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 Clipping, Reflector Staff Roster, September 7, 1973
The Reflector
This newspaper clipping is the list of staff member of the Reflector for the 1973-74 year.
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Newspaper Editorial, Opinion: Black Senators Supported, October 26, 1973
The Reflector
This newspaper editorial piece discusses the opinion poll The Reflector published concerning the minority representation in the Student Association senate with an over all vote that minorities deserve representation. Another poll concerning whether or not Montgomery Hall, as the second oldest building on campus, should be torn down.
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Newspaper Editorial, Opinion: Minority Representation New Query, October 19, 1973
The Reflector
This newspaper editorial piece discusses the opinion poll The Reflector published previously and gave some initial results. Some of the notes included involved whether or not "Henderson" would leave on his own terms and one note included a thinly veiled death threat toward Henderson.
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Newspaper Opinion Poll on the Judicial Council's Ruling on Black and Foreign Student Representation, October 23, 1973
The Reflector
This newspaper opinion poll asks Mississippi State University students if they agree with the Judicial Council's verdict concerning Black and foreign student representation in the Student Association elections. The poll also asks if a new apportionment be ordered and should minority students have representation.
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Newspaper Photograph, Buddy Miles, April 27, 1973
The Reflector
The caption accompanying this picture reads "A review of his concert in the Cow Barn and an interview."
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Newspaper Photograph, Jerry Jenkins Pulls Up for a Jumper, December 7, 1973
The Reflector
This newspaper photograph shows MSU basketball player, Jerry Jenkins, jumping while tossing the basketball toward the basketball goal. Other players and the referee surrounds him. The photograph is captioned Jerry Jenkins.
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Newspaper Photograph, Larry Fry Shows Effort, December 7, 1973
The Reflector
This newspaper photograph shows MSU basketball player, Larry Fry, jumping toward the basketball goal and is captioned "Larry Fry shows effort."
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Newspaper Photograph, Out of Business, February 23, 1973
The Reflector
This photograph of Richard Briscoe and caption teases the article about the closure of Richard Briscoe's tamale that he opened on the side of Highway 12 in Starkville, Mississippi.
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Newspaper photograph, Richard Briscoe, March 30, 1973
The Reflector
This picture's caption expresses that the sheriff's department has arrested Richard Briscoe, a Mississippi State student whose tamale stand was shut down by the Board of Health.
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Newspaper Photograph, Roy Wilkins, April 10, 1973
The Reflector
The caption accompanying this picture reads "The NAACP executive director is slated to appear here."
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Newspaper Photographs, Mississippi State Athletics--The Year That Was…, April 27, 1973
The Reflector
The caption "Mississippi State Athletics-- the year that was…" accompanies various photos of Mississippi State University's athletes and their respective sports. It also includes the teams' records for the season.
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Newspaper Page, The Reflector, September 7, 1973
The Reflector and Patti Drapala
This page of The Reflector includes four articles, the classifieds, and the announcements section titled "Briefs." The articles included are about the opening of the new Architecture School, The Starkville-Campus bike trail, the MSU band, and a 100-mile bike tour.
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Newspaper article, State Takes on Vols Next, February 9, 1973
The Reflector and Gentry
In this newspaper article, Mississippi State University's basketball team prepares to face three of their Southeastern Conference opponents on the road. After losing to Louisiana State University, MSU is looking for a win against the University of Tennessee before heading to play the University of Kentucky and the University of Mississippi. A photograph of Mississippi State's Jerry Jenkins (45) making a shot on the basketball court is included with the article. The photograph's caption describes Jenkins as "one of the Bulldog's most consistent performers" of the season.
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Newspaper Article, Dead May Listen as 'Spoon River' is Performed, February 16, 1973
Marilynn Winbush
This article discusses how a theatrical adaptation of the book Spoon River is coming to Mississippi State University's campus. The Department of Communications will be presenting the production in the YMCA building in the spring. The article also details the life of Edgar Lee Masters, author of Spoon River and his experiences that shaped the story.
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Newspaper Article, Dynamic: YMCA Claims New Spirit
Jamie Windham
This article discusses new plans for the YMCA on the Mississippi State University Campus, as planned by the president of the YMCA, Fletcher Odom. The article goes on to describe new programs that the Y intends to initiate.
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Newspaper Article, In Mississippi: '…A mild, timid, non-violent man', December 5, 1972
A. B. Albritton
This article begs the question of why Mississippi Governor, Bill Waller, would repeatedly "free" a convicted murder and member of the KKK who violently killed a Black man in Hattiesburg. The article describes Waller's repeated attempts at freeing Charles Clifford Wilson and going so far as to describe Wilson as "a mild, timid, non-violent man" and how in doing so may have lost both Black and White support. This article was reprinted from the Commercial Appeal.
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Newspaper Article, Waller Holds Axe Over Hederman Control of State, February 22, 1972
A. B. Albritton and Memphis Commercial Appeal
This article speculates on the measures the newly elected governor of Mississippi, Bill Waller, might take to rid the various boards and commissions of the segregationists family, the Hederman's, and continue to appoint more Black people to those roles. The article goes on to describe the Hederman family, their history with the state and Jackson, in particular. The article was originally published in the Memphis Commercial Appeal and is reprinted in The Reflector by permission from the author.
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Newspaper Article, Black Prisoner's Trial Opens Amid Tight Security, December 5, 1972
Robert Barber
This article details the legal struggles of a Black man, convicted of robbery and kidnapping and a more recent trial stating he lead a prison riot. The article describes the man, Ruchell Magee, and his long standing insistence that he was wrongfully convicted. The article goes on to describe Magee's current trial for murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy for his participation in the prison riot.
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Newspaper Article, No Black Requests Have Been Granted in Full Yet, May 7, 1972
Fred Crumpton
This article describes the frustration of the community of Black students, specifically the Afro-American Plus organization, that their request of the Mississippi State University president and officials have not been granted in full. The article details what requests have been made and what effort, if any, has been made by the university to grant them. Examples of the requests are things like more black student recruitment, more black staff and faculty, a separate "Black Mr. and Miss MSU," etc.
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Newspaper Article, YMCA Officers Deny Charges "Out of Touch with Whites", February 4, 1972
Fred Crumpton
This article discusses the accusations made by a White cabinet member of the YMCA stating that the officer elections were done so unfairly causing a racial divide and calls for the resignation of the newly elected officers, new elections, and a new constitution. The YMCA president's rebuttal states that the only presence of racial overtones are from the White cabinet member who lost the vice-presidency to a Black candidate and cannot accept it.
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Newspaper Article, Staff Column: A Better Understanding is Needed to Eliminated Prejudices, April 21, 1972
Roger Culbertson
This article is a white student's response to two previously published items in the Reflector--one a letter to the editor referring to "dirty, sloppy whites" and the second an article quoting "shallow thinking…typical of…southerners". The article goes on to say that while racial discrimination is real and a problem, racial prejudices exist in all races and calls for all races to "promote a better understanding...before we can, hopefully, eliminate them."
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Newspaper Article, Black Viewpoint: Forgetting Isn't Easy for Blacks, April 28, 1972
Rae Dillon
This article offers a look into how Black people view race relations, discrimination, racism, and how it feels to be Black.
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Newspaper Article, Black Viewpoint, 'I believe--but that's my business', April 25, 1972
Rae Dillon
This article details the author's interactions with what she refers to as "Jesus folks" and questions how genuine their concern for her soul when their actions don't always match with their sermons.
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Newspaper Article, Black Viewpoint: One Category Should be Used for All: Human
Rae Dillon
This article offers the view that an entire race shouldn't be stereotyped and instead individuals should be judged by their own attributes.
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Newspaper Article, Black Viewpoint: Senate Represents Racist Body, April 11, 1972
Rae Dillon
This article details why many Black students on the Mississippi State University campus believe the Student Association Senate is a racist body. The article refers to a resolution that was recently passed and quotes a statement by the Student Association Senate referring to the Afro-American Plus's leadership of the Black student body and refutes their accusations that the Black leaders aren't representing Black students and are threatening the University.