The Murray State News TheNews.org
April 19, 2013
Vol. 88, No. 29
OAG finds board in violation
45 votes
Lexy Gross || Editor-in-Chief cgross2@murraystate.edu
Photo illustration by Lori Allen/The News
Jeremiah Johnson and Julia Hilkey have been announced as president and vice president of SGA for the 2013-14 academic year.
Johnson wins SGA presidency Meghann Anderson || News Editor manderson22@murraystate.edu
Forty-five votes separated incumbent Student Government Association President Jeremiah Johnson from his competitor, Meggie Goeke, junior from St. Louis. The close-knit race ended with Johnson earning 787 votes, while Goeke earned 742, votes in one of the most participated in student elections. A total of 1,609 students voted earlier this week for their student senate representatives. While the turnout was up from previ-
ous years, only about 16.6 percent of the student body voted. Jeanie Morgan, SGA adviser and coordinator of student activities, said she saw an increase in student interest in this year’s SGA elections. Morgan also said the more student input, the better. “Compared to other universities, our numbers are good,” Morgan said. “About 600 more students voted in this last election than last year’s.” Johnson will represent the student body and serve as the Student Regent on the Board of Regents for a third year.
Dunn finalist for two presidential positions
Winning the election for the third time has put Johnson on an exclusive list of presidents who have held a three-year term. There has only been one other to do so at Murray State. Coming into his third term, Johnson will be dealing with the Board of Regents in violation of the Open Meetings Act, the search for a new University president and the hiring of a provost. Johnson said he thinks students still
see SGA, 2A
Meghann Anderson || News Editor manderson22@murraystate.edu
Earlier this week, President Randy Dunn was announced as a finalist in presidential searches for Youngstown State and Illinois State. The Youngstown Presidential Search Committee presented the finalists to university trustees at a special meeting Tuesday afternoon. Among Dunn, the other finalists were William R. Decatur, executive vice president of the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence and James D. Moran III, vice chancellor for academic and student affairs at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Each candidate will visit campus, meeting various constituencies in the next few weeks. "Youngstown is very similar to Murray State
Attorney General Jack Conway found the Murray State Board of Regents to be in violation of two Open Meetings Act laws in an opinion sent to Lexington, Ky., attorney Jim Deckard Wednesday. Deckard originally filed a complaint against the board for holding a private meeting at Regent Sharon Green's house the night before the March 15 Board of Regents meeting. At that meeting, the board voted not to renew President Randy Dunn's contract. Board Chair Constantine Curris denied Deckard's complaint, which asked the board to revote on Dunn's contract. Deckard then filed a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General. The opinion states that the board violated both KRS 61.810(1) and KRS 61.835. The board violated the first act by holding a meeting of quorum at the home of Green on March 14. By failing to record minutes of that meeting, the board violated the second act listed. The opinion quotes an interview held by WKMS with Curris, where he said there was discussion of the ad-hoc contract committee report. This report was given to the Regents two days prior to the March 15 meeting and discussed Dunn's performance at Murray State. Dunn said he was not surprised by the outcome reached in the opinion. “Under the Kentucky Open Meetings Act, it’s fairly clear what constitutes as an illegal meeting,” Dunn said. The document went on to state that the OAG does not have the power to declare any act in the March 15 meeting void. It also quotes a section of the Open Meetings Act, which says "the formation of public police is public business and shall not be conducted in secret." “A violation was committed regardless of whether the March 15 motion resulted from any ‘collective decision’ by the Regents present on March 14,” the opinion states. The Board of Regents may appeal the OAG opinion in the Calloway County Circuit Court. Deckard said the illegal meeting should invalidate all the board’s actions during the March 15 meeting. Said Deckard: “If Dr. Curris won’t listen to his lawyer, or to Murray State students and faculty and finally do the right thing, then he'll soon have the opportunity to explain his actions to the Calloway Circuit Court.”
in terms of having a regional mission and being closely connected to the community in the area,” Dunn said. “In size and scope, it is very similar to Murray State." Sudershan Garg, trustees chairman, said the three finalists came from an applicant pool of 57 applicants and eight semifinalists, because they stood out as transformational candidates rather than regular candidates. From the eight, the final three were chosen. The Youngstown State Board of Trustees expects to vote on the next president by the June board meeting. Youngstown President Cynthia E. Anderson announced last year that she would retire at the end of her current contract, which expires June 30. The University has approximately 15,200 stu-
dents and is located in Ohio. Dunn was also announced as one of the four finalists in the Illinois State presidential search Wednesday morning. Finalists will visit Illinois State April 22-29 at their student center. Its Board of Trustees plans to have the new president in place prior to the start of the fall semester. Illinois State is a public institution in Normal, Ill., with more than 20,000 students in attendance. “Youngstown and Illinois State are both in my wheelhouse,” Dunn said. “Division 1 schools, state universities and similar programs. It just happens to be that Illinois State is considerably larger.” Illinois State’s current president announced he would retire after serving in the position for 10 years.
All Campus Sing continues, despite poor weather Hunter Harrell || Staff writer hharrell@murraystate.edu
Classrooms seemed vacant Wednesday afternoon as students gathered in the Quad for an event that never disappoints, All Campus Sing. According to Amanda Benson, chair of All Campus Sing, students began congregating in the Quad long before 3 p.m. to get a good seat. Covering the grass with blankets and towels, sitting under the trees for shade and standing on the steps of Pogue Library for a better view, the audience awaited the pre-show. This year’s pre-show was performed by The Muses and The Suspensions, the University’s female and make a ca pella group. In light of recent tragedies, Amazing Grace was sung by a handful of groups before kicking off the show while the audience rose to its feet in remembrance. The song was sung to honor former members of Phi Mu Alpha, Alpha Omicron Pi and Alpha Gamma Delta. Since All Campus Sing began, many students have taken part in the competition. Twenty-two
Photos by Kate Russell/The News
Alpha Sigma Alpha received second place in the sorority division at ACS. groups competed in All Campus Sing this year. Themes picked by the groups ranged from Beach Boys to Rock ‘n’ Roll. Songs from every genre and generation were performed by the competitors. “I was really happy with how smoothly (All Campus Sing) went,” Benson said. “The weather made me a little nervous, but the groups really
helped out and cooperated well.” Around 4:30 p.m. the skies opened up and the rain came down. Students migrated to the nearby buildings and waited for the rain to stop. It did not take long for the sun to shine again. However, setting up the equipment put about a 45 minute
see SING, 2A
WHAT’S
FACULTY REGENT
INSIDE
Renee Fister named new Regent Students should hold board acuntil summer of 2016, 3A countable, 4A
OUR VIEW
Black Student Council took first place overall and best choreography.
NBA DRAFT
NO SHOES
Seniors look forward to professional draft, 1B
Students take off their shoes to recognize those in need, 5B