THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY SINCE 1884
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 2022
137TH YEAR | ISSUE 22
Making a proud return: Starkville Pride set for next weekend dent organizations who wished to make the event a reality. The group presented the idea before officials at Starkville City Hall, but it was denied the necessary permits with a final 4-3 vote from the Board of Aldermen. News outlets like NBC News and The New York Times brought national attention to the city of Starkville and its decision. Due to the controversy surrounding the ruling, the permit was later approved. The initial decision led to an increased focus on the event and resulted in the biggest parade the city of Starkville has ever hosted on record.
EmmA NISBET STAff WRITER
On April 22, Starkville Pride will return after a two-year absence. Once again, the streets of downtown Starkville will see vibrant rainbows and flourishing flags. In 2020, Starkville Pride was canceled a week prior to the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fast forward to 2022, this year's Starkville The Reflector | File Photo Pride has been named Citizens of all ages walk while carrying supportive signs at the 2019 Starkville Pride parade. This sign reads, “Love is too beautiful to lock in a closet.” "2020 Take Two." The festivities will Afterward, there will student discount of ley McDaniel and Emily begin at 6 p.m. on Fri- the LGBTQ+ commube a happy hour at $15. Turner, Mississippi day, April 22, with a nity. A Queer Arts Market Georgia Blue beginFinally, at 11 a.m. on State University Pride Kickoff at Harvey's. This mixer will will be held at 12 p.m. ning at 3 p.m. and a Sunday, April 24th, alumni, first envisioned allow the Starkville on Saturday, April 23, Pride Night Drag Show there will be a Drag Starkville Pride. The idea soon turned community to meet the at Fire Station Park and at Rick's Cafe at 8 p.m. Brunch at Dave's Dark into a larger group efStarkville Pride board followed by the Pride Tickets for the Drag Horse Tavern. Show are $20 with a In spring 2018, Bai- fort by LGBTQ+ stuand other members of Parade at 1 p.m.
PRIDE, 2
Sri Lankan Association protests against nation's leaders
Students and allies assembled to hold leaders accountable for the country’s economic crisis PAYTON BROWN NEWS EDITOR
On April 6, Mississippi State University's Sri Lankan Association gathered at the center of the Drill Field to protest against the political and economic crisis in Sri Lanka. Sumudu Athukorale, a Ph.D. student studying chemistry, said the association gathered to protest the political corruption found in Sri Lanka. "We are from Sri Lanka, and we are protesting against the current situation in Sri Lanka because the leaders and political parties are corrupted.
Everything is corrupted right now in Sri Lanka," Athukorale said. Athukorale said the corruption has had a drastic consequence on the nation's citizens. "People are suffering," Athukorale said. Athukorale said Sri Lankan government officials had been putting their own needs before their citizens. Sri Lanka is undergoing one of the worst economic depressions in decades. Zaheena Rasheed of AlJazeera reported that the foreign currency crunch has left the Sri Lankan government unable to afford fuel. This has led to
frequent electricity blackouts in parts of the country. Rasheed wrote that food and medicine prices have also doubled. Athukorale said the lack of food and the constant power outages have been drastic on citizens. "Especially for the kids. They cannot go to school because the schools are closed, you know, and every student cannot take exams. Everything is in trouble right now," Athukorale said. Athukorale said they wished the government would allow the correct people to lead Sri Lanka.
MSU introduces new marketing lab BRONWEN mADDOx STAff WRITER
Located on the second floor of McCool Hall, Mississippi State University has opened a new lab on campus. Market Innovation Lab and Observatory, commonly known as MILO, is giving students new and exclusive opportunities. MSU holds one of the five major marketing labs in the nation and one of the first in the Southeast. Mike Breazeale, an associate professor of marketing who manages MILO, wanted to emphasize this. "The students should really be proud that we've got this resource here. This is something that our students and our faculty have access to that most schools don't," Breazeale said. Breazeale mentioned the excitement surrounding the addition of MILO. "We have a bigger lab than Harvard, so it's pretty exciting to know that the hard work that
"Yeah, but we are enforcing the government to step back," Athukorale said. Athukorale noted that while most other leaders and politicians around the world are educated, most of the Sri Lankan population is not. "I think about 1% or less than 1% of people are well educated. Other than that, everyone is not educated," Athukorale said. Athukorale said Mahinda Rajapaksa, prime minister of Sri Lanka, did not know how to properly lead the country and handle the current crisis. PROTEST, 2
Payton Brown | The Reflector
The Sri Lankan Association gathered to protest in the center of the Drill Field.
MS Department of Education awards education majors $10 million for tuition TAYlOR STIgAll STAff WRITER
John Griffin | The Reflector
Blaise Bergiel works in the MILO Lab to help the MSU business program conduct research.
we put in and the belief that our administration and our donors have is really paying off in a way that's going to benefit everybody," Breazeale said. Robert Moore, a marketing professor, was also involved in the expansion and referred to Breazeale as the driving force. "He is the expert on it. He knows what he's talking about. He came here and he wanted to do it right away," Moore said.
Breazeale explained what the lab would be used for. "It's kind of the cutting edge and the future of research right now," Breazeale said. "For probably a thousand years, we've used surveys pretty much as a way to tell what people want or have people tell us what they want or what they think about things." Breazeale said that the laboratory would give a better analysis in these surveys. LAB, 2
WEDNESDAY
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HI: 75 LO: 45 SKY: Partly cloudy POP: 6
HI: 79 LO: 58 SKY: Mostly sunny POP: 19
Due to the shortage of teachers, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has established a new program designed to boost the number of teachers in Mississippi. According to the MDE, there were approximately 3,000 certified teacher vacancies in 2021. These vacancies are the reason behind the MDE's new Mississippi Teacher Residency (MTR) program. The Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund funded this program, which is different from the private funds that the Kellogg Foundation has used in the past. MDE is awarding $9.8 million in total to the universities joining the program. $2.03 million is going to Mississippi State University. Courtney Van Cleve, state director of MDE's
FORECAST: The April showers continue to plague Starkville, but thankfully, the temperatures appear to be rising into the high 70s and low 80s. Feel free to pull out shorts and T-shirts again as we settle into summer weather. Make sure to carry a rain jacket!
Courtesy of The Weather Channel
Jahari Bell | The Reflector
A professor writes equations on a chalkboard in Allen Hall while teaching.
Division of Educator Talent Acquisition and Effectiveness, said the education workforce in Mississippi is strengthened through policies in the MTR program. "Like other states across the country, Mississippi is facing a teacher shortage," Van Cleve said. "We have found that the Mississippi Teacher Residency program is the key strategy for keeping one of our goals of every school having effective teachers."
According to Van Cleve, the challenge of teacher shortages will require joint effort to reach a relevant solution. Van Cleve said the MTR program is designed to help students leave college as fullyfledged educators with no college debt. This program includes training with the assistance of a mentor, full scholarships and professional development. TUITION, 2
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