The Murray State News May 1, 2015
TheNews.org
Zachary Orr
Assistant News Editor zorr@murraystate.edu
In the fall of 2016, Murray State will offer its first University scholarship for veterans: Operation Graduation. The scholarship was made because of a growing demand for financial assistance that veterans have when pursuing higher education today, said Chris Jeter, assistant registrar for Veteran Affairs. Jeter said although veterans benefit financially from the G.I. Bill, which provides financial assistance to veterans for education as thanks for their service and can cover both tuition and some living expenses, the bill doesn’t cover all the costs attending a four-year university entails. “When you take into consideration that there are other things they’re paying for – everything from books to putting food in your stomach and gas in the tank – no, it’s not going to pay for everything,” he said. Returning to civilian life is a difficult transition for many veterans, Jeter said. Many veterans return from service with families, so higher education may not be their first priority financially. Jeter said he hopes Operation Graduation will help veterans afford higher education despite their financial obligations. Abby Hensley, director of development for the Hutson School of Agriculture and Special Projects, helped develop the scholarship, alongside Renae Duncan, associate provost for Undergraduate Educa-
tion. Duncan has been out of the country and was unavailable to comment. Hensley said she was surprised to hear Murray State didn’t already have a veteran’s scholarship. “We wanted to start this so that we as Murray State can support our student veterans,” she said. “Because in our eyes they’ve made the biggest commitment to their country and it’s our job to support them.” Hensley said there is a great need for a veteran’s scholarship. No veteran should ever have to choose between buying a textbook and supporting their family, she said. Operation Graduation will be available to any veteran student enrolled in a minimum of nine credit hours per semester pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree. Recipients are required to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, according to the University scholarship agreement. The scholarship will be funded by Murray State alumni, both veteran and non-veteran. Per the agreement, the award amount and number of recipients will vary from year to year based on availability of funds. Jeter said anyone can donate to the scholarship and he hopes the community will see the importance of this scholarship and contribute. “By donating to this scholarship, members of the community are helping ease the financial burden during a somewhat difficult transition from military culture and service to that of civilian life,” he
Vol. 89, No. 30
OPERATION:
GRADUATION Murray State offers first scholarship for veterans beginning in fall 2016.
Emily Harris/The News
Chris Jeter, assistant registrar for Veteran Affairs, said he hopes Murray State’s first scholarship for veterans will reach $25,000 in funding, making it an endowed scholarship. said. It’s often more than just veterans themselves who struggle with the transition. Jeter said their families play a huge role in this as well. “In many ways the entire family serves,” he said. “Not just the individual.” Student veterans have strengths in leadership and community awareness, Jeter said. This and a global mindset make them great students.
Jeter said he hopes the scholarship reaches the $25,000 benchmark in funding, which will make it an endowed scholarship at the University. This will allow for more stable funding for the scholarship, the number of recipients and the awards received will be more predictable from year to year. Murray State considers itself a veteran-friendly University, Jeter said.
The University placed sixth in the USNews.com Best Colleges for Veterans rankings for 2015 for the South region. This places Murray State at the highest ranking for all Kentucky public universities. Western Kentucky is ranked eighth, Morehead State ranked 19th and Eastern Kentucky ranked 25th. The other five public universities in the state did not rank. David Vowel, president
of the Student Veteran Organization and student from Mayfield, Ky., said he hopes Operation Graduation attracts more veterans to Murray State and that it encourages more veterans at Murray State to be more involved. Vowel said many veteran students like him return to universities with families to care for and are unable to work
see OPERATION, 2A
Murray State Cofer Randall shares story of fills role as transition, finding herself emergency center Ben Manhanke Staff writer
bmanhanke@murraystate.edu
Zachary Orr
Assistant News Editor zorr@murraystate.edu
Julia Mazzuca Staff writer
jmazzuca@murraystate.edu
Murray State not only impacts the community through providing higher education and acting as one of the area’s largest employers, but also is the Emergency Operations Center. This role, said Jeff Steen, assistant director of Public Safety and Emergency Management, is unusual for a university to play. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) defines an Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, as “A location from which centralized emergency management can be performed. EOC facilities are established by an agency or jurisdiction to coordinate the overall agency or jurisdictional response and support to an emergency.” The University’s role as the community’s chief EOC was established in 2009, when a severe ice storm placed both Calloway County and Kentucky in a state of Emergency, said Roy Dunaway, director of Public Safety and Emergency Management. During the storm, when the Calloway County EOC’s generator failed, the county asked to join Murray State’s
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EOC. Steen said the city’s EOC quickly expended all its resources and asked to join Murray State’s EOC as well. Dunaway said Murray State had the resources and was better prepared for this scale of emergency, that left much of the area without power, water or phone service. “Due largely to that success, we’re still the Emergency Operations Center of the county,” Dunaway said. Steen said Murray State not only acted as the EOC for the city and county, but also used Lovett Auditorium as a shelter for the community when the Red Cross was unable to provide power to their shelter area. “It wasn’t as comfortable as you would have liked to have hoped, but nobody got hypothermia and nobody starved,” he said. The University also served meals out of Winslow Dining Hall. Steen said he was unsure of exactly how many were fed during the storm, but he knew there were many. “Anyone who was hungry who showed up at Winslow, anyone in the community got fed,” he said. After the storm hit, communication throughout the state was disrupted, Steen said. Frankfort contacted the Murray State EOC and asked
see EOC, 2A
She. He. Her. Him. Jody Cofer Randall, director of LGBT Programming, said every day she is asked what pronoun she prefers to be referred to by, sometimes two to three times a day. “I’ve accepted that, in many ways, I’ll be coming out for the rest of my life,” Cofer Randall said. “People ask me either why I’m doing this or how they should address me and I say ‘well, let’s sit down, let’s have that conversation.’” Cofer Randall is a transsexual, someone who not only identifies as the opposite sex as they were born, but someone who has begun taking the medical steps necessary to reverse their gender. Cofer Randall is a she. For Cofer Randall, this journey began one and a half years ago when she began taking hormone replacement supplements and seeing a doctor in Chicago who specializes in this type of gender transition. Yet ever since she was a child, she has wanted to be a woman. “When you’re a boy you’re taught you need to like HeMan, you need to like masculine toys,” Cofer Randall said. “But when I was little, running around in the yard playing, I always wanted to be She-Ra. It wasn’t an attraction to women. I think I was born in the wrong body.” For almost 33 years, Cofer Randall lived as a man: a bi-sexual man, self-described as being “gender ambiguous.” For the past 14 years she has worked at Murray State, counseling lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and helping them to come to terms with their own identity.
Hannah Fowl/The News
Jody Cofer Randall, director of LGBT Programming, began her journey from male to female about a year and a half ago. Cofer Randall said it was a graduating transgender student she had counseled who inspired her to begin her own transition after coming to her office one day to thank her for her support. “It was all very sweet, very warm, very heartfelt and then she said, ‘but you’ve really let me down,’” Cofer Randall said. “‘What are you doing, Jody? What are you doing with your identity?’ That hit me in a way like I’d just gotten slapped.” After that, Cofer Randall and her partner, Morgan Randall, began to discuss when they’d like to move forward with her gender transition, strategically planning it so that even if the community response to her decision was negative that they’d be OK. Cofer Randall said they wanted to have a house, be married and for her to have a
cemented position in her career before making any move. Fortunately, she said, the response she has received from those she chose to tell both before the physical changes in her body became noticeable and after has been overwhelmingly positive. But not everyone in the Murray community has been accepting. “I’ve gotten threats, death threats, over the years and that was before I was even doing this,” Cofer Randall said. “A lot of cisgender individuals never even think ‘Don’t sit with your back to the door at McDonald’s.’ Well, I do. I think about that. I would be naive if I said I didn’t have an awareness of my own personal safety when I’m out and about.”
see COFER RANDALL, 2A
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May 1, 2015
Outstanding seniors for 2015 named Julia Mazzuca || Staff writer
Julia Mazzuca || Staff writer
jmazzuca@murraystate.edu
jmazzuca@murraystate.edu
Rob Lewis, known by his friends as the “Bird Nerd,” was named the outstanding senior male for the May 2015 graduating class. Don Robertson, vice president of Student Affairs, explained the criteria for outstanding senior selection. “In total, the committee chose these two (outstanding seniors) because they both excelled academically while maximizing their undergraduate experience by taking advantage of the many opportunities students have at this University,” Robertson said. Lewis is the founding member for the Murray State National Wild Turkey Federation Chapter and is a member of the Murray State Wildlife and Fisheries Society, Murray State Ducks Unlimited Chapter and Captain of the Civil Air Patrol. The Maryland native came to Murray State on a presidential scholarship to study wildlife and conservation biology and get on the wildlife biology track. “I knew I couldn’t sit behind a desk for the rest of my life,” Lewis said. “I’ve always loved the outdoors and wanted something to combine my passion and my work.” Academically, Lewis has achieved many honors such as the Larry D. Pharris Wildlifer of the Year: 2015 and the Who’s Who Among Students in the American Universities and Colleges 2015.
for five to six years to do field research in order to get his doctorate. Once at Utah State, Lewis will study the greater sage grouse, which is similar to small turkey. He hopes to also study ravens and chicks to help sustain the greater sage grouse population.
Aida De La Fuente was named the outstanding senior female for the May 2015 graduating class. Liz Markley, De La Fuente’s best friend, has been with De La Fuente since day one as her roommate freshman year. “Aida is an outstanding senior woman not because of the numerous amounts of organizations she has been a part of, but because of the numerous lives she has influenced through her time here at Murray State,” Markley said. De La Fuente is originally from Madrid but grew up in Louisville, Ky., with her family. She came to Murray State as a freshman after receiving the presidential scholarship and double majored in economics and Spanish. Upon receiving the email saying that she had received the award, De La Fuente was overwhelmed with emotion. “I started crying, I was so excited,” De La Fuente said. “I called my mom. She was crying whenever I read the letter.” Her family from Madrid and Louisville were excited and proud of De La Fuente as she accepted this honor. “I always say that Murray State is Kentucky’s best kept secret,” De La Fuente said. She is involved in multiple organizations at Murray State such as Alpha Omicron Pi and was the former sweetheart for Sigma Chi. Although she is involved in Greek Life, she said her favorite activity has been
being a Summer Orientation counselor. “I love talking about MSU and what separates this University from others,” she said. “You can be the reason that someone chooses to come here.” Her passion for Murray State began with the people that she met her first day here.
“Aida dedicates her time, resources and herself to go above and beyond to ensure everyone else around her loves Murray State as much as she does,” Markley said. After graduating, De La Fuente has an internship at Brown-Forman and will move to Miami for a sales and management position.
years, you’d see us at lunch together and now we rarely speak. It’s hard to see that loss and to see those people in the community and have to walk away from those relationships.” “A lot of people go into this knowing that you’re going to lose some people. You’re going to lose some friends, you’re probably going to lose some family and it hurts,” she said. Two things above all have helped her through her many trials, she said: her partner and her Christian faith. Cofer Randall said religion has always been an important part of her life from growing up in Alabama to moving to Kentucky. The former church she attended in Marshall County was not accepting of her transsexuality, this conflict eventually
prompted her to leave the congregation and drove her from organized religion altogether. Two years ago, jaded and resentful, she said, she did not expect to ever be a member of a mainstream church like the First Presbyterian Church of Murray which she currently attends. A church, she said, that is so supportive of her and her partner. “It always hits me and I always smile a little bit when we’re doing ‘The Lord’s Supper’ and that standard line gets said,” Cofer Randall said. “Our pastor always builds into that script that this is not a table which prohibits transgender people. Finding this church in Murray shocked me.” Cofer Randall will continue her work as coordinator of LGBT Programming next se-
mester. Since she began taking her hormone replacement supplements, she said she has noticed an increased amount student traffic to her office. This semester, she said she has had more students come speak to her about their identity than during her entire tenure at Murray State. She said she hopes this is due to a combination of both students feeling more comfortable reaching out to her and the continual improving of the University’s climate toward LGBT-identifying students. Cofer Randall said now, after being on hormone supplements for a year and a half, she has begun to talk with surgeons about her surgical options. A step she said, which many transsexual people choose not to take, but one which she is in-
vestigating. “It’s not an easy journey,” Randall said. “It’s not a quick journey and it’s a journey filled with stigmas and stereotypes, hardships, financial burdens, but it’s what I’m doing.” Despite those hardship, Cofer Randall said the change is worth it more with each passing day. “In the last year I see myself more in the mirror and in pictures,” she said. “For many years I wouldn’t look in a mirror because I didn’t see myself. Every day, I got up and shaved and got ready and it was like ‘I don’t know who the hell you are. I’m standing here getting you ready.’ But now when I walk into a restaurant, every time I go to open that door and see myself in the reflection, I kind of grin because it’s good to see me.”
county’s EOC. The University acted as EOC for all the snowstorms that affected the Murray area this past winter as well. “We’re very proud of what we have and our organization,” he said. Although Murray State acts primarily as the area EOC, the city and county emergency services as well as the local Red Cross play a vital role. Steen said the University strives to maintain a healthy relationship with the other parties in order to be as effective as possible during emergency situations. “We each have our own responsibilities, but a team effort is always better than trying to do it by yourself,” he said. Steen said the city is taking steps to strengthen its EOC. The new fire station under
construction on the northern side of town might act as the EOC for the city in the future. “Perhaps, it will take over as the primary EOC and Murray State will become the secondary EOC,” he said. “But, we’re unsure of that.” Regardless of whether or not the new station will serve as the new EOC for the city, David Burdette, interim chief facilities officer for Facilities Management, said Murray State is happy to serve the community by acting as EOC, and will continue to help the city and county in emergency situations. “What I think it speaks well of is the mutual respect that each of the agencies have for each other and how Murray State opens itself up to the community,” he said. “We’re a member of the broader community and want to be.”
Jenny Rohl/The News
Rob Lewis is the 2015 outstanding senior male. After graduation he is headed to Utah State. Alongside his academic success, Lewis has also taken his time to explore and map new paths in Mammoth Cave in Mammoth Cave, Ky. He said his cave exploration was “a blast” and he hopes that he can go caving again in the summer. After graduating in May, Lewis will go to Utah State
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enough during the school year to pay for their families without taking out a substantial amount of student loans. “The G.I. Bill benefits that we get are pretty good and they’re helpful,” he said. “But, having another source of financial support through this scholarship will be helpful to guys who maybe don’t want to rack up $60,000 in student loans to help them through college.” After talking to his veteran friends nationwide, Vowel said many veterans at other universities don’t receive the same amount of support as they would at Murray State. Many universities see the G.I. Bill as an excuse not to give these veterans any other financial assistance. Jeter said that in the next few years more than 2.5 million veterans will return to the workforce, and many of them will come to college. It is important for universities to be prepared for the return of these veterans, Vowel said. “The past four or five years have been a real transition period, not just for Murray State, but for a lot of colleges because of the huge influx of veterans returning to college or coming to college for the first time,” he said. That’s why more universities need to have programs like Murray State to help them with their transition, Vowel said. “We have a team of people who are dedicated just to helping improve the college experience for veterans on this campus,” he said.
From Page 1 Cisgender is a term for those who identify as the gender they were assigned at birth – essentially, a person who is not transgender or transsexual. Cofer Randall said even her close cisgender friends at Murray State have struggled with her decision to pursue what she feels is her true gender identity, either choosing to ignore that part of her life or leaving her life altogether. “I’ve lost people,” she said. “There are people who I’ve been close to for years, who, for 12-13
EOC From Page 1
Photo Courtesy of WKMS
Murray State was declared a Storm Ready University in January 2011. Murray State, along with four other universities in Kentucky, is considered to be Storm Ready by the National Weather Service.
1813 U.S. 641 Murray, Ky
it to establish contact with Hickman and Carlisle counties, whom the state had not heard from since the storm hit. “We don’t know if they’ve fallen off the edge of the map,” he said. Murray State was quick to assemble a taskforce that traveled to the two counties, bringing kerosene and opening roadways, Steen said. A combined effort of volunteer firefighters, emergency medical services and public health individuals made up the team. Steen said Murray State’s skill in organizing during extreme situations is why it continues to act as the
Jenny Rohl/The News
Aida De La Fuente is the 2015 outstanding senior female. After graduation, she will go to Miami.
The News
News
May 1, 2015
3A
International students head forward Abby Siegel || Contributing writer
POLICE BEAT
asiegel@murraystate.edu
As the long-awaited graduation day approaches, walking across the stage to receive a diploma accompanied with a handshake from the University president is just the start of a new adventure for many international students studying at Murray State. More than 60 different countries are represented at Murray State including China, South Korea, Brazil and India. Tyson Manering, senior international student counselor, said there are 1,134 international students – roughly 10 percent of the Murray State student population – pursuing different degrees. Graduating international students have a wide range of plans after graduation, but the common feelings they have are love and gratitude toward their experiences at Murray State. “It’s like my second home here,” said Andre Tanjung, senior from Malang, Indonesia. Tanjung is finishing his second year at Murray State and will graduate with a degree in business management. After graduation he plans to build his own brand of shoes and bags and export his product through the help of the international friends he has made while at Murray State. Tanjung said he will do the marketing for his brand, but he still needs to find someone who can design the product. Although he is sad to leave the home he has found in Murray, he said what he misses most about Indonesia is his family. “Family is number one,” he said. Tanjung saw his family last summer for two months but he said it wasn’t enough. He said he is going to send them pictures of his graduation because it is too hard for them to get a
April 23
6:51 a.m. Racer Patrol advised Murray Statea.m. Police of an abandoned 10:40 A person reported golf outside the Lowry Center. thecart smell of marijuana at Hester Officers were College. notified and inforResidential Thean police mation report was taken. were notified and a report was 11:42 p.m. An officer conducted taken. a 10:47 traffica.m. stopA at 121 North and person reported Coldwater Streets. A citation was the smell of marijuana at White issued to the College. driver for failure Residential The policeto wear seatbelt. passenger wereanotified andThe a report was was arrested on an outstanding taken. warrant and was taken to Callo-
April 24 Hannah Fowl/The News
Pictured left to right are graduating seniors Venky Meesala from India, Tansia Mehrin from Belize and Andre Damarizal from Indonesia. visa and it is too expensive for them to travel. Venkatesh Meesala, graduate student from Mumbai, India, has a different plan for the upcoming year. Meesala has a year to look for a fulltime job before Homeland Security will require him to return to India. During this time he plans to gain more experience in information systems so he can one day accomplish his goal of becoming CEO of a software company. He has applied to multiple companies across the East Coast, but hopes to land a job in New York. “A place like that is where I belong,” Meesala said. “I never thought that I would like Murray like I do.” Many graduating international students are in the same position as Meesala–only having one year to find a job in the United States. Andrea Eskauriatza, senior from Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, is in this situ-
ation. “To be honest right now I’ll do anything,” she said. “I’m not too picky.” This summer, Eskauriatza has a summer job in New Hampshire as a tennis specialist. Her summer job entails 13-hour days, but she said the paycheck is worth it. With hopes that her job in New Hampshire will end in long-term employment, Eskauriatza is going to move to the west coast at the end of the summer and support herself with the money she made from her summer job. Laksamana Virtuecrat, senior from Bali, Indonesia, is excited to graduate so he can reunite with his South Korean girlfriend that he met at Murray State two years ago. Virtuecrat only sees his girlfriend twice a year, and this will be the first time he has seen her since their last excursion in Canada. She still will be
in university classes in Korea when he visits her this summer. “I’d rather wait for her every minute while she is in school than not see her at all,” Virtuecrat said. “Coming to Korea is me fulfilling my promises to her.” After spending three weeks with his girlfriend in South Korea, he will return to Indonesia for his last semester at his home university to complete a dual degree program. His future plans are to complete his master’s degree at the London Business School so he can become an entrepreneur. Virtuecrat offers words of advice to the Murray State community through the personal growth he has experienced while he has lived in the United States. “Never give up on your dream, especially in education because education is everything,” he said.
Contributing writer
smellar1@murraystate.edu
Students living on campus next semester had to fill out a new online housing form this semester with new features. The Housing Office recently introduced a new application for residents to reserve their room, choose a new room or move to another residential college. For students searching for a new roommate, this update introduces a new program to match students with a compatible roommate. Incoming freshmen and students who want to find a new roommate but don’t have someone in mind can use new ‘Manage Roommates’ feature. Ken Ashlock, associate director of Housing, related this new program to Facebook or a dating website. Students create a profile, fill out personal preferences, and the program gives the student a list of other students and pairs them with a compatible roommate, he said. Once completed, the program allows students to message potential roommates so they can meet up and see what they are like in real life. This will be the first semester it is being used. “This online application will help students find a compatible roommate by greatly expanding personal preferences,” Ashlock said. “Students can state if they smoke, how clean they want the room to be, their activities, how many visitors they have over, and so on. The previous application was very limited on what we can ask.” “Another thing that led us to adopting this online application is that it will be easier for incoming students to apply,” he said. “It’s all one step that they can do from home. They can check their sta-
tus and change it if they want to, before if you wanted to change it you had to email me and there was a deadline for it, and now they can just change the form,” Students who know who they want to room with will be able to use this tab to find their roommate, even if they are incoming freshmen. However, both students will have to have an application in the system to be able to find, request and confirm each other as roommates. To reserve a room students have to fill out the Online Housing Application. This application can be found on MyGate. Students who want to apply for an exemption to live off campus still have to fill out an exemption application. Exemptions include students who are married, students who have children, veterans of at least two years’ active military service, students who turn 21 before the first day of classes, students who have resided in residence halls for four complete semesters and students who commute to school daily from their parents’ residence within 50 miles. Also exempt are non-regional tuition students who have achieved junior status, students who have been enrolled full time at a postsecondary institution for four semesters and regional tuition students who have achieved senior status. The housing application will remain open until June 1. After June 1 Housing will assign incoming students their housing for the fall 2015 semester. Students who will not be returning are required to submit a cancellation form. The deadline to cancel and be able to receive your housing deposit is June 1. Students participating in an internship program or study abroad program next semester should transfer their deposit by using the Transfer Deposit Form.
Jenna Dosier/The News
Jacquelin Vilardo (left), senior from Los Angeles, and Katie Uncleword (right), senior from Murray, work in the Housing Office.
2:07County a.m. AJail. caller reported an way intoxicated person on North 8:20 a.m. A caller reported a res16th Street. The flag police were noidential college missing. The tified and a report taken. Housing Office was was notified. 1:46 p.m. 11:22 p.m. AA caller callerreported reporteda a personvehicle on a skateboard at theno motor accident with Curris Center. The police were injuries at White Residential Colnotified and were the notified person was lege. Officers and a warned of taken. the University skatereport was board policy. 7:17 p.m. An officer conducted a traffic stop at the Business Building
April 25
12:05 a.m. A fire alarm in Hesparking A citation waspolice issued ter waslot. activated. The for driving on a suspended and the Central Heatinglicense. and 8:51 p.m. plant A caller reported the Cooling were notified. smell of gas at Hart Residential ColThe alarm was due to a hair lege. Officers, setting Murrayoff Fire Departstraightener a smoke ment, Central Heating and Cooling detector. A report was taken. Plant, Murray and the State Fire 8:33 a.m. AnGas officer conducted Marshall were notified. report a traffic stop on Gilbert A Graves was taken. Drive. A citation was issued for 12:01 p.m.noAoperator’s caller reported speeding, license a sparking outlet in the 300 and no proof of insurance. block of College Courts. Officers, the
April 26
Murray Fire Department, Cen8:57 a.m. The police served a tral Heating and Cooling Plant warrant on Brooklyn Drive. The and the State Fire Marshal were person was arrested and taken to notified. A report was taken. the Calloway County Jail. 4:57 Murrayconducted Police De9:52p.m. a.m.The An officer partment was notified of a mediparking enforcement at the rescal emergency at the Volleyball idential circle. Twelve parking Courts. Officers and Murray Amcitations were issued. bulance Services were notified. The patient was transported and
New online Housing forms Stephanie Mellar
News Editor: Mari-Alice Jasper Assistant Editor: Zachary Orr Phone: 270-809-4468 Twitter: MurrayStateNews
April 27
Hannah Fowl/The News
Seniors filling out the senior survey must now complete the survey online.
Low participation in senior survey Abby Siegel || Contributing writer asiegel@murraystate.edu
Since the senior survey moved to an online format last year, the completion rate has lowered significantly with many seniors confused about what the survey is and its importance to the University. The voluntary and anonymous survey is for graduating undergraduate seniors to share their perception of various aspects of their experience at Murray State such as their satisfaction with extracurricular activities and the characteristics of a Murray State graduate. The survey moved to an online format when applying for graduation moved online. The survey results are considered for strategic planning, and colleges, departments and student support offices use the results when making changes in their services and instructional opportunities. “Their honest feedback is incredibly helpful, and very valuable,” Kelley Wezner said, director of Institutional Effectiveness. In 2009, 973 seniors participated in the senior survey. Last year there were only 480 responses. Tyler Cope, senior from Mayfield, Ky., said he didn’t take the survey because he didn’t have time to complete the roughly 100-question survey. In addition to the length of the survey, many students were not sure what the survey was or where they could find it. Laura Boden, senior from Louisville, Ky., said she wasn’t sure what the senior survey was and found her final year at Murray State to be extremely busy. Despite the many seniors who didn’t complete the survey, Erica Dejarnatt, senior from Carlisle, Ky., did complete it along with about six other surveys in the past two weeks for various reasons, from professor
evaluations to surveys for the School of Nursing. “I completed the survey because as a graduating senior I thought it would be beneficial to the University to have my opinion,” Dejarnatt said. With the long list of requirements for seniors and the desire to graduate, the senior survey can get forgotten or left off of “to-do” lists. Dejarnatt recommends emailing the link to the survey multiple times to seniors or providing incentives to increase participation. She said she believes incentives are an easy way to encourage students to participate. She also suggested having seniors take the survey during a senior seminar course or a similar course that is only for seniors depending on the requirements of different majors. Then all seniors would have the time to complete the survey and wouldn’t forget to do so because it would be completed during class hours. Wezner said she enjoys when she sees students say they would recommend Murray State to a prospective student on the survey. The 2014 senior survey results indicated that 94.1 percent of those that responded either strongly agreed or disagreed with that statement. Dejarnatt said she would most definitely recommend Murray State to a prospective student. “It’s just a great place,” she said. “If I could do it again here I would.” Reflecting on his time at Murray State, Cope said he is sad to leave but feels that he is adequately prepared for the “real world.” Cope offers advice to future graduates, as he is soon to become a Murray State alumnus. “You won’t remember the nights you went to bed early, studied in the library or how early you woke up,” he said. “What you will remember the most is the time you dedicated investing in the lives of those you call your true friends.”
a.m. A taken. caller reported theft a11:56 report was of property at the Price Doyle a 3:46 a.m. Officers conducted Fine Arts building. The police check of a person on North 12th were notified and a report was Street. The person was arrested and taken for theft by unlawful taktransported to Calloway County Jail ing of more than $500. The propfor alcohol intoxication in a public erty was located and returned to place. A report was taken. the owner. 9:09 p.m. A caller reported p.m. detector A caller reported a6:37 smoke activatedtheat smell ofResidential somethingCollege burning Springer dueatto Lee Clark Residential College. a hair dryer. Officers were notified Theno police were notified and the and threat of fire was found. An smell was determined be from information report was to taken. 4:42 p.m. A caller reported a theft the burning of incense. No threat of from a Avehicle from of property fire was located. report was Alexander Hall. Officers were notaken. tified and a report was taken for
April 28 theft of under $500 by unlawful taking fromAn a vehicle. 12:19 a.m. officer conducted 6:12 p.m.stop A caller the a traffic at the reported parking lot smell of marijuana Hart. Officers of White. A verbalatwarning was were notified and an information issued for disregarding a stop report wasdriving taken. on an expired sign and permit. 11:16p.m. a.m. A was served 2:47 A person caller reported an a criminal summons for theft by unauthorized company selling deceptiononofcampus under $500 and a products at Winslow warrantHall. of arrest fraudulent Dining The for caller was reuse oftoa Student credit card for $10,000 ferred Affairs. or more. 6:12 p.m. A caller reported the smell of natural gas at the Old Fine
April 29 Arts Building. Officers, Central 5:15 p.m. An officer conducted Heating Cooling Murray a trafficand stop southPlant, of Hester. Fire department, Murray and A citation was issued forGas disrethe State aFire were notigarding stopMarshall sign. The person fied a report wasand arrested forwas an taken. active warrant and taken to the Calloway County Jail. Motorists assists – 8 8:28 p.m. An Racer escorts – 1officer conducted a traffic Arrests – 2stop at the parking lot on Waldrop Drive. A citation was issued for an improper start Mary Bradley, Assistant News Editor, from a parked verbal compiles Police position. Beat withAmaterials provided Public Safety and Emerwarningby was issued for failure to gency Management. maintain insurance.
Call of Fame April 27, 7:22 p.m. - A caller reported people yelling obscenities at children at the Price Doyle Fine Arts building. The police were notified but the people were gone upon arrival. Racer Assists- 8 Not all dispatched Motor Assists- 4calls are listed. Arrests- 3 Zachary Orr, Assistant News Editor, compiles Police Beat with materials provided by Public Safety and Emergency Management.
4A
May 1, 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
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Katie Wilborn/The News
Title IX causes unequal scholarship distribution The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board. Collegiate sports and scholarships go hand in hand. Murray State, along with many other universities, wouldn’t have some of the sports talent it has without the incentive of financial aid. What’s interesting, however, is where those scholarships are actually going. More than 40 years ago, a federal law was passed with the intention of leveling the playing field – pun intended – of men and women’s sports. This law, Title IX, was created to establish equality between the two genders in both athletics and academics. This is a lofty goal, and one Murray State isn’t meeting. As of right now, there are more scholarship-funded women’s sports than men’s – three more, to be specific. The imbalance is due to the fact that Title IX measures “equality” by tabulating the number of individual participants instead of looking at teams as a whole. Team revenue and suc-
cess are not taken into consideration. For instance, Murray State’s football team boasts a roster of 98 male athletes. The female equivalent to this team doesn’t exist. How does a university make up for a disparity like this? They cut other men’s teams – no matter how successful – and increase the number of women’s teams. Murray State had to cut men’s track and field nine years ago for this reason. On the bright side, women’s softball was then brought to Murray State to increase the number of female athletes. The discrepancy caused by the football team remains a problem, though. Their athletes are the benefactors of 63 of the approximately 184 athletic scholarships. More than 30 percent of the money set aside for athletes, regardless of gender, is going to an all-male football team with a low success rate.
Gender inequality aside, there needs to be less of a gap between the number of scholarships being awarded to male football players compared to the number being awarded to the other men’s sports. We understand the number of football players is necessary. However, cutting the number of full scholarships these players get could allow for more scholarships to be awarded to other teams. Men’s baseball only gets approximately 12, men’s golf only gets approximately five and men’s tennis only gets approximately five. We’ll say it again – men’s football gets 63. Men’s basketball is in the same boat, as they only get 13, and their team is composed of athletes who have garnered us national attention and championship titles. Attendance is high, revenue is strong and the talent is, in our opinion, incredible. The athletic scholarship ratio should reflect that, but it doesn’t.
Women’s basketball gets more scholarships than its male counterpart, and the team certainly isn’t as successful. We don’t mean to bash any of our Murray State teams. We love our women’s teams and the Murray State football team. We support them win or lose. We’re only stating the facts. Scholarships need not be awarded based on the number of athletes per team, but on the success of those athletes. This isn’t a question of athletic gender equality, as long as the number of scholarships awarded to male athletes is the same as the number of scholarships awarded to female athletes – which isn’t the case right now. This is a question of logic. There may be equality in the number of female and male athletes, but there should also be equality in the scholarship ratio. Equality as a whole shouldn’t suffer in pursuit of equality of the sexes.
The Captain’s Log
Garrison: Adieu
I often write about change. It’s an unavoidable part of life, and the best we can all truly do is to hold on and hope it works out for the best. We say that we adapt to change, but most of the time it hits us in the face and throughout our Zac Garrison lives we just Senior from learn to mitiFranklin, Ky. gate the damage. I think about my life as a book. When one chapter ends, I simply reflect on what I just read, and turn the page. As you grow older and try to adapt to what the universe throws at you, you open and close a new chapter every single day. You wake up as the protagonist to your own live action chronicle and end the day ready to flip the page. Too many people forget this. Instead of closing the chapter with a happy ending, they focus on making sure the main conflict of the storyline progresses much longer than it needs
to. Too hard to forget, too stubborn to forgive and too naive to realize there is more to life than quarrels and grudges. Instead of realizing life is a linear timeline that is constantly changing and moving forward, they grasp at conflicts that should have been long past and long forgotten. Books end with happy endings (unless you’re a “Game of Thrones” fan.) Even when the protagonist is stuck at the bottom of the deepest darkest dungeon, we all subconsciously know that things will end up getting better. We need to look at life like this: we can be in dark and grim times, but the next chapter holds hope. As we turn those pages at the end of the day, things are inevitably looking up and we have another day on this earth to start a new chapter. The advantage you have is that you are the author. You are not at the whim of someone else, but the master of your own fate. Though you may never think it, you have full cognizant control over which path you take next and that puts you in charge. Regardless of how terrible the chapter was that you just closed, remember that you have full control of the words scribbled onto the next page. You can conquer any hoop and hurdle when you divide it into chapters and remember that one day it will inevitably end, and when that day comes, you are the creator of the passages written on the next pages. So, where are you in your book? What chapter are you on? For a lot of us who graduate
in May, that change comes probably a bit too soon. We are so used to being students and college kids that we are absolutely petrified of what might come after. This is change which, like I mentioned earlier, is inevitable in the linear timeline we call life. Are people naturally scared of change? Not necessarily, but I think people are terrified of what follows change rather than the change itself. We’ve all been there, that period after we turn a chapter where we feel out of control more than anything. We don’t know what is to follow, so we are scared of the uncertainty and being seemingly not in control of the next events that are about to happen. If you don’t like your current situation, change it. No author is going to come in and write a chapter for you. You are the author and you are the only one who can put change into your life. I’m also turning a chapter in my life. Not only am I graduating in May but this is also the last column that I’ll write for The Murray State News. To those of which who thumb through the print on a weekly basis, I bid you adieu. By now I’m sure you’re tired of reading about why it’s OK to be weird and how I’m more emotional than the average male, but I appreciate the emails and Facebook messages about my columns. If you take one thing from this column, take from it to be your own author. No one else is going to write your story or turn the page from you; it’s up to you. Today is where your book begins. The rest is still unwritten. So write it.
The News
Opinion
May 1, 2015
Letter to the Editor
I knew it wouldn’t take long after Murray’s vote to become “wet” in 2012 for people to start clamoring for even more expansion of alcohol sales. There have been at least two articles just this spring in The Murray State News (including in last week’s issue) making arguments to expand alcohol sales to Sundays, a day on which alcohol sales are currently prohibited. But what are the facts surrounding this issue? First, so called “Blue Laws” (laws prohibiting certain activities on Sunday) are not at all unique to Murray or even Kentucky. Even “progressive” states like New York, Minnesota and Pennsylvania have restricted alcohol sales on Sundays. Maybe these laws are arcane and should be repealed, but Murray is not some “backward” place for having them. Second, the hype surrounding our alcohol laws and new restaurant growth is way overblown. Historically, when Murray voted to allow alcohol sales in restaurants in 2000, we were told that Red Lobster, O’Charley’s, Chili’s and other chain restaurants would come flooding into town. Then, in the 2012 “wet” vote, it was
implied we were supposed to get new restaurants like Logan’s Roadhouse and Olive Garden. None of those predictions have yet come to fruition. We did get chains like Fazoli’s and Panera Bread, but it’s hard to believe that changing alcohol laws had anything to do with restaurants that don’t even serve alcohol. Despite this, now we are supposed to believe that expanding alcohol sales to Sundays will miraculously bring Buffalo Wild Wings and similar restaurants to Murray. I appreciate the honesty of Murray’s own Chamber of Commerce president in last week’s The Murray State News article when he said he’s not aware of the alcohol policy deterring any restaurant from coming to Murray. Finally, we have to be honest about what expanded alcohol sales means for our community. I am not against responsible drinking, but the facts are that expanded alcohol sales inevitably lead to more abuses of the substance. An analysis I did in 2012 using Kentucky State Police Statistics showed that “wet” counties were significantly more likely to experience alcohol-related crime than “dry” counties, even
5A I Have a Lot of Feelings
after controlling for population and other demographic factors. But don’t just take my word for it. According to an August 2014 Murray Ledger & Times article, Murray DUI charges have risen almost 30 percent since voting “wet.” In the same time period (2011-13) alcohol-related traffic collisions rose almost 27 percent and liquor law violations increased by 800 percent. Those statistics came directly from our local Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) administrator, who still had the audacity to say that “the numbers show no dramatic increase in alcohol-related crime.” If these numbers aren’t significant, then I would be interested in knowing what our local authorities would consider a dramatic increase in alcohol-related crime. For better or worse, Murray is not located right outside Nashville, Tenn., Louisville, Ky., or St. Louis. We will never have the same number or variety of restaurants as those places. This is because of basic geography, population and socioeconomic factors, not because of our alcohol laws. The evidence in Murray has consistently shown that expanding
alcohol sales will raise some tax revenue but in exchange for more abuses of alcohol which can negatively affect my family and yours.
Todd Brocker
Director of the Center for Economic Education
We still want to hear from you.
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.
I’ve Got a Story for You
Valentine: Summertime
It’s summertime. Summer, for most of us, means an end to school for a brief respite. It does not, however, mean an end to learning. It’s not even a break in the road. Whether you’re off to a high-powered internship in New York or a summer of parttime work (for which you have Robert Valentine not yet begun to Senior lecturer look), you’ll be learning things. In of advertising fact, it may be the most important time for learning. What you do and what you learn is entirely up to you. In the summer of 1950, a tall kid named Bill Spivey spent eight hours a day working on his hook shot. “He would shoot 50 hooks with his right hand, and then shoot 50 hooks with the left,” said the old man who was his landlord that summer. “When he started, he couldn’t hit the garage with his left, but by the end of the summer he could hit every time with either hand.” Spivey eventually grew to 7 feet, played on an NCAA finals team and was named Athlete of the Year. For him, it was a good summer.
Cheers and Jeers Cheers and Jeers is written by the Opinion Editor. Questions, comments or concerns should be addressed to aborthwick@murraystate.edu
Comic
I know a guy who, when he left for college, was told by his uncle, “I guess you’ll have to read ‘Moby Dick.’ That’s what they do at college. If you finish it, you’ll be the first one in the family to do it.” During his freshman year no one asked him to read Melville’s long, heavy classic so, in between waiting tables at a state park, he read it on his own. He finished it before the Fourth of July and, in his words, “It changed the way I look at literature.”
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You never know what a new summer can bring, but this much is sure: whatever comes will be filling a space that is wide open and filled with potential. - Robert Valentine
”
When I was between fifth and sixth grade (this was during the Jurassic Era), I apparently whined to my mother that there was nothing to do. She decided I could learn to type. Not “keyboard,” mind you, but “type.” Typing, in those days, was done on heavy black machines that required about 750 pounds of force to depress the “a” key. My favorite key was the space bar, because I rarely screwed up with that one, and it was struck with the thumb – my most agile digit, as it turned out. My friends thought I was a sissy (which had about the same meaning then that it does today) or weird, but typing is the spinach of academia. I’m
Cheers to ... Bob Davies.
pretty sure that the ability to type raised my high school grades by a full letter and added at least one full point to my college GPA. For me, it was a good summer. So, there it is: the summer stretches out before you like an empty blackboard. It waits for you to write on it, draw on it or lean against it. You can read something you’ve never read before or, if you like, watch a different film every day. You can learn to ride a bike, to skate, to surf or (and this is a tough one) to enter and exit a hammock with grace and confidence. This might be the summer you learn to drive a truck, a forklift or a bargain. It might be the year you eat your first asparagus, escargot or crawfish, or take your first overnight hike, cross-country drive or transcontinental flight. Chances are that you will make new friends this summer, and that some of them will be with you for life. You’ll never know until your life has moved along for a decade or so, but you might want to bear in mind the possibility that the kid in the next bunk or the girl who takes over for you on the afternoon shift could end up coming to your wedding or being a godparent to your firstborn. You never know what a new summer can bring, but this much is sure: whatever comes will be filing a space that is wide open and filled with potential. This is when we can make mistakes (which are valuable learning tools) or go beyond the bounds of what we thought we knew or believed we could accomplish. Go for it; we’ll be here when whoever you become returns in August.
Jeers to ... Pollen.
Our fearless leader is overseas spreading the Murray State love to our affiliates in China. Check out his Instagram, @murraystateprez, to see some awesome pictures from his trip. This man’s selfie game knows no bounds.
It’s in our nose, on our cars and invading our eyeballs. Pollen is the enemy, and it is everywhere. Nobody is safe. Hide your kids, hide your wives; it’s making everybody miserable out there. Stock up on allergy medicine before you hide, though.
Jeers to ... Shonda Rhimes.
Cheers to ... May graduates.
(Spoiler) The creator of “Grey’s Anatomy” recently killed off the beloved McDreamy in last Thursday’s episode. Tears were shed and petitions to bring him back to life were started. The world lost a national treasure and Shondaland will never be the same. How will we ever recover?
What about the little people?
You did it! All those years of hard work paid off. In just one week you will don your cap and gown and begin the next chapter of your lives. Whether that be graduate school, your first real job or moving back home for a little while, we wish you good luck!
Allison Borthwick
Opinion Editor
I recently wrote a paper for my mass communications law class about minority ownership of media – or, rather, the lack thereof. Unfortunately, this is one of those things some people, including myself, are blind to unless it’s
pointed out to them. It’s like when you buy a new car and suddenly you can’t stop seeing it when you’re out on the road. Or like when you pick a random position paper topic and suddenly can’t stop seeing the same dialogue on every news channel you turn to on TV. There’s a good, scary reason for this. Five, count them five, companies own approximately 90 percent of all media. To be more specific, Time Warner, Comcast, Disney, News Corp and Viacom control 90 percent of all newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and web content. The main issue, as there are many, of a few big people owning what everyone sees and hears is that the voices and interests of the little people get lost. Local news becomes national news in disguise and the public interest is neglected. Local news becoming national news can definitely be a good thing, don’t get me wrong. People need to know about situations like what happened in Ferguson and, most recently, Baltimore. The voices of those affected and concerned in these areas of the United States need to be heard. But what about the other voices talking about similar, heartbreaking issues? What about the lives lost and the struggles fought in places that didn’t, and likely won’t, garner national or even local attention because they can’t capture the narrowly-tailored focus of five big corporations? According to the website of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), they admit that, “allowing major broadcasters to tie up stations as sidecars made it harder for truly independent would-be broadcasters to compete to buy available stations” but that they “look forward to the continued expansion of minority ownership of broadcast stations and invite the participation of all stakeholders in working toward this goal.” Is “looking forward to it” good enough, though? No. The media need to have strict rules and guidelines in place so more than five corporate voices can be heard. What happens when these national corporations continue to push out news without knowing the whole, local truth? “If a lie gets halfway around the world before the truth gets its pants on, imagine what bloggers in pajamas can do,” said Ruth Marcus, columnist for the Washington Post. Gullible is not the word that I would use to describe people who believe what they see the instant that they see it. I would describe these individuals as overly eager and vastly misinformed. Bottom line: the public interest needs to be served. I agree wholeheartedly with this statement in an article on CivilRights. org that reads, “The struggle for a media that presents the breadth and diversity of the experience of all Americans is one of extremely high stakes.” aborthwick@murraystate.edu
Help in wingdings By Jade Simpson
The News
News
6A
May 1, 2015
2014-15 Retiring professors
Eight of the nine professors retiring from Murray State spoke with The News about their plans after retirement and their favorite memory from teaching at the University.
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FAVORITE MEMORY
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When a student is really successful and they share that with you. Seeing our students be successful and seeing them grow.
When I’ve had former students return and talk about the classes they’ve had and the successes they’ve had. I always enjoy that.
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- Andrew Batts, associate professor of Computer Science
Batts
WHAT’S NEXT?
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I am going to take up piano, become fluent in Spanish and become involved in a local government project. - Ann Beck, associate professor of Political Science
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- Jo Robertson, professor of Early Childhood and Elementary Education
Robertson
WHAT’S NEXT?
“
FAVORITE MEMORY
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“
WHAT’S NEXT?
I plan on doing some fishing and spending more time with my grandkids.
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”
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- George Rice, visiting assistant professor of Computer Science and Informations Systems
Lyle
FAVORITE MEMORY
The many opportunities to teach abroad and introduce Murray students to China, Japan and Germany. I never dreamed I would have the opportunity to live and work in a foreign country and be paid for it!
My favorite memory is when Murray State first began receiving national recognition for academic quality and for the value associated with the Murray State degree.
Payne
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My wife and I plan to play a lot more golf and travel extensively. One of our goals is to visit every National Park. I have an old motorcycle that I would like to restore and a banjo that I want to learn to play. - William Lyle, assistant professor of Computer Science
Beck
- William Payne, professor of Agribusiness Economics
FAVORITE MEMORY
Beahan
“
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- Charlotte Beahan, professor of History
WHAT’S NEXT?
Continue community obligations and activities, travel, learn to do something new.
” SPRING 2015 FINALS SCHEDULE
EXAM DAY MAY 2
EXAM DAY MAY 5
MAY 7
- Linda Thomas, associate professor in the School of Nursing
Rice
SATURDAY EXAM TIME DAY
REGULAR CLASS TIME SATURDAY CLASSES
TUESDAY EXAM TIME 8 A.M. 10:30 A.M. 1:30 P.M. NIGHT
REGULAR CLASS TIME 9:30 A.M. MWF 11:30 A.M. MWF 12:30 P.M. - 1:45 P.M. TTH TUESDAY NIGHT CLASSES
8 A.M. 10:30 A.M. 1:30 P.M. NIGHT
8 A.M. - 9:15 A.M. TTH & 4:30 P.M. MWF
THURSDAY
10:30 A.M. MWF 1:30 P.M. MWF
Thomas
EXAM DAY MAY 4
EXAM DAY MAY 6
MAY 8
MONDAY
EXAM TIME 8 A.M. 10:30 A.M. 1:30 P.M. NIGHT
REGULAR CLASS TIME 8:30 A.M. MWF 11 A.M.- 12:15 P.M. TTH 2:30 P.M. MWF MONDAY NIGHT CLASSES
EXAM TIME 8 A.M. 10:30 A.M. 1:30 P.M. NIGHT
REGULAR CLASS TIME 9:30 A.M. - 10:45 A.M. TTH 12:30 P.M. MWF 2 P.M. - 3:15 P.M. TTH WEDNESDAY NIGHT CLASSES
EXAM TIME 8 A.M. 10:30 A.M.
7:30 A.M. MWF & 3:30 P.M. - 4:45 P.M. TTH
WEDNESDAY
FRIDAY
REGULAR CLASS TIME 3:30 P.M. MWF
THURSDAY NIGHT CLASSES
ATTENTION MSU STUDENTS RETURNING HOME THIS SUMMER!
WELCOME BACK RACERS
“Serving you f or 28 years”
If you are planning to return home to South Central KY for the summer, we would like to invite you to pick up a class or two at SKYCTC that can meet your curriculum requirements at Murray State University. With SKYCTC you’ll benefit from: • Kentucky’s lowest tuition - go with less debt! • Online and evening course options • Easy transfer of credits to MSU • Small class sizes
ENROLL NOW
SUMMER TERM BEGINS MAY 18TH Phone: (855) 246-2482 www.southcentral.kctcs.edu SKYCTC is an equal opportunity institution
kentucky community and technical college system
May 1, 2015
Section B
The News
Sports
Sports Editor: Kelsey Randolph Phone: 809-4481 Twitter: MSUSportsNews
Jenny Rohl/The News
Kory Savage/The News
Jenny Rohl/The News
Red’s Report Haley Hays/The News
Sports plays of the spring See page 2B for more
Golf women excel in leadership Mallory Tucker || Staff writer mtucker11@murraystate.edu
Some leaders are loud, outspoken and enthusiastic. Some leaders are quiet, reserved and logical. All successful leaders must lead by example, which is exactly what juniors Abbi Stamper and Sophie Hillier plan to do when they return in the fall as captains of the 2015-16 women’s golf team. “They are two completely different personalities, which is what you want in a captain,” said Head Coach Velvet Milkman. “You don’t want captains to be the same person. Different personalities gravitate toward different people. So yes, Abbi is the more outgoing one, the more bubbly one. She’s the one beforehand high-fiving and saying, ‘We got this.’ Sophie is the more reserved, but leads by example. You will not find anyone that works any harder than her. And people are very comfortable going and talking to her, as well.” Over the summer, both women will play in various tournaments without the stress of balancing schoolwork. Hillier will return to Sandy, England and Stamper to Frankfort, Ky., where they will both try to improve their scores by two strokes, the goal Milkman assigned to both before beginning fall golf. As an international student, Hillier believes playing collegiate golf will make her a better person going into the real world. In England, collegiate athletics are not commonplace, as university is the only focus for students. This work ethic shows in Hillier’s grades, as she’s always made straight A’s. Her parents visit the U.S. once a semester to watch her play, and she says throughout her three years at Murray State, the homesickness has subsided and the time between visits home flies by more quickly. Stamper, a Kentucky native, attributes her golf career to her father and older sister, Kelli.
WHAT’S
INSIDE
Jenny Rohl/The News
Junior golfer Abbi Stamper expresses that her motivation comes from watching other teams play. Her father and his buddies would play a round every Sunday, and she begged to join them. Her father gave in when she was around age 12, and when she started beating the men from the red tees, Stamper moved back to join them. Her older sister, who played division I basketball, is who inspired her to pursue a collegiate athletics career, and now she could never imagine a life without golf. Just a few weeks out of the 2015 OVC Championship, the girls are locked and loaded, focusing on next year’s championship already.
“They’ve won a championship,” Milkman said. “They want another one before they leave. It’s really exciting to know that they’re hungry for that championship.” Stamper’s motivation came from watching Eastern Kentucky claim the title April 22 in Owens Cross Roads, Ala. “When you watch someone else take the trophy, it really puts an image in your head that you don’t like,” Stamper said. “And it really kind of makes your heart sink pretty far down. So for me, I’m going to go off that feeling that we had of not
winning. I don’t ever want to feel that again. That drives me to get better and to get my teammates in it.” Hillier has no doubt that the Racers will return ready and able to take home the title next year, and others have told her the same. “I feel like we’ll be stronger next year,” Hillier said. “We’ll all get better. I feel like we could definitely win it. And people have said that to me that I was playing with at OVC. They were like, ‘You’re a young team. Next year, you guys are going to be a force to be reckoned with.’ That’s fun, to know people are thinking that.”
Off topic: just do I woke up Wednesday with an email from my father who is traveling in London, England for work. The subject line read “OT: Swim faster.” He wrote to Kelsey Randolph me and various Sports Editor coworkers and friends. It was a forwarded email he received from his executive officer (his second in command) in the Army National Guard that read a similar subject line. His executive officer told him the story of her afternoon swim with a friend; she said she had been slower than normal and her friend looked her square in the face and simply said, “Well, swim faster.” My dad continued to explain in his part of the email that sometimes the simplest answer is the best answer – we don’t need to train harder or do something different, we just simply need to do. Student athletes are faced with the tasks of everyday life just like everyone else; the only difference is they have an added athletic task much like those who have the added task of a job or other responsibilities. Football Coach and Hall of Famer Marv Levy once said, “Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement.” This applies to everyone. I see athletes fall and twist ankles, jam fingers and talk about their sore muscles while they take ice baths to soothe the pain. I see writers have good days and bad days. I have days where I don’t think I’ll finish everything on my long to-do list that exceeds the length of my planner. Sometimes the simple answer isn’t to figure out the best route home or worry about what we could’ve done to prevent injury but to just simply, do. My take away from this is that we should heal ourselves, just drive and put pen to paper and get work done. I think my generation feels like we have to live up to some legacy or prove something to everyone, but I think we are too worried about the future that we don’t get to concerning ourselves with what’s in front of us. Athletes don’t have a choice about the future of the game; they must take hurdles as they approach or make the immediate decision to pass the ball or take the chance to score points. Something else I also woke up to Wednesday morning as I was scrolling through Facebook was a blog by Jessica Joffeldt, a Wilfrid Laurier University student, titled “7 Valuable Life Lessons You Learn From Being A Dancer.” As I have said in previous columns, I danced for more than half my life and I did just about every type of dance you can think of; tap, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, pom, lyrical, pointe and ballet. I never stopped to think many of my personal qualities came from my experiences dancing. In the blog Joffeldt writes a letter to her dance teachers and said, “You have instilled values in me that will stay with me forever and have helped make me who I am today. You taught me the importance of hard work and dedication. You taught me how to be truly and completely dedicated to something.” In the words of our Opinion Editor, “I have a lot of feelings.” Being a dancer taught me a lot and it was more than just being a dancer. It was being an athlete. When on stage I didn’t have time to worry about what was happening when I left the stage, but I had to worry about that eightcount and I had to just do it, without a second guess. I have heard the words “I had to push my limits,” “I just persevered through it,” “I am thankful,” and “If it wasn’t for my teammates,” in more than one interview with athletes. I usually end my columns with a challenge for those who read my column. My challenge to everyone now is to just do. Don’t second guess your choices, don’t worry about what’s coming a year from now or make lists so long you have to tape papers together. Just get to it and do it. krandolph3@murraystate.edu
STUDY ABROAD
HOPE FADES
SOFTBALL SWINGS
FASHION SHOW
Baseball continues to drop in OVC standings, 3B
Racers climb the ladder in search of higher rank, 4B
Local bank branch raises money Professors plan trip to Italy over Winter Break, 6B for Relay for Life, 6B
The News
Sports
2B
May 1, 2015
Top sport shots of the season Jenny Rohl/The News
1.
After senior T.J. Sapp made three free throws, the Racers went into overtime against Southeast Missouri State on Feb. 2. The Racers pulled out a win 94-92 placing them at win 21 and clinching the OVC regular season title.
2.
4.
3.
Kory Savage/The News
Jenny Rohl/The News
5.
The Racer rifle team placed second in the OVC regular season and traveled to Fairbanks, Ala., where they finished seventh in the NCAA Tournament.
Photo Courtesy of Dave Winder
Kory Savage/The News
The Racer tennis team went 9-1 in OVC play this season and for the second year in a row brought home the OVC regular season trophy as well as the OVC Championship title.
Earlier this season, senior Alexa Becker struck her way into the 100-100-100 club which means she has recorded triple digit runs, hits and RBI’s throughout her career. Also, senior CheyAnne Gaskey now holds the first, second and third highest win of singles totals in Murray State’s history.
Men’s golf struggled in the regular conference season to make the mark but brought back a ranked win in the OVC Tournament April 24-26.
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The News
Sports
May 1, 2015
3B
Football opens spring play Mallory Tucker Staff writer mtucker11@murraystate.edu The football team wrapped up spring practice April 24 with a scrimmage and the first “Fastest Friday in Kentucky,” a day filled with activities and competitions for fans including Minute to Win It games, flag football and multiple giveaways. On the field, the team alternated quarterbacks as it ran plays with breaks filled by Greek organizations competing in flag football. Redshirt sophomore quarterback KD Humphries calls the completion of the spring season bittersweet. “Finishing up spring ball, you know, it’s a bittersweet moment,” Humphries said. “Knowing that Saturday was the last day we get to put the pads on and compete against each other for a long time. Going through the whole summer and not having to put on pads again or be on the field with our brothers until the end of July, early August.” First-year Head Coach Mitch Stewart commentated both the
scrimmage and the flag football game, adding color and excitement to the event as fans looked on from the bleacher seats. Alpha Gamma Delta and Pi Kappa Alpha took home trophies for racking up the most points during the day’s events. Despite the fun surrounding them, the team remained focused on showcasing improvements they’ve made during spring practice. “The best part about spring practice has been how physical both sides of the ball have been playing,” Humphries said. “Our defense has really stepped it up a notch, being such a physical defense, which has also made us offensive players become more physical.” Under Stewart’s guidance, the team is looking forward to returning in the fall with set goals in mind. “Goals for this year, this fall, is to come out every game ready to play,” Humphries said. “Just go out and have fun, and everything else should take care of itself. Just be mentally ready and all the physical parts should fall in place.”
Kalli Bubb/The News
Senior kicker Carson Greifenkamp demonstrates kicking during their spring game April 24.
Baseball’s OVC hopes fading Broken records Blake Bernier || Staff writer dbernier@murraystate.edu
Following a nine-game road stretch and 10 consecutive losses, the Racers faced the defending OVC champions and No. 1 team in the OVC, Southeast Missouri State on April 24-26. SEMO (29-15, 19-5) came into the game Friday ranked seventh in the nation in runs scored per game and the Redhawks feasted on the pitching of Murray State (14-32, 9-12). There were 37 runs scored in the three games by SEMO and only one pitcher had success against the Redhawks. With the season on the line the Racers will play Belmont this weekend and have the task of figuring things out before it’s too late. The Racers are 1.5 games out of the final spot to qualify for the OVC Tournament with nine OVC games left to play. “We need to find ourselves in a hurry,” said Head Coach Kevin Moulder. “This is like drawing a line in the sand right here and this is it for us. The playoffs start this weekend and if we don’t win this series, for all intents and purposes we’re out of it.” In the first inning of the game on Friday there was every indication that the game would be high scoring. The Redhawks scored two runs and the Racers followed up with one of their own in the first inning, but after that point the game turned into a pitcher’s duel. Racer starting pitcher Brad Boegel held SEMO hitless through the next six innings before allowing a run to score in the top of the eighth. His opposition, Joey Luchessi, dominated through eight innings of work allowing just one run and striking out a career-high 13 batters. Heading into the bottom of the ninth the Racers trailed 3-1, as SEMO sent out their freshman closer, Matthew Wade, to record the final three outs.
With one out, pinch hitter Clay Kelly drew a walk and Derek Yoder followed up with a hit-by-pitch. Yoder set a new school record for times hit by a pitch in a season with 17 now and there are still 10 games remaining. “He doesn’t bruise easy,” Moulder said. “He’s a tough kid and right now with Brock out he’s done a great job of leading the team and he’s kind of the tone setter for us.” After the free pass to Yoder, freshman infielder Kipp Moore had the opportunity to be the hero. Instead of a homerun, Moore delivered with a run scoring fielders choice hit and senior infielder, Matt McGowan singled in Moore to tie the game, 3-3. Boegel continued to pitch into the 10th inning and after giving up a run Moulder decided to pull him from the game with the Racers trailing 4-3. The relief pitcher, junior Andrew Bramley, surrendered five runs in just two thirds of an inning. By the time it was all over SEMO was up 10-3 after scoring seven runs in the extra frame. “Bramley had thrown the ball really well in back-to-back outings,” Moulder said. “And for whatever reason he just didn’t have it that night.” In game two, senior pitcher Brock Downey failed to make it out of the first inning because SEMO scored 10 runs before the third out was recorded. The Racers made a comeback attempt but ultimately fell short 17-12. “He can’t hurt himself further,” Moulder said. “So it’s not like he’s putting his career in jeopardy but he’s not healthy and it obviously showed.” Downey only lasted a third of an inning and gave up six runs on five hits. This was the shortest outing of Downey’s career. “Brock has the mentality and the heart, and he’s a warrior,” Moulder said. “He wants the ball and wants to be out
Men’s golf take eighth place in OVC
music to track ears John Morris || Staff writer jmorris36@murraystate.edu
Jenny Rohl/The News
Junior Pokey Harris stands up to bat against Southeast Missouri State April 25. there. He clearly wasn’t right, and that’s my fault for putting him out there.” Injuries and fatigue have hurt the pitching staff for the Racers throughout the season. A semi-healthy Downey wanted to have the ball and get back to the mound. “At this point we are borderline desperate for pitching so we let him go out there and he was probably at about 60 percent,” Moulder said. The Racers lost game three 10-2 and used four pitchers including junior first basemen and designated hitter, Dalton West. “Dalton is a great teammate and he will do whatever it takes to help the team,” Moulder said. “There’s been a few times during the year that we’ve been down on our arms and we’ve needed him just to get through the weekend and
he’s done a pretty good job.” On Tuesday the Racers played UT Martin in a non-conference game and lost 14-3. The lone bright spot on the day was a three-run homerun by sophomore infielder Clay Kelly in the eighth inning. “I worked a full count and fouled some pitches off,” Kelly said. “I was lucky enough to catch a hanging split-finger pitch that I hit over left center.” Now the Racers will attempt to keep their tournament hopes alive at 5 p.m. Friday in Nashville, Tenn. against the Belmont Bruins. This will be the Racers 34th road game of the season. “It’s been a challenge and it kind of grinds on you but there’s no excuses,” Moulder said. “We just haven’t been able to get the job done.”
Mallory Tucker || Staff writer mtucker11@murraystate.edu
Led by All-OVC senior golfer Jordan Smith, the Racers jumped from seventh place to claim a share of second from 14 shots back. Despite six of the last seven holes being the most difficult, Smith and junior Brock Simmons carded scores of 71 during the last round, tying for the third day in a row and sharing the eighth place spot overall. Smith attributes the Racers’ swift improvement to the team as a whole and their ability to support each other’s higher rounds. “We had been having where everybody would just have one bad round all at the same time,” Smith said. “We kind of picked up whoever was playing bad that round. We didn’t have two people play really bad at the same time, which helped out.” The last day didn’t provide a perfect
Racer track and field are putting their best feet forward in the OVC Tournament after another weekend with multiple broken records at Arkansas State. According to GoRacers.com, the Racers’ finished the meet with three first place finishes, a broken school record, five student-athletes being named to the All Time Bests Outdoor list at Murray State and 22 personal records. With one meet left before conference this is a great sign for the Racers’ confidence said Head Coach Jenny Severns. “Arkansas was a great meet not only for me but for a lot of my fellow teammates; it was a little windy but we all dealt with it,” said senior thrower, Tonia Pratt. Big time performances come from Pratt and senior jumper Ashley Conway. Other records are as follows: • Pratt set a new school record in the discus with her 49.27-meter throw. She also tied her personal record and the school record, which she set in 2012. • Conway finished first in the long jump with her distance of 6.13 meters. The jump was her personal record and also ranks third in Murray State’s history and also cleared 1.55m in the high jump. • Freshman Taylor Horton set a personal record in the high jump, after setting a personal record last weekend in the event. She cleared 1.50 meters. • Three Racers set personal records in the 100-meter hurdles, including freshman Taylor McCammon who also now ranks No. 10 on the Murray State
start, however, as Smith struggled at first. “I couldn’t get anything going,” Smith said. After a bad drive into the bunker before chipping it in to hole six, Smith found his stride and birdied the next three holes. “For those four holes, it was pretty fun,” Smith said. Smith was unaware of the team’s standing until hole 13 when he saw Head Coach Eddie Hunt. Hunt, who calls Smith the hardest worker he’s ever coached, told Smith how well the team had done on the front nine. Carding the best team score of the day at four-under-par, Smith isn’t disappointed in the team’s finish during his last event with Murray State. “The way we played that last round, we couldn’t have played much better,” Smith said. “I couldn’t be more proud of that round.” As the lone senior, Smith leads the Rac-
All-Time list. She finished the event in 14.75 seconds. • Senior Sydney Potts started off the day with a first place finish in the javelin. She set a personal record when she threw 42.22 meters, which stands as the third best distance in Murray State’s history. • Senior Brittany Bohn placed first in the 1500-meter invite with a personal record time of 4 minutes, 32.26 seconds. She was joined by Vallery Korir who set a personal record that ranks ninth best in Murray State with a time of 4:41.28. The Racers have one meet left in Lexington, Ky., at the Kentucky Relays before they go into the OVC Outdoor Championship Tournament May 15-16 at Austin Peay State. “That’s as close to home as we get without being home,” Severns said. Severns said she believes the team is in a better place this year heading into conference. “What motivates me for OVC is myself,” said Pratt. “I want to go into the meet and do best because this is my last OVC meet and I want to leave with a bang and also try to get on the podium for all three events which didn’t happen in indoor so that would be my new goal.” Severns is also confident because there are multiple people with chances to win in their respective events, she said. “I think that’s good; I don’t know we ever could say that it was realistic to have as many event champions, maybe not since a couple years,” Severns said. The Racers travel to the University of Kentucky on Saturday for their final meet. “It’s just one more meet to get all the kinks out before conference,” Pratt said.
ers on and off the field, but he admits it hasn’t always been easy. “I struggled with that, because I’m not really a natural leader,” Smith said. “Mostly I try to lead by example. We had some team meetings, and I just basically told them how much it mattered to me.” Playing since around age three, golf is now going by the wayside for Smith, who has accepted a job in the telecommunications field after graduation in May. Smith’s main priority, however, is his upcoming wedding in October. As his collegiate career comes to an end and he moves on to new ventures, Smith hopes to leave a legacy of hard work and constant improvement throughout his four years, a legacy that is backed by Hunt’s opinion of him. “Everyday I’ve woken up just trying to get better at golf,” Smith said. “That’s just the attitude I’ve had since I was probably 12 years old.”
The News
Sports
4B
May 1, 2015
Softball is half game behind No. 2 spot John Morris || Staff writer jmorris36@murraystate.edu
The Racers ended the weekend with a sweep against the Austin Peay State Lady Gov’s and continue in their home play OVC record. Murray State had its Senior Day game on Sunday and won 5-2, which put them at 12-0 at home in OVC play. “Senior Day went really well,” said senior outfielder Mallory Richardson. “We went out there relaxed and ready to play.” Richardson had one of the biggest plays of the series beating Austin Peay in game two with a walk-off home run. “It was an exciting moment
Team name
Sorority
for me to help the team,” she said. “When preparing for my at bat, I just told myself to keep it simple and have fun. I just focused on the ball and waited for something I could hit to score the winning runner.” It was big for Richardson and she continued to attribute it to the bond of the team. “The most satisfaction I got out of my hit was first that we won the game,” Richardson said. “And second was the joy and happiness that the team had for me. Running to that home plate with the whole team there cheering me on was icing to the cake. We are a family and I believe in every single one of them just as they
Record
1. Tri Sigma 2. AOII Pandas
5-0 4-1
Residential College 1. White Sharks Girls A 2. Lizo A
“
5-0 4-1
-Mallory Richardson, senior outfielder
tributes the team’s success to their trust in each other and the fact that they grow together as a team in both their wins and losses. For the Racers, game three was fast, but they were on the scoreboard first. Senior Alexa Becker scored
Team name
Fraternity
Record
1. Lambda Chi Alpha 2. Pi Kappa Alpha 3. Alpha Sigma Phi
3-1 2-1 3-1
1. Hart A 2. White Sharks 3. Lizo A
6-1 5-2 5-2
1. SSO 2. AL AIN FC
7-0 6-1
Independent A 6-0 5-1
first in the third inning from a single from junior Shelbey Miller. In the fourth inning the Rac-
When preparing for my at bat, I just told myself to keep it simple and have fun.
Residential College
Independent A 1. Ballz Deep 2. A-TEAM
believe in me.” Richardson said she thinks this is the most talented team she has been a part of. She at-
”
ers added on three more runs by sophomores Cayla Levins and Taylor Odom and also a steal by Becker at home plate. Austin Peay scored two runs in the sixth inning which were the last scores, and the Racers took the win with their last score by Miller in the fifth in-
ning. Senior pitcher CheyAnne Gaskey, made her 17th win which gives her the program’s first, second and third highest single season win totals in Murray State’s history. The Racers are a half game behind Jacksonville State and must win and hope that Jacksonville State takes a loss in order for the Racers to claim second in the OVC standings. Tuesday the Racers played at home against the University of Memphis Tigers and split the series 1-1. The Racers fell 5-0 in game one and came away with only three hits. The Racers struggled to get runners home, going 0-for-10
with runners on. The Tigers had 11 hits which is just the sixth time this season that an opponent has hit double digits on the Racers. Game two was a change in play for the Racers. They got nine runs from nine hits and ended the game in just five innings leaving with a split score for the series 1-1. The Racers travel to UT Martin for a three-game series to end the season in OVC regular season play. “I feel ready for the upcoming games ahead,” Richardson said. “I know as a team we are ready to take on UT Martin and also ready for the conference tournament as it approaches.”
Intramural Soccer
ADPi takes over Sigma Alpha in quarter finals
Independent B Results are as of Tuesday. Standings courtesy of IMLeagues.
1. Bani Yas 2. Man Chest Hair United
7-0 7-0
Results are as of Tuesday. Standings courtesy of IMLeagues.
Photos by Nicole Ely/The News
CLOSE GAME: (Above, left) Senior Mallory Tucker from St. Louis runs the ball downfield from a Sigma Alpha player. (Above, right) ADPi player Taylor Polivick, freshman from Robards, Ky., steals the ball from a Sigma Alpha player Tuesday night at the intramural quarterfinals.
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Student opens Etsy stop, sells handmade apparel Brianna Willis || Contributing writer bwillis2@murraystate.edu
Extracurriculars, classes and work all keep Murray State students busy throughout the year. But, how many students have the added responsibility of managing an online store? Murray State student Abby Murdock does all of this and more. Murdock, junior from Murray, is an art major at Murray State. She owns an Etsy stop called Flux and Fibers. According to Etsy’s website, “Etsy is a marketplace where people around the world connect, both online and offline, to make, sell and buy unique goods.” Murdock fits right into this description. “I sell hand-knit items including headbands or turbans, hats, scarves and hand warmers,” she said. In the fifth grade, Murdock learned to knit. She joined a 4-H knitting club and went to a retirement home once a week for an hour to learn the skill. Murdock opened her Etsy store in December 2014 because she really enjoys knitting and had some extra time to spare. She also thought it would be a good way to make money on the side, she said. Murdock said she chose Murray State because of its proximity to her home. “I enjoyed the campus and wanted to hang around my family for a little while longer,” she said. When it comes to inspiration for opening her own store, Murdock said her family and friends are biggest supporters. “My friends and family are constantly asking me to knit stuff for them and were very encouraging and helpful when I decided to open the shop,” she said. She said when it came to actually opening a store, other Etsy store owners have been very helpful. “I am often inspired by other Etsy business owners,” Murdock said. “Many of them blog about their businesses and are very helpful
to those wanting to start their own.” Many people have a hard time balancing work and school alone; however, Murdock finds that her hobby is more of a benefit than a burden. Knitting is not only a way to make money, but it is also a stress reliever. She acknowledges that being an art major and participating in her sorority can be hectic, but she enjoys it. “It helps,” she said. “Knitting is a stress-reliever for me and I can relax and watch a little Netflix while I’m making money.” Her busiest times are the fall and winter, but she does want to expand her item listing for the summer. Etsy makes opening a shop simple. Etsy. com has a page of advice and frequently asked questions for those who are interested in opening their own store. Murdock’s store can be found on Etsy. com.
A note from Etsy shop owners: “Believe in yourself, have an original product that you love making and continue pushing the boundaries,” said Etsy shop owner annajoyce. “We traded with other Etsy sellers to form relationships and gain mentors,” said Etsy shop owner littlesaplingtoys. “Having your own business is amazing. You get to see it grow and change because of what you put into it,” said Etsy shop owner SkyDreams.
Kalli Bubb/The News
Abby Murdock, junior from Murray, opened her own shop on Etsy selling her handmade knitted apparel.
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The week ahead... SATURDAY
FRIDAY
If you would like an event to appear on the calendar here or on TheNews.org, email the Features Editor, Breanna Sill, at bsill@murraystate.edu. Please submit events by noon Wednesday for consideration.
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4 p.m. Top Gun Car Show, Roy Stewart Stadium
8 a.m. Junior Roller Derby Bout, Kingsway Skateland, Paducah, Ky.
All day Finals begin
1 p.m. Doc McStuffins Playshop, Market House Theatre, Paducah, Ky.
8 a.m. Connected Warrior Yoga, Carr Health Building, dance studio
7:30 a.m. MWC Garden Department Floral and Iris Color Show, Plant Sale and Luncheon, Murray Women’s Club Clubhouse
1 7 p.m. Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus: Built to Amaze, CFSB Center
SUNDAY
May 1, 2015
Students to benefit from Winter Break Study Abroad trip Sept. 11 application deadline set for Study Abroad trip to Italy over Winter Break Connor Jaschen Staff writer
cjaschen@murraystate.edu
Jenny Rohl/The News
A young model participates in Community Financial Services Bank’s fashion show to raise money for Relay for Life on Saturday.
Runway for a Reason supports cause Local bank branch holds fashion show to raise money for Relay for Life Jessica Bostick || Contributing writer jbostick2@murraystate.edu
Community Financial Services Bank Murray branch held a fashion show Saturday in the Curris Center Theater to raise money for Relay for Life and the American Heart Association. “We’re hoping to make this an annual event and to grow it by getting campus organizations and more vendors involved,” said Jenny Jackson, coordinator of the event called Runway for a Reason. The vendors who participated included local boutiques Emmy K’s, Jade Lee Boutique, Peachy Keen, Sass N Class, Shane Lee, Southern Soul, Tattle Tales, Rodan & Fields and many others. CFSB works with Relay for Life every year but hopes this event will take their involvement up to the next level. “We have a huge team put together every year and all come together and have a great time,” said Jordan Carr, senior from Murray, and model for the show. The event not only promotes awareness for Relay for Life and the American Heart Association, but it also gives local businesses an opportunity to expand their
market. Upon buying a ticket for $3 with a Murray State ID or $5 without, attendees’ names were entered into a raffle for various prizes from many of the boutiques. Models from each boutique showed style options ranging from newborn to women’s clothing. The first 15 models showcased looks from the vendors they represented. After the first 15 models walked, there was a brief intermission during which the audience could get refreshments of popcorn and water or browse the booths set up by exhibitors in the lobby. The vendors had racks of clothes and samples of their products. The looks consisted of bright summer clothes, with the models displaying styles from maxi dresses to ruffle pants. The remaining models walked after intermission and showcased the last 15 looks. At the end of the fashion show, the raffle prizes were given away. Prizes were free clothes, jewelry and samples from the participants. “It was a great experience,” Carr said. “I went planning on helping since I work at
CFSB and once I got there was asked to model since they were one model short. I was very hesitant as I am not the modeling type, but I did it since it is all for a great cause. I ended up having an amazing time.” The amount of money raised had not been figured as of Wednesday. All proceeds went to the American Heart Association, which promotes cardiac health care in an effort to reduce disabilities and death brought on by cardiovascular disease, and Relay for Life, which raises money for the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life honors cancer survivors, those currently battling cancer and their families. The upcoming Relay for Life has a survivors lap around the track and the Luminaria Ceremony which honors those who died of cancer. According to Relay for Life’s website, there are currently 27 teams with 228 participants signed up for the Calloway County Relay for Life. The teams have raised $20,040 so far. This year’s Relay for Life will take place from noon – 10 p.m. Saturday at Roy Stewart Stadium.
Murray State students are being offered the chance to earn credit in Humanities 211 or Music 205 in a study abroad program in Italy next Winter Break. Offered up in hopes of bolstering the learning potential for what would otherwise be low-level courses, Bernard Lewis, adjunct professor of English and Tana Field, assistant professor of Music from Iowa, want to take students all the way to Italy for their winter program. This program won’t be like other programs offered. This program can count as credit toward a variety of courses. Aside from HUM 211 and MUS 205, whose syllabi will be uniform for every student enrolled in the classes, flexible content will be arranged for other course credit, including HUM 205, ENG 330 and 431. The class syllabi for these courses will be tailored to suit the specific needs of each student’s chosen elective. This is done for students who otherwise would not find a need within their curriculum for this program to adapt their own schedule for this excursion into experiential learning. Students will travel to Rome, Venice and Florence, all in the span of two weeks (exact dates to be determined), with day trips to the cities of Lucca, Siena and Ostia Antica. Considering Field’s flu-
ency in Italian and past immersion into Italian culture, students are told the language barrier will be minimal. Starting in October, students will enter into a class focusing on Italian literature and speech. During Winter Break, the classes will begin in Italy and focus on Italian culture. This initial research phase in the classroom is meant for students to hit the ground running, as far as the learning experience goes. “Traveling to Italy is a different connection than just reading literature,” Lewis said. “Just go with an open mind.” The trip is currently set at $3,999 per full-time, on-campus student. This price includes lodging, breakfast, airfare, two dinners and any events the program may go to, though the itinerary still is open for change. Students are encouraged not to feel burdened by the money required. Reportedly, 85 percent of last year’s students who applied, received scholarship money of some sort and with two scholarship workshops in between now and application deadline, students have plenty of opportunities to seek aid. These workshops will be on Sept. 1-2 from 3-4:30 p.m. Sept. 11 is the deadline for scholarships and applications. As for the overlap between classes, many professors say it is a blessing for the students involved. “It enhances the appreciation of learning,” said Melanie McCallen Sibe, director of Education Abroad. “Everybody benefits when you have the intersection of learning.” Those involved are already bubbling with excitement. “It is the ultimate experiential learning,” Lewis said. “It’s the way I’ve always wanted to teach.”
Out this Week
Read It
“The Wright Brothers,” by David McCullough
See It
“The Avengers: Age of Ultron”
Hear It
“Wilder Mind” by Mumford & Sons
Rent It “Selma”
Play It
“Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 Record Breaker”
Features
The News May 1, 2015
Pop Culture Corner
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FEATURED TWEETS
Shut up and eat
The obesity ‘epidemic’
KYLIE JENNER CHALLENGE
Teala Dunn @TTLYTEALA Why is everyone doing the Kylie Jenner lip challenge?! I get big lips are nice but people are seriously getting lip injuries 4:42 pm 22 Apr 2015 Chatejah @iamtherealtaj When you don’t need to do the Kylie Jenner Challenge, bc your lips are naturally big 9:35 pm 26 Apr 2015
Joe Santagato @JoeSantagato Thank god we have things like the #KylieJennerChallenge to seperate the idiots from the rest of us.. 2:58 pm 22 Apr 2015 Nicole Polizzi @snooki OMG seeing all the #kyliejennerchallenge and my lips are hurting!!! Don’t do it kids! Stick with the lip liner 9:41 pm 23 Apr 2015
‘The Age of Adaline’ is impressive, magical John Gruccio || Contributing writer jgruccio@murraystate.edu
SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ FOR BRUCE JENNER After an interview with Diane Sawyer, a social media movement erupted in support for Bruce Jenner’s decision to come out as transgender. The basis of the movement? Men painting their nails. In the recent interview, Jenner explained that one of his biggest desires is to “be able to have my nail polish on long enough that it actually chips off.” Now, backed by the hashtag of #PaintYourNailsForBruce,” hundreds of men painted up and took pictures to show solidarity for the Olympic gold medalist.
Soundbyte “I’m not here to encourage people/ young girls to look like me or to think this is the way they should look.” -Kylie Jenner on the Kylie Jenner lip challenge on Twitter
I could have reviewed something amazing like Avengers: Age of Ultron, however, this film is most certainly nothing to scoff at. When I walked into the theaters for The Age of Adaline, I had no idea how much of a real leading lady Blake Lively truly could be. Wowing almost an entire crowd, Lively definitely makes a game changer with this romantic drama. After a mysterious accident, Adaline Bowman, played by Blake Lively, was given the gift of immortality. What most would take as a magical and beautiful gift, slowly turned into an unfathomable and relentless curse. While remaining at the age of 29 for almost eight decades, Adaline has watched almost all of her loved ones die, with the exception of her loving daughter. With this price of endless beauty, Adaline has become bitter in her existence and view of the world, until she meets Ellis Jones, a charismatic philanthropist who singlehandedly reignites her love for life and romance. Soon, the two become very close; however, when her secret is close to being discovered, Adaline must make a decision that will change her life forever. Blake Lively is not only gorgeous in this film, but plays her role perfectly , as the title character. Through her impressive acting in this film, we are given a real treat. After starring in TV’s “Gossip Girl” and films, “The Town” and “Green Lantern,” she has finally let it be known that she is indeed a talented actress and this is her roaring performance. The film has a supporting cast led by a dashing newcomer Michael Huisman and being rounded out by veteran ac-
Photo courtesy of showtimes.com
Ellen Burstyn (left) and Blake Lively (right) star in “The Age of Adaline,” which was released to theaters on April 24. tors, the always fantastic Ellen Burstyn and Harrison Ford. Huisman fills the shoes very well of the newest model in the long line of potential leading males. I am honestly speechless when it comes to Burstyn’s work. She has redefined herself as an actress. This is not a film I would have expected to see Harrison Ford pop up in. However, just like Burstyn, he gives a special and unlikely performance. He shows us all his ability to not only play alpha male roles, like Indiana Jones or Han Solo, but stretch his acting range to accommodate for more sensitive roles. One thing that surprised me about this film was how Adaline goes through the different eras of the 20th century. Throughout the film and the unmerciful
bouts of loss we see Adaline go through, this film is a flawed fairytale, and that is what makes it unique. We have never seen the real story of a princess who got what she wanted but it came with a costly price. This director did an awesome job picking his cast, but with the heavy hitters he picked, he has some issues bringing their characters and the plot together. I definitely recommend that you go see “The Age of Adaline.” It would make for a great date movie or even just a film to see with friends. Either way you won’t be disappointed.
Since the 1980s, Americans have been fighting the obesity “epidemic” and attempting to combat its fatal effects. Madison Wepfer Why are metabolic Assistant disorders Features Editor rising exponentially? Why did Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes, and now it’s found in children as young as 8 years old? These are questions that I have yet to find the answer to, even after watching the recently popular documentary “Fed Up.” After two hours of watching, I was disgusted at America and the food products that we produce and feed to our children. In all of my columns so far, I have praised eating, eating and more eating. I neglected to realize that sometimes eating is not as great as people, including me, make it out to be. The documentary claims that America is dead wrong when it comes to dieting and losing weight. We’ve been told, “The answer to successful weight loss and a healthy lifestyle is eat less, exercise more.” According to the film, that’s a lie. Americans are constantly bombarded with soft drink ads, pictures of sexy women eating burgers and happy families eating a five-gallon tub of fried chicken with sides, of course (thank you, KFC). These are the reasons people have such a hard time losing weight, staying healthy and raising their children in a junk-food-free environment. It’s impossible. The film suggested that the only way to go is to buy non-processed food, and cook every meal. Learn to cook and make it a habit. Although it’s nearly impossible to avoid the ads, the deals and the grease, according to the film, you will be healthier, more energized and lose weight if you do. mwepfer@murraystate.edu
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on the lip-plumping challenge she inspired, on Twitter
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