The Murray State News

The Murray State News April 17, 2015

TheNews.org

Vol. 89, No. 28

FIRST STEP

Editor’s Note: The Murray State News changed the name of the woman and decided to not name the alleged perpetrator or any other students involved.

Amanda Grau Staff writer

agrau1@murraystate.edu

It took Lily Smith two days to fully understand she had been raped.

She said as she stood in the shower thinking about the events of Nov. 7, 2014, she wished the hot water running over her head were acid, eating away flesh and memories.

“If I didn’t ask for this, then what does that make it? The shock of the word ‘rape’ hit me,” Smith said.

It took another three days for her to gather the courage to come forward about what happened.

A saga of unreturned phone calls and email chains ensued, during which she learned the Murray State administrator assigned to guide her through the judicial process is the adviser to the accused rapist’s fraternity.

Colby Bruno, a case advocate with Victim Rights, said that’s a conflict of interest.

“This is just an objectively wrong thing to do,” Bruno said.

“He oversees the process. He can make it more or less difficult or spend time not getting back to her.”

Victim Rights, an advocate group based in Boston, Mass., and Portland, Ore., provides free legal aid for sexual assault victims.

However, the group was not involved in this case.

After 51 emails spanning six months, Smith got a judicial hearing, scheduled to take place behind closed doors April 20.

The man accused by Smith declined to be interviewed.

On Nov. 12, Smith decided she needed to speak with authorities about the alleged rape.

But when she went to the Women’s Center, ready to recount the events of Nov. 7, she was greeted by a student worker and a clipboard of paperwork.

Smith said she wasn’t mentally stable. She couldn’t fill out the paperwork.

Smith was told Abigail French, Women’s Center director and a counselor trained to take on sexual assault cases, was the only person who could see her, but was unavailable at the time.

Smith moved to the Counseling Center, where she was told her case would be put in a file to be discussed at the weekly meeting.

Someone would be in touch the following week.

A delay was the last thing she said she wanted.

“I’m in the trenches,” Smith said. Having to “hang tight for a week” was a big ask, she said.

In the mean time, she was directed to the Title IX office.

The office, though, is not easy to find in Wells Hall. The Title IX office also is known as the Office of Equal Opportunity (its name on the Wells Hall directory marquee) and as the IDEA office, which stands for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. A student must follow signs to the IDEA office through the subterranean first floor of Wells Hall.

It’s hidden for a reason, said Camisha Duffy, Murray State’s Title IX coordinator.

“People are coming forward and we don’t want the office to be a public place,” Duffy said.

Once she found the office, Smith retold her story to three University officials: Duffy, Mike Young, interim associate vice president of Student Affairs, and Duffy’s secretary.

Murray State’s process for handling sexual assault complaints divides cases between Duffy and Young. Employee-to-student sexual assaults are handled by Duffy, and student-to-student cases are handled by Young.

Students who come forward about a sexual assault can first report it to different authorities, such as a residential adviser or the police.

But that point of contact often serves only as an entry way to Murray State’s judicial process, as Smith found out.

After a debriefing with Duffy and Young, Smith was given the option to move forward with criminal charges.

Smith decided to talk to the police. Because the assault took place off campus the case fell under the jurisdiction of the Murray Police Department.

The tall, male officer entered the Title IX office in uniform.

Smith was left alone with him to

‘It had taken over my life.’

How one traumatic night for a student became a six-month struggle with Murray State.

see TAKEN OVER, 2A

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

Smith seeks help

Smith leaves Smith meets with message Young to discuss for Young University action 6th

12th

Young emails Smith before leaving town 3rd

24th

DEC.

NOV. 20th

7th

The alleged rape occurred

Graphic by Taylor McStoots/The News

INSIDE

Smith finds out Young is adviser for accused rapist’s fraternity

MARCH

Young Smith tells her meets to not with give up Robertson hope

4th

18th

Smith tells adviser she doesn’t want to work with Young

20th

11th

13th

12th

Young’s last contact until 2nd Feb. 3 Smith emails Duffy about not hearing from Young

Registrar’s Office confirms receiving Smith’s withdrawal

8th

FEB.

Early Dec.

Smith meets with Murray Police detective

WHAT’S

JAN.

Smith leaves Murray without packing

Date of judicial hearing

APRIL

25th

Smith files official grievance against accused rapist

16th

Smith receives confirmation that withdrawal has been processed Graphic by Mary Bradley/The News

TIME CAPSULE

OUR VIEW

WOMEN’S TENNIS

ALL CAMPUS SING

SGA collects items for new time capsule, 6A

Cum laude GPA change is abrupt, but good, 4A

Team stays No. 1 and heads to OVC tournament, 1B

The tradition takes to Lovett’s steps for another year, 5B

The News

News

2A

April 17, 2015

Cum laude GPA requirements to change in fall Julia Mazzuca || Staff writer jmazzuca@murraystate.edu

Students are disappointed in Murray State’s cum laude GPA requirement change from a 3.3 to a 3.4, but by decreasing the number of hours in residence and removing the upper level hours in residence will in turn help more students qualify for academic honors at graduation.

Mark Rhodes, junior from Farmington, Ky., came to Murray State understanding the requirements that were needed.

“I started school under the assumption that I could make a certain GPA and graduate under honors,” Rhodes said.

“But now I will be a senior and it is too late to dramatically change my GPA to reach newer standards.”

Although this requirement won’t be affective until the fall 2015 semester, the policy change was approved in 2013 by the Academic Council with delayed implementation, giving the students the chance to prepare for the change.

The Academic Council intended on students being prepared for the change, students are just now becoming aware of the change.

The change from a 3.3 to a 3.4 has caused many students to complain to the Registrar’s office.

Kirby Pittman, employee in the Registrar’s office, said people have called to explain how they have worked so hard to be where they are now, but they feel stripped of their hard work as the standards are raised.

Savannah Murphy, senior from Hardinsburg, Ky., straddles the line of cum laude as she graduates next May. “I just don’t understand why the GPA requirement has changed,” Murphy said. “I have put so much work into it and it is slipping through my fingers like sand.”

Justin Jones, junior from Mayfield, Ky., is on the edge of the GPA, but doesn’t mind the requirement change as much.

“I could go either way, but I would be OK with whichever,” Jones said. “I have worked

CPR training for students also aids as Mu Sigma Chi fundraiser TAKEN OVER From Page 1 tell the events of Nov. 7 again.

“It’s not a policeman’s job to be sympathetic, and I get that,” she said. “But I felt defensive, like I’m pleading my case.

It sucks to defend yourself against something that happened to you.”

DEFINING RAPE

For Smith, Nov. 7 began with an invitation from a close female friend to relax and have a drink together. It ended with three strangers added to the group at her friend’s house and Smith drinking more than she had planned. At one point, the four others left Smith alone in the living room, in a drunken sleep on the couch – until one man rejoined her.

At that point, the man raped her, she said.

When she described this to the officer, phrasing Smith used for her state of consciousness came under scrutiny. “Passedout” implied being totally unconscious, she said the officer told her. She was drunk, she told him. She had fallen into a deep sleep because of the alcohol. He asked if she “blacked out” that night.

No, she told him.

That creates a gray area, she said he told her.

After taking her statement, the officer told Smith he’d hand it over to Angel Clere, the detective assigned to sexual assault cases. She will look it over and be in touch, he told Smith.

Clere was unavailable for comment, but spokesman Sgt. David Howe said the detective would typically go over the statutes defining sexual assault with the victim.

On Nov. 20, Clere told Smith she had met with the alleged perpetrator and took his statement, as well as the statements of three others at the house that night.

There were benchmarks that had to be met with each case, Smith said Clere told her.

“You either have to be completely sober or blacked out,” Smith said. “Those were the benchmarks.”

Because it would be difficult to bring criminal charges,

hard to be where I am and it is OK.” Wendy Tudor, assistant registrar and graduation registrar, gave specific reasoning for the GPA change.

Tudor said the requirements of Latin honors have not been changed for several decades and Murray State wanted to better align its requirements with those of its sister schools throughout the region and Kentucky.

Tudor said she feels making this change will give Murray State students a more competitive edge when applying for jobs or graduate schools, after graduation.

Along with the GPA change, the Academic Council also approved the notion to decrease the number of required in-residence credit hours from 45 to 40 hours.

Also, the Academic Council removed the requirement to have 32 upper level in-residence credit hours.

Decreasing in-residence credit hours and removing upper level credit hours will

Mari-Alice Jasper News Editor

mjasper1@murraystate.edu

When her fiance’s father collapsed in March before her eyes, Rebecca Pender rushed to him and used her CPR training to stabilize him until paramedics arrived – a task she has spent perfecting for years for the crucial moment it was needed.

Pender, associate professor of Counseling Services and co-adviser for Mu Sigma Chi, has completed three CPR training sessions with the American Heart Association. She started in middle school and continued through college, but still froze when it came time for her to put her training to use.

She said her experience using CPR inspired her to put together a CPR training session hosted by Mu Sigma Chi, the campus chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, a honors society for

Smith looked for other options.

Murray State’s Title IX program, and many other universities’ Title IX programs in the nation, allow a victim to take the alleged perpetrator to a judicial hearing.

Murray State’s judicial board is made of a mix of students and faculty members, selected for rotating terms. Judges can recuse themselves from proceedings if they believe there is a conflict of interest with a case.

Both parties are given the opportunity to tell their side of the story in a hearing. The panel of judges bases a decision of guilt or innocence on which story is more likely to have happened. Both parties are allowed to bring character witnesses as well as a personal advocate who is restricted to speaking only with their client.

Because Smith’s case involves two students, Young took control.

As part of the Student Affairs staff, Young also was in charge of talking to Smith’s professors about the remaining few weeks of the fall semester.

LEAVING MURRAY

Smith said she said she had to get out of Murray. She stopped attending classes after Nov. 12.

“It had taken over my life,” she said. “My mind wasn’t there. As a student I felt so guilty. I was so close to graduating summa cum laude. I’d been working my butt off all semester. I was a good student and then I was just gone.”

Young and Smith spoke with Smith’s professors and figured out a separate path for finishing the semester. Some classes she left with the grade she had on Nov. 12. Others she finished online.

Smith met with Young Nov. 24 to take formal University action against the man she accused of rape.

In the meeting, Young divulged to Smith that he knew the man, and he was angry with the student. But he did not tell Smith how he knew him. Young told The News he does not remember making the statement.

“I say to everyone that I’m empathetic that you’re going through this,” he said. “If I said anything, it would have been in

Photo Illustration by Hannah Fowl/The News

Gold cords are given to students who achieve honors such as cum laude with their graduation robes. open up the opportunity for more students to study abroad and for transfer students to qualify for Latin honors.

Under the old policy, students who studied abroad were not given Latin honors because credits earned from their study

graduate students in the counseling program.

“Advocacy is part of the mission statement for our society,” she said.

“So that was a big connection for me.”

She said initially the training session was intended just for students, but she opened it up to others because she thinks everyone should be properly CPR trained.

“Each individual has a personal responsibility to know how to do CPR,” she said.

Her father, Danny Pender, American Heart Association CPR instructor for 20 years, said he teaches two programs about CPR: the “Heart Saver” and the “Healthcare Provider.”

He said the “Heart Saver” training session held Friday was tailored to the public whereas the “Healthcare Provider” training session Saturday was directed toward medical profes-

that vein. Not about this person and this situation.”

The timing also complicated the process. Thanksgiving was three days away and the semester would end two weeks later.

Young said he couldn’t speak with the man accused of the rape until after Thanksgiving, giving little time for a judicial hearing to take place before the end of the semester.

Young told The News he spoke with the alleged perpetrator after Thanksgiving Break.

Smith said she heard from Young only once between the end of the fall semester and Feb. 3. It was a phone call from Young in early December, checking on her wellbeing.

Young said he didn’t believe he was difficult to reach. He said he might have emailed with her during that time and would provide The News with copies of the messages. He never did.

After meeting with a therapist over Winter Break, Smith decided to return to Murray State for the spring semester to finish her degree.

“I was afraid there were no other options,” she said. “I just had to grit my teeth and get through it.”

When she reached out to Young Jan. 6, she left a message with a student worker and didn’t hear back.

Still tormented by panic attacks, paranoia and anxiety, by early February Smith knew she couldn’t stay at Murray State.

Having still not heard from Young, Smith sent an email to Duffy Feb. 2 asking whom she should contact for emotional and administrative support.

When Smith first came to Title IX, Duffy made sure she was taking care of her physical health, Smith said.

Students come to the Title IX office in all physical and emotional states, and Duffy said she frequently takes on the role of caretaker.

Nov. 14, Smith’s friend told the alleged perpetrator, along with the two others involved, that Smith was thinking about filing rape charges, Smith said.

She could no longer trust a close friend, Smith said. It triggered a nervous breakdown that left her nearly catatonic.

She called Duffy.

Duffy came to Smith’s apart-

abroad program did not qualify as residence credit.

“It was frustrating to see a student with a 3.88 GPA not qualify for Latin honors because he or she studied abroad,” Tudor said.

Tudor said she thinks stu-

sionals.

To complete their training, participants watched an informational video sponsored by the American Heart Association and then practiced the skills demonstrated in the video and by the instructor.

Participants knelt in the classroom and pressed down in regular intervals on the bare, plastic chests of dummies to practice adult and infant CPR. Later they practiced the Heimlich Maneuver and proper procedures if a child is choking.

“The more you practice (these maneuvers), the more ingrained it is in your brain,” Rebecca said.

The father-daughter team said they worked together to bring this training opportunity to Murray State, not only as a service to the University but as a fundraiser for Mu Sigma Chi. Rebecca said the organization charged $20 to cover the cost of the

ment with a burger, fries and a milkshake from Cookout.

“She told me you have to take care of yourself first,” Smith said. “I hadn’t showered or had food all week.”

After the fall semester ended though, Smith was left without a point of contact.

Ideally, a student’s transition between caretaking Duffy and administrative Young should be seamless, Duffy said.

“We generally don’t just abandon a person,” she said.

“As best I know we’re doing a good job. We all try to keep in contact with each other.”

But when Duffy responded to Smith’s email on Feb. 2, she seemed confused about the state of the case and the communications.

“Are you not working with Mike Young at this point?”

Duffy wrote Smith. “I was under the impression he was still working with you. Is my impression wrong?”

Feb. 3, Smith received a response from Young at 8:17 a.m. asking her if she could meet with him at 10 a.m.

But after working the shift as an overnight front desk worker, she did not wake up to read Young’s email until 10:33 a.m.

The next day, Smith hit a breaking point.

“I was sick of being in the dark,” Smith said. “I decided that if I hadn’t heard anything by the end of the day I was going to his office.”

She emailed Young, asking if there was anyone else she could meet with.

She decided to go to her academic adviser.

Her adviser told her to talk to Don Robertson, vice president of Student Affairs.

On Feb. 4, Smith sat down with Robertson in his office and told him she was sexually assaulted and she felt she could not stay at Murray State.

Robertson called the Bursar’s office, then Abigail French, director of the Women’s Center.

French told Robertson to call Camisha Duffy.

Duffy, at the moment, was tied up at the campus police station with another sexual assault case.

Duffy left the station and came to Robertson’s office.

She called Young, who was in Florida at the time for a con-

CPR certification card, but her father donated his time by not charging the organization to lead the session so the organization could make a little money.

She said having more people CPR certified is more important to her than any money they raised.

“The fact of the matter is that most people who perform CPR are giving it to a loved one or someone they know,” she said. “So that should be reason enough to get trained.”

Pender said her fiance’s father died later that day, after being given CPR. Like Pender’s fiance’s father, about 88 percent of cardiac arrests occur at home, according to the American Heart Association website.

“CPR is one of those things where you are buying time until the paramedic gets there,” she said. “The key is to make sure you are getting help as quickly as possible.”

ference.

Via conference call, Young told the three in the room that he was 12 hours away and he couldn’t do much from the conference.

“We do try to minimize the number of folks who are working with that particular individual,” Duffy said.

But by Feb. 4, at least six University faculty members had been brought in on the case, and still no date had been set for the judicial hearing.

“I recognize the fact that you are quite busy and not in Murray, but I need to alert you that I have reached my breaking point here in Murray, and I need to leave,” Smith wrote Young in an email Feb. 4, before going to her adviser. “I thought I could make it through one more semester, but the past three weeks has proven that is not going to happen.”

In the conference call, Young told Smith to email her class schedule and professors’ names to him. He said he would see what her options were.

Four days later, on Feb. 8, Smith left Murray without packing, unable to stand being in the city any longer.

PERCEPTION

dents will continue to work hard to earn the Latin honors for their degree.

“As a University, we want to be competitive and ensure that the rigor of our degrees is comparable to other institutions,” Tudor said.

At this point, Smith still wanted to finish her classes online from her hometown, and she was still trying to schedule the judicial hearing.

Young tried to reach Smith the morning of Feb. 10. In returning his call, she left two messages for him before they finally connected around 4 p.m. He told her he was contacting her professors.

In a follow-up email Feb. 12, Young told Smith “Don’t give up hope as I am still in conversations with your professors as well as (the) Registrar’s office.”

Two minutes later, Smith replied.

“Thank you for the contact, as hopelessness is the dominant feeling right now,” she wrote.

When she returned to Murray to gather clothes and toiletries Feb. 13, she found out through a friend that Young served as the adviser to the fraternity of which the accused rapist was a member.

“It was enraging and horrifying,” Smith said. “Suddenly

it all made sense why it had been taking so long. I was done with Mike Young. I didn’t want to work with him anymore.”

She made the decision to withdraw from Murray State, a process that would take three more weeks.

Young said he didn’t believe his role with the man’s fraternity was necessary to divulge.

He said his role in the case was limited to the process of putting the judicial hearing together. He has no input in the proceedings of the hearing itself, eliminating the chance for bias, he said.

To reduce the chance for conflict of interest allegations, Young brought in Jennifer Caldwell, assistant director of Housing, to help set up the hearing.

Young said his role was to provide students information about resources available during the Title IX process.

“I’m doing the process of the hearing, making sure both sides have equal opportunity to the same set of services that we offer as it relates to a conduct hearing,” Young said.

Don Robertson, vice president of Student Affairs and Young’s superior, said Young wouldn’t have participated in the judicial hearings.

“I think the right thing was to say, because there could be a perception at the hearing time, ‘I’m removing myself,’” Robertson said.

He also said he didn’t think Young’s affiliation with the man was a problem because Young’s role is simply explain how the process works, but he conceded that Smith was upset by it.

“But it just has no bearing on what was going on,” he said.

According to Young and Robertson, there was no conflict of interest.

According to Colby Bruno, there was.

Whether Young is unbiased isn’t the issue, Bruno said.

“The question is objectively, could there be conflict of interest?” she said.

She said the potential for a conflict must be disclosed in order for the students involved to elect to have another faculty member guide them.

“At the very least,” Bruno said, “she should have been given the choice.”

The News

News

April 17, 2015

News Editor: Mari-Alice Jasper Assistant Editor: Zachary Orr Phone: 270-809-4468 Twitter: MurrayStateNews

POLICE BEAT April 9

April 13

April 10

April 14

6:51 a.m. Racer Patrol advised Mura.m. A caller reported 11 a.m. a warrant golf12:39 ray StatePolice Policeserved of an abandoned cart outside the Lowry Center. harassment at Lee Clark Resfor a previous complaint.

The Officers were notified and an information report was taken. idential College. The police person at Eliza- a traffic 11:42 p.mwas An arrested officer conducted stop at 121 North and Coldwere notified and a report was beth Residential College and water Streets. A citation was issued to the driver for failure to wear taken. to the County ataken seatbelt.

TheCalloway passenger was arrested on an outstanding warrant 11:06 a.m. Murray Police DeJail. and was taken to Calloway County Jail. partment reported a medical 6:48a.m. p.m.A Public Safety and 8:20 caller reported a residential college flag missing. The emergency. Officers, Student Emergency Services were notiHousing Office was notified.

Affairs and Murray Ambufied that National Weather 11:22 p.m.the A caller reported a motor vehicle accident with no inlance Service were notified.

Service had issued a tornado juries at White Residential College. Officers were notified and a The person was transported watch. report was taken.

by Murray Ambulance Service.

7:17 p.m. An officer conducted a traffic thecaller Business Building 10:19stop a.m.at A reported 9 a.m. A caller reported burn parking lot. A citation issued for driving on a suspended license. a burning smell was at Wells marks in the elevator ceiling 8:51 p.m. caller reported the smell of gas at Hart Residential ColHall.

TheApolice, Murray Fire tiles at Regents Residential lege.

Officers, Murray Fire Department, Central Heating and Cooling Department, the state fire College. The police and the Plant, Murray and the State Marshall were notified. A report marshal, andGas Facilities Man-Fire state fire marshal were nowas taken. were notified. The agement tified. The burn marks were 12:01 p.m. caller a sparking outlet in the 300 block of source of A the smellreported could not from a previously reported College Courts. Officers, the Murray Fire Department, Central be determined.

A fire report incident.

Heating and Cooling Plant and the State Fire Marshal were notiwas taken.

4:32 p.m. An officer located fied. reportAn wasofficer taken. con4:13A p.m. damaged property at Springer 4:57 p.m.a The Murray Police Department was notified of a medical ducted traffic stop at ChestResidential College. A criminal emergency Volleyball Courts. Officers and Murray Ambunut Street.atAthe verbal warning mischief report for under $500 lance Services notified. aThe patient was transported and a was issued forwere disregarding was taken. report was taken. stop sign.

3:46 a.m. Officers conducted a

April 15

April 11

12:03 A person reported check of a.m. a person on North 12th theThe smell of marijuana at James Street. person was arrested and 11:29 a.m. An officer conRichmond residentialincollege. transported to Calloway County Jail for alcohol intoxication a public ducted a traffic stop at the The police were notified and a place.

A reportof was taken. intersection 16th and Main was issued for posses9:09 p.m. A caller reported a smokecitation detector activated at Springer streets. A verbal warning was sion of drugwere paraphernalia and Residential College due to a hair dryer.

Officers notified and no issued display of possession of marijuana. threat offor fireimproper was found.

An information report was taken. registration plate.reported a theft of 4:42 p.m. A caller property from a vehicle from 3:35 p.m. A caller reported 11:48 a.m.Hall.

A caller reported Alexander Officers were anotified a report was taken for theftand of property at Blackburn vehicular collision in the CFSB taking theft of under $500 by unlawful from Building. a vehicle. The police Science Center The police 6:12 p.m.parking A callerlot. reported the smell of marijuana at Hart.

Officers were notified and a criminal werenotified notified and collision report were and an ainformation was taken. report was taken for theft by report was taken. unlawful taking under $500.

Racer Assists: 8 selling prod2:47 p.m. A caller reported an unauthorized company uctsMotor on campus at Winslow Dining Assists: 6 Hall.

The caller was referred to Arrests: 1

April 12

Student Affairs.

1:14 p.m.

An officer conducted 6:12 p.m.stop A caller reported a traffic at the Five Pointsthe smell of natural gas atlot. theAOld Fine gas station parking citaArts Building.

Officers, Central tion was issued for speeding.

Heating and Cooling Plant, Murray 1:27 p.m. An officer conducted Fire department, Murray Gas and a traffic at the Fivewere Points the State stop Fire Marshall notigas station parking lot.

A fied and a report was taken. verbal warning was issued for no license plate displayed.

Motorists assists – 8 Racer escorts – 1

Call of Fame April 11, 2:03 p.m. An officer conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of 16th and Miller streets. A citation was issued for speeding 17 mph over the speed limit, possession of marijuana and the possession of drug paraphernalia.

Students learn hands-on Abby Siegel

Contributing writer asiegel@murraystate.edu

The 14th annual Scholars Week took place April 13-16 to celebrate student research and scholarship at the University.

Scholarship, research and creative work across all disciplines were presented for the public to view.

The event was open to faculty, staff, students and the community alike. Oral presentations, posters, performances and artwork displays were among the showcase.

Conducting undergraduate research results in improved technical skills and interpersonal skills, according to a study by Eric Landrum and Lisa Nelsen at Boise State University.

“It’s about learning and making a name for myself in the professional industry,” said Chelsea Holleman, junior from Louisville, Ky. Holleman presented research she conducted on how soil sample methods affect results and how much fertilizer should be applied to a field.

“Now when you Google my name, academic stuff comes up not just my Facebook,” Holleman said proudly.

Scholars Week exposes students to different topics and opportunities at the University.

The Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity (URSA) office provides grants to support student research.

Those who receive these grants are required to participate in Scholars Week.

Holleman received $500 in grants from URSA that funded her research. She has been able to present four different times on her conclusions.

Jody Cofer Randall, Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity program coordinator, said Scholars Week is beneficial to all students because the exposure of opportunity can provoke other students to get involved

SERVING MURRAY STATE STUDENTS FOR OVER 25 YEARS Phone: 270-753-8767

3A

Toll-Free: 1-888-266-5040

Located one block East of the Curris Center @ 1303 Chestnut St.

Come get a quote to sell back your books today!

Purchased on campus? Purchased online? Not a problem!

Drop off your schedule by May 8 to take advantage of our 5% discount prepackaged special.

The Competition

Textbook Rentals Guaranteed Buyback Flat-Rate Late Fees Rental Return Notifications

nt? e r t o n r Rathe

Take advantage of our no risk Buyback program.

Purchase your textbooks from us and we guarantee to buy them back!

DISCOUNT EXCLUDES TEXTBOOK RENTALS

Jenny Rohl/The News

Egypt Crider, senior from Metropolis, Ill., presents the results of her research to Chesika Crump, senior from Hopkinsville, Ky. with research.

“It adds something to campus,” Cofer Randall said.

Cofer Randall stressed the importance of a strong resume and good presentation skills, which she said are necessary to land a job after graduation.

Those who conduct undergraduate research have a higher rate of going to graduate school than those who don’t, Cofer Randall said. She believes this is an excellent opportunity to help prepare students for the next step.

Holleman’s research proj-

ect aided her in getting an offer of an assistantship at the University of Arkansas. Her commitment to the research she began in Fall 2014 has her at an advantage as she pursues the next level of education.

“Doing research in general has opened a lot of new doors and has allowed me to meet a lot of important people in the industry,” she said.

Scholars Week doesn’t only benefit the University’s undergraduate students.

“Something unique about URSA Scholars Week is that it

$1 Big Macs 10 p.m. - 4 a.m.

Murray McDonald’s Open 24 Hours

TheNews.org

It’s in the bean.

Don’t drink another cup of stale coffee. Who knows how long it’s been since the beans in your average cup of joe have been roasted?

The answer: too long! 5th & Main special orders fresh-roasted gourmet coffee in 18 flavors. There’s no need for syrups or oils to give our coffee flavor.

It’s in the bean!

sxc.hu

In the lower level of New Life Bookstore. .

Court Square, Murray

is open to graduate students,” Cofer Randall said.

Kevin Smothers, graduate student from Camden, Tenn., presented a statistical analysis on acceptance rates with graduate rates, tuition and enrollment, in the Sigma Xi poster competition Monday.

“I think Scholars Week is a great thing for those confident in their work,” Smothers said.

“It also provides an opportunity for students to get out of their shell, grow in maturity and appreciate the work of others.”

4A

April 17, 2015

The News

Opinion

Opinion Editor: Allison Borthwick Phone: 270-809-5873

­

Our View

The News 2609 University Station Murray State University Murray, Kentucky 42071-3301 murraystatenews@icloud.com Fax: 270-809-3175

TheNews.org Mary Bradley

Editor-in-Chief • 270-809-6877 mbradley9@murraystate.edu Mari-Alice Jasper News Editor • 270-809-4468 mjasper1@murraystate.edu Allison Borthwick Opinion Editor • 270-809-5873 aborthwick@murraystate.edu Breanna Sill Features Editor • 270-809-5871 bsill@murraystate.edu Kelsey Randolph Sports Editor • 270-809-4481 krandolph3@murraystate.edu Adrienne Vititoe Chief Copy Editor • 270-809-5876 avititoe@murraystate.edu Elizabeth Leggett Online Editor • 270-809-5877 eleggett@murraystate.edu Jenny Rohl Advertising Sales Manager • 270-809-4478 msunewsads@gmail.com Alex Hilkey Advertising Production • 270-809-5874 shilkey@murraystate.edu Fumi Nakamura Photography Editor • 270-809-5878 fnakamura1@murraystate.edu Cameron Witte Chief Videographer cwitte@murraystate.edu Joe Hedges Adviser • 270-809-3937 jhedges@murraystate.edu

Write to us!

The News welcomes commentaries and letters to the editor. Letters should be 600 words or less.

Contributors should include phone numbers for verification. Please include hometown, classification and title or relationship to the University.

Commentaries should be between 600 to 800 words. The News reserves the right to edit for style, length and content. No anonymous contributions will be accepted. All contributions should be turned in by noon on Tuesday of each week via email at letters@thenews.org. Contributions to The News are the opinion of the author and not that of The Murray State News.

The News strives to be the University community’s source for information. Our goal is to present that information in a fair and unbiased manner and provide a free and open forum for expression and debate.

The News is a designated public forum. Student editors have authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. The paper offers a hands-on learning environment for students interested in journalism. The campus press should be free from censorship and advance approval of copy, and its editors should develop their editorial and news policies. The News is prepared and edited by students and is an official publication of Murray State University.

Katie Wilborn/The News

GPA requirement change does more good than harm The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board.

Seniors graduating this December are in the final stretch, but there are proving to be a couple bumps in the road along the way.

While the University has attempted to be transparent about these changes, students seem to be taken off guard and frustrated with the decision to raise the Cum laude GPA requirement from 3.3 to 3.4.

For some, frustration is an understatement.

The frustration stems from those who have been under the understanding that the requirement for graduating with Cum laude honors was 3.3 for so long that raising it to a 3.4 by fall 2015 seems unreasonable.

Undergraduate bulletins from recent years, starting with the 2013-14 one, include the following note in reference to Cum laude requirements – still 3.3 at that time - in their “Graduation Requirements” section:

“NOTE: The Grade Point Average required to achieve Cum laude will increase to 3.4 effective fall 2015.”

That note is not included in the 2012-13 bulletin which many seniors started Murray State with.

All undergraduate bulletins do, however, include this disclaimer: “The contents of this publication are subject to change …

Murray State University reserves the right to modify or change any rule, regulation, fee or policy statement stated herein.”

This clearly includes the Cum laude requirements.

We understand and relate to the frustration. Last minute changes are, often, hard to manage.

Look at it from the University’s point of view, though.

Murray State is all about “fostering an exciting and challenging learning environment,” according to their website.

It’s hard to do so by adhering to stagnant, relatively low GPA restrictions, especially when deciding whether or not a student graduates Cum laude - “with distinction.”

Even with the change to 3.4, that GPA requirement is still lower than that of the Dean’s List – 3.5.

Also, it’s not like they’re doing this in a tyrannical fashion without any consideration of students’ efforts and feelings.

Along with raising this requirement, they’re decreasing the number of hours and upper level hours a student has to take in residence at Murray State.

This decision was made and approved in 2013 with delayed implementation. Two years is plenty of time to raise your GPA by one point if need be.

One point is just a little push in the right direction. It could be attained if you really, truly want it

and work for it – even in a short time span.

The University is merely attempting to raise the quality of education while encouraging overall student achievement, determination and success.

They’re also raising the admission requirements, according the seven-year Strategic Initiatives plan.

If they’re going to set higher standards for incoming freshman, it makes sense to raise requirements for outgoing seniors.

Enter with academic pride, leave with academic pride.

If you’re one, two or five points away from graduating with Cum laude, you’re still graduating with a degree and a bright future, thanks to Murray State. That’s something to be proud of no matter what.

Expect more of yourself and don’t be mad when others do as well.

Did she really say that?

Politicians are reflections, not activists

Campaign season, while it lays out the groundwork for the future of a politician, marks the beginning of dirt-digging and scathing review of a candidate’s past.

Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State turned Democratic presidential Carly Besser hopeful, has Senior from been the target Louisville, Ky. of skeptics (understandably) for her use of a private email server to conduct public business.

Clinton’s secret homebrew email server scandal is worth the criticism. It was wrong and against federal policy. What is unnecessary, though, is how opponents crucify her for being a “flip-flopper” on social issues.

Clinton’s campaign launch video featured not one, but two, same-sex couples – a sign of how far she’s come on the issue, just like a lot of Americans. According to a Gallup poll, support for same-sex marriage is rising among all

ages. Support from 18-29 year-olds rose from 41 percent to 78 percent between the years 1996 and 2014. The same upward curve is seen in older generations.

Though it’s a thoughtful way to address the issue, Clinton’s campaign video contrasts highly with her 2008 campaign, when she said she opposed federal same-sex marriage rights.

It’s a tough pivot to explain, but we often forget that politics is a numbers game. It’s why Republican candidates are oddly similar to your local Evangelical pastor. It’s also why Rand Paul, a radical libertarian and daddy’s boy, is latching onto the Republican platform instead of his true beliefs. Right-wing politicians often unanimously include a federal opposition to same-sex marriage because coming out in support of marriage equality is controversial in a conservative climate – which means less votes.

Because of this risk, politicians are not responsible for leading social change. Instead, they reflect what the public already believes.

To criticize Clinton for changing her mind on a social issue that was once half as supported as it is now, is implying she should have just committed political suicide. While we acknowledge that we have come far in our beliefs about same-sex marriage rights, we must also admit that times were different decades ago.

We like activists when they fight for a cause that we believe in. In many cases, it’s daring.

The Human Rights Campaign would not be as

successful as it is today in 1996. Clinton, with multi-millions in campaign funding and political action committees, would have risked most of it by taking a socially unconventional stance on gay marriage.

Clinton’s evolution on same-sex marriage is believable because of the amount of damage control she’s undergone in the last year. Knowing that she is associated with the Defense of Marriage Act, which was signed by her husband in 1996, and her 2008 platform, Clinton is taking strides to reassociate herself. She outwardly condemned the Religious Freedom Restoration Act signed in Indiana and now fully supports federal gay marriage rights.

Clinton is not the only politician to transform her views on same-sex marriage equality.

She joins the likes of former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney, Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, former Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore and other high-profile politicians across both parties. It’s worth mentioning that Paul also changed his stance on increasing military spending and the threat of Iran since he last shared his opinion in 2007.

Most of us, as non-politicians, weigh in on social issues like marriage equality and abortion because we have a moral compass that leads us one way or the other. Politicians like Clinton have more to lose. To be representative of the people means being as versatile and flexible as they are on certain beliefs. Ideas change, and we should be more understanding of that.

The News

Opinion

April 17, 2015

5A

Letter to the Editor This spring marks the anniversary of several very important events in the history of the United States. Everyone is busy with end-of-the-semester activities but we need to pause and reflect that 150 years ago Lee surrendered to Grant, the Civil War ended and President Lincoln was assassinated.

We also need to remember that 70 years ago President Franklin Roosevelt died and World War II was coming to its end. Murray State University did not exist at the time of the Civil War but 51 young men from this very campus gave their lives for the cause of freedom in World War II. That number would fill a large classroom in Faculty Hall. Let’s not get so busy that we forget these sacrifices.

I have a lot of feelings Deadlines are deadlines

Like our polls?

We still want to hear from you.

In our latest poll, we asked you if you thought students should be allowed to work more than 20 hours on campus. To participate in future polls, visit TheNews.org.

Are you concerned about a certain issue on campus or want to share your opinion? The News is always accepting Letters to the Editor. For a chance to get your letter published in print or on TheNews.org, email us at letters@thenews.org.

Winfield Rose

Professor of political science

I’ve Got a Story for You

The college experience of a lifetime

Robert Valentine Senior lecturer of advertising

As defined

by Murray State’s official website, a residential college is “a small, faculty-led community of students where there is an incredible opportunity for personal growth and educational development.”

The definition is probably true, as far as it goes. What the definition doesn’t tell you is that most of the benefit is shared equally between the students who are active in the college, and one

other person: the college head.

Everyone thinks of the head as someone who is sacrificing everything in life to serve the needs of students, but that is hardly the case. The job isn’t easy, but the rewards are unavailable almost anywhere else.

I know this because I invested about 7 years of my wife’s life in the cause of the RC, specifically at Elizabeth Residential College. Vicki probably appreciated the many evenings of quiet, and she never complained about my absences, but we’ve been married quite a while; she probably needed a break.

Cheers and Jeers Cheers and Jeers is written by the Opinion Editor.

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

Comic

To be a head of college is to immerse yourself in the lives of students. Those lives are complex.

The remarkable power of youthful endeavor is always evident; the innocence of young men and women who perceive our society as something that works because of its design is as inspiring as it is fictional. The wonder of their achievement when they decide to make things work is heartening.

“

No generation has ever needed so desperately the sense of community that the colleges provide so well. - Robert Valentine

”

As the Council of College Heads told President Bob Davies when he arrived, “After two decades of achievement, this is no longer an experiment.”

Likewise, it is far from finished. The campus community is still trying to figure out what a residential college is and how it fits into various lives and missions. As one essayist put it, “No generation has ever needed so desperately the sense of community that the colleges provide so well.

No group of students has ever so needed the opportunities to test ability, to learn friendship or to stand together with kindred spirits in the cause of learning and growth.”

This is where you come in.

Three of the colleges will need a new head this year. Tough financial times have eroded some of

Cheers to ...Alpha Sigma Alpha.

the support the colleges needed - and still need. If Murray State wants to celebrate its unique contribution to student life, it needs to hold its banners higher and, perhaps, buy a new banner once in a while.

Family demands, academic requirements, retirement and physical health are often the triggers that call a head from the college, but it is rarely a departure of anything but body and labor; for most of us, the connection of spirit and communal achievement is permanent and meaningful.

So, from where will the new heads come? If you’re a student, you could suggest to a favorite teacher that they might enjoy the experience.

If you’re an experienced faculty member, this could be a new approach to teaching for you, or you might encourage a younger faculty member to bring fresh insights and energy to one of Murray State’s most important institutions. Tell someone.

Murray State is considering a new Honors College, and that’s an evolution in the right direction.

Still, there is work is not done.

Look at the list of things that need doing: • Greater opportunities for faculty to participate in the lives of students; • Achievement of the greatest possible retention rate for Murray State, thus preserving more human potential for the coming generation.

• To make real the dream of a true community of scholars that will be an example to American educators for a generation.

“Nothing that’s any good works by itself,” warned Thomas Edison. The same is true for human institutions. Good people make good ideas live and bear fruit. We need those people.

Who will answer that need?

Jeers to ... The system.

Congratulations on being named grand champion of the time-honored Murray State tradition that is All Campus Sing! We could hear the cheers for you all the way from the newsroom in Wilson Hall.

It’s hard enough to come forward about a sexual assault.

To go weeks at a time without responses from the person who was assigned to help you only adds salt to the wound. A sense of urgency and consideration is imperative.

Jeers to ... Last minute changes.

Cheers to ... Construction starting.

While The News understands and supports the University’s goal to push students to set higher standards for their academic success, raising the GPA requirement for Cum laude with relatively little time for December graduates to do anything about it is quite frustrating.

After taking away more than 100 parking spaces from those who park on the residential side of campus, it’s nice to see some work being done on the construction site of New Franklin instead of staring at an empty parking lot we’re not allowed to enter.

We’re all familiar with the one-sided conversation that happens between professor and student.

(Some) professors have a zero-tolerance policy for late work. AssignAllison Borthwick ments are due when they are Opinion Editor due, and not a day later.

If you miss class and cannot be here to complete class work or turn in your homework, they require the signatures of every medical professional that diagnosed your disease - which better be serious.

If you’re sick to the point of essential paralysis or if your car breaks down and strands you on the side of the Western Kentucky Parkway, too bad. Not only can you not turn in your work that was due that day, but you will also lose attendance points.

Granted, that was a little dramatic.

However, I’ve heard the following line preached to me at the beginning of almost every class I’ve ever had – no exaggeration.

“Deadlines are deadlines. If you miss one in the real world, you’ll be fired.”

Procrastination Nation – Population: NOT YOU, OR ELSE. Unfortunately, this one-sided conversation usually ends there.

For the first half of the semester, there’s an assignment here, a quiz there. The occasional test or project pops up, but for the most part it’s smooth sailing.

Then, right around this time every year, I start realizing that more than half of those assignments, quizzes, tests and projects haven’t been looked at, let alone graded. I don’t actually know how I’m doing in my classes or what I need to be doing to improve.

Right around this time every year, the number of ungraded assignments increases about as much as the number of last minute final projects and papers.

Last week I had to write about 20 pages of grade-making or breaking content, all due the same week for different classes.

Off the top of my head, I know I have two more papers, two more presentations and quite a few final exams coming up.

Having a relaxed semester is all fun and games until key pieces of the curriculum haven’t been met by the end of the semester and everything important is crammed into a few short weeks.

But deadlines are deadlines, right?

Why are students held to this rule if professors can get away with not grading things for months and not getting assignments to us in a timely, manageable fashion?

I have expressed my concerns about this in email after email, evaluation after evaluation and mental breakdown after mental breakdown.

But every semester it’s always the same thing: double standards and professors not practicing what they preach.

If you’re a professor of mine and you’re reading this – I don’t mean to offend.

I really, truly appreciate your time, hard work and commitment to my academic success.

The reason I love Murray State so much is because of the relationships I’m able to build with professors who genuinely care about me.

I’m merely a student who can’t imagine how much you’ve got on your plate.

You’re only human – but so are we. aborthwick@murraystate.edu

#Blessed

By Jade Simpson

News

6A

Time capsule to be filled

April 17, 2015

What would you put in the time capsule to best represent your time as a Murray State student?

Julia Mazzuca Staff Writer

jmuzzuca@murraystate.edu

The Student Government Association is gathering items of all shapes and sizes to put in a shiny navy blue and gold trunk for the 2015 time capsule.

Clint Combs, SGA President, hopes to continue the time capsule tradition Murray State began in 1989.

“We have this fascination with the past,” Combs said.

“And I hope with this second time capsule, we will be able to pass our history down to future generations who will also find it interesting and carry the tradition on forward.”

Former SGA president Michael Dobbs opened the 198990 time capsule in April of 2014 and it is now on display in Pogue library.

Some items found inside the old time capsule were a VCR labeled “Excellence in Murray,” documents, photographs, a Sports Illustrated issue featuring Murray State, a cheerleading uniform and a top 10 song list of 1989.

The 2015 time capsule is not full and Combs hopes student organizations and individuals contribute items.

“I really hope that students contribute some items like a jersey or uniforms,” Combs said. “I want to continue this tradition to show how the University will have grown.”

Among current items are sorority and residential college T-shirts, fliers from the recent SGA campaigns, papers about

The News

“

I would probably have to put some of my drawings in the time capsule. During my time here as an art major, my teachers are always telling me I need to save everything I make in college because I’ll want it years down the road. College is one of the main times in your life where you have endless amounts of time to grow and devote yourself to your art. It’s always something people regret when they realize the value that was in every piece that they ended up throwing away.

Andrews

”

- Kirstin Andrews, junior from Freeburg, Ill.

Kalli Bubb/The News

Students have contributed T-shirts, certificates, posters and letters to the 2015 time capsule. the groundbreaking for the new Engineering and Physics building and President Davies investiture, posters, and a letter from Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority addressed to its future chapter.

Morgan Pearson, chapter president, wrote the letter to the future Zeta Zeta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and put it in the time capsule to remind the future generations to always be visionaries.

“I wrote this letter to encourage future chapters to see those who have come before them have paved their way so that nothing is impossible for them,” Pearson said. “And no goal is out of reach.”

Jeanie Morgan, adviser to

SGA and student organizations, started working for SGA in 1984 and has been here to see both time capsules put together.

“So many times we let traditions die,” Morgan said. “We have one or two traditions that stay, but there are some things that happen that should always be remembered.”

Combs said all items are welcome, as long as they are not obscene or take up too much space.

Once sealed, this time capsule will stay in the depths of Pogue library for 25 years, until it is opened in 2040.

The last day to submit items to the Center of Student Involvement office in the Curris Center is April 29.

“

I would put in a list of memories that I had made in my time here at Murray State thus far. Murray is a place of great people that I have made great memories with and everyone needs to be remembered.

”

- Brandon Morehead, freshman from Paducah, Ky.

“

Morehead

I would put pictures in of my favorite memories so far this year. I would include pictures with my best friends and my Alpha Sig fraternity brothers. I’d put these in because a picture is worth a thousand words and then the future MSU students can see the growth in campus and in students.

”

- Austin Spicer, freshman from Marshall, Ky.

Spicer

“

I would put a ball of yarn in the time capsule. A single strand of yarn is made up of several smaller strands woven together, which makes an even stronger and bigger strand. Just like the yarn, my life growing up in Murray has been woven together with my time as a student here at MSU. I’ve seen how Murray as a town is so tied to Murray State.

And even within the campus, so many different strands – cultures, organizations, departments come together to create the great community and experience that is Murray State!

- Anna Paige Drew, sophomore from Murray

Jenny Rohl/The News

Last April Murray State students gathered in Pogue Library to take out items packed into the time capsule put together in 1989.

Boots & Hats, Western & Designer Apparel, Jewelry, Home & Yard Decor, Tack, Rodeo Equipment

705 Main St. Hwy 641 Like Us on Facebook Check for TNT Arena Events listed on Facebook All MSU Students will receive a 10% discount (excluding sale items)

Drew

”

Eyecare Specialties 308 S. 12th St., Murray 270-759-2500

s Diagnosis and treatment of eye disease

Murray State Employees

s Budget & designer eyewear

We accept your insurance for your eye exam.

s Most insurance accepted s All types of contacts

www.murrayeyecare.com

DR. KEVIN M. ADAMS s OPTOMETRIST

Tracy D. McKinney, CIC Steven S. Dabbs, CIC Curtis J. Bucy, Agent

AUTO - HOME - FARM - BUSINESS LIFE - MOTORCYCLE - BOAT 270.753.3500 100 NORTH 5TH STREET MURRAY

KEY MINI-WAREHOUSES

-----------------•1850 State Route 121 South• --------------Located at Murray, Ky 42071 Key Auto Parts

270.753.5562

Unit Size | Unit Price Security|Deposit Welcome Back MSU Students!

5x10..$20.00..$10.00 10x20..$45.00..$22.50 10x10..$30.00..$15.00 10x24..$50.00..$25.00 10x12..$22.50..$11.25 10x30..$60.00..$30.00 10x15..$35.00..$17.50 Bring this ad in for $5 off!

Follow @MurrayStateNews @MSUSportsNews @MSUNewsFeatures @MSUNewsOpinion

US

April 17, 2015

Section B

The News

Sports

Sports Editor: Kelsey Randolph Phone: 809-4481 Twitter: MSUSportsNews ­­

Women’s tennis still No. 1 Racers take on OVC Tournament in Nashville Saturday and Sunday

Kory Savage/The News

Senior Andrea Eskauriatza from Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Mexico finishes her last regular season tennis match before heading to the OVC Tournament Saturday and Sunday.

Blake Bernier || Staff writer dbernier@murraystate.edu

For the second year in a row the Murray State women’s tennis team won the OVC regular season championship. This year they are co-champions with Eastern Kentucky.

On April 11 the Racers (15-3, 9-1) faced Jacksonville State (9-14, 5-5) in the final match of the regular season.

With the title on the line, the Racers played at the top of their game and won 7-0.

Before the match, senior Andrea Eskauriatza was honored by Head Coach Jorge Caetano as she prepared to play in her final match at the Bennie Purcell Tennis Courts.

“She did exactly what we expected her to do all year and that was win,” Caetano said. “She is always exciting to watch with the way she plays, sliding around and getting to the ball.”

The Racers jumped on their opponents early and scored the doubles point behind a strong effort from a new team of Nancy Karaky and Verginie Tchakarova who won 8-0.

Verginie typically pairs with her twin sister Eleonore Tchakarova, but an injury kept Elenore from competing over the weekend.

“We had to do a little shuffling around with players because we knew Eleonore couldn’t play with her hand,” Caetano said. “So I went with Nancy and even though they’ve

never played together before I knew they would be fine because they are very good friends.”

Across all but one court, the Racers got out to quick leads in the singles portion of the match and less than an hour after starting, Verginie had the Racers’ second point with a 6-0, 6-0 win.

Alena Vasileva finished about 10 minutes later with a 6-1, 6-0 win. Eskauriatza and Megan Blue each only dropped two games winning 6-0, 6-2 and 6-2, 6-0 respectively.

Only one match on the day was ever in doubt. Erin Patton went into the day undefeated on the season and despite dropping the first set 4-6, she was able to remain unbeaten

after battling back and winning the next set 6-0 and the tiebreaker set 10-7.

“Erin has really played well this year,” Caetano said. “She’s really worked on her confidence and being more aggressive in taking shots.”

The Racers will head to Nashville this weekend as the top seed in the OVC Tournament. Their first match will be Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Centennial Sportsplex Tennis Center.

“The tournament is so different because there is extra pressure,” Caetano said. “The doubles point will be so much more important because when you win that point you can play a little more relaxed.”

Red’s Report

Taking the reigns I’ve made it this far.

It’s taken me eight months to get to this spot and it’s been a well-worth-it eight months.

Allow me Kelsey Randolph to introSports Editor duce myself, though anyone who reads the papers might know who I am already.

I’m the new sports editor.

I’ve spent the last six months as the assistant sports editor working with Mallory Tucker as my boss.

She’s taught me more about the art of conversation and importance of networking than I’ve learned in an entire semester of classes.

She’s been my mentor, colleague, editor and above all a friend.

I can say over the last eight months I’ve built more than just a network of professionals, but I’ve made friends. I’ve been to the men’s basketball OVC Championship, I’ve been to countless volleyball games and watched them raise the banner as the 2014 OVC Champions.

I’ve toured the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range under Steward Stadium. I’ve watched the women’s basketball team hit triple digits during pre-season play. I’ve watched Cameron Payne make the 1,000-point club.

I’ve watched past editors and writers receive awards. I’ve seen the happiness in someone’s face when they realize they’ve hit golden stories. I’ve experienced what it’s like to sit in Wilson Hall until almost 3 a.m. putting together a newspaper.

I’ve gotten up at 6:15 a.m. Friday mornings to deliver newspapers.

All of these experiences are some I wouldn’t trade for the world.

I can’t say it enough.

As editor, I look forward to covering all my favorite sports, yet again. Volleyball, basketball, rifle and cross-country are a few of many at the University. I look forward to the coming year and the craziness I know will ensue from it.

Cheers to what’s to come.

krandolph3@murraystate.edu

Racer girls show pride on every field Da’Sha Tuck || Staff writer dtuck@murraystate.edu

Mary Bradley || Editor-in-Chief mbradley9@murraystate.edu There are 12 women that accompany the sidelines of several Racer games. They can be seen spinning in Roy Stewart Stadium or on the court of the CFSB Center with dresses embellished with gold and blue.

Racer Girls, who are trained and skilled in dancing that ranges from double and triple quad turns to fouettes, splits and calypsos, go through a three-part process to earn a spot on the team.

The first part is a two-day physical tryout that will be held this year from 5:30 to 9:30 May 1 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

May 2.

Since the team is only able to take 12 women, junior Ellie LeBeau said interest in the club is growing and that makes the tryouts even more intense.

After the first cut is made there will be an interview portion of the tryouts and the women that make it through will be invited to a summer camp where the last part of the tryout will take place.

The potential members will be taught all 16 sidelines that the Racer Girls preform.

Sophomore Hallie Beard, who will be a co-captain of the team next year, said the week of camp can be so intense that the team jokingly refers to it as “hell week.”

Beard said at the end of the week the captain will turn on the music and yell out the sidelines and this is where the last cut is made.

The new members will be expected to be able to perform all 16 sidelines without hesitation.

“What we go through that week is really challenging, but it brings us

WHAT’S

INSIDE

Jenny Rohl/The News

Racer girls perform at a men’s basketball home game during the 2014-15 season. closer as a team,” Beard said.

Once the semester beings, they are required to practice three days a week and are expected to keep up with their own cardio as an official member of Racer Girls.

LeBeau said one of her favorite memories of being a part of the Racer

Girls is being able to be identified along with successful Murray State teams.

She said during her Spring Break, people noticed her Murray State shirt and told her “Racers Deserve a Bid.” However, outside of their training and regular dancing, the Racer Girls

host an annual dance camp where they invite children up to fifth grade to attend.

Racer Girls teach the children a dance and they get to preform it at a home game.

They also participate in Racer Mania and Fan Jam.

“For me and for every girl who danced in high school, it’s a good way to keep dancing since there’s no longer a dance program at Murray,” Beard said. “We love being on the team because it’s fun being a part of Racer Athletics. It’s more than just the dancing.”

SOFTBALL SWEEP

BASEBALL BYE WEEK

MISS MSU

GLOW RUN

Softball jumps to second place after walk off win, 3B

Racers take heavy loss to Samford, 4B

First black queen crowned in historic pageant, 6B

Tri Sigma plans annual charity event, 6B

The News

Sports

2B

April 17, 2015

Kory Savage/The News

POSITIVE ENDING: (Above, left) Junior Megan Blue from Mississauga, Ontario hits the ball during doubles play on Saturday April 11. (Above, right) Sophomore Verginie Tchakarova from Sofia, Bulgaria plays her last regular season game before her and twin, Eleonore transferring in the Fall.

Soccer season starts Staff Report The soccer team wrapped up its undefeated spring season with a 2-1 victory over the University of Kentucky April 9 in Lexington, Ky. Kentucky advanced to the round of 16 in last season’s NCAA women’s soccer tourney.

The Racers started the off season with a 2-1 victory over Vanderbilt Feb. 25 in Nashville, Tenn., and added a 2-0 shutout against Southern Indiana University March 24 at home. A fourth game scheduled against the University of Evansville April 3 on Cutchin Field was canceled due to inclement weather.

The Racers lost eight seniors after the 2014 season, and while Head Coach Jeremy Groves signed nine players for 2015, the

spring season showcased only returning players.

Groves also announced the fall schedule as the spring season came to a close. The Racers will play eight home games and 11 away.

They will unofficially begin the season Aug. 14 with an exhibition (opponent and location to be determined).

The season gets officially underway Aug. 23 against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss.

The Racers will then play the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, Arkansas State and the University of Tennessee before playing their first home game against Louisiana Tech.

The team starts conference play Sept. 24 against Eastern Kentucky and ends the regular season at home Oct. 30 against Austin Peay State.

Date 8/14 8/23 8/28 8/30 9/6 9/11 9/13 9/18 9/20 9/24 9/27 10/2 10/4 10/9 10/11 10/15 10/18 10/23 10/25 10/30

School Exhibition Game Mississippi State Arkansas Little Rock Arkansas State Tennessee State LA Tech Middle Tennessee State Northern Kentucky Indiana University/Purdue University Indianapolis Eastern Kentucky Saint Louis University of Tennessee Martin Southeast Missouri State Belmont Jacksonville State Morehead State Tennessee Tech Southern Illinois University Evansville Eastern Illinois

** Bold indicates home games.

Time TBD 1 p.m.

7 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

3 p.m.

1 p.m.

7 p.m.

1 p.m.

3 p.m.

1 p.m.

3 p.m.

2 p.m.

4 p.m.

1 p.m.

6 p.m.

1 p.m.

3 p.m.

2 p.m.

3 p.m.

The News

Sports

April 17, 2015

3B

Softball takes second place Da’Sha Tuck || Staff writer dtuck@murraystate.edu

Murray State softball jumped up to second place in the OVC after beating Southeast Missouri State with three walk-off hits this weekend.

The scores were 4-3 in game one, 6-5 in game two, and 2-1 in game three.

Fans and coaches all around were on edge watching this weekend’s series. All three games came down to the wire and then at the last second the Racers pulled the win in the seventh inning with walk-off hits.

Head Coach Kara Amundson said she thought the team did not play its best softball this weekend but they found a way to get the wins.

Amundson said it took a little longer than she would have preferred, but at this time of the year, she said three

wins are three wins.

“All the games were tight ball games that came down to the wire,” said infielder Alexa Becker. “But we were able to come out on top.”

Becker had two walkoffs against SEMO that contributed to the sweep: a walk-off single in game two on Saturday and the other on Sunday.

Becker now has 133 runs on the season and is the Murray State All-Time Leader in runs.

She also leads Murray State in triples, home runs and RBI. Sophomore outfielder Cayla Levins also had a walk-off on Saturday against SEMO. In game one, Levins was able to gain the game-winning base.

She led the team and went 2-for-3 Sunday.

Becker said she doesn’t focus on statistics or the fact that she got two walk offs this weekend— her only concern is how her team is doing as a

Jenny Rohl/The News

The Racer softball team cheers on their teammates with their hats turned inside out, backward or upside down in superstition while a player bats. whole and what she can do to help them achieve greatness as their theme for the season states.

Senior pitcher CheyAnne Gaskey continues racking up wins, as she reached 13-7 for the year at the end of the SEMO series.

Amundson said that when the team is ahead going into the seventh inning it’s

important to make sure if the door on the win.

Freshman pitcher Haven Campbell got a start.

Campbell held her no-hitter until the seventh inning where she gave up just one hit.

“I think Haven did a great job on Sunday,” Becker said.

“She hasn’t gotten many starts this year and I thought she came in and did amazing

job. That was one thing that helped in that game because she pitched an awesome game,” Becker said.

Amundson says she is excited for the upcoming conference play and can’t wait to get after it with the team.

“This is a big series for us and the other two teams were playing so it’s going to be competitive and fun

because all three teams have some really good strengths,” Amundson said. “If we play our best we are going to put ourselves in a really good position. We need to get ahead early and stay consistent.”

Next the Racers will focus on their doubleheader against Jacksonville State. They will also play Tennessee Tech for the No. 3 OVC.

Track and field continue records

John Morris

Contributing writer jmorris36@murraystate.edu

The Racers came off a twoday, two-meet weekend at Western Kentucky and the University of Tennessee with a strong overall team performance and a personal win for one Racer.

Senior Brittany Bohn won the 3000-meter steeplechase at WKU Saturday, crushing her previous personal record in the event.

“I started out strong, went for my PR and demolished it,” Bohn said.

Bohn set a personal record in the previous meet with a time of 11 minutes 20.93 seconds and finished this meet with a time of 11 minutes 3.25 seconds.

This is Bohn’s seventh time running the event since her sophomore year and she now has the second-best time in the event at Murray State.

Saturday was the first time the Racers experienced a meet in fair weather. The past two meets were in rainy, windy conditions.

Head Coach Jenny Severns and Bohn said that rainy weather usually doesn’t have a big effect on the race, but when wind is added it makes

Team name

Sorority

it a little tougher because the race takes a lot of your energy.

Severns expressed how pleased she was with both meets and how she felt the team was well prepared for WKU. Senior Tonia Pratt hit the 59 meter mark in the hammer throw with a throw of 59.24 meters, just a little shy of her personal record from last weekend.

Severns hopes to take the whole team next year to Tennessee’s meet next year.

“The UT meet was a really big meet,” Severns said. “Ladies running the 10K did well and so did the freshmen. It was a good meet for the team.”

Severns said she is proud of the progress from the last meet.

“It’s about getting good work and recovery getting runners fresh and prepared for conference,” Severns said.

Jacquelyn Thate and Heatherly Paschall set personal records in the 800m with respective finishes of 2:25.99 and 2:36.09.

Natalie Pattin set a new personal record in the 400m with a time of 59.90.

Sydney Potts threw the javelin 36.36 meters, while Marina Keller set a personal record with her throw of

Record

1. Tri Sigma 2. AOII Pandas 3. ADPi

2-0 2-0 2-1

Residential College 1. White Sharks Girls A 2. Lizo A 3. Springer Franklin A

Team name

Fraternity

Record

1. Lambda Chi Alpha 2. Pi Kappa Alpha 3. Alpha Sigma Phi

2-0 1-0 1-0

Nicole Ely/The News

Women’s track and field prepare to accept their awards at their home meet April, 4. which she finished in 2:45.10 Vallery Korir ran in the 5000m race and ran a personal best 16:59, which secured her spot as second best time in Murray State history.

Leah Krause, who competed in the 10K before her time at

Murray State, set a new personal record when she finished in 38:47.68 to finish in fourth. Meagan Smith, Abbie Oliver and Emily Flaherty all made their 10K debuts under the lights at the Tom Black Track Complex. Smith came

in eighth when she finished the 10K in 39:02.60. Flaherty and Oliver finished one behind the other with respective times of 39:36.79 and 39:38.76.

Murray State will be at Austin Peay State’s Invitational Friday and Saturday.

Intramural Soccer Bani Yas takes down Hart Squad

Residential College 3-0 3-0 1-1

Independent A 1. Ballz Deep 2. A-TEAM

26.14m.

Deja Rodgers set a personal record with a time of 25.50 in the 200m.

LeShea Shaw led the way in the 100m hurdles with her time of 14.87. Taylor McCammon and Jolyta Henderson set personal records when they completed the event in 15.03 and 15.59, respectively.

Sarah Bindel also set a personal record when she finished in 16.47.

During the 1500m, Heatherly Paschall set a personal record with a time of 5:07.98.

Rebekah Priddy competed in the event for the first time and finished in 5:07.74, while Raeven Wilson finished in 5:06.71.

The 4x100m relay team which consisted of LaShea Shaw, Anna Curlin, Deja Rodgers and Taylor McCammon finished in 47.80, which ties the season’s best finish.

Ashley Conway finished her part in the heptathlon with a final score of 4590 which put her in eighth place. She finished with a personal record in the javelin with a distance of 33.66 meters (110’5”), while she had the second farthest distance in the long jump with a jump of 5.66 meters (18’7”).

The final event to wrap up the heptathlon was the 800m,

1. Hart A 2. White Sharks 3. Lizo A

4-0 3-1 3-1

Independent A 4-0 4-1

1. AL AIN FC 2. SSO

4-0 3-0

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

1. Korea A 2. Bani Yas 3. Man Chest Hair United

4-0 3-0 3-0

Hannah Fowl/The News

BANI YAS TAKE DOWN: (Above, left) A Bani Yas player blocks a Hart Squad player from making a goal. (Above, right) A Hart Squad player runs after a Bani Yas player to attempt to take the ball back into possession.

The News

Sports

4B

April 17, 2015

Women’s golf finishes fourth Staff Report

Photo Courtesy of Dave Winder

The women’s golf team finished fourth in a field of 11 at their home tournament, the Murray State Invitational, April 10-11 at Frances E. Miller Memorial Golf Course in Murray.

Sophomore Minta Yin and freshman Moa Folke, last week’s OVC Co-Golfer of the Week, led the Racers with two top-10 finishes in fifth and ninth, respectively.

The University of Cincinnati, Morehead State and Xavier carded lower scores than the Racers, but Murray State scored 13 strokes lower than

their next closest conference competitor Belmont. Headed into the OVC Tournament Monday through Wednesday in Huntsville, Ala., the Racers have prepared by facing non-conference opponents all season.

Yin, who played as an individual in the event, carded rounds of 81-72-75 in the event while Folke carded 78-72-80 in team play.

The Racers’ nine-day break in tournaments allows time for practice and travel as they prepare to defend their OVC title in The Huntsville Tournament next week in hopes of progressing to the NCAA tournament.

Junior Abbi Stamper, from Frankfort, Ky. drives a ball across the green.

Men place eighth in Big Blue Staff report The Racers placed eighth of 13 in Tennessee State’s Big Blue Intercollegiate April 13-14 at the Hermitage Golf Club Presidents Reserve in Old Hickory, Tenn.

Junior Brock Simmons carded the best finish in his collegiate career with a 13th place finish in the field of 75 competitors.

Scoring a two-under-par 214, Simmons led the Racers’ other participants: senior Jordan Smith in 27th, juniors Preston French, Jared Gosser,

Duncan McCormick and Matthew Zakutney in 34th, 38th,43rd and 53rd respectively, and sophomore Myles Morrissey in 58th.

OVC competitor Tennessee Tech took home both the medalist and championship title. Belmont, UT Martin and Morehead State carded scores just 12, 6 and 4 strokes lower than the Racers’ overall 871 while Tennessee State totaled out conference play with 887.

The Racers will travel to Muscle Shoals, Ala., to battle for the OVC Tournament title and a bid to the NCAA Tournament April 24-26.

Photo Courtesy of Dave Winder

Sophomore Matthew Zakutney, from Paducah, Ky., sends the ball into hole nine.

Baseball piles losses during OVC bye week Blake Bernier || Staff writer dbernier@murraystate.edu

Losses piled up for the Racers during their OVC bye week as the offense and pitching both hit a slump.

A three-game series against Samford (17-17) kicked off a set of nine straight road games for the Racers (14-24, 9-6) as they were outscored 41-11 over the three games.

In the first game on Friday, Samford players hit six homeruns en route to a 17-2 win. Centerfielder Pokey Harris drove in the Racers only two runs with a double in the seventh inning.

During the second game, the Racers took an early lead 3-1 after three and a half innings but committed three errors on the game. Each error eventually resulted in runs for Samford who won 10-3.

Game three, won by Samford 14-6, was about timely hitting as Samford hit 6-17 with runners in scoring position (RISP) and the Racers were only able to manage 3-19 RISP. Struggles continued for the Racer offense on Tuesday as they lost 6-3 in Nashville, Tenn., to Lipscomb (21-13). They never had a lead despite outhitting Lipscomb 10-8.

Wednesday night marked the end of the OVC

Jenny Rohl/The News

The Racers embrace their teammates after winning on April 10. bye week for the Racers as they played Western Kentucky (18-16) and lost 5-4.

The Racers will return to OVC action at 6 p.m.

Friday night at Tennessee Tech (15-19, 8-10).

Senior Brock Downey will get the start on the mound for the Racers as they try to end the sixgame losing streak.

Jenny Rohl/The News

One of the Racer first basemen strikes out a Jacksonville State Gamecock at their first night game on April 3.

1813 U.S. 641 Murray, Ky

20 15

The Spring Senior Breakfast will be held Thursday, April 30, at 8 a.m. in the Curris Center Ballroom. Seniors and Graduate students who are graduating in May and August 2015 are invited to the breakfast free of charge.

Students should RSVP to the Office of Student Affairs no later than Friday, April 24.

msu.studentaffairs@murraystate.edu or 270.809.6831

Faculty and Staff may purchase tickets for $5 from their administrative assistant or the Office of Student Affairs, 425 Wells Hall.

For More Information Contact the Office of Student Affairs at 270.809.6831

Attention Seniors

TheNews.org Murray Animal Hospital 1601 College Farm Road Murray, KY 42071 270-753-2088 TERRY D. CANERDY, D.V.M. MICHELLE D. WESTERFELD Small animal veterinary care, surgery, dentistry, exotic pets and boarding.

Present your Racercard for a 10% discount off of your first visit.

Where the health and happiness of your pet come first!

thenews.org

Just a click away.

April 17, 2015

The News

5B

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

­

Sigma Alpha Iota hosted the 57th annual All Campus Sing Wednesday

Tiffany Whitfill Staff writer

twhitfill1@murraystate.edu

Gisselle Hernandez Contributing writer

ghernandez@murraystate.edu

Umbrellas, tarps and an estimated 1,000 spectators covered the Quad Wednesday to open the 57th annual All Campus Sing.

The event began with an introduction to the judges and a featured guest, Judy Hill, member of Sigma Alpha Iota, who participated in the first All Campus Sing.

Guests honored the flag when the Racer Men’s Choir sang the National Anthem and supported Murray State with the singing of the fight song led by the Murray State Football team.

Independent groups began the competition portion of the show with the Euclidean Math Club “bringing nerdy back.” The National Panhellenic Council performed songs in a performance titled, “Soul Train.”

Other performances included the International Student Organization who incorporated various flags from around the world as well as Sigma Alpha performing a “Sisters before Misters” act.

Residential colleges rocked the stage with a variety of acts ranging from romance in a Romeo and Juliet performance by White & Elizabeth Residential Colleges to a Clue mystery performed by Springer-Franklin College. Hester College entertained the crowd with a “Space Jam” tribute. Members danced in uniforms and sweatbands and sang around a large scoreboard and basketball goal.

To suit the occasion, Regents College performed an a Capella performance mimicking the movie, Pitch Perfect.

The sun began to shine as sororities took the stage. This year’s sorority division had a variety of themes including love, money and secrets.

Alpha Delta Pi performed a Mary Poppins themed act complete with chimney sweeps, umbrellas and Mary Poppins herself. Alpha Omicron Pi threw punches and highlighted fight songs including, “Eye of the Tiger” and “Hit Me With your Best Shot.”

Ellen Goff, sophomore from Leitchfield, Ky., has performed twice with AOPi during her time at Murray State.

“At first, you’re really nervous,” Goff said. “But once you get up there, all your nervousness goes away.”

Four fraternities closed out the competition this year. Alpha Sigma Phi flashed back to previous decades and Alpha Gamma Rho made dreams come true with their Disney songs and castle backdrop. Pi Kappa Alpha, dressed in bow ties and suspenders, sang classics from the Motown era and Sigma Pi took the audience an adventure exploring the world.

Some performers were members of multiple groups who performed. Apoorva Vashisht, sophomore from New Delhi, India, performed in two groups, the International Student Organization and Springer/Franklin College.

“We were afraid that the rain would be a buzzkill,” Vashisht said. “But it turned out pretty good and everyone was in the spirit despite the weather.”

With the sun shining on the steps of Lovett, the exhibition excitement began with Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia performing songs from The Lion King. In their opening song, “The Circle of Life,” a member lifted a cat into the air to imitate Rafiki lifting Simba.

The crowd roared with excitement as “Hakuna Matata” was performed and the cheers continued as SAI performed “All That Jazz” with brass instruments and solos from members wowed the crowd.

Three guests were pied in the face by students picked from the crowd. John Fannin, director of Racer Band, Don Robertson, vice president of Student Affairs and President Bob Davies were all pied in the face as a result of a philanthropy event to raise money for Sigma Alpha Iota’s philanthropy, The People-to-People Project. The group raised more than $2,000 from Change Wars.

As an added bonus for the guests using social media, two Geofilters with an All Campus Sing 2015 decoration surrounded selfies, videos and group performance photos on SnapChat.

Guests were encouraged to use the appropriate hashtag to vote for their favorite performance of the afternoon for a Spectator’s Choice award. The group with the most votes tallied was Kappa Delta.

Awards began as the sky began to gray

see SING, 6B

Photos by Fumi Nakamura/The News and Nicole Ely/The News

The News

Features

6B

The week ahead...

SATURDAY

FRIDAY

SUNDAY

April 17, 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

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

7 p.m.

“Rent, Playhouse After Dark,” Playhouse in the Park

7 a.m.

Murray Half Marathon, Center for Health and Wellness

Noon Indoor Outdoor Expo, CFSB Center

8 a.m.

Murray Art Guild’s Visual Evidence Exhibit, Robert O. Miller Conference Center

9 a.m.

Red Bus, Murray State gates

All day American Quilter’s Society Quilt Week, Paducah McCracken County Convention & Expo Center

8 a.m.

Patterns of Distinction - Security Matters Conference, Curris Center, 3rd floor

Miss MSU winner makes history Miss MSU judges crown Tanelle Smith as Murray State’s first black queen Jessica Bostick || Contributing writer jbostick@murraystate.edu

The “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” themed Miss Murray State University pageant took place Saturday in Lovett Auditorium as history was made by crowing the first black queen.

Emily Baker, junior from Russellville, Ky., was the marketing specialist for the pageant.

Her main goal was to increase student attendance and awareness of the pageant.

“One thing I always noticed about Miss MSU was the lack of student knowledge and interest in the event,” Baker said. “These girls work so hard preparing for this scholarship opportunity and they deserve to be supported by the students, staff and community … Through social media we were able to gain followers and interest from the student body.”

The audience was welcomed by Executive Director Laken Kanipe, junior from Clay, Ky. “I am excited for the audience to see the opening number,” Kanipe said before the show.

“We’ve worked hard to make sure the show is really unique and entertaining for all.”

The curtains parted to reveal the 15 contestants on stage in black dresses, black shoes, black gloves and pearl jewelry in true “Break-

fast at Tiffany’s” style.

The contestants introduced themselves and did their first runway walk of the performance.

The pageant is divided into four categories; a five-minute interview that took place Saturday morning, a stage interview, evening gown and the top five contestants’ final walks.

After the stage interview, the cast of “Rent” from Playhouse in the Park performed a song from their show that runs April 16-18 and 23-25 in Murray’s Central Park.

The top five contestants were selected by the judges after the evening gown portion. Upon being selected, they took their final runway walks.

After the top five did their final walks, Summer Davis, senior from Benton, Ky., took her final walk as Miss MSU 2014 while the judge’s votes were tabulated.

The final placing was: • Fourth runner up: Olivia Perkins, junior from Harrodsburg, Ky. • Third runner up: Amanda Hobson, junior from Henderson, Ky. • Second runner up: Kevyn Ann Cunningham, sophomore from Kevil, Ky. • First runner up: Mary Dodd, junior from Cape Girardeau, Mo. • Queen: Tanelle Smith, sophomore from Henderson, Ky., was crowned as Miss MSU “Watching Tanelle throughout the entire process, I knew she had what it took to shine on stage,” Baker said. “I know she will do well representing Murray State University and wearing the crown. I was honored to be a part of the history made at Murray through Tanelle becoming the first African-American Miss MSU. She’s truly beautiful inside and out.”

Smith was crowned and presented with a sash. She took a teary-eyed first walk across the stage as Miss MSU. Also, Smith received an $850 scholarship.

Smith made Murray State history that night by being the first African-American to be

Photo courtesy of Jeremiah Johnson

Miss MSU winner, Tanelle Smith, sophomore from Cape Girardeau, Mo., poses with President Bob Davies after being crowned. crowned Miss Murray State.

This landmark in Murray State history came just a few weeks after the University celebrated the 60th anniversary of its desegregation in 1955.

“In the last 24 hours it still hasn’t hit me that I am Miss Murray State and even more so that I made history as the very first African-Ameri-

can to ever be crowned,” Smith said in a Facebook post Sunday. “Winning this title is such an honor and I am thankful that it allows me to continue to be a leader, role model and represent the University that I love wholeheartedly.

Thank you to everyone who has always encouraged and supported me; I truly am dedicated to making you all proud.”

Tri Sigma to hold Glow Run Saturday Kayla MacAllister || Staff writer kmacallister@murraystate.edu

After the sun goes down Saturday, campus will come alight with the glow of runners racing in Sigma Sigma Sigma’s annual Tri-Sigma Glow Run 5K. Anyone can register with any Sigma until the time of the race, and it costs $10 for students and $12 for non-students. Teams of up to 12 members can register for the discounted price of $85.

Elizabeth Kozeny, sophomore from St. Louis, serves as foundation chair for Tri-Sigma and explained why the race is so important to her.

“I really like our philanthropy and it means a lot to me because it’s play therapy and I’m going to be a child life specialist, so it goes hand in hand,” she said. “And I’m an (organizational communication) major so it’s what I want to do.”

She and two other sisters make up the committee that planned the run, but the entire chapter has played a role, she said.

Whether it’s getting the word out through social media, hang-

ing up fliers or anything in between, Kozeny has been able to delegate tasks to her sorority sisters. It was expected that each member recruit at least four runners, but most women went beyond just four, she said.

The day of the race, every member will have a job – working registration, handing out water, directing runners or selling T-shirts.

T-shirts will be sold to runners for $7 and non-runners for $10.

Tri-Sigma will recognize the first place runner, the sorority and fraternity with the most spirit points and various team awards with congratulatory certificates.

Formerly known as the Jan Jones Wilson Memorial 5K Walk/ Run, the race is held in memory of Jan Jones Wilson, a former adviser of the Murray State Tri-Sigma chapter. The run raises money for the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation, which funds children’s play therapy and four play therapy wings in different hospitals.

Twelve Tri-Sigma sisters traveled to the North Carolina Children’s Hospital in Chapel Hill, N.C., over Spring Break to visit

one such play therapy wing and see the fruits of their labor.

The Alpha Chi chapter will be set up at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in front of the Carr Health Building, ready for runners to register or check in for the 8 p.m. race.

The 5K raised more than $6,000 last year, and Tri-Sigma has set a $7,000 goal for Saturday’s profit. Four hundred people participated in 2014, and as of Tuesday, more than that had pre-registered for this year. About 500 runners are anticipated to show up this year, Kozeny said.

The course will be different than past years and be mostly on campus to make it easier for runners to follow. Tri-Sigma members will be at various points throughout the race pointing participants in the right direction and handing out water.

If it rains heavily Saturday, the chapter will postpone the run later into the night. If rain or storms continue, it will be canceled. Runners signed up through Tri-Sigma sisters should stay in contact for weather-related information on the day of the event, and everyone can follow their Twitter page for instant updates through the handle @TriSigma_AX.

Local donut shop boasts story Connor Jaschen || Staff writer cjaschen@murraystate.edu

With an average rating of 98 out of 100 on UrbanSpoon – a widely used online resource that accumulates reviews of restaurants – hometown favorite, Murray Donuts, has become a staple in the small town of Murray, finding itself firmly planted at 506 North 12th St. Owner, Bunnarath Mao, was born in Cambodia. Living in the capital city of Phnom Penh, Mao came to the U.S. approximately eight years ago, though not without difficulty.

Originally earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration from his home country, Mao’s degree wasn’t able to transcend geopolitical borders.

This wouldn’t slow Mao down, though. “(The U.S.) is the land of opportunity,” Mao said. “You can be anything you want to be.”

Initially, Mao moved to Chicago and worked for an export

company, though when the Great Recession hit, he left that work to follow a dream.

“It was a lifelong dream to own my own business,” Mao said.

So, having friends in the industry and believing “universities are always good” for business, Mao set up shop and in December of 2009 and opened Murray Donuts.

Mao spoke about the help he receives from friends and family.

“We help each other because in a business you can’t do it all alone,” Mao said. “My philosophy is everywhere you go, make friends.”

Of course, not only did the owner of Murray Donuts talk about those who helped him behind the scenes, but Mao also spoke with incredible joy about his customers, many whom he knows by name.

“They’re like parents away from home,” Mao said.

Mao explained the donut making process. The making of donuts includes a number of steps, each as important as the last.

Hannah Fowl/The News

Murray Donuts has been in operation in Murray since 2009.

First he mixes the batter – 50 pounds at a time – then cuts, proofs, fries and glazes all to make what many students, faculty and staff would call the “best donut in Murray.”

Donuts aren’t all that is offered at Murray Donuts though. A customer can enjoy a number of other entrees such as a breakfast

sandwich to a danish.

Open every day until 5 p.m. – except Sundays, when the store closes at 2 p.m. - Murray Donuts is more than just a donut shop.

Under the managerial leadership of Mao, a man with a story not only spans continents, but continues this day in Murray’s backyard.

SING From Page 5B

with the first place Independent organization award given to the Euclidean Math Club. The Residential College first place trophy was received by Springer-Franklin Residential College.

Regents Residential College took second place honors. Sorority division honors were taken by ASA. ADPi followed in second place and AOPi took third. Alpha Sigma Phi took first place in the fraternity division followed by AGR, in second place.

ASA was named grand champion.

“I performed in two groups. The first one, International Student Organization, won 2nd place for independent,” Vashisht said. “My second group, Springer-Franklin won 1st place for residential college so I’m pretty pumped.”

Miscellaneous awards were given to groups for outstanding performances.

The Honor’s Program was given the Director’s Choice award, while the Best Costume award was given to Alpha Gamma Delta. AOPi won the Best Choreography Award.

The best soloist award went to a trio from ASA who rounded their trophy case with the Spirit Award.

Despite the cloudy conditions, guests and students were still in awe of the performances and most students tended to have smile on their faces.

Tansia Mehrin, a senior from Belize, enjoyed the performances.

“It’s just my second time watching but I had so much fun even though it was raining,” Mehrin said.

The News

Features

April 17, 2015

7B Shut up and eat

FEATURED TWEETS

Pop Culture Corner

Homemade food is love

HILLARY CLINTON RUNS FOR PRESIDENT Hillary Clinton @HillaryClinton I’m running for president. Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion. -H hillaryclinton.com 2:27pm 12 Apr 2015 David Rothkopf @djrothkopf We have 19 months to debate policies but one thing is absolutely clear: the US is long overdue for a woman president.

3:39pm 12 Apr 2015

Rex Huppke @RexHuppke Hillary Clinton steps out of a Chipotle in Ohio: “As president, I will ban charging extra for guac!” Stops campaigning. Wins in landslide 4:23pm 13 Apr 2015 Earvin Magic Johnson @MagicJohnson I’m even more excited today than I was yesterday that @HillaryClinton is running for President! #Hillary2016 9:37am 13 Apr 2015

‘QUEEN OF SOUTHERN CUISINE’ IS BACK Southern chef Paula Deen is making a comeback.

After admitting to using the N-word in a disposition, the former Food Network star lost all ties with the network and is starting over.

Deen will open a new restaurant in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. on April 27. She is also working on a mobile game and a radio show.

“Dining at the restaurant is going to be an unforgettable experience,” Deen said. “I want to fill their souls as well as bellies.”

Photo courtesy of moviefone.com

Britt Robertson and Scott Eastwood star in Nicholas Sparks’ most recent film, “The Longest Ride.”

‘The Longest Ride’ is a beautiful, yet complicated love story John Gruccio || Contributing writer jgruccio@murraystate.edu

SUCCESS KID RAISES MONEY FOR HIS FATHER Eight-year-old Sammy Griner, also known as “success kid,” is using his fame to help raise money for his father’s kidney transplant.

Griner’s mother, Laney, started a GoFundMe page asking for donations to help her husband. Her goal was $7,500. As of Wednesday, they have raised $8,300 from more than 4,000 people from all over the world.

“If anyone understands the power, the mass and goodwill of the Internet, it’s those of us lucky to experience it daily,” Laney said.

For what is such an easily definable word, love is something that a lot of us don’t have an easy time finding. And if we do, we need a good slap to show us that we have in fact found it and it is right in front of us. I feel like in a way I may have just given out the logline for every romance novel known to man and inadvertently saved all of us a lot of money. I am kidding, or am I? For romance novel fans, the name Nicholas Sparks is well known and the new film “The Longest Ride,” is one of his better stories that have been adapted into film.

When a young bull rider named Luke and a college student named Sophia meet for the first time, they fall for one another almost in an instant. Like with most love stories though, Luke and Sophia are two people in two completely different worlds, which of course brings conflict. However, when they come across a 90-year-old widowed veteran who almost died in a horrific car crash, they soon learn a valuable lesson from his own story of love and heartache with

Murray State students begin short film production for TV club

his dear departed wife.

Love requires sacrifice, but in the end it’s worth it.

“The Longest Ride” stars Britt Robertson, Scott Eastwood, Jack Huston, Oona Chaplin, Lolita Davidovich, Melissa Benoist and Alan Alda. George Tillman Jr. directs the film with a screenplay by Craig Bolotin.

This film brings together a batch of new actors. I am not sure if the intertwining love stories, one present and one past, were meant to show polar opposites, but they do. With Eastwood and Robertson’s characters, we meet two young people in the cliche and premise of being in two drastically different places in life. The only thing they share are their emotions.

They are scared, stubborn and attracted to one another. The steamy love scenes they share are appealing as a visual and even tantalizing plot points, but they lack much when it comes to the actual romantic nature of being in love.

On the other side, we have Huston and Chaplin’s characters, which I feel I must enlighten everyone of the oddity of these two being paired together. Huston is the legendary director John Huston’s grandson and Chaplin is the granddaughter of

Kayla MacAllister || Staff writer kmacallister@murraystate.edu

Quentin Tarantino began scriptwriting while working at a video rental store in California, and Murray State sophomore Bryan Clapp began last semester in his scriptwriting class.

Clapp now follows in the footsteps of writers like Tarantino by having his script, “Privilege of Normativity,” be brought to life by the TV Production Club.

Clapp, originally from Mayfield, Ky., did the script for his class’ final project and then submitted it to the TV Production Club’s Facebook page.

The club has done TV shows in the past, but faculty adviser Chris Haynes decided to try a short film since they couldn’t do more than two to three episodes of a show per semester.

Clapp is a TV production major and has been a member of the club since his freshman year.

John Gruccio, president of the club and direc-

the great Charlie Chaplin.

Their story as two lovers who are torn from one another because of World War II is told so much better. The passion and chemistry that these actors show toward one another really put the sparks in what needs to be considered when thinking about a Sparks novel.

It is so hard to ever say that a film is better than the novel or book that it is based on, and even as good as these Sparks adaptations are, the books are the real winners. Now this is not to say that the films are meaningless. They are most certainly not; they are the entryway for those who have not had the pleasure of reading a Sparks novel.

The films can entice you. I would say “The Longest Ride,” despite certain hesitations in plot and character flaws, is at least in the top five of the 10 film adaptations of Sparks’ novels.

As far as the bottom line goes, “The Longest Ride” will make for a good movie to watch on date night. It may even have the potential to ignite a spark on a blind date, who knows?

Food makes people happy. It’s as simple as that.

No matter who you are or where you come from, Madison Wepfer odds are, you like Assistant food.

Features Editor Who doesn’t get an adrenaline rush when walking down the baking aisle. Who doesn’t get a tingly feeling when you see those cute little pints of Ben & Jerry’s?

Is that just me? Well, let me tell you, food is love. But better than Ben & Jerry’s or boxed cookies is homemade food.

My best memories of home are the food that my mother made for me when I was a child. When I go home on holidays or breaks, that’s the one thing I look forward to all the delicious, homemade food I get to indulge in.

Even if my mother was the worst cook on Earth, I would still love to come home to a meal that she made for me. Why? Because she made it with her own two hands, and that’s what makes it special.

There’s something about a home-cooked meal that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

Homemade food gives me all the feels. Coming from someone who doesn’t get excited about much, that’s saying a lot.

Some people can’t use a stove or an oven to save their life. I call them kitchen-challenged. Even if whatever they try to make ends up looking like a science project – lumpy, gooey and slimy – you still eat it because it’s homemade.

I have had some pretty poor homemade dinners, but I still ate every one of them and acted like it was the bee’s knees. If someone is going to slave away over a chocolate ganache, I’m going to eat it and love it even if it tastes like whipped mud.

If you are kitchen-challenged, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try to cook new things. Remember, people always love homemade food, no matter what it tastes like.

If you have an event coming up like a birthday or graduation, tell someone you love them with some cookies or a cake.

I guarantee you that baked goods are the best gift anyone can receive.

I know my face lights up whenever I see freshly-baked cookies.

To be honest, those cookies could taste like anything but a cookie and I would still love them.

Perhaps I have a bit of an obsession, but, what can I say?

Homemade food is love. mwepfer@murraystate.edu

tor, Haynes, who is also the movie’s executive producer and Clapp met for several weeks at the beginning of this semester to decide what direction to take with the script and to work out any changes that needed to be made.

The three hosted auditions for the film where almost all of the roles were filled.

The entire crew, including actors and behind-the-scenes roles will total about 15 people.

Clapp will portray the main character, Maxwell Edison, and other large roles include Emily Burnstein as Joan and Aaron Peck as Hunter.

The club is still looking for two more women to fill other roles.

“I think you could learn (production skills) these without taking the classes – they’re pretty simple once you understand them – but I do think the college system eases you into it so you don’t have to figure stuff out on your own,” Clapp said.

The film itself will be approximately 15 to 25 minutes and is an introspective work that re-

sembles the “slice of life” genre, he said.

The movie’s plot will revolve around Maxwell, who is a student studying medicine who has his entire life planned out: get his doctorate, make tons of money, have famous friends and be set for life. While on that journey though, Maxwell is still not satisfied, so he starts a blog to articulate his search to fill the void in his life.

The film will focus on one day out of his life and incorporates some unexpected twists.

The club is beginning the production process and is setting dates to shoot.

Clapp expects the movie to be done by the end of the semester when the club wants to host an open showing at the Curris Center.

“This entire semester we’ve been in pre-production, so I’m thinking production and post might be the most fun for me just because we’re not spending most of our time meeting in a room just talking about stuff,” Clapp said.

“We’re actually getting those shots, ticking off those locations, actually putting it together.

Seeing it come to life, I think, will be pretty enjoyable.”

Out this Week

Read It

“The“Memory Wicked Will Man,” Rise,”

by David Danielle Baldacci Paige

See It

“The “Woman Age ofinAdaline” Gold”

Hear It

“Kintsugi” “Kindred”

by Death

by Passion Cab forPitCutie

Rent It

“The Imitation “Taken 3”Game”

Play It

“MLB“Tropico 15 The Show” 5”

8B

The News

April 17, 2015