ONLINE: Festival of Champions marks another successful year at Murray State
The Murray State News TheNews.org
September 28, 2012
Vol. 88, No. 7
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY Dunn a semifinalist in Missouri State search Chris Wilcox || News Editor cwilcox2@murraystate.edu
Austin Ramsey || Editor-in-Chief aramsey5@murraystate.edu
President Randy Dunn was named one of two semifinalists in the search for a Missouri State University president Monday. The other semifinalist is Clifton M. Smart III, the current interim president of Missouri State. Dunn, who has been served at Murray State since Dec. 1, 2006, informed the Board of Regents Saturday via email, he could possibly be a semifinalist and on Monday Missouri State confirmed he was. Dunn told the regents he was still dedicated to his post as president, and would fulfill his duties regardless of what the Missouri State Board of Governors ultimately decided. He said his motivation to apply was not a result of any dealings at Murray State. Like any professional individual, he said, he seeks to better his opportunities and range of career. “It certainly was not an indication of dissatisfaction or happiness here,” Dunn said Tuesday after the announcement. “I’ve been here six years and had success getting a large number of projects brought to completion. It seemed that if I was going to look at another opportunity, this was probably a good time to do it. We’re ending several large projects, and my contract is coming up to an end.” Dunn’s on-campus interview at Missouri State will be held Oct. 7-9 with a full set of meetings, including an open forum from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Oct. 8 in the Plaster Student Union Theater. The multi-day visits will also include interviews with the Board of Governors; individual sessions with faculty, staff, students and
File Photo
Murray State President Randy Dunn has been named one of two finalists in Missouri State University’s search for a president. the community; trips to the Mountain Grove and West Plains campuses; and tours of the main Springfield campus and community. The decision-making body at Missouri State has indicated it hopes to have announced its new president by Nov. 1, only a month away. Should Dunn be selected, he would start no
later than July 1 of next year. This is the second time Dunn has been involved with a presidential search outside the University while he occupied the top spot at Murray State. In October 2010, the University of Tennessee’s presidential search panel announced its semifinalists, and while Dunn was nominated as an ap-
plicant, he was not selected. During that search period, however, Dunn had not actively sought the nomination, he was simply chosen. This is the first time Dunn has been public about applying to another university. Jeremiah Johnson, Student Government Association President and student regent on the Board, said he was
surprised the president had applied. Johnson said he understood Dunn’s move, but it came as a shock to him and other SGA representatives. “I guess you could expect he would want to advance his career,” Johnson said. “Everyone wants to, but when my (SGA) Executive Board found out, they were shocked and surprised to hear Dunn was even applying at other universities.” Johnson said many students have learned of the search at Missouri State University and think he is jumping ship and abandoning his post. He said it was important the students knew the role of the president, who is the head liaison between the Regents and the University. “The president handles all University entities and is the head lobbyist of the University,” Johnson said. “The staff, faculty and students expect the president to lobby for them.” Dunn’s contract ends at Murray State on June 30, 2014. Johnson said the Regents have previously discussed renewing Dunn’s contract, but the board as a whole had not spoken or acted collectively on the preliminary discussions. Board members undertook an extensive eight-month investigation into Dunn’s performance at the University last year that surveyed constituencies University-wide and involved interviews of more than 100 on- and offcampus individuals. At the conclusion of the search, no published conclusions were made, leaving the Board with only months to make a move, and time ticking for Dunn. “We’re open to a better relationship with Dunn,” he said. “But, I can’t speak for the entire Board on what they are thinking about for the future.”
see PRESIDENT, 3A
String of new businesses Zay Jackson’s makes headway in Murray case bypasses Ben Manhanke || Staff writer bmanhanke@murraystate.edu
Brian Barron/The News
Construction for a new Penn Station in Murray is just one of several projects underway this year.
In the next year, Murray will see the completed construction and opening of at least five new food chains and three liquor stores, with more businesses on the way. A wave of new business is coming to Murray, attracted through a combination of Murray’s growing population, the University and the city’s decision to allow for the sale of packaged liquor. In the past weeks, three new businesses have opened: Dollar General, Don Taco and Yogurt Your Weigh. Scheduled to join those and the plethora of other fast food restaurants in Murray are Fazoli’s, Penn Station, Dunkin’ Donuts and Arby’s.
While some students may rejoice at the addition of these new food selections in Murray, others may not understand why the city needs to add any more chain restaurants to its repertoire. Lance Allison, president of the Murray-Calloway County Chamber of Commerce, said new restaurants are not only important in the role of accommodating residents of the city, but they also serve to draw in people from the surrounding areas and are attractive places for people passing through Murray to spend money. “Many people think that getting a lot of the same businesses is bad, and say ‘gosh, why are we getting another sandwich shop,’” Allison
see BUSINESSES, 3A
Suspects to be in court next month Staff Report William Elliot, resident of Murray, and Cheyanne Coleman, senior from Highland, Ill., were scheduled to appear Monday in Calloway County Circuit Court in connection with two burglaries in Calloway County. Elliot and Coleman were reportedly captured by officers after a report of burglary at a residence on Locust Grove Road was received on Sept. 2. Elliot was present for the hearing and is accused of
being involved with 25 home thefts in which items were taken and property destroyed. Coleman was also scheduled to appear before Circuit Court Judge Dennis Foust Monday, but was taken to a rehabilitation facility in St. Louis, Mo. Lamkin said Coleman will stay at the facility for four weeks and then be brought back to Murray to face charges. Both defendants are scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 22. Mark Blankenship, com-
monwealth attorney, said charges connected to four other burglary cases were filed against Elliot after a grand jury issued indictments. It is alleged the co-defendants attempted another break-in before the robbery at the house on Locust Grove Road, but were chased from the residence by the owner. Blankenship said the investigations into the multiple home thefts in Murray and Calloway County are ongoing and more arrests and charges are possible.
Brian Barron/The News
A Facilities Management grounds maintenance crew sets up a tent to be used at the annual Family Weekend Family Picnic in the Quad.
district court Staff Report Zay Jackson waived his rights Wednesday morning to have a preliminary hearing and to appear in front of a grand jury. The sophomore guard was scheduled to appear in Calloway County District Court at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, weeks after an altercation in which he was involved that resulted in two assault charges. Jackson’s case will now bypass the district court and he will appear in the Calloway County Circuit Court for his arraignment hearing on Oct. 12. Prosecuting Commonwealth Attorney Mark Blankenship said he hopes Jackson to start negotiating a plea bargain to resolve the case, but he also wishes to see Jackson show remorse for his actions. Jackson was arrested Sept. 9 on two counts of second-degree assault after allegedly striking two people with his vehicle in the parking lot outside of the Murray Walmart. The victims, Jason and Alia Clement from Paducah, Ky., claim Jackson struck both of them with his 2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo after a verbal altercation. The Clements said Jackson caused a shopping cart to collide with another vehicle, and when Jason Clement approached
see JACKSON, 3A
WHAT’S
CITIZEN’S GUIDE
OUR VIEW
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
CD REVIEW
INSIDE
Several candidates to occupy Kentucky ballot sheets , 6A
Bad timing with president’s potential departure., 4A
Men’s team looks forward to continuing success, 1B
Mumford & Sons’ newest release comes with promise, 7B