The Murray State News October 12, 2012
TheNews.org
Former clerk considering lawsuit against city
Vol. 88, No. 9
STATE OF THE
UNIVERSITY
Chris Wilcox || News Editor cwilcox2@murraystate.edu
Harla McClure, former Murray City Clerk, is working with her legal counsel to determine if they file a lawsuit against the city of Murray for wrongful termination. Her lawyer, Thomas Clay, alleges in a letter of grievance to the city on McClure’s behalf, that other city officials had committed more serious offenses with minor repercussions. McClure received a termination notice from Mayor Bill Wells on Sept. 5 citing dishonesty, immoral/improper conduct and on-duty/off-duty activities that discredit the individual or organization. The notice accused Wells McClure of improperly reporting a city sticker that was found on her daughter’s vehicle as stolen. McClure claims she purchased the city sticker for herself and had not realized her daughter had used it. Clay said he was trying to back up a case against the city. “There’s no question the mayor violated the city’s policies and procedures,” he said. “There’s no question that I think Wells made a mockery out of the due process that McClure should have been afforded.” In a letter of grievance addressed to Matt Mattingly, city administrator, Clay states McClure’s termination was done so wrongfully and addresses several facts, which were provided to McClure in her termination letter.
“There’s no question that I think Wells made a mockery out of the due process that McClure should have been afforded.” –Thomas Clay Defense Attorney In the letter, Clay says several department heads and a supervisor within the city have attested to McClure’s competence and integrity. He states the mayor’s action in dismissing McClure as Murray City Clerk is in direct violation of the city’s personnel policies and procedures. He said the mayor heard statements from McClure and others about other city employees who had committed violations of city policies and procedures whose violations were more severe, with few repercussions.
see McCLURE, 3A
THE HORSE RACE Latest Gallup figures place President Barack Obama at 48 percent of potential votes, a 2 percent lead over Republican contender Mitt Romney after Thursday night’s VP debate.
The News
President Randy Dunn focused the annual State of the University address on the ‘three prongs’ of Murray State’s future.
Address centers on Murray State’s future Chris Wilcox || News Editor cwilcox2@murraystate.edu
President Randy Dunn focused on Murray State’s future at the State of the University address Wednesday. The speech Dunn presents each year is his opportunity to address the campus constituents on University issues and plans. The three prongs Dunn announced for Murray State’s future reiterated the strategic imperatives that were set in place earlier in
Dunn’s presidency, but certain parts of the imperatives will now be more closely monitored. Those three points were excellence through quality, outreach with partnerships and innovation for impact. The first prong, Dunn said, was that there would now be less expansive approaches in regards to the imperatives. Instead of so many individual efforts across the campus, the University will work together. The second prong he said will establish increased scrutiny on the use
and appropriations of funds. He said it is now more critical than ever that the University keep an eye on how public funds are spent. There is to be a heightened level of review and analysis. Thirdly, Dunn said the University must change the University’s community of interest – its students. He said the University is not going to become a community college, but that the institution could do more to help those who are returning to school from the workforce.
Dunn said it was a bit awkward to speak in front of the University constituents in regards to his recent visit to Missouri State University as a semifinalist for its presidential position. “I have no idea of what events may unfold within the next few weeks,” he said. “If I stay, I will still be working just as diligently, but if there is a new president they will as well.”
see DISCONNECT, 3A
Dunn: Missouri State position would be ‘capstone presidency’ Chris Wilcox || News Editor cwilcox2@murraystate.edu
President Randy Dunn visited the Missouri State University campus Monday to tour facilities and meet university students, faculty and staff. Late last month, Dunn was announced as one of two candidates for the university’s vacant presidency. At a public forum Monday afternoon,
Dunn addressed the similarities between Murray State and Missouri State, his desire for the position and his qualifications. “There are so many parallels between Murray State and Missouri State University … in a host of ways the institutions mirror each other, the only difference is magnitude, the size of the institution,” he said. “In many ways because the functional eleThe Standard
see DUNN, 3A
President Randy Dunn takes a tour of Missouri State facilities Monday.
Biden, Romney disagree over foreign School to policy, abortion at Centre College debate benefit from Staff Report Vice President Joe Biden and Republican contender Paul Ryan met headto-head in a domestic and foreign policy debate Thursday evening at Centre College in Danville, Ky. Martha Raddatz, senior foreign affairs correspondent for ABC News, moderated the event. Raddatz kept a firm handle on the otherwise aggressive contest, giving allotted times for candidates’ statements and rebuttals. On the subject of foreign policy, Ryan said the current administration’s proposed $478 billion cut to national security would be devastating to the U.S., while Biden countered, saying defense has been focus-
ing on slimming down and specializing forces. Ryan and Biden agreed steps need to be made in order to pull forces out of Afghanistan by 2014, but their timelines differed. Turning the debate toward domestic policy, Raddatz asked both candidates how long it would take to bring the unemployment rate below 6 percent. Biden said the key to creating more jobs is decreasing taxes for the middle class, not the wealthy. By avoiding tax raises on small businesses and keeping jobs in the U.S., Ryan said unemployment would lower to 6 percent. In the discussion of tax reform and unemployment, Ryan said foreign dollars for the country’s $831 billion economic stimulus was a mistake. Biden responded, saying Ryan himself asked for stimulus money as a Wis-
consin congressman. Raddatz moved to the discussion of Medicare and Social Security and Ryan said the current administration acquired $716 billion from Medicare for Obamacare. “They got caught with their hands in the cookie jar, turning Medicare into a piggy bank for Obamacare,” Ryan said. Finally, Raddatz asked the candidates to explain their stance on abortion. Ryan said he is strictly pro-life. Biden said he refuses to impose his values on those of different or who have no religious affiliations, despite his religious beliefs. “I do not believe that we have a right to tell other people that women can’t control their (bodies),” Biden said. The second presidential debate will be 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.
VP contest Lexy Gross || Staff writer cwilcox2@murraystate.edu
Centre College in Danville, Ky., held the vice presidential debate Thursday evening between Joe Biden and Republican rival Paul Ryan. Twelve years earlier, in 2000 democrat Joe Lieberman and republican Dick Cheney debated in the same room. After Centre left a meaningful impression in 2000, the Commission on Presidential Debates chose the small Kentucky private school for the 2012 vice presidential debates. “Since 2000, our campus has experienced vast improvements in residence and academic facilities—all largely due to the generosity of our alumni and friends,” said Laura Pritchard, the assistant director of communications for marketing and public relations at
see CENTRE, 3A
WHAT’S
FARM SUSTAINABILITY
INSIDE
School of Ag seeks green Students partially at fault for Women’s basketball team gears Alumnus returns to direct initiatives, hindered by cost, 6A failing to act on city stickers, 4A up for upcoming season, 1B Murray-based production, 6B
OUR VIEW
PREPARING VICTORY
LOCAL FILM