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The Murray State News TheNews.org
Sept. 13, 2013
Vol. 88, No. 5
Board plans open search Meghann Anderson || News Editor
chair Stephen Williams, Harry Lee Waterfield acted as chair pro-tem at the meeting and gave a report on the committee’s progress. Waterfield said Witt/Kieffer consultants had suggested higher-tier candidates would be more likely to apply if they were assured confidentiality – meaning a closed search. The board’s plan is to bring two to four candidates to campus to meet with faculty, staff and student constituencies; at that time, the names of the candidates
manderson22@murraystate.edu
Last week the Board of Regents decided to open the search for Murray State’s next president to the public in the final stages after the search committee previously debated having a private search.
SEARCH COMMITTEE In the absence of search committee
would be released. Waterfield said the board would try to make a quick decision after the campus visits, and though he hoped for a fast decision, he still thinks the best candidates would apply for the job. Board Chairman Constantine Curris suggested March 11-14, 2014, as possible dates for candidate interviews. The board decided it will attempt to have a
Lori Allen/The News
Student Regent Jeremiah Johnson presents various events and student activites on campus to the board.
see PLANS, 2A
Officers watch campus, give escorts New LGBT program mentors students
Racer Patrol provides service to Murray State students
Kate Russell || Staff writer krussell13@murraystate.edu
Rebecca Walter || Staff writer rwalter@murraystate.edu
Sporting bright yellow T-shirts while patrolling campus, Racer Patrol stand out from the rest of the student body. According to David DeVoss, chief of Murray State police and director of Public Safety and Emergency Management, said Racer Patrol officers on campus serve an enormous benefit to the University, which sometimes can go unnoticed by students. “It is impossible to measure the value of having Racer Patrol at Murray State,” DeVoss said. “Their presence on campus ensures the safety of all who work and live here, whether their services are always taken advantage of or not.” Racer Patrol, which consists of 16 students, does a variety of security and safety measures throughout the campus 365 days a year. Some of these tasks include patrolling campus, conducting surveillance, reporting and preventing crime and helping students who are in need of assistance with services such as escorts across campus. So far this year, Racer Patrol has provided six escorts to students, a decrease from the beginning of the Fall 2012 semester, which had 49 requests from students for escorts by the end of the semester. DeVoss said he attributes these low numbers to students feeling safer on campus with the presence of Racer Patrol. “I think students feel a sense of se-
Kate Russell/The News
Aaron Burkeen, a sophomore from Murray, checks one of the many call boxes on campus. curity and safety when they see Racer Patrol located throughout campus,” DeVoss said. “But they still need to be aware of their surroundingsat all times and contact Racer Patrol if they ever need to.” Escorts can be requested by any student, faculty or staff member by
calling 809-2222 or by using any of the call boxes located throughout the main campus. Laura Boden, junior from Louisville, Ky., said she takes comfort in knowing Racer Patrol is there if she
see PATROL, 2A
Last year Murray State adopted its new slogan, “Take Your Place.” This year that slogan is being put into practice by 11 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, and Alliance students as they become involved in the new Out Racers: Take Your Place program. D. Andrew Porter, junior from Scottsville, Ky., is the student coordinator for Out Racers. He describes the new organization as a mentoring program, in which LGBT students learn the tools and skills necessary to make major changes within their campus and surrounding communities. “Out Racers is a grassroots leadership development program specific to LGBT and Alliance,” Porter said. “We want to cater the program to individuals that want the opportunity to attack important LGBT community issues.” Porter went on to describe the three primary components of the Out Racers program. The first part focuses on the leadership development, as the 11 cohort members will work on their own particular style of leadership, as well as motivational self-awareness. “It’s all about self, and recognition of self. You have to understand yourself, at least to a certain degree, before you can really get out there in your community and make a statement,” Porter said. The second part of the program is providing the students
with the tools to be strong advocates for the LGBT community, whether that is funding for programs, mentoring or bringing speakers to Murray State to hold workshops for Out Racers participants. The final step in the program is the community-based project. Each of the 11 students will be given a budget to implement an education and advocacy program within their surrounding community.
You have to understand yourself, at least to a certain degree,before you can really get out there in your community and make a statement. - D. Andrew Porter
Some of the proposed projects include developing regional campus alliance groups, bullying initiatives and working with LGBT people of all ethnicities. Nine of the 11 students participating in the cohort attend Murray State. One student, sophomore Darren Scott, attends Hopkinsville Community College, and Madisonville Community College is represented by sophomore CeNedra Rodriguez.
see RACERS, 2A
University in top national rankings Staff Report
Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press
9/11 ANNIVERSARY: President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel hold their hands over their hearts during the National Anthem, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, at the Pentagon during a ceremony to mark the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Murray State has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges as one of the top schools in the country for 23 years in a row. The recently released 2014 rankings listed Murray State in eighth place among the top public regional universities in the South. The University has been a top-ranked public regional university in Kentucky in the Regional Universities-South category, which contains both
private and public schools, several times over the last few years. It is also the only public university in the state to make the top 25 for 2014. Murray State’s overall scoring shows it to be ranked 14th among public regional universities in America. Tim Miller, interim president, said well-respected rankings from U.S. News & World Report highlight the excellence and value of an education at Murray State. “The fact that Murray State
has been recognized by U.S. News as one of its ‘Best Colleges’ for 23 consecutive years is an affirmation of the continued quality the University offers its students,” Miller said. “National rankings such as these, year after year, clearly demonstrate the commitment at this University to providing an education that brings a topnotch return on investment to graduates. “At Murray State, we are proud of the outstanding faculty, staff and students who make these great rankings possible.”
WHAT’S
OUR VIEW
URSA FUNDS
INSIDE
University parking options aren’t necessary, 4A
Research assistance group finds First Murray native is new Racer National week kicks off campus action from different groups, 5B funding, 7A One jocky, 1B
RACER ONE
SUICIDE PREVENTION