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The Murray State News TheNews.org
April 26, 2013
Vol. 88, No. 30
Officers warn students of multiple attacks near campus Meghann Anderson News Editor manderson22@murraystate.edu
The Murray Police Department has received two reports from female students being assaulted by an unknown male, who in both incidents grabbed the victims around the throat. It was reported that the first attack occurred April 6, in the parking lot of The Chase at Murray
Apartments. The second attack occurred April 14, in the area of 15th Street and Hughes Avenue. Both incidents occured at approximately 3:30 a.m. The victim in the second attack was able to provide a limited description of the suspect to officers, she said the attacker was a dark-skinned male wearing a hoodie. Roy Dunaway, captain of the Murray State Police Department, said to his
Provost, VP of Academic Affairs named
knowledge there have been two assault incidents involving a male assailant and a female victim. He said either of these assaults occurred on campus and neither victim reported the assaults to the Murray State Police. “While the assaults did not occur on campus, we are deeply concerned with the incidents as they both involve Murray State students,” Dunaway said. “Murray State Police takes the safety of our students seriously
whether on campus or off.” He said all Murray State Police officers have been briefed on the information they have gathered so far and are providing focused patrol during the afternoon shift and the midnight shift. Racer Patrol works from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. and have been advised to be extra vigilant in their foot patrols of campus. Murray State Police has offered tips in an effort to prevent students from
becoming the victim of a crime. Some of Dunaway’s suggestions included walking with a group of people, remaining alert and watchful for suspicious activity. He said if students sense something wrong, they should leave the area immediately. Dunaway said if students see a crime they should observe what the suspect looks like so they can re-
see ATTACKS, 6A
Under Ordway
Ben Manhanke Assistant News Editor bmanhanke@murraystate.edu
Jay Morgan, associate provost of Graduate Education and Research, has been selected as Murray State’s next provost and vice president of Academic Affairs Wednesday. Morgan was one of four semifinalists selected from an initial 84 candidates who made presentations to University faculty, staff and administration in a series of separate two-day interviews and public forums conducted two weeks ago. Morgan said he was very humbled and honored to be selected and was extremely appreciative of the confidence from individuals shown on and off campus. He said as provost his main responsibilities will be to maintain a high-quality curriculum, advocate for Academic Affairs within each fiscal year budget, assure that Murray State has qualified faculty and staff and continue the Unive r s i t y ’s excellent academic reputaMorgan tion. Morgan said he has specific programs and initiaitves in mind for the next academic year at Murray State. “I hope very soon that we can set about a course to establish a recognized plan for significant growth in the academic units, add new and innovative programs, expand our full-time faculty numbers and resources in growth areas and address salary compression,” he said. Wednesday’s announcement is the culmination of almost five months of work by the 17-member search committee chaired by College of Education professor Jack Rose, and which represented many constituencies on Murray State’s campus. Those wishing to apply had from December until March 1 to submit their name for consideration, after which the search committee had the task of narrowing down the list of 84 potentialprovosts to eight. Interviews with the remaining semifinalists were then held via Skype March 8-13, resulting in the
see PROVOST 6A
Plans for demolition begin
Lexy Gross/The News
Final tours of Ordway Hall reveal the extensive basement spanning the building. Facilities Management is aiming to begin the demolition project on the 82-year-old building in June. Meghann Anderson News Editor manderson22@murraystate.edu
Eighteen months ago the vote was passed to raze Ordway Hall, and now the building is in its final days. The decision to demolish Ordway came after the Dec. 9, 2011, meeting of the Murray State Board of Regents and a final vote of 8-1 to raze the building. With two Regents absent, the board still met quorum, and the vote stood. The decision to raze the 82-year-old building became more apparent after a study conducted by the Kentucky Coun-
cil on Postsecondary Education was released and found the building to violate current safety standards such as being a fire hazard and not meeting the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It was the CPE’s recommendation that the building be torn down after the study showed that in five to 10 years, it was likely the building would collapse on its own. The estimated price of demolition is nearly $2 million. The damage to Ordway Hall is large amounts of asbestos, damage from water leaks and an overall weak structure.
These problems have led to Ordway’s demise. The building is approximately 38,600 square feet, which includes an 11,000 square foot basement that has low ceilings and is only suitable for storage. Before demolition could be completed, Students Affairs, as well as a few other offices had to find new places to reside. Former Faculty Regent and Building and Grounds Committee Chairman Jack Rose made the motion to raze Ordway Hall, with the stipulation that it would not be destroyed if a grant or other funding was made available before the board’s June 2012 meeting.
Marilyn Buchanon was the only Regent to vote no. Explaining her answer she said, Ordway Hall did not belong to the board or to the administration. She said it belonged to the citizens of Kentucky and the alumni and students of the University. She said each generation has the responsibility to preserve cultural property so future generations can inherit and appreciate what she said were historic treasures. “These buildings cannot be replaced,”
see DEMOLITION, 6A
Groups donate to keep library open for finals Meghann Anderson News Editor manderson22@murraystate.edu
Since 2010, University Libraries has been providing 24-hour study times for Waterfield library during dead week and the week of finals. After campus-wide budget cuts, that service almost came to a stop this semester. Bonnie Higginson, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, said the office of the provost, the office of Student Affairs and the Student Government Association are all donating $1,000 to help keep Waterfield open 24 hours during the last two weeks of the semester because of the demand from students. “Resources across campus are strained and the budget for the libraries cannot continue to provide
$3,000 each semester to maintain 24-hour service during finals week,” Higginson said. Adam Murray, dean of University Libraries, said each semester library staff conducts floor counts to see is the building is being continuously utilized. Between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., the number of students studying in the library drops by half, with an average of 14 visitors. The cost per semester of providing 24-hour service for the week before exams and the week of exams is approximately $3,000 total. With recent budget cuts, the staff at the University libraries was contemplating switching from being open 24-hours during dead
see HOURS, 6A
Calvina Liebig/The News
HOLI FESTIVAL: Students cover one other in colored powder as part of the Festival of Colors, or Holi Festival, in front of Old Richmond College. The Hindu tradition is focused on eliminating any distinctive status, such as race or sex. Campus Activities Board and the Indian Student Association joined to organize the free event for Murray State students. The diversity-oriented festival had approximately 30 people in attendance. See 5B for the full story.
WHAT’S
CAMPUS VANDALISM
OUR VIEW
INSIDE
Officers report more of vandalism this semester, 2A
Students should be aware of the Football team tests new techbenefits of sustainability, 4A niques for fall, 1B
DEFENSIVE SCHEME
RECORD DAY Local stores celebrate a national holiday, 6B