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The Murray State News TheNews.org

Dec. 6, 2013

Vol. 88, No. 16

GETTING TESTED Rebecca Walter || Staff writer

tested.

Since last semester, Health Services has provided students with free and confidential HIV testing.

Judy Lyle, interim associate director of Health Services, said students can be unaware of their risk of becoming infected with HIV. “Anyone can become infected with HIV and many can be unaware they carry the virus,” Lyle said.

Sixty percent of all young people with HIV are unaware they are infected, according to the CDC. Due to this fact, many are not getting treated and can unknowingly pass the virus along to others.

Lyle said students seeking HIV testing at Health Services have to call and set up an appointment.

rwalter@murraystate.edu

Human Immunodeficiency Virus does not discriminate against anyone – and college students are no exception.

Since World AIDS Day on Sunday, Murray State has worked to increase awareness of testing for the prevalent infection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 50,000 people are infected with HIV each year.

One in four of all new HIV infections occur among people ages 13 to 24, putting college-aged students in the middle of the risk. One way to prevent the spread of HIV is to get

The HIV screening is an oral test, and the results can be known within 20 minutes of completing the test, making the average visit time for the screening only 30 minutes, Lyle said.

Blood tests can also be done if a student chooses to do so, but the results could take up to seven to 10 days and would have to be sent to a state lab.

Last semester, 40 HIV tests were completed at Health Services. This semester, 12 tests have been completed since mid October.

Lyle said she expects to see an increase in the amount of testing next semester, due to increased promotion of services and increased funds.

see TESTED, 2A

Health

1 in 4 new HIV infections occur among people ages 13-24

World AIDS Day raises national, local awareness

Mary Bradley || Staff writer mbradley9@murraystate.edu

World AIDS Day was recognized Sunday and was a day of remembrance to those who lost a battle to the disease and awareness of prevention.

With an estimated 35 million people worldwide living with HIV/AIDS and 1.1 million people in the United States, World AIDS Day is a reminder that the global fight against the disease continues.

People across the U.S. could participate in the day with social media through Facing AIDS, a photo sharing initiative to reduce stigma and promote testing of HIV. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and AIDS.gov, Facing AIDS has been hosted since 2008 and the strategy of the program is to help Amer-

icans learn about what they can do to help those affected by the disease and what to do if they have it.

According to facing.aids.gov, “The stigma associated with HIV remains extremely high and fear of discrimination causes some Americans to avoid learning their HIV status, disclosing their status or accessing medical care.”

This year’s World AIDS Day marked the 25th annual observance of the day and allowed for many to reflect on the changes that have been made since the establishment of the day.

U.S. Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released a statement about World AIDS Day and the progress the world has made on fighting the disease.

“When the World Health Organization established the first World AIDS Day on Dec.

FIGHTING A STIGMA Organizations work together, recognize international issue Kate Russell || Photography Editor krussell13@murraystate.edu

Cold hands cupped flickering candles as students, faculty and community members walked from Lovett Auditorium to the Curris Center to raise awareness about the ongoing struggle against HIV and AIDS. The AIDS walk, one of several Red Week events sponsored by Murray State’s LGBT Programming as well as the gender and diversity studies department, was attended by less than 50 people. The event began at Lovett Monday night at 6:15 p.m. LGBT Program Coordinator Jody Cofer Randall, sporting a red coat and a red AIDS awareness ribbon, addressed the crowd before the walk began. He spoke about the dream of an AIDSfree generation, and what those before him could do to work toward that dream.

“While the science community continues to explore better medications for those living with HIV and attempts to find the cure that we all know is within reach, the rest of us, well, we can work to end the stigma and discrimination targeted towards those living with this disease,” Cofer Randall said.

As Cofer Randall spoke, candles were distributed throughout the crowd, and when he finished, the candles were lit, to be held as people walked across campus.

Last week, Facilities Management covered the lights along the main strip of campus with red gel paper.

Those red lights illuminated the quiet marchers with an eerie glow as they passed underneath them on the way to the Curris Center.

One student who participated in the walk was Blake Johnson, sopho-

Photo illustration

by Lexy Gross/The News

4

1, 1988, treatment options for people living with HIV were practically nonexistent, and AIDS was almost invariably fatal,” Sebelius said. “Hope was in short supply, and there seemed to be little reason for optimism. I am grateful that the world is a very different place for the 25th annual World AIDS Day.” Testing and counseling centers are now located all over the United States, including locally in Murray.

The Calloway County Health Department offers free, confidential and anonymous oral and blood HIV testing and counseling to students and community members in the area.

The health department also tests for gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes and syphilis.

Women who get pap smears can also be tested for HPV. The services, which are all

see AWARENESS, 2A

common myths about HIV

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, believing myths related to the spread of HIV helps propagate the already extensive virus.

1.

Ana Bundy/The News

Marisca Martin-Mozeleski, senior from Seattle, Wash., and D. Andrew Porter, senior from Scottsville, Ky., light their candles before the AIDS walk. more from Benton, Ky. A criminal justice major with emphasis on narcotics, Johnson said he thinks AIDS awareness is something that needs attention, especially with heightened drug use in the western Kentucky region.

“It is a plague, like they said, but it’s something our generation tries to kick under the table,” he said.

Johnson said he participated in the event because he wanted to be a part of something important, and that he

believes the campus should be more aware of this issue.

Murray State Alliance had good member turnout at the AIDS Walk, one member in attendance being Morgan Randall, a senior from Murray. Randall, involved with Alliance since 2008, said she has been participating in this walk every year it has been held since 2009.

Randall said she believes the walk

see WALK, 2A

2.

HIV/AIDS can only be contracted if I am a homosexual or use IV drugs.

“Heterosexual couples can get (HIV/AIDS) just like homosexuals can, just like IV drug users can,” said Judy Lyle, interim associate director of Health Services.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 32 percent of the more than 1.1 million people in the U.S. infected by HIV are heterosexual.

She said the level of risk for HIV varies from person to person based on what sexual activities they engage in and the level of risk of that activity.

HIV/AIDS can be transmitted through saliva, casual contact or by being in the vicinity of someone infected.

“You hear all sorts of things about how HIV is transmitted: through tears, mosquito bites, hugging, touching or kissing,” Lyle said. “But primarily HIV is transmitted through blood and semen.”

As listed on aids.gov website, the five ways through which a person can contract HIV are sexual contact, either vaginal, anal or oral sex, during pregnancy, childbirth or by breastfeeding, as a result of injection drug use, as a result of occupational exposure or, rarely, as the result of a blood transfusion or organ transplant.

see MYTHS, 2A

WHAT’S

CAMPUS CAFE

OUR VIEW

TOP TEN

GAMING SYSTEMS

INSIDE

New cafe, Gigabites, opens on 15th Street, 3A

Students should take responsibility and get tested, 4A

The News picks the top ten moments in sports this year, 1B

Students weigh the benefits of new generation consoles, 7B

The News

News

2A

TESTED From Page 1 Health Services received $5,000 for HIV testing last month from The Monday Campaigns, an organization whose goal is to help schools commit to healthy behaviors to help end chronic and preventable diseases.

The President’s Commission on Diversity also donated $1,000 for testing and Health Services has provided an additional $500.

Lyle said these funds will go toward purchasing more oral tests and additional promotion for testing to spread awareness to students.

Shelby Hall, junior nursing major from Louisville, Ky., said she can see the importance of HIV testing for students.

“I feel that if students have any questions about getting tested they definitely need to,” Hall said. “It is important for students to be aware of their situation, especially if they are sexually active.”

Lyle said HIV can often go undetected due to lack of

symptoms, so it is important for students to take action. She said those who are infected with HIV are more likely to become infected with other sexually transmitted diseases.

She said even if students have only been with one sexual partner or are no longer sexually active, it is still important to be tested.

According to the CDC and Prevention, young people who report being at risk for HIV are more likely to get tested, but many at risk have still not been tested.

All young people at risk, whether it be from sexual activity or injecting drugs, need to be tested to prevent and save lives, according to CDC. There are two certified counselors on campus, making Health Services a certified site to conduct HIV testing.

Lyle said the spread of HIV can be prevented by communication, using protection such as condoms and reducing the number of sexual partners.

Said Lyle: “Students are encouraged to get tested because it is free, convenient, confidential and most importantly important to a (student’s) health.”

December 6, 2013

4.

MYTHS From Page 1

3.

You can tell if someone has HIV/AIDS. Lyle said people are quick to stereotype those who are in risk of infection of HIV, like homosexuals, but in a line-up of 100 people, you would not be able to say who has HIV and who does not.

She said there may not be any initial symptoms of HIV, and that an infected person can go years, even decades, before their HIV converts into AIDS. In a 2009 study by the CDC, it was estimated that one in six of HIV-infected individuals in the U.S. are unaware of being infected.

WALK From Page 1 is important in teaching people that this issue has not gone away. She said she thinks Murray State is doing a good job with HIV/AIDS awareness, but there is always room for improvement.

“I think (the AIDS walk) is a small step to open some doors to people, and then those people will open more doors to those around them, and start the conversation,” Randall said.

The AIDS walk concluded outside the

AWARENESS From Page 1 confidential, may come with a service charge but will not be refused due to a patient’s inability to pay.

Linda Cavitt, the public health director for the health department, said there is confidential counseling available to those who test positive for HIV/AIDS and the best way to be sure to avoid con-

Contracting HIV/AIDS is a death sentence.

While there is still no cure for HIV or AIDS, there have been many advances in antiretroviral treatment, which while not curing HIV, can prolong the amount of time it takes the virus to convert into AIDs. “It used to be that having AIDS was a death sentence because people would progress very rapidly from HIV into the disease state,” Lyle said. “This is not so much true anymore.”

A 2010 HIV surveillance report conducted by the CDC found that in that year alone 15,529 people with AIDs died adding to the approximately 636,000 people who have died from AIDs in the U.S. since 1981.

Curris Center with a moment of silence.

As the candles were all blown out, people began heading to the Curris Center theater for the second part of the night’s activities, a showing of the documentary film, “How to Survive a Plague.”

The film was the story of a few crucial members of the HIV/AIDS activist group ACT UP and the work they did in the 1980s and ‘90s to make medication more readily available to those living with HIV or AIDS. Joshua Adair, assistant professor in the department of english and philosophy and coordinator of the gender and diversity studies department, played a big role in making the movie showing happen.

tracting diseases is to abstain from sex.

“The only sure way is to be abstinent,” Cavitt said. “But if you’re not going to be abstinent, know your partner and use condoms.”

Cavitt said the health department keeps condoms available to those who may need them, and are kept in brown bags for confidentiality. Names and other information are not required to receive the condoms and are there to help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.

Murray State’s Health Services also offers testing for sexually transmitted diseases to students.

Adair said he believed the event was a good start for AIDS awareness on campus, but he hopes to expand Red Week next year to get more students involved.

“So many young people don’t realize this is still an issue, so I think it’s really important that we raise awareness,” he said.

Adair said he was surprised to learn how many cases of HIV/AIDS there are in Kentucky, and he said studies have shown the southern region of the United States has the highest growth rate of the disease in the country.

“When I was talking about this event to one of my classes, one of my students said, ‘We haven’t cured that yet?’ That’s a perfect reason to have this,” he said.

While the day continues to bring national awareness to AIDS, senior D. Andrew Porter from Scottsdale, Ky., said he believes there can be more done to bring awareness to HIV/AIDS, especially through teaching others about the disease itself.

“I think it’s important for us to talk about HIV/AIDS,” Porter said. “People are so misinformed about the realities of the virus and education is the only way we will ever end the negative stigmas associated with HIV/AIDS and make a world without the spread of disease a possibility.”

Graphic by Evan Watson

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The News

News

December 6, 2013 News Editor: Meghann Anderson Assistant Editor: Ben Manhanke Phone: 809-4468 Twitter: MurrayStateNews

New coffee shop, deli opens

Police Beat

Alex McLaughlin Staff writer cmclaughlin@murraystate.edu

Nov. 28

Dec. 2

5:56 p.m. A caller reported a suspicious person walking around campus. Officers were notified and a report was taken.

9: 4 5 p. m. An officer conducted a traffic stop on Gilbert Graves Drive. Two citations were issued for possession of marijuana and a report was taken.

12:04 a.m. A caller reported the possible use of marijuana in Regents Residential College. Officers were notified and a report was taken.

7: 58 p.m. A caller reported that students were writing on vehicles with window chalk. Officers were notified and a report was taken.

Nov. 29 9: 3 4 a. m . A caller reported being stuck on an elevator in Faculty Hall.

Officers and Facilities Management were notified. An information report was taken.

9: 4 8 p.m . A caller reported a suspicious car parked in the Curris Center parking lot. Officers were notified, but the car was gone on arrival. A report was taken

Nov. 30 11:52 p.m. Central Plant reported a fire alarm activation in the New Fine Arts Building. Officers the Murray Fire Department and the state fire marshall were notified.

11:10 p.m. Officers were notified by the Murray Police Department to be on the lookout for armed robbery suspects. An information report was taken.

Dec. 1 6: 2 6 p.m . A caller from Elizabeth Residential College requested an EMS transport. Officers and EMS were notified. A report was taken.

9:54 p.m. A caller reported a suspicious person near Roy Stewart Stadium. Officers were notified and a report was taken.

3A

Dec. 3 12:30 a.m. A caller from Hart Residential College reported a student injury. Officers were notified.

10:04 p.m. A caller reported the smell of marijuana in Hart Residential College. Officers were notified and a report was taken.

Dec. 4 4:30 p.m. A caller reported a hit and run on North 16th Street. Officers were notified and a report was taken.

7:42 p.m. A caller from Regents Residential College reported a medical emergency.

Officers and the Murray Ambulance Services were notified. A report was taken.

Gigabites Deli and Cafe has opened on 15th Street next to Gear Up Cycles Bike Shop.

The Pilgrim family, the owner of Gigabites, was inspired to provide a place for Murray residents with a different atmosphere that attracts those who are looking for the middle ground between the library scene and the bar scene.

Gigabites’ inaugural opening has been a long time in the making.

The process of reaching opening day required more than a year of work from the Pilgrim family. The building required a complete makeover. Renovations included walls, floors and getting the city and state governments involved to turn the Pilgrim section of the building into a fully functional deli and cafe.

Murray State alumna Kara McCoil, who was a graphic design student, provided much of the artwork that Gigabites uses. The Gigabites logo, as well as the art designs for various elements of the cafe, created by McCoil.

Andrew Pilgrim, Murray State alumnus and owner of

Gigabites, said one of his focuses is to establish a strong relationship with the University and its students.

“I like catering to the college students,” Pilgrim said. “I want the place to be easily accessible for people to come in, bring their laptops and plug in and use the high-speed Wi-Fi.” Pilgrim wanted to bring an alternative to the traditional choices of off-campus eateries for students.

“I want the place to be comfortable,” he said. “I wanted to provide a space where people could relax, drink some coffee and study for a while. I’ve even had some faculty come in and ask about bringing their classes here.”

Pilgrim said beside the University, he also wants to involve the community with his business as much as possible.

“I’ve always wanted to focus on using local produce such as the stuff that comes out of the Farmers Market,” Pilgrim said.

“As soon as Tree of Life gets up and running, a business that gets local farmers connected to small businesses like me, I plan to use much more organic produce.”

Tree of Life is a business that meets with farmers and ensures that the produce is organic and the relationships between local businesses and

Ana Bundy/The News

Gigabites Deli and Cafe is open on 15th Street next to Gear Up Cycles Bike Shop. local farmers remain strong.

“I really want to see Murray grow,” Pilgrim said. “I like to be on the cutting edge of green technology. I like to help innovative people.”

Pilgrim said Gigabites offers something unique to Murray. “(Gigabites is) one of the only places that offers the custom deli experience,” he said.

“I give people an alternative to the loud bar or quiet library.”

The Pilgrim family plans to give the Murray community

more opportunities to become involved with its business. Gigabites cafe and Deli already works with Kirchoff Deli to provide the breads for their sandwiches as well as some baked goods.

Pilgrim said in the future Gigabites will have live music.

He said he also wants to get involved with the Murray Art Guild and display local students’ artwork on the walls.

Said Pilgrim: “I just want to support local talent in Murray.”

HOW IS HIV TRANSMITTED?

Call of Fame Nov. 29 - 5 p.m. A caller reported a dumpster on fire in the 1100 block of College Courts. Officers and the Murray Fire Department were notified. A report was taken.

Motorists assists – 0 Racer escorts – 4 Arrests – 0

Ben Manhanke, Assistant News Editor, compiles Police Beat with materials provided by Public Safety.

Not all dispatched calls are listed.

Murray State insurance plans differ for same-sex couples

Graphic courtesy of aids.gov

HIV AWARENESS: Human Immunodeficiency Virus has become a widespread epidemic to which there is no known cure. HIV can be transmitted by sexual contact, pregnancy and childbirth, injection drug use, occupational exposure and blood transfusion and organ transplant. Eventually, if untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS.

Ben Manhanke || Staff writer bmanhanke@murraystate.edu

For years, Murray State has provided health insurance for its employees and their spouses or significant others, but only recently has this offer been extended to employees currently in same-sex relationships. The insurance offered to those in samesex relationships, however, is at an unsubsidized cost.

Depending on which of three levels of insurance coverage an employee of Murray State might wish to purchase for their partner, heterosexual couples could pay $19.30, $120 or $255.80 a month. If the partner in question is the same sex, or they are not married, insurance falls under the Extended Family plan and can cost $368.29, $419.60 or $478.02.

Jody Cofer Randall, LGBT program coordinator, said the discrepancy in insurance cost at the University is almost a form of discrimination.

“It’s like they’re dangling it out there,” Cofer Randall said. “‘Yes, you can buy it, but we know you don’t make enough to pay for it, so it doesn’t matter.’ No one buys it because they can’t afford it, and so if we really want to talk about fairness, is that really fair?”

Cofer Randall said one of the reasons for leaving the insurance unsubsidized for same-sex couples at Murray State is because of Kentucky’s Constitutional Amendment 1 which makes it unconstitutional to recognize same-sex marriages or “a legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals.”

Therefore, funds Murray State re-

ceives from the state cannot be used to help lower the cost of insurance for same-sex relationships.

Cofer Randall said at the University of Louisville, they have found a way to provide subsidized insurance for University employees in same-sex relationships by tapping into foundation money. “(Universities) can do anything they want with their foundation money, what donors give us, because it is not state money,” he said. “So if a gay employee buys health insurance at the University of Louisville, they tap into their foundation account to make it equivalent to what a straight couple would pay.”

Maeve McCarthy, chair of the Insurance and Benefits Committee, said the issue of allowing same-sex couples to purchase insurance at a cheaper, subsidized

cost has never been raised with the committee.

The Insurance and Benefits Committee is made up of 16 faculty and staff members and is in charge of bringing forward recommendations from members of Staff Congress and Faculty Senate to the president, not implementing policies for the University.

She said the total cost of insurance for employees who get their insurance through the University is $11 million.

McCarthy said the committee typically brings forward recommendations regarding the University’s medical plan in the spring semester, but the University will not set its premiums until after the summer, during which time the recommendation will be analyzed by Murray State’s consulting company.

Murray State, FFA Association host state horse competition Alex Mahrenholz || Staff writer amahrenholz@murraystate.edu

The Kentucky FFA Association provides numerous opportunities for students to succeed, whether those students are in high school or college.

The William “Bill” Cherry Expo Center and College Farm Complex hosted this year’s State Horse Judging Career Development Event (CDE), Veterinary Science CDE and State Horsemanship Contest with the Kentucky FFA Association.

More than 350 high school FFA students visited Murray State’s campus to compete in the variety of contests organized by the University and the Kentucky FFA Association Nov. 20.

The contests provided high school students with chances to compete against other FFA members across the state of Kentucky.

The Horse Judging CDE consists of several events that allowed FFA members to evaluate a variety of horses based on their physical appearance and structure. There are also events in which Murray State students rode the horses and FFA members evaluated the horses’ performance in each event such as Western Pleasure or Trail Class.

Matt Papineau, junior from Marion, Ky., served as a judge at the event for

students giving oral reasons in the Horse Evaluation CDE. Papineau was responsible for deciphering FFA members’ ability to convince him of the reasons as to why they placed their class of horses in the rank they chose.

“FFA members gain a lot of communication experience and impromptu speaking abilities by presenting oral reasons to a judge,” Papineau said.

Papineau said by hosting the FFA members here at Murray State, they have the chance to not only participate in a state contest, but they also get to see the University and the facilities that we have here.

According to the mission statement of the Kentucky FFA Association, their purpose is to make a positive difference in the lives of high school and college students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

“Last night, the Collegiate FFA provided a cookout meal to FFA members traveling to Murray State from across the state of Kentucky,” Papineau said.

“They got to meet some Murray State students who have the same interests as them as well as mingle and learn what college life is really about.”

The Hutson School of Agriculture had

student organizations help organize the state-wide CDE. Alyx Shultz, state horse evaluation contest coordinator, said more than 100 Murray State students volunteered their time to help at the expo center during the CDE. Shultz said the best undergraduate population at Murray State are found in the Hutson School of Agriculture.

“To have our undergraduates out there interacting with high school students showing them that college is more than just classroom learning is a huge benefit to both levels of students,” Schultz said.

Shultz said the program is an extreme benefit to agricultural education students because in just a few short years, those students could be bringing FFA chapters of their own, as advisers, to this contest.

“What better way to prepare future teachers for bringing their students to this event than by having them organize it?” Shultz said.

She said the winner from this CDE will go on to compete in the national level competition in fall of 2014.

Said Shultz: “Each year, this CDE just gets a little bigger and a little better, and we’re just looking forward to seeing what next year’s event brings to our campus.”

Alex Mahrenholz/The News

Jessica Stewart, sophomore from Cerulean, Ky., showscases her horse handling skills.

4A

December 6, 2013

The News

Opinion

Opinion Editor: Carly Besser Phone: 809-5873 Twitter: MSUNewsOpinion

Our View

Students, partners should take HIV/AIDS testing seriously The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board.

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Our society has grown significantly more aware of the grasp HIV/AIDS can have on victims and their loved ones, but there is still more we can do for ourselves.

With the epidemic’s initial media outburst in the 1980s after a study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was the common misconception that only homosexuals and drug addicts could carry such a debilitating disease.

As decades passed, we learned that HIV/AIDS reached far beyond those demographics, taking the lives of both children and adults.

In 2007, there were more than 565,000 AIDS-related deaths, and that didn’t count people who were infected and still alive.

The nation followed suit, making HIV/AIDS testing easily accessible in places like clinics, schools, jails and prisons.

World AIDS Day is one of many events to create awareness

and educate people on how to prevent and cope with the disease, and began as a response to growing rates of infection.

We understand that the threat of HIV/AIDS as a disease is just as much a reality for a college student on Murray State’s campus as it is for anyone else. Currently, the southern region of the U.S. has the highest growth rate of HIV/AIDS in the country.

Murray State organizations such as the LGBT program and the gender diversity studies departments have offered their own philanthropies to raise community awareness.

Besides raising money, it is also imperative that we take the initiative to get ourselves tested. Not only for a lifted conscience but for the sake of our health and our partners’.

HIV/AIDS testing is offered by Health Services, and we should be taking advantage of them.

Students are quick to make ap-

pointments at Health Services for sore throats, colds and fevers.

The same should be said for AIDS testing or for any other sexually transmitted diseases.

There is currently no confirmed cure for HIV/AIDS, so students should prioritize testing before it becomes an issue.

Once they are infected, carriers learn to deal with symptoms potentially for the rest of their lives.

In some cases, carriers feel no symptoms and do not discover they are a carrier until years later, after they have transmitted it to other people.

The unnoticeable symptoms should influence students to take more preventative measures, and they should never go only by the word of a partner that they are disease-free.

Other preventative measures, such as using condoms during sex, aren’t pushed in high school health classes for no reason.

Condoms can prevent infection

and should be used when engaging with someone you are not sure has been tested.

Because of the stereotypical promiscuity of college students, the potential for something as deadly as AIDS to come so close to us has never been so real.

Studies show one in four people is currently infected with a sexually transmitted infection, and this includes HIV/AIDS. Before snickering at a jar of free condoms at the clinic or opting out of HIV/AIDS tests out of embarrassment or laziness, we should all begin to think twice after seeing the devastating results and rates of infection that are active in the U.S. today.

We are far from having an ideally AIDS-free generation, but testing ourselves and urging the testing of our partners and friends is a step toward prevention, and should be a responsibility for any college student.

Dispatches from the New Enlightenment

Scaling our solar system: A look at the universe on campus Get a bowling ball.

If you’re hardcore, paint it yellow. A soccer ball will do in a pinch.

It’s a hair too big but close enough for our purposes. Head to the Murray State gateposts that stand at the end of 15th Street and Main across from William Sparks Hall and set Zingrone your bowling ball Associate professor down on the sidewalk by the gatepost across of psychology the street from Sparks just up from the Bike Shop.

Take a glance toward campus and the main gates, the library, past Faculty Hall to the next two tall buildings also on your left, Blackburn and Elizabeth College in the distance.

Now, you’re ready. You will need two peppercorns, three poppy seeds, one acorn, two coffee beans and one walnut.

No, we’re not making some perverted nut bread. We are laying out the solar system: sun, planets, relative sizes and distances, across campus, all to scale.

Step out ten paces toward the bike shop and set down a poppy seed. Put it on an index card if you want to see it. That’s Mercury, to scale and the correct distance from your bowling ball Sun. Now, walk another nine paces, put down a peppercorn for Venus near the low yellow guard rail. Walk another seven paces and plunk down the other peppercorn, that’s us: Earth, third rock from the Sun, right by the bike rack.

Fourteen more steps and put another pinhead-sized poppy seed on the brick planter

with the Lassiter Building sign on it for the red planet, Mars.

Glance back down the sidewalk to your ‘Sun’ and get a grip on the scale of the immense distances between the planets compared to their miniscule size as compared to the massive Sun. The Sun is 1,000 times larger than the Earth and in actuality 93 million miles away represented by the 26 steps you took.

Take a good look at the bowling ball. You may not be able to see it again, not even with binoculars by the time we are done.

From the brick planter and your poppy seed Mars walk 95 paces down the sidewalk into campus.

Across from the connecting street between Sparks and Wilson Hall, put down the walnut, Jupiter, the biggest planet.

Looking back, get a grip again on the distance between Jupiter and the four inner planets. It’s incredible: Nearly half a block back to the Sun and the already utterly invisible peppercorn and poppy seed planets.

But you haven’t walked off even one seventh of the distance to the outer planets yet.

Leaving your walnut Jupiter, walk 112 steps to across from the corner of Lowry and plunk down the acorn; Saturn. Look back to Main and forward to the library and beyond, you are just about one fourth of the way done.

Another 249 paces and you are at Uranus, by the last lamp post just before the library, more than twice the distance farther than between Saturn and Jupiter. Put a coffee bean down.

Another hike of 281 steps puts you almost at Curris, between the last two benches across from Blackburn and the other coffee bean; Neptune. Try to look back through the library columns past the gate.

See if you can glimpse the traffic on

Main. You put the bowling ball Sun down next to the gatepost, but you can’t see the gatepost either.

One more jaunt to the non-planet Pluto, the last poppy seed, 242 paces nearly to Lizo; halfway across the bridge overlooking the far sidewalk below you on Chestnut.

You’ve covered half a mile across campus.

Reconcile these distances with even the big ‘ole walnut Jupiter, and the peppercorn of our Earth.

If you walk it back, the immense distances become even more apparent, especially when you finally get back to the planter by the bike shop and Mars, and you can’t make out our peppercorn Earth, barely 30 feet away.

One last surprise, though. The extent of the solar system, where the Sun’s gravitational effect still pulls in dust and comets is just a little off-campus. Not Benton, not even Paducah, neither Illinois nor somewhere in Wisconsin.

The solar system extends another two light years, halfway to the nearest star. On our campus scale, that’s another 2,000 miles straight north of Lizo to Churchill, Manitoba Canada on Hudson’s Bay. We know this stuff. This is not the result of some competing worldview of cold, hard, unfeeling, reductionist, materialist science.

This is knowledge we all share as a species, hard-won knowledge, developed by thousands of our fellow citizens of this third rock, from all over this tiny globe. It is breathtaking, awe inspiring.

While pacing off these steps I noticed for the first time the words above the entrance to Pogue: “The Hope of Democracy Depends on the Diffusion of Knowledge.” I can’t add to that.

The News

Opinion

December 6, 2013

5A Did she just say that?

Letters to the Editor Recently in Paris, Tenn., a gay man was attacked and beaten unconscious by three men.

They wrote a homophobic slur across his forehead and attempted to burn down the health foods store where he worked.

Thankfully, he regained consciousness and was able to escape and call the authorities.

His attackers ran away before they could finish the job.

Police are still looking for them, and they are hoping that the FBI will get involved in the investigation.

This incident shows that even though positive attitudes toward gay Americans have increased greatly over the years and marriage equality has been achieved in many states this year, there is still a long way to go.

Homophobia and heterosexism thrive in our society, and this incident shows it. You can see it just by turning on the TV or listening to music (I’m looking at you Eminem).

It is also a grim reminder of anti-gay sentiment in the area around Murray State.

These attitudes need to be addressed and defeated.

How the Paris newspaper handled the attack is also troublesome. The fact that this was a hate crime was not mentioned until the last half of the article.

Also, instead of reporting that the victim had a homophobic slur written on his forehead, the writer stated that it was a “homosexual word.”

Such poor reporting is not acceptable and shows unfamiliarity with LGBT issues.

It should also be kept in mind that even though both Tennessee and Kentucky have hate

crime legislation covering sexual orientation, they don’t have any covering gender identity.

The numerous murders of trans individuals this year shows that legislation is needed, and attitudes in our society need to change, badly.

The “T” in LGBT has too often been ignored, and it’s about time that reparations are made.

Robert Scott Junior from Paris, Tenn.

WANT TO SEE YOUR SUBMISSION IN PARKING JOB OF THE WEEK?

OF COURSE YOU DO! If you find a bad parking job on campus, send it to us at cbesser@murraystate.edu!

We’ll post the best of them on Facebook and in next week’s edition of The News.

Photo courtesy of Joseph McClure

A Professor’s Journal

Holidays remind us of how important words can be As Hanukkah ends today and the Christmas season is now upon us, I am reminded yet again how much words matter.

And I am not referring to that useless criticism that some Christians make when folks, with open and joyful hearts, send cards or tell others, “happy holidays.”

What better way to Duane Bolin refer to these Holy days of Hanukkah and ChristProfessor of mas than with a word history with the root of “holy”? I personally love it when one of my students or colleagues cheerfully wishes me “happy holidays.”

How is it that we downgrade perfectly good words and make them second-class citizens, simply because we have heard some talk radio lunatic or some talking head on television fill up the air waves with nonsense?

We then mimic what we have heard, much like a talking parrot. At such times we seem unable to think things through for ourselves.

Words matter, dear student.

Yes, they do. And I cherish those writers who can choose just the right word or place words together in just the right juxtaposition to create magic on a page.

Wendell Berry can do that. Jane Austen perfected the art. Charles Dickens still has the power to make me laugh while reading one page, or make my spirit soar while reading another.

Cheers and Jeers Cheers & Je e rs i s w r i tte n by t he O p i ni o n Ed i to r.

Questions, concerns or comments should be addressed to cbesser@murraystate.edu.

Comics

Trollope follows close behind. Still the best writer of history I know was the non-academic, Barbara Tuchman. The best memoir I’ve ever read is “The Tender Bar” by J. R. Moehringer, but Thomas Merton’s “The Seven Storey Mountain” follows close behind.

No two writers were more eloquent or more convincing than Harry Caudill and James Still when writing about their beloved eastern Kentucky mountains.

No one has brought Kentucky history to life better than the late Thomas D. Clark or the State Historian, James C. Klotter. In Kentucky poetry, my pick is Davis McCombs although he now writes out of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

We then mimic what we have heard. Much like a talking parrot. At such times, we seem unable to think for ourselves.

- Duane Bolin, professor of history

Norman Maclean did not begin to publish words on a page until he reached his 70s and even then he used words sparingly, writing essays or “novelettes,” rather than long novels.

His most famous piece ends with this: “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time.

“On some of the rocks are timeless rain-

Cheers to ... 70 degree weather in the beginning of December.

Knowing Kentucky’s temperamental weather, we will have an ice storm sometime this week. Oh well, it was still pretty nice.

Jeers to ... Teachers who don’t post grades on Canvas.

You guys stressed so much to us about having to log in every day.

Meet us halfway, here.

drops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.” It is hard to find a more moving passage of literature.

Ernest Hemingway could move readers by using words as bare bones. Someone asked Hemingway if he could write a novel with only six words. This was the great writer’s offering: “For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn.”

And so students, I write this column now for you, to encourage you to use your words carefully as you write on the pages of your blue books for your final examinations.

Think about what you write. Do not write gibberish. Prepare beforehand. Organize. Proofread by reading the words you put down back to yourself.

Even a very few words, placed correctly on a page, can reveal a whole universe of love or care or longing or - and this is especially important to your professors - understanding.

And that is why at Christmastime, I think of words. For even the Christ child was described as “the Word.”

St. John opens his Gospel with these poignant words about the Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” And then later in verse 14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

And so, the apostle used words sparingly to present the Gospel story for which Christians all over the world celebrate Christmas.

Only a few words about the Word. Full of grace and truth. Best wishes on your final examinations. And happy holidays.

Jeers to ... Students who deliberately cross the street when cars are close.

We promise that it’s just a myth. You really won’t get free tuition. We strongly suggest that you quit trying.

Cheers to ... Getting rid of the security gate arms at Campus Evolution Villages.

The lack of gates gives less of an ‘I just signed a lease to live at a prison’ vibe.

Are you there, God? It’s me, Dwight As many human rights supporters know, Illinois legislature passed a bill to become the 15th state to legalize gay marriage.

While I’m elated that a Carly Besser state so close Opinion Editor to us made the decision to support equality, I still had to do a double take at Illinois Rep. Dwight Kay (R-Edwardsville) and his complaints about the lack of acknowledgement toward biblical scripture.

He was quoted saying all he heard was debate on human rights and absolutely nothing on the scripture. My first reaction, of course, was “duh.”

I know what you’re thinking, and no, I’m not going to go into some pro-atheist diatribe about how it is wrong to be a Christian.

The problem here is that Kay is using his faith as a base for political decisions and claiming that stories in the Bible about God punishing the prideful were “real stories.”

One hot button phrase that seems to be so neglected, especially in the midst of debate about gay marriage is the separation of church and state. How can a politician be baffled that scripture wasn’t mentioned once in a debate to pass a bill?

Marriage, as a state-sanctioned institution, is not the same as its religious counterpart.

A religious basis is simply not rational when debating the issue in politics, and it never should be.

One thing that we as Americans are inherently guilty of is confusing marriages with weddings. A marriage is simply a union that is recognized by state and federal law.

Weddings are the elaborate, EuroChristian ceremonies in churches that are plastered all over your Facebook feed every spring.

I promise there is a difference.

Kay is also privileging Christianity over the many other faiths that Illinois residents, and even members of Illinois General Assembly, practice.

That’s right. There are Muslims, Buddhists, Jews and atheists living in Illinois, much to the surprise of Kay. To try and use Christianity as the moral compass and backbone of Illinois law is outwardly neglecting other faiths (even though they should not be involved in political decision making, either).

If scripture was in harmony with human rights, this would not even be worth discussing. Unfortunately, there will be cultural and legal discrepancies when using a book written 2,000 years ago as a foundation for modern law.

Kay was quoted saying marriage equality is “harmful,” but I want to hear how marriage equality damages the economy or how it defies the Constitution. Only then, would I think twice about supporting my gay classmates, teachers, family members and friends. The great (and stale) debate of Atheism vs. Christianity already finds its way at the dinner table. There is no need to exercise it in politics.

It is people like Dwight Kay who inspired separation of church and state. People who use religious justification to support the prejudice of others do not deserve to decide the fate of our laws. cbesser@murraystate.edu

Cartoon Time With Tater

By Tate Kinney

6A

The News December 6, 2013

December 6, 2013

Section B

The News

Sports

Sports Editor: Ryan Richardson Assistant Editor: Nick Dolan Phone: 809-4481 Twitter: MSUSportsNews

OUR TOP 10 OF 2013 The Sports staff at The Murray State News chose 10 of our favorite headlines from the past year. Here’s a look at the best and brightest that Murray State Athletics had to offer in 2013.

1

The Canaan blasts off

Isaiah Canaan was picked by the Houston Rockets in this year’s NBA draft. He is currently playing in the D-League for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, but may one day be called up to play for the Rockets.

Canaan may not have won his final game as a Racer, but he exited as one of the all-time greats. His

2

Catch him if you can

Senior wide receiver Walter Powell missed the last two games of his football career at Murray State, but he still left his mark in the record books.

His 2,650 career receiving yards are the most of any Racer player. Powell also holds the all-time record for most receiving touchdowns

4

senior class graduated with more wins than any other class in Murray State history.

His 2,050 career points place him fifth in career scoring at Murray State, and with 304 career 3pointers, Canaan is first in this category by more than 50 made shots. He ranks in the top 10 in nine other cat-

3

with 29, as well as the modern-day record for most total touchdowns by any Murray State player.

In addition to being selected to the All-OVC First Team as a wide receiver and a return specialist, he finished 17th in the voting for the 2013 Walter Payton Award.

Two aces in the hole

Both Murray State golf teams had their share of standouts in 2013 as well. The men said goodbye to Patrick Newcomb, one of the best golfers in program history, after he graduated last spring.

Newcomb was a two-time OVC Player of the Year, All-OVC Newcomer, two-time OVC MVP, competed in the NCAA Championship, is a two-time Kentucky State Amateur title holder and won eight matches as a Racer.

However, Senior Delaney Howson has brought the women’s team to the forefront in Newcomb’s absence.

After earning All-OVC honors for the second year in a row, Howson has not let up in 2013-14.

She set a single round record at the Drake Creek, was named OVC Golfer of the Week twice, finished fourth at the Cardinal Cup, placed first overall at the APSU Intercollegiate, named to the All-OVC Scholar Athlete list and a 13th-place finish at the Old Waverly Tournament.

Howson has also earned OVC Freshman of the Year and finished fifth at the OVC Championships.

egories as a Racer.

Canaan earned multiple OVC honors, as he was the 2012-13 Co-MVP, the 2011-12 MVP, the 2009-10 Freshman of the Year and was named to the All-OVC team all four years.

Photo courtesy of bleacherreport.com

Victory in overtime

A few disappointing losses left the Racers with a bitter taste on the 2013 football season, but it wasn’t all bad.

In its conference opener on the road at Jacksonville State, Murray State took the Gamecocks to overtime.

Risking a loss on a failed attempt, the Racers completed a two-point conversion to

5

Straight shooters climb the ranks

Racer rifle began the season as the ninth best team in the country, according to the College Rifle Coaches Association top 20 poll. However, it did not stay there long as the team reached the four spot by early November.

After a fourth-place finish at Ole Miss and a loss at UT Martin to start the season, the Rac-

6 File photo

beat Jacksonville State to end a nine-game losing streak to the OVC opponent.

Then, to end the season, the Racers again went to overtime, this time against Eastern Kentucky.

The defense made a stop to get the win for the Racers, securing a .500 record on the season and in OVC play.

ers rattled off two straight trimatch victories.

The first came against Columbus State and Morehead State, and then the Racers took down then No. 3 Jacksonville State and No. 4 TCU, propelling them to the fourth ranked team in the country when the polls came out Nov. 5.

Put a ring on it It is possible he is the only player with more championship rings than career points.

Jordan Burge graduated in May 2013 as a member of the winningest class in history.

In his time as a Racer, Burge was a three-time OVC champion and was there for 105 Mur-

ray State wins, yet he never scored a basket.

His team supported him, though, and AllAmerican point guard Isaiah Canaan gave up his starting spot to Burge on senior night.

He may not have added points, but his role on the team was not lost.

See 2B for Top Stories No. 7-10

The News

Sports

2B

On and off the field

7

Sophomore Alexa Becker did more than just lead the Racers in all major offensive categories this season on the softball diamond.

She also became the first academic AllAmerican when she was named to the 2013 Capitol One Academic All-American squad.

9

8

She is the first Racer to receive this honor in softball’s short history at Murray State.

Becker was also selected to the All-OVC team as she batted .311 with 33 runs, 12 homers and 32 RBI. She is the University’s 15th recipient of the All-Academic award.

Win-win David Schwepker and the volleyball team defeated Eastern Kentucky in the final game of the season, moving to 16-14 and their first winning record in six seasons.

The Racers also won six conference games, the most won since 2011.

The squad also took the top spot in three out of its first four tournaments of the year, winning the Ashford Suites SpartanAggie Invitational, Wright State Invitational and High Point University Classic.

They are the champions

Fall is the time when individuals work on their game, and for Murray State women’s tennis, the fall was about championships.

In the team’s three fall tournaments, the Racers made 16 championship finals and brought home 11 titles. Junior Andrea Eskauriatza and freshman Eleonore Tchakarova both made all finals in each tournament.

Eskauriatza won the top draw in singles at the Austin Peay Fall Tournament and the Arkansas State Invitational.

Playing in her first tourna-

ment, Eleonore Tc h a k a r o v a showed made her first championship match in her first tournament. She went on to win her draws in the Steve Beras Fall Classic and the Arkansas State Invitational.

Each of the seven players on the team made a final during the fall season and look to carry their fall success into the spring.

Lori Allen/The News

10

Beyond the arc

Five days into 2013, graduated guard Mariah Robinson left her mark in the Racers’ record book.

The Beaver Dam, Ky., native toppled the record of 3-pointers made by more than 50. Robinson beat Amber Guffey’s former mark of 210 during an 82-72 win over UT Martin – it was also the Racers’ first

win against the Skyhawks in three years. She finished her illustrious career on the court with 264 buckets from behind the 3-point line.

Robinson was named to the AllConference team last season and averaged a team-high 15.8 points per game and made 34 percent of her 3-point shots.

December 6, 2013

Powell cleared of all charges Staff Report The case involving senior wide receiver Walter Powell was dropped late last month when a Calloway County grand jury issued no true bill.

The decision was announced Nov. 21 after the jury deliberated the facts supporting the charges filed against Powell.

Powell appeared in Calloway County Circuit Court Nov. 25 with his attorney Rick Lamkin.

Lamkin released a statement explaining the results.

“The grand jury made a finding that there was insufficient evidence obtained by law enforcement which could result in Walter Powell being convicted of any crime for which he is charged,” the statement read.

Powell was arrested Oct. 20 on charges of fourth-degree assault and theft by unlawful taking of less than $500 after an incident at the Calloway County Fairgrounds.

“From the inception of the investigation on Oct. 19, 2013,

Walter Powell has maintained his innocence both to law enforcement when interviewed on the evening of the alleged events and, thereafter, to his coaches and the University,” Lamkin’s statement reads. “Numerous affidavits were obtained from many individuals who were in the presence of both the complainant and Mr. Powell, which clearly showed Walter Powell did not commit the acts complained of.”

“In hindsight, had law enforcement been able to interview the additional witnesses who were present at the time of the alleged crimes, this unfortunate situation would likely never have been lodged,” the statement continues.” Mr. Powell has been the subject of media scrutiny both locally and across the state and nation.”

Powell remained on the team after his arrest. However, he was injured and missed the final two games of the season.

Despite his absence, Powell was invited to participate in post-season all-star games.

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The News

Sports

December 6, 2013

3B

Football ends in overtime Racer rifle reloads Jonathan Ferris || Staff writer jferris2@murraystate.edu

Though the final record was not what the Racers hoped for when they embarked upon the 2013 football season nearly four months ago, Head Coach Chris Hatcher’s team went out with a bang, defeating the Eastern Kentucky Colonels 34-27 in overtime.

Tied at 27 after regulation, it took sophomore quarterback Maikhail Miller just two plays before finding freshman tight end Jesse Blackburn for a 26-yard touchdown strike.

Then trailing 34-27, the Eastern Kentucky offense took the field needing a touchdown to continue the game. The Colonels quickly found themselves in trouble, facing fourth-and-2. Junior quarterback Jared McClain converted for the first, however, and the drive continued. McClain quickly moved the ball all the way down to the 4-yard line.

The Murray State defense rose to the challenge.

Three times, the Racers kept the Colonels out of the end zone.

The final blow came with the Colonels facing a fourth down from the 2-yard line.

McClain took the handoff and tried to punch it in but was met at the goal line by a slew of Murray State defenders. The Racers made the stop and the team stormed the field to celebrate its first victory over Eastern Kentucky since the 2004 season.

“What a great way to finish up the season,” Hatcher said.

“Twenty-two seniors battled hard today. No matter the outcome, it’s a great testament to our guys how hard they fought during the game. You know we weren’t playing for a championship. (We were) playing for pride, playing to beat our arch rival and just playing to compete and we did that all night.”

Hatcher said he was especially proud of the defense, as it shut the Colonels down in the second half.

After losing his starting job three weeks ago at UT Martin, Miller sat in favor of junior quarterback Parks Frazier during the following two games. Hatcher

decided to hand the reigns back to the Ole Miss transfer Saturday, and Miller had one of his best performances of the season. “(Miller) played really well early in the year and then we got in a little funk there offensively, and we weren’t moving the ball,” Hatcher said. “Sometimes when your ace isn’t playing well, you’ve got to bring your reliever in and we did that with Parks.

After we put (Miller) on the bench he pouted for about a week, and the past two weeks (Miller) has had a great attitude and worked extremely hard.”

Miller completed 37 of 54 passing attempts for two touchdowns and a career-high 467 yards. Nine of his completions went to Blackburn, who also had the best game of his career, racking up 170 yards and two touchdowns.

“I’ve been through a rough patch this part of the season,” Miller said. “They called my number again and I had to come prove that I was the guy for the job and finish the season strong for the seniors.”

With the victory over Eastern Kentucky, the Racers finish the year with a 6-6 record, good for fifth in the OVC standings.

“When you look back at the season,” Hatcher said, “we probably won a couple games we shouldn’t have won and we got beat in a couple we probably should have won, so it evened out in the long run.”

Although the Racers fell short of their original goal of winning an OVC championship, senior defensive back Brandon Wicks said winning the final game was special, especially for the team’s 22 senior players.

“The season didn’t go the way we wanted it to, but we had the chance to do something special today and we got that done for all the seniors,” Wicks said.

The end of the 2013 season marks the completion of Hatcher’s fourth season at the Racers’ helm. In that time, his teams have posted a 24-21 record – a point of pride for the coach.

“The previous 10 years before we arrived, the winning percentage at Murray State was .362

for spring season Nick Dolan || Assistant Sports Editor ndolan@murraystate.edu

Lori Allen/The News

Freshman tight end Jesse Blackburn comes down with the game-winning touchdown in the overtime victory against EKU. and now we’re over .500,” Hatcher said. “It’s not where I expect to be because I expect to win them all, but we’ve made significant strides.”

Hatcher and his coaching staff are now faced with the tough task of replacing 22 seniors, 12 of whom play on the defensive side of the ball.

The Racers will have several key role players back, however, including both Miller and Frazier at quarterback, the team’s second and third leading receivers in sophomores Janawski

Davis and Jeremy Harness and junior Chavez Sims at linebacker, who led the team with five sacks amidst significant injury struggles.

Though much will change between now and the Racers’ first game next August, Hatcher is encouraged about the future of Murray State football.

“After watching the season, we’re a much better football team and a much better program than we were when we first got here,” Hatcher said. “I’m really excited about that.”

This semester has had its ups and downs.

After opening the season as the ninth ranked rifle team in the nation – according to the College Rifle Coaches Association top 20 poll – Racer rifle now sits at No. 12.

The Racers are coming off a third-place finish at the Buckeye Open and a fourth-place finish in the Gamecock Invitational at Jacksonville State.

Head Coach Allan Lollar said he was pleased with the way the team competed while handling the rise and fall of the season.

“I’m pretty pleased (with the finish),” Lollar said.

“After Ohio State, it was good to get back on the range, let them get some confidence back and get the feel for some good things happening.”

Freshman Katarina Bisercic shot a personal best 593 in air rifle, tying for first in the event. Junior Kelsey Emme finished in the top 10 in smallbore with a 576, while sophomore Tessa Howald had a top 10 finish with a 587 in air rifle.

“We had a few hiccups along the way that hurt us a little bit score-wise but really didn’t take away from the fact that we competed well and that they had trained well in the two weeks leading up to that event,” Lollar said.

He said the team will take a break and train at home over the holidays. It will come back the first week in January to prepare for the Feb. 11 match against Columbus State and North Carolina State.

While the Racers finished No. 12 in the country and beat two top-five teams, Lollar said there is still work to be done in order to make a run in the spring.

“It’s been up and down,” he said. “We need to be more consistent. I think we have a good attitude and the effort has been there. We just need a little more consistency at a little higher level and I think we’ll be fine.”

Lollar said the team has trained hard and has put themselves into a good position to compete in the spring.

After their last tri-match of the season to kick off the spring, the Racers will face Army and Kentucky before hosting the Withrow Invitational at Pat Spurgen Rifle Range.

They will then have five home matches in a row, including the OVC Championships, the NCAA qualifier and NCAA Championships.

Lollar said he and the squad are focusing on the next set of matches.

“We talk about building momentum,” he said. “We try not to get ahead of ourselves. You build momentum a little at a time through training and a week at a time through matches.”

He said they are making sure to take the spring season one step at a time.

“We’re not really talking about the end because there are too many steps to take between now and then,” he said. “We’re mostly just talking about doing the best every day in training and competing at your best in the matches.”

When God became a Baby, that Changed EVERYTHING! The Christmas Story: The Creator-God of the universe, Jesus Christ, left His home in heaven to become a human being. He lived a perfect life, performed miracles, was betrayed, and wrongfully condemned to death. After being crucified, Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb.

Three days later, he rose from the dead. After His resurrection, He remained on earth speaking to people for 40 days and then ascended to heaven. Jesus sacrificed Himself to make a way for all people to have an abundant life now and eternal life in heaven.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12. God is reaching out to men and women through His son Jesus Christ. To find out more about God’s relevance in your life we encourage you to read Dr. Walter Bradley’s Quest for Success. Go to ChristianFacultyRacers.net and click on the link.

CHRISTIAN FACULTY RACERS We are a group of professors, lecturers and administrators united by our common experience that Jesus Christ provides intellectually and spiritually satisfying answers to life’s most important questions. We are available to students, faculty and staff who might like to discuss such questions with us. For more information about the Christian Faculty Network, please visit our website: ChristianFacultyRacers.net.

Beth Acreman Athletics Debbie Bell English & Philosophy Teresa Betts Management, Marketing & Business Admin.

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The News

Sports

4B

December 6, 2013

Racers edge out Purple Aces Jonathan Ferris || Staff writer jferris2@murraystate.edu

Head Coach Steve Prohm had a big smile on his face after his team earned its first victory of the season against a Division I opponent Wednesday night, defeating Evansville 65-63.

The Purple Aces of Evansville gave the Racers a tough fight down to the final whistle, but the struggling Murray State team righted the ship defensively and was able to hang on to a slim lead in the game’s final seconds. “We played the way Murray State plays on defense and that gave us a chance to win,� senior guard Dexter Fields said. “We were just relentless on both ends of the floor for 40 minutes.�

The Racers got out to a hot start and built a 16-5 lead in the game’s first seven minutes. Evansville struck back with the help of the nation’s fifth leading scorer – sophomore guard D.J. Balentine.

Jeffery Moss was tasked with the job of containing Balentine for most of the night, and held the sophomore to just six first-half points. “Jeff was locked in,� Prohm said. “He shot it well. He played with confidence and he made big plays.�

With the half winding down, Dexter Fields hit a 3 as time expired to send Murray State into the locker room with a 30-26 lead.

Evansville refused to go down quietly, however, storming back to retake the lead

Jenny Rohl/The News

Point guard Cam Payne looks to score in the win over Evansville Wednesday.

just two minutes into the second half.

Both teams fought tirelessly throughout the remainder of the game, exchanging leads seven times.

With the score tied at 61 with 51 seconds to play, Moss took a pass from Fields and drained a three to seal the deal.

Missed free throws by Moss and Fairell down the stretch kept it interesting until the end, but Evansville freshman Blake Simmons’ off-balance 3 missed the mark as time expired and the Racers escaped with their third victory of the season.

It’s a huge confidence booster for us,�

Moss said. “We just went out and executed the game plan and played hard and we got the win.�

The 3-5 Racers now have some momentum behind them and have much to look forward to on the horizon.

Sophomore forward Zay Henderson could return Dec. 17 against Southern Illinois after fracturing his hand in a practice following the season opener at Valparaiso.

Additionally, junior guard T.J. Sapp, who is sitting out this semester after transferring from Clemson in January, is eligible to make his debut against Southern Illinois.

The addition of both players will significantly help the Racers, who have been competing with only eight scholarship players since Henderson’s injury.

The Racers now look forward to continuing the current home stand as Lipscomb visits the CFSB Center Saturday.

The Racers and Bison played a season

ago in Nashville, Tenn., on Lipscomb’s home floor. The Racers were able to overcome a 5-point deficit to pull away at the end and win 88-79.

This game will mark the third meeting between the two teams.

The Racers are then off the entire week of finals before finishing the home stand with a visit from Southern Illinois.

Over Winter Break, the Racers will be hard at work. After the string of home games finishes, Murray State faces a tough road trip to Western Kentucky and Dayton to finish the nonconference portion of the season.

After the trip to Dayton, OVC play begins as Southeast Missouri State visits the CFSB Center Jan. 2 for the conference opener.

The Redhawks were picked as co-favorites with Murray State to win the western division of the conference.

From there, Murray State will take on UT Martin and Eastern Kentucky before welcoming arch-rival Austin Peay to the CFSB Center the Saturday before classes start back for the spring semester.

Prohm, however, isn’t thinking that far ahead. After an important victory over Evansville, he is excited to finally have his team seemingly back on track. “Now they’ve got a gleam in their eyes,�

Prohm said. “I told them at the end of the game that we need to prepare to win.

That’s got to be our mentality.�

Murray State and Lipscomb tip off at 3 p.m. Saturday in the CFSB Center.

Streak ends at Xavier Tom Via || Staff writer tvia@murraystate.edu

After suffering their first losses of the season, women’s basketball bounced back with three consecutive wins before suffering a 70-66 loss to Xavier Wednesday night.

Going 3-1 over the past few weeks, Head Coach Rob Cross said he is proud of the strides his team has made a month into the season. “We have been taking care of the basketball more and we have had (turnovers) below double digits,� Cross said. “We have responded well to what the other team does and the adjustments they are making.�

The Racers saw their three game winning streak come to an end at Big East opponent Xavier. The first half saw Murray State and Xavier trade baskets with neither team gaining a two-possession advantage.

In the second half, Xavier gained a six-point lead, but Murray State rallied back with the 3-point shot, to go on a 10-4 run to grab a 51-50 lead with 11 minutes remaining.

After a pair of free throws by sophomore forward Jashae Lee cut the Racers’ deficit to two points, the Musketeers put together an 8-3 run to put the game out of reach.

Cross made three changes to the starting lineup after the team’s 1-2 start, and they were evident on the court. Along with the new starting lineup, strong second half performances gave the Racers their winning streak. “I’m thrilled with the way the team responded from the Wright State game,� Cross said.

The Racers began their winning streak against Saint Louis and led the whole game as three players scored 17 points. Junior guard Keiona Kirby scored Murray State’s first eight points, making two 3’s in the game’s opening minutes. Off the bench, freshman guard Taylor Porter scored 10 points in the opening half to lead Murray State to a six-point lead at halftime.

The Racers made adjustments to put the game away early in the second half. Sophomore Bianca Babic led the way, scoring 15 of her

17 points in the second half. “(Babic) is always going to get a shot up,� Cross said. “If we are stagnant on offense, I know I can put her in and we will get shots because she is very confident.�

Coming out of the locker room, the Racers used a 9-0 run to push their lead to double digits and didn’t look back in the 83-64 victory over the Billikens.

Murray State hosted Kennesaw State three days later and fell behind early. “I don’t know what was going through our minds at first,� Kirby said. “We came out on defense too relaxed and were giving them easy buckets.�

The Owls led by 11 points midway through the first half, but the Racers erased the lead with a 13-4 run.

Once again, it was Porter leading the team, as she scored nine of her 14 points in the opening half.

The Racers gained their first lead midway through the second half using a tough defense that forced eight turnovers.

It was a 15-4 run that put the

game away for Murray State. Kirby caught fire and put the Racers ahead on a fast break layup with nine minutes remaining and scored 16 of her game-high 22 points in the final frame.

Kirby’s confidence and hot shooting continued at Lipscomb Saturday. Kirby scored a careerhigh 29 points in the win over the Lady Bison as the Racers held on for the victory.

The Racers jumped out to a 16point lead late in the first half but saw it disappear midway through the second half.

With momentum against the Racers, freshman guard Nikia Edom drained a 3-pointer that regained the lead for Murray State and didn’t allow Lipscomb to come back.

The shot sparked a 10-2 run that led to the 86-79 win. “We got off to a great start and got to see how our team would respond,� Cross said. “I think once again our team got stronger and showed how to close out games like we need to.�

Lori Allen/The News

Junior guard Keiona Kirby pulls down a rebound in the win over Kennesaw State Nov. 26.

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December 6, 2013

Features

Features Editor: Hunter Harrell Assistant Features Editor: Breanna Sill Phone: 809-5871 Twitter: MSUNewsFeatures

Pop Culture Savvy

All the miles in between As I sit down to write my final column with The News, I have no idea where to begin.

I don’t want it to be one of those cheesy, “I had such a Savannah great time, Sawyer thanks for the Staff writer memories,” type of column but I feel as if it is inevitable.

In the beginning, I did not want to come to Murray State. Living in the south was not something I really wanted to do, as I felt I would not find anyone who loved big cities, deep-dish pizza and had a love of rock music quite like my own.

I wanted to go to the University of Illinois at Chicago and live in the city. Even though I was originally accepted, they didn’t have the exact program I wanted so I went kicking and screaming all the way to Murray, expecting the worst.

My first few days here were absolutely miserable. I felt as if everyone already had their own group of friends, and being a transfer student I would never find friends my own age.

I walked campus all alone on the Monday before classes began to get a feel of the campus and figure out where all my classes were located. When I saw what seemed to be old friends reuniting with one another on campus I thought I was destined to be forever alone.

But, alas, on the first day of classes I met someone I could call my friend. Jaci Kohn was in my second class at Murray State, and my third and my fourth. That first semester we had practically every class together.

Although from the looks of it, it may have seemed as if we had nothing in common, deep down we related on so many levels.

And for those levels we didn’t relate on, we still understood and respected the other person’s views.

For a while, it was just Jaci and me. To be honest, she was the only real close friend I had during my time here. I knew I could tell her anything and she could do the same with me.

But it wasn’t just her that made my time here worthwhile.

Last year, it was about this time that I met Devin Griggs. Well, we actually briefly met (and by briefly I mean I saw him in the newsroom occasionally) in the spring of 2012 but it was not very memorable.

It wasn’t until September of that year that we began to talk.

He complimented me on my second column, about the Bruce Springsteen concert I had recently attended. He thought the way to my heart was through Bruce, and, well, he was right.

He might have played up his love for Bruce as a way to try to impress me, but I did the same for him with politics. But from that stemmed a loving relationship that I cherish so, so much.

If it wasn’t for these two, I don’t know where I would be today.

In my first column ever I wrote about all my friends and family and the things I would miss from home. And now, I can not only add these two people to that list, but also my friends from the newspaper, who I hold so dearly to my heart. Love you guys. ssawyer@murraystate.edu

5B

The News

New game consoles generate debate

Katrina Yarbrough || Staff writer kyarbrough2@murraystate.edu

Every few years, a new generation of gaming systems is introduced and people are faced with the decision of which one to buy. On Nov. 15, Sony released the PlayStation 4, and on Nov. 22, Microsoft released the Xbox One. While both systems have advantages and disadvantages, the question of which to purchase still remains unanswered.

Joshua Hitz, junior from Staunton, Ill., has been comparing the two systems for a while and has yet to make a decision.

“I don’t have either system, but I’m planning to buy one over Christmas break,” Hitz said.

For a student, price can be the deciding factor despite extra features or specific games the systems offer.

Sony’s PlayStation 4 hit shelves at $399, while the Xbox One priced at $499.

“Price definitely has a role in my decision,” Hitz said. “The PlayStation 4 has a lot of nice features that are just as good as the Xbox One and it is $100 cheaper.”

Each gaming system has an online multiplayer option users have to purchase. While users can pay monthly, the 12-month memberships seem more reasonable in price. The PlayStation

Plus membership sells at $49 and the Xbox Live Gold membership is $59.

Unlike the Xbox, PlayStation Plus accounts can be used on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita as well and are not limited to one system.

“I have been considering the games that are available for each system,” Hitz said. “The exclusives are what I look into the most and the PlayStation 4 has Infamous: Second Son while Xbox doesn’t.”

Exclusive games are important to consider if a user is committed to a particular series or type of game. Halo 5 will be released for Xbox One while the PlayStation 4 will release titles such as Kill Zone: Shadow Fall. As far as the graphics for gameplay, each system has been upgraded to 8-Core Processor and they both have an 8-gigabyte RAM. The main difference between the internal aspects of the systems is the PlayStation 4 has a larger bandwidth to give games a more visual edge.

While the Xbox One’s exclusive game list may be larger, the PlayStation 4, according to online reviews, proves to have a more crisp display in graphics and a larger downloadable game database. Unfortunately, neither system is backwards compatible, meaning PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 games cannot be played on the newer systems.

“There are games like Persona 4 and

Graphic by Evan Watson/The News

Dot. Hack G.U. that I’d like to play on the newer system, but can’t,” Hitz said.

“It’s definitely a major setback when deciding what to buy.”

The design of the two systems has also changed. The consoles are sharper around the edges and have a sleeker appearance. The controllers have also undergone a makeover.

Sony’s DualShock 4 has added a touchpad as well as a share button. Users can instantly share game photos and videos to social media such as Facebook and Twitter.

The controller also includes a sensor that recognizes players so that if users swap them out with one another, the split screen game-play will rearrange itself. PlayStation Vita owners also have the ability to use their handheld device as a substitute, similar to a Wii U tablet, just in case their television is being used for something else.

The Xbox One has a sleeker controller with minor differences besides a faded color on the buttons.

The Kinect for Xbox One is included in the box unlike the $59 camera that has to be bought separately for the PlayStation 4. However, Sony has thrown in a headset with every system.

The additional accessories and features included with both have made choosing which to buy a process that has to be weighed carefully. Both include Blu Ray players and apps to con-

nect users with Netflix, Hulu and Skype. Viewing games and TV are made easy with the use of the HDMI pass-thru included with the Xbox One. Users can split the screen so that they can either game or use Skype while watching regular television. This is one feature that gives it a multitasking advantage over the PlayStation 4, according to the Microsoft website.

One major difference between the two systems is the overall usage of accessories included and the internal parts. Xbox One’s Kinect camera learns the movements and personality of the user in order to adapt to online gameplay even when the system is off.

Like a shadow, it can play in a similar fashion as if the user were actually present. Because the PlayStation 4 does not include a camera, it does not need one to function and does not continue to work even when the system is watching.

While deciding which system to use, a gamer might consider every aspect of the systems. Although, sometimes the only thing that matters is what system the person originally had. System bias can weigh more heavily than even the most liked enhancement or hyped up exclusive game.

“The PlayStation 2 has always been my favorite system,” Hitz said. “That’s probably why I’ll end up buying the PlayStation 4.”

F aces&Places

Student spends time fighting fires Faces & Places is a weekly series that profiles the people and places of Murray and the surrounding areas. Every person and every place has a story. Let us tell it.

Hunter Harrell || Features Editor hharrell@murraystate.edu

Ana Bundy/The News

How students find time to give back to the community is often difficult between working and school. Drew Scott, sophomore from Flora, Ill., lends a helping hand whenever it is needed. Scott volunteers at Calloway County Fire-Rescue.

“The volunteers can do anything and everything a paid fireman can do,” Scott said. “I have only been volunteering for the past couple of months, but it has been a blast so far.”

The station and crew handle any kind of situation including fire rescue, car accidents, field fires and water rescues.

“We get car wreck calls more than anything,” Scott said. “The first job on the scene is fire suppression. Once the risk of fire is diminished we can help control traffic. At first, getting called in was an adrenaline rush, then it came down to ‘I have to do my job as fast and efficiently as I can.’”

Scott had not always planned to spend his nights in the Calloway County Fire-Rescue sta-

tion. Several factors influenced his choice, but after experiencing the fire safety week held on campus, he made a split-second decision and applied.

“My grandfather was an influencing factor in my choice to join to the fire squad,” Scott said.

“He was a volunteer firefighter for 29 years and loved it, which inspired me to do the same."

Scott said being a volunteer firefighter, though rewarding, does have its difficulties.

“There are definitely a lot of late nights at the station, but as a volunteer, you have the option to get involved as much as you would like to,” he said. “Obviously, you don’t have to answer every call because you are only a volunteer, but I say, ‘why not?’”

Not only is Scott's volunteer work appreciated in the community, it is also beneficial to his education.

“My volunteer work is, hopefully, going to help me get into medical school since admissions process looks into community service,” he said.

Since beginning volunteer work, Scott has thought about his future in the department.

“I definitely plan on volunteering all four years I’m in school and who knows, it might turn into a career path for me,” Scott said. “One thing I would not give up is the fact of all the

We mustache you some questions ... But we’ll shave some for later.

The end of No Shave November also ends our coverage of the three brave Murray State men who participated by going the entire month without so much as shaving or trimming their scruff. We at The News would like to thank the men of No Shave November, Aponte, Miller and Gardner, for their participation and allowing us to document their progress these past 30 days. We commend the three of them on their hairy achievement.

This is the final product, from the scruff to the fluff.

Drew Scott, sophomore from Flora, I ll., suits up for full-g ear traini ng. Scott has been a volunteer firefig hter since Sep temb er.

JC Aponte, junior Clarksville, Tenn.

see VOLUNTEER, 6B

from

Derek Miller, graduate student from Louisville, Ky.

Jamaal Gardner, senior from Paris, Tenn.

Q: Are you going to miss your beard after you shave it off?

A: Yes, I've grown pretty accustomed to having it.

Q: 2. How would you describe the final stage of your beard? Are you happy with what you achieved?

A: The final stage is a good old fashion manly beard. I'm very proud of the progress I made this year.

Q: Are you going to participate in No Shave November again next year?

A: Yes, I definitely will.

Q: Are you going to miss your beard after you shave it off?

A: It's not going anywhere.

Q: 2. How would you describe the final stage of your beard? Are you happy with what you achieved?

A: I am actually surprised by these last couple of days. I am happy with how far

Q: Are you going to miss your beard after you shave it off?

A: a. I'm going to miss it a little bit. I might grow it out again.

Q: 2. How would you describe the final stage of your beard? Are you happy with what you achieved?

A: a. The final stage of it was growing on me. It still didn't grow all the way though. I'm OK with it though.

Q: Are you going to participate in No Shave November again next year?

A: I'll participate again.

I have gotten.

Q: Are you going to participate in No Shave November again next year?

A: I will definitely participate again if I can.

Compiled by: Breanna Sill, Assistant Features Editor

The News

Features

6B

December 6, 2013

University Store donates sweatshirts to Murray youth

“Entertainment news sure to spice up your lunch conversation”

Brandon Cash || Staff writer bcash1@murraystate.edu

WATER COOLER Information and photos from The Associated Press Compiled by Breanna Sill

Jenny Rohl / The News

WONDER WOMAN CAST IN SUPERHERO TEAM-UP MOVIE

University Store employee Tessa Springer sorts donated sweatshirts.

VOLUNTEER

Warner Bros. announced Wednesday that Gal Gadot, an Israel-born actress, has been cast as Wonder Woman in the untitled superhero team-up movie with Batman and Superman.

As a sequel to “Man of Steel,” the Superman-Batman movie will begin production next year and will be released in July 2015.

From Page 5B firefighters are like family; even the surrounding counties support us and we support them. It feels like a sense of belonging within the firefighting community.”

Scott has also done his community work back home and was the recipient of the Byways of Excellence award for advocating lawn mower safety. Scott speaks to area schools since he experienced a lawn mower accident at a young age.

“I don't want to see someone go through what I had to go through,” he said. “And if they do happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, I want them to know accidents happen and I can be there for them.”

Scott has also tried his hand at volunteering around the world. Through an organization called People to People, he had the chance to clean shorelines in Ecuador, clear invasive species from Alaska and aid with landscaping at a turtle hatchery in Italy.

“I have been volunteering my time to others in different countries, such as Europe and Ecuador since I was in the sixth grade,” Scott said. “I have been around the world several times simply to lend a helping hand to those who need it and I love it. Seeing the smiling faces you get for helping out people in need is so worth the time.”

Scott said he enjoys helping others who can’t help themselves because it makes him realize that no matter how bad you think you have it, there is always someone who has it worse.

“When you think you are down in the ditch, you really are on a pedestal in someone else's eyes,” he said.

Scott believes that miracles happen every day and anything is possible if you just put your mind to it.

Said Scott: “Whatever you do, do your best.”

AUTOPSY CONFIRMS ACTOR’S DEATH AFTER ACCIDENT An autopsy report released Wednesday confirms that actor Paul Walker was killed by fire and impact in a crash.

The actor was killed Saturday while riding as a passenger in a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT when the car hit a light pole and tree, then exploded into flames.

d Tweets e r u Feat of the week

Sound Bite “Fleetwood Mac music can inspire you to follow your dreams, believe in magic and sleep with everyone in a band.”

-Dane Cook tweeted at 2:10 p.m. on Dec. 2

A compilation of Tweets that made us laugh, cry or scratch our heads.

This week’s topic: Paul Walker

For three years, the University Store has provided students with the opportunity to donate their old sweatshirts in exchange for a discount on a new one.

This sweatshirt promotion is called “Out with the Old, In with the New” and was started in December 2011.

When the promotional idea came up, the University Store decided it went well with the ending of one semester and the start of a new one.

After tossing around ideas, the staff decided to try Murray State sweatshirts.

“When they told us how excited the students were with the first donation of

Murray State sweatshirts, we knew we had to make it an annual event,” said Karol Hardison, director of the University Store.

This year’s event started Monday and ends Friday, Dec. 13. Students, staff and faculty have the opportunity to exchange their used Murray State sweatshirts for a 25 percent discount on a new one from the store.

The store created the coupon for the new sweatshirt to encourage others to donate, but the sweatshirts have to have “Murray State” on them.

“As much as we don’t like to think about it, there are many youth in our community who can’t afford and have never had a Murray State sweatshirt,” Hardison said.

The University Store wanted to add the spirit of Christmas by giving back to the community.

They wanted those students to be able to wear and love Murray State apparel and one day aspire to attend the University.

The sweatshirts are all donated to the Murray and Calloway County High School’s Youth Services Center.

The University Store will transport any donations to the Murray and Calloway County High School’s Youth Services Center, but to receive the coupon the person has to donate a Murray State logo sweatshirt.

With the help of students, faculty and staff, the University Store hopes to give those students a Murray Christmas.

s e r u eat ista n o i h as

F

After a semester of finding Murray State’s best dressed students, The News decided to do a best of the best edition for the final paper of the semester. Hailee Clark, freshman from Cobden, Ill., received nearly triple the amount of votes as any other candidate on The Murray State News Facebook page. Thank you for voting and participating.

For Clark, fashion has always been one of her main priorities.

Her hope is to one day attend cosmetology school in New York City and achieve a career in the fashion industry.

While most college students are not accustomed to getting glammed up for class everyday, Clark said she loves putting together outfits and experimenting with different fashion trends.

Describing fashion in her own words, Clark said “Wh atever just looks good together and what-

ever you’re comfortable in.”

When searching for new trends to try she turns to the pages of Cosmopolitan and Vogue magazines for inspiration.

Looking for advice on how to spice up an outfit? Clark said her main piece of advice would be to make sure they have a good color combination and always accessorize.

“If you do your hair, make-up and nails I feel like it always brings the entire look together,” she said.

Compiled by Breanna Sill

Reese Witherspoon

Jennette McCurdy

@RWitherspoon So sad to hear about Paul Walker. He was a pleasure to work with, a true gentleman and a humble soul. Prayers and love to his family.

10:55 a.m. Dec. 1

@jennettemccurdy RIP to Paul Walker and the driver of the vehicle, who is rarely acknowledged because he is not famous. A travesty all around.

11:02 p.m. Dec. 1

Janelle Parish

Ellen Degeneres

@JMeilanixo So sad to hear about Paul Walker. He had been my celebrity crush since 13. I got to meet him when I was 20 and it was a wonderful moment. ❤ 6:34 p.m. Dec 1

@TheEllenShow Paul Walker's passing is so sad. I'm thinking of his family. Keep the people you love close to you.

12:37 p.m. Dec. 2

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The News

Features

December 6, 2013

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’?

TODAY • All Day “Miracle on 34th Street,” Playhouse in the Park, Central Park • 6:30 p.m.

Hanging of the Green, Curris Center, 2nd and 3rd floors

S A T U R D A Y

SUNDAY

• 2 p.m.

Holiday Dancefest, Lovett Auditorium

• 7 p.m.

Women’s basketball vs.

Robert Morris-Springfield, CFSB Center

• All Day Out with the Old, In with the New Sweatshirt Promotion, University Store • All Day Free gift wrap on University Store purchases, University Store

MONDAY

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If you would like an event to appear here or on TheNews.org, email us at features@thenews.org. Please submit events by noon Wednesday for consideration.

T U E S D A Y

• All Day Festival of Lights/Christmas in the Park, Central Park • All Day Out with the Old, In with the New Sweatshirt Promotion, University Store

• All Day W Free gift wrap on Store E University purchases, D University Store N • All Day of E Festival Lights/ S Christmas in the Central D Park, Park A Y

THURSDAY • 7 p.m.

Men’s basketball vs.

Brescia, CFSB Center • All Day Free gift wrap on University Store purchases, University Store

Music Review

Photo courtesy of billboard.com

“Britney Jean” is the eighth studio album Britney Spears has recorded. The album features 10 tracks, including the single “Work, B**ch” and “Perfume.”

‘Britney Jean’ fails to ‘Gimme More’ Hunter Harrell || Features Editor hharrell@murraystate.edu

I find it hard to believe Britney Spears has been on the map for more than a decade. The solo artist has been performing since childhood, and the hit “...Baby One More Time” shot her straight to the top of the charts in 1999.

It also caused a lot of controversy.

Spears’ personal life made headlines for months straight in 2007, when her near mental breakdown resulted in a bald Britney. Despite all the drama, Spears made a comeback.

Spears said her eighth album, “Britney Jean,” would have more personal meaning than her previous party pop albums. This excited me, but when the

album dropped Tuesday, I was severely disappointed.

The first track on the album, “Alien,” sends me into a catchy beat with simple words. It’s catchy and I have to admit I was singing it the second time I went through the album. OK, Britney you got me with the first track, what’s next?

I went through the next two tracks without even noticing I was supposed to be listening. I completely blocked out both “Work, B**ch” and “Perfume.” The change between the sounds and tempo of the two songs should have drawn attention, but these songs were nothing more than bad background.

However, I found hope with the track “Til it’s Gone.” The melody and lyrics mesh. It had me at the first line, “I'm

blind from the tears that fall like rain.”

It’s refreshing to see that kind of vulnerability from Spears, but I have trouble believing it.

By the end of the album, I’m equally satisfied and dissatisfied. But things got weird on the bonus tracks.

Spears’ track “Brightest Morning Star” is not only titled like a Jesus song, but sounds like she is singing about her faith. I’m really cool with that, until the next track, “Hold on Tight,” goes into the same idea. Moreover, I’m confused whether this is another faith song or if she is likening her love life to Jesus. And the confusion continues with the final track on the deluxe version, “Now that I Found You.” Spears, though a pop icon, should

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stick to what she knows best. Her comeback was short-lived. The album lacks the catchy hooks and sex appeal the young Spears coined.

Facts & Tidbits Artist: Britney Spears Album: “Britney Jean” Released: Dec. 3 Genre: Pop Similar to: Ke$ha, Christina Aguilera

Excellent Good OK Fair Poor

RCA to ‘deck the halls’ of Curris Center Brandon Cash || Staff writer bcash1@murraystate.edu

Once a huge holiday event sponsored by the entire campus, Murray State’s annual Hanging of the Green will be in the Curris Center tonight at 6:30 p.m.

After the University started pulling from the Hanging of the Green’s budget, it was eventually let go until the Residential College Association picked it back up in 2006.

The RCA is a part of the Student Government Association and advises the University administration on a wide range of topics regarding the residential colleges, but it also sponsors activities on campus like Hanging of the Green.

Now that Hanging of the Green is a student-run event, it does not have the financial backing it once had. RCA uses funds it receives from SGA and Housing Office.

“We’ve started doing this on the same night as a children’s event that is usually going on in one of the upstairs ballrooms,” said Derrick McReynolds, assistant director of residence education. “So whenever they let out, they hear the singing and come and interact with the college students.”

There will be food, activities and musical entertainment for those who attend.

Each year at the event, RCA provides the colleges with a Christmas tree to decorate for their residential college. Each residential college sponsors a booth with different activities ranging from making snow globes to making Christmas ornaments.

There are approximately 200 people who attend each year. The event is focused mostly on students, but faculty, staff and the surrounding community are encouraged to attend as well.

This week, students who went to the Curris Center could see the 30foot Christmas tree as it was decorated in preparation for its lighting tonight.

Each year, the RCA asks an honored guest to come and give a speech and announce the lighting of the tree, which happens near the end of the event.

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The News December 6, 2013