August 2012: Vol. 88 No. 1
Welcome
A special publication of The Murray State News
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The News 2609 University Station Murray State University Murray, Ky. 42071-3301 Email: thenews@murraystate.edu Fax: 809-3175 thenews.org
Austin Ramsey Editor-in-Chief • 809-6877 Chris Wilcox News Editor • 809-4468 Devin Griggs Opinion Editor • 809-5873 Anna Taylor Features Editor • 809-5871 Jonathan Ferris Sports Editor • 809-4480 Ryan Richardson Online Editor • 809-5877 Brandon Orr Advertising Manager • 809-4478 Wes Yonts Production Manager • 809-5874 Kylie Townsend Photography Editor • 809-5878 Joe Hedges Adviser • 809-2998
Welcome Letters
From the Editor In my parents’ house, next to the refrigerator and under a cupboard is a little chalkboard where my mother likes to write messages. I don’t know where that came from or from whom she got the idea, but that’s what she does. For a long time, my father and I humored her and her messages. In fact, in the early days of her “kitchen memos,” she would write riddles and quiz us on her canny literature. But her most recent message, the one that remains there still, is no charade. It reads, “Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday.” When she first put that up, I remember thinking how pure that was. How it seemed like no matter how hard I tried, what came next in my life would always be a harder challenge than the last. Today, even, I write this as the sun sets over Wells Hall and replaces students with shadows in the Quad, the summer has settled, leaving an empty newsroom, an empty University. And while I know what this means - the stress-free days, without pencils, paper and productivity, and while I know that this is a time for rest and for the security of at least a few months of peace, sans school, I can’t put my mind to rest. Because, no matter how long the summer is, the summer was, the summers have always been, there’s always a next semester. A time to worry. And as I sit here, tasked to indite a few simple words meant to inspire a company of incoming students and
broaden those who know the ropes, I can’t help but to reflect on my own college career. And thus I realize I don’t know all the right things to do and say. How have I gotten through college? I keep a chalkboard in my mind, scribed by my mother’s hands. I remember a message about yesterday’s worries. So now we immerse ourselves back into school. We pick up our pencils, our papers, our productivity. We welcome those who are new, and my encouragement is to write our own messages on the chalkboards of our minds. Austin I’m not old enough to tell you how your Ramsey college career should be. And I don’t have Editor-in-Chief the space to list the tips and tricks of Murray State. So, I can’t tell you what your chalkboard messages should state, but I know that we’ve all come here for a reason. We’re here to develop ourselves into those people and the tomorrow’s about which we worry. All of you have a message to write and you’re all here to write it. College is a time to introduce yourself to who you want to be. It is an introduction to your future. Welcome to your college. This is your new home and it will remain part of you forever. The next few years give you the opportunity to cover your chalkboard with life. What will you write?
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Welcome Letters
From the President Greetings to you for the 2012-13 Academic Year! I am pleased to formally welcome everyone to Murray State University for this new term. The University – in addition to being the place where a world of opportunities will open up – will also serve as your new home for a few years, and we want to help you settle in and get familiar with your surroundings. All the activities during Great Beginnings are designed to extend a very special MSU greeting to each and every one of you. Randy Dunn When I moved here nearly six University years ago, my own transition was President smoothed by many genuine and kind people on campus and in the community. I am certain you will be impressed and embraced by the same hospitality and support during your time at Murray State. We also work hard to extend this same feeling to our commuter, adult, nontraditional, and online students just as much as we do with our first-time freshmen and transfer students. As a growing segment of our overall University enrollment, it is important for those of you representing these
groups to feel at home on campus, too. If you haven’t figured it out already, Murray State provides an exceptional higher education experience by combining a perfect balance of institutional size with a real sense of community. Said another way: MSU is big enough to provide just about everything you could want and need from a wellknown public university, but not so big that you won’t know the people you see on campus or feel like a lone person in the crowd. As a larger, “midmajor” higher education institution, we are able to offer the wide variety of student academic and service programs you expect from a comprehensive university, with high levels of rigor and responsibility, and yet we still maintain a strong focus on you as an individual student similar to what you would expect to find at a smaller, private college. I encourage you to take advantage of all that is possible at this special place – stretching yourself, setting high goals, doing new things, and forcing yourself to think outside of the box with the many and diverse people you will encounter here. Indeed, this is at the heart of what a great university education should cause you to do! Take advantage of all that is MSU – beyond just successfully acquiring credits toward graduation, of course – because the privilege of higher education is about
MUCH more than just preparing for your career. Once you are acclimated to campus, please make sure you follow my weekly columns in our Roundabout Murray electronic newsletter you’ll receive via email. I am also on Facebook and Twitter or just email me at rdunn@murraystate.edu with any idea, thought or comment whenever you like. I generally try to respond back to everyone eventually! Enjoy YOUR campus. We’re going to be spending a few years together and I hope to get to know many of you during that time. You will have a great life-changing experience at MSU. I guarantee it … and Go Racers!
About the president • Dunn marked his fifth year at the University over the spring semester. He was hired by the Board of Regents in 2006. • He is a former state superintendent of education for the Illinois State Board of Education. • At Murray State, he has headed major fundraising and building campaigns.
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Welcome 2012 The Murray State Men’s basketball team made headlines last semester with a near-perfect 30-2 record.
Murray State’s Hold Thy Banner High Campaign aimed at supporting University student scholarships and academic initiatives surpassed the original goal of $60 million in June and stretched it to $70 million by October, 2012.
The University is unique and known for its small-town feel but larger school success. High rankings in top-rated publications continue to indicate it. File photos
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Campus Map 1. Regional Center for Emerging Technologies 2. CFSB Center 3. Reagan Baseball Field 4. Stewart Stadium 5. Student Recreation & Wellness Center 6. College Courts 7. New Richmond College 8. Hester College 9. Springer College 10. Alumni Center 11. Facilities Management Complex 12. Franklin College 13. Hart College 14. Winslow Dining Hall 15. Lee Clark College 16. Elizabeth College 17. Old Richmond College 18. General Services 19. White College 20. Regents College 21. Purcell Tennis Courts 22. Cutchin Recreational Complex 23. Curris Center 24. Industry and Technology Center 25. Public Safety & Emergency Mgmt 26. Public Advocacy 27. Howton Agricultural Engineering 28. Central Heating and Cooling Plant 29. Blackburn Science Building 30. Mason Hall 31. Cutchin Field House 32. Carr Health 33. Oakley Applied Science North 34. Oakley Applied Science South 35. Visual Arts Building 36. Alexander Hall 37. The Biology Building 38. Chemistry Building 39. Wells Hall 40. Faculty Hall 41. Lovett Auditorium 42. Old Fine Arts 43. Price Doyle Fine Arts Center 44. Waterfield Library 45. Simpson Childcare Center 46. Faculty Club 47. Woods Hall 48. Ordway Hall 49. Pogue Library 50. Lowry Center 51. Arthur J. Bauernfeind Business Building South 52. Arthur J. Bauernfeind Business Building North 53. Nash House 54. Wrather West Kentucky Museum 55. Wilson Hall 56. Sparks Hall 57. Oakhurst 58. Sorority Suites
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Rev Revised Fall 20 Revised Fall 2009
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Welcome Letters
From the SGA President For starters, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the RACERNATION Family! We are Racers and we are very glad you have picked Murray State as your home. Murray State is a great community, committed to educating students and giving you the tools and equipment you need to succeed. Our campus is unique in the fact that its big enough and has enough opportunities that give you the chance to explore the Jeremiah world, but it is small enough that you have a family environment Johnson conducive learning. I definitely SGA President hope you to have fun in college but remember academics are first and foremost. While at MSU, I encourage you to get involved. We have over 150 diverse student organizations, including residential college organizations, Greek life, academic college organizations and anything else you can think of. Through the various organizations on campus, you will meet and network with hundreds of Racer alumni and other leaders from your respective fields. Personally, I have met Maya Angelou, Adam Levine, the lead singer of Maroon
5, and Dr. Dwight Armstrong, the CEO of the National FFA Organization, an organization of over 500,000 students across the country, and guess what, he’s a RACER alumnus too! If interested in any student organizations, please visit murraystate.edu/Campus.aspx. That website will answer all questions you have about student life. The Murray State University Student Government Association is the advocate body for students. Who would have thought? If you have
“While at MSU, I encourage you to get involved. We have over 150 diverse student organizations, including residential college organizations, Greek life, academic college organizations and anything else you can think of.” -Jeremiah Johnson SGA President any concerns on campus you can address them through the SGA Student Senate which meets at 5 p.m. every Wednesday, in the Barkley Room on the third floor of the Curris Center. All meetings are open forum and if you have any complaints, comments, concerns or issues about anything regarding campus safety, housing, dining or any other topic, swing on by our meeting and we would be glad to help.
If you have any questions throughout your time at MSU and you aren’t sure where to go for the answer, come to the Center for Student Involvement on the first floor of the Curris Center, where we can either answer your question or direct you to the right answer. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and our phone number is 809-6951. You can also find us on Facebook at, or on Twitter @murraystateSGA. We are committed to serving you and helping you make the best of your college career. On a final note, good luck during your time at Murray State. I sincerely hope you find it to be the loving and caring community that I have found it to be over the last four years. Again, welcome to the Racer Family and I wish you the best during your time here! WE ARE RACERS!
About the SGA president • Elected for the second time this year, Johnson joined a short list of presidents who have served multiple terms. Johnson will serve this year as a graduate student. • In his first term, he worked to incorporate more student organizations and work with University administrators.
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2012-13 University Calendar August Fri. 3: Payment due Sat. 18: Residential colleges open for new freshman and transfer students, 10 a.m. Sun. 19: Residential colleges open for returning students, noon Tues. 21: Fall semester begins Mon. 27: Last day to drop/add classes September Mon. 3: Labor Day, University closed October Thurs. 4 - Fri. 5: Fall Break, no classes
Racer Lexicon 5-points: The location where North 16th Street, Chestnut Street, Coldwater Road and College Farm Road intersect. CFSB Center: Formerly RSEC, the home of Racer basketball games and concerts.
Sat. 13: Homecoming
Tues. 13: Final grades available on myGate
November Mon. 5: Scheduling for Spring 2013 begins Tue. 6: Presidential election, University closed Wed. 21 - Sun. 25: Thanksgiving Break, University closed
January Mon. 14: Spring semester begins* Mon. 21: Martin Luther King Day, no classes
December Sat. 8 - Fri. 14: Final exams Sat. 15: Commencement, 10 a.m. Sat. 15: Residential colleges close, noon Sat. 15 - Jan. 13: Winter Break, no classes
May Sat. 4 - Fri. 10: Final exams* Sat. 11: Commencement*
Dunker: The name of Murray State’s mascot. He should not be confused with Racer 1, the horse that races around the track at football games or Air Dunker. Fast Track: A small convenience store for students to the side of Winslow Dining Hall.
T he Lo op: The three-mile course around the University. Students often exercise there.
March Mon. 18 - Sat. 23: Spring Break, no classes*
The Quad: The large grassy area in the center of campus. Students often read or play games in the area.
MAP Rep ort: Shows your progress to obtaining your degree.
RacerMail: The campus email system powered by Google.
myG ate : The Internet program where students can perform various tasks.
RUN code: Given by advisers, necessary to schedule classes on myGate
*Dates are tentative
Correction The Murray State News incorrectly represented a photo on page 16 in the May 4 Superfecta special section. We apologize to readers and My Reality Tattoos and Body Piercings whose article the photograph accompanied.
We have expanded. Same location, bigger space.
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Home away from home
Regents College
Murray State is home to eight residential colleges. Each residential college has a mascot, flag, constitution, seal and student council, helping students identify with a small group within a large University. Residential College activities include intramurals, seminars and social functions.
Lee Clark College
Hart College
New Richmond College
Opened – 2007 College Head – Bert Siebold Phone Number – 809-7500
Opened - 1966 College Head - Lou Tillson Phone number - 809-4000
Opened - 2008 College Head - Leon Bodevin Phone number - 809-2628
Elizabeth College
Hester College
Springer College
Opened - 1964 College Head - Crystal Coleman Phone number - 809-6284
Opened - 1967 College Head - Kenny Fister Phone number - 809-2395
Opened - 1964 College Head - Paul Lucko Phone number - 809-6562
Franklin College
Regents College
White College
Opened – 1962 College Head – Paul Lucko Phone Number – 809-2298
Opened - 1970 College Head - Cynthia Gayman Phone number - 809-6700
Opened – 1966 College Head – Chhanda Islam Phone Number – 809-6151
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