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IFC RUSH WEEK: Men seek fraternities
The Murray State News TheNews.org
September 14, 2012
Vol. 88, No. 5
Zay Jackson charged with assault, jailed after weekend altercation Jonathan Ferris || Sports Editor jferris2@murraystate.edu
File Photo
Zay Jackson, sophomore guard from Hammond, La., moves the ball down the lane in a home game against Eastern Illinois last season. Jackson has been charged with two counts of assault after an altercation over the weekend and will appear in court on Sept. 26.
Zay Jackson, sophomore guard on the Murray State men’s basketball team, was suspended from all team activities Monday after he was arrested late Sunday afternoon on two counts of second-degree assault. Murray Police responded to an altercation in the parking lot of the Murray Walmart around 4 p.m. Sunday where Jackson allegedly hit two people with his vehicle. Both victims reported minor injuries. The alleged victims were identified as Jason and Alia Clement, a married couple from Paducah, Ky. In sworn affidavits from both of the Clements, they claimed to have seen Jackson exit Walmart and cause a shopping cart to collide with a parked car. Jason Clement says he made a remark about the incident to
Jackson, who allegedly responded to his remark and then got into his white 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. At the time, Jackson was with an unidentified female. Jason and Alia Clement claim they continued loading groceries into their car when Jackson pulled up alongside them and began conversing with them. Alia told Jason to get a picture of Jackson’s license plate. As Jason stood behind the car taking a picture with his cell phone, Jackson backed into Clement, striking him multiple times. Jason Clement then said Jackson pulled forward and struck his wife, Alia, with his car as well. Jason moved to the front of the car and Jackson quickly accelerated, striking Jason once more and throwing him onto the hood of the car. Jackson continued to drive with Jason on the hood of the car. The Clements said Jason was tossed off the hood as the car approached the tire and oil change area of the
Walmart parking lot near Lowes Drive. Jackson has yet to make a statement on the incident in defense to the Clements’ claims made by the alleged victims. Officers responded to the incident and arrested Jackson at approximately 4:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Jackson remained in the Calloway County Jail Sunday night and appeared in Court at 9:30 Monday morning. Jackson was initially charged with three counts of first-degree assault, but one of the charges was dropped and the other two were reduced to second-degree assault charges at Monday morning’s arraignment hearing. His initial bond of $20,000 was also lowered to $15,000 at the hearing. Jackson’s preliminary court hearing is scheduled for Sept. 26.
see JACKSON, 3A
Board addresses key issues Enrollment, enhancement on Regents’ agenda
Authorities respond to student hit by car Staff Report
Chris Wilcox || News Editor cwilcox2@murraystate.edu
Photos by Kristen Allen/Contributing photographer
President Randy Dunn, left, and Board Chair Constantine Curris look on during a presentation at the Sept. 7 Board of Regents meeting. from excess interest earned on a previous bond issue.” The board approved the use of the nonrecurring funds.
Ky. Hwy. 121 Proposal Street N. 16th
Board members heard a proposal to expand the highway directly north of the CFSB Center and Roy Stewart Stadium.
The proposal outlines an increase in lanes at Hwy. 121’s intersection with Gilbert Graves Circle.
5-lane U.S. Hwy. 641
4-lane
le aves Circ Gilbert Gr
The University Board of Regents heard updated enrollment numbers at their Sept. 7 meeting, along with several key reports, including a proposed enhancement project on Ky. Hwy. 121. The report from enrollment management indicated an overall increase in students. According to a fall comparison document, 14 days into the semester there was an increase of 417 students from last fall. First time freshmen increased by 94 students. The total enrollment for the fall semester is currently slightly above 10,700 students. Fred Dietz, executive director of enrollment management, said the University has had a 5.9 percent increase since fall 2009. “This is quite an accomplishment and represents a lot of hard work by the entire Murray State community,” he said. President Randy Dunn said he was pleased with the results. In an unofficial survey the University conducted, numbers at neighboring universities either remained unchanged with the new semester or dropped. “One of our strongest regional competitors for regional students, obviously, is SIU Carbondale,” Dunn said after the meeting. “They’re down a thousand, almost. They took a big hit.” Further board discussion highlighted the property transfer and easements for Ky. Hwy. 121 improvements. The Kentucky Department of Highways (KDOH) is proposing to widen Hwy. 121 from 12th Street to Bailey Road. The project will include widening the road to five lanes from 12th Street to the east entrance into the CFSB Center and four lanes with a divided median from the east entrance of the basketball facility to 16th Street. Kim Oatman, director of facilities management, said KDOH had to purchase some land and easements from Murray State in order to do the widening.
Police Beat
CFSB Center Roy Stewart Stadium
Regents discussed several proposals, including a proposed Ky. Hwy. 121 expansion. “The land that they purchased is small strips of land along the edge of the existing highway,” he said. “The easements are also strips of land next to the highway that will be used for utilities and for the highway construction. Some of the easements are temporary and some are permanent.” Oatman also said Murray State is going to try to work with KDOH to install decorative lighting and signal poles like those on 12th Street in front
of Roy Stewart Stadium Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services Tom Denton said the cost would be approximately $350,000 and the portion of the state proceeds that could be used toward the $350,000 cost would be approximately $150,000. “So we would have a net cost of about $150,000,” he said. “The source of funds would be nonrecurring (not from the operational budget) funds
Policy Actions Josh Jacobs, chief of staff, presented two policy changes to the Board of Regents Policy Manual and recommended the board accept the amended versions of the Faculty Senate and Staff Congress handbooks. Both the faculty and staff handbooks have been under revision for months in an effort to sync policies across the University for the 2014 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools reaccreditation. The intellectual property policy and Council on Postsecondary Education policy were also amended at the Board of Regents meeting. The intellectual property policy was updated primarily to reflect new technology. The original policy, accepted in the 1970s did not specifically define procedures for how the policy would be carried out, how income distribution would be separated or the administration of the policy. Jacobs
see REGENTS, 3A
Chelsea Watkins, senior from Paducah, Ky., was struck by a moving vehicle on 16th Street Wednesday morning at at approximately 10:11. The Murray Police Department reported that Clara Beach, 77, of Murray, was traveling south on 16th Street when Watkins stepped into the crosswalk and Beach’s vehicle made contact with her near Calloway Avenue. Murray Police Department Spokesman Sgt. Scott Svebakken said Watkins crossed the street near Alexander Hall during an exchange of classes. Beach, who was driving south toward Main Street, struck Watkins in the crosswalk and immediately stopped her vehicle. MPD Officer Patrick Morris responded to the scene shortly after 10 a.m. and determined that Watkins required medical attention. Shortly afterward, she was transported to the Murray-Calloway County Hospital where she was treated for minor injuries and released, according to an MCCH spokesperson. The report claimed Watkins suffered multiple injuries, though no charges have been filed against either the driver or victim. Beach said she was not injured after the accident. Other responding agencies included the Murray Fire Department, and University Public Safety, but Murray State Police Chief David DeVoss said his officers were only on the scene for backup and did not take part in the investigation. DeVoss said the MPD maintains jurisdiction on city streets in the event of accidents, but those streets are typically under the Murray State Police’s jurisdiction. Although Wednesday morning’s incident occurred on campus, the MPD conducted the investigation, which was completed shortly before noon.
WHAT’S
REGENT PROFILE
LETTERS TO EDITOR
HARD LOSS
SUICIDE PREVENTION
INSIDE
Jeremiah Johnson seeks to serve others on board, 6A
Alumnus questions decision to play Florida State, 5A
Football team falls to Central Arkansas at home opener, 1B
Founder recognizes prevention month on campus, 5B