the freshmen are just experience points away from being where they need to be.

“We have some very talented freshmen on this team. As soon as they get that experience, they’ll be more than ready and more than capable of stepping in a playing a big role on the team,” she said.

Gordon also added that playing a lot of non-conference games early in the year helped prepare the freshmen for SEC play.

“In the SEC, it’s either sink or swim, and I think we did a good job,” he said. “You only get experience if you play.

We may not reap the rewards this year because freshmen are getting to play a lot of minutes, but down the road it will pay dividends.”

The team now has their first SEC game behind them and looks forward to this weekend as they travel to play No. 20 Texas A&M on Friday and LSU on Sunday.

The Bulldogs also hope to have junior defender Shannen Jainudeen back from a concussion with them before making the trip.

Men’s Tennis The Mississippi State University men’s tennis squad delivered solid singles and doubles performances in the 2013 SEC Fall Classic hosted

by Vanderbilt. Sophomore Jordan Angus advanced to the third round in singles play, and freshman Florian Lakat advanced to the round of 16 after upset wins in his collegiate debut. No. 6 double pair Angus and Malte Stropp breezed to the championship before falling 8-7(9) in the championship round. The Bulldogs return to action Saturday in Tulsa, Okla., for the 2013 ITA All-American Championships.

Volleyball The Mississippi State University volleyball squad posted a 2-1 record in the Belmont Classic hosted by Belmont University to conclude nonconference play. The Bulldogs fell in three straight sets to the homestanding Bruins Friday, but responded with a pair of wins Saturday.

MSU claimed a five-set win over UAB and took a four-set set win from Arkansas State in the Saturday twinbill. MSU improved to 9-5 on the season and will open SEC play against No. 4 Florida Friday and Arkansas Sunday in the Newell-Grissom Building.

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