The Murray State News January 23, 2015
TheNews.org
Vol. 89, No. 17
Tackling tobacco Courtesy of Shutterstock
Parks finances falter, board remains hopeful Mari-Alice Jasper
Assistant News Editor mjasper1@murraystate.edu
Davies holds meeting on new ban Lucy Easley
Contributing writer leasley@murraystate.edu
President Bob Davies emphasized the University’s wellness goals involved in the tobacco-free policy during a town hall meeting Wednesday afternoon. Davies discussed the origins and educational goals of the tobacco ban. A large portion of the meeting was dedicated to explaining how policy violations will be handled. The president noted that the Tobacco-Free Implementation Steering Committee kept the overall goal of wellness in mind while discussing enforcement of this policy. “I am taking the philosophy that we want
this to be educational, not punitive,” Davies said. “We don’t want smoking on campus to be equated to a parking fine.” Davies recognized that other universities use punishments to enforce their tobacco-free policies, citing Vanderbilt’s method of fining those who violate the tobacco policy. He stated that this could, however, take the focus away from education. Davies stressed that the policy is intended to help create a healthy environment for the Murray State community and the change is “not judgmental” toward tobacco users. The committee is considering different methods of enforcement. Suggestions include an online reporting system similar to those used by University of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky. In addition, faculty and staff such as
residential advisers will be trained on how to approach violators and will play an important role in reinforcing the policy. “It is the community chain of enforcement that I am relying on to enforce this policy,” Davies said. Davies also said that he has received few negative responses from students about this policy change and has felt encouraged by the positive feedback from students. The policy, set to be in effect Aug. 5, 2015, will add Murray State to the list of more than 1,000 tobacco-free schools in the nation. The Board of Regents is set to vote on the policy Feb. 27. Davies encouraged the Murray State community to continue expressing feedback and concerns about the policy change.
Other universities have rough ban start Lucy Easley
Contributing writer leasley@murraystate.edu
Are you thinking about lighting up on campus? Think again. In an effort to emphasize health and wellness, the Board of Regents voted to make Murray State a tobacco-free campus. Since the decision was made in December 2014, the question is no longer whether going tobacco-free is the right move, but how to enforce this new policy. Murray State is not the first college campus to make such a change. The University of Louisville, University of Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky University have all modified their tobacco policies within the past five years to restrict the use of tobacco products on university grounds. In 2010, the University of Louisville implemented its Smoke-Free Initiative. Karen Newton, director of its Health Promotion Office in Louisville, said it took time, but support for the policy gradually grew. While those who support the policy tend to abide by it, enforcement still remains an issue. There are no repercussions if someone chooses to violate the policy, but
Newton stated that the provost, Shirley Willihnganz, is investigating better methods of making sure the policy is implemented. Eastern Kentucky and University of Kentucky have attempted to give students more power to enforce the tobacco-free policies by providing places to report violators. Eastern Kentucky allows students to fill out an Online Tobacco Violation Report which asks for date, time and location of the violation and a description of the violator. Some students report violations to the university, but others tend to approach violators directly. Tomas Garza, sophomore at the University of Louisville, said students, faculty and staff are trusted to speak up when they see smokers lighting up. “Some students get annoyed when people smoke on campus, but only a handful will say anything,” Garza said. Enforcement of the policy lies mostly with students, though Garza says some may feel uncomfortable asking people to stop. Morgan Schweitzer, freshman at the University of Kentucky, stated that many people smoke outside of the dorms. “Smoking on the main campus is banned, but people do it anyway,” Schweitzer said. She said certain areas of campus are known to be smoking areas, despite the to-
bacco-free policy. Banning the use of tobacco on campus promotes wellness, but it does not address the addiction involved in tobacco use. Many universities are taking steps to help students live a healthier lifestyle by providing resources that help students break the habit. University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky and University of Louisville offer smoking cessation programs for students who want help. Judy Lyle, associate director of Health Services at Murray State, said the University has a number of programs available both on and off campus for students, faculty or staff members who want to quit using tobacco products. Health Services provides access to programs such as Cooper/Clayton, Freedom From Smoking and Not On Tobacco. Lyle said part of the goal of these programs is to emphasize the importance of wellness and support healthy living within the Murray State community. “The campus needs to be a leader in health and wellness,” Lyle said. As other universities have noted, the policy change will produce results, but not overnight. “It does take time,” Newton said.
The maintenance crew for the Murray-Calloway County Parks System has been cut in half as the months turn colder and their funding dries up. Tab Brockman, parks director for the parks system, said normally they would have only laid off one or two employees but the cutbacks Brockman saved the park board thousands of dollars. “We’ve been forced to scale back its employees to an absolute skeleton crew because of financial challenges the parks board is facing,” he said. The sting of the failed park referendum tax voted on last November may be soothed by a constitutional amendment proposed to the Kentucky General Assembly, which would allow for communities to enforce a tax for specific projects. The amendment, called LIFT, or Local Investments For Transformations, is a local-option sales tax that would give local communities a chance to create a new revenue for specific projects by raising the sales tax in that community up to one penny on every dollar. Proponents say the tax increase would expire once the designated project is completed. Judge Executive Larry Elkins said although there isn’t a tax proposal in the works to affect the parks system in Murray-Calloway County, the local option sales tax might be an option for the parks in the future. Even if lawmakers in Frankfort, Ky., approved LIFT this spring, it would go to ballot in November 2016 for voters to ratify. If voters approve the constitutional change, it would allow for communities like Murray to raise the sales tax for a specific project, but 2018 is the earliest it could take effect. The new revenue would be
dedicated to funding specific projects that the community picks and would not go into a city’s or county’s general fund, according to the LIFT Kentucky website, which is run by proponents of the local option sales tax. Brockman said updating the parks could be a project Murray would choose and would be up to the community. “There is nothing imminent about additional revenue for the parks,” Elkins said. “The parks board will continue to identify and fix problems just as they always have in order to have a nice park with the revenues they already have.”
THE PARKS AFTER THE ELECTION
The Murray-Calloway County parks system includes two parks, Chestnut Park, Central Park and a soccer complex. The oldest of the three, Chestnut Park, is 70 years old. Central Park is about 40 years old and Bee Creek Soccer Complex is about 30 years old. “We have to deal with maintenance problems that come with aging,” Brockman said. “The normal wear and tear on parks that happen.” The first priority of parks management is to have the condition of the community pool in Central Park assessed. Park employees have suspected for several years that the 40-year-old pool has been leaking and a 2010 study verified the damage existed. The pool leaks about 9,000 gallons of water a day, according to the report. “Additional meter reading evaluations last year indicate the leaking is getting progressively worse and have escalated over the last three years,” Brockman said. The condition of the ground beneath the pool has yet to be evaluated. The parks board has secured three estimates ranging from $6,000 to $10,000 to get the pool inspected, but a decision has not been made. “We will have to come up with a creative way to finance that because it is not within our budget,” he said.
FINDING ANOTHER WAY
Brockman said the park ref-
see PARKS, 2A
Drunken driver hits four cars in complex Staff Report The Murray Police Department apprehended Isaac Gough, 19-yearold freshman from Union Town, Ky., at approximately 2 a.m. on Jan. 19 after he hit four parked cars in the parking lot of Campus Evolution Villages North while under the influence of alcohol. Gough was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence, reckless endangerment, failure to produce insurance and wanton endangerment of the second degree – a class A misdemeanor. Gough was handcuffed and taken to the Calloway County Jail. His $2,000 bond was posted and he was released at 6:59 p.m. later that day. One year in prison, for the charge of wanton endangerment of the second degree, is the largest penalty Gough could face. A court date for Gough has not been determined.
Do you own one of the cars hit on Jan. 19? Send us a letter to the editor and let us know what you think at letters@thenews.org.
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ONLINE EDITION Photo courtesy of Courtney Wright
Courtney Wright, junior from Mayfield, Ky., was a student whose car (above) was hit by Isaac Gough, freshman from Union Town, Ky.
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OUR VIEW
BASKETBALL SUCCESS
BUCKET LIST
Positivity campaign greets students on social media, 3A
The TVA agreement should not be renewed, 4A
Men’s basketball success is taken day by day, 1B
The top six things seniors should do before graduation, 5B
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2A
January 23, 2015
Points from the State of the Union address Staff Report
tional benefits and paid apprenticeships.”
If you missed the State of the Union address Tuesday night, here are a few main points. The address is delivered annually by the president and reports the state of the nation along with an outline of the legislative agenda.
“But 95 percent of the world’s customers live outside our borders, and we can’t close ourselves off from those opportunities.”
WOMEN AND EQUAL PAY
“I intend to protect a free and open internet…”
“That’s why this Congress still needs to pass a law that makes sure a woman is paid the same as a man for doing the same work. Really. It’s 2015. It’s time.”
RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE “We still need to make sure employees get the overtime they’ve earned. And to everyone in this Congress who still refuses to raise the minimum wage, I say this: if you truly believe you could work full-time and support a family on less than $15,000 a year, go try it. If not, vote to give millions of the hardest-working people in America a raise.”
MAKING COMMUNITY COLLEGE FREE “Second, to make sure folks keep earning higher wages down the road, we have to do more to help Americans upgrade their skills.” “I’m also asking more businesses to follow the lead of companies like CVS and UPS (who have work/study programs), and offer more educa-
SELLING MORE PRODUCTS OVERSEAS
SUPPORT FOR NET NEUTRALITY
ENDING ISOLATIONIST CUBA POLICY
“In Cuba, we are ending a policy that was long past its expiration date. When what you’re doing doesn’t work for 50 years, it’s time to try something new.”
STOP IRANIAN NUCLEAR ARMAMENT
“There are no guarantees that negotiations will succeed, and I keep all options on the table to prevent a nuclear Iran.”
PROTECTING AGAINST CYBER ATTACKS
“No foreign nation, no hacker, should be able to shut down our networks, steal our trade secrets or invade the privacy of American families, especially our kids.”
DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE
“The Pentagon says that climate change poses immediate risks to our national security. We should act like it.”
J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo
Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner applaud President Barack Obama during his State of the Union address.
Service Day held in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
Hannah Fowl/The News
Jenny Rohl/The News
Jeff Yokum, associate minister at First Baptist Church in Springfield, Ill., speaks as the keynote speaker during the Jan. 19 breakfast.
Christina Morgan, graduate student from Murray, volunteers at Need Line during the Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day.
Sara Gantz || Contributing writer
online at Murray State’s volunteer webpage. Some of the volunteer events included Need Line in Murray, donation collection for the cancer society Hope Lodge, painting sets at Playhouse in the Park and helping a family with yard work. Last year, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., more than 250 volunteers contributed, completing 1,250 hours of community service, Winchester said. This year approximately 150 people worked Monday afternoon, she said. The volunteers were comprised of students, faculty, staff, community leaders and families who brought their children to the event. One of this year’s volunteers, Jordan Mitchell, graduate student from Irvington, Ky., said it was a day to reflect on what King did. “I feel that this day meant reaching out to
sgantz@murraystate.edu
For the fifth year in a row, community members rallied together to donate their time on Martin Luther King Jr. Day by volunteering in the area. Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day was hosted by Murray State Jan. 19 in honor of the civil rights activist and opened at 9 a.m. with a breakfast in the Curris Center. “It was an amazing event with very powerful speakers including President Davies and Dr. Yocum,” said Gina Winchester, executive director of Murray State’s Office of Regional Outreach. Jeff Yocum, the keynote speaker at the breakfast, is an associate minister for First Baptist Church in Springfield, Ill.
The King Day of Service turns King’s life and teachings into community service, helping to solve local problems. Service projects during this day strive to strengthen communities, empower individuals and bridge barriers, according to Murray State’s Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day website. “As a traditional day off from work, we encouraged the faculty, staff and students to make it a ‘day on’ for community services in keeping with the ideals Martin Luther stood for,” Winchester said. Winchester said she believes volunteers gain personal growth and satisfaction knowing they helped others. The experience also teaches civic responsibility, she said. Those wishing to volunteer could sign up
others and giving back,” he said. “I also believe, as responsible people, we need to help those less fortunate.” Derek Stine, sophomore from Sparta, Ill., helped to organize and package food at Need Line in Murray. “I volunteered because I want to show there are people out there who want to look out for others’ best interests,” Stine said. Volunteering meant giving away some of your time to help and better others, he said. “The poor and the needy still need food to sustain themselves, and I wanted to do something to help them,” Stine said. Further activities will take place throughout the spring semester in honor of King and the Civil Rights Movement. The full list of events can be found online at www.smore.com/4btk9.
PARKS From Page 1
Hannah Fowl/The News
Murray’s Central Park is one of the parks affected by the financial strain. The pool in Central Park leaks approximately 9,000 gallons per day and requires an inspection and fix that could total more than $60,000.
erendum tax failed simply because voters preferred to exhaust other funding options before agreeing to a tax increase. “The good thing that came out of the election is that the community is more aware of the needs of the park,” he said. “Folks know that there are things that need to be addressed.” He said since the election, the parks board has developed tax-refundable opportunities for community members to donate to the parks through the Murray-Calloway County Community Foundation and redbasket.org. Redbasket.org is a non-profit organization that allows individuals to donate time or money directly to local people or projects that need help, according to its website. The profile on redbasket.org for the Murray-Calloway County parks shows that $705 of $60,000 has been raised through donations with 48 days remaining in the time frame given. The $60,000 is required to cover the cost of the pool inspection and create an emergency maintenance fund. Even if the goal of $60,000 is not met, the project will receive the money that has been donated to them. “We are always in fundraising mode,” Brockman said. “And we find ourselves there all the time.”
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January 23, 2015 News Editor: Amanda Grau Assistant Editor: Mari-Alice Jasper Phone: 270-809-4468 Twitter: MurrayStateNews
3A
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#RacerHappyHour brings optimism to campus Ben Manhanke || Staff writer bmanhanke@murraystate.edu
Murray State began what it hopes to be an online transformation last week with a social media campaign with the hashtag “Racer Happy Hour.” Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Murray State released synchronized Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Yik Yak posts relaying positive messages about improving one’s self and funny viral Internet videos and memes meant to brighten students’ days. Catharine Sivills, assistant vice president of Branding, Marketing and Communication, said in the past year she has noticed a growing tension on campus revolving around social issues regarding race, sexual assault and cyber bullying. This tension, she said, is being bolstered by what students are posting on social media sites about their peers and the University. “There’s so much negativity out there for all of us,” she said. “You pull up your news feed and it’s just all around. We wanted to do something small which might just make someone’s day a little better.” Ben Stinnett, retention specialist, worked closely with Sivills and other administration to develop Racer Happy Hour after several racist Yaks were posted on the popular anonymous forum
Yik Yak last semester. The campaign was inspired by a similar effort made at Colgate University. For 24 hours, professors posted positive messages to Yik Yak following several racist remarks made on the app which sparked a multi-day student sit-in. Stinnett said while social media is the best way to reach students, it is not always the easiest platform to utilize correctly. He said there is a science to universities using social media. “You have to meet the students where they are and students are on social media,” he said. “But a lot of times students don’t want to blend their personal and school lives as much, so the challenge for the University is being present without being overwhelming. (Social media) is a moving target.” Racer Happy Hour will take place several more times during the semester: before midterms, during finals week and during other times of high stress on campus. Dana Howard, social media marketing manager, said Racer Happy Hour’s success won’t be measured by the number of retweets or “likes” the office of retention’s posts get, but by students’ reactions. Reactions so far, she said, have been mixed, but mostly positive. Jessica Hiter, sophomore from Murray said she thinks Racer Happy Hour is a good idea and can be used to improve morale on campus, especially during Finals week.
“Sometimes during finals week you just want to cry and just need something happy and something positive, and this helps” Hiter said. “Especially if you’re studying a lot you like to take study breaks and usually end up on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram just scrolling through trying to pass time. Obviously you’d see these posts.” Matthew Crane, senior from Cadiz, Ky., said he thinks the University should focus on developing a positive campus, but its efforts should be focused more on the residential colleges and not through social media. “Words are cheap and a Facebook profile is free and a Twitter profile is free,” he said. “The University can post happy things all day long, but that doesn’t really affect student happiness so much as providing them with avenues for positive change. Unfortunately that would take time and money that (the University) seems unwilling to expend.” Howard said this semester will be the trial run for Racer Happy Hour. Depending on what feedback the office of retention receives from the campus, she said, they will decide on whether or not to continue Racer Happy Hour next year. “There have been many conversations about how do we help and how do we, the University, (improve the campus atmosphere),” Howard said. “I think it’s kind of all boiled down to where is a place to start and this is the starting point for us.”
Dean of University Libraries to leave for new job Ben Manhanke || Staff writer bmanhanke@murraystate.edu
Over the past several years, the University’s libraries have undergone a number of changes including the renovation of the third floor of Waterfield Library and the addition of new available technology such as iPads and dual monitor computers to the library system. At the end of this semester the library will be subjected to another change: the stepping down of the dean of the university libraries, the man responsible for many of these changes made to the libraries in the past five years. Adam Murray, dean of University Libraries, formally submitted his letter of resignation shortly after the Murray spring semester began and announced he will accept the position of dean of Libraries and Educational Technology at
P O L I C E B E A T
James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. Murray said the position at James Madison was enticing to him for a number of reasons including the university’s similarity in size and demographic to Murray State, but also in its strategic plans for the future, which are focused on engagement. “Really that word ‘engagement’ has been at the heart of what I’m trying to do here,” he said. “Look at the ways people engage with each other, with information, with their learning experiences, with their research and taking that out of the formal classroom.” He said the fact that James Madison had “engagement” as its core concept, which was going to define it for the next 10 years, was exciting for him. “All the check boxes of what I’m looking for in a potential position lined up,” Murray said. “It just seemed like the perfect next step for my career.” Murray, who was appointed as interim dean in 2007, will serve as dean until June 30. A search committee has been formed and
tasked with naming Murray’s successor in six months. The committee, headed by Bob Pervine, associate provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, submitted the job advertisement to Human Resources this week. Administration hopes to have it posted online and in academic journals by Feb. 1. Pervine said the committee is looking for someone with experience in an academic library setting, with fundraising and who has a vision of what a 21st century library should be like. He said they prefer candidates who also have experience with library renovations or the construction of a new library. “We need to do something with our current (library) facilities,” he said. “I think that’s something everyone realizes and that’s something that will be on the horizon and with which our next library dean will certainly be involved with in some way.” With funding for Murray State’s new Engineering and Physics Building secured via state funding, Pervine said Murray State will be re-prioritizing its capital.
Plans for major renovations to Waterfield Library or the construction of a new facility have both been on the table as possible future projects for several years, he said. After Spring Break the search committee hopes to have narrowed down its list of possible candidates to three or four finalists. Murray said the most important things for the next dean to be are collaborative and innovative. “A lot of people still hear the word ‘library’ and they have the traditional notion of a dusty warehouse with dusty books,” he said. Murray said he hopes his lasting legacy at Murray State is that he’s helped people understand that libraries aren’t just about warehousing books, but places which can meet people’s needs in a variety of fashions. “While books are part of what we do, that’s not all of it,” Murray said. It’s important they make sure they keep that in mind and continue to expand the services and meet the demand and evolving need of the different constituencies.”
6:51 a.m. Racer Patrol advised Murray State Police of an abandoned golf cart outside the Lowry Center. Officers were notified and an information report was taken. 11:42 p.m An officer conducted a traffic stop at 121 North and Coldwater Streets. A citation was issued to the driver for failure to wearrequesta seatbelt. 8:27 a.m. A caller from Wells 12:45 a.m. An officer conducted a 12:58 p.m. An officer conducted 10:59 a.m. A contractor The passenger was arrested on anAoutstanding warrant and was taken to Calloway County Jail. Hall requested to speak to the traffic stop on 16th Street. writa traffic stop at North 16th Street ed access to the penthouse in 8:20 a.m.ten A caller reported a residential college flag missing. The Street Housing Officethe was notified. and Miller because on-call nurse. The on-call nurse warning was issued for having White Residential College to 11:22 p.m. A headlight, caller reported a motor vehicle accident car with nonot injuries Whitelicense Residential College. Officers were notified and a report was taken.complete radio maintenance. did have aatvisible was notified. one not wearing a seat 7:17 p.m.belt An officer a traffic stop at the Business parking lot. A citation was issued fora.m. driving a suspended license. 10:35 Theon owner of a and notconducted having a driver’s plate Building displayed. Officers were notified. 8:51 p.m.license A caller the smell of gas at Hart Residential College. Officers, Murray Fire Department, Central Heating and Cooling theAState Marshall recovered bicycle requested to Plant, Murray Gas inreported their possession. 11:59 p.m. A caller from Eliza11:52and a.m. callerFire from Col- were notified. A7:44 report was a.m. A taken. caller reported being beth Residential College reportretrieve the property. Officers lege Courts reported a sparking 12:01 p.m. A caller reportedina Faculty sparking outlet in theed 300 block ofemergency. College Courts. Officers, thewere Murray Fire and Department, Central Cooling Plant and the State Fire a medical Officers notified the bicycle was Heating and stuck in an elevator outlet. Officers and Facilities Marshal were notified. Management A report waswas taken. and Murray Ambulance Serreturned to the owner. Hall. Facilities Management were notified. 4:57 p.m.conducting The Murray Police Department of awere medical emergency at the Volleyball Courts. Officers and Murray Ambulance Services were notified. The patient was maintenance on the was notified vices notified. The patient transported and awhich reportcaused was taken. elevator a minor refused transport, but a medical 3:46 a.m.disruption. Officers conducted a check of a person on North 12thwas Street. The person was arrested and transported to Calloway County Jail for alcohol inreport taken. toxication in a public place. A report was taken. Call of Fame 9:09 p.m. A caller re- Jan. 18, 3:21 p.m. - A caller ported a from Franklin Residential Col11:32 a.m. A caller reported an 2:45 p.m. A caller reported lege reported a vehicle doing smoke detector activated at Springer Residential College due 2:37 a.m. An officer conducted animalOfficers complaint campus. fraudulent credit card activity. doughnuts in the parking lot. to a hair dryer. wereoff notified and no threat of fire was found. AnWaldrop information report was taken. a traffic stop on Drive Police Department 4:42 p.m.Murray A caller reported a theft ofwas property from a vehicle from Alexander Hall. Officers were notified a report was taken Officersand were notified and the for theft of under Officers were notified and a and Chestnut Street. A written notified. taking from a vehicle. $500 by unlawful caller was referred to the law warning was issued. warning was issued for disrep.m.reported A caller the from the of marijuana at Hart. Officers were notified and an informationenforcement 6:12 p.m.6:57 A caller smell report was taken. jurisdiction where garding a stop sign and failure to intramural fields reported a the crime was committed. provide proof of insurance. Motorists Assists - 2 medical emergency. Officers, 6:52 p.m. A caller from Hart p.m.products A general Racer Escorts - 3 2:47 p.m.Murray A caller reported an unauthorized company7:27 selling onincident campus at Winslow Dining Hall. The caller was referred to Student Affairs. Ambulance Services and Residential College reported the received from Hester ArrestsMurray -0 6:12 p.m.Student A callerAffairs reported thenotified. smell of natural gas at report the Oldwas Fine Arts Building. Officers, Central Heating and Cooling Plant, Murray Fire department, Gas and the State Fire were smell of marijuana. Officers were Residential College in reference Marshall The werestudent notifiedwas andtransported a report wasbytaken. notified and a report was taken. Mari-Alice Jasper, Assistant News Editor, to unauthorized people in a Murray Ambulance Services to compiles Police Beat with materials room. provided by Public Safety and Emergency the hospital. Motorists assists – 8 Management. Not all calls are listed. Racer escorts – 1
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January 23, 2015
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Renewing TVA contract proves risky The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board.
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A full house at the CFSB Center usually means fun and fandom, but that wasn’t the case in January 2014, when many on-campus students were herded into the basketball stadium. After the residential halls lost electricity, the stadium was the only refuge for heat to combat the sub-zero temperatures. The rest of the month was filled with blackouts on other parts of campus, generator malfunctions and pipelines frozen to the point of bursting. While it seemed like a freak accident, all of this could have been prevented if it wasn’t for Murray State’s standing contract with Tennessee Valley Authority. According to the contract, TVA can shut off electricity whenever the service region exceeds certain power levels. The stipulation means no power, heat or running water, which damaged 40 percent of campus facilities.
Now, the University must decide if the same contract is worth signing again by August this year. Is the discount worth losing power with little warning? Murray State’s former vice president of Finances and Administrative Services, Tom Denton, signed the contract in 2010 in order to receive a discount on electricity costs. The contract was not viewed by the Board of Regents at the time. The contract, now in its final year, outlines the conditions of a 5 MR, or 5 minute response, agreement, stating that zero kilowatts of Murray State’s power is considered protected. The University has received cumulative credits of $1.3 million since the contract was signed. These credits were used to purchase new generators in the events of a power outage, but they malfunctioned in January. The University must consider
if $1.3 million is worth compromising on-campus students, who provide Murray State with millions more to live in its residential halls. If Murray State requires first and second year students to live on campus, they should be guaranteed the most positive experience possible. This means not huddling for warmth and being crammed into a basketball stadium. However, the decision to take the discount and resign the contract is attractive in its own ways. Since the power outage in 2014, funding for the University has decreased by more than 20 percent, so saving will likely be a priority. While the decision seems easy when $1.3 million is in the paperwork, the University must consider how much more it could cost if a power outage of the same intensity were to happen again. TVA has its share of negative relationships. According to the
Insider Journal, the Tennessee Environmental Agency sued TVA over its coal-burning power plant in Gallatin County. The lawsuit claims the company disposed of its coal ash in unlined storage ponds, which leaked contaminants into local water supplies. It was also responsible for the largest coal ash disaster in 2008 when a containment dike burst, releasing five million cubic yards of coal ash sludge into the Emery and Clinch Rivers. Contracting with a more environmentally friendly company with green energy could possibly save more money than a TVA discount could. The risks and rewards should require consideration from the Board of Regents. The Regents should take the time and plan the best decision to make, but they should also keep in mind that cutting corners can come with consequences.
Dayone’s Manifest
Moore: It’s a punk rock life As I was in the office of WKMS-FM 91.3 in Murray, it was refreshing to hear the band Fugazi’s song titled, “Waiting Room.” After hearing the song on the radio, I began to dance, even though my dance moves are horrible. Taurus Moore This song Graduate student from was important Wadesboro, NC. because one of the segments was talking about capitalistic society and how it is overrunning our nation. It is amazing how a song can create such a political standpoint against our society and show people the government can use different ideas across the globe to distract Americans from the problems that exist here. Today’s songs do not match up to the classic ballads or sounds of the punk rock genre. Punk rock helped me see the world in many different perspectives from what others can see. It is not just the guitar that gives punk rock songs the majestic sound of anger, sorrow and
angst against the society that we have been living in for years. It is heard in the messages that are carried to us from many bands across the nation that never went mainstream. Mainstream American music is absent of a message and usually receives awards, while punk rock stays on the message at hand. Punk rock originated in England and was brought over during the “British Invasion,” which was a huge influence on the genre and started on other musicians. As years go by, this genre has decreased from many radio stations and also exclusively on records, which is a tough loss due to the idea that this genre was too rough or just noise.
“
There is not a single day that I do not listen to punk rock and not learn and grow from it. -- Taurus Moore
”
No, it is not noise; it is music. It is easier to dance to electronic dance music or rap and people do not understand what messages are being delivered. Music in general has to have a message with instruments that can set the mood of the song. Unlike other genres, punk rock is all about instruments that carry on rebellion for democracy, or anarchy even. There are instances where it is easily mistaken to not love a genre
because of miscommunication, or it is simply too hard to listen to. Growing up, I was always a fan of punk rock because it saved me from the worst times and was there for me through best times. Bands such as Dag Nasty, Off!, Black Flag, The Clash, Career Suicide, Bad Brains, Suicidal Tendencies, Sum 41, Riot Grrrl, The Misfits and so many others have influenced me to reach the broader outlooks of not only the genre itself, but also my life. Every single song speaks to me and provides insight on the world around me to help me understand that my life is something that I actually have to fight for because people are fighting every day to make it through our capitalist society. Politics weren’t really my cup of tea at one point, but thanks to punk rock, I became more involved and understanding that the system will be corrupt in any and every form. It also talks about life as you grow. There is not a single day that I do not listen to punk rock and not learn and grow from it. For example, one of my favorite songs of all time was, “Institutionalized,” by Suicidal Tendencies. It helped me comprehend the idea that we, as Americans, are all trying to reach that common goal and achieve the so-called “American Dream,” which practically doesn’t exist anymore. Ideals are what kill a nation. In general, music is music. However, punk rock will be the light in your fire and your drive to everyday life. It is one genre to definitely listen to.
The News
Opinion
January 23, 2015
5A
Letter to the Editor A recent editorial and political cartoon in The News suggested that citizens who voiced their concerns about a controversial issue to the city council “speaks volumes about the negativity people still experience.” Exactly who experienced negativity because of these comments is unclear. Concerned citizens of Murray simply shared their concerns with their elected representatives. How did those communications “speak volumes” about anything and how did they come across as negative? The News’ editorial stated “to say that LGBT members should be discriminated against … is hateful and counterproductive,” and that “to turn them away and stifle their opportunities not only hurts them, but hurts the community as well.” What we have here is a fictional narrative about life in Murray. The implication is that any opposition amounts to bigotry and hate and that Murray is a town full of human rights abusers. It should be clear to college level students and aspiring journalists that disagreement does not equal discrimination. Significant policy proposals should be accompanied by robust de-
bate, mutual respect and an attempt at better understanding. Demonizing and caricaturing the opposition as a political cartoon recently printed in The News isn’t helpful or constructive toward those ends. Consider that the proposed ordinance essentially elevates sexual identity and sexual orientation to civil rights status on par with race and ethnicity. It would make it illegal to make a judgment on sexual orientation or gender identity regarding housing, employment and public accommodations. While nobody should condone ugly or bigoted treatment toward a fellow human being, several questions should be answered before the city council takes action. Good journalists would ask, “why is this ordinance needed?” They would point to documented cases of sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination (there are none in Murray). Good journalists would ask, “how does this ordinance affect those opposed to it?” (It has been used in other cities and states to punish business owners who refuse to materially participate through their products or services in gay weddings).
Did she really say that?
Swipe right for self-love
We were once told that somebody’s private sexual life is nobody’s business. Should this ordinance pass, it drags one’s sex life into the hiring process and politicizes the workplace. Here’s how: if employers shouldn’t ask about somebody’s private sex life during an interview and the prospective employee doesn’t bring this up, then how can an employer be held accountable for failing to hire somebody based on their sexual orientation? Truth is, most business owners are having trouble finding hard working and qualified employees. They are most concerned about finding reliable workers who contribute to their team. No credible employers are going out of their way to look for a reason not to hire an otherwise well-qualified employee. Unfortunately, The News failed to report on both sides of the story. If you disagree with their position, you will be considered intolerant. If you don’t support this ordinance, in their opinion, you don’t understand basic human rights. Such rhetorical thuggery is polarizing and hinders serious discussion of important policy
considerations. We trust the Murray City Council to thoroughly consider the implications of this issue and not be bullied into passing an ordinance that amounts to bad public policy.
Richard Nelson
Executive Director Commonwealth Policy Center
Andy French
President Commonwealth Policy Center
Issues, Observations and Sometimes Rants
Qualls: An unforced perspective There’s a rhetorical question so often repeated that it has the patina of philosophy. It’s a paradigm in which people are categorized as either seeing a proverbial glass as half-empty or half-full. The idea is that an individual is predominately optimistic or pessimistic. Things are getKevin Qualls ting better or things are getting Professor of mass communications worse. This question is posed as if the choices are mutually exclusive. This is not profound wisdom. It is utter absurdity. There are more than two possible worldviews. For the sake of mental health, I reject the half-empty/half-full paradigm and suggest that you consider doing the same. The half-empty/half full paradigm is consistent with a culture that seeks to label people as either this or that. Republican or Democrat. Ying or
Cheers and Jeers Cheers & Jeers is written by the Opinion Editor. Questions, comments or concerns should be addressed to cbesser@murraystate.edu
Comic
Yang. Star Trek or Star Wars. Mac or PC. Us or Them. It suggests a static state. That is, you are inherently in one camp or the other. It’s binary; you are a “one” or a “zero.” Not so. Here’s another idea: what if the glass contains exactly the amount it is supposed to contain in any given moment? Drink that in. Go ahead, consider it. The next paragraph will be here waiting for you. It’s OK to leave this column half-read then return to it after some reflection. Ready? I wonder what possibilities occur to you. Acceptance, maybe? Things are what they are. You may or may not be able to influence how much is in that glass. If you are able to influence the content of the glass, maybe you should consider whether you should. The Serenity Prayer comes to mind. Do you realize that content is dynamic, in a state of flux? Liquid. Sometimes the cup runneth over. Sometimes all that remain are bitter dregs. Like everything else, it has cycles. Do you consider whether having a full glass should be the objective? After all, what good is anything if the benefit of it is denied? Maybe the best approach is to empty the glass for the benefit of others and ourselves. Then, get a refill. Repeat as necessary. Turn, turn, turn. And a time to every purpose under heaven. Finally, another question comes to mind. Just how many glasses are there? The rhetorical ques-
Cheers to ... “American Sniper.” Since its release on Dec. 25, American Sniper grossed more than $136 million at the box office and snagged six Oscar nominations. Can you say “‘Merica?” We sure can. Go check it out.
Jeers to ... Michael Moore. After the release of the Oscar nominated film “American Sniper,” the documentary filmmaker tweeted saying that “snipers are cowards” and they will “shoot u in the back.” Leave it to Moore to stir the pot with controversy. He certainly felt backlash on this one.
tion is framed as seeing the glass as half-empty/ half-full. Maybe the premise is faulty just like the same premise about the economy. Maybe there are lots and lots of glasses. I suppose one could argue that 1 percent of these glasses is completely full and the rest are nearly empty. But if there are lots of glasses, maybe content isn’t so finite either. The Federal Reserve doesn’t seem to think so. But let’s get back to the idea of the glass being “just right.” I have evidence. You know that moment when your carefully measured proportions of coffee, creamer and sugar are exactly in balance. Then somebody does you the “favor” of warming your coffee. It was perfect but somebody assumed that it would be better if full. How about that pair of jeans that are well-worn but not yet ragged? Comfortable. How about that steak that completely meets your expectation of “medium rare?” Delicious. Consider the car that has no more payments and at least another 50,000 miles to go. Sweet! Porridge that is neither too hot or cold. Just. Right. This may prove to be a less anxious worldview: accepting things are what they are, realizing that they are subject to change, understanding that there’s not just one glass, appreciating the present, living life absent the forced perspective of being either optimistic or pessimistic and finally, being content. It may be well to consider the glass: just right.
Jeers to ... The New England Patriots. After defeating the Indianapolis Colts in the playoffs, the Pats have been found guilty for deflating 11 football. You already have Tom Brady. No need to cheat.
Cheers to ... Miley Cyrus. We’re used to seeing the former “Hannah Montana” star do raunchy things in the public eye, but the 21-yearold singer posted nude photographs as a way to explain that nudity doesn’t have to be sexual. Love your bodies, ladies.
I’m all about Tinder pranks. People making fake Tinder profiles and saying strange things to their matches is funny to me. While the dating app provides meetups, Carly Besser and even Opinion Editor romance, it is also a platform for some good Internet comedy. However, there is a new viral phenomenon that didn’t make me giggle so much as it filled me with concern. Claire Boniface, a 20-year-old student, conducted a social experiment titled “agreeing with boys when they compliment you.” Instead of being grateful and thanking men for Tinder messages saying “you’re so hot,” or “you have pretty eyes,” she would agree with them by saying “yes,” or “I know.” After trying this new response system, the men who originally gave her compliments called her things like “bitch,” “conceited” or “vain.” They would then retract their compliments. It seems like the flow of romantic communication is formulaic, in a way. Boy says hello, boy compliments girl, girl should feel obligated to give thanks, everything is great. If the girl ignores the boy or agrees with his compliment, she is ungrateful, self-obsessed and rude. In reality, women should not be degenerated for expressing their freedom of choice in partner selection. They can also choose to accept their own beauty and intelligence before a man says it, and they should. From an early age, people are taught the mantra of self-love and acceptance. We are taught that confidence is beautiful and as soon as we discover a love for ourselves, it will be easier for other people to love us as well. Beauty and desirability are not gifts that can only be bestowed upon us by other people. Why is it that it’s perfectly OK for women to doubt a compliment they receive, but it’s an issue of narcissism when they actually believe it? A lot of this backlash is found in guys with “nice guy syndrome,” who believe that women should feel obligated to date them because they’re nice to them. Most of us know humans are complicated because we all were teenagers once. Unrequited love and losing out on someone you’re attracted to are facts of life and they happen to everyone (that isn’t Ashton Kutcher). Have I been rejected when I tried to flirt with someone before? Of course. Instead of acting aggressive and calling the person names, I took the hint and respected that this person was not obligated to be with me. I’m not on a crusade against men. Most men know how to take a loss for the team, pick themselves back up and find someone new if they are turned down by a woman, but some need a little help. In 1946, Brooklyn Dodgers Manager Leo Durocher coined the famous term, “nice guys finish last.” Now, some people have taken the term and used it as a life lesson. While it seems that way sometimes, nice guys don’t always finish last. Instead of berating women for their own inspired confidence, we should celebrate it. Instead of insulting them for ignoring you or turning you down, realize that there is someone else who will accept your affection. Keep swiping right, Tinderfolk. cbesser@murraystate.edu
Hot Shots By Katie Wilborn
News
6A
TVA contract: risk or reward? Brittany Risko || Staff writer brisko@murraystate.edu
With temperatures falling and winter setting in, Tennessee Valley Authority, which provides electricity for the University, poses the threat of a campus-wide power outage. “If the TVA needs the power or has a limited source, they will call us and we have five minutes to shut down,” President Bob Davies said. “In return for shutting down, we receive a $400,000 dollar credit to our account and that’s a lot of money.” When it comes to having to shut down the power, it’s a possible risk and reward. “We are able to do other things with those funds, but we run the risk of being notified at any second that we basically have five minutes to shut down all the power on campus,” Davies said. If TVA required the University to shut down, generators across campus would be turned on, he said. Davies said to ensure that the generators are working to their best ability, every month the University goes through a drill and shuts down the power and checks each generator. “Right now, we are on low risk for getting the call to shut down the power,” Davies said. The generators ensure the residential and dining areas of campus continue to function so students are fed and stay warm. There are also a few generators on the academic side of campus, but there aren’t enough for employees to be comfortably working. Murray State is one of 25 other universities
Internship experience boosts student resumes
The News
who have electricity through TVA with similar contracts. The condition of the pipes in the water system on campus is a major concern for officials in regard to the potential power shut down. Pipes that freeze under extreme weather conditions can cause several thousands of dollars worth of damage. University officials reported about 40 percent of the buildings on campus were damaged in the winter of 2014 due to bursting water pipes. Rosemary O’Brien, freshman from Whiteland, Ind., is one of the many students who would suffer if there was a power outage. “It’s scary to think about because you don’t really know what will happen,” O’Brien said. “I’ve never been here when something like this happened, but I know that if the pipes bust, it could damage people’s stuff.” Last year a students living on the first floor of Franklin Residential College came back from Winter Break to find their rooms soaked through. Bryan Beals, sophomore from Owensboro, Ky., learned firsthand what happens when TVA shuts the power down for an extended amount of time. The water from the busted pipes soaked three posters, two instrument cases and two rugs inside his residential college room. “Maintenance did a good job of cleaning it up,” Beals said. “There wasn’t much water on the floors. They cleaned it up with mops and vacuums, but we were still able to sleep in our room that night.”
January 23, 2015
Murray State’s TVA history: From 2010 to 2015, how Murray State has been affected by the contract. Graphic by Amanda Grau
2013
2012
2011
2014
2015
Jan. 6 Due to the threat of extreme cold temperatures, TVA suspends 11,500 kilowatts of energy to campus. 5 MR, or five-minute response, contract is signed without official consent of the Board of Regents.
Teddy Martin || Staff writer emartin@murraystate.edu
The journey of a student through Murray State is dotted with job and internship opportunities and application deadlines. In the Career Services office, the advice is to jump on them. Murray State offers a multitude of opportunities for students to go all over the United States and bulk up their resumes. “In order to take the first step into applying for an internship, you need to find out what you want to do and what you are passionate about,” Ross Meloan, director of Career Services, said. “It could be anything from journalism to engineering, but it’s always a good idea to have a basic plan on what you want to do.” By going into internships, students can put that experience on their resumes. The extra experience gives students a boost into the career world and shows they’re better prepared for what employers task them with, he said.
Jan. 7 Generators malfunction on campus, causing pipes to freeze and burst and damaging more than 40 percent of major campus buildings.
Five-year contract with TVA ends, pending renewal.
Murray State has earned $1.3 million in credits since the contract was signed.
TVA provides energy to 9 million people living in Tenn., Ky., Ala., Miss., Ga., N.C., and Va.
Jan. 22 TVA requests customers reduce power in preparation for extreme weather. The University will face a $500,000 fine if it doesn’t comply within five minutes.
Undergraduates and graduates alike can gain experience from an internship, he said. No matter what stage they are in their education, students’ resumes can gain from what an internship. “I ask the question, ‘what reason do you have for not doing this?’ and I realize that there are a lot of reasons,” Meloan said. “Fear. Some don’t want to feel alone or don’t want to be too far away from home or maybe they think money is too much of a problem. But when you weigh the alternative thoughts of working toward (internships), there’s no argument against the benefits.” Meloan suggested students visit three websites to prepare for their search: goinglobal.com, racertrack.com, and careersshift.com. Careershift.com is only available at the Career Services office, but Meloan said everyone is welcome. There are certain things that people wanting internships must look out for when choosing an internship.
Many are unpaid, and Murray State cannot provide scholarships for housing outside the University. “We will not stop until we help you with everything,” Meloan said. “Though we can’t give money out for housing on different internships, we will help you find sites that can alleviate the burden.” Starting as early as possible is the best action when considering internships and jobs on campus, he said. On the Career Services page and on every student’s MyGate page there are links that can help them get jobs on campus with few steps. “I’d say it wouldn’t be too hard to get an internship,” Anna Gorsick, sophomore from Louisville, Ky., said. “The school is really good about helping students to experience many forms of education, so the school makes sure to provide programs and staff to help students apply for internships.” Gorsick said she wants to focus more on academic work rather than finding a job, as well as being involved in multiple organizations.
January 23, 2015
Section B
The News
Sports
Sports Editor: Mallory Tucker Assistant Sports Editor: Kelsey Randolph Phone: 809-4481 Twitter: MSUSportsNews
WIN STREAK CONTINUES Racers rank nationally, take season one day at a time
Mallory Tucker || Sports Editor mtucker11@murraystate.edu
As the Racers stir excitement among fans with their 13-game win streak, they continue to focus on simply winning each day. “It doesn’t really matter that much to me,” said senior guard T.J. Sapp after Murray State’s win over Tennessee State Saturday. “It doesn’t really matter that much to any of us really on the team. Because the way we’re looking at it right now, that game is over with. Now tomorrow, we’re trying to work on being 1-0, the next day, 1-0. And if we continue to all buy into that message, that record’s going to continue to stretch out on its own.” The Racers are ranked 16th in scoring offense in the NCAA and sophomore point guard Cameron Payne is also ranked 16th nationally in assists per game. While the team and coaching staff concentrates on their daily work, Head Coach Steve Prohm voiced some frustration. “I’m getting off on a tangent here – but I’m sitting there watching ESPN at home and they’re not talking about Cam Payne,” Prohm said. “And I’m like, ‘man.’ It’s funny. That’s why we’ve just got to keep just staying in the moment and just get better today at practice and it’ll all work out.” According to Prohm, the OVC deserves more recognition than what it receives for a strong slew of teams and players. The players’ pride in Murray
State’s program is evident as they pursue a 28th-straight winning season. In addition to being undefeated in the conference, the Racers hold the third place spot for win streaks in the NCAA, behind only the University of Kentucky and the University of Virginia. They both began the season undefeated at 17-0. “It doesn’t really matter if we’re winning just like the Kentucky’s or the Virginia’s – all these teams that are undefeated like that,” Sapp said. “They’ve got tradition, and we’ve got great tradition here, as well. So we expect to win. We’re expected to win. That doesn’t mean nothing to us. It’s just another year in the Murray State basketball program to us.” Ranked first in the OVC’s pre-season polls, the Racers are not strangers to high expectations. Prohm believes these expectations may have caused a few of their losses to slip by early in the schedule. “This year, I think the hiccup came from expectations,” Prohm said. “Everybody has wanted to kind of do it on their own. And you can’t play the game that way. People ask me – I think the biggest reason of change – we’ve got great kids that want to win and want to do things the right way. And they represent our program the right way.” An increased emphasis on defense
see BASKETBALL, 2B
Jenny Rohl/The News
Sophomore point guard Cameron Payne leads the Murray State offense against Tennessee State Saturday at the CFSB Center. The Racers defeated the Tigers 91-72.
Rifle prepares for final regular season match Kelsey Randolph
Assistant Sports Editor krandolph3@murraystate.edu
Kory Savage/The News
Freshman Ben Estes practices shooting at the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range Jan. 14.
Coming off a weekend with its third highest total score of the school year, the Racer rifle team suits up Friday for its last home competition and must face nine other schools. The upcoming match is the final regular season competition before heading to the OVC Championship in Jacksonville, Ala., on Feb 7. Head Coach Alan Lollar isn’t letting the idea of the championship distract the shooters. “I don’t want to talk about it,” Lollar said. “It’s still too soon and we need to focus on what is in front of us.” Murray State hosts the Withrow Invitational at the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range in Roy Stewart Stadium. There will be nine schools traveling to compete as well as junior teams from high schools across the nation. The Withrow Invitiational will be Murray State’s most diverse
competition of the year, hosting an exhibition of nine teams. Lollar said this will prove to be a good challenge for the team because of the distractions the shooters need to overcome. The team’s previous competition might have been a struggle overall, but Lollar said the team shot its third highest aggregate score and was pleased with its performance. “It was tough at JSU because they are a very good team and they are a legitimate top five material,” Lollar said. “People were putting pressure on themselves instead of doing what they are supposed to do” Lollar said it’s about being consistent and showing you can shoot your best every time. Because the score appears as an average of only five shooters, the score could show as a loss but only be one point away from the opposing team. “Consistency for us is doing things
see RIFLE, 2B
Sport Shorts
Men’s tennis opens with loss, women open with awards
The men’s tennis team opened its spring season with a pair of 0-7 losses from Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Louisville. The Racers lost to Middle Tennessee Saturday before traveling to Louisville Sunday. The men’s team will not return to the court until Jan. 29 when it faces Abilene Christian University at Kenlake State Park. The women’s tennis team opens its 2015 spring season Saturday in Knoxville, Tenn., as the women face the University of Tennessee and Mercer University. Two players enter the season ranked nationally by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. The ITA placed freshman Nancy Karaky at No. 106 and senior Andrea Eskauriatza at No. 124. Karaky was undefeated in the fall and Eskauriatza was undefeated in doubles with just one singles loss. First-year Head Coach Jorge Caetano and the team will defend their title as the OVC women’s tennis champions in April.
WHAT’S
INSIDE
For more sports news in a minute or less follow us on Twitter: @MSUSportsNews
Harris’ All-America status solidified by CSN
Senior running back Pokey Harris was named to the 2015 College Sporting News Fabulous Fifty Football Championship Subdivision All-America Team as a kick returner Monday. This award earned Harris consensus All-American status in part with the FCS Athletic Directors Association, the Sports Network and the Walter Camp Football Foundation teams. Harris is now a part of four of the seven most wellknown FCS All-America teams. The Phil Steele team is the seventh award to be named, and will be announced later this month. Harris was not named to the Associated Press or American Football Coaches Association teams, but he was recognized as a part of the Beyond Sports Network, College Sports Madness and College Football Performance Awards teams.
Prohm moves up in Infiniti Coaches Challenge
Men’s basketball head coach Steve Prohm and his selected charity, the Lupus Foundation of America, Mid-South, were in 13th place in the Infiniti Coaches’ Charity Challenge as of Thursday evening. Round one ends at 11:59 a.m. Eastern Time Sunday, and the top 24 coaches will move on to the second round of voting. You can vote online at ESPN.com.
Soccer announces spring tryouts
The soccer team will host open tryouts, Head Coach Jeremy Groves announced Friday. The date, time and location will be announced at a later date. Interested students must be enrolled full-time and have a current physical. For more information, contact Assistant Coach Matt Lodge at mlodge@murraystate.edu or (270) 809-7017.
Red’s Report
Unseen sports from the press box It wasn’t until my junior year that I discovered we have an entire rifle range under Roy Stewart Stadium. I’m not talking about Kelsey Randolph a small, one Assistant or two line Sports Editor range; I’m talking about a fully equipped digitalized rifle range. I also didn’t realize rifle was an Olympic sport or that we had student-athletes that have competed in the Junior Olympics. While basketball and football usually get the most headlines, I think it’s important to remember there is more to the athletic world than those more popular sports. We have a rifle team that is nationally ranked and a volleyball team that reined in an OVC Championship. Not to mention a soccer team that went 11-9 in the season, put four players on the AllOVC Team and for their eighth consecutive year received the NSCAA Academic Award for having a 3.0 GPA. Folks, we have some great athletes on this campus. I have enough trouble working two jobs, being in a sorority and maintaining a 3.0 GPA. While most athletes get scholarships to play at Murray State, not everyone does. I say bravo to all the athletes who work so hard to do what they do. Some people do it for the pure enjoyment and satisfaction. The men’s cross-country team is on their own. They aren’t paid nor are they given scholarships to run. Dedication at it’s finest. This isn’t to put down anyone else who is involved. Anyone who is a part of an organization on campus knows how difficult it can be to juggle that many hats. I commend anyone who can be as involved as these athletes are. With baseball season starting soon and track and field picking up I am sure to see plenty of accomplishments come across my desk in the form of an article. I have underestimated the incredibly talented people who practice and train every day for something they just love doing. I feel a sense of similarity with athletes only because I study and practice doing something I love every day; writing. These athletes’ accomplishments may go unnoticed by some oblivious people, but I have to point out that President Bob Davies has not let it go unnoticed. He has made appearances at men’s and women’s basketball games, soccer games, volleyball games, rifle matches and even the nationally ranked bass anglers team. I interview a wide variety of people and something I’ve heard from coaches is how they believe Davies is one of the most dedicated presidents they’ve encountered in their time. I didn’t realize how important our sports are here at Murray State. I am proud to say I cover many of these sports and wouldn’t change my position of covering them. Since it’s a new year, I’ll jump on the bandwagon and say I think we should all try to support more than just the basketball team and show up to more than tailgating for football. I hope to see more of you down in the range watching our dedicated shooters and more people sitting in the stands for softball and baseball this season. krandolph3@murraystate.edu
ALL TIMERS
INTRAMURALS
CAMPUS LIGHTS
INTERNSHIP TIPS
Track and field starts season by breaking records, 4B
Students return to recreation as basketball begins, 4B
A preview of the annual production, 5B
Tips on when and how to start applying, 5B
The News
Sports
2B
January 23, 2015
BASKETBALL From Page 1B and togetherness is what the Racers work on after their most recent loss. The Racers have been undefeated since falling to Valparaiso 58-93 during the Challenge in Music City Nov. 29. “Our guys have bought into playing together,” Prohm said. “Our guys have started defending, and they’re competing, and they’re playing together. What probably helped this team – and you know there’s a lot of things – I think winning at Evansville was big for us, though. If I had to pick a game, a moment, I just think it got everybody trusting each other a little bit more.” The Racers took a nail-biting 81-79 road victory over the University of Evansville Dec. 13. The game-winning shot came from senior forward Jonathan Fairell with just 2.3 seconds left on the clock. As the Racers continue working to achieve the ultimate goal of an OVC championship title in Nashville, Tenn., in early March, they don’t look backward or forward, but simply focus on themselves in the present. “Don’t be hype, be substance,” Sapp said. “Substance is what we’re trying to be. We could be the hype guys. Be happy when we go up. But substance is what lasts. That hype will go away.” The Racers face Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Sam M. Vadalabene Center in Edwardsville, Ill., before returning to the CFSB Center Jan. 29 to face Eastern Kentucky. “We’ve talked to our guys,” Prohm said. “It doesn’t matter – home, road – you win by the way you play. You win by the way you execute. You win in the paint. You win on the glass. You win at the free-throw line.”
Jenny Rohl/The News
The Racer Pep Band cheers on the Racers Saturday night at the CFSB Center during their 91-72 victory over Tennessee State. Regular basketball game attendance is expected of its members, according to RacerBand.com.
RIFLE
From Page 1B
Racer Fast Stats Points per game: 79.7 Field goal percentage: .495 3-point percentage: .404 Free throw percentage: .689 Rebounds per game: 34.8 Assists per game: 16.8 Turnovers per game: 11.8 Steals per game: 8.3 Blocks per game: 3.6 *as of Jan. 17
Jenny Rohl/The News
Junior forward Jeffery Moss goes up for a layup against Tennessee State at the CFSB Center Saturday. Moss tallied 13 points during the game and approaches 1,000 career points at Murray State with a total of 795.
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the same way every time no matter where you are no matter what range it is,” said Lollar. “If you do things the same way every time you make your adjustments then you have a chance to feel like you will perform at your best.” With this being the last competition before the OVC Championships, Lollar said they are going to stick to focusing on the task at hand. Saturday the Racers traveled to Fort Benning, Ga., and tested their skill at Columbus State and leaving with a win of aggregate scores ranging from 4,6714,553. Following the win they traveled to Jacksonville, Ala. to shoot against Jacksonville State that places them with a loss of an aggregate score of 4,649-4,677. Lollar said the team struggled but not for a lack of effort. With the team shooting in both air rifle and smallbore, they must focus for long periods of time. In air rifle, the shooter must stand and shoot 60 shots all from the standing position. Smallbore requires the shooters to lie on the ground in the prone position, kneel on their knees and then stand, shooting 20 shots in each stance. “It was a new range for us,” said Robert Broadstreet, freshman from Ozark, Mo. “This was the entire team’s first time ever going there. We shot some really good kneeling and some okay prone but we capped it off with standing as a team. The circumstances made it hard to see but overall we did well.” Some shooters like Broadstreet say rifle is often an unseen sport on campus even though Murray State has a long national reputation for having a premier program. “It’s completely different than what people think,” said Broadstreet. “It’s good to get people to come down and get people to know what we’re about. It’s good for people to see how precise it is and see that it’s not just shooting.”
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January 23, 2015
3B
Women’s future look positive Basketball proves to be better than expected
Staff Report The Racers have put down another loss against Belmont, 7968. Though the women are on a five game losing streak, the question stands: are they really struggling? “I’ve never been disappointed in them,” said Head Coach Rob Cross. “There was about a 10 minute stretch of just disappointment in the game.” While the team is struggling to break their streak, the team is well aware of what struggle it is it needs to overcome. “We just have to get on one page for 40 minutes,” said fresh-
#00 Netanya Jackson Pts. per game: FG %: Rebounds: Turnovers: FT %: Min. per game:
6.4 .518 8.1 1.5 .583 22.3
#20 Ke’Shunan James Pts. per game: FG %: Rebounds: Turnovers: FT %: Min. per game:
15.3 .430 5.9 4.7 .734 30.6
man guard Olivia Cunningham. “If we can focus then we can do it.” Cross said while the women play well together for a short period of time, the team needs to work better together as a whole team rather than one person. “We’re more focused on the idea of ‘me’,” Cross said. “When that happens it’s hard to close out. When you are fighting for your team it’s easier. If you’re fighting for you, it’s just not good.” It isn’t a matter of points for the Racers. Overall, the team has scored 345 points against their opponents’ total of 371. Cross said he is concerned about being worn out by the end of
#24 Olivia Cunningham
#13 Keiona Kirby Pts. per game: FG %: Rebounds: Turnovers: FT %: Min. per game:
15.5 .349 5.4 1.8 .803 33.4
11.8 .406 2.7 4.1 .6610 27.2
Pts. per game: FG %: Rebounds: Turnovers: FT %: Min. per game:
#31 Bianca Babic
#30 Kyra Gulledge Pts. per game: FG %: Rebounds: Turnovers: FT %: Min. per game:
the game and bringing back the energy. Working together as a team and not individually is the main goal, according to Cross. Senior guard Keiona Kirby is averaging 15.5 points per game and 5.4 average rebounds per game. Other players who are shooting high averages include freshman guard Olivia Cunningham who averages 11.8 points per game and freshman forward and guard, Ke’Shunan James who averages 15.3 points per game. With scores like this and a turnover in energy the Racers could see a better outcome for the OVC Tournament.
4.8 .569 4.9 1.1 .714 15.8
Pts. per game: FG %: Rebounds: Turnovers: FT %: Min. per game:
4.0 .343 1.6 .3 1.0 11.9
“
One of (Martin Luther King Jr’s) best quotes for me is my favorite from anyone is ‘Life’s most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others?’ I think that is critical for our team right now. Our focus is too much on what is happening to ‘me’ at the moment and we don’t play as much for the team. –Rob Cross Head Coach
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4B
January 23, 2015
Rowing proves to be tough Da’Sha Tuck || Staff writer dtuck@murraystate.edu
Most rowers wear gloves while they are competing, but not the crew at Murray State. “Gloves are for the weak,” said Brittinee Jones junior from Louisville, Ky and a member of Murray State’s rowing team. Rowing is a sport that requires work of both the mind and body. Murray State’s rowing team trains throughout the year to sculpt their skills. Rowing at Murray State is a club sport, this means the students are not eligible for athletic scholarships. To help fund the club, the members must pay dues to compete and alumni chip in with donations. The members must have a personal desire to succeed because they don’t have the pressure of doing a paid job. “You have to want it for yourself, and your team,” Jones said. Rowing is a team sport. It takes eight rowers to put a team together. “To me the best part of rowing is the competitive nature of the sport and the camaraderie between teammates,” said Marshall Watson, junior from Paducah, Ky. The crew usually practices inside Carr Health Building during the fall season and when the spring weather hits, the team goes on Kentucky Lake to row on the water. The crew uses ergometers to strengthen their skills. Ergometers are machines used to simulate rowing on the water. Most people think that rowing is mostly strength from the
arms but the truth is rowing is all in the legs. The University of Louisville and Murray State have the only two collegiate rowing teams in Kentucky. Even though Murray State does not offer scholarships, the team considers it an accomplishment that a club sport like the rowing team can compete at a Division 1 level. The rowing team does not have the luxuries that other crews have, such as a dock, but that has not prevented them from prevailing over those that do.
They have more obstacles than other crews, but they still come out on top of their competition. Making excuses is not something these rowers are in the habit of doing. Rowing may not be a contact sport but it takes immense amounts of time and preparation. Jones said being part of the crew is like taking on another class, and she compares rowing with any other university-funded sport. The crew is made up of 50-70 members, including men’s and women’s teams. Recruitment starts in the fall semester.
Jenny Rohl/The News
The rowing team practices on ergometers during the fall season to prepare for rowing on the water in the spring.
Blue Ballers shut out Clark B Blake Bernier || Contributing writer dbernier@murraystate.edu
Nicole Ely/The News
Blue Baller players block Clark B players as they attempt to pass.
In the first basketball intramural game of the season Tuesday night, the Blue Ballers demolished Clark B 48-3 and put the mercy rule into effect. According to the rule, a game will end if a team is up by 30 points or more at halftime. Blue Ballers team captain Matt Fischer said that the team had four mercy rule wins last year, so this wasn’t anything new to them. “We like to play pretty hard and give it as much as we can,” Fischer said. “We just play to the best of our abilities.” The outcome of this game seemed inevitable even before tip-off. The Blue Ballers were physically bigger and faster than Clark B. Troy Adams from the Clark B team said that he knew his team was going to lose before they even got on the court. “We knew we weren’t going to win,” Adams said. “Their shortest guy was taller than our biggest guy.” The Blue Ballers got off to a fast start with steals on their first three defensive trips, con-
Men Independent A 1. Free Ballers 2. The Whitey Tighties 3. Mighty Ducks
1. BCM Ballers 2. Richmond Shenanigans 3. Blue Ballers
Residential College 1. White Sharks 2. Hart A 3. Richmond A
Intramural standings Women
Independent A 1. Lady Ducks 2. Monstars 3. Omega Mu
Residential College 1. Hart Ravens 2. Regents Girls 3. White College A Girls
Fraternity Nicole Ely/The News
Clark B attempts to bring back their score before being mercy ruled by the Blue Ballers.
1. 2. 3.
Sorority 1. 2. 3.
Not all teams have played and the results are as of Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Independent B
verting each offensive opportunity into points. Just a little over a minute into the game the Blue Ballers were up 8-0. Sophomore Ryan Powers led the Blue Ballers with 13 points, shooting 66 percent and adding three assists. Powers scored most of his points off of fast break opportunities following turnovers by Clark B. For the Clark B team, halftime couldn’t come soon enough. They struggled to string together an offense or defense against their opponent. With 30 seconds on the clock, Clark B player Ethan Shut could be heard joking. “You guys got this,” Shut said. “We will let you have this one.” Shut scored the lone basket for his team. According to Fischer, the Ballers had not practiced yet but they planned to get together over the weekend. As for the next game on Thursday, they plan to show up and wing it again. In last year’s intramural season, the Blue Ballers made it to the semifinals before losing to the Mighty Ducks. “I hope we are in the same position this year,” Powers said. “I’d like to play them again.”
Track and field make all-time top 10
Staff Report
The Murray State track and field team began 2015 at last weekend’s Kentucky Invitational in Lexington with seven athletes and a pair of relay squads cracking the University’s all-time top 10 performance list. Junior Brittany Bohn ran the mile in 5 minutes, 5.59 seconds which landed her at sixth on Murray State’s all-time best list and sixth in the race. Fellow junior Alicyn Hester came in 10th in the race at 5:14.61. “The good thing about our team this year is that it is a little bit older,” said Head Coach Jenny Severns. “We have more upperclassmen than we have ever had. That helps make it easier for us because they take on a lead role in the meets.” Senior sprinter LaShea Shaw landed on the alltime best list in two events: fourth in the 60-meter hurdles and 10th in the 60-meter sprint. Shaw ran a 9.09 in the hurdles, just beating freshman teammate Taylor McCammon, whose 9.11 puts her fifth all time. Neither made the final round in the event, finishing 19th and 20th, respectively. Senior Tonia Pratt’s weight throw of 59.97 feet on Friday landed third on the all-time list. And she followed that Saturday with a throw in the shot put of 44.42 feet, which was the sixth-best throw in school history. Other athletes who made the all-time list at last weekend’s invitational include: • Deja Rodgers, a freshman sprinter, ran the 60 meters in 7.83, good for sixth all-time. • Freshman hurdler Kristen Higgins, whose 9.4 seconds was good for ninth all time.
• Junior Emma Gilmore, whose 2:18:06 in the 800 meters is now ninth best all-time Bohn, meanwhile, helped pace Murray State in the distance medley relay Friday by leading off in the 1200-meter leg, followed by sophomore Taylor Adcock running 400 meters, junior Emma Gilmore running 800 meters and Hester anchoring in the 1600 meter-leg. They finished in 12:13.96, good for fourth in the race. “It was the first time I’ve done lead-off for the 1200, I wasn’t sure of my strategy, but it started out pretty good and ended well,” Bohn said. Murray State’s second team in the distance medley finished seventh in the race. Both teams made the all-time list because this season marks just the second in which Murray State has competed in the event. At the Kentucky Invitational at the University of Kentucky’s Nutter Fieldhouse, the Racers went up against Division I track and field powers, such as UK and the University of Central Florida as well as the University of Louisville, Eastern Kentucky University, Southern Illinois University and Marshall University. On Friday, the team heads to Jonesboro, Ark., for the A-State Scarlet and Black Invitational. Severns said she expects tough competition in Jonesboro but not to the level of last weekend’s in Lexington. She said the Scarlet and Black Invitational will be a warm-up for the Indiana Relays in Bloomington on Jan. 30. “You need your team to back you up, it’s a very mental sport and to have the support of your teammates constantly helps you get through the highs and lows of track,” Bohn said.
Jenny Rohl/The News
Lauren Miller, junior from Benton, Ky., high jumps for the first time at track and field practice.
January 23, 2015
5B
The News
Features
Features Editor: Breanna Sill Assistant Features Editor: Madison Wepfer Phone: 270-809-5871 Twitter: MSUNewsFeatures
Tips to land the perfect internship
Murray State
Seniors’ bucket list Gr
A list of activities in Murray that graduating seniors should make sure they’ve done before May when they kick the graduation bucket. ap
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Tiffany Whitfill || Staff writer
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twhitfill1@murraystate.edu
MARY’S AFTER MIDNIGHT Mary’s Kitchen is a local restaurant that’s a popular hangout after midnight for both party-goers and people-watchers. The breakfast food is delicious and the characters you’ll see make the experience enjoyable every time. The chocolate chip pancakes will blow your mind, whatever state it may be in.
2.
LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES
3.
MAMA NANCY’S CABS
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LBL is a short 30-minute drive from Murray and is worth the gas money. There are miles of trails and lakeside property to roam and explore – it’s too close to forego the opportunity. And while The News doesn’t condone trespassing, some people say that the view from the top of the water tower is pretty great, too.
5.
Take a Mama Nancy’s cab ride and have a heartto-heart with your driver. The drivers are an eclectic bunch that will generally give honest answers to any question. If you’re lucky, the real Mama Nancy will show up – make sure to ask her about the craziest drives she’s ever made.
UNIVERSITY-SPONSORED EVENTS Murray State is the home of some incredible traditions and events that are enriching experiences students won’t find anywhere else. All Campus Sing, the philanthropy event hosted by Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Mu Alpha, is the closest thing to “Pitch Perfect” most people will ever see.
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OVC TOURNAMENT Racer basketball is something the University is known for and the men’s team travels to the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in Nashville, Tenn., almost every year. Hundreds of Racer fans from all over the country travel to watch their team compete for a bid to the NCAA Tournament. It’s like Homecoming in March, and in a bigger city.
VICTORY LAP: OPTIONAL While it’s encouraged to finish your undergraduate degree in four years, it’s not required. Murray State and the City of Murray offer enough hidden gems to keep some students, faculty and staff coming back year after year. This list is expandable, so make the most out of your time here. It’s what bucket lists are all about. Compiled by Kayla MacAllister, Staff writer
78th Annual Campus Lights to open Friday Breanna Sill || Features Editor bsill@murraystate.edu
Singing, dancing and all the girl power you can handle will be packed into a night at Lovett Auditorium Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday 2:30 p.m. as students and the music department host the 78th Annual Campus Lights production. This year, Campus Lights will be putting on a performance of “9 to 5 the Musical” with the original music and lyrics written by Dolly Parton, based off the original 1980 movie of the same name. The movie centers around three female employees, played by Parton, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, who work for the same sexist, arrogant man and are looking for a way of turning the tables on him. “I know a lot of us turned to the movie ‘9 to 5’ for inspiration,” said Melanie Davis, freshman from Mount Vernon, Ind., and actress in the musical. “We even listened to music from the 1970s before choreography rehearsal to get a better feel for the time period. As far as the ‘girl power’ theme goes, I think everyone is looking to Dolly Parton herself for inspi-
ration.” It is not just the actors or actresses who put their all into making sure the show goes on during the opening weekend. Students of any major can use the skills they have learned to contribute to the production. Lauren Ruser, senior from Belleville, Ill., said this is her third year being a part of Campus Lights, only this year she took on a new role. “The last two years I played upright bass in the pit orchestra,” she said. “This year, however, I am using the skills learned through the JMC department under my public relations major to fulfill the role of publicity coordinator for the show.” The last week before the opening night is called “tech week,” or technical week, by people on the set. Ruser said tech week is, by far, one of the most challenging times of preparation. During this week, the cast and crew work together to be sure the lights, set and sounds all are in place for opening night.
Expo Center to host annual antique tractor show
see LIGHTS, 6B
File photo
A student prepares for last years performance of “Anything Goes” at Campus Lights.
Taylor Inman || Staff writer tinman1@murraystate.edu
For many people, one of the pleasures of growing up in the south was the experience of going to an antique tractor show. The shiny, colorful tractors are always a treat to the eye and a reminder of our agricultural heritage in the area. The William “Bill” Cherry Agricultural Exposition Center will host its Antique Tractor Show Friday and Saturday. The show will run both days from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Antique Tractor Show is an annual event for the Expo Center, where it brings out a loyal local crowd each time it rolls around. Members of the Purchase Area Antique Tractor Club will be there showing off their tractors, along with many out of town owners and other local tractor enthusiasts. Becky Ballard, building manager of the Expo Center, explained what
spectators can expect to see in the show this year. “There will be many different brands, ages and sizes of antique tractors at the show, including John Deeres, Allis Chalmers, Internationals, Olivers, Massey Fergusons, Fords and more,” Ballard said. Antique tractor shows are widely considered to be important for preserving the history of agriculture. Ask a local farmer, farming isn’t an easy job to do. And by looking at some of these tractors, spectators will be able to tell it used to be a bigger struggle. The process of restoring a tractor is as tedious as restoring car, Ballard said. According to Farm Collector Gas Engine magazine, tractor restoration is a tricky project to pull off. “It is critical to having a successful restoration to have the ability to look at a part, un-
Preparing for a job can take a student four to five years of coursework, however, outside of that coursework one of the most popular ways students prepare is through participating in internships. With deadlines approaching as soon as next month, there are many different ways to prepare for an internship opportunity and to stand out among other candidates also preparing for the same position. Ross Meloan, director of Career Services, said there are five questions students should ask before applying to an internship. The first thing to question is whether the internship is paid or unpaid. Meloan said there are labor laws that most internships will follow; however, some internships still offer no pay for your work. “Sometimes you are going to have to do unpaid to get your foot in the door,” Meloan said. “We want to do what we can to appreciate the internships that are paid.” The second area to look into is if the internship relates to your major or minor. There are many internships that may be specifically related to certain majors, areas or concentrations. Some students have already participated in course related internships. James Nance, senior occupational safety and health student from Slaughter, Ky., completed an internship at Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in Houston, Texas this summer. Throughout his 12-week term, working 50 hours per week, Nance was part of the corporate Health, Safety and Environment team. As an OSH student, this experience was interrelated to the work he was doing in the classroom. “I supported the other divisions of the company, did inside auditing, and traveled to field offices and helped them,” Nance said. Meloan said the third thing for students to analyze is the expectations of the employers. The fourth tip to think about is if the internship is supported by students’ academic departments. Meloan said it is important to understand that some internships do not give course credit for their work and students should be aware of the opportunities to gain credit through the academic department. The fifth tip is to think about when students will participate in the internship. There are certain times of year where internships are available. Different jobs require different terms of employment. Internships may be involved in the spring and fall; however, if a student is choosing to complete a summer internship, deadlines are quickly approaching. Meloan said that an extra tip is to participate in multiple internships and by doing jobs within the business they would not have thought to try in the past. “After a couple of semesters you become a little more professionally oriented,” Meloan said. “As you get into your academic major and minor your internship may be a little more oriented and the last opportunity may be to get involved with an employer of choice.” Cody Sieben, senior occupational safety and health student from Belle Plaine, Minn., completed his second internship this summer at Marathon Petroleum in Texas City, Texas. Previously, Sieben participated in an internship at Hilmerson Safety Services Inc. in Savage Minn. “When I worked for Marathon I worked at a refinery and I was pretty much a part of everything safety related,” Sieben said. “I did a lot of fall protection inspections on the units in the refinery.” To get through the application process, whether it is the first or second internship, an interview may be conducted. This is where Meloan says students may find a weakness.
see INTERNSHIPS, 5B derstand how it functions and anticipate the problems for it and how to correct it,” said Harvey Hamilton, owner of Tired Iron Restoration in Oakville, Wash. And for many, it is also a costly venture. “Budget about an additional $1,000 for little surprises that happen when you are taking the tractor apart,” Hamilton said. According to an ABC Channel 20 report on a man who restores antique cars and tractors for a living in Raymond Ill., tractors present some unique challenges when you restore them. “Most of the tractor is seen; even the engine is there in wide open. You walk up, and you can see the engine and all the parts. Everything is exposed, so you really got to detail them out real nice,” said Russell Mayes, owner of Mayes Antique Tractors in Raymond, Ill. The hard work of every tractor owner will be displayed this Friday and Saturday for all to see at the Expo Center.
The News
Features
6B
The week ahead... SATURDAY
FRIDAY
SUNDAY
January 23, 2015
If you would like an event to appear on the calendar here or on TheNews.org, email the Features Editor, Breanna Sill, at bsill@murraystate.edu. Please submit events by noon Wednesday for consideration.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
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7:30 p.m. Championship Truck & Tractor Pull, Expo Center
7:30 p.m. Cinema International: “The Grandmaster,” Curris Center Theater
2:30 p.m. Campus Lights: “9 to 5 The Musical,” Lovett Auditorium
7 p.m. Sigma Alpha Sorority Info Night, Barkley Room, Curris Center
10 a.m. Murray State baseball club recruitment
6:30 p.m. West Kentucky Rockin’ Rollers Derby Practice, Kingsway Skateland in Paducah
6:00 p.m. Night Moves Dance Club Line Dancing, American Legion in Paducah
INTERNSHIPS From Page 5B “(Students) don’t sell themselves which is the biggest weakness of all,” Meloan said. “Our students constantly think that sending out a resume and cover letter will get them a job. If they get an interview they don’t sell their selves.” Meloan said this is a frequent complaint by a lot of employers. When students work on these skills, as well as self-promotion, benefits may arise. “Every interview is a possibility for a new opportunity for your life,” Nance said. “I always take as many interviews as I can because I know each one possesses a new opportunity for me. My tip is that you should never say no to an opportunity, and the best way to know if you like a job or anything is an internship, an internship is so temporary, no contract and no commitment after it’s over.”
LIGHTS
From Page 5B
“It can be frustrating at times working out the kinks,” Ruser said. “But it is always the most rewarding experience to see a performance finally fall into place.” With shows beginning Friday night, Davis said opening night always has a special energy to it. She said everyone is able to throw their nerves on the shelf and put their best performance out there for the crowd. “When your cast mates are giving it their all, you can’t help but do the same,” Davis said. She will take on the role of Judy Bernly, a role originally played by Fonda in the motion picture, and said this character is the most dynamic and relatable character she has ever been able to play. “She (Bernly) completely transforms from a submissive, clumsy girl to an independent and powerful woman,” Davis said. “Her transformation in the show is inspiring to me both on and off stage.”
Alumnus stars in new design competition Laura Kovarik
Contributing writer lkovarik@murraystate.edu
Murray State Alumni Craig Bayens was mesmerized by possibilities in a neighbor’s garage and he decided to jump in headfirst to Murray State’s functional design program. Bayens hasn’t looked back since. Some of his recent successes include being cast on Spike TV’s newest reality series, “Framework.” “Framework” is a 10 week furniture building competition show that aired its first episode on Jan 6. Hosted by hip-hop superstar Common, the elite builders fight for a $100,000 prize. Bayens runs his own studio and creates high quality furniture. Located in Louisville, Ky., Bayens utilizes reclaimed, recycled or locally harvested wood. According to his website, “Each board has a story to tell and Bayens celebrates the honesty of each piece and does not hide or subdue any flaw or imperfections.” LK: How did you first get involved in functional design and furniture? CB: After I transferred to Murray after my second year I lived off campus. I became really good friends with my neighbor. I went over to his house and he
Photo courtesy of ChrisBayens.com
Chris Bayens will appear alongside fellow Murray State alumna Jessica Brown on Spike TV’s new competition series “Framework,” Tuesday’s at 9 p.m. had built this rocket ship table. It just blew my mind. I asked him where he learned how to do that. I didn’t know people could even make stuff like that. He said intro to functional design. I just thought to myself I have to do this. Once I got in there I realized I had a natural proclivity for building and designing. I never looked back and the professor Paul Sasso asked me to be his
teacher’s assistant, and I did that until I graduated. Obviously I wasn’t meant for the rodeo. LK: What is your all-time favorite piece you’ve created? CB: My favorite piece I’ve ever created is called American Chompers. It’s a gigantic set of chattering teeth. I built that in 2008. It was actually for Paul Sasso’s retirement ceremony at the Clara M. Eagle Gallery. The
original chair is in my studio. I’ve built a few more for really high profile CEOs and corporations. LK: How did you end up on “Framework?” CB: I was on Facebook and Paul Sasso had posted the casting call and I think he was doing it ironically. He was posting it to someone else’s I’m friends with on Facebook and I saw it and thought, well hell. I’ll roll the dice. What have I got to lose? The post said send us a picture and tell us why you would be good on TV. I didn’t take it seriously. I don’t take much seriously. I sent them a picture of the American Chompers. I wrote: “I’ve been building furniture for 14 years. I’m hilarious.” They called me the next day. LK: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given and how has it influenced your furniture building? CB: When you force a solution, it may not be the best option. If you slow down, clear your mind and let the solution present itself everything will fall into place. Tune in Tuesdays at 9 p.m. central standard time to watch Bayens and fellow Murray State alumni Brown compete in “Framework.”
The News
Features
January 23, 2015
7B Shut up and eat
FEATURED TWEETS
Pop Culture Corner
Keep calm and eat pie
“AMERICAN SNIPER”
Lisa Respers France @LisaFranceCNN Folks literally LOLed at the #AmericanSniper screening when the fake baby showed up 12:01pm 20 Jan 2015
Good Morning America @GMA Movie @AmericanSniper shatters box office record with $90,000,000+ nationwide opening. 10:20am 19 Jan 2015
John Colaneri @ColaneriJohn Just saw #AmericanSniper what a powerful movie. A must see! God bless our service men and woman for everything they have done. 5:38pm 17 Jan 2015
Krystal Pistol @KrystalPistolKP #SethRogan says #AmericanSniper is war propaganda…I guess his movie about killing a North Korean leader didn’t count since it was a flop 6:31pm 19 Jan 2015
GRAMMY PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED The 57th annual Grammy Awards are on their way. Scheduled to perform at the Staples Center on Feb. 8 includes Usher, Miranda Lambert, Pharrell, Sam Smith and John Legend. Smith, Pharrell and Beyonce lead the pack of nominees with six nominations each. Each of those artists are in the running for best album of the year along with Ed Sheeran and Beck.
Photo courtesy of variety.com
Bradley Cooper stars in “American Sniper,” a true story about Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL sniper for the military. The movie was released in theaters Jan. 16.
‘American Sniper’ is brutal, emotional John Gruccio || Contributing writer jgruccio@murraystate.edu
MAN SPENDS $150,000 TO LOOK LIKE KIM KARDASHIAN 23-year-old Jordan James Parke of Manchester, England spent $150,000 on plastic surgery in order to look like Kim Kardashian. Parke has had lip fillers, a chin filler and eyebrow tattooing. He will soon undergo surgery to receive Kardashian’s iconic “bum” as well.
I know lately that this film has been taking a lot of fire in the media. I implore you do not listen to the nonsense that comes from the Internet about this film; go see it for yourself and then make your judgment. This film is a true and brutal look at life in war and is in my opinion one of Clint Eastwood’s best films. This time, he brings us the true story of the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. When you are in war, there is only one thing that matters and that is the lives of yourself and your brothers. For Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, that was his mission and he would not fail. As a sharpshooter, Kyle has amazing accuracy and eventually became known to both his troops and his enemies as “The Legend.” After saving countless lives, the real battle came from home when he tried to be a good father and husband to his family. Despite everything he had seen or went through across the world, Kyle served many tours and truly lived the
SEAL creed, “leave no man behind,” but like with any other person who has seen bloodshed, he knew that it would not be easily forgotten. “American Sniper” stars Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Luke Grimes, Jake McDorman, Cody Hardrict and Keir O’Donnell. The film is directed by Eastwood. Cooper is completely unrecognizable in this film. Playing the role of Chris Kyle, Cooper gained almost 60 pounds of pure muscle and a grizzly-man like beard. This is Cooper’s finest work as an actor. The way he deals with the character’s demons and the intensity that comes with killing threats, it is uncanny how Cooper becomes Kyle. As Kyle’s wife, Taya, Miller plays a role of just that. She gives us a gut-wrenching and emotional performance as a woman who doesn’t know if her husband will come back alive. Her character, however, is sadly underutilized throughout the film. She shares scenes with Cooper or by herself. Eastwood is a gifted storyteller. He has been for decades. Giving us such great films like “Unforgiven,” “Million Dollar Baby” and “Hereafter.”
This film is another film to add to that list. Focusing mostly on the war, Eastwood is able to garner many scenes that will make you think and also want to cry. With this ultimately being a film shaped around Kyle, Eastwood goes all out to focus on his service and the combat and not so much his life at home and the after effects. It does limit the emotional capability of Cooper’s character. There will always be speculation on whether events are accurately portrayed in military-based films. The film looks and feels real, sometimes it is scary how so. Whether that be the case with this film, it is possible that details were left out. I think this film is important to see and then reflect on. For those of us who haven’t served, this film will give a hard-hitting look at what soldiers go through in combat. I sincerely thank all men and women who have either served or are serving for your service and commitment to our country.
Pie is the end-all be-all of desserts. Some people will argue that cake is the grandmaster of all sweets with its lusMadison Wepfer cious frosting cascades Assistant and its light, Features Editor airy texture. However, throughout my many cookie-baking binges and midnight meringue whipping, I have found that pie is the mother of all sweets. It’s the real reason I found my love of baking in the first place. There comes a point in a baker’s life where certain dishes feel like addictive drugs. First, I was on straight sugar, then I was on cookies – chocolate chip, peanut butter, oatmeal raisin – any recipe I could get my hands on. Finally, I found the real beauty of baking, and I found it in pie. If I were to eat myself sick and succumb to the American obesity epidemic for the rest of my life, I would want to reach that goal by gorging myself in pie, specifically apple pie. Baking a deep-dish apple pie is like a religious experience. I can hear the angel choir sing as I peel each apple. The day I baked my first apple pie was the day it became my addiction. I would be selfish to keep such a godly recipe to myself, so, without further ado, here it is – the recipe for pure sex in a pie tin. First of all, pie is 50 percent crust, 50 percent filling. That being said, the crust is just as, if not more, important than the filling itself. If you are too impatient to make your own pie crust (as I am sometimes), frozen pie crusts are OK. For the filling, you’ll need at least eight apples. When baked, apples shrink significantly, so to achieve a beautiful, towering apple pie, the more apples, the better. After the apples are peeled, cored and sliced, mix them with ¾ cup of sugar, 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and a dash of allspice. Now spoon it into the crust and bake it (on a cookie sheet to avoid sticky spillage) at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes. When the crust begins to brown, take it out of the oven, let it cool, serve it warm and prepare for all your friends to write poetry about you. mwepfer@murraystate.edu
Presidential Lecture Series brings famous TV journalist Tiffany Whitfill || Staff writer twhitfill1@murraystate.edu
In light of the upcoming presidential election, the Student Government Association, President’s Office and the Murray State Foundation are providing students with a unique political experience. The Presidential Lecture Series will have a special guest to weigh in on the 2016 election. Chuck Todd, moderator of “Meet the Press,” is following an impressive number of former guests to Murray State for the lecture series. Previous guests include two Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, F.W. de Klerk and Former President of Poland, Lech Walesa. In 2007 Benazir Bhutto, first elected female Prime Minister of an Islamic state, visited Murray State. Following Bhutto was Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for being a relative of the political leaders John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy Sr. as well as being an environmental activist. The most recent speaker in the Presidential Lecture Series was Bill Nye in the spring of 2014. Nye was relevant to a college audience, and a
large crowd flocked to the lecture last February. Todd may not be as largely recognized by a college audience. However, Jeanie Morgan, SGA adviser, believes that Todd has a lesson that will appeal to all students. “Students grew up with Bill Nye, he is a household name and made learning fun,” Morgan said. “He is a phenomenon. Chuck Todd is someone that most students will not recognize the name but he will bring insight to them if they will attend and listen. He is very good at explaining things without Todd being biased. He could be to politics what Bill Nye is to science.” Grant Grissom, SGA vice president, said that Todd is a leader in global and current affairs as well as an editor for First Read which analyzes political news stories. Todd also has 15 years of experience with NBC’s “Hotline” and has written the books “How Barack Obama Won” and “The Stranger: Barack Obama in the White House” that are rel-
evant to current political affairs. “Politics is something that people tune out but probably shouldn’t,” Grissom said. “(Todd) is very good at reporting what is going on in politics.” While politics may attract certain majors more than others, Grissom said there are many reasons why Todd is a speaker that may appeal to all students’ interests. He said this particular lecture will be aimed for a college audience. “(Todd) brings politics to a younger generation,” Grissom said. “He uses a lot of statistics and predictions and is great at applied technology.” Grissom and Morgan both said there are areas students need to be aware of, especially in politics. Grissom said Congress has a lot more to do with daily life than what the president does and Todd will attempt to explain that as well. Morgan said with all of the events happening around the world right now, students need to do their research and one way is to have Todd talk to them. “Everyone needs to be aware: students, faculty and staff,” Morgan said. “We all need to know what’s going on not just in Murray, Ky. or
in their home state, but the whole world.” Grissom said Todd will not be telling students who to vote for but instead, the facts about politics. “I want to personally invite all students, faculty and staff to attend,” Grissom said. “University money is going toward this to be the best experience possible at Murray State. I am excited and I hope everyone else is, too.” Todd will begin his lecture, “Politics and Current Events,” at 8 p.m. on Feb. 24 in Lovett Auditorium.
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He (Chuck Todd) could be to politics what Bill Nye is to science.
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- Jeanie Morgan, Student Government Association adviser
Out this Week
Read It
“I Was Here” by Gayle Forman
See It
“The Boy Next Door”
Hear It
“American Beauty/American Psycho” by Fall Out Boy
Rent It
“The Drop”
Play It
“Dying Light”
8B
The News
January 23, 2015