The Murray State News

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Alliance hosts ‘Glamour’ show

The Murray State News TheNews.org

November 30, 2012

Vol. 88, No. 15

Higher Education

Stumbo pushes for state UPike funds Austin Ramsey || Editor-in-Chief aramsey5@murraystate.edu

House Speaker Greg Stumbo (D-Prestonsburg, Ky.) is prolonging the Frankfort fight to make the University of Pikeville a state institution. The Democrat state Senate leader told reporters Monday he will not support any extra higher education funding until the Appalachian private college is adopted into the state school system. “You know if they want my support in helping do whatever to get some more money into higher education then somebody better be figuring out what to do with that situation up there,” he Stumbo told The Associated Press this week. Stumbo’s comments come almost a year after he and Pikeville President and former Gov. Paul Patton pushed controversial legislation calling for the private college’s institutional adoption at the cost of losing students served by Eastern Kentucky and Morehead state universities. The legislation would have voided more than 10 Kentucky

“You know, if they want my support in helping do whatever to get some more money into higher education then somebody better be figuring out what to do with that situation up there.” –Greg Stumbo House Speaker counties from standing state universities’ service regions. Controversy came early this year when several Kentucky state universities – Murray State among them – spoke out against the bill. Officials argued it would unnecessarily deplete eastern Kentucky enrollment and come at the cost of students statewide. The University of Pikeville serves slightly less than 2,000 students from 81 counties in the state, 39 states and 12 countries. The private college in Pike County was always a hot topic for the experienced state legislator; Stumbo was the No. 1 backer of last year’s legislation that was shot down after the new year. When the bill was met with so much criticism last year, Patton abandoned his support for the bill in favor for a scholarship alternative Gov. Steve Beshear

see UPIKE, 3A

File Photo

The Murray State Faculty Senate has endorsed President Randy Dunn, above, urging the Board of Regents to act soon on renewing his contract that would expire in 2014. Staff Congress is waiting on results of a survey before making their recommendation to the board.

Faculty Senate endorses Dunn Staff Congress awaits survey completion Chris Wilcox || News Editor cgross2@murraystate.edu

For fear of academic and administrative instability, Murray State’s Faculty Senate drafted and submitted a letter expressing support of President Randy Dunn to the University’s Board of Regents for consideration. The letter was also written to ask the board to take action on the president’s contract – which, without board action to

Samuel T. Hays/The News

Sophomore guard Zay Jackson sits head in hands during a men’s basketball game against Brescia earlier in the season. He has been benched indefinitely after he was indicted for striking two individuals with his car in a Walmart parking lot.

Freshman wide receiver charged with robbery

toward renewal, will end June 30, 2014. Dunn said he believes the Board wants to be sensitive to faculty concerns, but he also understands the role of the board is to balance a number of competing interests – he said that might be part of what is at play in this situation. “I’m not sure about the impact on academic ‘security’ but I think it does raise the level of organizational angst – particularly on the academic side of the enterprise – when the search for a new provost is underway,” he said. “If there’s uncertainty about the president’s ongoing role, it probably adds to that some.” Dunn said when it was not clear what was happening with senior leadership – particularly the chief executive – it could put things on hold throughout an organization. “I recently had one of our mid-level academic administrators at the University share with me (a concern) that budget team members are more tentative and

afraid to move in some bolder ways,” he said. “I’m not sure if there’s going to be the necessary commitment over the longer haul to implement recommendations.” Bonnie Higginson, provost and vice president of Academic AfYoung fairs, agreed with Dunn’s sentiment and said she knew the reason for the Faculty Senate’s decision had to do with a level of uncertainty about leadership. “I believe the resolution will be carefully considered,” she said. “For the stability of the University I wish this could be settled. These last few months have created a level of anxiety that at times is not altogether healthy.”

Staff Report

football team was charged with one count of first-degree robbery and held in the Calloway County Jail overnight before he was bailed out Monday. He was bailed on a 10 percent of a $20,000 cash bond. John Brush, media relations assistant for Murray State football, would not comment until Murray State officials have gathered more details. Murray police officials say the investigation is still ongoing, and information will be unavailable until the case closes.

A Murray State football player was charged with first-degree robbery Sunday night after the Murray Police Department received a report of armed robbery at The Chase Apartments in Murray. Janawski Davis, freshman from Prichard, Ala., was arrested when officers responded to the apartment complex at approximately 11:34 p.m. Davis, who is a wide receiver for the

Jackson withdraws plea

Adderall usage ineffective, not recommended for finals week

Athlete rejects original sentence deal, case likely to go to trial Lexy Gross || Staff writer cgross2@murraystate.edu

Zaveral “Zay” Jackson has withdrawn his guilty plea, erasing two months of decision-making by the Calloway County court system. The men’s basketball guard

originally pled guilty to two charges of wanton endangerment after striking two civilians with his car in the Murray Walmart parking lot in early September. Jackson appeared at a status hearing Nov. 21 to decline or ac-

see JACKSON, 3A

see DUNN, 3A

Edward Marlowe || Staff writer emarlowe@murraystate.edu

Kylie Townsend/The News

Students may be tempted to use the drug Adderall to stay alert during finals week, but health officials say normal studying habits better increase academic performance.

With finals week quickly creeping up on the calendar, some students are looking for the “any methods necessary” approach to buying extra time and focus for end-of-semester projects and last-minute studying. For most students, time management, a healthy sleep schedule

and personal organizations skills seem to do the trick when things get hectic. However, some students choose an entirely different route altogether. Their answer is taking Adderall (or “addies” in casual conversation) … a prescription drug used to combat the negative effects of At-

WHAT’S

FROM WIRE

OUR VIEW

BASKETBALL COVERAGE DEAD WEAK

INSIDE

Up-to-date state and national news in your weekly paper, 6A

Staff urges Board of Regents to act on Dunn’s contract, 4A

Men’s team continues positive 5-1 start with senior leaders, 1B

see ADDERALL, 3A

Final exams loom nearer for students, 6B


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