The Murray State News

The Murray State News December 4, 2015

TheNews.org

Vol. 90, No. 14

Preferred names on IDs pursued Strategic plan progressing on track for 2022 target

The seven-year plan will fall on Murray State’s 100th anniversary and was approved by the Board of Regents in June.

Alicia Steele || Staff writer

Photo illustration by Jenny Rohl/The News

Abby Siegel

Contributing writer asiegel@murraystate.edu

The LGBT Programming Advisory Committee for the President’s Commission on Diversity and Inclusion has created a continued recommendation to allow preferred first names to be used on RacerCard IDs. The change would be a continuation of the current preferred first name policy that allows those affiliated with Murray State to “choose a preferred first name to appear on Canvas, course rosters viewable by faculty and on the people finder directory,” according to the Murray State website

regarding LGBT Programming.

The preferred first name is not listed on legal documents such as paychecks and transcripts.

The change can be made to the IDs because a RacerCard is not a legal form of identification. For example, it cannot be used as voter identification.

Students, faculty and staff would be impacted by this change, allowing individuals to choose the name on their RacerCard. This would benefit any student that goes by a name different than their legal name, including but not limited to transgender or gender non-conforming students and international students.

“When an individual is tran-

asteele5@murraystate.edu

sitioning, anything in their daily life could ‘out’ them to their coworkers, students or professors,” said Katie Coats, student member of the President’s Commission on Diversity and Inclusion from St. Louis.

She said if an individual goes by the name “Sally,” for example, but their RacerCard says their birth name, “Steve” they would automatically not be considered a woman. She said she believes it could greatly help anyone that is transitioning.

“It is a safety issue; it is a convenience that would deter any discrimination,” said Jo Bennett, student member of the President’s Commission on Diversity

and Inclusion from Murray.

Bennett is also the president of Alliance, a student organization for LGBT students and allies.

Other universities, such as the University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, Purdue, Bridgewater and Georgetown, have a preferred first name policy that includes identification cards.

“It would deter any questions, confusion and/or discrimination regarding a student’s identity when they present their RacerCard ID for entry into the Wellness Center, purchasing something from the T-Room or coffee shop on campus or at any

see ID, 2A

Research clinic holds grand opening Mikayla Marshall Staff writer

mmarshall5@murraystate.edu

The College of Education and Human Services celebrated the grand opening of the Voice and Swallowing Research Clinic. On Dec. 3, the staff and faculty showcased their hard work with a presentation and tour of the new clinic.

The clinic will include a range of modern technology and supervisors that will help in improving the skills of students, so they will have a competitive edge in the job market and be able to provide the highest quality care to their clients.

Of students in the communication disorders major, 90 percent secure a job in at least one year after graduation.

However, the faculty attests that many of their students are focused on the mission behind the job. They don’t go into this field for the job, but for the passion

of helping people.

“The clinical setting will better prepare students for their dreams in helping others find their voice,” said Kelly Kleinhans, associate professor in the College of Education and Human Services.

“It’s not about getting the job, it’s not about being employed, it’s about the passion that you bring,” said President Bob Davies at the grand opening. “That passion will help you better assist others.”

Davies said he is thrilled to witness the clinic not only serve the university, but the community as well.

On a weekly basis, more than 122 individuals from neighboring counties visit the Speech and Hearing Clinic within the college.

The faculty and staff are excited to see the same popularity with the Voice and Swallowing Clinic.

Graduate students will develop research agendas that will focus on improving cli-

ent outcomes.

The Voice and Swallowing Clinic will offer services to evaluate and treat voice and swallowing issues, which can be caused by strokes, brain injury and head or neck cancers.

Through swallowing services, the clinic will be partnering with the School of Nursing and Health Professions and allied health professions to offer an interdisciplinary clinical practice for the graduate students in both departments. Although, it’s the only clinic associated with Murray State without a medical institute.

The Murray State Speech and Hearing Clinic is open everyday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and have begun offering after hours services in the clinic as well. These services are offered free of charge. The clinic offers services such as hearing, central auditory and speech and language evaluations.

“We know that in order to communicate we have to ex-

press our thoughts, we have to be able to express our feelings through a complex set of movements that involve both the brain, nerves, and many other tissues,” said David Whaley, dean of the College of Education and H u m a n Services.

A t the grand o p e n ing, facWhaley ulty and staff also thanked the women faculty members and support from partners like Keith Travis, vice president of development at Murray-Calloway County Hospital.

In the United States, more than eight million individuals have trouble using their voice.

“This clinic will have a direct affect on reducing those numbers,” Whaley said.

Over the last six months the administration and a group of facilitators have been working diligently to progress the goals of the seven-year Strategic Initiatives Plan that was approved by the Board of Regents last June.

ADMINISTRATION

Renee Fister, Senior Presidential Advisor for Strategic Initiatives, said this plan is set to be accomplished by the year 2022, which marks Murray State’s 100th anniversary.

Fister, along with Tim Todd, Interim Provost, and Bob Jackson, President of the MSU Foundation, have been working with a group of faculty and staff facilitators to create an open project that is welcoming to anyone who wishes to participate.

“It’s very much focused on shared governance,” Todd said. “Shared governance at this institution is very much alive and well and this process is focused on shared governance.”

THE PLAN

The plan consists of four strategic initiatives, each with multiple subdivisions within them. The four main strategic initiatives are: • Academic Excellence • Student Success • Scholarship, Research and Creative Thought • Community Engagement Each initiative contains a committee of facilitators, each in charge of their own objective.

These facilitators are responsible for reporting the progress of their objectives to Fister, Todd or Jackson who will then present it to the Board of Regents.

Fister said of the 64 objectives, fourteen have significant progress to be reported to the Board of Regents in

February.

Examples of the 64 objectives include increasing the overall enrollment of students in the Honors College, a compensation study for faculty and staff, partnering with international universities, an economic study to show the impact Murray State has on western Kentucky, beginning a joint admission agreement with community colleges in the area to make the transition for transfer students easier, the tuition and scholarship model and improving the freshman admission standards.

Todd said right now they are working on things that can be checked o f f quickly, such as the economic impact.

However, some of the objectives will take Todd all seven years, such as an improved graduation rate.

“You can’t change that one overnight,” Todd said.

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

“We put out an open call for participation,” Todd said.

Clinton Combs, Student Government Association president, said Fister spoke to SGA mainly about helping with recruitment from “the golden triangle,” and asked that students go home and recruit students from the region they are from.

“We’re helping out as best as we can, and of course we support the president and his strategic initiatives,” said Combs. “We’re working alongside of them in any way that they see fit and that we can provide assistance to.”

Combs said he is involved in an objective that involves

see PLAN, 2A

Cam Payne’s high school jersey to be retired Bailey Bohannan Staff writer

bbohannan@murraystate.edu

Cameron Payne’s high school basketball jersey and number will be retired on Monday, Dec. 7 at his high school, Lausanne Collegiate School.

With a pre-ceremony starting at 5:30 p.m., just before the varsity girls’ basketball game, Payne will be able to reminisce with high school teammates and Lausanne alumni, cherish the ceremony with his family, and spend time with his Oklahoma City Thunder teammates as Lausanne prepares to retire his high school

WHAT’S

INSIDE

No. 3. The official retirement will take place with a short ceremony between the varsity girls’ basketball game and varsity boys’ basketball game.

For a school that has only ever retired one other jersey before and has been more recently acknowledged for the new football program, Kevin Locastro, Athletic Director at Lausanne, said retiring No. 3 for Payne re-establishes the foundation of the athletic program at the high school.

“I think right now there is a lot of excitement built around the fact that we are playing football, but really, I think, the general foundation of the athletic department was built

around our basketball program,” Locastro said.

The only other basketball jersey to be retired is Marc Gasol, the current center for the Memphis Grizzlies, in 2008. With Payne’s soon-to-be retired jersey, No. 3 and No. 33 are the only two numbers to ever be retired in school history. Retiring the numbers is the school’s way of acknowledging the excitement and support the high school has for these two NBA athletes.

“Well, obviously we are a small school, with Pre-K through 12th and only 900 students on campus, but we only

see JERSEY, 2A

WHAT’S ON THENEWS.ORG VIDEO

Dining Services scored a top three percent ranking in the nation. Check out our video about it on TheNews.org.

BASKETBALL File photo

Former Murray State guard Cameron Payne will have his high school jersey retired Dec. 7.

Follow @MSUSportsNews on Twitter and check out our continuing game coverage on TheNews.org.

OPEN HOUSE

OUR VIEW

LOOKING BACK

POP TABS

Town and Gown open house held with the Davies family, 3A

Seasonal religious representation lies with students, 4A

Fall sports end on a high note as semester wraps up, 1B

Fraternity saves pop tabs to pay for child’s chemotherapy, 5B

News

2A

JERSEY From Page 1 have 368 kids in high school, so for a school our size to have two players play in the NBA is pretty exciting,” Locastro said.

The retirement of Payne’s jersey is not the only thing that is bringing the Oklahoma City team into Memphis, Tennessee. Payne’s jersey will be retired Monday night, but the only two basketball players to ever have their jersey’s retired from Lausanne will face off as the Thunder goes to Memphis to play the Memphis Grizzlies Tuesday night.

Away from Memphis, at Murray State, students such as Brandi Kelley, senior from Owensboro, Kentucky knew Payne as a humble and grateful person, said she thought Payne probably never thought this would ever happen. Kelley said Payne is deserving of this high honor of having his jersey retired.

“You only really ever hear of big names having their numbers retired, so it’s definitely an accolade for him,” Kelley said.

ID From Page 1 office that requests to see their RacerCard ID,” Bennett said.

Jody Cofer Randall, LGBT program coordinator, said there is a growing number of people that identify as part of the LGBT spectrum, with the transgender community the least represented.

“Students can be mindful and always anticipate that within every group on this campus that an LGBT person of some sort is present,” she said. “That idea of ‘I am inclusive, but I do not really know any LGBT people.’

Well, let me tell you, I am pretty sure you do.”

Any individual with a RacerCard would have the opportunity to choose a preferred first name, not solely benefiting a single group on campus.

“It could also be benefi-

The News

Students, such as Kelley, at Murray state are not the only people proud of Payne’s achievements. With the retirement ceremony approaching, Lausanne is overwhelmed with excitement and pride, Locastro said, and retiring Payne’s jersey is a way to reflect how they feel about having another one of their former students play in the NBA. “We are just tremendously proud,” Locastro said. “I think it just gives our school, overall, a big sense of pride. One of our own has made it to the highest level and has the opportunity to play in the NBA.” Although Payne’s jersey is being retired at the high school level, Locastro said Lausanne Collegiate School is excited for Payne’s achievements, and grateful for what Murray State contributed to Payne’s basketball career.

“We certainly appreciate the role that [Murray State] played in his development as well,” Locastro said. “I think that Cameron getting the opportunity to play at Murray and getting to play on that stage up there obviously enhanced his opportunities to play in the NBA. So we appreciate you guys.” cial for international students who would prefer to go by an ‘American’ name when they are studying in the United States, or students who go by a nickname,” Coats said.

Bennett described the impact a first name can have on the perception others have of you, only by a single word.

“It is often overlooked, but we read into a person’s name for quite a bit of information, gender being one of the first assumptions,” Bennett said.

“It can cause issues if someone reads the name on a student’s RacerCard ID assumes an identity and sees the student does not conform to their preconceived notions of gender identity and expression associate with that name,” they said.

Students wishing to switch to a preferred first name should fill out the form on the Murray State website under the “Preferred First Name” link and return the form to the Office of the Registrar, 113 Sparks Hall.

December 4, 2015

From the Editor This spring, readers of The Murray State News won’t have to wait until Friday to pick up the paper. Starting Jan. 21 – the first week of the spring 2016 semester – The News will publish on Thursdays.

We have decided to make this transition for multiple reasons. First, it is one of our goals to share information with not only our university community, but around Murray and beyond. To do so, we believe moving our publication date to Thursday will ensure that students, faculty and staff who do not come to

campus on Fridays will be able to catch up on the latest news instead of having to wait until the start of a new week.

Second, the transition will extend our efforts in accessibility by allowing The News to benefit discussions in classes that meet on Thursdays, as well as Fridays, while coverage is still timely.

Third, we want to be able to allow a smoother line of communication between advertisers and readers. Advertisers, whether on or off campus, can promote their respective events or deals before the

weekend. This will allow for advertisers to reach more people, but for readers to be able to be aware of what is happening in the area before Friday.

With the change in our publication date, The News will still continue to strive to bring the most comprehensive coverage of issues affecting Murray State students, faculty, staff and community members each week, as well as online updates on TheNews.org.

Thank you for reading The News.

Mary Bradley Editor-in-Chief

CORRECTION On Friday, Nov. 20, The Murray State News printed an error in the article, “Dining Services discontinues Meatless Mondays.” Meatless Mondays occurred at the Thoroughbred Room, not Winslow Dining Hall.

On Friday, Nov. 20, The News printed an error in the headline, “First Agriculture Appreciate Week held by Hutson.” “Hutson” was misspelled.

The News regrets the errors.

See an error? Let us know by sending us an email at murraystatenews@icloud.com

PLAN From Page 1 increasing student involvement in their residential colleges. He said meetings with their facilitator consist of talking through ways to achieve their objective, and they often leave with research homework, such as finding out how much technology needed would cost.

Combs, Todd and Fister all said the Strategic Initiatives Plan is very open to any student, staff, faculty or alumni who wish to participate. They advise visiting the webpage Combs set up on Murray State’s website and looking through the list of objectives that are currently in progress and contacting the facilitator of the objective that someone is passionate about.

“This is defining our university for the next several years,” Combs said. “This is the president’s plan through 2022 and we’re all going to be here for at least a portion of that.”

Kalli Bubb/The News

Strategic Initiatives Plan suggestion boxes are placed around campus for student, faculty and staff who would like to submit a suggestion.

The News

News

December 4, 2015 News Editor: Mari-Alice Jasper Assistant Editor: Jessica Bostick Phone: 270-809-4468 Twitter: MurrayStateNews

POLICE BEAT Nov. 26

1:40 a.m.

A fire alarm activa6:51 a.m.

Racer Patrol advised Murtion notice at Faculty Hall was ray State Police of an abandoned received

by Public SafetyCenter. and golf cart outside the Lowry Emergency Officers were Management. notified and anOffiinforcers, Murray Fire Department mation report was taken. and Central Cool11:42 p.m AnHeating officer and conducted werestop notified. alarm a ing traffic at 121The North and was caused by a power failure Coldwater Streets.

A citation was of a sprinkler pump.for failure to issued to the driver 11:12ap.m.

Officers wear seatbelt.

Theconducted passenger a traffic stop at Doran Road. A was arrested on an outstanding verbal warning issued for warrant and was was taken to Callodisregarding a stop sign. way County Jail.

Nov. 27

12:07 a.m. Public Safety received of a afire 8:20 a.m.a Anotification caller reported resalarm at the General Services idential college flag missing.

The Building.

Central Heating and Housing Office was notified.

Cooling were 11:22 p.m.

A notified. caller reported a 4:12 a.m.

A fireaccident alarm activation motor vehicle with no notice at at White the Price Doyle Fine injuries Residential ColArtsOfficers Building.

Central Heating lege. were notified and a and Cooling were notified. report was taken.

Nov. 28

9:09 p.m. An officer conducted 7:17 p.m. stop An officer a traffic on 17thconducted Street for a traffic stop the Business Building failure to at illuminate headlights. parking lot.

A citation was issued A verbal warning was issued. for driving onRacer a suspended license.

10:48 p.m.

Patrol discov8:51 A callerThe reported the eredp.m. lost property. property smell gas atinHart Residential was of turned to Public Safety.Col-

Nov. 29

10:28 p.m. The Murray Police lege.

Officers, reported Murray Fire DepartDepartment a sighting ment, Central Heating and Cooling of smoke or steam coming from Plant, Murray Gas and theServices State Fire the roof of the General Marshall report Building.were The notified. cause wasAsteam was taken. from vents on the roof. No 12:01 A was caller reported a threatp.m. of fire located. sparking outlet in the 300 block 11:58 p.m. Officers conducted ofparking Collegeenforcement Courts. Officers, the in the Murray Firecollege Department, Cenresidential circle parktral Cooling Plant ingHeating lot. Twoand parking citations and theissued.

State Fire Marshal were were

Nov. 30 12:21 a.m. A caller reported notified. report was a noise A complaint at taken.

Springer 4:57 p.m. TheCollege Murray to Police DeResidential Public partment wasinformation notified of report a mediSafety. An cal emergency at the Volleyball was taken.

Courts.

Officers and Murray Am12:54 p.m.

An officer reported bulance Services weredue notified. a parking complaint to a The patient was transported vehicle blocking the drive and of a Wells reportHall. was The taken. owner was no3:46 Officers conducted tifieda.m. to move the vehicle and a a check of citation a personwas onissued.

North 12th parking

Dec. 1 9:32 a.m. An officer conducted Street.

Thestop person was arrested and a traffic at James H. Richtransported to Calloway County A Jail mond Residential College. for alcohol intoxication in a public written warning was issued for place.

A report was taken. speeding.

9:09 caller reported 8:08 p.m. p.m. AA caller reported a a smoke detector activated at motor vehicle collision in the Springer Residential College due to lotOfficers of James H. notified Richa parking hair dryer. were mond Residential and no threat of fire wasCollege. found. An Officers were notified and no information report was taken. report was takenreported or requested.

4:42 p.m.

A caller a theft injuries from were areported. ofNo property vehicle from

Dec. 2

4:21 p.m.Hall.

A caller reported a Alexander Officers were nomotor vehicle collision in the tified and a report was taken for MainofStreet Offitheft underparking $500 bylot. unlawful cers were and a report taking from notified a vehicle. wasp.m. taken.ANo injuries were re6:12 caller reported the ported. smell of marijuana at Hart. Officers were andMurray an information 5:37notified p.m. The Police report was taken.

Department reported a medical emergency at the Wellness Center. Murray Ambulance 2:47 p.m. Murray A callerFire reported Service, Depart-an unauthorized company selling ment and Student Affairs were products on campus at Winslow notified. The patient was transDining Hall. The caller was reported to Murray-Calloway ferred to Student Affairs.

County 6:12 p.m.Hospital.

A caller reported the smell of natural gas at the Old Fine Escorts –0 Arts Building.

Officers, Central Motorist Assists – 5 Plant, Murray Heating and Cooling Arrests –0 Fire department, Murray Gas and

Call of Fame Dec. 1, 11:08 a.m. A caller reported a kitten stuck in the engine of a vehicle at Winslow Dining Hall. Officers were notified.

Jessica Bostick, Assistant News the State Fire Marshall wereBeat notiEditor, compiled Police fied and a reportprovided was taken. with materials

by Public Safety and Emergency Management.

Motorists assists – 8 Racer escorts – 1 Not all dispatched calls are Arrests – 2 listed.

Mary Bradley, Assistant News Editor, compiles Police Beat with materials provided by Public Safety and Emergency Management.

Love Police Beat? can calls check it Not allYou dispatched are listed. out every week online, too, on TheNews.org.

3A

Dining Services ranking rises Cody Hall || Contributing writer chall31@murraystate.edu

You finally get that person you like to agree to go on a date with you.

They are everything you have been thinking about for weeks, and now all your dreams are coming true. You set up a time and day to have dinner with them at one of the best places to eat in town. When that day comes you meet them at your favorite place to eat, which has recently been ranked at the top among competitors: Murray State Dining Services and Racer Hospitality’s Pony Express.

Dining Services was placed in the top 3 percent of on-campus food services nationwide by the Niche rankings. They moved from the 107th position last year to the 55th spot.

The ranking is by Niche, an organization committed to helping people make choices about which education institution is right for them by giving ranks and reviews about different aspects of communities and schools.

For college campuses, Niche reviews all aspects from the off-campus living opportunities to the party scenes available.

“We ranked 107th last year,” said

Nicole Ely/The News

Murray State dining services ranked 55th in the nation by Niche.

Paula Amols, director of Dining Services. “So, we were already pretty highly ranked, but the big move up this year was a wonderful surprise.”

Amols said she believes the introduction of Pony Express has con-

tributed to the higher rank of the university’s Dining Services in this year’s review. “[Pony Express] has been part of our program now for two and a half years, long enough for it to have

become ingrained in the program,” Amols said.

“Last spring seemed to be a tipping point of sorts for it,” she said.

“This is very likely attributed to it catering to students living off campus as well as those on campus.”

For some students, absence of Murray State’s Dining Services makes the heart grow fonder, and this could not be truer for former Murray State student, Kayla Holland. Holland’s experience speaks to Murray State’s increased ranking when compared to another university.

She attended Murray State for one year, then transferred to Southeast Missouri State. She truly misses the food options that Murray provided, she said.

“At Murray, you can eat as much as you like,” Holland said.

When asked what she thought about Murray State’s food options compared to those of Southeast Missouri State, Holland said her new school has restricted options.

“We have a specific meal plan, and you can only use it three times a day,” Holland said. “After you have used your ‘meal’ for the specific time slot, you have to use the flex.

They stop serving dinner at eight.

Anywhere you go after that, you must use flex.”

Town & Gown open house held at Oakhurst Teddy Martin

Contributing writer emartin11@murraystate.edu

President Bob Davies held a Town & Gown open house wherein students were invited to Oakhurst to celebrate the season and enjoy the company of the community.

The Town & Gown partnership was created to bring together leaders of the city and the university to create dialogue and ongoing collaboration.

“This is just an opportunity for the university community, internally and externally, to come together and just enjoy the spirit of the holidays, the camaraderie and the connection that we all have,” Davies said.

Davies said it was an event the university started last year as a part of his introduction to Murray.

“One of the things that we had student performers attend, but the one thing we didn’t have were the students themselves,” Davies said. “So this year, we made a very conscious effort to have students come not just to perform, but to also be here as a part of the university community because they are.”

Nicole King, senior from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, said she attended because she was with The Voices of Praise Ministries, a choral group at Murray State. Voices of Praise is a primarily choral ministry that has been with the university since 1975.

“We’re just enjoying our time here,” she said. This is the first year King has been in Voices of Praise;

Emily Harris/The News

A Town & Gown open house was held Thursday at Oakhurst as a chance for community members on and off campus to mingle and celebrate the season. she and the other members were invited by the president to come sing for the open house.

“I absolutely think that the president is awesome and doing a lot of good work with the students, he really cares,” King said. “Ever since he came in, I feel like the administration cares more and I’m happy to be here.

The president is doing so much to interact with students and the daily interaction is wonderful.”

Emphasizing that the open house was about the spirit and the camaraderie, Davies said a large difference

between the 2014 and 2015 open house is that he knows people.

“Last year I was still learning everyone’s names and meeting everybody. I think the important thing is the community spirit, the university community, the community of Murray and coming together and having a good time.”

He said it helps start the holiday season and thought of including the students right before finals week.

Davies said he was pleased with the number of students who had come by this year.

Mayor Jack Rose was also in attendance, as he had been invited by the president.

Rose said he thought both he and Davies have been able to work well together since Davies joined the university. He said he thought the relationship between the city and the university has been strong as it has ever been.

“I think it’s a great combination of people from the city, citizens and so forth, and folks who work with the university,” he said. “I think that’s always positive.”

University calendar gets upgraded Tierra Reese || Staff writer treese1@murraystate.edu

Murray State will have a new and improved calendar, launching on Jan. 8, with new features that make event advertising easier than before.

The strategic planning committee includes Charley Allen, Adrienne King, Alexandra Douglass, Don Robertson and Jamie Morgan, all of whom thought of this new calendar available for the Murray State community. Allen, Murray State’s web manager, explained the updated calendar features and why they are needed.

“This calendar has a really nice search option with categories available to your specific search,” Allen said. “The need for this came out of the strategic plan so that we could have events available to all of the Murray State community.”

Now, instead of looking up the different events on numerous websites, users can go to one website and select what type of event they are looking for on the calendar and it will show what is available.

“We are also going to have a feed on the homepage so that the featured events will be on the homepage,” Allen said.

Students and faculty can submit events to this calendar and within 24 hours the event’s information will be uploaded for everyone to see.

“There is a submit button that you can send events through and our department will either approve or decline it depending on whether or not it fits,” Allen said. “Anyone with a murraystate.edu email ad-

McKenna Dosier/The News

The new university calendar has improved features to increase the number of viewers. dress can start submitting in events now.”

Another helpful amenity to this new calendar is the location sharing option. Allen said for every event, there will be a location sharing option through Google Maps allowing users to know exactly where the event will take place.

“You get driving directions and you can check the weather,” she

said. “It will interact with Androids, Yahoo or Google; you can automatically share those events.”

The need for this new calendar stems from the lack of use of the current calendar.

The calendar will be available on murraystate.edu/calendar and they are currently trying to make it appear on Racer Vision – TVs around campus that commonly

show replays in sports games.

Allen said the committee hopes to set up the calendar on those TVs for improved event advertising.

King and Allen asked people about ideas for the new calendar features.

They said people are really excited about it and have already started submitting events.

“A calendar is only as good as the events being sent in,” Allen said.

4A

December 4, 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

‘Tis the season

Kayla Harrell News Editor • 270-809-4468 kharrell4@murraystate.edu Allison Borthwick Opinion Editor • 270-809-5873 aborthwick@murraystate.edu Connor Jaschen Features Editor • 270-809-5871 cjaschen@murraystate.edu Kelsey Randolph Sports Editor • 270-809-4481 krandolph3@murraystate.edu Kelsey Watznauer Chief Copy Editor • 270-809-5876 kwatznauer@murraystate.edu Austin Gordon Online Editor • 270-809-5877 agordon4@murraystate.edu Jenny Rohl Advertising Sales Manager • 270-809-4478 msunewsads@gmail.com Alex Hilkey Advertising Production • 270-809-5874 shilkey@murraystate.edu Kalli Bubb Photography Editor • 270-809-5878 kbubb@murraystate.edu Cameron Witte Chief Videographer cwitte@murraystate.edu Joe Hedges, Ryan Alessi Advisers • 270-809-3937 jhedges@murraystate.edu, ralessi@murraystate.edu

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Selena McPherson/The News

The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board.

Murray State does a good job of staying neutral with holiday festivities and decorations.

For example, the university does not explicitly say “Merry Christmas,” but rather “Happy Holidays.”

Legally, the university cannot discriminate based on religion or any other similar characteristic, such as sex or age. In fact, Murray State makes a valiant effort to be as inclusive as possible – just ask those on the president’s commission for diversity and inclusion.

Yet, murmurs of representation may arise as the season continues on.

There doesn’t seem to be much of a fight put up by students to see more than wreaths and a large tree, though – likely because those who associate themselves with a religion outside of the Christian denomination happen to live or attend school where Christianity is the dominant.

According to Sperling’s Best Places’ 2014 numbers, 59.2 percent of the people in Murray are religious, meaning they affiliate

with a religion. About 2 percent are Catholic; 1 percent affiliate with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; 1.94 percent are another Christian faith.

Here is a list of December holidays, according to EducationWorld.com: • Ramadan • Eid al-Fitr • Saint Nicholas Day • Eid’ul-Adha • Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe • St. Lucia Day • Hanukkah • Christmas Day • Three Kings Day/Epiphany • Boxing Day • Kwanzaa • Omisoka • Yule • Saturnalia Murray State has no way of knowing we want these other religious holidays represented on campus unless we make that request. The fact that Christmas symbols can dominate the region isn’t really their fault – it’s just the way things are.

The university is going to stick to phrasing like “Happy Holidays” and continue to put up holiday decorations that may or may not be Christmas-like until enough people ask for something different or something else.

It’s certainly not ideal, but when it comes down to it, universities have a legal obligation to not promote or appear to promote certain religions.

We have thousands of students at this university from different states, countries and religious backgrounds, and we’re not denying that’s a lot to accommodate.

When you have the diversity this university has, not everyone’s beliefs and religions can necessarily be represented. In the end, it’s up to the individual to celebrate how they see fit – that responsibility doesn’t fall on the university or any other university across the nation, for that matter.

According to the guidelines regarding religious symbols, decorations and displays at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, “the university should

protect the right of individuals to celebrate religious holidays by decorating their personal space.”

Murray State promotes diversity and equal representation of all. To only show representation and support for one religion during the holiday season is contradictory to that goal, but that does not mean each and every student on campus can’t cover themselves in red and green every day and set up the most impressive nativity scene the world has ever seen right in their residential college room.

On that note, if you want a menorah in the Curris Center, ask administrators to put one there.

If you would like to celebrate Kwanzaa on campus, we highly doubt anybody would stop you. If you feel like Boxing Day deserves more of a presence on Murray State, more power to you.

Everything isn’t just black and white/red and green.

You have a First Amendment right to celebrate whatever you want, and if you’ve forgotten that, it’s time to remember.

I’ve Got a Story for You

A clean slate

For some of us, the end of the fall semester could not have come any sooner. For others of us, it is too late. For almost all of us, it is a welcome respite.

If you are at all like me, you find yourself in a state of regret: too many things left unRobert Valentine done; too many opportunities Senior lecturer missed or too of advertising many opportunities taken which left too little time for the important things.

Now, the good news: next semester, we get to try again to get it right.

In January, we get to wipe the slate (unless your case is still pending in some court of law, of morality or of basketball). We can make a list of those things we want most to do or be, and setting our sights on the targets, make a clean start.

That’s my favorite part. It’s a funny thing, but the shortest day of the year (Dec. 21)

and the turning point in the calendar (Jan. 1) sort of come together; as the days slowly grow longer, we have another chance to quit smoking, start reducing, end procrastination or stop drinking tap water.

The appearance of “Jan. 1” on the calendar is a license to take new hope and seek new directions. Hope and change are like seeds lying underneath the snow. During the remaining weeks of cold, they plan and put forth tendrils seeking nourishing encouragement and reassurance, fed by renewed determination to improve.

As the chilly weather gives way to the warmth of March and April, we get to try our hands at improved relations with others, at gardening, exercise, study, hobbies or work. What lies before us is the fulfillment of that seed of resolve planted back in January.

Of course, setting goals and reaching them are two different sets of acts. Making lists of personal improvements has to be done immediately, while the pain and discomfort of failure or overindulgence are still fresh and heavy on your conscience.

One expert recommended creating a list of 10 things to achieve. Number the list one through 10, from the most important to the least. Then cross out the last five items. You can’t do everything at once, after all.

There is no good reason to wait until Jan. 1 to impose new rules or start new and better practices. As soon as you resolve to do

something differently you are licensed to start the new course of action. Why wait?

If you are seeking a place to start your list, I have some recommendations for you. See if they resonate with something you’ve heard before.

Only four of the five appear on my personal list.

1. When you enroll in a lecture class, attend all the scheduled class meetings.

2. When given an assignment, start working on it immediately. It won’t be any easier or get any better just because you wait until the night before it’s due.

3. Don’t be afraid to say, “No,” when you are asked to fill out a fourth for the drive to Paducah to go clubbing. When the little voice at the base of your skull whispers, “You really shouldn’t:” listen.

4. Whatever it is, do it now. You had nothing else planned.

5. Clean up your desk/desktop/backpack/ back seat before you go to bed. You’ll be able to find everything easier in the morning, whenever it comes.

And that is why, dear reader, I love January. It is an annual rebirth, a perennial second chance.

Now, it is almost here and if our self-honesty has prepared us to recognize the dead weeds of imperfection, we can make ready to plant new seeds of hope and determination that will yield a new person in the coming year. Or not.

The News

Opinion

December 4, 2015

5A

Letter to the Editor

I Have a Lot of Feelings #Resolutions2k16

The News’ 2016 wish list:

We want to hear from you!

• More Letters to the Editor • World peace • To hear your input • A solution to poverty and hunger • For you to write to us • Less ignorance and hatred • Something to fill this space with • More parking • To read and publish your thoughts

Are you concerned about a certain issue on campus or just 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 your submission to letters@thenews.org.

Rational Animal

Baby with the bath water After major terrorist attacks the most common reaction is fear. Individuals become fearful for their lives, governments fear instability and disorder, investors fear monetary losses.

Actions taken while in fear are rarely based on facts or sound policy. They are usually designed to assuage our emoJohn Muenzberg tions regardless of Lecturer of philosophy the actual effects on our safety, stability or property. The worst sorts of actions actually contradict the principles that societies hold dear.

In May of 1972 the Red Army Faction (RAF), popularly known as the Baader-Meinhof Group, committed five separate bombings in West Germany.

The targets ranged from German police officers, to American Army soldiers, to a conservative newspaper. Four people were killed and about 40 were wounded.

In the early 1960s it was revealed that a number of influential people in West Germany had either been members of the Nazi party or were Nazi sympathizers. Young West Germans were shocked and somewhat frightened. It was a black mark for their “modern” Germany to still be connected to such a horrible past. But radicals such as the RAF were convinced that West Germany was not truly democratic, but rather a Fascist organization propped up by the USA to fight the USSR. Their goal was to cause so much mayhem that the government would overreact. They thought that West Germany would impose such drastic measures that the citizens would understand the brutality at the heart of the government and revolt en masse.

But that didn’t happen. The government did crack down and enacted some extreme laws. Germany created a new national police force. They passed laws barring public service jobs to “radicals” and required loyalty statements from millions of workers. They built a new prison to house these highly organized and violent criminals. All of these measures verged on undemocratic, but it certainly never degenerated into mass imprisonment as the Nazis had done. The first wave of the RAF was arrested, charged and given access to lawyers. Three prominent members committed suicide in prison in 1977, but West Germany struggled against the RAF until the early 1990s.

The response of the government was problem-

atic, but it was certainly not fascist. In the end, West Germany proved that they were a functioning democracy that was able to adapt to threats without a complete collapse of those democratic principles.

Over the years Germany has actually become more liberal, and a number of the laws enacted in the 1970s were repealed. There were some very dark times, but democratic principles won the day.

The recent terrorist attack in Paris has amplified many Americans’ fears, especially of Muslims.

There have been calls to not accept Syrian refugees, or only accept Christian ones. David Bowers, mayor of Roanoke, Virginia noted with approval the Japanese internment camps authorized by FDR after the attack at Pearl Harbor. Even before the attack Ben Carson argued that we should not have a Muslim as president.

Of course Carson’s idea directly contradicts the U.S. Constitution, which forbids religious tests for public office. And we should resist any politician who thinks the proper role of the federal government is to arrest and imprison people because of their ancestry or religion.

Principles can provide a check to our actions when we are fearful. Some of the founding principles written into our constitution include freedom of religion, freedom of assembly and habeas corpus.

We should question anyone who wants to remove these rights in order to protect our country. It is unclear what sort of country we would have without them.

Jeers to ... Constant rain.

Cheers and Jeers

Cheers to ... 2015.

2015 is coming to an end, y’all.

It seems like it was over as quickly as it began. I feel like I was just ringing in the New Year with Bob’s Burgers in bed.

Time flies when you’re having fun. Well, hopefully it was fun, for the most part at least. And hopefully 2016 is even more fun.

The first half of this week was very wet and cold. We were fed up with the dreary weather by midday on Monday. Mother Nature was out to get us by Tuesday. Motivation to go to class and be a fully-functioning person is already hard to come by this point in the semester. This didn’t help.

Cheers and Jeers is written by the Opinion Editor.

Jeers to ... Finals.

Cheers to ... Winter Break.

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

Comic

Finals are supposed to test our knowledge, not our will to live.

Yet every semester we’re faced with grueling study guides, final papers, final presentations and then finals themselves. It’s all too much. We’re but simple, flawed human beings. We’re too #blessed to be stressed.

Winter Break is something we all look forward to begin with.

This year, however, we have an extra long break - five beautiful, stress-free weeks.

It doesn’t even seem real. So finish up this semester strong and know there’s ample time for rest and relaxation on the other side.

Allison Borthwick

Opinion Editor

‘Tis the season of reflection and resolution.

It seems that the end of 2015 snuck up on all of us. Now we’re faced with the daunting task of assessing the good, bad and ugly of the past year and preparing for the imminent good, bad and ugly

of the upcoming one.

It’s about this time every year I realize that instead of sticking to my annual resolution to eat better, I treated every day like I was going to “start my diet tomorrow.”

They say to live each day like it’s your last, and that’s how weight-gain happens, people. Because apparently, to me, “carpe diem” means “carpe nuggets.”

Anyway, as we approach Jan. 1, 2016, let’s reassess our resolution technique.

And please, for the love of cheese, add “Stop glorifying and encouraging destructive behavior” to our lists.

So, instead of resolving to lose half our body weight by eating nothing and literally running ourselves into the ground, let’s resolve to be healthy. The simple, obvious truth is eating less is so much worse for your body than just eating more of the right things.

Not to mention, cutting junk food out of your life completely will just cause pain and heartbreak. Cravings will turn you into a soulless, hangry monster, scientifically speaking. Moderation is the key to a happy tummy.

If one of your resolutions is to be less hard on yourself and have more fun, don’t think the only way to do so is to get drunk every weekend or, for some, every week day. And if that’s the pattern you’ve fallen into, perhaps resolve to make some life changes in 2016.

No judgment – I’m aware that a bottle of wine + good friends + a DJ bumping a killer 90s playlist = a good time. But, again, moderation is key.

Getting blackout drunk regularly shouldn’t be a point of pride. What’s fun now could turn into a major, nearly irreversible problem later.

There are better ways to have fun and to cope with the hardships of the temporary situations you may find yourself in, I promise.

Don’t let the cause of blurry good times becomes a necessity. Reliance can easily become addiction, and then it’s often too late to come back from that.

Well, this got kind of dark and preachy.

Remember when we were joking about junk food? Those were good times.

Speaking of, maybe just resolve to let the good times roll, or whatever the kids are saying these days.

Be the change/pizza you wish to see in the world/oven.

Resolve to be happy.

Resolve to make others happy.

Resolve to laugh more.

Resolve to treat yourself and others better.

Resolve to stop taking yourself and your loved ones for granted.

Resolve to ignore my cliche resolutions and do whatever will make 2016 great for you.

All we can really do is just try not to repeat the mistakes we made this year, fix the ones we can and have the wisdom to know when too much Netflix is TOO much Netflix.

In the end, 2016 will just be yet another year where we still don’t have mass-produced cars that can drive themselves – so what do we really owe it? aborthwick@murraystate.edu

Don’t be Tina

By Jade Simpson

The News

News

6A

December 4, 2015

Funding limits health options for women Courtney Scoby Staff writer

cscoby@murraystate.edu

On campus health services facilities are in place to give students better access to healthcare options, often at reduced rates. However, Health Services may be falling behind their other university counterparts because of cuts to funding from the state.

Here are the services that Health Services provides, as listed on their website: • Physical assessment for illness or injury • Treatment for illness and minor injury • Crutches • Referrals • Laboratory services (including complete blood counts, urinalysis, rapid strep tests, pregnancy tests, sexually transmitted infection testing, and additional fee-based testing through LabCorp) • HIV testing/counseling • Evaluation of health risks • Tobacco cessation/counseling • Health promotion • Health education Very few of these include much-needed women’s health services. However, Health Services does provide some ser-

vices that cater specifically to women’s needs.

“MSU Health Services provides women’s health services such as breast e x a m s , sexually transmitted infection testing, gynecologiPaschall cal exams, pregnancy testing and women’s health counseling,” said Kimberly Paschall, director of Health Services.

Breast exams, gynecological exams and women’s health counseling are mentioned nowhere on the website, which often keeps students in the dark as to their options.

“I am not aware of any specific women’s health services [on campus],” said Ashley Morgan, senior from Clarksville, Tennessee.

Nevertheless, these services are popular on campus.

“During 2014, Health Services had 970 gynecological visits that included pelvic exams, breast exams and any other concerns of the female reproductive system,” Paschall said.

However, female students

at Murray State seem to be at a disadvantage when it comes to women’s health services on campus.

In addition to providing free male condoms in their waiting rooms, Campus Health Services at the University of Louisville provide free female condoms upon request. The Plan B, or “morning after” pill is available for purchase and select sexually transmitted infection tests are free, though others are paid for out of pocket. Pap smear tests are another on-campus option for female University of Louisville students.

The University of Kentucky seems to have the largest selection of women’s health services on any campus across the state though.

University Health Services at UK has a separate Women’s Clinic with several doctors specializing in women’s health. Issues of gynecological, reproductive and sexual health concern are addressed, and a extensive array of birth control options are offered to students through the University Health Service Pharmacy.

“Birth control pills, the birth control patch (Ortho Evra), the vaginal ring (NuvaRing) and the birth control shot (Depo Provera) are available by prescription in the UHS

Pharmacy,” according to their website.

Students are also eligible for significant discounts on these items if their prescription is written by a UHS clinician.

Plan B is offered without a prescription at a discounted rate as well.

Murray State Health Services did not always fall a step behind other universities, however.

Several other women’s health services used to be offered on campus until cuts in state funding took these options away.

“State funding for the family planning program was discontinued, by the state, during 2010,” Paschall said. “This program provided Health Services with additional staff, equipment and clinical supplies that supported our conducting cervical cancer screenings and providing oral contraceptives on campus.”

Plans are being made to try to reinstate some of these services in the future, however.

“We, along with MSU School of Nursing, have been exploring grant funding that is potentially available for us to provide family planning services, which could include oral contraceptives,” Paschall said.

In the meantime, the majority of women’s health services are redirected to other organizations within the community.

“Women now seeking family planning services are referred to the Calloway County Health Department or other local healthcare providers, which are located within two miles of campus,” Paschall said.

Although many of the services Health Services is not able to offer female students on campus can be provided relatively close to campus, many students may not be able to take advantage of the services offered at the local health department or other local health providers due to lack of transportation or problems with insurance.

The Women’s Center on campus sounds like another viable option for female students looking for women’s health services but deals a lot in referrals as well.

“The Women’s Center works with students, individually, to locate and contact appropriate healthcare providers in the community,” Abigail French, director of the Women’s Center, said. “If a student would prefer to make an appointment with someone in their hometown we help them to locate and contact those providers as well.”

Some Murray State students are not completely satisfied with the current array of women’s health services on campus.

“I think rather than referring

so many women to other places (like the Health Department and healthcare providers), a women’s health professional should be available at Health Services to provide information and other women’s health services,” Morgan said. “We pay our tuition and are told it goes to a variety of stuff, including Health Services, but then we have less than basic accommodations and I think they should have more basic offerings of services including but not limited to resources for women and women’s health.”

One of the main concerns for female students is the lack of access to birth control.

“I do think the Health Services should definitely provide birth control,” Morgan said.

“With easier access to birth control many women wouldn’t need Plan B, and since it is available for women at a low cost or free elsewhere, it seems logical that a place for health on campus should offer it.”

This may be an option at Murray State again at some point.

“Grant funding could possibly be available in the future to support the return of family planning services on campus,” Paschall said. “This funding will be further explored as resources allow.”

Murray State helps expose Russian doping problem

Ashley Traylor

Staff writer

atraylor@murraystate.edu

The German TV and Radio network, part of ARD German Nationwide TV, came to Murray State from Germany to interview the chair of Applied Health Science, Michael Kalinski, on doping in Russia this past April. Russia has now been suspended from international competitions because of the doping allegations.

The International Association of Athletics Federation took action after the publication of an independent World Anti-Doping Agency report that alleged doping.

Hajo Seppelt produced the documentary and its supportive evidence for the World Anti-Doping Agency. The film aired on Nov. 17 in Germany.

Vitaly Stepanov was an employee of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency for three years and advised the director general. It was his dream job to work with the anti-dop-

ing agency. His wife, Yuliya Stepanov, is world-class 800-meter runner, currently suspended because of doping.

Vitaly and Yuliya met in 2009 and she opened up to Vitaly about the doping problem. She said her coaches told them that in order to get medals, you need dope. The athletes do not realize the drugs are illegal because coaches have hammered the idea of taking drugs to further results is acceptable.

She also opened up about how her coaches told her to keep clean urine in the fridge if she were to be tested. The drugs could be ordered from home under false names, so the athletes would not be caught.

Vitaly and Yuliya Stepanov came forward with their information to help Seppelt with his documentary to accuse the Russian sports system of using dope.

Yuliya Stepanov secretly made audio and video recordings and made them available

to Seppelt.

These recordings proved the involvement of Russian head coach, Alexei Melnikov and the sports physician, Sergey Portugalov, in drug administration and concealment. They refused to answer questions or admit to their involvement.

Many athletes that were found with dope in their system were not accused because of who they were. If the person was famous and capable of winning a medal, then the Russian Anti-Doping Agency would not report it.

On the contrary, if the athlete was not famous, and the test results were positive, then they would be suspended.

Yuliya said the coaches have no problem letting go of an athlete and finding a new one, if he/she was suspended for dope.

The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, must approve urine and blood samples. This was to ensure that no one was

caught doing drugs before an athletic championship. However, many athletes with high blood levels were not suspended.

The shadow lab would destroy suspicious test results before sending the official samples to the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s President, Richard Pound, and World Anti-Doping Agency Director-General, David Howman, saw for the first time the extent of doping in Russia because of Stepanov and Seppelt’s efforts.

The doping allegations could ruin the credibility of Russia’s athletic program and the credibility of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The World Anti-Doping Agency has agreed to protect those who came forward with information about doping, like the Stepanov family.

Six Russian coaches have been suspended and Russia is not eligible to participate in the Olympic Games.

Photo courtesy of The Guardian

The World Anti-Doping Agency realized the extent of doping in Russia and helped make the documentary.

2015 Fall Final Exam Schedule Exam Day

Exam Time

Regular Class Time

Saturday, Dec. 5

Day

Saturday Classes

8 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

Night 8 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

Night 8 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

Night 8 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

Night 8 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

8:30 a.m. MWF 11-12:15 p.m. TTH 2:30 p.m. MWF Monday Evening Classes 9:30 a.m. MWF 11:30 a.m. MWF 12:30-1:45 p.m. TTH Tuesday Evening Classes 9:30-10:45 a.m. TTH 12:30 p.m. MWF 2-3:15 p.m. TTH Wednesday Evening Classes 8-9:15 a.m. TTH and 4:30 p.m. MWF 10:30 a.m. MWF 1:30 p.m. MWF Thursday Evening Classes

Monday, Dec. 7

Tuesday, Dec. 8

Wednesday, Dec. 9

Thursday, Dec. 10 Friday, Dec. 11

7:30 a.m. MWF and 3:30-4:45 p.m. TTH

3:30 p.m. MWF

The News

News

7A

will be a Thursday paper. Be sure to pick up your copy every Thursday!

Starting in January, The Murray State News

December 4, 2015

Happy Holidays!

During the holiday break be sure to check out your public library..

from

the Calloway County Public Library!

Books, DVDs/Blu Rays, eBooks, eAudios and more!

Located at 710 Main Street Murray, KY 42071 270-753-2288 www.callowaycountylibrary.org

The News

8A

December 4, 2015

THE FALL PHOTO RECAP Here are a few of our favorite moments and photos from the fall semester.

Jenny Rohl/The News

SCORING BIG: There’s no denying the success of Murray State’s soccer team this season. While the Racers lost in the NCAA Tournament to Ole Miss in November, Murray State finished the season 16-5, the best record in program history. Additionally, the team maintained the longest win streak record with 11 wins.

Jenny Rohl/The News

GREAT START: Each academic year is kicked off with a variety of events and one of the more popular events is when hypnotist Tom Deluca takes to Lovett Auditorium. Deluca provides a few hours of comedic entertainment as students fall under hypnosis.

Zachary Maley/The News

Chalice Keith/The News

FLASH MOB: When dozens of students occupy one of the most popular walkways on campus in synchronized dance moves, it makes people pause, take many photos and enjoy the surprise show from the Indian Student Association.

TODRICK HALL: Choreographer. Dancer. Singer. Actor. Internet sensation. Todrick Hall is a man of many talents, and he showed them off to a crowd in September at the CFSB Center. Hall dazzled the crowd as he stopped by during his tour, but he left attendees with some uplifting words of self-love, too.

Zachary Maley/The News

20 YEARS: Two decades after taking back to back titles, the 1995 and 1996 Racer football team returned over Homecoming weekend to reunite with Murray State and fellow teammates. The team walked in the Student Government Association’s Homecoming Parade Saturday morning and was also honored on the field of Roy Stewart Stadium during the football game.

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ROCKY HORROR: With each Halloween comes haunted houses, tricks and treats and, of course, the annual Rocky Horror Picture Show. The Sock and Buskin Theatre Department hosts the show every year and Nick Newsam, senior theater major, took to the stage as the infamous Dr. Frank-N-Furtor.

December 4, 2015

Section B

The News

Sports

Sports Editor: Kelsey Randolph Assistant Sports Editor: Mark McFarland Phone: 270-809-4481 Twitter: MSUSportsNews ­­

LOOKING BACK:

Golf led by seniors in fall Soccer finishes record-breaking season season Mallory Tucker Staff writer

mtucker11@murraystate.edu

WOMEN

Jenny Rohl/The News

Rebecca Bjorkvall, senior midfielder, Racheal Foxley, senior defender, Nyomi Devine, sophomore defender and Taylor Stevens, senior midfielder, celebrate soccer’s championship win on Nov. 8.

Soccer wins 16 games including OVC Championship, first time since 2009 Mark McFarland

Assistant Sports Editor mmcfarland1@murraystate.edu

The Racers finished their record-breaking season with a school high 16 wins, the longest winning streak in school history, 11 wins and a perfect 10-0 record in the OVC. Behind second year Head Coach Jeremy Groves, the Racers were able to fight their way to a conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Racheal Foxley, senior from Bolton, England, said that she gives Groves a lot of the credit for this season.

“We all have a competitive mindset, so when he said if you win this game you’re going to break this record,” she said. “It Groves was kind of exciting and we wanted to break that record.”

Foxley is one of the only seniors who has been in the program all four years and she said having Groves as a coach was different but really made her time more enjoyable.

“I think the moment that changed it for us was winning the Mississippi State game. Not many people expected us to beat an SEC school and we did that.”

–Jeremy Groves Soccer Head Coach “Obviously having played four years here and obviously having the experience of playing under a different coach in Jeremy, it’s been completely different,” she said. “Jeremy came in and had a whole new way of coaching and we had to adapt to that.”

Behind leadership from Foxley and the other seniors, Groves said he knew that the team was capable of pulling off a season for the record books at the beginning of the year.

“I always knew that they had it in them. I think it was just a case of showing up and showing that,” Groves said. “I think the environment that we created here has given them the confidence to do that.”

The Racers, however, could not finish the year on a high note as they took a 1-0 loss to the Univer-

sity of Mississippi in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, snapping the 11 game winning streak.

Groves said the game against Ole Miss was decent, but definitely not where he thinks the team should be.

“We could always get better defensively,” he said.

“I think the NCAA Tournament game was decent, but I still don’t think we’re anywhere close to where we need to be or should be to compete with those kind of teams.”

During the regular season the Racers played two other SEC schools in Mississippi State and the University of Tennessee, defeating Mississippi State 2-1

see SOCCER, 2B

Volleyball wins regular season, drops record at OVC Championship game Kelsey Randolph Sports Editor

krandolph3@murraystate.edu

In an upset match against the Belmont Bruins and a home win streak dating two seasons back, the Racer volleyball team lost their streak and the chance at winning the OVC Championship game Nov. 21.

Despite a loss in the final game of the season, the Racers finished a season with several accolades to accompany a regular season title.

Junior outside hitter Scottie Ingram and junior right side Kristen Besselsen both added to the All-Tournament Team at the OVC Tournament. This only added to the list of achievements made by the team.

The team finished with a 27-2 overall record, 15-1 in conference play and had a re-

WHAT’S

INSIDE

cord-breaking 21 home game winning streak until the loss in the final game.

Preconference games led the Racers to believe there was high hope for the conference.

With 10 of their 11 preseason games won and only one loss to No. 7 University of Washington, the Racers began their regular season. Seven sweeps spearheaded the season before a four-set match took away their sweep streak. The Racers only lost one game in conference play against Eastern Illinois on Oct. 24.

Senior middle blocker Alyssa Lelm finished her career as the all-time career hitting percentage leader with .293 for her career and a third rank all-time with 317 blocks. Senior outside hitter and defensive specialist Taylor Olden finished her career with 1,168 kills which ranks her fifth all-time in Murray State’s history.

Returning are this season’s starters Besselsen, Ingram, and sophomore middle blocker Olivia Chatman.

“We’ve got a great group coming back,” said Head Coach David Schwepker. “We’ll miss our seniors, they had an incredible career and year, but we’ll be fine again next year.”

Entering the OVC Tournament the Racers took the regular season title for the second year, which previously hadn’t been done since 2003.

After the previous year’s win the Racers were at a loss for words. Similarly this year, at the end the 2015 season the team was at a loss of emotions only this time it was in result of a loss.

“Our team just had an uncharacteristically bad night,” Schwepker said. “I don’t know why, but we didn’t play well.

see VOLLEYBALL, 2B

Led by senior captains Sophie Hillier and Abbi Stamper, the women’s golf team finished their five-tournament fall season with one championship title and a slew of finishes between fourth and eighth.

Traveling from Ohio to Alabama with Kentucky and Tennessee in between, the Racers previewed their spring season with just three OVC tournaments, including their own MSU Invitational, which opened fall play in September.

Sophomore Moa Folke and junior Sydney Trimble joined the two seniors for most of team play while sophomore Anna Moore and freshman Jane Watts swapped between participating on the team and as individuals at various tournaments.

“What I like is that all of them have gone low this year, and that’s w h a t m a k e s a good team,” H e a d C o a c h Velvet M i l k Milkman man said during the season. “They all have the confidence that they can shoot par or around par or under par. That makes a big difference as far as confidence.”

Trimble took home second place as the Racers hosted their season opener at Miller Francis E. Memorial Golf Course in Murray with Hillier and Stamper close behind with a tie for fourth. Folke placed second at Jacksonville State’s Chris Banister Classic in Glencoe, Alabama, marking the team’s highest individual leaderboard finishes of the season.

The women’s spring season starts Feb. 22 as they head for warmer weather in Mobile, Alabama at South Alabama’s USA Invitational Tournament. The Racers will play five regular-season tournaments from then until the OVC Championship at the Hampton Cove Golf Club in Owens Cross Roads, Alabama, with another home tournament serving as their only conference-hosted event.

MEN

Chalice Keith/The News

Junior outside hitter Scottie Ingram and sophomore middle blocker Olivia Chatman during the semi-final game in the OVC Tournament Nov. 20.

The senior-heavy men’s golf team started their five-tourney fall season with a championship at home, as well, with senior captain Brock Simmons tying for medalist honors before losing with a bogey in a sudden-death playoff.

This finish remained the highest of any Racer for the duration of fall play.

The team placed 11th, third, fifth and ninth, respectively, for the remainder of the season, three tournaments of which were hosted by conference competition. The team’s lineup changed throughout the season, with freshman Gabe Wheeler seeing team play alongside seasoned vet-

see GOLF, 2B

PURCELL LEGEND

MEN’S BASKETBALL

STUDY ABROAD

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Father and son see life as professional athletes, 3B

Racers keep themselves busy over holiday break, 4B

Murray State student reflects on semester in Sydney, 5B

How to shop efficiently on a college budget, 6B

The News

Sports

2B

December 4, 2015 Off the Gridiron

Sports in society and culture

The News’ Athletes of the Semester 1. What was your favorite moment of the season and why?

“It’s hard to single out just one favorite moment after we had such a successful and exciting season, but having the opportunity to play against Morehead State and SEMO in the semi-final and final on our home field in front of our fans was definitely a favorite moment and one we all will remember for a long time, I’m sure.”

Harriet Withers

Soccer Position: Forward Height: 5 foot, 6 inches Hometown: Murwillumbah, Australia High School: Mount St. Patrick College

1. What was your favorite moment of the season and why?

“The OT win at Tennessee State. That’s my favorite moment of the season because we played a full, hard fought game on both sides of the ball and we never gave up.”

2. What is the most important thing you’ve learned in your career here at Murray State?

Hard work, team work and most importantly to have fun. Our coaches have emphasized this from the beginning and I believe this is a large reason for our huge success and continuous improvement not only individually but as a team as well.

KD Humphries

Football Position: Quarterback Height: 6 foot, 3 inches Hometown: Montgomery, Alabama High School: Jefferson Davis High School

3. If you could give advice to a new athlete what would you say to them?

I would definitely let them know that they are about to have the time of their lives, but to be prepared for some tough and physical work.

4. Fun Fact: Tell us something about yourself that most people wouldn’t know.

I am very superstitious when it comes to game day.

VOLLEYBALL From Page 1 We’re going to lose to a team that’s awesome and that’s what happened.”

Regardless of their loss, Schwepker added Megan Lindsay, an outside hitter from Mascoutah High School, Rachel Giustino, an outside hitter from Marian Central Catholic High School and Courtney Radle, a setter from Francis

Howell High School.

“After not bringing in a single player for the class of 2015 I knew my 2016 class had to be really strong,” Schwepker said on GoRacers.com. “Well, that is exactly what this class is.

Not only is this a very athletic, skilled and highly-accomplished group of athletes, they all carry a GPA of over 3.5 and have very high ACT scores. They will be great in the classroom as well as on the volleyball court.”

Heading into the next season, both Schwepker and Ingram said they are excited to see who

steps up, what the new team brings and what happens next season.

“I’m ready to get back at it,” Ingram said. “We’ve got three girls signed. I’m ready to see what they can do. I’m ready to see what teams are going to come back and fight because they took a championship from us and we didn’t want that to happen so I’m kind of hoping we all come back ready to fight.

I know we took the loss pretty hard but I know everybody is going to be coming back ready to go.”

2. What is the most important thing you’ve learned in your career here at Murray State?

“I’ve learned that teamwork and hard work go hand in hand. And just being around great people has made me a better student-athlete.”

3. If you could give advice to a new athlete what would you say to them?

“Understand that you are a student-athlete. You must stay focused in the classroom at all times if you want to help your team on game day.”

4. Fun Fact: Tell us something about yourself that most people wouldn’t know.

“I was very knowledgeable at an early age on athletes and sports in general, my mom used to jokingly tell people I could host a sports show around the age of eight.”

SOCCER From Page 1 and losing to the Volunteers 3-0.

Foxley said the Mississippi State game proved they could beat teams of that caliber.

“I think the moment that changed it for us was winning the Mississippi State game,” she said. “Not many people expected us to beat an SEC school, and we did that.”

Groves said one of his favorite moments of the season was posting an undefeated record in the OVC. “I don’t think it has sunk in for some of the girls yet, but going 10-0 in the conference is something really, really special,” he said. “I just don’t know if other people will be able to match that again. I think our conference is becoming more and more level.”

Going into the spring and into next season, Groves said he thinks the team will be in good shape and feels that they are going to continue the legacy the seniors left behind

GOLF From Page 1

Chalice Keith/The News

The volleyball team walks off the court after losing the OVC title against Belmont after winning eight straight matches.

erans in three of the five tournaments and competing as an individual in the other two.

The men will tee off for the first time in months Feb. 28 at Loyola’s Snowman Getaway in Goodyear, Arizona. A total of five tournaments are scheduled for the spring season, as well, before they travel to Muscle Shoals, Alabama for the OVC Championship April 25.

Tournaments hosted by UT Martin, Tennessee Tech and

this year.

Since the end of the season Groves and his coaching staff have not been able to hit the road for the recruiting trail, but he said this coming weekend is when he will begin to look for his new recruits at a camp in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“I think so far we have gotten over 200 emails from kids who want us to watch them play,” he said. “Even though it is a little overwhelming I think that it’s good to know we are getting the kind of exposure we want too. I think we went to the same event last year and we only had 18 emails.”

Nyomi Devine, sophomore from Beaudesert, Australia, returns as part of a defense that tied for second in the OVC in shutouts with eight.

Devine said she is excited to continue the legacy the seniors are leaving as the team prepares for the upcoming spring.

“Going into next year we definitely have some high standards to reach so the incoming players – it’s going to be tough for them,” she said. “We are going to have to get them used to the standard and keep it going.”

Tennessee State will allow the Racers to gauge their conference competition before their final test of the season.

Hunt “Going into the spring we know we can play with the teams in the conference, and I think the conference race is still wide open,” said Head Coach Eddie Hunt. “I still feel encouraged about the conference championship.”

The News’ pick of the week - Football Kelsey Randolph Sports Editor 21-15 Tyler Dixon Graduate Assistant 23-13 Mary Bradley Editor-in-Chief 18-18 Blake Bernier Staff writer 22-14 Dave Gesler Associate Professor 16-20

Vs.

Vs.

Vs.

Vs.

John Morris

Sports are yearround, not just one season.

There is a lot of involvement with them that includes different cultural and

social aspects.

For example, most everyone loves spending the holidays with family and there is a common family connection, especially when we were young. We loved preparing for whatever festivity was associated with the holiday we celebrate.

These festivities then become our tradition whether it’s with family or not.

Sports have been going on around the holidays for a while.

As we get older some of us look forward to sports as part of the holiday celebration.

The games are usually the big games in the sport or highly-favored teams that play purposefully scheduled around the holidays.

These sports not only bring a sense of tradition but also helps bring awareness for special causes and brings the spirit of the holidays close to home.

Not just the major holidays, but also the different days of the year have meaning and help spread awareness. Most of the commonly watched sports do something to help represent.

Our major sports do a great job connecting and helping with social issues like reaching out to kids. The NBA has NBA Cares and the NFL has NFL Play 60 to get kids active and keeping them out of trouble with after school programs.

For example, around Veterans Day the NFL and NBA do a salute the troops campaigns.

Players wear camouflage uniforms and team websites show appreciation to those who serve by changing the theme or promoting awareness for the organization on their site.

Also breast cancer awareness, which is the month of October plays a big part in sports. Players and teams wear the color pink to show support for breast cancer research and awareness.

During Halloween some of the kids prepare for the games and will wear their favorite teams jerseys even the athletes do too. Some of the biggest events are those during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday.

We see athletes from every sport donating food to families for Thanksgiving and Christmas donating.

This year Cam Newton, quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, gave out Thanksgiving meals in North Carolina for a whole day. A lot of teams do the turkey giveaway for their service.

Even though these athletes are our source of entertainment during these holiday seasons, they stay connected and humble. They make themselves examples of what the seasons are about, and we build traditions based on these actions. Every big season and holiday’s sports are incorporated and play a big part in families.

Internationally, sports even have their own holiday. In Japan, they have a day of exercise and health to commemorate the opening of the 1964 Summer Olympics. It’s held on the second Monday of October and they have a field day that resembles some of the Olympic Games. This shows sports have a global connection they’re not just important to the US. College football always holds the championship bowl games on New Year’s Day. The NBA has a Black History month campaign for the month of February where they highlight black basketball players and coaches. Some of the big time players get their uniforms and shoes customized for representation. ESPN has segments during February recognizing a lot of the accomplishments of black athletes and coaches in the sports world.

Sports are year-round and I believe this helps them connect with the different holidays and trends.

Whether it’s just participating in a holiday or supporting an important movement, we see the connection year in and year out.

The News

Sports

December 4, 2015

Bennie and Mel:

3B

The great Purcells

Father and son see the world as professional athletes 28 seasons as head coach and was named Coach of the Year eight times.

Blake Bernier || Staff writer dbernier@murraystate.edu

Bennie Purcell and his son, Mel, had stellar careers in their respective sports, but many around the campus of Murray State don’t know about these two legends.

HEIR TO THE LEGACY

THE LEGENDARY FATHER

Bennie spent his college career as a basketball player for the Murray State Thoroughbreds, and he became the first player in Murray State history to score 1,000 points. He was also the first to have his number retired. In his first season with the Breds, Bennie was an instant crowd favorite.

As described in the 1949 edition of The Shield, Murray State’s former yearbook, “The crowd always cheered and knew what would happen when Bennie Purcell came onto the floor, complete attention was commanded from the spectators by Bennie’s fast zigzag dribbling.”

Two years later in his junior year, Bennie helped bring home the first OVC championship in school history in 1951.

Bennie made the All-OVC Tournament team and received an honorable mention on the United Press All-American team.

Upon graduation, Bennie entered the NBA draft and the Baltimore Bullets, one of just 10 NBA teams at the time, selected him with the first pick in the 12th round. However, after missing the final cut for the Bullets, he decided to traveled with the Globetrotters full-time as a member of the Washington Generals.

“I had two choices, I could go into the Eastern league,

Photo courtesy of The Shield

Bennie Purcell goes up for a layup in his junior season. He and his son, Mel, became professional athletes. which was the only other pro league besides the NBA or I could go with the Globetrotters,” Bennie said.

He traveled to 46 countries and helped entertain thousands, and the memories he has could fill a book. One such memory occurred during a game in Wembley Stadium in London.

Bennie said the Globetrotters had a routine where one of the players wouldn’t play on the defensive end and when they inbounded the ball, after a made shot, they would throw it the length of the floor to the player and he would wait for the defender to get there and let him jump a few times before he made the shot.

“The guy grabs the ball and

threw it all the way down there and it went right in the goal,” Bennie explained. “They never even clapped. They thought it was part of the show. We about died because that’d never happened and we just about flipped out and they never even clapped.”

Another funny moment happened while playing in Iraq.

During warm-ups, one of the players broke the backboard so they played the whole game without a backboard.

“I don’t know how many times somebody would dribble down there and forget and try to shoot a bank shot and the ball just went out in the grass,” Bennie recalled.

Once Bennie decided to stop playing basketball, he

Rifle ranks second Alec Mullins

Contributing writer amullins2@murraystate.edu

With the 2015 portion of their schedule finished, the Murray State Rifle team stands at second overall in the NCAA. Starting the season ranked sixth, the Racers climbed the ladder of rankings with the help of some record breaking performances and consistency.

Opening the season with a wide 4,676-4,508 win over UT Martin, the team had several standout performances.

Ivan Roe, sophomore from Manhattan, Montana, put up a career high 587 smallbore score to finish as the top shooter in the event, alongside Tessa Howald, senior from Ozark, Missouri, who shot a match-high 591 in air rifle. The team effort was good enough to move the team into fifth overall just before the Ole Miss Invitational, where shooting 4,676 once again was good enough for a second place finish behind the third ranked Texas Christian.

The first records were broken in a loss to the Kentucky, where the Racers shot a program high 2,341 in smallbore

and tied the team’s season high in air rifle with 2,352.

Those two performances combined were enough to set a new program high 4,693 overall score and move the team up another rank.

The same records were broken again in a Tri-Match against conference opponents Morehead State and Jacksonville State. Shooting 2,348 in smallbore and a season high 2,366 in air rifle to finish with a school-record 4714 aggregate propelled the team over Jacksonville State’s 4,628 and Morehead’s 4,587.

After the Tri-Match, the team was tied for the top ranking with West Virginia heading into the Buckeye Open hosted by Ohio State.

Shooting an aggregate 4,699, the second best score in program history, pushed the team over Ohio State, Nevada, Morehead State and TCU. Another victory came against Morehead State before the Racers traveled to Stile Athletics Field House in Akron, Ohio, for Akron’s Championship Rehearsal Match. In a loss to West Virginia 4,697-4,692, Roe shot a career individual total at 1,183 with MacKenzie Martin fol-

lowing close behind at 1,171.

This loss pushed the team back to fourth where they would remain for only one week before moving to third, despite not having a match.

In the last match of 2015, Ivan Roe’s career high 591 in smallbore and his 594 in air rifle together combined for a career high aggregate total of 1,185. The Racers would eclipse the 4,700 team aggregate score for the second time in the program’s history and the second time this season. Placing first in a fiveteam event at Jacksonville State, the team moved to second in the nation where they will remain until competition resumes in 2016.

Without team competition for almost two months, the first match of the New Year will be a Tri-Match against Ole Miss and Jacksonville State at 9 a.m. in Oxford, Mississippi. However, Roe, Ben Estes, sophomore from Ozark, Missouri, MacKenzie Martin, freshman from Fairhaven, Massachusetts, and Alathea Sellars, freshman from Puryear, Tennessee, from the team will travel to the Olympic Training Center in December to compete in USA Shooting’s Winter Air Gun Championship.

Lori Allen/The News

Ke’Shunan James, sophomore forward, dribbles past a defender in Wednesday’s 70-57 loss.

returned to Murray State and took over as the assistant basketball coach. Then in 1968 at age 39, he was given the job of head coach for men’s tennis.

As a natural athlete, Bennie quickly picked up the game of tennis despite not playing much prior to his appointment.

By the time Bennie was 45, he was ranked as the number one tennis player in the state of Kentucky and retained that ranking until he was 65 and retired from playing competitively.

One of the most amazing accomplishments in all of sports happened under the direction of Bennie. For 10 straight years the men’s tennis team won the OVC Championship. He won 11 OVC Championships in his

Mel showed excellent handeye coordination at an early age and proficiency at most sports, but by the age of 12 his father told him he had to choose one sport.

“I made the seventh grade basketball team, but I was coming back around 5:30 so it was dark and we weren’t playing any tennis, so he (Bennie) told me right then I had to make a decision on what sport,” Mel said. “So I stuck with tennis.”

This small decision shaped the rest of Mel’s life and professional career. Mel was elected to play tennis full-time and played for the high school team from the time he was in third grade until he graduated. Then he went to the state championships every year starting in fifth grade. Mel won the state title for singles in his senior year of high school after losing in the finals the previous two years ,and he knew tennis was in his future.

“The only thing I wanted to do was play college tennis and then go pro,” Mel said.

Tennis provided him with the opportunity to play all over the world, just like basketball did for Bennie. In his first year as a pro, Mel boosted his Association of Tennis Professionals ranking into the top 40 and earned the ATP Rookie of the Year award.

“Growing up hearing those stories, I wanted to travel and do stuff, too,” Mel said. “He just intrigued us with all these stories of playing with the Globetrotters.”

Mel’s career allowed him

to collect stories as well. In 1982 during a semi-final match Mel trailed 5-1 in the 3rd set and Johnny Carson left the match. Mel went on to win the match and the next day at the award ceremony, after losing to Jimmy Connors, Mel said to Carson “I hear you counted me out yesterday. Thanks a lot,” and Carson replied, “You’re right, I left early. You got me on that one.”

One of Mel’s funniest memories is a match in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1987 when nuns booed him. He waved to the nuns in the stands before the match and won the first set.

Then in the second set he got a little heated at some of the calls made by the line judge and decided to let him know he wasn’t happy with his calls.

“I sit down after I lost the second set and all of the sudden I just hear behind me ‘Boo! Boo Mel Purcell! You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Boo Mel Purcell’ and of course it’s those four nuns,” Mel said.

Looking back on his professional career Mel said he doesn’t have any regrets except one.

“I wouldn’t do it any different way,” Mel said. “I would’ve liked to have won a few more matches, but it was entertaining and I think I learned all my entertainment values and skill from my father, who learned it all from the original great Globetrotters.”

Mel continued to follow in his father’s footsteps when he was named the successor to Bennie and become the next men’s tennis coach in 1996 and in 2001 and 2002 he led the Racers to back-to-back OVC Championships and won Coach of the Year.

Women look to rebound

Jenny Rohl/The News

Jashea Lee, senior forward, goes up for a layup in the 70-57 loss to SIU on Wednesday.

Mark McFarland

Assistant Sports Editor mmcfarland1@murraystate.edu

The Racers look to rebound Saturday after posting a fivegame losing streak since winning the first two games.

Murray State started off the season defeating Oakland City and Alabama A&M by a combined score of 167-134. However in the five games since then, the Racers have lost by a combined score of 355309, while losing three of the games by 10 or more points.

Coach Rob Cross said that the defense is something that has been lacking in the past few games and has been the difference during the losing streak.

“Defensively we really never could get the intensity back and pull their confidence back,” Cross said. “We just did a bad job with what we were supposed to do defensively.”

The Racers came home after two away games, on Wednes-

day, to take on Southern Illinois. In the first few minutes of the game it looked like it would be a shootout as both teams put their first six points on the board from behind the three-point line, as SIU scored its first 12 off of threes. SIU ended the game shooting 45 percent from the three-point line. Cross said they need to get significantly better with defending the perimeter.

“We have to get dramatically better in that area,” Cross said. “Evansville is a great three-point shooting team, and right now after tonight we are probably giving up around 38 percent from the three-point line.”

Ke’Shunan James, sophomore from Jackson, Tennessee, led the Racers with 19 points on the night and senior Jashae Lee, senior from Rialto, California, followed closely behind with 15 points. Lee said her success came because of how she was able to get to the basket and beat defenders

with her aggressiveness.

“On my behalf, it was just me being more aggressive,” Lee said. “I think that I noticed that Pierre and their other post players I could attack them and I could get past them and I’d be able to score.”

SIU defeated the Racers 70-57 to hand Murray State its fifth consecutive loss.

The Racers will look to turn things around when they travel to the University of Evansville to take on the Purple Aces. Evansville comes into the game with a record of 1-5 and is averaging 61.5 points per game. The Racers have a 2-5 record and are averaging 68 points per game.

Sara Dickey is the leading scorer for Evansville with 14.7 points per game and 4.8 rebounds. James leads the Racers with 18.1 points per game and 6.4 rebounds per game.

Defensively the Racers are allowing 69.6 points per game while the Purple Aces are allowing 72.6 points.

The News

Sports

4B

Racer softball goes 7-1, outscores opponents Blake Bernier Staff writer

dbernier@murraystate.edu

The Murray State softball team finished their fall season 7-1 and outscored opponents 72-16 in their eight games.

Their most lopsided victory 18-0 came in the first game of a doubleheader against Heartland Community College. In the game the Racers collected 23 hits, three stolen bases and six extra base hits.

During the fall season, the Racers pitching staff recorded five shutouts and a 1.93 ERA. They also had more than a 2:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Last year’s OVC Player of the Year, Jessica Twaddle, led the team with a .636 batting average and tied with fellow junior Maggie Glass in RBIs with 11. Glass hit five homeruns out of 11 hits.

The fall season served its purpose as it gave Head Coach Kara Amundson an opportunity to see some of her new players in live game action.

Freshmen Brenna Finck, Morgan Edwards, Leah Kesel, Madison Culver and Amber Van Duyse each got to play during the fall season. Culver led the way offensively for the freshmen batting .600 second best on the team, while Van Duyse pitched in four games and allowed one earned run over 17.0 innings and finished 2-0 with two saves.

After losing their starting shortstop from last season, Amundson had to move Glass over from third base. The Racers turned 33 double plays last year to lead the conference and with the change at shortstop the defense didn’t miss a beat during the fall, turning four double plays.

Another challenge for Amundson heading into the new season was replacing the all-time leader in Murray State history in several pitching categories, CheyAnne Gaskey.

Two pitchers stood out in the fall season as likely candidates to take over the role of team ace. Sophomore Haven Campbell and junior Mason Robinson combined had a 5-0 record with a 0.00 ERA and an opposing batting average under .200. Robinson allowed one hit over 15 innings for a minuscule opposing batting average of .022 and had five walks with 16 strikeouts.

Amundson secured a spot in three tournaments for the Racers this year to help prepare them for OVC play. The first game of the regular season will be at 9 a.m. Feb. 12, against Loyola University Chicago in Georgia as part of the 2016 Kickoff Classic tournament. The Racers will open conference play on the road at 1 p.m. March 19, against Southeast Missouri State.

First season under new coach finishes Mallory Tucker Staff writer

mtucker11@murraystate.edu

The Racers put their second consecutive three-win season to rest with a 42-20 road loss to No. 1 Jacksonville State Nov. 21.

Under the leadership of firstyear Head Coach Mitch Stewart, the Racers saw glimmers of hope in a slew of hard-fought losses and individual accolades throughout the year. Before heading into the offseason and preparing for weightlifting and a few spring games, let’s review some of the highs – and lows – of 2015.

The season opener against Kentucky Wesleyan provided the Racers’ biggest win of the season. They bested the Panthers 52-12 on senior night to start the season with high morale.

A four-game losing streak followed the Racers’ initial victory as they fell to two non-conference teams before losing to Tennessee Tech on Family Weekend. They went on to lose 27-10 to Southeast Missouri State on the road, a loss that haunted Stewart throughout the duration of the season.

The Racers returned with a 34-18 Homecoming victory over rival Austin Peay State before tacking two more losses onto their record. Their final win of the season came in an overtime road win over Tennessee State before a heartbreaking double overtime home loss to Eastern Kentucky just before traveling to Jacksonville, Alabama to end the season with a loss that wasn’t for lack of effort.

“I told the team this, I said, ‘Look here, most people in our situations they get to that last game, they take their toys, they go home, they pack it in.

They’re done,’” Stewart said.

“That ain’t our style.”

A 3-8 record isn’t what Racer fans hoped for, but with starting quarterback KD Humphries’ last year of eligibility being the 2016 season, there is a light at the end of the spring season tunnel.

“When you have a good player like that, there’s a lot up in the air,” Stewart said.

“You’re hoping that they come back and they continue the success that they’ve had the previous year. That guy’s one of the most blue-collar guys we’ve got on the team. Every summer he’s found a way to stay with somebody – sleep on somebody’s couch, find a job or whatever he had to do – to stay here and throw with the receivers.”

Humphries broke former quarterback and current quarterback coach Casey Brockman’s 2012 single-season passing record, finishing the year with 3,778. Humphries also replaced Brockman’s record for single-season attempts with 532 and placed seventh for the 2015 STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year Award. Voted on by over 150 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters and other journalists, the quarterback, who leads the FCS in passing yards, passing yards per game, completions and attempts, appeared on 32 ballots and received six first-place votes. Humphries threw 22 touchdown passes throughout the 2015 season and

Jenny Rohl/The News

Janawski Davis, senior wide receiver, returns a kickoff during the Homecoming game. just seven interceptions, landing a spot on the All-OVC Second Team as well.

Juniors Roman Clay and Jesse Blackburn and senior DeQuinten Spraggins joined Humphries on the All-OVC Second Team with four total, this was the largest quantity to receive All-OVC honors since the Racers’ 2011 season. Clay totaled 916 yards and 189 carries over the duration of the season, including 11 touchdowns and five games of 100-plus rushing yards. Blackburn, a tight end known for his hands, added 48 catches for 612 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 12.8 yards per catch. Spraggins led the team in tackles with 90 total and 50 solo. Four of his tackles resulted in a total

loss of 13 yards. He also added two interceptions and broke up eight passes, five of which were in the Eastern Kentucky matchup.

Redshirt freshman punter Landon Stratton was named to the 2015 College Football Performance Awards Special Teams Watch List, one of only three freshmen to receive the honor. Stratton averaged 42.1 yards on 52 punts throughout the season without even one block, ranking him 19th in the FCS. He had nine touchbacks and was named OVC Specialist of the Week after the Racers’ loss at Western Michigan.

Injuries plagued the team heavily throughout the season as Stewart and his staff worked tirelessly to patch together

strings of athletes to last a full four quarters. Throughout both the many troubles and few triumphs, however, the team still had fun.

“You get maybe a couple of turnovers that don’t hit the floor, a couple of things go different there, the ball bounces a little different there,” Stewart said. “We’ve been in every ball game. You’ve got a realistic shot to be sitting here with a record that puts you as one of the top teams in the conference. I really truly believe that. Man, we’re so close. And I think that’s what’s made it so fun this year. I know that sounds weird to say with the record, but it’s made it so fun, but at the same time it’s made it very heart wrenching.”

Racers stay busy over holiday break Kelsey Randolph Sports Editor

krandolph3@murraystate.edu

Returning home after a few weeks on the road, the Racers come back to the CFSB Center with a close loss to Georgia, a second place trophy in the Gulf Coast Showcase, another close win over Alabama A&M and a loss to Houston.

In a late lead against the Georgia Bulldogs on Nov. 20 the Racers led 50-48 in the last four and a half minutes left in the game. With a good outlook, the Racers’ junior guard Bryce Jones made a three-point play but it was not match for the last minute 3-pointers made by the Bulldogs. Jones, freshman guard Chad Culbreath and junior guard Damarcus Croaker finished the night with 11 points each.

The Racers held the Bulldogs to a 30 percent shooting on 17 of 57 shots but Murray State was 17 of 56.

During the Georgia game, senior forward Jeffery Moss had 996 career points and met his 1,000 points in the first round of the Gulf Coast Showcase the following week.

In a second half surge the Racers beat the University of Wisconsin Milwuakee 66-63 in the first round of the Gulf

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Jenny Rohl/The News

Bryce Jones, junior guard, goes down the court during the game against Alabama A&M Nov. 28.

Coast Showcase.

After falling behind in the first half and down by nine points in the first minute of the second half, three three-pointers were made by Jones, putting the Racers in the lead. Not backing down, junior guard Justin Seymour hit a jumper and three more 3-pointers followed by one from junior forward Gee McGhee finished the Racers with a close finish.

Advancing to the second round of the showcase, Murray State faced Pepperdine in the semifinals, winning 59-55.

Against the Pepperdine Waves, the Racers continued to trail, mirroring the two previous games until a pair of free throws from Jones, a layup from Culbreath, a point from senior forward Wayne Langston and a three-point foul followed by two free

throws put the Racers ahead.

“I’m so proud of these guys,” Head Coach Matt McMahon said on GoRacers.com. “They fought like crazy and I believe they were down with about five minutes to go and it just really locked in defensively and we got stop after stop and then for the first time really all game the last two and a half minutes our guys really executed extremely well at the offensive end.”

Finishing the Gulf Coast Showcase in the finals, the Racers faced Weber State for a 75-59 loss.

Murray State was in the lead until two shows made by Weber in the second half took them in their largest lead of the game. After that the Wildcats continued to shoot well leaving the Racers to trail the rest of the game.

During the three games, the

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Racers’ Langston averaged 15 points and four rebounds shooting 74 percent on 20 of 27 from the field.

Along with other schools, Langston was named to the All Tournament Team.

Returning home to play Alabama A&M, the Racers won in a 63-61 game against the Bulldogs. Moss’s jumper and Langston’s free throw lead the team with 1:42 left in the game.

Leading in the half the Racers only trailed by one rebound total and limited the Bulldogs to three offensive rebounds in the second half.

“We’re entering the last week of the semester and we’re going to hold them accountable,” McMahon said.

“Just like we hold them accountable on the basketball court I’m going to hold them accountable in the classroom.

They really will have a lot of

study hall hours. We really need to lock in and finish the semester strong.”

Wednesday night the Racers faced the Houston Cougars and lost 98-73.

The Racers fought a hard game, despite Croaker sitting out the game. McGhee led the team with 17 points followed by Jones and Moss with 14 points and Culbreath with 11. The closest score the two game to see what in the second half when Sanchious made a layup putting the Racers only 12 points behind the Cougars with 12:46 left in the game.

The Cougars were still no match for the Racers when they continued to climb the point ladder, winning the game.

The Racers, 5-3 return home and play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday against Evansville, 6-1.

December 4, 2015

5B

The News

Features

Features Editor: Connor Jaschen Assistant Features Editor: Gisselle Hernandez Phone: 270-809-5871 Twitter: MSUNewsFeatures

­

Abby Siegel Assistant News Editor asiegel@murraystate.edu

Some days she would hike for hours alongside the coastline, finding herself on her own private beach, stopping to journal or let the Tasman Sea flow between her toes. Other days she would focus on her studies at the University of Technology, Sydney, working alongside her Argentinean lab partner. The weekends consisted of going to open markets, purchasing the freshest foods and at night adventuring into the city, searching for excitement with her closest friends from across the globe.

She did this while other Murray State students sat in classrooms somewhere in western Kentucky.

Shannon Wood, junior from St. Louis, studied abroad in Sydney during spring 2015, taking engineering classes to stay on track with her major at Murray State. The grading system was much harder, she said, and focused more on independent learning in big lecture halls.

“It’s hard because you want to ask questions and you want to learn, but you know you talk funny,” Wood said.

Wood said her dialect made it easy for others to recognize her as the American.

“As soon as I opened my mouth they knew exactly where I was from, and I didn’t want to be categorized like ‘the

stupid American,’ because we already get bad vibes,” she said.

Her friends found her accent fascinating, especially how she pronounced “calculator,” as the Australian accent doesn’t include the “r” sound at the end.

“They never had seen a graphing calculator before,” she said. “I convinced them you could Instagram off of it.”

Many people in Australia use public transportation, constantly integrating people going many directions, representing many nationalities. Wood made friends from across the globe.

Her best friend being from Canada.

“We all were so different but we fit so well together,” Wood said. “I felt like I was part of the world.”

INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

“I think you never regret traveling – ever,” she said.

The list of reasons to study abroad is extensive in Wood’s mind.

People from other nations, like Europe, know many languages as they continue to learn them throughout their education. Wood said she took Spanish in high school but didn’t take it as seriously as she wishes she would have – classes like this make more sense to her after having met people who are multilingual.

She said she believes studying abroad makes you more informed about the world. It teaches you how other people live, she said.

Even greater than that, leaving home taught her much about her own beliefs, something she believes you only can have by going on an adventure.

“You have to leave home to see what your beliefs are,” she said. “Religion is such a consequence of where you are born.”

Studying abroad also opened Wood

Wood discovered what it was like to be an international student, and her perspective of international students at Murray State changed because of her own experience.

“Once you know what it is like to be a ‘stupid’ international student, you kind of get it more,” she said.

She had an experience where she was unknowingly on the wrong bus and was ridiculed by the driver. Wood said she was glad to know the language, as she realized that other people don’t always have it as easy, just based on the country they live in and the language they grow up learning.

Wood also gained an international perspective through the diversity found within the citizens of Sydney.

“It is not like Murray where you can look at someone and know where they are from,” she said. “When you look at someone and you never know what is going to come out of their mouth.”

WHY STUDY ABROAD?

Semester in review

Breanna Sill || Staff writer

to express their disdain over what the travelling church was preaching on campus. Some even wrote to President Bob Davies on his Facebook page to ask him to address the issue, but due to the location of the demonstration on campus, no matter how many complaints were issued, they were allowed to remain and preach their message, regardless of how upset it made students.

bsill@murraystate.edu

From MTV superstars to traveling churches, this fall semester had a little bit of everything to keep students entertained. Here is a look back on some of the most mentionable occurrences of the fall semester.

CAMPUS PLUNGE

A record amount of money was raised in a record amount of time on Nov. 12 for Alpha Sigma Alpha’s philanthropy, the Special Olympics at their second annual Campus Plunge. Before the event, the organization had a goal of reaching $12,000, but by the end of the night, the girls had not only raised that amount, but surpassed it by raising $13,272.

As part of the Campus Plunge, 170 people took the plunge down an inflatable slide located on the Quad.

Fourteen teams participated in the event, along with a few last minute additions, but members of the sorority said this year the participation from the whole university was much higher than the past year. They said they have high hopes for next year’s event and hope to surpass their goals once again.

CHRIS THILE

Chris Thile, member of the

TODRICK HALL

Chalice Keith/The News

Todrick Hall came to Murray State this semester, drawing crowds of students to the CFSB Center. band Nickel Creek and the quintet “Punch Brothers”, performed at Lovett Auditorium on Oct. 29 and raised more than $28,000 for Murray State’s Music Department.

Why would this cause be so near and dear to Thile’s heart? Because he is an alum of the Murray State College of Humanities and Fine Arts as a music major.

Thile made Murray State the first stop on his solo United States tour. This was the first major benefit concert on campus where all the proceeds are donated back to the university.

The money raised, named the Chris Thile Music Scholarship, will go toward creating scholarships within the Music Depart-

ment for students.

BIBLE GROUP In October, a visiting church to

campus stirred controversy when they preached their message while standing in the Free Speech zone near the Curris Center.

The group, called Truth on the Web Ministries, took to campus toting signs that read things like “Trust and obey Jesus, repent and sin no more.”

They also had other signs that were not as tame and sent many students into outrage.

Some members of the church were as young as nine years old.

Students took to social media networks like Twitter and Yik Yak

On Sept. 28, Murray State’s campus was graced by MTV and social media superstar, Todrick Hall. Fans rushed to the CFSB Center for their chance to see the artist perform some of his hit cover songs, along with some of his famous skits.

After having first come into the spotlight after a stint on “American Idol,” Hall took the social media world by storm and created his own web series called “Toddy’s World,” which is where most of his oldest fans know him from.

After the event, fans were treated to a special screening of the newest episode of his MTV show, “Todrick,” and a meet and greet with the artist.

During his time at Murray State, Hall performed covers of hit songs like “Stay with Me” by Sam Smith.

And his message to fans who are struggling with finding themselves and figuring out who they want to be?

“It gets better.”

to differences in social norms, ideas of respect and even differing ideas of distance and measurement as she pursued her studies. Of all she discovered she intends to keep hold of one Australian principle without doubt.

“I’m trying to keep the thing where you just consider everyone to be people,” she said.

She said she often categorizes people by their nationality and behaviors – something common for Americans.

“Everyone is just a person, and being in such a diverse city makes it normal,” she said.

Another principle: speak your mind.

“If you want something or you don’t think something is right – say it,” she said. “They don’t ‘sugar fake coat’ the way we do.”

Wood said the International Studies Abroad program provider offered a great Pacific option for her study abroad experience and she encourages other students to take an adventure abroad.

“You aren’t with Murray students necessarily, so you get the opportunity to branch out on your own and really be yourself,” she said.

Upon returning home the size of her once medium-sized city of St. Louis suddenly became terribly small.

“I find myself wondering all the time, ‘was that really real?’ ‘Was that really my life?’ and ‘How do I get that back?,’” she said.

Photo courtesy by Shannon Wood

Murray State student experiences life down under

Sigma Pi collects pop tabs to pay for child’s chemo Brianna Willis Staff writer bwillis2@murraystate.edu

With Thanksgiving having come and gone and Christmas coming up, “giving back” is the reason for the season. Sigma Pi is stepping up to match this giving spirit.

Caleb Ellis, senior from Henderson Kentucky, is a member of Sigma Pi at Murray State. His girlfriend informed him of a patient at her place of work that needed chemotherapy treatment. Unfortunately, the child’s family could not afford the treatment. Ellis was motivated to do something.

“As soon as I found out that this child’s family was having trouble being able to afford chemotherapy I knew that I needed to do something,” he said.

Ellis said that he noticed how many “pop tabs” that he and his fellow fraternity

brothers had lying around, and felt compelled to use them to help raise money for the child’s chemotherapy treatment.

By collecting one gallon of tabs from aluminum cans, Sigma Pi was able to raise enough money for one chemotherapy treatment.

“I decided to collect these pop tabs because I believe everybody should have a fighting chance,” he said.

Philanthropy is a crucial part of many fraternities, including Sigma Pi. “The Greek community donates a large amount of money to their respective philanthropic organizations yearly,” he said.

The process of getting the pop tabs was easier having his fraternity brothers help him, Ellis said. By getting everyone involved, the time consuming process of collecting cans and

see POP TABS, 6B

Homecoming theme contest returns to university Gisselle Hernandez

Assistant Features Editor ghernandez1@murraystate.edu

The Murray State Alumni Association and the Student Government Association are hosting a contest whereby students, faculty and alumni may submit ideas for next year’s Homecoming theme.

The submission contest was launched on Nov. 20 and closes on Monday, allowing students, faculty and alumni to submit themes sprung from their own creativity, as there is no strict prompt or criteria other than it being inoffensive and all-inclusive. This is the first time in five years that the process of choosing the Homecoming

theme has been done using a submission contest.

The contest, which is open to the entire university community, does not have a set prompt, yet Mark Welch, director of Community Relations and Alumni Affairs, said the coordinating organizations are mostly looking for creative ideas that reflect the values of Murray State.

“I think we’d also like it to have a fun and whimsical element to it,” he said.

The theme for Homecoming 2015, “Raise your S.H.I.E.L.D,” was chosen by the Homecoming committee, and while themes have always proven to have been successful in the past, a contest is a sure way to gain stu-

dent involvement, said Jeanie Morgan, adviser of the SGA and student organizations on campus.

Homecoming, which is mostly considered an alumni event hosted by the SGA, Murray State Alumni Association and Racer Athletics, has been pushed back to the last weekend of October 2016 in order to give organizations more time to prepare. With events such as Family Weekend and Fall Break filling up students’ time, it leaves less time for students to meet with their organizations to discuss Homecoming, Morgan said.

Early preparation for conducting one of the university’s major events led to the

choosing of the Homecoming theme from the year before, as opposed to the previous year where the 2015 superhero theme was decided in February. Welch said planning early is key to minimize issues when the time comes.

“We are hoping our students will submit some [creative ideas] even though Homecoming seems to be far away,” he said. “Even though Homecoming is a couple of weeks later than normal, it’s upon us pretty quickly after we begin the fall semester.”

Planning begins almost as soon as the previous Homecoming is over. Katie Payne, Associate Director of Alumni Affairs, said discussions need to began as early as possible

to engage students while they are on campus rather than in the summer when they are back home, giving no feedback to contests occurring at Murray State.

Despite the chance of students being too busy studying for finals during the last weeks of school to submit a theme, Payne is confident it should not pose a problem.

“We made sure to set the deadline the Monday of finals,” she said. “Hoping maybe while people are kind of the middle of that finals-caffeine-excitement they will have a creative burst of energy and submit an idea.”

Nine theme ideas have already been submitted as of

Monday, with submissions being received across the board, including student, faculty and alumni alike. The Homecoming committee begins judging after the deadline of Dec. 7, and narrows potential winners to a select few. The initial plan is to allow the entire student body to vote during Spring elections on the select few and choose a winner. The winner is to be announced in the Spring, with the prize being the honor of having one’s theme chosen for the massive event that welcomes alumni back “home.”

Interested participants can submit their theme before Dec. 7 at www.raceralumni. com/hc2016.

The News

Features

6B FRIDAY

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

December 4, 2015

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

7:00 p.m.

Town & Gown Community Band and Chorale Christmas concert, Murray First Baptist Church

12:00 p.m.

Holiday Laser Light Shows, Land Between the Lakes Golden Pond Planetarium

1:00 p.m.

Art Market Holiday Open House, Murray Art Guild

8:00 a.m.

Conscious Mark MakingAdvanced Drawing Show, Curris Center gallery

All Day Christmas in the Park, Chestnut park

5:30 p.m.

Christmas Cafe presents “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” First United Methodist Church

All Day “The Music Man,” Playhouse in the Park

The college student’s guide to holiday shopping Da’Sha Tuck || Staff writer dtuck@murraystate.edu

HIT THE SALES

After Thanksgiving is over and families have been grateful for all joys of the year, it’s time to break out the ads and make the battle plan.

The door busters begin in a few hours and the line is already wrapping around the building. This is where your dedication will count.

If fighting the crowd is not for you, there is always online deals. Some are available on Black Friday, while other stores host sales throughout the weekend.

“I did a lot of Cyber Monday shopping,” said Lizzie Shaylor, junior from Mayfield Kentucky. “Sales in general are always good, if you look really hard you can find good things in the clearance section.”

Shaylor said people should never underestimate the dollar sections when shopping in-store.

ORGANIZE AND CONQUER

Organization and planning is key to successful holiday shopping. Waiting until the last second can lead to desperation, which, in turn, leads to spending more money than was allotted.

Kelsey Huelsmann, senior from Trenton, Illinois, said she makes a list with the names of everyone she needs to buy for and then divides her budget.

“I try to find the cheapest ways of giving them the items on their wish list,” Huelsmann said. “I am not creative so I like to buy a lot of little things that won’t cost much.”

POP TABS

From Page 5B

taking the tabs off became less cumbersome.

“My fraternity brothers helped out so much by taking the tabs off hundreds of cans,” he said, “It isn’t hard to support something when it means so much to you.”

Sam Sonnier, junior from Louisville, Kentucky, helped his fellow brother by collecting tabs from aluminum cans.

“This is especially important because it could be the difference between life and death for someone,” he said, “It is also so easy to collect pop tabs.”

Sonnier said philanthropy is everywhere and said more people don’t get involved because the word itself sounds bigger than it is.

“Most people think to be philanthropic you have to

donate thousands of dollars,” he said, “Helping your elderly neighbor rake leaves is philanthropy and easy too while making a huge difference for them.”

Sonnier said he felt motivated to help Ellis because cancer specifically is so horrific, and anything to alleviate a challenge for the child is something worth doing.

The fight to cure the cancer for the child is not over though.

“We have donated enough for one treatment, with leftovers from the first donation,” Sonnier said.

Ellis said they are going to continue collecting pop tabs.

“I think I can collect enough to get his entire treatment free,” he said. “If anybody has any pop tabs or would like to know more they can feel free to contact me.”

For those wishing to donate, they can contact Ellis through email, at cellis10@ murraystate.edu.

GET THE BALL ROLLING EARLY

After the holiday rush is over, many stores will have sales. Here you can find a lot of good deals, like stocking stuffers for next year.

No victory is too small, so if you find those adorable fuzzy socks or scarf and glove set for 50 percent off, pick it up with pride because you have the leg up on next year.

If you can’t start as early as the year before, that’s OK. Just start as early as possible.

“I start early and take my time using coupons and finding the best sales,” said Paige Tobye, sophomore from Sturgis, Kentucky.

Tobye said she shops little by little. She said the most overwhelming thing to her is to pick one day and expect to get everything bought and taken care of. She said that adds anxiety to a time that is supposed to be fun.

IT’S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS

When all else fails, use your talent to wow those on your list.

“Homemade gifts are always sweet,” Shaylor said.

Pinterest is your best friend at this point.

“I find that making my own gifts is usually cheaper than buying something that has already been made,” said Madelyn Hogrebe, junior from St. Louis.

Crafting during dead week or finals week could help alleviate some of that end of the semester stress that college students are overwhelmed with. So, this is a win-win situation.

Whether it is a canvas, coasters, birdseed or hot chocolate in a mason jar remember it’s the thought that counts.

“I make a lot of homemade things,” Tobye said. “Last year, my boyfriend and I made sugar scrub for several people on our list. It was cheap but it made the perfect gift.”

Don’t get caught up in the hustle and bustle that consumes the holiday season. Have fun with your shopping because at the end of the day it’s not about the gifts under the tree but those who are around it.

Photo courtesy of pixabay.com

College students are famous for being broke year-round. However, it is the time of the year when people have to make a dollar stretch; it’s time for holiday shopping.

There are several approaches to preparing for gift-giving. Some people start shopping as early as the year before, taking advantage of the sales; others wait until the last possible moment, fighting crowds at the mall on some of its busiest days.

There are pros and cons to each side, but the end goal is to get the most bang for your buck. This is even more true for college students, and there are more ways than one to achieve the ultimate shopping experience.

International student reflects on Murray Abby Siegel

Assistant News Editor asiegel@murraystate.edu

After nearly completing three semesters at Murray State, Hsin Pei Tsai, “Perry,” freshman from Taipei, Taiwan, isn’t ready to say goodbye to his time as a Murray State Racer.

So he has decided not to by extending his time at the university.

Tsai completed a one-year program as an international exchange student, taking courses that would transfer back to his university in Taiwan. He decided this wasn’t enough for him and became a fulltime Racer instead, double majoring in marketing and biology with hopes to one day become a pilot.

His interests are wide and he said Murray State offers majors he cannot pursue in his home country. In the business college at his Taiwanese university, there are

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only five majors, including finance almost got frostbite when he exand international business. perienced snow for the first time.

Each major has about 200 or Every Saturday, Tsai cooks at 300 students, making the class Winslow and this is where he has sizes very large, Tsai said. met many friends from different Although his ultimate career cultures such as Japan, China and goal and current majors don’t India. align perfectly, Tsai said he con “We cook dishes from our tinues to pursue them because he countries and that is what makes finds them to be interesting. it an interesting and exciting job,” “I want to learn more interest- from he said.

“I am very appreciative Across Marathon ing things and learn more about of my manager who gives me this at Five-Points American culture,” Tsai said. experience.”

(270) 753-1953 On his Thanksgiving Break, Sunday mornings, a bus from Tsai cooked three dishes for the First Baptist Church picks him family that hosted him including up in front of Franklin Residencurry, rice and vegetarian dishes. tial College and takes him to the Despite loving food from his own service. Tsai described Christianculture, he has a newfound love ity in Taiwan as “brainwashing.” for turkey and casseroles.

Here, he has experienced the “America has many, many Christian faith on a deeper level, Barbers kinds of casserole and they are all “from the bottom of the heart” Hours: delicious,” he said. and a faith “out of admiration for Cindy Seay Tues-Fri 8 a.m.

5 p.m.

God,” he said.

He Josh also went Black Friday Lewis shopping at Target, purchasing a He alsoSat-8 is involved Bible a.m.in- aNoon Ingrum (Owner) heavy Sharon coat because last winter he study for international students

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through the Baptist Campus Ministry where he has made many friends and learned about religion.

He plans to continue to study hard over the next three years. More excitedly, he anticipates learning how to play American-style football.

Advertise “My first time to seewith a football is here,” he said.

“I really want to The Murray State try.”

News He is involved in other intramural sports through White Residential College such as volleyball and softball. He said he is considering playing basketball but is nervous because he isn’t as tall or strong as other players.

Tsai returns to Taiwan once every six months to see his family. This winter he will return to extend his visa so he can stay for three more years to complete his studies.

His time as a Racer has just begun.

connect. attract. grow.

Happy Holidays om all of us!

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Features

The News

December 4, 2015

7B Let’s Be Honest

Pop Culture Corner FEATURED TWEETS

#BreakUpin5Words Chris Saint

@saintpiercing Wait batman is marvel right? #BreakUpIn5Words 10:38 pm 30 Nov 2015

Cristela Alonzo

@cristela9 I’m changing my Netflix password. #BreakUpIn5Words @midnight 10:35 pm 30 Nov 2015

Derek Togerson

@DerekNBCSD You think clowns are sexy!?!? #BreakUpIn5Words @midnight 10:41 pm 30 Nov 2015

Leslie Katz

@lesatnews It’s not “there,” it’s “their” #BreakUpIn5Words @midnight 10:44 pm 30 Nov 2015

Kylie Jenner receives backlash for wheelchair pose

Reality TV star Kylie Jenner has been slammed on social media after a photo from her Interview magazine photoshoot was said to be offensive.

Seventeen-year-old disabled Ophelia Brown was one of the hundreds of people who responded on social media. She wrote an article for MTV.com. about the KUWTK star posing on a wheelchair.

“A wheelchair is, by definition, a mobility device,” Brown said. “It gives freedom and independence to the person who needs it, whereas your photo suggests a wheelchair represents limitations. You couldn’t be more wrong.”

Soundbyte “You think I’m a cute otter?”

-Benedict Cumberbatch, before body-slamming a giant teddy bear during a “The Graham Norton Show” interview.

MEDIA REVIEWS Adele’s heartaches spill ‘The Night Before’ entertains audience with non-stop hilarity into new album ‘25’ The second single from the album, “When We nerickson@murraystate.edu Were Young,” is a feel-good song driven by some piano After a three-year hiatus chords and a soft guitar and a period of self-proand drum mixture. On this claimed writer’s block, track, Adele sings of a hypoworld-renowned English thetical party in the future, pop artist Adele Adkins, where everyone she ever known simply as Adele, has loved or never loved when emerged with her third stushe was younger is attenddio album, “25.” At only 27 ing, but nothing matters beyears old, Adele has mancause of how great of a time aged to achieve an astroeveryone is having. This nomical level of success track stands out because and a fan base covering the of its subject matter, and globe. With high expectareally could make listeners tions for a new release, did think about how things and “25” live up to its predecesfeelings change as one ages. sors? The T h i s answer is track is yes. certainly Adele o n e tackled of the sensitive strongest topics on the over the a l b u m duration and is of her bound previto be a ous two fan-farecords, vorite in “19” and the long “ 2 1 . ” run.

L y r i c Another inspiraPhoto courtesy of thatgrapejuice.net stand out tion for track on these records was driven the record is “Water Under by heartache that resulted The Bridge,” where Adele from disastrous relationreaches new territory: an ships. These themes are upbeat disco track. This still present on “25,” but song includes an electronthey are more elaborate ic-drum beat and a tropical and introspective than ever melody. Adele sings imbefore. Even the music has peratively to her lover, “If matured and compliments you’re gonna’ let me down, Adele’s powerful voice let me down gently.” This near perfectly. Unlike ever track is bound to grab lisbefore, there is the tasteful teners’ attention and likely inclusion of electronic elereach a different audience. ments, along with graceful The closer to the album, organs. This branching-out “Sweetest Devotion,” is from repeated piano balquite possibly the biggest lads, although those are still tearjerker of all. A beautipresent, keeps this album ful, uplifting number, this fresh. track is dedicated to Adele’s The inescapable opener beloved son. Adele sings to the album, “Hello,” has of how she finally feels at as much soul as one could home with her son now in possibly put into a track. her life, and how much he The lead single from “25,” truly means to her. this track is found on every “The sweetest devotion radio across the world curI’ve known.” rently and is an anthem Three years without profor thebroken. “Hello” is a ducing any new content was melancholic piano ballad, a no issue for Adele in the classic attribute to Adele’s end. “25” not only is more sound, but it is arguably her experimental and diverse best attempt yet. Adele’s than any of her previous singing plays out like a conmaterial, but the messages versation to a former lover, to be found within her lyrand the gut-wrenching pain icism are equally powerful in the lyrics can relate to as her voice. She manages anyone experiencing the to capture an array of emodifficult end to a relationtion and that truly is where ship. this album shines. A mas “Hello from the outside. sive comeback, Adele is At least I can say that I’ve here again to prove to the tried. To tell you I’m sorry, world that she is the queen for breaking your heart. But of the music industry. it don’t matter, it clearly doesn’t tear you apart anymore.”

Nick Erickson Contributing writer

Photo courtesy of screenrant.com

Adam Winn || Staff writer awinn@murraystate.edu

“The Night Before” is a Christmas-themed comedy that is not only an outrageously funny film, but is also filled with relatable drama, making the film much more than your typical comedy. Audience members who loved other Seth Rogen movies, such as “This is the End,” “Neighbors” and “Pineapple Express,” are guaranteed to love this new movie as well.

The film tells the story of Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie), who are all best friends.

After Ethan’s parents tragically died a decade earlier in a car crash, the trio start a tradition where they decide to spend every Christmas Eve partying and getting drunk together.

However, now that they are all in their 30s and their lives a lot more demanding than they used to be, either due to their careers or starting families of their own, they agree to make this Christmas Eve the last one they plan to spend with one another.

After Ethan comes across three tickets to an exclusive party called the “Nutcracker Ball” that’s thrown every year on Christmas Eve in New York City, the friends decide to embark on an alcohol and drug-binge filled night before they head to the legendary party. This leads the characters on a road of chaos and shenanigans, much to the viewer’s enjoyment.

During their adventures, they each run into their old high school drug dealer, Mr. Green (Michael Shannon), who characterizes himself as a ghost of the past, present and future for each one of the trio, which ultimately causes each one of them to come face-to-face with some of difficulties they have been facing in their lives.

For instance, Isaac is worried about dealing with the impending role of being a new father and is not sure if he’s ready for the responsibilities that come along with it.

The film is edge-of-yourseat entertaining, leaving the viewers fighting back tears from laughing so much. It is also filled with tons of vulgar moments where the audience is left sitting stunned, thinking, “I can’t believe they just did that.” In other words, this is definitely not the kind of film viewers would want to watch with a younger sibling or a conservative older parent.

For example, one scene involves the character Isaac, who is Jewish and happens to be wearing a sweater with the Star of David on it, going into the middle of a midnight mass service in a church while high on drugs.

He stares at a statue of Jesus on the cross, throws up in the aisle and then runs out of the crowded church screaming, “We did not kill Jesus!”

The acting is blended perfectly throughout the movie, containing the right amount of funny to make people laugh and not be over the top and also serious at necessary points too, especially when dealing with the death of Ethan’s parents.

Rogen does a great job, like always, playing the funny-stoner guy who is trying to get his life together in order to start a family. Gordon-Levitt portrays the emotional character who is still having a tough time growing up and is constantly stuck in the past. Anthony Mackie’s character is the more grounded of the trio, but also deals with the hidden burdens of recently becoming a famous football star.

The film is also loaded with celebrity cameos, and without spoiling any, some will be obvious if you’ve ever watched a Seth Rogen film before and some of them will be unexpected. All were ultimately entertaining additions to the cast.

Movie viewers who are fans of comedy films will be missing out if they don’t go and watch this one. “The Night Before” is a great film, easily re-watchable and is one of those movies that people will probably be watching and quoting many years from now.

Textbook catastrophe

W i t h the semester coming to a close, it is time to start winding down from school.

T a k e a step back for a second, Connor Jaschen look at all that Features Editor was or wasn’t accomplished and ready up for next semester to start it all over again. With any luck, your grades are right where you want them to be and won’t be haunting you for the rest of your collegiate career.

But before you can officially shut down for the semester, you do have some last second business to take care of.

Remember those books you spent hundreds of dollars on? Remember how you were told you would be able to sell those books back to make up for the pretty penny originally spent?

Well, good luck.

Book buybacks are first and foremost a joke.

No, you won’t get that $300 back. No, you won’t get most of it back. Honestly, you’ll be lucky to get a quarter of what you originally paid for the book.

The saddest part about the whole ordeal is the fact that there is a pretty good chance you didn’t even use it.

Personally, the past three semesters, I have had a shelf full of books collecting dust in my room.

I do believe it is the most expensive decor I could have possibly bought.

While it does bring a sense of academia to my room and impresses guests with my obvious dedication in furthering my education, it doesn’t justify spending money on expensive textbooks that won’t be used.

Professors don’t use the books they say they do, and it screws students out of more money than many can afford to lose.

That means more loans, every college student’s worst nightmare.

The university needs to push professors to be honest about what they need for their courses, and not push for students to buy books they won’t need. Otherwise, the students will follow the trend of just not bothering to buy books at all, and waiting to see if they even need it.

Cutting off an arm and a leg to buy a book that will just collect dust just isn’t worth it for most classes.

And to top it all off, you get screwed over at the end of the semester when you try and get just a bit of pocket change.

“Oh you opened that book once and never touched it again? Well, since it’s used, that’ll get you a whopping $12.99! Would you like a receipt with that?”

No, I don’t want a receipt with that, cashier lady. I want money.

So, unless that receipt is printed on a $100 bill, I don’t want to hear it.

I personally just am not going to buy any books until I know specifically if I need it. If you do the same, and your professor asks why you’re unprepared, just tell them the store was all sold out of that book.

Thats right, Murray State. You make me resort to dishonesty.

Shame on you. cjaschen@murraystate.edu

Out this week

Read It

“Ashley Bell”

by Dean Koontz

See It

“Everything Will Be Fine”

Hear It

“A Head Full of Dreams”

by Coldplay

Rent It

“Self/Less”

Play It

“Xenoblade Chronicles X”

8B

The News

December 4, 2015