PAGE 1B
Racers fall to SIUE
PAGE 4A Editorial Board addresses social media etiquette
The Murray State News TheNews.org
February 15, 2013
Vol. 88, No. 21
How would you feel? Photo illustration by Kylie Townsend/The News
When asked about what they think or feel about Twitter accounts that stereotype or degrade classes of people, students responded with their thoughts. Kyle Fitts, senior from Nashville, Tenn., said everyone has the right to free speech, but everyone should think about what they say, especially when anyone pretends to represent the University. On Monday, approximately 15 students met with administrators in Woods Hall to discuss the Twitter accounts and how to handle the situation.
Twitter accounts cause conflict at University Meghann Anderson || News Editor manderson22@murraystate.edu
Several anonymous Twitter accounts have caused a recent stir among students and administrators after some said the posts are racist and humiliating. Accounts such as @MurrayAsian, @MSUblackpeople and @MSUpartygirl are just a few of the Twitter handles anonymously tweeting discriminatory comments and relating them to the University. Some tweets from @MurrayAsian mocked clothing or students’ actions in public places such as the Wellness Center or Winslow Dining Hall. Approximately 15 international students met with administrators in Woods Hall Monday to figure out how to address the issues related to the discrimination.
Students who attended the meeting did not want to be named for fear of retaliation, but several said they wanted an apology from those responsible for the account or accounts. Luis Canales, director of the Institute for International Studies, spoke to the group and said his organization is working hard to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for international students. “Sites like (these) are not making our Asian students feel welcomed or proud to be members of this learning community,” Canales said. “Word of mouth is powerful, and if students do not feel welcomed and share those feelings with other prospective students, it is entirely possible that they will not want to come to Murray.” Bill McKibben, associate director of International Studies,
Everyday I hear racist remarks concerning black, Asian and Arab students. Why is this? Aren’t we all Racers?” –Daneto Matally Sophomore from Owensboro, Ky. said he found the Twitter accounts disturbing. He told the students he hoped they could take their positive experiences and outweigh this negative one. “(Those sites) do not reflect the majority of the people here at Murray State,” McKibben said. “In every country you have some good people and you have some bad people; they’re everywhere.” On Monday afternoon, the University posted a Facebook status stating the University
does not condone any actions that are discriminatory, insensitive or offensive. The message also stated the Twitter handles @MurrayAsian and @MSUblackpeople are not University accounts and do not represent the values and core mission of the school. While some of the accounts have been deleted, such as @MurrayAsian and @msubenchpreacher, several still remain
see TWITTER, 3A
Obama addresses nation Lexy Gross || Assistant News Editor cgross2@murraystate.edu
President Barack Obama spoke to Congress in the first State of the Union address of his second presidential term Tuesday night. With Congress in a continuous deadlock, Obama focused his speech on the necessity to cross bipartisan lines. “The American people don’t expect government to solve every problem,” Obama said. “They don’t expect those of us in this chamber to agree on every issue. But they do expect us to put the nation’s interests before party.” Obama Obama announced several policy changes he wishes to implement during his final term, especially in relation to the economy. No full-time worker should live in poverty, Obama said, proposing a raise in minimum wage. He also discussed new tax reform, which would focus on relieving some burdens on the middle class. Alix Bloodworth, sophomore from Murray, said a new tax code is exactly what the country needs. “A tax code that decreases incentives to move companies overseas and lowers tax rates for companies staying in America will strengthen our economy,” Bloodworth said. Bloodworth also said budget cuts in areas such as health care and education really hit home for her as a student. In regards to postsecondary education, Obama said public universities must do whatever they can to keep education at a reasonable cost for students. He said education builds the future of the U.S. Obama also said the future lies in the hands of our military, as he saluted the American troops. He said 33,000 troops have already returned home and over the next year, another 34,000 troops will leave Afghanistan. Major Paul Denson, officer in charge of the Murray State ROTC, said the guidelines are coming from military leaders, but it is hard to put a timeline on an operation involving so many troops.
see ADDRESS, 3A
Oatman: Basketball facility nearly complete Ben Manhanke || Staff writer bmanhanke@murraystate.edu
After several years of planning and almost a year of construction, the long-awaited adjunct basketball practice facility is almost complete. Kim Oatman, chief facilities officer of Facilties Management, said the majority of the work left on the $4.2 million, 18,000-square-foot addition to the CFSB Center primarily concerns outside site work. “(The facility) will be complete in a matter of weeks, pending weather,” Oatman said. Pinnacle Inc., out of Benton, Ky., was the construction company that built the facility, and Hastings & Chivetta Architects, Inc. of St. Louis, Mo., was the hired architect firm. Oatman said the construction managed to stay on budget but fell slightly behind schedule when the crews encountered massive unanticipated chunks of concrete while they were digging. Construction was a little
behind schedule due to some unforseen issues – issues like buried concrete,” he said. “These pieces of concrete had to be broken up and transported off site.” Original estimates had placed construction complete by late January. O at m a n said the finished product will look much like it does now e x c e p t with better Oatman lawn and landscaping and will be equipped with a regulation court, offices, conference rooms and support spaces for the men’s and women’s basketball programs. Allen Ward, director of athletics, said the completion of the new practice facility will alleviate issues with the basketball teams not having un-
Ad-hoc committee sets parameters for review of president’s performance
see FACILITY, 3A
see COMMITTEE, 3A
Austin Ramsey/The News
Ad-hoc committee members, Board of Regent’s Chair Constantine Curris, middle, Vice Chair Marilyn Buchanon and Stephen Williams , chair of the board’s finance committee, met in Louisville, Ky., to discuss the criteria the full board will apply while re-evaluating President Randy Dunn’s employment contract.
Austin Ramsey ||Editor-in-Chief aramsey5@murraystate.edu
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Board members outlined plans Wednesday to move forward with an evaluation document that the Board of Regents will use to make a final decision on President Randy Dunn’s employment contract. In a special meeting of the board’s adhoc contract review committee in Louisville, committee members agreed on four strategic areas of importance in determining Dunn’s performance at the Uni-
versity: University progress, public resolutions of support or criticism, relationships between the board and the president and the board’s final contract. Board Chair Constantine Curris, Vice Chair Marilyn Buchanon and Stephen Williams, chair of the board’s finance committee, are the three members of the adhoc committee, and were present Wednesday to discuss the four inititative goals. Curris recommended that the committee collect specific data under each provision of the final report to the board.
Buchanon was assigned to compare University rankings from such national, factbased publications as U.S. News & World Report, Forbes and Kiplingers Personal Finance. She will take statistics from when Dunn was hired at the University in 2007 and compare how Murray State fared in the same publications more recently. Williams will look into audit and compliance issues and the financial status of the University over the course of Dunn’s five years. He said it was important that
WHAT’S
BLACK HISTORY
CAMPUS VOICE
SEASONS START
ROOMMATE RULES
INSIDE
Students celebrate month honoring heritage, 6A
VP and Director address intolerance on campus, 4A
Baseball and softball begin season today, 2B
Students share code of conduct for sharing close quarters, 8B