This collection includes articles and images from the Reflector, Mississippi State University’s student newspaper. This collection ranges from 1965-1975 and represents the first ten years after integration at MSU. The collection includes articles highlighting MSU Black student organizations, efforts to recruit students and faculty of color, MSU’s first Black student athletes, and notable speakers on campus.
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Newspaper Article, Black Viewpoint: 'Your Shallow Thinking is Typical of You Southerners', April 14, 1972
Rae Dillon
This article relays an anecdote experienced by the author in which she is confronted with a northern, white, female acquaintance who is relaying the struggles for women's rights. The author responds by pointing out that her most pressing struggle is being a Black, Southern woman and is met with the quote in the title of the article, "Your shallow thinking is typical of you southerners."
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Newspaper Article, Staff Column: Old Attitudes Persist Despite Change, October 17, 1972
Rae Dillon
This article reflects on how attitudes toward Black students has changed since Richard Holmes, the first Black undergraduate at MSU was admitted. However, the article gives examples of how may old attitudes and prejudices have not changes.
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Newspaper Article, Your Turn: Survey Reports Students' Racial Prejudices, February 22, 1972
Rae Dillon
This article provides examples from a recent questionnaire given to random Mississippi State University Students to determine racial attitudes of both black and white students. Some of the responses contain incendiary words.
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Newspaper Article, Minorities Want 'Piece of Action', October 6, 1972
Rae E. Dillon
This article describes a speech delivered by Ronald B. Lee, director of Marketing Analysis for Xerox Corporation, wherein Lee speaks on technological advances to how the economy of America was built on slavery.
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Newspaper Article, Black Viewpoint, 'Conditions for blacks have reached an unignorable height', April 7, 1972
Theortris Ervin
This article describes some requests and proposals made by the Black student body on the Mississippi State University campus. Combined with the requests is a history on the treatment of Black people throughout history and how the current treatment of Black students on campus and in Starkville are affecting the Black student population.
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Newspaper Photograph, Joyce Sharp, Miss AA Plus, February 11, 1972
Jaci Fentress
This newspaper photograph features a young Black woman wearing a floral print blouse and a black choker. The photograph is captioned "Joyse Sharp, crowned Miss AA Plus at Black History Festivities".
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Newspaper Photograph, Ho-ho-ho and All that Jaz, December 1, 1972
Jaci Fentriss
This newspaper photograph includes an image of Mr. and Miss MSU, Frank Dowsing and Sydney Tucker, greeting the crowd during the Starkville Christmas parade. An image of a small child seated on a garbage receptacle while watching the parade is include on the right.
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Newspaper Photograph, MSU's Black Voices Rehearse, October 20, 1972
Jaci Fentriss
This newspaper photograph shows the members of MSU's Black Voices choir while they rehears. The caption of the photo explains the choir's rehearsal schedule and the type of music the group performs.
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Newspaper Survey, Dead Week Elimination, May 9, 1972
Jaci Fentriss
This survey provides some students' response to the proposal of eliminating dead week on campus prior to final exams with mixed responses. Photographs of the students responding are included.
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Newspaper Article, Lest We Forget, February 15, 1972
Mike Gentry
This article is a reminder of the previous year's censorship by the Board of Trustees and the overstep of the MSU Student senate in relation to The Reflector. A photograph of a handwritten sign stating "Closed by Order of Student Senate" is included with the article.
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Newspaper Article, Phares, Dowsing Receive Post Season Bowl Invites, December 1, 1972
Mike Gentry
This article describes Ken Phares and Frank Dowsings selection to play at post-season bowl games. Phares was chosen to play at the Senior Bowl in Mobile Alabama and the Blue-Grey Classic in Montgomery, Alabama. Dowsing was selected to play for the Hula Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii and the Blue-Grey Classic. The article goes on to provide brief profiles of both players. A photograph of the two men playing football is included above the article.
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Newspaper Photograph, Melvin Barkum and Glenn Ellis On the Field, September 22, 1972
Mike Gentry
This newspaper photograph shows MSU Bulldog, Glenn Ellis kicking a field goal out of the hold of fellow Bulldog, Melvin Barkum in a game against Auburn.
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Newspaper Article, Black Voices Concert: Inspiring, Enjoyable, Unforgettable, December 5, 1972
Elaine Graves
This newspaper article offers a review of the Black Voices concert that took place the previous Saturday. The review offers a rundown of the set list and describes the reviewer's favorite performances. The reviewer describes the concert as "totally inspiring and delightfully enjoyable." Two photographs taken at the concert are included with the article.
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Newspaper Article, "Equality" Spells Segregation, June 20, 1972
Larry Kerr
This opinion piece discusses the author's belief that many Black people don't want to be integrated with whites and goes on to point at instances on campus that he believes demonstrate that. The author goes on to state that true equality would be doing away with using black and white terminology and instead just call everyone people and let them live as they wish.
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Newspaper Article, Aberneith: Administration Made Academic Progress, May 9, 1972
George Luter
This article discusses the progress and accomplishments made by the outgoing Student Association president, Phil Abernethy, naming "academic progress" as his main highlighted accomplishment. The article goes on to discuss the change to reading day schedules , the extension of drop date, and an academic review board as accomplishments. The article also describe some disappointments including not being able to fully satisfy the problems that Black students face.
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Newspaper Article, Waller Appears on Nation-wide Television, February 4, 1972
George Luter and Gentry
This article details an appearance made by Mississippi governor, Bill Waller, on the NBC Today Show where in he discusses his work to change the way Mississippi is perceived and how the government operates in the future, including appointing more Black leaders. A photograph of Waller accompanies the article.
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Newspaper Article, Eyes on Mississippi: 'Mindless defiance' of Ole Miss Leads to Racial Harmony, October 6, 1972
William F. Minor
This article, originally published in the Times-Picayune, takes a look at the past, ten years prior, wherein violence erupted at Ole Miss when James Meredith, the first Black student, was admitted to Ole Miss. The article goes on to describe how far the state of Mississippi has come since then in its efforts to end the violence against Blacks.
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Newspaper Column, Quicksilver: Hatred and Recruits, September 8, 1972
Mercury Morris
This column contains an article titled "Hatred" that speaks on the attacks at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany, against Israeli athletes and an article titled "Recruits" on the potential recruits to the Mississippi State University Baseball team.
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Newspaper Article, Senate Blasts Methods of Black Campus Leaders, April 7, 1972
Mike Penprase
This article details the Student Association Senate's criticism of the leaders of the Afro-American Plus and their tactics used in making requests on behalf of the Black student population on the Mississippi State University campus. The article describes the resolution was presented by several senators in response to what they consider threats made by the organization.
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Newspaper Article, SAT Comes Under Fire, Foes Say It's Culturally Biased, October 20, 1972
Annalyn Swan
This article discusses the cultural biases in the standardized testing against members of minority groups and the poor and the role the state college board plays in it. The article was originally printed in the Wall Street Journal.
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Newspaper Advertisement, Smooth Soul Sound, Cornelius Bros. and Sister Rose, November 14, 1972
The Reflector
This newspaper advertisement features a flyer for the Corneliu Brother and Sister Rose concert to be held at the Animal Husbandry Building on the Mississippi State University campus. The ad features a photograph of the band in costume and provides the date, time, and cost of the event as well as a selection of song titles the band is best know for.
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Newspaper Announcements, Briefs, December 1, 1972
The Reflector
This section of the newspaper, named "Briefs", provides brief announcements of events and notices of things happening on the Mississippi State University campus including an upcoming Black Voices concert.
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Newspaper Announcements, Briefs, February 25, 1972
The Reflector
These newspaper announcements notify the student body of events taking place on campus such as YMCA's sponsorship of a "coffeehouse", an opening meeting of the Alpha Phi Omega, and Associated Women Student elections.
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Newspaper Announcements, Briefs, March 7, 1972
The Reflector
These newspaper announcements notify the student body of events taking place on campus such as YMCA's sponsorship of a Bid-Spade Tournament, a bridal showcase, and a "basketball bounce" fundraiser.
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Newspaper Announcements, Briefs, October 31, 1972
The Reflector
This section of the newspaper, named "Briefs", provides brief announcements of events and notices of things happening on the Mississippi State University campus.