The Murray State News Jan. 17, 2014
TheNews.org
Campus blackout caused by University contract
LIGHTS
Vol. 88, No. 17
OUT
Staff Report One week before classes were scheduled to begin at Murray State, the main campus went black. The Tennessee Valley Authority ordered the University to shut off the power on campus Jan. 6, as part of an interruptible service contract with Murray State. Power was back on amid temperatures in the single digits at around 9 p.m. Catherine Sivills, assistant vice president for communications, said the University has a category-five, medium-risk customer contract. This means the University has to cut the power when extremely cold temperatures cut across TVA’s service region. Crews from Facilities Management found generator malfunctions and damage, all caused by extremely cold temperatures Jan. 7. The crews found damage in at least 40 percent of the major buildings on campus. Some of the damage included flooding on the sixth floor of Regents Residential College, leaky ceilings in the Old Fine Arts Building and significant impairment to heating systems in the Business Building North. Kim Oatman, chief Facilities Management officer, said most of the damage on campus was due to pipes freezing, primarily in some of the older buildings on campus. He said Facilities Management will take care of the piping issues, but a contractor will have to come in for damage caused to sprinkler systems in some of the buildings. The 37 students who were still on campus during the power outage were moved to the Sid Easley Alumni Center.
see CONTRACT, 2A
Megan Godby/The News
Students practice for Campus Lights at the Old Fine Arts Building, where last week a power outage forced them to practice elsewhere.
Unexpected power outage moves Campus Lights practices elsewhere Rebecca Walter || Staff writer rwalter@murraystate.edu
Single digit temperatures, an electrical outage and change of venue did not stop Campus Lights students from practicing for their performance later this month. Campus Lights, an annual, student-run musical production, came back on its first night of practice to find a dark building and the students were immediately forced to find alternate accommodations. Power was shut down Jan. 6 on Murray State’s main campus due to orders from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Committee meets presidential candidates away from home
The Old Fine Arts Building was one of the buildings affected by the power outage, which is where Campus Lights students hold rehearsals. Ryan Knight, chairman of Campus Lights, said there was slight panic at first, followed by quick action from the group. “We were initially very concerned since we had only just begun practicing,” Knight said. “Luckily due to our great music department staff, we were quickly able to find rehearsal space.” The group was able to hold practices at both First Presbyterian Church and First Methodist Church in Murray.
Ben Manhanke Assistant News Editor bmanhanke@murraystate.edu After months of deliberation, the presidential search committee has narrowed down its initial candidate pool of 65 applicants to 10. The 10 remaining presidentialhopefuls were interviewed more extensively Jan. 11-12 in Nashville, Tenn., by the search committee, each interview lasting approximately 90 minutes. The search committee hopes to narrow down the remaining candi-
“It was amazing to see these churches open their doors for us,” Knight said. “It really shows you how much the community is willing to help out Murray State and its students.” Knight said the production is still on schedule despite the challenges the production initially faced, which he is happy to see due to the rich tradition the production holds for the University. “Campus Lights is the cornerstone of the Murray State traditions,” he said. “It has been around longer than any of our faculty
see LIGHTS, 2A
dates again to two to four finalists before a decision is made. Stephen Williams, search committee chair, said the interviews were a success in reference to the amount of preparation for the interviews on the part of the committee and the candidates’ performances. “The quality of the candidates was excellent and proved to be a reflection of Murray State’s reputation nationally, as all of the candidates had done their homework and referred to this opportunity as a prestigious career move,” said Williams. “The committee mem-
bers were prepared with thoughtprovoking questions regarding the University’s needs on all levels, representing all constituencies.” Katie Wilborn, junior from Louisville, Ky., said whoever is chosen as president will have a huge influence on her success and happiness as a student through their governance and so she hopes they are unbiased and focused on improving Murray State’s educational opportunities. Lucas Palmer, junior from Paris,
see PRESIDENT, 2A
Paducah regional campus opens, lets first students through doors Ben Manhanke Assistant News Editor bmanhanke@murraystate.edu
Lexy Gross Editor-in-Chief cgross2@murraystate.edu
Lori Allen/The News
UP IN FLAMES: An apartment in the Cambridge neighborhood caught on fire Monday afternoon. There were no injuries, but one of the four apartments in the complex was destroyed. The Red Cross assisted the tenants living in the apartment.
After a year of construction, site work and renovation, Murray State’s Paducah, Ky., regional campus opened the doors of its new facility to students Monday. Since 1998 and until the new building opened, Murray State hosted its Paducah regional students in the Crisp Regional Higher Education Center. The new 43,000 square foot, $10 million facility dubbed the Crisp Center welcomed approximately 1,400 returning and new students. Brendon Cook, senior from Murphysboro, Ill., is taking a half-semester class at the Crisp Center with three other students from Murray State’s main campus. Cook decided to take the Paducah course because he thought it
Lexy Gross/The News
Henry Crisp II stands by his family as they cut the ribbon on the new Crisp Center in Paducah. would be an interesting experience to learn with more non-traditional students. “The building itself is constructed with a very ‘green’ sense of engineering, which I thought was pretty cool,” Cook said. Brian Van Horn, dean of Continu-
ing Education, said the facility was necessary to better host the University’s large Paducah student population. At the former campus, classes were moved outside for a lack of educational space.
see PADUCAH, 2A
WHAT’S
OUR VIEW
ALMOST DONE
STILL PERFECT
INSIDE
The University’s contract with TVA wastes money, 4A
Corvette Lanes remodel nears completion, 6A
Men’s basketball remains unde- Students evaluate book rentals, purchases, 5B feated in the OVC, 1B
BOOK OPTIONS