Student Express

Student News at Mississippi State University

Have a Terrific Thanksgiving Holiday!

Mississippi State University will be closed for Thanksgiving Holiday from 5 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 20) until Monday morning (Nov. 26).

Egg Bowl game day times

MSU's traditional end-of-season match with Ole Miss, set this year for Nov. 23 [Friday], will create exceptions to the university's opening of the Junction and on-campus parking/tailgating.

Because the Egg Bowl follows the Thursday Thanksgiving holiday, no game day activities will begin before 7 a.m. Friday. The Junction and on-campusparking/tailgating will be available after 7 a.m. prior to the 11:30 a.m. kickoff in Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field.

The game will be televised by Lincoln Financial Sports.

Thanksgiving Lunch at Perry Cafeteria

Reservations are being taken for the Marketplace at Perry's Thanksgiving lunch Tuesday, Nov. 20. The menu includes turkey, ham, dressing, green beans, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, yams, and greens. Desserts are pumpkin pie, Dutch apple pie and cranberry crunch.

For questions or to make reservations, telephone 325-8138.

Sports Roundup

Football

The MSU Bulldogs turned in their best offensive numbers in five years, posting 501 yards of total offense, but still could not hold off the explosiveness of Heisman Trophy frontrunner Darren McFadden and the Arkansas Razorbacks in Saturday's 45-31 loss. True freshman Wesley Carroll contributed 421 yards through the air on 29 of 51 passes, with four touchdowns. But, it was his four interceptions that would make the difference on the day, with each leading to Razorback scores.

Men's Basketball

Sophomore guard Ben Hansbrough tied his career-high with 20 points in leading the Bulldogs to an 86-70 victory over the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks Saturday evening. Three other Bulldogs reached double digits and sophomore center Jarvis Varnado turned in a career-high 16 rebounds to close out a three-game home stand before heading to California for the Anaheim Classic over the upcoming Thanksgiving break.

Women's Basketball

The MSU Lady Bulldogs moved to 4-0 for the first time since the 1999-00 season, with an 89-51 victory over the Mercer Bears (2-3) Sunday afternoon at Humphrey Coliseum. Sophomore guard Alexis Rack led five Lady Bulldogs in double-digit scoring, with 21 points on 6 of 11 shooting, including 4 of 7 behind the three-point arc.

More about:
Football
Men's hoops
Women's hoops

DANCING THE NIGHT AWAY

Michael O'Neal and Laurin Spann dance the night away.
Photo courtesy of Harry Lam.

With such shows as Dancing with the Stars and So, You Think You Can Dance? filling the airwaves, it's no wonder that ballroom dancing is enjoying a healthy comeback among young adults.

Not only is it a great way to make new friends, studies from the Mayo Clinic aa well as the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute conclude that dancing relieves stress, increases energy, improves circulation, and increases muscle tone and coordination.

Senior biological engineering student Michael O'Neal liked it so well, he's now the president of MSU's Ballroom Dancing Club.

"It started when I was a sophomore and saw a flier in my hall," remembered O'Neal. "My girlfriend was interested in it, so we went and it turned out to be a lot of fun."

Over time, it became a much anticipated event. So, when O'Neal realized his instructor would be graduating, he and another student, Brandon Smith, took it upon themselves to learn all the right moves. They trained for about a year and a half so that they could continue the club as instructors.

Anyone with a Sanderson Center membership can attend the classes, which begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoons and run through the evening, culminating in an open dance.

"It's not as hard as it sounds," added O'Neal. "A lot of people come and find they really enjoy learning to dance and they meet so many new people."

So, whether you're sizzling for some Salsa, fixin' to Foxtrot, or just wanting to Waltz, the Ballroom Dance Club is the place to be every Sunday afternoon at the Sanderson. But, remember, only shoes with rubber soles like tennis shoes or dance shoes are allowed in the dance studio.

For more information and a schedule of dance styles and class times, visit http://www.msstate.edu/org/msubdc/.

Student Profile: Ryan Storment

Ryan Storment

Ryan Storment loves watching two things move in this world—his bicycle rolling down any road and information on the information highway.

The Mississippi State computer science major from Jackson has a passion for cycling and a fascination for solving puzzles associated with computers. Instead of giving up on a tough bike ride or computer problem, Storment keeps going forward.

While he enjoys working on computers, his obsession may be cycling. His girlfriend and others might call him stubborn, but Storment calls it focused.

He recently rode his bicycle from Clinton to Vicksburg to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, all while juggling his MSU class schedule and a campus job. He didn't even let a recent car accident sideline him for too long. While riding his bike, a car crashed into Storment's bike, leaving him with trouble walking for a while.

"I was on crutches for a week," Storment said. "I went headfirst into a curb."

While some cyclists and vehicle drivers on campus haven't figured out sidewalks belong to pedestrians and streets belongs to motorized vehicles and bicycles, Storment continues to help educate the university community about the rules for cyclists and motorized drivers on campus. Storment, a member of the cycling and walking advocacy group Starkville-In-Motion, works to increase awareness of appropriate travel patterns on campus.

While he may prefer the term "committed," stubborn comes to mind when looking at Storment's lifestyle. He hasn't ridden in a car more than a half-dozen times in months to travel within Starkville's city limits. He rides his bicycle with a cargo trailer attached for his grocery shopping.

Storment believes in recycling and reducing pollution from automobiles and other polluting parts of modern culture. His green lifestyle led to him planting a garden just outside his apartment.

"I believe that what I do in my lifetime has consequences and that it'll impact other people," said Storment, a few minutes before riding his bike home.

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