The Murray State News

SPECIAL EDITION: DAVIES’ INVESTITURE

The Murray State News April 10, 2015

TheNews.org

Vol. 89, No. 27

A year in review

President Bob Davies’ investiture marks the closing of a “phenomenal” first year

File Photo

Mary Bradley || Editor-in-Chief mbradley9@murraystate.edu

Amanda Grau || News Editor agrau1@murraystate.edu

O

n March 12, 2014, a man from Eastern Oregon University received a phone call as his plane was taxiing to the gate. On the other end of the line was an offer: the

13th Murray State presidency.

After deliberations, interviews and forums, the Board of Regents unanimously chose Bob Davies as president and four months later on July 14, Davies began his official duties.

Kory Savage/The News

Entering with intentions of making his presidency at Murray State his “capstone presidency,” Davies’ first academic year as president now inches toward a close, which he described with a smile as nothing other than “phenomenal.”

Friday marks a historical moment for Davies and the University with Davies’ investiture beginning at 2 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium, the first investiture in eight years since former President Randy Dunn’s in 2007.

Lovett’s steps will greet students, faculty, staff, Board of Regents members, family, friends and others including Gov. Steve Beshear, where Davies will speak his message of “Achievement, Endeavor and Hope.” While such sentiments are shared throughout the University, they do not stop there.

see DAVIES, 2A

Jenny Rohl/The News

Investiture ceremonies Davies family donation mark historic moments to help students in many parts of the University

Mari-Alice Jasper

Assistant News Editor mjasper1@murraystate.edu

If the walls of Lovett Auditorium could speak, they would tell tales of men and women gathering in multi-colored robes, bringing forth the shield and flag in a tradition acknowledging the presence of a new president of the University.

Historically, Lovett Auditorium is where most of the University’s presidents have decided to hold their presidential investiture ceremony.

The investiture ceremony for the president of the university marks their beginning at the University and is a celebration of all they have accomplished since their official start day.

Murray State, a University steeped in tradition, has held presidential investiture ceremonies in the past for its presidents including Constantine Curris, the youngest president of a state university or college in Kentucky at the time, and Kala Stroup, the first female president in the state system of higher education in Kentucky.

Curris, whose investiture was held on Nov. 12, 1973, kicked off his investiture weekend with a concert held at the Price Doyle Fine Arts Center Nov. 11, 1973. The Murray State Brass Choir

WHAT’S

INSIDE

Julia Mazzuca Staff writer

jmazzuca1@murraystate.edu

Courtesy of Pogue Archives

Former President Constantine Curris’ investiture was held in 1973 and he became the youngest university president in Kentucky history. and the Murray State Choir performed in Curris’ honor.

The following afternoon, a luncheon took place in Waterfield. About $190 in cookies and 66 gallons of punch were served at the luncheon and the reception following the ceremony.

In a form sent to the governor, Curris estimated that 500 people would attend the

luncheon and 1,600 people would attend the ceremony.

Former Gov. Wendell Ford attended Curris’ ceremony and gave a “Greetings from Kentucky” speech to the audience. Elvis Stahr, president of the National Audubon Society, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony.

see HISTORY, 2A

Since the Davies family pledged $117,000 in October to Murray State, the money has been delegated to scholarships and special initiatives to bring more opportunities for Murray State students.

Bob Jackson, president of the Office of Development, worked closely with Davies to manage the donation money.

“Davies is a unique individual,” Jackson said. “And the initiatives that he has touched are just things that he has been impacted by.”

Davies has given portions of his money to every academic college, school and other individual groups like the rifle team, women’s golf, Theater and Music.

Funds were given in recognition of excellence or for equipment that the different groups have needed.

Davies met a Murray State student for the first time while he was in Portugal.

Sophie Hilliers, from Sandy, England, is part of the women’s golf team and has played a round of golf

with Davies and one other golf teammate.

“I am sure his donation will really help our team to progress in the future,” Hillier said. “We really appreciate Dr. Davies’ interest, enthusiasm and support that he gives to our sport here at Murray.”

Davies has also supported the rifle team by visiting the range to spend time with the students.

Head coach of the rifle team, Alan Lollar, said he was impressed by Davies’ involvement with the students.

“The students don’t really care how much you know until they know how much you care,” Lollar said. “Dr. Davies has proven in his involvement how much he cares and supports the student body at Murray State.”

Davies regularly takes advantage of his opportunity to talk with students on campus while walking to class, hanging out in Winslow Dining Hall or studying in the library.

Dannis Seay, junior from Murray, applauded Davies for the life he brings to the community.

“He experiences life with us on campus,” Seay said.

“He crowd surfed at the CMT concert and has photobombed my selfies twice.

You don’t get a president much cooler than that.”

But there is more to Davies than just these fun moments.

When Davies and his family pledged the $117,000 to Murray State, Davies found history in that number.

In 1922, Rainey T. Wells, founder of Murray State, went into Murray and Calloway County and asked for small donations to help bring a school to Murray. He raised $117,000.

Through these donations and the “Normal School” enabling act, the General Assembly authorized the establishment of two schools, Murray State University and Morehead State University.

In 1923, Murray State opened with only a couple hundred students, but has since grown tremendously to more than 11,000 students.

“We get many gifts from the University and we appreciate every single one of them, Jackson said. “These gifts make a great place even better. Dr. Davies has not just given his gift of money, but has given his gift of time.”

SOCIAL DAVIES

PRIDE WEEK

OUR VIEW

CAM PAYNE

LGBT PRIDE Week is celebrated throughout campus, 6A

The 20-hour student work limit could use reevaluation, 4A

The sophomore announces he President Bob Davies takes over will enter the 2015 NBA draft, 1B selfies and social media, 5B

The News

News

2A

April 10, 2015

Professor’s endowment to give back to students Abby Siegel

Contributing writer asiegel@murraystate.edu

Visiting Distinguished Professor Robert Long and his wife Patricia Mendez Long have established the Giving Back Endowment to provide Murray State students with innovative and educational experiences centered on altruism and generosity that will last forever at the University.

The Giving Back Endowment was established with a pledge of $150,000 with the goal of donations matching the amount for an total $300,000 endowed fund. The Giving Back Program created by Long in 2008 has given away more than $100,000 to local nonprofits such as Need Line, West Kentucky Mentoring, Main Street Youth Center, Murray-Calloway Endowment for Healthcare and the Murray Art Guild.

The endowment will ensure that the Giving Back Program can continue forever, as an endowment only generates funds and never uses the principle amount.

“Classes in the nonprofit leadership studies program are very hands on; instead of working on case studies all day,

we are actually out in the field practicing the work, whether it be through philanthropic gifts or service learning,” said Mallory Ackles, sophomore from Crestwood, Ky. The endowment will benefit all disciplines, allowing students to benefit from the teaching method involving service learning and student leadership that are emphasized in the major where the Giving Back Program began. The distribution method of the funds will be up to specific faculty members.

“Being able to learn in a hands-on environment and actually having a hand in philanthropy prior to getting into the workplace gives all Murray State students a leg up,” Ackles said.

The reason behind establishing the endowment stems from feelings of “indebtedness and gratefulness” Long said.

He created the endowment to give back to what he believes in while encouraging 20 year olds to do the same. He said he believes that he is “so much a better person because of his students,” and sees this as his chance to give back.

“I owe my career to a bunch of 20 year olds,” Long said. “It’s

not about my legacy, it’s about promoting philanthropy as a way to develop students.”

The endowment is sustaining and encouraging service learning at the University, and allowing students to work for the future, said Trish Lofton, administrative assistant in the College of Education and Human Services.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for students, faculty, staff and the University community to contribute to a worthy program that benefits students with philanthropy experience as well as assisting the community,” Lofton said.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to become founders of the endowment by giving a one-time donation. When a donation of any amount is given, the individual or family becomes a founder and has their name on the endowment.

Long and Lofton are encouraging founders to take a photo with a sign that says, “I’m giving back. What about you?” as a way to illustrate the endowment.

“There is more of a personal connection when a founder writes their own sign,” Lofton said. “When you see the photo,

File Photo

Bob Long embraces Sharda Bettis, who won an award at last year’s Giving Back award ceremony. you can feel their support.”

Donations or pledges to donate are being taken until the end of the calendar year, and in the spring of 2016 the grants will be distributed.

Those interested in becoming founders should stop by the table in the Curris Center April 14–16 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and have their photo taken

at the photo booth with the giving back sign. Donations can also be given online at www. murraystate.edu/givenow, and specify the Giving Back Endowment. Long encourages those interested in more information to email him at rlong@ murraystate.edu.

Long desires the funds to be raised through donations

of benefactors of the money, rather than professional relationships he has made through his previous career accomplishments. The founders of the endowment would be part of the legacy, according to Long.

“Thanking and giving back carries legacy,” Long said.

“This is about their legacy.”

DAVIES

million dollar deals while sitting on a bench outside of Carr Health Building. While ultimately a small occurrence in the day of a president, Dobbs said it’s an example of Davies’ character and his tendency to not remain behind his Wells Hall desk.

“If he keeps doing what he is doing, he’ll be here forever,” Dobbs said.

cess that has been happening for this entire academic year has been one of shared governance, focused dialogue and listening,” Todd said. “I say that quite specifically, because President Davies listens and listens well. All too often people generally listen in order to respond when in reality everyone should listen to understand. President Davies has this quality, and he exemplifies it each and every day.”

The Strategic Initiatives planning process, which has been ongoing since the fall semester, focuses on four all encompassing aspects of the University. Developed to span seven years to 2022, the plan outlines several goals for the University.

Catherine Sivills, vice president of Branding, Marketing and Communication, said Strategic Initiatives is an example of how Davies has jumped into his role with both feet.

“For me, personally, that’s one of the most exciting things that he’s brought to the table is initiating this really inclusive process across campus to find out how we can stretch ourselves and accomplishing our goals to continue to improve the product that we present to students,” Sivills said.

She said through her job in communications, she has been able to work with Davies on multiple projects and see him interact and engage with the community.

She said she never noticed a period of Davies sitting back and watching, but rather he came into the University and she described his first year as “productive.”

“He has just really gotten involved, and that started before he even moved here,” she said. “But once he moved here, every time I turned around he would be at an event at night, and I would go, ‘Oh my gosh, Dr. Davies is there!’ So I think not only socially, but administratively we’ve moved forward on a lot of things and it’s only been nine months.”

From Page 1 ‘NOTEWORTHY’ AND ‘REFRESHING’ PRESIDENT

Courtesy of Pogue Archives

Constantine Curris, whose presidency ended in 1983, now serves on the Board of Regents.

HISTORY

From Page 1

The Wind Symphony at Murray State performed a special composition for Curris at his investiture ceremony.

Paul Shahan, assistant dean of the College of Creative Expression, wrote a piece “In All There is Majesty” just for the event.

Curris served as president of the University from 1973 to 1983, when Kala Stroup took over from 1983 to 1989.

Stroup’s ceremony was a three-day celebration that began Thursday, April 26, 1984, with the President’s Invitational Academic Tournament.

The tournament featured the best scholars from 24 area high schools. That evening, guests were invited to the Epsilon Pi Tau Banquet at Golden Corral, a jazz ensemble concert at The Curris Center Stables followed the banquet.

Friday, there was a luncheon and a seminar on higher education featuring a panel discussion with speakers from

across the nation.

Saturday morning, a brunch was served before her investiture ceremony was held.

Emily Taylor, senior associate in the Office of Higher Education of the American Council on Education, traveled from Washington, D.C to be the keynote speaker at Stroup’s ceremony.

The overarching theme for the event was “Excellence and Access,” which came up in several of the speakers’ speeches throughout the ceremony.

Shahan also composed a piece for the wind symphony, “Ceremonial Song and Celebration” for her ceremony.

Shahan described part of the composition as “reminiscent of the majestic academic processionals that have become traditional” in an interview with the Murray Ledger and Times.

Following the ceremony, there was a reception at Pogue Library and a football game at Roy Stewart Stadium. It was an evening packed with a Board of Regents meeting, an alumni banquet and a semi-formal Inaugural Ball held in the Curris

Center.

During her celebration, each night guests were encouraged to attend plays in the park or the Student Art Show, where 117 pieces were on exhibition in the Price Doyle Fine Arts Center.

For years, presidential investitures have been a time for alumni, students, faculty and community members to come together to welcome a new leader to the University.

In the future, traditions like these may start to fade away, but in a letter to Constantine Curris dated Sept. 10, 1973, Donald Carson, director of University Relations from Marshall University in Huntington, W. Va., wrote, “Now that you have agreed to an inauguration, don’t second guess yourself or be apologetic about the event. There will be people who will say that inaugurations are old fashioned and useless. They will point out that the new President of the University of Louisville is not having an inauguration. But as old Harry Truman would say, ‘I don’t give a damn, I am having an inauguration and I am going to enjoy it.’”

Two days before the official offer, Caitlin Dunaway, Panhellenic President and Student Government Association senator, met with Davies with 11 of her peers as a representative of the Freshman Council.

Just over a year later, Dunaway said Davies stood out to her then in a way he still does now – for his friendliness.

“When I met Dr. Davies, his friendliness stood out and I knew that he would be a president that would truly care about the students and be involved with campus life,” Dunaway said. “He has done that and even more. He has lived up to all the expectations that I had for president.”

Dunaway said that with her involvement in Greek Life, she noticed that Davies has made a point to come to events and meetings, even if it is for something as simple as seeing how the chapters are doing.

For the future, she said she has just one requirement for Davies, which is to continue doing exactly what he is doing now.

“Our campus adores Dr. Davies; he’s like a celebrity at Murray State,” she said, and described his first year as “noteworthy.”

Michael Dobbs, SGA president and Student Regent, expressed such thoughts similarly. Dobbs will give the invocation during Davies’ investiture, and said as an outgoing senior, he is not worried about the path Murray State will take after his graduation.

“It’s the way he is,” Dobbs said. “His presence on campus … it’s refreshing to see that in a president.”

He added that Davies just recently took the time to take a phone call with Jackie Dudley, vice president of Finance and Administrative Services, to talk bond sales and multi-

‘DYNAMIC,’ ‘ENGAGED’ AND ‘PRODUCTIVE’ LEADER

Don Robertson, vice president of Student Affairs, has worked at Murray State since 1975 and during the years he’s been on campus, Robertson said he’s never seen a president quite like Davies.

“He’s without a doubt the most student-orientated president I’ve ever seen,” he said.

“His energy level is unbelievable. He’s so visible with students and he interacts with them in formal occasions and also very informal. The best compliment I can give Dr. Davies is that he’s been here for less than a year, but it’s like he’s been here for years. He’s so entrenched in the culture here.”

Robertson works with Davies on an administrative level, which gives him a point of view of the inner workings of the University that some do not get to see.

“He’s been great to work with, from a vice president standpoint,” Robertson said.

“You couldn’t have asked for a better administrator or a better boss or a better person to help you carry out your agenda.”

Davies’ work ethic, which Robertson said was applicable to areas of the University beyond Student Affairs, has translated to the University’s colleges and schools as well.

Tim Todd, dean of the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business, said Davies has shown that his leadership style is highlighted by his ability to listen and his engagement with the University’s community.

“The strategic planning pro-

CORRECTIONS

Fumi Nakamura/The News

OLD DOMINION: Lead singer Matthew Ramsey of Old Dominion plays the electric guitar Tuesday night in Lovett Auditorium. The show was free with a student ID and hosted by the Campus Activities Board. Check out the full story on page 6B.

On April 3, 2015, The Murray State News printed two errors in the article, “Feathers, fortune and Fame.”

Gypsy Red and Aubry La’Shae Shannell are the correct spellings.

On April 3, 2015, The Murray State News printed a quote in the article “ODK hosts pencil drive” that was incorrectly attributed to Bonnie Higginson.

Upon review of the re-

porter’s notes, Higginson did not state that Omicron Delta Kappa has been a huge asset in the pencil drive to help needy children in a mediocre environment.

WHAT’S ON THENEWS.ORG

The News regrets the errors.

We covered the groundbreaking of the new Engineering and Physics Building, check it out on TheNews.org.

Find an error?

Email corrections to murraystatenews@ icould.com.

VIDEO

WE’RE HIRING

For a list of open positions and to download an application, check out TheNews.org/apply.

The News

News

April 10, 2015

News Editor: Amanda Grau Assistant Editor: Mari-Alice Jasper Phone: 270-809-4468 Twitter: MurrayStateNews

POLICE BEAT April 2

April 6

12:55 p.m. An officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Main Street and Hickory Drive.

A citation was issued for expired registration and failure to produce proof of insurance.

9:29 p.m. An officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of 15th Street and University Drive.

A written warning was issued for going the wrong way down a oneway street.

2:05 p.m. A caller reported a motor vehicle collision at the Equine Center. Police were notified, but both parties declined to make a report.

3:20 p.m. Parking Enforcement reported graffiti on the Howton Agriculture Building. Officers and Facilities Management were notified.

April 3

April 7

12:18 a.m. An officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection 9:43 a.m. A caller reported the of Chestnut Street and Gilbert smell of natural gas at College Graves Drive. A written warnCourts. Campus police, Murray ing was issued for disregarding State Environmental Safety and a stop sign.

Health and Facilities Manage- 1:18 a.m. A caller requested ment were notified. It was deter- emergency medical service. Ofmined that the odor was coming ficers, Murray Ambulance Serfrom the storm drains and was vice and Student Affairs were notified. not a threat.

2:00 p.m. A caller reported theft of property. Police were notified and a report was taken for second 8:52 a.m. Officers conducted a degree burglary. follow-up investigation. A cita-

April 8

April 4 10:02 a.m. An officer conducted a traffic stop at Five Points parking lot. A citation was issued for speeding.

2:09 p.m. An officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Olive and 17th streets. A citation was issued for speeding and driving with an expired license.

April 5 12:45 p.m. An officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Chestnut and 10th streets. A citation was issued for driving with expired registration.

9:38 p.m. A caller reported multiple reckless drivers on Waldrop Drive. The police were notified but the drivers were gone upon an officer’s arrival.

tion was issued for possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and possession of stolen property.

3:01 a.m. A caller reported a theft. Police were notified and a criminal report was taken for theft under $500.

Call of Fame

April 7, 2:52 p.m. - A caller reported people sunbathing on the roof of the concession stand at the intramural fields. The police were notified.

Motor Assists: 13 Racer Assists: 7 Arrests: 0 Mari-Alice Jasper, Assistant News Editor, compiles Police Beat with materials provided

by Public Safety and Emergency Management.

You can always find Police Beat online at TheNews.org.

3A

Students meet reality Abby Siegel || Contributing writer asiegel@murraystate.edu

The Real World Market brought learning to life Tuesday with hands-on activities representing all colleges at the University.

With an emphasis on experiential learning as defined by Murray State’s 10-year Quality Enhancement Plan, the public relations students of JMC 444 planned the event for all faculty, staff and students to have a greater understanding of what experiential learning is. This is the second time JMC 444 students have implemented the event.

Brennan Handley, junior from Springfield, Ill., attended the event.

“I think students just don’t know about experiential learning on campus,” said Handley.

The Real World Market provided an array of examples of experiential learning in action. From service learning and study abroad to theater and engineering departments, many academic opportunities were highlighted. At the event a newscast was filmed by journalism students, a jazz band played and 3-D printing was demonstrated.

Not only were faculty talking to students, students were talking to students about the valuable experiences they had through experiential learning.

“Each major has experiential learning, and this fair highlights them,” said Kiaya Young, senior from Paducah, Ky. “It is a way to see how Murray State is benefiting us.”

Experiential learning can improve student performance and satisfaction with their education. Doing an activity paired with the enjoyment of the experience “significantly improves student motivation and learning,” according to a study by the Swansea University Business School.

The Real World Market provided an opportunity for students to discover careers they may be interested in while dis-

Jenny Rohl/The News

Sophomore Sawyer Rambo visits the Regional Outreach table at the Real World Market. playing interactive ways students would be involved in and out the classroom.

Cannon Ferguson, sophomore from Columbus, Ky., said he believes the event could help you decide the career path to take because it had a “bit of everything.”

The event was beneficial for getting a glimpse at what the University has to offer, he said.

Experiential learning encourages the development of the holistic scholar that is engaged in the local community as well as the world.

The Real World Market promoted this aspect through the study abroad information booth, as well as through the modern languages department.

“I am very interested in studying abroad and there was a lot of information with details on trips for every major,” said Hallie Beard, sophomore from Louisville, Ky. First attracted to the event because of her curiosity, Beard said she left happy

to see all of the academic colleges represented, and left with valuable information about her future goal of studying abroad.

The event planning itself provided an avenue for experiential learning for public relations students as they implemented the event as they would if they were public relations professionals.

Olivia Perkins, junior from Harrodsburg, Ky., who was part of the planning said to expect the unexpected. There were always last minute adjustments to be made, as many booths signed up last minute.

“I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout,” Perkins said.

With a little more than an hour left of the event, approximately 100 people had attended in the Curris Center ballroom.

Lauren Ruser, senior from Belleville, Ill., served as the account executive for the event.

“It’s always fun having an event you put work into pay off,” Ruser said.

New SGA members have big plans Julia Mazzuca || Staff writer jmazzuca1@murraystate.edu

Student Government Association President Michael Dobbs transitioned out Wednesday and new President Clint Combs hopes to hit the ground running.

“I want to change student government from just an announcement organization to an action organization,” Combs said.

Combs was the Senator at Large for his last term on SGA. Through his last position, he has seen areas in which he feels SGA has lacked, which fueled him to run for presidency and get involved in a higher position.

Combs has a three part plan.

Combs would like to create stronger relationships with our local government and state government, create a strategic initiative and review the bylaws of SGA. “We want an ambitious goal, but we want something that is achievable,” Combs said.

Inside SGA, Combs plans to work on programming with his vice president, Nathan Payne. Together, they plan to bring a larger variety of people into the SGA community.

In order to fulfill his hopes for SGA, Combs plans to rely on the senators, especially to communicate with the students who are not directly involved in SGA. Combs also plans to take his job seriously as the Student Regent where his one and only duty is to serve the students.

Although Combs has many plans to kick off his presidency, he said he hopes his plans and initiative are not the “Comb

Nicole Ely/The News

Student Government Association members transitioned out Wednesday. The newly elected members are seated in the front with advisor Jeanie Morgan. initiative or the Comb plan, but the student government initiative and the student government plan.”

Combs hopes that more students will become active in SGA and that the apathy toward politics will turn into excitement as he takes charge.

“As SGA president, it was really cool to see the interworking of the whole campus and how it is run,” Dobbs said. “It was really eye opening to see all the work that goes into one day and how things work.”

Dobbs said that SGA is the “most powerful students administration on campus” because of its “high caliber of students” who had the willingness to get students heard.

SGA welcomes all students to its meeting every Wednesday at 4:30p.m. in the Curris Center Barkley Room.

As Dobbs signed out from his presidency he said “it’s been a fun ride” and he said he hopes that incoming president, Clint Combs, will “stick to his guns.”

New Franklin to help housing issues University sees need for housing increases as a positive sign Zachary Orr || Staff writer zorr@murraystate.edu

Murray State sold $28.2 million in bonds to a private investment company March 31 to finance the construction of New Franklin Residential College, which the University hopes will alleviate recent problems in providing housing to all students who wish to live on campus.

Construction of New Franklin is scheduled to begin in the upcoming weeks and the residential college is expected to open in August 2016.

Residential colleges have shown an upward trend in occupancy, running at 99 percent occupancy for the fall of 2012 and 98 percent occupancy for fall of 2013, significantly higher than the 90 percent occupancy in the fall of 2010, according to the Murray State 2013-14 Fact Book.

Historically, Murray State has struggled to provide enough housing for students at the beginning of the fall semester, when the most students are living on campus, said Jackie Dudley, vice president of Finance and Administrative Services.

Dudley said in the Fall of 2013, when Hester Residential College closed for renovations,

Murray State housed students in suites conmaximum capacity in 2013. structed in the Curris Center and even tem Housing students in hotel rooms is not a porarily placed some students in hotel rooms good option for the University, Dietz said. until space opened up on campus.

“Students wouldn’t want to be in a hotel,” Students living in Clark Residential College Dietz said. “It’s not really convenient.” and Richmond Residential College were asked The University often finds itself in a balancto temporarily take on a third roommate. ing act between recruiting students and provid The construction of a new residential college ing enough space for them, Dietz said. should prevent this from He said being close happening again, Dudley to maximum occupancy said. is a good sign for inves “New Franklin will have tors because it shows the 380 beds,” she said. “Old University can provide Franklin had about 300, so enough revenue to pay we’ll be adding more beds the bonds back.

- Fred Dietz, associate vice president of Enrollment and that will help.”

“What we don’t want Hoping not to have to Management to do is all of the sudden send students off campus not have enough stuagain, Old Franklin Residents,” Dietz said. dential College will not be Murray State plans torn down and will be used for housing in case on renovating White and Regents residential the newer residential colleges reach maximum colleges after New Franklin is completed, Dudoccupancy, Dudley said. ley said.

Old Richmond is currently used for the same Renovations save the University in maintepurpose. nance cost on the older buildings, but often bed Fred Dietz, associate vice president of Enspace can be lost when common areas are made rollment Management, confirmed that Murlarger, as was the case during the renovation of ray State resorted to housing students in hotel Elizabeth Residential College. rooms when the residential colleges were at Many universities nationwide have ad-

“

Students wouldn’t want to be in a hotel. It’s not really convenient.

”

dressed this issue by hiring outside contractors to build and manage dormitories, including the University of the Kentucky and University of Louisville.

Although this method can be cheaper for the University, the cost would be pushed back to the students, said David Wilson, director of Housing and Residential Life.

Wilson said that the University looked into hiring a third party for the construction of a new College Courts, but the projected cost for students seemed unreasonable.

“University representatives exploring this type of partnership knew we would have a hard time selling this to students,” Wilson said.

Last year was the first year in more than 10 years that upperclassmen were asked to move off campus due to lack of space. Wilson said this is a good problem to have because it shows the great level of satisfaction students have with living on campus.

“Research has shown that students who have lived on campus for at least two years are more likely to get involved on campus, more likely to get to know a faculty member outside the classroom, more likely to report satisfaction with their experience and are more likely to graduate than students who have not lived on campus,” Wilson said.

4A

April 10, 2015

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Katie Wilborn/The News

On-campus employment unfairly restricted The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board.

With tuition rates increasing every year and the disconnect between the cost of living and minimum wage growing, it’s no wonder more than 2,000 students work on campus at Murray State.

Financial aid can only help so much. Students find themselves looking for financial support in other ways and approximately 20 percent of us seek that support on campus.

The University does a good job of offering a lot of options for students looking for on-campus employment. Housing, Dining Services, academic departments, libraries and The Murray State News are just a few of the places that seem to always be hiring.

However, while the opportunities for on-campus employment are many, the opportunities for adequate income are few.

Murray State has set a limit for the amount of hours a student worker can be paid for, with

some exceptions.

Dining Services student workers make $7.35 and student managers can be approved to work 25 hours at a rate of $8.35 per hour.

Most student workers, however, are only allowed to be paid for 20 hours a week at the state-designated minimum wage, $7.25, regardless of the job’s skill level, job requirements and the amount of work that is actually put forth by the worker.

A biweekly paycheck with minimum wage and on a 20hour limit caps out at a meager $264.66, after taxes.

You will notice we keep using the phrase “paid for” instead of “work” or “earn.”

Some jobs require you to come in, clock in, do your job and clock out.

Other jobs set a base salary of a certain number of hours per week that you get paid for regardless of how much or how

hard you actually work.

Why the discrepancy? How do we change it?

According to a U.S. Census report, more than half of college students work more than 20 hours a week, and one in five students work a minimum of 35 hours a week.

Yes, we come to Murray State to learn and invest in our academic success. School comes first, having the money to pay our monthly Netflix bill comes second.

Twenty hours of part-time work allows for spending money and time for school work, but what if you have a family to provide for?

Where can we get the money for our $300-$700 rent?

If we don’t have financial aid and our families can’t pay for our schooling, do we have to get another job that won’t let us go home on breaks or weekends?

What if we graduate with honors, apply to jobs and get rejected because we don’t have enough work experience from college because we were focused solely on our studies?

We need someone to invest in us, too.

Also, isn’t it widely understood that we can learn more outside the classroom anyway?

Applying what we learn to a real-world setting is paramount, and that experience shouldn’t be restricted or looked down on.

We understand and respect the concern for work getting in the way of school, but some people don’t have a choice.

For some, one absolutely cannot come without the other.

Increasing the hour limit for all student workers, allowing skilllevel to reflect wage or giving students added benefits is not only a fair request, but an important one.

A Creative Take

It’s not just the music

Lining the back wall of Studio B at the WKMS radio station is a bookcase heavily stocked with vinyl in pastel colors, muted over the wear of time.

For some reason these were the voices that told me this was my kind of place.

It wasn’t until Kaylan Thompson my first year Graduate student of graduate school, even from Murray through a full four years of undergraduate studies at Murray State that I realized the Price Doyle Fine Arts building even had an eighth floor.

For so long I had thought the building magically dissipated after the sixth.

I’m an intern at WKMS, now, and there’s something about being in the presence of all this vinyl that makes it feel like I’m in a perpetual summer.

It’s similar to the way I feel getting lost in the stacks, waiting to be found by a book I’ve never read.

It turns out I’m not the only one with a soft spot for vinyl. While illegal downloading and digital streaming have hit the music industry hard, vinyl sales keep going up.

In 1993, 300,000 albums were sold, as opposed to 9.2 million albums in 2005. And that number has risen each year since. Why? With the impeccable sound quality that digital technology offers, why are so many of us opting for a reversion back to dated technology?

Vinyl is an experience. This is something I learned between my time at WKMS and listening to the Black Keys on my husband’s turntable. Thank god I married him and his Crosley.

When I pick a record to play, it’s a personal experience. It’s like I’m physically sifting through potential versions of my next hour, deciding on which colored lenses through which I want to view the next portion of my day.

A vinyl album is an experience in its own right, created intentionally by the artist. The artist crafted a narrative, from the moment you’re introduced to the cover to the moment you subject your emotions to the lineup of carefully chosen tracks.

When you purchase a song off of iTunes, you’re extracting a single sentence from the entire story. You’re missing out on what the artist intended.

When you purchase a song, or even an entire album on iTunes, what do you really own, anyway? A novel of binary code? A vinyl record is fully yours. You can hold it, feel it.

It’s completely there, emanating a physical

presence.

Owning vinyl is about the collection. It’s about entering a record shop and spending as much time as you’d like searching for new vinyl stories to add to your repertoire – your collection of life experiences.

You’re asking, “Whose story do I want to fuse with mine?”

This is why I love vinyl so much: I sort through our small library of albums, this time choosing the Coldplay “X&Y” album.

The needle hits the groove, and the crackle I hear seems to pop on my skin.

The popping turns into butterflies in my stomach as I imagine I’m approaching the top of a narrow staircase, my dad waiting in a white button-up and black tie.

I feel like I’m hyperventilating as the record softly plays “Till Kingdom Come” and I have to carry my body and the 30 pounds of white dress hanging on me up the next three steps.

I take his hand and he leads me to the closed doors. I can hear the muffled sound of my record playing and the shuffling of 150 people standing to their feet. I close my eyes and focus on the words I hear, “For you I’d wait ‘till Kingdom come …”

This is why I love vinyl.

So, why is vinyl making a comeback despite the technological obstacles? Because people want to experience their music, not just listen to it. When the needle hits the groove, making that initial crackling sound, you can feel it.

You can see the record spin. Watch it. It’s not just the music you’re in for.

The News

Opinion

April 10, 2015

5A

Letter to the Editor

I have a lot of feelings By the people, for the people

You know what they say about One of the main selling points we not simply take full advantage of the Bakery, taking in the atmosphere of people who use for recruitment here at Murray gift that Murray, Kentucky, can be? old men with their black coffee chit assume.

State is how we are the friendliest chatting about the daily occurrences If you don’t small town in America and how it’s of the world and savoring the best know, have so freeing to come to a small town in donuts in town. you been livAre you concerned about a Chantry Carroll western Kentucky and enjoy the ben I think of my Sunday night ritual of ing under a efits of small town American life.

Tom’s Pizza with my grandparents Sophomore from certain issue on campus or rock?

But do we actually take advantage every week for the past two years. I Murray Just break want to share your opinion? think of going to Rotary with my aunt of the wonderful opportunity we up the first at Pagliai’s and being able to meet the have here in Murray, Kentucky? is always accepting three letters, Growing up in Murray I’ve felt the business leaders of Murray.

This letter is a response to the the fourth Letters to the Editor. For a benefits and disadvantages of living Each person has many reasons why letter and Allison Borthwick results of the “Best of Murray” in this town I’ve called home for the they make Murray home. There is so chance to get your letter the last two short 20 years of my life. much more to Murray than eating at Advertising Sales special section, which letters into McDonald’s or continually comparing When I got to college and moved published in print or on Manager three sepainto my residential college and joined it to a big city. recognizes the most popular , email us at rate words.

One of my favorite authors Jim organizations on campus I was somebusinesses. Results were Or just Google it. You do you.

Elliot said, “Wherever you are, be all what hesitant to claim my Murray letters@thenews.org.

According to the journal that I roots, even though that’s where we all there.” collected from a open-restarted mentally 21 years ago, 400 These words have rang true in accumulate to achieve a diploma and sponse survey, available to percent of ill-founded assumptions have the full college experience, yet my heart time and time again while are super frustrating. That’s a cold people are so quick to criticize this learning to be content with living in anyone with a Murray State hard fact I will take to the grave with place we all call home. a small town, but I am quickly reme. email address.

When I read The News article of minded of all the unique restaurants, The reason why assumptions are the best places in Murray, my heart locations, events and people that the worst is because they often don’t sank. make Murray not only unique but involve logic and reasoning.

I was quickly reminded that most make Murray home.

I fully support any effort to stand people who go to Murray State do We have four, sometimes five, up for what you believe is right. I’m not take full advantage of the rich years here at Murray State, why here for factually-based, accurate efculture, small town environment and should we waste it complaining about forts to make a point. small towns or wishing we were Southern mentality we have here.

Research is important. There is a I think of all the early mornings somewhere else? difference between defending opinmy dad would take me to Sammons’ What good does that serve? Why ions and arguing for the sake of arguing.

Since I started my time at The MurIssues, Observations and Sometimes Rants ray State News, I have been around the block. I’ve been a sales representative, copy editor, Advertising Sales Manager and now Opinion Editor.

I’ve seen and experienced emotionally-based assumptions thrown at us at all fronts. game. Be entertaining, not distracting.

“Eight comcelebrity makeups and breakups than you ever For instance, there has been some Don’t put up one of those posts that threaten pletely serious wanted to know. confusion about how much The News It’s up to us to do something about this. Those something horrible will happen if I don’t repost reasons you values student participation and posts wouldn’t be there unless an online “friend” within a few seconds. Sarcasm is appreciated. should pee in input. put it there.

Cheap sentiment is not. Tributes are kind of awkthe shower We are a student-run, student-proward. Throwback Thursday is getting tiresome. today.” “15 times Would you really leave an opened gallon of duced, student-oriented publication. ice cream in front of a friend that you know is Not so much with the recipes, but grilling tips are Rand Paul had a This newspaper is solely produced dieting? Is that “news story” one that you would always welcome. better hair day by and for students – end of story. bring up in an actual conversation? Probably not.

You lose stock with me with every invitation than you.” “Fritz We not only accept feedback and

to play Candy Crush Saga or some other game the adorable participation – we crave it. We enthat wants me to share my entire contact list. No, dog who can’t courage it. catch.”

Candy Crush Saga, I think too much of my friends Nothing sets our hearts aflutter to share their contact information with you. Same These are all more than hearing someone say headlines from for you, Farmville and Words with Friends. something along the lines of, “Did a website called, I recently took an entire week off from all you see that article in the paper this “Distractify.” media, except email. It was a productive week. week?”

All of them are I’m thinking about making it a month next time.

We love seeing the comment accompanied by If something really important happens, hopethread grow on Facebook and the Kevin Qualls an attention-grabfully someone will let me know. Hopefully, peomentions add up in our Twitter feed.

Professor of bing photo. ple will know what’s really important.

- Kevin Qualls We love putting out surveys and

Today is National Farm Animal Day. It is a day mass communications You don’t have polls and getting your input. to go to the web

to be mindful of the plight of farm animals. Not While the editors and staff of The site to see them. They are probably in your newsimportant. Justin Bieber is going to do a lip sync Here’s what you should do: Think before you News love all these things and enfeed. post. DO NOT link or share Distractify posts. I of an Ozzie Osborne song. Not important. A big courage the participation, we cannot I hate it and I’m guilty. Maybe you’ve been don’t want to be distracted. If a true friend posts tornado or terrorist attack nearby? Please let me force it. a message, then I want to know what that friend know. there, too. You can’t stop from clicking on a We represent and write for the has to say. It may not be the provocative picture Maybe it’s time for you to take a break, too. complete waste of time. And, you’ve been given students, but we cannot make people or headline that prompts the click. It may be beDistractify has a list to help you know when. notice. After all, the byline identifies it as “Diswrite letters to the editor, take our cause it is you, dear friend, that put it there. Be a Things like: closing your laptop and getting on tractify.” I don’t have time for this nonsense and surveys and let us know what they good friend. your iPhone, having a genuine dislike for someneither do you. But here we are. think. one you’ve never met and don’t know their real Distractify and similar “services” are the func Don’t distract your friends. Use social media That being said, the contributions for its true purpose – posting pictures of your name and speaking in Internet abbreviations tional equivalent of a bag of chips. Not on your we do get from students are highly cat. OK, there are some other, limited, uses. Posts (IMHO). diet but there it is. Bag open. Stick your hand in valued and taken seriously. from the Onion get a “like.” But posts that say you As for me, I’m logging off for a few weeks. and grab one. Then another. Before you know it, If we ask for student opinions, “like” Wal-Mart don’t. You’ve got to step up your Maybe I’ll see you IRL. 20 minutes are gone and you know more about every response counts – whether that number be 5, 1,000 or 11,000.

Careful thought and consideration ... Michael Slager ... Bob Davies. goes into every single aspect of all weekly issues and special sections we The white South Carolina police When a guy from Eastern Oregon publish. For anyone to think differofficer was charged with murder University swoops in and somehow ently is concerning.

If you want your voice heard, we after being caught on camera makes Murray State even more will hear it. shooting Walter Scott, an unarmed If you agree or disagree with how awesome, that’s a big deal. Conwe do, write or illustrate something black man, eight times while he gratulations on your investiture! and let us know.

If you have a story idea or if you was running away from a traffic notice something going on at Murray stop.

State we haven’t noticed, enlighten ... Cam Payne. ... Rand Paul us.

If we get something wrong or if we Announcing that he will be If you announce you’re running for have misrepresented you, let us know and we will be the first to admit and entering the 2015-16 NBA draft is Questions, comments or concerns should be President, you’re going to be put correct it. addressed to cbesser@murraystate.edu exciting news, both for him and on the spot and answered tough The students are what’s most important to us. for #RacerNation. Thank you for questions in interviews quite often.

Get involved. Connect with us. hard work this season and good Learn how to interact and talk with Give us your feedback and know your input means something. luck! We will miss you, but we an interviewer. Keep a cool head

We still want to hear from you.

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Before you know it, twenty

minutes are gone and you know more about celebrity make-ups and break-ups than you ever wanted to know.

”

Cheers and Jeers

Cheers to

Jeers to

Cheers and Jeers is written by the Opinion Editor.

Jeers to

Cheers to

and be respectful.

can’t help but be proud.

Comic

aborthwick@murraystate.edu

One of those days

By Jade Simpson

The News

News

6A

April 10, 2015

Murray State’s first PRIDE Week a success Mari-Alice Jasper

Assistant News Editor mjasper1@murraystate.edu

Last week, the student organization, LGBT Alliance hosted its first PRIDE week featuring The Homo Games, the “Fame” drag show and a ribbon awareness day.

Jody Cofer Randall, adviser for LGBT Alliance, said the group has been wanting to put together a weeklong PRIDE celebration for several years, but there have always been setbacks.

“One program a week is our usual goal,” she said. “So this was a big commitment for our students.”

Each day, the Alliance hosted a different program to bring awareness of the LGBT community to Murray State’s students.

THE FULL SPECTRUM

Cofer Randall said the Alliance wanted to cover the full spectrum when it came to LGBT issues, with programming ranging from viewing serious documentaries to more lighthearted programs such as the drag show.

Monday the group kicked off the week by hosting a showing of “Deep South,” a documentary about HIV/ AIDS in the southern region of the U.S. White men who identify as homosexual or bisexual the most profoundly affected population in regard to HIV and AIDS, according to data found in 2010 by the Center for Disease Control.

Members of the Alliance passed out purple ribbons to the audience during the showing to spread LGBT awareness at Murray State.

Tuesday, the group passed out ribbons from a booth in the Curris Center and members of the Alliance took pictures of people from the University holding signs in support of the LGBT community.

Cofer Randall said the Alliance took more than 100 photos and plans to set up another booth in the Curris Center in the next few weeks so more people can participate.

In The Homo Games, a play off of “The Hunger Games,” held in Woods Hall on Wednesday, students played Cards Against Humanity, Twister and Corn Hole.

Thursday night the Alliance put on the drag show, which is a big moneymaker for the organization.

Courtesy of LGBT Alliance

Sisters of Alpha Delta Pi show their support for their LGBT sisters during PRIDE week.

Michele Sumner, freshman from Jackson, Tenn., and member of the LGBT Alliance, attended each of the programs during PRIDE week.

She even put on some makeup and dressed up in some men’s clothes from Rue 21 to strut her stuff in the drag show.

“My character was Jay Byrd,” she said. “I came up with his character myself that night.”

Sumner said as fun as the drag show was, the opportunities for open discussion and acceptance that the LGBT Alliance provides for students in need is imperative to our community.

“Alliance creates an inclusive, open environment for anyone that wants to join,” Sumner said. “They helped me learn that it was OK to be me.”

Courtesy of LGBT Alliance

Don Robertson, vice president of Student Affairs, is a proud supports LGBT Alliance.

Friday, Katie Bellinger, a guest speaker and friend of Cofer Randall’s from Wisconsin, spoke to students to answer the question: “What should I be doing as a good straight ally?”

Bellinger told students that they should think of “ally” as a verb, not a noun.

THE LGBT ALLIANCE

Murray State’s LGBT Alliance turns 18 years old this year.

“We’re legal now,” Cofer Randall said. “I keep telling the kids we should have a party or something.”

Sumner said she started participating in the LGBT Alliance before she started classes here.

She said she began emailing back and forth with the president of the organization during the summer before

she moved because LGBT issues are important to her.

“I wanted to be a part of something that was helping people,” she said.

“And I wanted a place where I could be myself.”

LOOKING AHEAD

Now, 10 students make up the organization, but by the time Sumner graduates she says she wants to see Alliance membership and activities booming.

“I want us to be pulling off some really great programming,” she said.

Cofer Randall said the LGBT Alliance plans on making PRIDE week an annual event at Murray State.

“PRIDE week is a time to celebrate progress, discuss what needs to be done and to take inventory of where

we are,” Cofer Randall said.

Sumner said it is important to have a week dedicated to LGBT pride because it brings awareness to a population on campus that otherwise goes unnoticed.

“We (members of the LGBT Alliance) are basically the ambassadors for all of the LGBT students on campus who aren’t involved with the Alliance,” Sumner said.

Cofer Randall and Sumner both insisted that students dealing with LGBT issues such as gender identity and acceptance or if they just need someone on campus to talk to, they should attend the LGBT Alliance meetings.

“We are doing more (for LGBT students) now,” she said. “But there is still more to do.”

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US

SPECIAL EDITION: DAVIES’ INVESTITURE April 10, 2015

Section B

The News

Sports Editor: Mallory Tucker Assistant Sports Editor: Kelsey Randolph Phone: 809-4481 Twitter: MSUSportsNews

Sports ­­

A Payne-full goodbye

Mallory Tucker

Sports Editor mtucker11@murraystate.edu

Fans filled the Racer Room of the CFSB Center and fruit trays were present in lieu of the typical press conference pizza. Almost the whole team was present, and fans young and old filled the seats behind the usual beat reporters.

There were three cameras filming instead of the usual one, and the statistic sheet being handed out donned four pictures of sophomore point guard Cameron Payne. It was obvious this was more than a press conference.

This was a going away party.

Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations Dave Winder lovingly introduced Payne and Head Coach Steve Prohm to the crowd, foreshadowing the speeches to come.

“It’s good to see so many friends and fans and teammates and coaches here to support Cameron,” Winder said.

“I think we all agree that we love him.

And we love Coach Prohm, too.

And I’m just glad to support Cameron in what he’s about to tell you here today.”

Prohm opened the floor by listing just some of Payne’s many accolades.

• Fourth player in Murray State history to score 700 points in a single season • Second player in Murray State history with 200 assists, three away from the all-time record • Second fastest player to reach 1,000 points • Third most efficient player in the country according to kenpom.com • OVC Player of the Year • Lute Olson Player of the Year • CBS All-American He continued by teasing Payne, reminiscing his freshman year before thanking both him and his family for giving him the opportunity to coach him.

“Everybody always said at Murray, “Aw, you lose Isaiah Canaan, what’re you going to do, what’s going to happen?’” Prohm said.

“And then this gangly kid from Memphis, Tenn., shows up who took 24 shots against Valparaiso his very first game. And then six months later he was without question the best player in our conference. I’ve said all season long, he’s the best point guard in the country.”

Payne then took over on the microphone, thankful as well for his growth both as a basketball player and as a man.

“First, I’d like to thank Racer Nation for all the support they gave us throughout the season,” Payne said. “Y’all are the best fans in the country. Now, to my teammates and my seniors, I love y’all from the bottom of my heart.

I couldn’t have accomplished anything without y’all. Every single one of y’all – y’all are my brothers for life – and that’s family.

This program, as a whole, Murray State, has transformed boys to men and I can see that inside myself.”

He then turned his attention to Prohm and emotion took over.

The past came to light in his speech as well, speaking of his early days at Murray State.

“As a freshman, he believed in

see PAYNE, 2B

WHAT’S

INSIDE

Davies gives sports seal of approval Kelsey Randolph

Assistant Sports Editor krandolph3@murraystate.edu

Self-described as a college sports enthusiast, President Bob Davies has continued his promise of supporting, promoting and being involved in all aspects of Murray State athletics.

“When our teams play other schools, that becomes their Super Bowl,” Davies said. “The students and faculty are so talented and to just be part of that and see their Super Bowl it is a big deal and if that paves a way for other students then that’s great.”

Davies has made connecting with students a priority.

He walks through campus daily and said he makes it a point to interact with students, coaches, athletes and fans no matter if they win or lose.

“Prior to coming to Murray State, Davies built a reputation for being fully engaged with students and he’s not disappointed,” said Athletic Director Allen Ward.

“I know our student athletes work extremely hard representing the University and they’ve commented how many times they appreciate Davies’ visibility and support.”

Davies said he tries to attend at least one sporting event, theatric event, music concert or University event involving students each week. Athletes are an important part of student life, he said, and quoted a previous University president saying sports are the front porch to the school.

“Athletics at an American university are interesting and drive a lot of our brand

MEN’S TENNIS

Jenny Rohl/The News

President Bob Davies takes a selfie with a member of the Racer Pep Band at Tequila Cowboy before the men’s basketball OVC Championship. and how individuals perceive a university,” Davies said.

“Wrong right or indifferent.

I’m not debating the role of athletics but I’m saying what it is out there in the market place. It’s like my daughter says ‘it is what it is’.”

Davies said one of the best parts about Murray State athletes is that when they win, they win with respect and when they lose, they lose with respect. Speaking on the men’s basketball team’s loss at Old Dominion during the National Invitation Tournament on March 25.

“Here’s a little known factevery time a basketball team plays: half the teams win and half the teams lose,” Davies said.

Though Davies said he has

TRACK AND FIELD

seen many basketball games and other sports, he said he will remember that loss for a long time.

“As I look at the programs as a whole and evaluate them the first criteria I have is what are the students doing academically,” Davies said.

“The second is how is the citizenship and integrity of the program, and third is how are (you) on the court, field, track or whatever it is.”

Student athletes such as Robert Broadstreet, freshman rifle shooter from Ozark, Mo., said it feels good to see the University president come to the range, as Davies did during the MSU Tri Match No. 2.

“It was cool to show our president what we can do,”

said Ivan Roe, freshman rifle shooter from Manhattan, Mont. “We got off the line and he greeted us telling us we did well. You don’t get that every day and it meant a lot to us.”

see DAVIES, 2B

Editor’s note: This story was published in the Feb. 6 edition of The Murray State News. It has been revised and updated for purposes of our special edition: Davies’ Investiture.

SOCIAL MEDIA CELEB

After a 16 game losing streak the Weather doesn’t hold back the Davies takes the social media Racers earn their first win, 3B Racers at annual home meet, 4B world by storm, 5B

From the Sidelines

The real MVPresident Every team has a leader.

In football, all eyes stay on the quarterback, and in basketMallory Tucker ball it’s Sports Editor all about the point guard.

Coaches lead from off the field or court while teams name captains to lead during regulation play.

Seniors often lead through experience, and sometimes it’s the unspoken leaders that do the most and walk away with an MVP title. Just as every athletic team has a leader, so does every other organization in life.

In the team that is the students, faculty and staff at Murray State, we have a fearless, devoted leader in President Bob Davies.

He is our quarterback, our point guard, our experienced leader and at times he is our quiet, kind contributor. His face is everywhere and he makes his presence known everywhere – especially at athletic events – but much of what he does goes unnoticed, as well.

Flashback to a few months ago: I’m standing outside Winslow Dining Hall. Eight inches of snow cover the ground, and classes are canceled.

It’s cold, really cold, and my friend and I are rummaging through our wallets looking for our student IDs just to swipe in and grab some pizza.

In true Mallory fashion, I’ve lost mine, and my friend

see COLUMN, 2B

OLD DOMINION Country band brings new sound to Lovett Auditorium, 6B

The News

Sports

2B

PAYNE From Page 1B

me, day one,” Payne said. “One thing he said: Don’t worry about the pressure, put the pressure on him. That’s one of the main things I remember about Coach P when I first got here.

Cause you know, y’all had Isaiah Canaan, and it was funny, man, I was a freshman coming to fulfill what he has done, and I mean that’s kind of hard. I had pressure on my back but he told me to give it all to him. And

I really appreciate that. That went a long way with me.”

Tears filled both Payne and Prohm’s eyes as Payne’s opening remarks came to a close. Silence filled the room as Payne came out with it, short and sweet.

“To conclude, I would like to say I will be entering my name in the 2015 NBA Draft this season. Thank you.”

The floor was opened for questions at the untraditional press conference, and everyone’s curiosity was finally satisfied as Payne and Prohm described how he came to his deci-

sion, one that was finalized just days before the announcement. Payne said his NBA dreams came to life after the Morehead State matchup in the OVC Tournament, while Prohm had started worrying much earlier.

“Just from recruiting, you knew he was going to be a good player, you knew he was going to be an all-conference player, but probably through his freshman year we knew he was going to be a pro,” Prohm said. “And then as this season went on, especially kind of December, January – maybe the Evansville game where

April 10, 2015 he had 30-something – that’s where I said, ‘Oh, we probably need to recruit some other point guards.’”

Although they met just twice throughout the season to speak on the subject of playing professionally, speculation was rampant as NBA scouts were present at every game.

Now that the decision has been made, Payne is ready to start his journey.

“Not saying I started from the bottom as in wealth, but I started from the bottom as in basketball,” Payne said. “No one trusted in me. So to get this opportunity, man it’s a dream

come true. I just really want to thank God for it. Couldn’t have done it without Him and all these lovely guys in the room. But the opportunity is just phenomenal. I’m just ready to go ahead and try it out.”

Over the next two months, Payne will play in every pre-draft tournament and camp that he is invited to.

When the draft takes place in New York City on June 25, he joked that he has only made one plan: “I hope I’m going to be in the green room. That’s the only place I’ve got set up right now.”

Jenny Rohl/The News

Prohm talks about Payne leaving Murray State to pursure his dream of being in the NBA.

Men’s golf hopes to duplicate Tennessee Tech tournament Mallory Tucker || Sports Editor mtucker11@murraystate.edu

Haley Hays/The News

Sophomore point guard, Cameron Payne goes up for a shot against Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

DAVIES

COLUMN

With Davies’ attention to athletics is recognized by more than just students. Ward said because of the role he (Davies) plays in marketing for the University, Davies has high expectations for intercollegiate athletics and the students involved in it.

“You’re going to have bumps and bruises,” Davies said. “As long as we don’t have a plethora of them we’re OK. But I’ve talked to the coaches and they understand that we need to have exemplary students in and out of the classroom.”

Ward said because of the constant changes going on within Division I sports, it is important to have an involved president. He said Murray State has a winning tradition and it’s a winning tradition without the student-athlete controversy he sees with other schools. Davies said it is what sets Murray State apart.

“We’re fortunate to have that at Murray State with Davies,” Ward said. “He’s been outstanding to work with.”

Davies said he enjoys his interactions with the students and it isn’t just for publicity.

To him, taking selfies with students and tweeting with them gives him a sense of involvement in their lives.

“First (athletics) is an amazing asset,” Davies said. “We have bumps and bruises as we go along. We go along with 400 student athletes and by large they are student athletes. Take any swatch of 400 students and they are an amazing representatives of the school.”

can’t find hers either. We’ve really dropped the ball here.

This is where one of the wonderful things about sports comes into play – there’s always someone to step up and have your back.

Who steps up here, but President Davies himself.

And I mean he really, literally steps up as he walks up the steps to Winslow and asks us what’s going on. We explain that we don’t have our lives together and we can’t find our IDs and he responds, “I’ll vouch for you. I’m not sure how much good it’ll do though.”

Just like that, our quarterback gave us a new route and we’re on our way into Winslow to eat away our snow day boredom and proclaim Davies the Most Valuable President.

Flashback to two weeks ago: I’m sitting courtside at the basketball game against Old Dominion University.

Director of Athletics Allen Ward is to my right and Davies is to his right.

Ward says something to me about how he’ll try to keep Davies quiet, but it’s obvious he’s already excited for the game.

Excitement isn’t exactly status quo on press row.

As a student journalist, I’m forced to act unbiased and professional despite how desperately I want the Racers to win.

Ward is expected to do the same when he’s sitting courtside, as is Davies. Davies, however, was unable to contain his love for the Racers

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throughout the game. He cracked me up as he slammed the scoretable, muttered cheers and even clapped at times.

It amazed me that in less than a year, Davies has developed a passion for our team – and for our University in general – that he was unable to hide. Despite what was going on in the game, he was always encouraging the team.

He was never negative. He never cursed. (Not that I did either – I would never do that while watching a game. Cough cough.)

He was always supportive, and even when it looked like hope was lost, he was worried about letting the players know how proud he was of them after the game.

Sometimes at games I’ve learned to be a fly on the wall, and I was lucky to be a fly on the wall from just one seat away and learn first-hand why Davies comes to all the sporting events that he does.

He comes because he really, truly cares about our student athletes.

Coming to games has been more than publicity for Davies, and more than a show to our students.

He’s already made a huge impact on campus morale and Racer fandom. Especially during his short time here.

It’s not often that I see a person at games as often as I’m there, but I can say that about him without a doubt.

He’s nothing short of a game-changer at our University, and I’m thankful for the interactions we’ve already had and more that are sure to come.

Thanks for quarterbacking our team, President Davies.

You truly are the real MVP.

With two weeks off since its last tournament and the emergence of better weather, the men’s golf team is ready to face conference play for the first time in a month. At their Tennessee Tech tournament March 16-17, the Racers placed second of 15.

Head Coach Eddie Hunt hopes to duplicate their results Monday and Tuesday as the participate in Tennessee State’s Big Blue Intercollegiate in Nashville, Tenn.

Led by senior Jordan Smith, the Racers have had a few good days of practice at Miller Memorial Golf Course before they take on the last tournament before the OVC Championship April 24-26.

“Our leader, Jordan Smith, I think he’s really primed to have a good tournament,” Hunt said. “He really looks forward to these type of events. We’re playing against some of the better players in the OVC this week and I think we’re getting ready to have a vote for the all-conference team. I know he’s in the running and I think he wants to have a good showing. Him being the only senior, his goal from the first of the year was to win the OVC championship. In our conference, till the last day you’ve got a shot to win the championship. So that’s our goal, and I think it’s a realistic goal. If everybody plays up to their potential, I think we can do that.”

In addition to gauging their conference competition this weekend, the Racers will be competing for a spot in the top-five and a chance to play in the conference tournament.

Head-to-head competition is Hunt’s biggest factor in deciding who will travel to play in Muscle Shoals, Ala., and a strong showing at Big Blue Intercollegiate Monday and Tuesday will help.

“I think it just depends a lot on the tournaments and head-to-head competition,” Hunt said. “There’s a lot more involved in who’s the top-five rather than who shoots the best score in the last round. I look at it from the whole year, and base it on head-to-head competition.

But I think it’s important that we play well in the last tournament.”

Hunt plans to play six or seven athletes at Tennessee State due to the tournament’s proximity.

Good weather and more course time have the team’s spirits up as they prepare to round out the season on a high note.

“This week’s been good,” Hunt said. “We’ve been out the last couple days and I think the rest of the week’s going to be a little bit better than what it has been. So that’s encouraging.

The golf course is in a lot better shape, so I think we’ll have another couple days of good practice. Then we’ll have a weekend before OVC, and I think after the tournament we’ll pretty much have our lineup decided and we’ll concentrate on getting ready for the OVC.”

Women’s golf prepares to host Murray State Invitational Mallory Tucker || Sports Editor mtucker11@murraystate.edu

Coming off the confidence boost of a 12th place finish in a field of 18 nonconference teams at Ole Miss’ Rebel Intercollegiate April 3-5 in Oxford, Miss., the women’s golf team is preparing to host the Murray State Invitational at Miller Memorial Golf Course in Murray.

The three-round tournament starts today with two rounds after an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start and will continue with the final round starting at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow. Tournament admission is free to the public.

“I was very pleased with how we played at Ole Miss,” said Head Coach Velvet Milkman.

“We shot lower scores than we did the week before. And that’s our goal is to just get better every week out. And we did that. So it was nice to go down and put three good rounds together.”

A tournament title on their home course this weekend would make it the team’s third consecutive and seventh of the past eight years.

Milkman’s goal, however, is just to improve on last week’s scores.

“We’re just sticking with the game plan of each week going out and getting better,” Milkman said. “I hope to be better come Sunday morning than we are now, and that just comes from going out and playing and handling yourself in different situations. So just continued improvement.”

The team will find itself in a familiar place this weekend, however, with the advantage of playing on a course they know well.

Milkman said the team has been working on its short game this week, but also focusing on controlling their emotions, staying calm and being positive. Although they know the course better than others, an increased crowd support could cause distractions for the team.

“Our fan base is big, but there will be a lot more people that will have the opportunity to

“

Our fan base is big, but there will be a lot more people that will have the opportunity to watch us play this week.

-Velvet Milkman, Women’s golf Head Coach

”

watch us play this week.” Milkman said. “Handling that, I think, will be good as well. Staying focused on their game as opposed to who’s out watching.”

The Racers will host 10 teams at Miller this week. In addition to Murray State, Austin Peay, Belmont, Morehead State, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech will represent the OVC. Butler, Cincinnati, Marshall and Xavier will compete out of conference.

Freshman Moa Folke was named the OVC Co-Golfer of the Week after her 11th place finish at the Rebel Intercollegiate, joined by Jacksonville State’s Melania Bajo Geijo. Carding a total score of just two over par throughout the three rounds, Folke almost cracked the top ten in the field of 96. Milkman is pleased with not just Folke’s, but all of her players’ performances this week.

“Honestly, I think they’re all playing well,” Milkman said. “I know that sounds like a copout, but they really are. Our scores are getting better because we’re able to play consistently now, and I honestly expect us all to go out and play well because it’s our home golf course. We play it a lot, they’re comfortable on it, and they should all go out and play well.”

The News

Sports

April 10, 2015

3B

Men’s tennis earns first win Blake Bernier Staff writer

dbernier@murraystate.edu

Jenny Rohl/The News

Senior Max McLean matches up against Tennessee State on Friday.

It took 16 matches this season for the men’s tennis team to earn a win and remove the zero from its record. This happened with a 4-2 win against Tennessee State Friday.

“It always feels good to get your first win of the season and I’m proud of the guys,” said Head Coach Mel Purcell They never stopped fighting all season long.”

This year the Racers (1-15, 1-6) have played with only six eligible players on the roster but faced a team Friday that had five.

“We started the match ahead 1-0 because they only have five guys so we already had a win at the sixth spot by default,” Purcell said.

Because the Tigers (0-12, 0-8) had only five players on the roster, they were forced to forfeit a match, so the Racers won a point before taking the court. Freshman Will True, senior Max McLean and sophomore David

Hess won their individual matches and scored a point each for the Racers.

“David battled in his match, he had a chance to put it away in the second set but he let the guy back into the match,” Purcell said. “But he fought through and won it in the tie breaker. All the guys were over there cheering him on.”

Purcell remains undefeated against the Tigers in his career as head coach.

The next day the Racers dropped the contest against the Belmont Bruins (9-9, 4-4) without winning a match.

“We went into the match prepared and confident and they jumped on us pretty quick,” Purcell said. “And that’s the way it goes sometimes but it was a pretty good weekend for us.”

The women’s tennis team continued to roll through opponents over the weekend with a 4-0 win over Tennessee State (0-9, 0-8) on Friday followed by a 7-0 win against Belmont (4-13, 1-6) on Saturday.

Winning has been the

norm for the women’s tennis team (14-3, 8-1) behind strong performances from last week’s Pepsi Athlete of the Week and No. 1 in rotation, senior Andrea Eskauriatza.

“This is my second year as the number one,” Eskauriatza said. “It’s always tough, you always know that every school, at least their No.1 is always good. So it’s about being prepared to have a tough match every single time.”

After the two wins the women Tennis are now 8-1 in the OVC with just one match remaining before the conference championships in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday.

The Racers will finish regular season play at 10 a.m.

Saturday on Bennie Purcell Tennis Courts against Jacksonville State (6-12, 3-5).

The men’s team will play Tennessee Tech (8-12, 6-1) Friday at Bennie Purcell Tennis Courts.

Then they’ll go on to play Jacksonville State (8-11, 4-3) following the women’s match on Saturday.

Baseball finally sees night game Reagan Field’s new lights allows for baseball to play into the evening Blake Bernier || Staff writer dbernier@murraystate.edu

April 2 marked the first night game in Murray State history thanks to the newest addition to Reagan Field: lights.

University President Emeritus Tim Miller was instrumental in making the lights a reality.

In 2014 Miller moved the proposal to the top of the priority list for the University and athletics and that helped fund the project. The new lights project cost about $375,000.

“This was part of a campaign we started a couple years ago to add the grandstand and add lights and add a press box and eventually add an indoor hitting facility,” said Associate Athletic Director Steve Harrel. “Obviously this was well overdue because we’ve been able to do a lot of different facility projects over the years and this is an area that hasn’t had a lot of attention.”

Reagan Field had been relatively unchanged since opening day on March 11, 1989.

“It means a lot to our program,” said Head Coach Kevin Moulder. “Our current players certainly are excited, but I know it means a lot to our alumni. It shows them the commitment level that the school and the athletic department is putting into the baseball program.”

Some of those alumni attended the April 2 game against Jacksonville State. James “Sonny” Ward and George Dugan, both members of

Team name

Sorority

Record

1. AGD 2. AOII Pandas 3. Tri-Sigma

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Residential College 1. White Sharks Girls A 2. Hart Ravens 3. Lizo A

Team name

Fraternity

Record

1. Lambda Chi Alpha 2. Alpha Sigma Phi

1-0 1-0

Jenny Rohl/The News

The Racer baseball team rushes Reagan Field under lights for the first time since 1939. for the Racers.

“The students who aren’t too academically inclined - they don’t mind to give up their night for a baseball game.”

University President Bob Davies attended as

well. He said he was happy to see so many people at the game.

“It’s neat to see all the faculty, the staff, the students and community members out enjoying a baseball game,” Davies said.

Intramural Soccer Hester A triumphs over Clark A

Residential College 1-0 1-0 1-0

Independent A 1. Ballz Deep 2. A-TEAM

the 1963 OVC Championship team, traveled to Murray for the weekend just to be a part of the historic night.

“I’m thrilled to death that we’re under the lights,” Ward said.

Former players didn’t think they would ever see lights on the field.

“We probably got the approval for these lights a year ago,” Harrel said. “Then it was a lot of site work and figuring out if the electricity is going to work. But it was amazing; they dug the holes sometime in January. They delivered the poles with the lights on a Tuesday and

by Thursday they were all up and installed.”

Former Head Coach and field namesake, Johnny Reagan, made the trip to the ballpark to see the field improvements. He wasn’t surprised that lights were added, he said he expected them to be put in eventually.

“It’s become nearly a competitive necessity,” Reagan said. “College baseball has gotten to the point where you’d like to eliminate as many doubleheaders as you can. It solves a little problem - maybe not a big problem but a little problem. It’s really a nice addition.”

Fans filled the seats and spilled over into terraced seating on the first and third base sides of Reagan Field.

“I’m almost a little surprised at how many townspeople are out here,” Reagan said.

Having the ability to play at night has changed the size of the crowd that is possible

1. Hart A 2. White Sharks

2-0 2-0

Independent A 2-0 3-0

1. AL AIN FC 2. Messi In My Pants

2-0 2-0

Independent B Results are as of Tuesday. Standings courtesy of IMLeagues.

1. Strangers with candy 2. Korea A 3. Bani Yas 4. Man Chest Hair United

2-0 2-0 2-0 2-0

Hannah Fowl/The News

BLOW OUT: (Above, left) Hester A player kicks the ball back into the goal during a game against Clark A. (Above, right) Hester A player passes the ball to another team memeber.

The News

Sports

4B

April 10, 2015

Softball turns around Weather doesn’t hold back after Eastern Illinois loss track and field home meet Staff Report

John Morris || Contributing writer jmorris36@murraystate.edu

The Murray State softball team had a blowout weekend with two shutout games against Morehead State and two wins over Eastern Kentucky. The Racers brought a 4-0 streak home.

Previously the Racers faced a two game loss in a three game series against Eastern Illinois March 29-30.

Head Coach Kara Amundson said the team would work even harder after what happened to ensure a bid to the OVC Tournament.

“After the Eastern Illinois series, we talked about how we have to treat every game like we are fighting to the death to get into the conference tournament,” Amundson said. “Going into this weekend that was our thought process and we showed up this weekend.”

Amundson said she was proud of the members of the senior class. She said they are “leading from the front as well as vocally leading,” which means leading by example and communicating.

She said success comes from getting contribution from every player on the team and the mentality of winning every inning and not thinking of the game as a whole or thinking about statistics.

Senior CheyAnne Gaskey was named OVC Pitcher of the Week. Last weekend she pitched her ninth shutout of the season.

“Chey has been here for four years, and that is the first time she has won that award,” Amundson said. “I think it shows that the work she has put in this year is paying off and I’m happy to see her rewarded for that.”

Earlier this season, Gaskey

Jenny Rohl/The News

Sophomore catcher Jocelyn Rodgers stands on the field during a game against Eastern Kentucky. broke Murray State’s all-time strikeout record of 425 in the game against EIU on March 30.

On Sunday, the Racers faced Morehead State and beating them 8-0 in game one and 6-0 in game two.

Sophomore infielder Maggie Glass was three for four in the two games against Morehead State with a homerun, a triple and four runs batted in (RBI).

Senior infielder Alexa Becker went four and six in the two games, scored three runs, drove in, and had a home run and a stolen base.

Sophomore pitcher Mason Robinson, who pitched the second game against Morehead State, continued her strong season, winning her

10 game after pitching seven innings and allowing just one hit.

“We are in a good spot,” Amundson said. “I think this weekend was a good stepping stone for us moving forward through the last four weekends. We learned a lot about ourselves and our identity.”

The team’s goal by the end of the season is to win the OVC Championship.

“Our motto is to get a ring in the spring,” said senior outfielder, Mo Ramsey.

Amundson said that if the team keeps playing the way it did last weekend, then it’s possible.

The Racers go on to play Southeast Missouri State on Saturday and Sunday on Racer Field.

The Racer track and field team battled the weather April 3 at the third annual Margaret Simmons Invitational.

The meet was scheduled to start at noon, but faced multiple weather delays due to lightening and rain.

The meet consisted of Murray State, Austin Peay State and Jacksonville State.

Because of the delays Austin Peay left the meet before it started.

Murray State senior Toni Pratt came out in the meet’s first event, the hammer and set a personal record of 59.82 meters, which is a new school record.

This is a goal she has wanted to achieve since she started throwing.

“It’s been my goal since I started to throw long,” Pratt said.

Though the weather wasn’t ideal it didn’t hinder or hurt Pratt’s confidence going into her events.

“I feel like the rain kind of helped me since we throw in the rain and practice in the rain.

We practice in all weather so it helped my footwork,” Pratt said.

Pratt also competed in the shot put and finished first with a throw of 13.68 meters.

The Racer’s Brittany Bohn set a personal record in the 3000 meter steeplechase with a time of 11 minutes 20.93 seconds.

Other performances by the Racers: • Taylor Horton, Emma Gilmore and Raeven Wilson all ran in the 200 meter for the first time and finished in 27.67 seconds 27.83 and 30.38, respectively.

• Darcy Sullivan, who was competing for the first time in the event and finished with a distance of 9.35 meters. Sullivan also competed in the hammer for the first time and threw 27.92 meters.

• Sarah Bindel competed in both the 100meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles. She finished second in both events with times of 16.78 (100m hurdles) and 1:13.34 (400m hurdles).

• Ashley Conway and Horton competed in the high jump and cleared 1.55 meters and 1.40 meters, respectively.

• Sydney Potts took the win in the javelin with 36.68 meters. Alexis Schleper and Marina Keller threw respective distances of 26.58 meter and 24.60 meters.

• Chleo LeGrand finished second in the pole

“

I feel like the rain kind of helped me since we throw in the rain and practice in the rain. We practice in all weather so it helped my footwork.

-Tonia Pratt, Senior track and field thrower

”

vault with 2.90 meters, while Jill Jachino finished with 2.59 meters.

• In the 400m, Summer Wheeler finished in 1 minute 1.87 seconds.

• Alexis Schleper threw the in the hammer throw and threw a distance of 40.61-meters which was good for third place. Marina Keller threw for the first time with a distance of 29.52 meter.

• Gilmore led the way in the 800 meter with a time of 2:20.59. Wilson and Thate followed behind in second and third with respective times of 2 minutes 26.26 seconds and 2 minutes 29.82 seconds.

• Abbie Oliver ran the 1500m and finished in second with a time of 4:54.68.

The Margaret Simmons Invitational is an event named after a well respected innovator here at Murray State.

Simmons started the Murray State women’s track and field team in 1968 and three years later she adding a women’s cross-country team.

According to GoRacers.com records show that she served a 23-year tenure as the Murray State track and field coach.

During her 23-year tenure as head coach, she led the Racers to eight Ohio Valley Conference titles and two runner-up titles.

Her cross-country teams never finished lower than second in the OVC after the championship began in 1979.

Simmons was named OVC Coach of the Year six times, and was named Kentucky Women’s Athletic Conference Coach of the Year on two occasions.

The Racers will be at two locations this upcoming weekend.

WKU Relays Western Kentucky University on the 9 and 10 and Tennessee Relays at the University of Tennessee Knoxville on the tenth and eleventh.

1813 U.S. 641 Murray, Ky

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The Murray State News is Assistant Sports Editor currently looking to fill all Videographers editorCopy and manager Editorspositions.

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SPECIAL EDITION: DAVIES’ INVESTITURE April 10, 2015

5B

The News

Features

Features Editor: Breanna Sill Assistant Features Editor: Madison Wepfer Phone: 270-809-5871 Twitter: MSUNewsFeatures

­

@MURRAYSTATEPREZ SELF-MADE SELFIE MAN

Connor Jaschen Staff writer

cjaschen@murraystate.edu

With thousands of state-run, private and technical colleges in the U.S., the world of academia and the way these establishments are run changes with the times.

Handling students while trying to maintain interconnectivity between faculty and students is a tough balance to keep.

Murray State President Bob Davies has found ways to adapt to the ever-changing cultures within the young adult world.

Davies holds a track record of interpersonal skills, along with a PhD in higher education administration, and has worked to bridge the gap between students and faculty through the use of new media, in particular: selfies.

While the “selfie” craze swept the nation in the last few years – even having found its way into the Merriam-Webster dictionary’s online database – Davies has taken this social media bull by the horns.

Taking selfies on campus and off, Davies has developed quite the social media following, under the screen name of @MurrayStatePrez.

Yes, that is “Prez” with a “z.”

Photo courtesy of Davies’ Instagram account One routine the president has President Bob Davies poses with students of the Governor’s Scholars Program during his first lunch as president at Winslow Dining Hall. taken up is targeting members of

the student body for his selfie shenanigans.

Tanelle Smith, sophomore from Henderson, Ky., is a student that matches the president’s social media antics.

Ever since their meeting over the summer at Murray State’s Henderson campus, the selfie tradition has been kept alive and well between the two social media stars.

“Every single time he sees me, we take a picture!” Smith said, “We really hold each other accountable.”

Referring to Smith as “BossLadyT,” her Twitter handle, Davies found the time in his day to pay attention to not only Smith, but many other students like her.

“President Davies always makes time for students,” Smith said, “I really think it’s incredible. He does this everywhere he goes.”

This type of routine interaction between Davies and the student body is what Smith believes sets him apart.

“It really sets a precedent for presidents of other colleges,” Smith said.

Regardless of methods, President Davies has captured the hearts and minds of students like Smith, which can hopefully be a positive first step in the next chapter of the Racer tradition.

University president becomes social media celebrity Breanna Sill || Features Editor bsill@murraystate.edu

Students are able to log onto their social media accounts like Twitter and Instagram anytime they want on campus.

However, something they have never been able to see, before the past year, was their University president tweeting back to them.

President Bob Davies and his Twitter account, @MurrayStatePrez, boast more than 2,000 followers and sustain multiple favorites and retweets by not only Murray State students, but also parents, alumni, faculty, staff and community members.

His Instagram account, of the same handle, has 1,591 followers and averages more than 100 likes per photo posted.

Students flood his mentions and comments sections with positive feedback and encouragement to Murray State’s 13th president.

Not only does Davies use his social media accounts to promote Murray State, he uses it as a platform to get to know students.

“The role of a leader of an organization, or a leader in general, it’s about communication,” Davies said. “It’s about putting one’s self out there.”

And put himself out there, he has. Students flock to Davies wherever he goes on campus, from asking for selfies with Murray State’s president to just starting a causal conversation. The same goes for his interactions on Twitter.

“I’ve always kind of followed the Jeffersonian style of leadership, meaning ‘of the people,’” Davies said. “I’ve

never believed or thought of myself as ‘leader on high’ but one that embraces others and wanted to never have the higher up dual stances.”

Davies not only supports his students on social media, he supports nearly every student organization that reaches out to him, as well.

From retweeting a tweet talking about a sorority or fraternity rebate night at a local restaurant to posting pictures of the groups he allows to practice for All Campus Sing on the Oakhurst steps, Davies doesn’t let a tweet or a student go unnoticed on social media.

Murray State basketball player Jarvis Williams, senior from Macon, Ga., even took to Twitter to invite Davies to join him for ice cream after Dairy Queen’s seasonal reopening.

Williams and Davies dined on ice cream over Spring Break.

Many students appreciate the feeling of being heard by their University president. To some freshman and new students, the idea of having a University president be so responsive to his students has become a norm, but to students who were here before Davies began his reign, they know Davies is a unique breed.

“The communication, the discussions, the perspectives are always things that I have always tried to see,” Davies said. “Social media is democracy in its finest. It allows individuals to have an amazing voice and access and share perspectives and ideas. It’s just something to me that I believe in. It is such a powerful tool and I enjoy those types of interactions.”

Photo courtesy of Davies’ Twitter account

President Bob Davies cracked jokes with students on Twitter during winter storm Thor.

Q & A: Get to know the first family of Murray State Madison Wepfer

Assistant Features Editor mwepfer@murraystate.edu

Behind President Bob Davies is a support team that never leaves his side.

Aside from the faculty and staff that help Davies organize parties, attend events and stay sane through all of it, his wife, Cindy and daughter, Katie are always with him behind the scenes.

From All Campus Sing to Davies cooking breakfast during the snowstorm, Cindy and Katie said they’ve had fun at every event.

The Davies family is always out and about talking to students and getting to know community members, but what is it like behind the scenes?

MW: Where are you from?

Cindy: Katie was born in Boise, Idaho. I lived there for 30 years and she lived there for 30 days. Before Murray, we were in Oregon. Before that it was Buffalo, and before that it was Idaho.

MW: How did you two meet?

Bob: We met Katie at a very young age in the hospital. She was crying. She’s been talking ever since. Oh, I assume you’re talking about Cindy and I. I was at Boise State and Cindy’s Fumi Nakamura/The News best friend worked in my office, and Cindy Cindy Davies and daughter, Katie Davies, share their lives as the first women of would kind of help volunteer at various Murray State and their transition to life in Kentucky. events. I sort of met her through that, but we

never really connected. One day Donna, the friend – it was a summer day – she invited me to a pool party. Cindy was there minding her own business.

Cindy: It was an office party. I was all by myself in the pool. Everybody was on the deck.

Bob: Yeah, everyone was on the deck, and she was on one of those floaty things, and we all thought we would get in the pool and swim around. I thought Cindy should be involved, so I swam underneath the water and (flipped over the raft).

MW: Walk me through a typical day at the Davies’ house.

Cindy: I go to the gym in the morning when it opens at 5:30, and I take Katie to school. I’m just here doing housework, and I pick Katie up from school. She normally has some kind of activity like soccer or horse riding. I’ve been doing lots of sewing lately, and I enjoy that. Since we’ve come to Kentucky we’ve had fabulous company. The first four months, there was maybe one week where we didn’t have company. We enjoy having company, friends and family coming to visit.

MW: Do you like having to go to so many events and being so involved?

Cindy: He’s the one who likes to be out front.

We’re (his) support. I think we balance each other out. You can’t have two front people.

We prefer to support him Bob: It’s a good team. You (Cindy and Katie)

keep me balanced.

MW: What do you like about Murray State?

Cindy: This is the first time we’ve lived on campus, and we didn’t know if we would like that or not, but it’s great. You can walk to all the events, which is very convenient. Bob enjoys walking to work.

MW: What’s your favorite event so far?

Bob: The step show was really fun. The TriSigs (Sigma Sigma Sigma’s) kind of adopted Katie. And that’s one of the things about Murray State, at other universities we were accepted, but here, it’s more of an immersion.

It’s really great to see Katy being accepted by all the students.

MW: Do you plan to stay at Murray State for long?

Katie: I made him sign a contract. No buyout. We’re here until I’m out of high school at least.

Cindy: She chose Murray State to go to college. She’s the one that started this ball rolling. She wants to go to pre-vet here.

Bob: She wrote a paper about it for a career class, and about a week later she turned it in and showed me, and I got a call about the presidency, so she started it somehow.

Cindy: We didn’t tell her for four months until he was a finalist. Then when we told her, “Your dad’s a finalist at Murray State University for president,” and she said, “Yes!” She loves horses, so Kentucky’s the place to be.

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Features

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The week ahead...

SATURDAY

FRIDAY

SUNDAY

April 10, 2015

If you would like an event to appear on the calendar here or on TheNews.org, email Features Editor, Breanna Sill, at bsill@murraystate.edu. Please submit events by noon Wednesday for consideration.

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

10

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12

13

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15

16

7:30 p.m.

“The Tempest,” Robert E. Johnson Theatre, Price Doyle Fine Arts Center

9 a.m.

Ky Bluegrass Invitational Steer and Heifer Show, Bill Cherry Expo Center

7 p.m.

Racial Taboo: Movie and Discussion with Brian Grimm, Maiden Alley Cinema

7 p.m.

Dr. Richard Carrier on the historicity of Jesus, Blackburn Science Building, Rm. 228

10 a.m.

Career Fair, CFSB Center

3 p.m.

All Campus Sing, the Quad

7 p.m.

“Rent,” Playhouse in the Park

Organizations honor graves of fallen veterans in Calloway County Tiffany Whitfill || Staff writer twhifill1@murraystate.edu

Nicole Ely/The News

Old Dominion performs to a crowd of Murray State students and community members in Lovett Auditorium on Tuesday.

Country band brings new sound SGA/CAB brings Old Dominion for free concert Breanna Sill || Features Editor bsill@murraystate.edu

One of country music’s hottest up-and-coming acts took Lovett Auditorium by storm on Tuesday night as part of Student Government Association and Campus Activities Board’s annual concert series.

Old Dominion performed to a crowd of about 100 students and community members. Old Dominion’s members include lead singer Matthew Ramsey, lead guitar Brad Tursi, acoustic guitar Trevor Rosen, bass Geoff Sprung and drums Whit Sellers.

The band’s current single “Break Up With Him,” is a song written to a woman giving her advice on breaking up with her boyfriend, but the band said the song is inspired by lots of true stories.

“The song is inspired by lots of true stories actually,” Ramsey said. “It happens to people all the time.”

“Break Up With Him” is the band’s favorite song to perform live at their shows because they said they love to see the crowd singing the words back to them.

Not only did the crowd in Lovett Auditorium sing the words to that song back to the band, the crowd was surprised to learn that Old Dominion is the musical brain behind many of

their favorite country songs.

Ramsey, Tursi and Rosen are well established song writers in the music industry with hits like “Say You Do” performed by Dierks Bentley, “Better Dig Two” and “Chainsaw” performed by The Band Perry and “Ex To See” performed by Sam Hunt. All of which the band performed Tuesday night to the surprise of the crowd.

The band’s sound is not one that country listeners are used to hearing from other bands on the radio today.

“We are kind of a mixture of all the things we like and listen to,” Tursi said. “A lot of rock and roll and hip hop and obviously some country thrown in there, too.”

A special bonus to the evening was the appearance of the contestants from Saturday’s Miss MSU pageant. The girls threw on their pageant T-shirts, jeans and cowboy boots to get on stage and perform a dance with the band. The contestants danced to the band’s song “Break Up With Him” and enjoyed their few minutes in the spotlight to prepare them for Saturday’s show.

Although the band members are not yet where they hope to be in their career, they have big plans.

“Where do we see ourselves in one year?” Ramsey said. “At the top.”

Annual half marathon to take place next week

Fumi Nakamura/The News

Lead guitar, Brad Tursi, is also a well-known songwriter as well as musician.

Jessica Bostick || Contributing writer jbostick@murraystate.edu

The fifth annual Murray Half Marathon put on by the Murray-Calloway County Hospital will take place at 7 a.m. April 18.

The last day to sign up is April 17 at the marathon’s exposition and packet pick-up at the Center for Health and Wellness from 10a.m.-6p.m. The Center for Health and Wellness is located at 716 Poplar Street in Murray.

Runners can also sign up at www.MurrayHalfMarathon.org.

The Murray Half Marathon is organized

by Murray-Calloway County Hospital Endowment Coordinator, Susan Davis. Davis got the idea for the half marathon from her daughter while she was in college.

Davis’ daughter thought a half marathon would be a great opportunity for Murray.

Davis was hooked on the idea and rallied Murray’s support. The response from the

The Revolutionary War took place more than 200 years ago. Generations of descendants of the Revolutionary War veterans have kept their heroes’ memories alive.

In honor of the American Revolution, soldiers who are buried in Calloway County, the Bonner family descendants, the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter of the Kentucky Sons of the American Revolution and the Captain Wendell Oury Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution groups will host a Patriot Grave Marking Service at Bonner Cemetery on Saturday at 3p.m.

The SAR and Daughters of the American Revolutions (DAR) in western Kentucky are some of the most active chapters in the state of Kentucky.

The Trigg County chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution is considered the most active with more than 50 members.

This chapter makes their own uniforms, buttons (made out of horn), and has traveled to fifth grade classrooms in the area to educate students on the American Revolution.

Ann Uddberg, Daughters of the American Revolution member from Murray, has researched the history of the area’s Revolutionary War veterans. Uddberg, whose mother was also a Daughters of the American Revolution member, said she has counted approximately 24 veterans buried in Calloway County. The soldier who the ceremony will honor is Pvt. William Bonner, NC & SC. Bonner, who died in 1834, was a Revolutionary War veteran who participated in several enlistments.

Uddberg said he fought in the Battle of Hanging Rock, which was the first real victory the southern army had.

The win at this battle set the stage for two major wins in the southern army’s fight in the war.

Uddberg said she was amazed by the number of veteran descendants in the area. Western Kentucky was not able to be used until 1820 when Andrew Jackson bought the land from the Cherokee.

When this area was adopted, free land was given to Revolutionary War veterans.

“When they came there were no roads, no farms, no churches, no commerce,” Uddberg said. “They had to build everything and most of them were old.”

After veterans moved and settled into the area, many descendants stayed. Uddberg said she has seen as many as six generations of Revolutionary War veterans’ descendants buried in the same cemetery.

Some of these descendants have contributed to Murray State. Peter Waterfield was a Revolutionary War veteran and one of his descendants is the namesake of Waterfield Library.

Uddberg said there are several other buildings on campus that have ties with the Daughters of the American Revolution including Mason Hall and Springer and Hester residential college.

The grave marking ceremony will last about one hour and will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance. The DAR and SAR creed will then be recited by members and wreaths will be laid from each DAR chapter present. Uddberg said she expects there to be three or four chapters in attendance.

The service will continue with speakers highlighting the Revolutionary War and Bonner. Conclusions will be made by the playing of the military song “Taps” by a Murray State student and flag folding.

If students are interested in more information regarding the American Revolutionary War and the descendants in Calloway County, Uddberg said Pogue Library has multiple sources and information to discover.

community was outstanding, Davis said.

This was an opportunity to promote tourism and local businesses.

“I want people coming in for the marathon to see what a nice place this is; nice parks, a beautiful campus, and to help tourism and local businesses,” Davis said.

This year runners will come from 15 different states. Many runners have never gotten to see all of Murray.

Davis hopes to change this by displaying the best of Murray on the grand tour provided by the route.

To help show off the Murray community, the path will show runners the best Murray has to offer.

The path will go through the court house square, the park where Playhouse in the Park, a community theater company takes place, industrial areas and the Murray State campus.

The starting line will be at the Center for Health and Wellness, which will open

at 5:30 a.m. on April 18. Along with the 13.1 mile race, there will also be a 5K beginning at 7:10 a.m.

Prizes will be given for the 5K and Age Division Awards at 8:30 a.m.

The cash awards for the half marathon will be given at 9:15 a.m.

Proceeds will go to the Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House.

The Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House provides comfort to patients at the end of their lives.

It offers a calm environment to patients and encourage visits from family and friends.

The Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House is funded solely on donations and depends on events like the half marathon.

Last year the marathon made $45,000 to the Anna Mae Residential Hospice House project and had more than 700 runners participate.

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April 10, 2015

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“At the top.”

BOSTON BOMBING TRIAL VERDICT

Ann McLane Kuster @RepAnnieKuster With a guilty verdict in the Boston Marathon bombing trial, thoughts & friends of the victims. #BostonStrong 4:35pm 8 Apr 2015 merita ilo @merita_ilo ‘Kill him’ says a Canadian who was one block away from the finish line when the Boston Marathon bombs went off 4:13pm 8 Apr 2015

Matt Smithson @mattsmithson A US jury has unanimously found Dzokhar Tsarnaev guilty of carrying out the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings.

3:55pm 8 Apr 2015 Joanna Small @JoannaKIR07 I ran the #Boston Marathon 2 yrs ago. Finished 30 mins prior to bombing. Strong emotions 2day. #BostonStrong 5:03pm 8 Apr 2015

GOLDEN GIRLS MIGHT BECOME LEGOS “The Golden Girls” could become a new LEGO set.

Many famous movies and TV shows have taken LEGO form such as “Ghostbusters” and “The Avengers,” but now, Golden Girls fans might be able to collect LEGO Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, Sophia and Stanley. The set comes with a kitchen, living room, foyer and various accessories such as cheesecake.

Photo courtesy of justkillinti.me

Paul Walker starred in his last film before his tragic death, “Furious Seven,” which premiered in theaters April 3.

Ride or die: ‘Furious Seven’ brings it home John Gruccio || Contributing writer jgruccio@murraystate.edu

‘SHE’S ALL THAT!’ REMAKE IN THE WORKS

According to The Wrap, Weinsten Company and Miramax are working on a remake of the 1999 romantic comedy, “She’s All That!”

Directed by Spike Lee’s wife, Tonya Lewis Lee, the remake will follow the same plot as the original: a dreamy guy makes a bet to turn a geeky girl into prom queen.

The cast and release date are unknown.

Soundbyte “Even my yoga pants don’t fit me anymore.”

-Jimmy Kimmel revealing he gained 9 pounds in eight days at SXSW in Austin, Texas, on his talk show

In 2001, the world was introduced to the film, “The Fast and the Furious” and its main characters, Dominic Toretto and Brian O’Connor, played by up-andcoming actors at the time, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker.

From their performances in this pulse-pounding and thrilling action flick, we have been granted a whole series of films that not only address the title of both being fast and furious, but find a way to escalate things even further.

With the newest addition to the series, “Furious Seven,” we are given what is said to be one last ride. If that is true, then this one was definitely worth it.

After the events in London, Toretto and his family find themselves being hunted by a dangerous man named Deckard Shaw who desperately wants revenge for his brother, Owen.

In an attempt to survive, Dom, along with help from Hobbs, must take the crew on one last ride, which will take them across the globe and could prove to be their craziest adventure yet.

“Furious Seven” stars Diesel, Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Nathalie Emmanuel, Djimon Hounsou, Ronda Rousey, Tony Jaa and Kurt Russell.

First off, let us address the death of Walker. In November 2013, after production began on this film, Walker died in a car accident. For a few months as

production on the film was halted, it was unclear whether or not this film would ever see the light of day.

Alas, here we are with Walker’s final performance in a series that has really shown his true skill as an actor.

This series will live on for years to come not only as a reminder of what a good, no-holds-barred, adrenaline-pumping action film looks like, but also as a reminder of an actor’s performance and dedication to a film series that defined a generation. Rest in peace, Paul.

It is really hard to say anything about the main cast of these films that hasn’t already been said.

In a scene from the film, the new character, Ramsey, played by the lovely Emmanuel really categorizes each of them in their own perspective roles. Diesel is the Alpha, Walker is the Ex-Cop, Rodriguez is Mrs. Alpha, Ludacris is the Tech Guy and Gibson is the Joker aka Double Alpha.

The reason I bring this up is not only because this is the first time we have had their roles clearly defined, but also because with these characters, these actors are able to recapture these roles each time and somehow make them even better than before.

However, even with great performances from a group of series regulars, you have to add new characters to spice it up and make it original and more exciting. Just like the series did with the addition of Johnson’s character, Hobbs, in 2011’s “Fast Five,” this series brings in

some new faces. We have the ultimate badass, Statham, as the revenge-seeking, dangerous operative Shaw, Russell as the highly intriguing government official aptly called Mr. Nobody, Hounsou as the terrorist Jakande, martial arts superstar Tony Jaa as one of Jakande’s ruthless officers, Kiet and one of the world’s most breathtaking and deadly ladies around, Rousey as Kara.

Each one of these new faces not only makes the story more intense and electrifying, but have their own little gems to contribute.

You could say that director James Wan had one of the hardest challenges of any director in a series like this.

What do I do when one of my leading actors dies without finishing the film and how do I bring new blood into a long-running series? The answer is you hire James Wan. Let’s be honest. At times, it is noticeable that CGI is being used, but it does not take away from the performance.

With the help of Walker’s brothers, Wan brings us one of the best and most passion-filled films in the series. Well done.

Besides the film’s story having some plot elements that deal with advancements in technology that I do not believe exist, the death-defying action stunts and performances make up for it all.

If you have not already seen this film, I recommend that you make your way to the cinema now and do so.

So it seems like I get email upon email from people who read my column and want me to give them Breanna Sill tips on how they can meet Features Editor their favorite celebrity.

While I am always up for sharing a few tips, one tip I thought I would never need to share would be to take advantage of the opportunities that are given to you.

For example, I was beyond disappointed in the turn out for Tuesday night’s Student Government Association and Campus Activities Board concert in Lovett Auditorium. The concert was completely FREE to Murray State students and featured one of the biggest up-and-coming bands in country music. What reason, besides class, of course, did you all have not to attend?

None.

Maybe you hadn’t ever heard of the band Old Dominion before, but I guarantee if you listen to country music, you know more than half of the songs they performed because they wrote them all for other artists. They are some of the most in demand songwriters in country music.

SGA posted on its Twitter account for 25 people to retweet for a meet and greet opportunity with the band, and of the 25 people that entered and won, only five showed up for the awesome opportunity.

That’s seriously pitiful and so disappointing.

So much work and money is put into this event just for students.

I mean it’s free for students for goodness sakes.

Do you think literally anyone knew who Taylor Swift was the first time I met her? Or Luke Bryan? No. Both of those acts, who are now some of the biggest acts in the world, were total and complete nobodies who no one cared to meet either.

So please, if anyone who reads this column takes anything away from it in the past two years, I hope that is to take advantage of the opportunities that are in front of you.

Just because something isn’t exactly what you want it to be, or who you want to listen to, give it or them a chance.

You could be so surprised and who knows, taking the time to enjoy the smaller up-and-coming band could turn into one of your most favorite memories.

It usually works that way for me. bsill@murraystate.edu

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April 10, 2015