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Reflector
The
TUESDAY REFLECTOR-ONLINE.COM
121ST YEAR | ISSUE 17
OCTOBER 28, 2008
T H E S T U D E N T N E W S P A P E R O F M I S S I S S I P P I S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y S I N C E 1 884
CROWNING BEAUTY
College
Board sets
presidential
interviews
Second-round
meetings set for
Nov. 5
BY CARL SMITH
News Editor
The Mississippi Institutions of
Higher Learning Board of Trustees
announced the Mississippi State
University presidential search is still
currently on target, despite calls to
reopen the search from the MSU
Faculty Senate before the board’s
Friday meeting.
The board announced the second-
round interviews for presidential can-
didates have been scheduled for Nov.
5 in Jackson.
IHL Board of Trustees President
Amy Whitten said she believes in
the integrity of the search despite
the allegations and scandal that have
emerged during the current process.
“We think [the search process]
works,” she said. “The search is still
on course and it’s working around
the candidates’ [schedules]. We think
it will produce sound results.”
INTERVIEWS, 3
SEE
Incumbent BUD SOREY | THE REFLECTOR
The newly-crowned Miss MSU Sara Beth James waives to the crowd gathered for the 50th anniversary of the Miss MSU Pageant Thursday.
aims to
Fourteen contestants compete for the 50th Miss MSU crown
hold 4th BY PATRICK YOUNG | Staff Writer
District
T
he 50th annual Miss MSU Pageant took place Thursday in Lee Hall Auditorium with freshman communication major
BY WAYNE BRAGG
Sara Beth James taking the crown. James, a native of Madison County, defeated 13 other women to advance to the state
Staff Writer
pageant in Vicksburg. Sophomore communication major Robyn Ford was named first runner-up, and undeclared
Democrat Gene Taylor is seeking his
senior Danielle Smith received second runner-up with freshman communication major Fenly Akers taking third.
10th consecutive term as Mississippi’s
4th Congressional District’s U.S. rep- James said she was surprised with winning the title, especially with the caliber of this year’s beauty and talent.
resentative with Republican John Mc-
“I was very surprised,” James said. “I would like to emphasize that any one of those girls could and would have made a beautiful Miss
Cay looking to oust the 20-year incum-
bent. MSU, and I am honored to have been given the title.”
Candidates are running to represent
As the winner of the pageant, James took home a $1,500 scholarship, a $500 Barnes and Noble gift card and the opportunity to be
the district with three of the four most
heavily populated cities in the state: photographed for MSU-related publications. SEE PAGEANT, 2
Gulfport, Biloxi and Hattiesburg. The
4th District is still suffering from the
2005 devastation of Hurricane Ka-
Project aims to improve local sidewalks
trina.
Beau Gex, district director for Taylor,
said the key issue on Taylor’s agenda at
the moment is a multi peril insurance
bill, which passed in the House of Rep- provide sidewalks, bike Rolling Hills and Green Oaks subdivi-
resentatives last year but not the Sen-
City infrastructure improvements lanes and traffic-calm- sions with Ward Stewart Elementary
ate. ing devices as well as School and Henderson Intermediate
Coast residents are having a tough
set to begin fall 2009 an educational outreach School. Along these routes are proposed
time battling insurance companies program for children sidewalks to connect the existing side-
with the ongoing dilemma from Ka- traveling to and from walks and caution lights at high traffic
trina as to whether damage to homes school. intersections. Chair of SIM’s Safe Routes
were caused by flood waters or wind, BY KATHERINE HOLMES Mississippi Cox
The to Schools committee Lois Connington
“We thought we could get started this
Gex said. Contributing Writer Department of said MDOT has held up the engineering
academic year, but it looks like it is going
“The bill introduced by Gene [Tay- Transportation awarded Starkville aspect of the project.
to be next fall before we have mortar
lor], if passed this time around, will a $281,476 grant for SRTS in July The city finished preliminary engi-
down,” Ward Alderman and SIM mem-
Members of Starkville in Motion, an
cover wind damage on citizens’ federal 2007 through a federal transportation neering, Cox said. Now, the consultant
ber Matt Cox said.
organization dedicated to improving
flood insurance plans,” he said. “This enhancement fund. engineer’s work is waiting to be finished
The SRTS program is a cooperative
pedestrian and cyclist safety, are eager
bill will make it much more affordable The new infrastructure improvements and approved.
effort between the city of Starkville, SIM
for construction to begin next fall on the
include proposed bike lanes connecting
ELECTION, 3 and the Starkville School District to SIDEWALKS, 2
Safe Routes to Schools project.
SEE
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