The Murray State News

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Students, professors share study tips for finals week

The Murray State News TheNews.org

May 3, 2013

Vol. 88, No. 31

Officers report gun threat Staff Report Public Safety released a warning to all Murray State students through email at nearly 2 a.m. Wednesday: “On April 30, 2013 at approximately 10 p.m., four unknown black males approached a student in front of Regents College. One of the suspects pointed a pistol at a student before fleeing the area. The suspects did not make any demands and no shots were fired. No one was injured.” The incident was not reported to the Murray State Police Department for approximately one and half hours after the incident occurred. One of the suspects was described as wearing a red ball cap, a red jacket and sunglasses. No further descriptions of the suspects have been given at this time. Suspects were last seen running south through the Regents Residential College parking lot toward Cutchin Field. Police say no demands were made and no shots were fired. Mary Kate Pummer, junior from Mayfield, Ky., said she is not satisfied and is concerned with the response of Public Safety Tuesday night. She said she was in the library when the incident occurred and was told by friends in the dorms that they were told to stay inside. She said no one at the library made mention of what was happening and most students were unaware. “Ultimately I do not feel very safe on this campus anymore,” Pummer said. “I know Public Safety did not want to cause panic, but I have a right as a student to be informed of what happens on campus, especially when it concerns my safety.” No further information has been released by Public Safety.

File Photo

Constantine Curris speaks to the press in 1982 on his position at Murray State.

File Photo

President Randy Dunn speaks at a University function in the Curris Center.

A president’s past } “The viciousness with which some people dealt with the situation was appalling.” Constantine Curris, from The News 1982

Lexy Gross || Editor-in-Chief cgross2@murraystate.edu

He could not say he was shocked when only four members of the Board of Regents voted to renew his contract as president. He survived conflict, questions of legal proceedings and bad press. He endured a time on campus of tension and turmoil. Constantine Curris could not say he was not prepared to leave Murray State and step down as president in 1982. “I understand that it was politics,” Curris told The News in ’82. “It had nothing to do with my performance as president.” Curris left Murray State after an

attempt by the board to fire him in an executive session away from the eyes of the public. The Regents, along with several local lawyers, gathered more than 20 charges against the president to oust him. After 18 months of court cases, agreements and executive sessions, the board allowed Curris to serve out his time at Murray State. At a meeting before the June 30, 1982, deadline, the board chose not to renew Curris’ contract with a 5-4-1 vote. Soon after, Gov. John Brown Jr. asked the state-appointed Regents to resign, and installed a new board and chair. Despite the arrival of new Re-

gents, Curris released a statement to the governor saying he would not ask the board for a contract extension. He informed the press that he would begin searching for a new position elsewhere. Curris told The News in October of 1982 that conflict between the board and president arose because the Regents were politically focused in their decisions. “I have defended myself and I have responded to things done by the board, but I have never tried to go out and do to the board what they did to me,” Curris said. “The viciousness with which some people dealt with the situation was appalling.” Curris went on to serve as pres-

ident at the University of Northern Iowa and Clemson University, and president of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. In 2009, Gov. Steve Beshear appointed Curris to stand as chair of the Murray State Board of Regents.

ANOTHER NONRENEWAL Three years following his appointment, Curris was considering the performance of President Randy Dunn, and deciding with the board whether or not to renew his contract. The board created an ad hoc committee to discuss the contract and provide a report to

see PRESIDENT, 2A

Ben Manhanke Assistant News Editor bmanhanke@murraystate.edu

In their meeting on April 18, the Council on Postsecondary Education approved a three-percent cap on tuition increases for in-state undergraduate students in Kentucky’s public colleges and universities. Council President Bob King said given the challenging economic environment students face, the council felt it was appropriate that tuition increases be as minimal as possible for the 2013-14 academic year. This cap represents the smallest average increase for Kentucky pubic institutions in 15 years. However, while the low ceiling created by the CPE offers students a reprieve from higher annual tuition increases, it has created an estimated budget shortfall of approximately $30 million in school-generated funds. King said tuition and fee revenue

will cover only about half of the estimated $61.4 million increase in fixed costs. To fix this shortfall King said he hopes Kentucky’s elected officials will reinvest in higher education. "Our campuses are doing their part to constrain costs without sacrificing academic quality," he said. "It is clear that if Kentucky wants a healthy and vibrant economy, it can only do so with a welleducated workforce.” Western Kentucky President Gary Ransdell and Morehead State President Wayne Andrews spoke out against the low tuition cap at the council’s meeting. Ransdell said the budget shortfall will force WKU to make further budget cuts of $1.4 million. He said

Evan Watson/The News

WKU already balanced their budget, assuming the cap would be placed at five perc e n t again as was it

price of in-state tuition at Murray State

CPE approves tuition cap

years the CPE has set a tuition cap

Lori Allen/The News

NEW FIELD: The softball field, under construction since November of 2012, is finished and ready for the team. The new location is convenient for players since it is near the other athletic facilities on campus. Allen Ward, director of athletics, said the visibility of the field will be vital for the softball program.

WHAT’S

OUR VIEW

OUTSTANDING SENIORS

INSIDE

Public Safety disappoints students with untimely alerts, 4A

Outstanding senior man, woman Students prepare for life withnamed, 6A out college sports, 1B

SENIOR PROFILES

CALVERT THEATER One of the last Kentucky drivein theaters , 5B


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