For a behind the scenes look at this year’s All Campus Sing, see page 5B
The Murray State News TheNews.org
April 14, 2016
Vol. 90, No. 26
Bevin budget compromise, lawsuit
Kayla Harrell || News Editor kharrell4@murraystate.edu
Chalice Keith/The News
Lieutenant Governor Jenean Hampton spoke at the Kentucky Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials and was asked to clarify a previous statement on the value of a history degree.
State official apologizes Ashley Traylor || Staff writer atraylor@murraystate.edu
During a luncheon Saturday at Murray State, Kentucky’s Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton apologized for and sought to clarify the statement she made last week to the editorial board of Eastern Kentucky’s student newspaper, the Eastern Progress. The Kentucky Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials, KBC-LEO, where she was the keynote speaker, gave her just the opportunity to do so. Hampton told the Eastern Progress editorial board, “I would not be studying history, unless I have a job lined up.” The end of Hampton’s speech was followed by a question and answer session, where a member of the audience asked Hampton to clarify her comments about how students should not major in history because it seemed she was dismissive of the major. Hampton said she was not dismissive of history and that was not her intention to make history seem unimportant. “Given the economic downturn, I would be studying something that would make me immediately employable right outside of graduation,” Hampton said. Several audience members told Hampton there are jobs for history majors to pursue, such as business and law, and
Hampton apologized for not realizing the jobs waiting for history majors. She said engineers and computer majors are hired with fairly-high salaries, and during the economic downturn of the ’70s ,computer workers at her job were not let go. “It was the first time I became aware of the advantages of being in a career field that was marketable,” Hampton said. Hampton’s comment to Eastern Progress was similar to Gov. Matt Bevin’s comment in January. “There will be more incentives to electrical engineers than French literature majors. There just will,” Bevin said. “All the people in the world that want to study French literature can do so, they are just not going to be subsidized by the taxpayer.” Hampton spoke about growing up in a poor home in Detroit but with hard work pursued engineering. After graduation, she was offered two engineering jobs but declined, in order to enter the United States Air Force. She was the first in her family to go to college in her family and claimed she would not be where she is today without education. Hampton said she would like to see Kentucky become the home of entrepreneurship and a state of lifelong learners. The proposed budget put aside $100 mil-
lion for workforce development, but Rep. Reginald Meeks, D-Louisville, said during the legislative update Friday that $75 million of the $100 million was federal money. Hampton said she is determined to make Kentucky a place where things are made and manufactured and we need to train people to take advantage of these opportunities. Hampton said she was in favor of expanding educational opportunities for students, but Bevin moved to cut 4.5 percent to higher education before June 30. At the Kentucky Black Caucus legislative update, Kentucky state Reps. Jeffrey Taylor, D-Hopkinsville, George Brown, D-Lexington and Meeks, as well as Raoul Cunningham of the NAACP of Kentucky, gave a legislature update stressing the importance of education funding. Each representative said he refused to cut education but said they want to restore $90 million for K-12 and $250 million for postsecondary education. We will not sacrifice our teachers, students and Kentucky’s future, Meeks said during his part of the budget. “I am in this race even though I am a reluctant politician because I really want to give back to private sector, but I am in this because I truly believe that Kentucky can just be something phenomenal,” Hampton said.
The Kentucky General Assembly has until the end of Friday to pass a budget that will determine how much state funding Murray State and other public universities will receive over the next two years. The budget battle is being waged on two fronts: the next two-year spending bill that’s in the legislators’ hands and the proposed cuts by June 30 being pushed by Gov. Matt Bevin. Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear filed a lawsuit against Bevin and his immediate 4.5 percent budget cuts Monday in Franklin County Circuit Court. “As attorney general, it is my job to make sure that no public official acts outside of his or her authority, regardless of position and regardless of party,” Beshear said to reporters at a news conference Monday, according to WKYT and The Associated Press. “That is my duty. And that is why today I’m announcing that I have filed suit against Gov. Bevin for his unconstitutional and illegal order cutting Kentucky’s public universities and colleges in this fiscal year.” Beshear said to the Lexington Herald-Leader he was surprised that Bevin cut higher education. He said education is not a privilege but a necessity for the state’s economic survival. The state university presidents, including President Bob Davies, met with Bevin last Thursday to compromise about the immediate budget cuts for this fiscal year. That issue now is sent to court. “We recognize the substantial damage that would be done to our institutions and to our students in the event a budget agreement cannot be reached,”
Professor awarded for 25 years of service Bailey Bohannan Staff writer bbohannan@murraystate.edu
Daniel Wann said he is humbled to have won the Distinguished Professor Award at Murray State this year. Wann has been recognized many times for his research on sports fan psychology, met with sports stars including Michael Phelps, been asked for advice by Cal Ripken Jr. and has been featured in a New York Times article about his research, but Wann said teaching as a professor has been the most rewarding part of his career. “Whenever you’re a professor, there’s like three components, there’s the teaching, the research, and the service,” Wann said. “If you said I could only do teaching or research, I would give the research up in a heartbeat and just teach. I love it.” Wann said this award means a great deal to him because he knows there are a lot of outstanding professors at Murray State, and he said he truly did not know why he is the one to
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receive it this year rather than another great professor at Murray State. “If I was teaching at some crap college where most people were terrible, it wouldn’t have as much meaning,” Wann said. “But to receive this award at a place like Murray State that does emphasize not just good instruction, but really over the top, outstanding instruction. There are a lot of good teachers here, it makes it a lot more special.” Wann said he has been teaching at Murray State for 25 years and over time, he doesn’t think he has changed his teaching style that much, but he does think he has learned his craft better and better each year and learned what does and doesn’t resonate with students in his class. “I think that I am mostly the teacher that I was 25 years ago, but there’s a slow evolution process where you kind of learn what works and what doesn’t and you learn to evolve with the flow,” Wann said. He said he knows he challenges his students with his courses, but he tries his best to
get his students involved in the lectures and entertain them. Over the years, Wann said as he fine-tuned his teaching, he learned his most successful way of teaching a class of students was to entertain them. “The first day of class I walk in and I say ‘I might be a lot of things, boring will not be one of them,’” Wann said. Autumn Moffitt, freshman from Milton, Georgia, took one of Wann’s entry-level psychology classes in Fall 2015 and she said she will admit that it was a challenging class, but it was never boring to attend. The first call Moffitt had with Wann was one of the scariest she had ever had. “Dr. Wann is one of those teachers that is a freshman’s worst nightmare – the first day I walked in and I was genuinely scared, not only for that class but now my whole college career,” Moffitt said. She said he did this the first day to let all his students know how challenging the course was going to be, but she said he also promised to make it fun. “Every lesson he taught was
Chalice Keith/The News
Daniel Wann, the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Professor Award, sits in his office. interesting. He would tell stories that would make it make sense or funny college stories or ones with his cat,” Moffitt said. “I’ve never had a professor that hooked students like that. I mean, we would all be captivated by his lectures and what he was telling us, it was never boring.” Wann said this award means so much to him because it is an award for his teaching and not for his research.
He said it is validation for the way he has been teaching the past two-and-a-half decades and it motivates him to keep refining his teaching. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you, I am very humbled,” Wann said. “I love what I do and I think I have the best job that there is, and I love my students and to have them appreciate what I’ve done, I mean, I just can’t tell you how nice that is.”
according to a letter signed by eight of the nine university presidents. The decision to compromise “did not come lightly and was based on the commitment of our state leaders to invest in higher education in the near future,” Davies wrote in an email to Murray State students. “It was made clear that the governor was very reluctant to accept anything below a 4.5 percent base reduction in the upcoming biennium budget— half of the governor’s original proposed reductions—and he would agree to a 2 percent rescission this fiscal year, if it is determined by the courts to be permissible, instead of the original 4.5 percent,” he wrote. The university continues to prepare for the budget cuts. However, most decisions will not be made until a budget is decided. Bracing for a cut next year of about 4.8 percent “is one of the many scenarios being discussed, but nothing has been decided at this point as we are still awaiting a finalized state budget,” said Adrienne King, vice president of Marketing and Outreach. “We won’t have answers until we get a budget,” said Sue Patrick, executive director of Communications and Marketing for the Kentucky Council of Postsecondary Education. “In terms of tuition, we will need to work with our tuition development workgroup and our campuses on the tuition issue and that work can’t start until after we have a budget.” Murray State is still receiving inquiries and applications of prospective students, King said. “We remain committed to our mission – you, our students – and are confident that the university’s reputation for academic excellence will support continued growth,” King said.
CORRECTION On Thursday, April 7, The Murray State News incorrectly spelled Pi Kappa Alpha as “Phi Kappa Alpha” in the story, “Vandalism results in acts of Greek unity.” The News regrets the error.
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April 14, 2016
Distinguished alumni of Murray State Meet the award-winning former Racers leaving their mark on the world Dennis Jackson
Staff Report Dennis Jackson, Murray State’s first African-American student-athlete and 1966 alumnus, will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award on the 60th anniversary of desegregation at Murray State. “It is quite an honor and means a great deal when you put hard work into something and it pays off,” said Jackson. He said the award came as a surprise and he never thought about getting the award. He said he likes to see all the friendly faces in Murray and know that people care
about you in this town. The Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest honor granted by the Murray State Alumni Association and given to those who have grown their profession and helped their community. Jackson became the first African-American student-athlete at Murray State in 1960 after leaving Alcorn State University in Mississippi. As a multi-sport athlete, he played both offense and defense in football, in conjunction with maintaining a successful track and field career. Gaining his first hall of fame in-
duction, Jackson first found a place in the Kentucky High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999, later finding further recognition in 2007, when he was inducted into the Murray State Athletics Hall of Fame. A huge influence on Jackson’s life was Bill Ferguson, former track and field and football head coach. Jackson said he was a great guy who saw people as people, according to OVC Extra. After originally graduating from Murray State with degrees in both history and physical education, Jackson eventually earned certifi-
cation to become a school administrator.. He retired in 2008 from Paducah Public School System, where he had been teaching since 1968 and gained his longest tenure. He served as the director of district personnel for Paducah Public Schools, from 1997 to 2008. Jackson has received several awards and honors recognizing his dedication to education throughout his life, including the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He now serves on the Kentucky Council on Post Secondary Education and as chairman of the Com-
Janice Padgett Harper-Smith Ashley Traylor Staff writer
atraylor@murraystate.edu
Janice Padgett Harper-Smith, an international opera pop star and a Murray State alumna with a degree in music education, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Harper-Smith comes from a musically-talented family, which inspired her to pursue a career in music, the only one in her family to do so. Her mother was a pianist, piano teacher and choir director. Her father played the violin and was a barbershop quartet singer. Her three sisters also played piano. “I knew at a very early age that music would be an important part of my life,” Harper-Smith said. Harper-Smith was originally a piano major and voice minor, but after one lesson with voice teacher Robert Baar, she changed her major to voice. “I never really saw myself as dedicated enough to the piano to put in all those hours of daily practice needed to produce a real pianist,” Harper-Smith said. “However, I owe my ability to play piano so much to my success in becoming a musician.”
Piano helped with music theory studies, learning singing roles and is an asset to accompany voice students in teaching, but singing is the best way to express herself, Harper-Smith said. After completing her degree at Murray State, Harper-Smith did doctoral work at the University of Illinois. She received a National Defense of Education Scholarship to study there for three years. She finished all the class requirements in two years and three summers. She sang the solo in Haydn’s “The Creation” in Vienna, when she was a student at University of Illinois. She successfully sang a very high and partially a capella contemporary composition. Harper-Smith said it was her “breakthrough” for performing regularly in Vienna with the radio orchestra and well-known contemporary chamber ensembles. Instead of writing her dissertation, she went to the Opera Studio in Zürich, where she received her first job singing. Harper-Smith first went to Europe with the University of Illinois choir. She said after she sang her first solos in Europe she was hooked because she was fas-
cinated by the cities, culture, and opportunities.
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I believe very strongly that aesthetic experiences with music can change people and society for the better.
David S. Beck nique. She was a professor of voice and vocal pedagogy at the Heidelberg-Manheim Hochschule für Musik in Mannheim, Germany. She continued her teaching profession by teaching master classes at Daniel Ferro Vocal Programme in Greve, Italy. Harper-Smith said she loves music and she loves teaching music because there is great satisfaction in expressing oneself through music and singing. She has also judged vocal competitions, much like serving on the Voice Jury for the 11th Annual Mozart Competition in the Salzburg Mozart Festival. She published a book on vocal technique called, “Atemtechnik als Roter Faden” with the Florian Noetzel Verlag/Heinrichshofen. She is working on an English translation called “The Art of Singing.” Harper-Smith still resides in Europe with her husband, Robert Dean Smith, an international opera Heldentenor, the voice of the dramatic heroic tenor roles in German opera. “I believe very strongly that aesthetic experiences with music can change people and society for the better,” she said.
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- Jeanie Padgett Harper-Smith, recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award for her work in the music industry
Being in Europe, Smith said she felt more comfortable than she would have being in New York, the stereotypical destination for young professionals in the music industry. She had her first opera engagement in 1972 and sang at the Musikverein and Konzerthaus Radio in Vienne, Austria, many opera houses in Germany, Switzerland, France, Holland and a number of world premiers in concerts. After receiving her professorship in 1991, she began teaching vocal performers and coaching them on their roles and tech-
Contributing writer chall22@murraystate.edu
Born in 1944 in Lyon County, Kentucky, Bill Cunningham, Supreme Court Justice of Kentucky, has devoted his life to serving others and the law. Cunningham is a Murray State alumnus, graduating from the university in 1962 and later receiving his doctorate in law from the University Of Kentucky College Of Law in 1969. In his career, he has served
the country as a member of the U.S. Army and spent most of his professional life in the court systems. Starting in 1974, he was the Eddyville City Attorney and a Public Defender for the Kentucky State Penitentiary. As his career progressed, he was elected to the Supreme Court of Kentucky in November 2006, according to the Kentucky Court of Justice website. “I’ve been blessed with family, health, friends, I survived the war, and after everything, you learn that
family and friends are what is most important,” Cunningham said. Cunningham has written six books about the history of Kentucky and his pursuit of justice in the state. These books include “On Bended Knees,” “Castle,” “Children of Promise,” and “A Distant Light,” to name a few. To this day, Cunningham continues his writing through a personal blog on Wordpress He writes about his thoughts on the state and his life. “While I was in the Army,
McKenna Dosier Staff writer
mdosier@murraystate.edu
David S. Beck, executive vice president of the Kentucky Farm Bureau and Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient, started his journey at Murray State in Fall 1973. Beck, originally from Eddyville, Kentucky, grew up on a farm with hogs, beef cattle, tobacco and some grain. He came to Murray State because of its closeness to his home and because it was “a farming school.” He said his high school vocational agriculture teacher knew Murray State was the place for him to pursue his interest in politics and agriculture. “In addition to getting a diploma, you get an education here,” Beck said.
I rode a motorcycle all over Europe. I’ve been at the throttle of a two wheeler pushing one hundred miles per hour in the left lane on a German autobahn,” Cunningham said in one of his blog posts titled “Helmetless Riders.” Cunningham said that receiving this award at this point in his life is less about him but more about honoring his generation. And of all his achievements, the most important to him is his wife of 43 years and his five sons.
Winslow Dining Hall. Beck also met his wife at Murray State. He proposed to her on campus on a “beautiful, fall Saturday” in 1976. “I’ve had an opportunity to work with all the universities in Kentucky and to this day I continue to be Beck impressed with Murray,” he said. Beck was in Florida and did not realize he had been nominated for the award when he received a call from the Alumni Association. They requested a conference call when he got back into town. “I was surprised. I was
I’ve had an opportunity to work with all the universities in Kentucky and to this day I continue to be impressed with Murray.
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Bill Cunningham Cody Hall
mittee of Equality Opportunity. “I owe everything to my loving parents,” Jackson said. “Whatever I have done started with them and their caring attitudes.” Jackson will be meeting with spring 2016 MERR scholars within the College of Education and Human Services on Friday from 2-3 p.m. That night he will receive the Distinguished Alumnus Award at a dinner in the Murray Room in the CFSB Center at 6 p.m. He will be receiving the award along with David Beck, Janice Padgett Harper-Smith and Bill Cunningham.
- David Beck, Executive President of Kentucky Farm Bureau
He was a member of the Mu class of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, Student Government Association, Interfraternity Council and other agriculture clubs on campus. He moved back to campus his senior year to become a resident adviser at Hart Residential College. Beck received his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a job offer from the Kentucky Farm Bureau on the same day in spring 1977. He said his favorite memory at Murray State is when the Alpha Tau Omega cannon ended up on the roof of
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humbled by it,” Beck said. He was also recognized by the Hutson School of Agriculture several years ago, which he said was also an honor. When he found out he had been selected, he went to the Alumni Association website to see who had preceded him in receiving the award. Beck said he knew several of the previous recipients. “I was surprised to be nominated and then surprised when I realized I had been selected,” Beck said. “It’s a tremendous honor for me.”
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April 14, 2016 News Editor: Kayla Harrell Assistant Editor: Abby Siegel Phone: 270-809-4468 Twitter: MurrayStateNews
POLICE BEAT April 6
6:51 a.m.a.m. RacerPublic Patrol advised 10:13 Safety Murreray Statea Police of Incident an abandoned ceived General Regolf cart outside the Lowry Center. porting Form from the Housing Officers were notifiedto and an inforOffice in reference a harassmation report wastotaken. ment reported the Office of 11:42 p.m AnDiversity, officer conducted Institutional Equality a and traffic stopOfficers at 121 were North and Access. notiColdwater Streets. A citation was fied. issued to the failure to 7:41 p.m. Andriver officerfor conducted wear a seatbelt. The passenger a traffic stop on Regents Resiwas arrested on parking an outstanding dential College lot. A warrant was was taken to Callowritten and warning issued for way Countyuse Jail.of a dealer plate improper 8:20 A caller reportedheada resand a.m. failure to illuminate idential lamps. college flag missing. The Housing Office was notified.
April 7
3:51 a.m. 11:22 p.m.An A officer caller conducted reported a a traffic stop inaccident the White Res-no motor vehicle with identialatCollege parking lot.ColA injuries White Residential written warning issuedand for a lege. Officers werewas notified disregarding a stop sign. report was taken. 7:50 a.m.An Anofficer officer conducted conducted a 7:17 p.m. a traffic stop the Regents traffic stop at the in Business Building Residential parking lot. parking lot. ACollege citation was issued A driving citationon was issued for failure for a suspended license. to wear 8:51 p.m.a seatbelt. A caller reported the smell of gas at Hart Residential Col-
April 8
12:58 a.m. An officer conducted a traffic stopMurray at Five Fire Points at lege. Officers, Departthe Five StarHeating Gas Station. The ment, Central and Cooling driver was arrested Plant, Murray Gas andfor thedriving State Fire under thewere influence. Marshall notified. A report 8:04 a.m. An officer conducted was taken. a traffic stop the Alexander 12:01 p.m. A in caller reported a Hall parking lot. in A verbal warnsparking outlet the 300 block ingCollege was issued forOfficers, failure tothe of Courts. wear a seatbelt. Murray Fire Department, Central Heating and Cooling Plant
April 9
11:53 a.m. An Fire officer conducted and the State Marshal were a traffic stop on Olive Street. A notified. A report was taken. citation issued for failure 4:57 p.m.was The Murray Police to Dewear a seatbelt. partment was notified of a medi7:28 p.m. An officer cal emergency at theconducted Volleyball a traffic stop at the Star Gas Courts. Officers andFive Murray AmStation at Five Points. A bulance Services were citation notified. was issued for failure to wear a The patient was transported and seatbelt. a report was taken.
Model UN club wins awards Abby Siegel || Staff writer asiegel@murraystate.edu
The Murray State Model United Nations club won multiple awards at the National Model United Nations Conference in New York which concluded their yearlong research on Grenada. Stephen Terkula, senior from Louisville, Kentucky and club president, and his partner Sam Hoffman, sophomore from Louisville, Kentucky, won the Outstanding Delegates award. This award was given for maintaining the character and attitude of a diplomat throughout the conference and when interacting with students representing other countries from other universities. The peers of their 50-member committee chose Terkula and Hoffman for the award. Terkula said the conference was exhilarating and the award increased his confidence. The entire club was awarded the Honorable Mention Delegate award. This is awarded by the conference and recognizes the entire delegation’s performance throughout the week of the conference. “It could be really overwhelming interacting with other delegates,” said Choong-Nam Kang, academic adviser of the club and associate professor in political science. “But our students did a really outstanding job negotiating and bargaining with other students.” Murray State had seven students attend the conference, which included almost 5,000 other students from around the world. The club began with about 15 students, but because of the intense time commitment, the group dwindled to seven committed members, Kang said. “Dr. Kang had us do lots of research in advance so we would be prepared for the conference,” Melody Foster, sophomore from Arlington, Texas, said. “He encouraged us to do our best
even though our country was small.” Throughout the fall semester, students conducted research on the country to which they were assigned by the conference. Kang required club members to write a research paper over Winter Break on Grenada that was about nine single-spaced pages. “As one of the smallest teams there, we did not expect Grenada to be called [for a delegation award], but we were and we got to stand up with all of the other bigger schools who were also awarded,” Foster said. “It was magical.” The closing ceremony was held at the United Nations General Assembly Headquarters, and the club members sat in the seats the delegates sit in during session when the awards were given out. “It was good to hear back from the head people from the conference like ‘Hey, you guys are doing a good job,’” Terkula said. “It really says a lot to what Dr. Kang has prepared us for.” The club members participated in committees such as the Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, United Nations Environment Programme, Economic Commission for Latin America, the Caribbean, Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the General Assembly Fourth Committee. “I’m very proud of our students,” Kang said. “They were diligent and did a tremendous job.” The trip was sponsored by the Political Science and Sociology Department and the College of Humanities and Fine Arts. The club also completed multiple fundraisers to fund their attendance at the conference. Club members received three hours of credit for participating in the club over the two semesters. The club will be recruiting new members and begin preparing for the 2017 conference beginning mid-fall.
Mikayla Marshall || Staff writer mmarshall5@murraystate.edu
April 10
April 11
1:01 p.m. An officer conducted a traffic on Poplar Street at 4:42 p.m.stop A caller reported a theft Oakhurst. citation was issued of propertyA from a vehicle from Alexander Officers were nofor failure Hall. to wear a seatbelt. tified and aAreport was takenthe for 6:31 p.m. caller reported theft under $500 by burning unlawful smellof of something taking from a vehicle. and the loss of power at Hart 6:12 p.m. A College. caller reported the Residential Officers, smell of marijuana at Hart. Officers Murray Fire Department and were notified and an information Central Heating and Cooling report was taken. were notified. The cause was determined to be a mechanical malfunction that tripped thean 2:47 p.m. A caller reported breaker and there was no threat unauthorized company selling of fire. A on report was taken. products campus at Winslow Dining Hall. The caller was re-
April 12
Escort – 0 Mary Bradley, Assistant News Editor, Motorist assist – 1 compiles Police Beat with materials Arrests by - 1 Public Safety and Emerprovided gency Management.
Abby Siegel, Assistant News
Editor, compiles Police Beat Not all dispatched calls are listed.
with materials provided by Public Safety and Emergency Management. Not all dispatched calls are listed.
Love Police Beat? You can check it out every week online, too, on TheNews.org.
Photo courtesy of Choong-Nam Kang/The News
Model UN members (front row, left to right, Maftuna Tojiboeva, Melody Foster, Alli Strong and Breanna Bethel, back row, left to right, Stephen Terkula, Joao Pelosi and Sam Hoffman) attended the National Model United Nations Conference in New York where they acted as delegates of Grenada.
Grimes visits university to promote voting
3:29 a.m. A caller requested a check a vehicle at Pullen a 3:46 a.m.ofOfficers conducted Farm.ofOfficers notified. check a personwere on North 12th Officers to Street. Therequested person waspersons arrested and leave because the facility was transported to Calloway County Jail closed. for alcohol intoxication in a public 4:07Aa.m. The place. report wasMurray taken. Police Department a noise 9:09 p.m. Areported caller reported a complaint smoke detector activated in the Five Pointsat Springer Residential College were due to area parking lot. Officers a notified. hair dryer. Officers were notified and no threat of fire was found. An information report was taken.
9:04 a.m. An officer conducted ferred to Student a traffic stop inAffairs. the James H. 6:12 p.m. A caller reported the Richmond Residential College smell of natural gas at the Old Fine parking lot. AOfficers, warningCentral was Arts Building. given for speeding. Heating and Cooling Plant, Murray 8:45department, p.m. Public Safety Fire Murray Gasreand ceived General Incident the StateaFire Marshall were Renotiporting reference fied and aForm reportinwas taken. to a theft in Elizabeth Residential College. Officers were notified Motorists assists – 8taken for theft and a report was Racer escorts –taking 1 by unlawful under $500. Arrests – 2
3A
Nahiomy Gallardo/The News
Secretary of State Alison Grimes visited Murray State on April 7 to promote the new online voter registration system.
Secretary of State Alison Grimes came to Murray State Thursday as part of her GoVoteKY tour. This spring, Kentucky joined 30 other states in the switch to an online voter registration to make it easier to register and update registrations. Grimes has been traveling to Kentucky’s public universities to promote the online portal that launched three weeks ago. After speaking at Murray State, she traveled to Western Kentucky. “We’re seeing a huge success with GoVoteKY.com,” Grimes said. “Over 15,000 Kentuckians that have gone online and registered to vote.” At Murray State, Grime’s goal was to get that number up to 16,000. She said she didn’t want anyone to leave that room who was eligible to register without filling out the online form. She said there are more than 800 newly-registered 18-year-olds because of the new system. She said she’s very proud that it is a system that is easy to use and everyone can access. Kentucky is above the national average for voting registration, but only had a 30 percent turnout in the 2015-2016 State Governor election, according to the Kentucky State Board of Elections. Grimes said Kentucky is making history by starting this portal and creating a better system for voting. She said the online form would help save time, money and improve accuracy. The goal is to have a higher number of Kentucky voters actually go vote. She said she wanted to see a
30 percent increase in actual turnout. “I think a lot of people are unmotivated to vote, and this will increase voter registration since it is easier to go on the computer,” said Cameron McRoberts, freshman from Verona, Kentucky. She said she is registered to vote, but if she weren’t, she would take advantage of GoVoteKY.com. During her speech, Grimes had the room full of students and faculty get out their electronic devices and led them through how the online form works. The online registration is similar to the print registration but doesn’t take as long to mail and file. Voters fill out the same information and have the option of signing with their driver’s license number or electronic signature. The system isn’t compatible with Android devices, but the GoVoteKY team is working to fix it, she said. Grimes made social media prevalent in her speech and asked the audience to share on social media the GoVoteKY campaign. She said social media is important when it comes to promoting and getting information to the audience. “I think when you are trying to reach all Kentuckians you have to use all the resources that are available, realizing that sometimes paid media isn’t available at the state government level,” Grimes said. “We try to make sure that we are reaching out to all Kentuckians and make sure they are engaged and know that they have a Secretary of State that’s fighting for them.” She said she hopes to expand the tour into high schools in the future to reach all the 18-year-olds eligible to vote.
New bullying law to impact educators Bailey Bohannan || Staff writer bbohannan@murraystate.edu
Kentucky Senate Bill 228 was passed into law on April 9 and gives a statewide definition for bullying in the K-12 school system. The law defines bullying as “any unwanted verbal, physical or social behavior among students that involves a real or perceived power imbalance and is repeated or has the potential to be repeated” and is effective at school, in the classroom, any school transportation, school-sponsored event or any place that disrupts the education process of the student. Karen McCuiston, Director of the Resource Center at Murray State, advocates against bullying and enthusiastically makes efforts to help schools and students at Murray State who are majoring in education be better prepared to address and prevent bullying. McCuiston said she thinks that although the proposed bill will most likely leave loopholes in the definition of bullying, any movement to prevent bullying and protect students is one worth fighting for. “I feel that any light shined on the topic of bullying at school, in our community and our homes is a
good thing,” McCuiston said. “The new definition of bullying is a good place to start a conversation at school and to work on our comprehensive bullying prevention program, which lies under our safe school plan in each school district and on every campus.” McCuiston said she travels around the state talking to schools and helps them set up programs to help students report bullying of any sort in a comfortable atmosphere. She said she also talks to education classes each semester at Murray State to educate future teachers on how to approach and prevent bullying in their classrooms. Sarah Stellhorn, sophomore from St. Louis, is majoring in education. She said she wants to teach at the junior high and high school level, and bullying to any extent will not be tolerated in her classroom. Stellhorn doesn’t know in which state she will teach after she graduates, but she said the new law in Kentucky would help all teachers have a constant definition of bullying, though no single definition will be perfect. “A strict definition of bullying could put us at risk of ignoring bullying if it does fit the exact definition of bullying,” Stellhorn said. “This would be
something to take into consideration when creating the definition.” Deborah Bell, assistant professor in English said this law will hopefully include passive-aggressive bullying and make teachers more aware of other forms of bullying that sometimes go unnoticed but still cut to the core. She said she would define bullying as any action that hurts or pains someone, whether it is physically, verbally or emotionally. “Right now, schools do not have a common definition, which leaves it open to interpretation,” Bell said. “Bullying is more than actions that may threaten the student’s physical safety.” Sue Sroda, chairwoman of the English and Philosophy Department, said she supports the definition because it directly acknowledges all forms of bullying and requires schools to do something about it. Even though the bill is targeted at K-12, Murray State can still be involved and make a difference. “I think the wording of the proposed bill is good because it makes very clear that bullying in any form is not acceptable,” Sroda said. “We need to do what we can to do to make sure that pre-service teachers get the training and tools to be able to recognize and deal with bullying behavior once they become teacher,” she said.
4A
April 14, 2016
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
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Turning a definition into action
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 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 Adviser, Co-Adviser • 270-809-3937 jhedges@murraystate.edu, ralessi@murraystate.edu
The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board. Gov. Matt Bevin may be a sore subject for higher education as of late, but he recently signed a Senate bill for the betterment of Kentucky public schools. Senate Bill 228 has been in the works since late February. According to the Kentucky Legislature, it was introduced in the Senate on Feb. 24, moved to the House on March 10, passed on March 28 and was signed by Gov. Bevin on April 9. This bill, co-sponsored by Danny Carroll, Paducah’s Republican senator, establishes an official, state-wide definition of bullying. Kentucky public schools will now legally recognize that bullying is “any unwanted verbal, physical or social behavior among students that involves a real or perceived power imbalance and is repeated or has the potential to be repeated.” It is a standard for teachers, parents and students which aims to eliminate confusion in regard to
The News strives to be the university community’s source for information. Our goal is to present that information in a fair and unbiased manner and provide a free and open forum for expression and debate. The News is a designated public forum. Student editors have authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. The paper offers a hands-on learning environment for students interested in journalism. The campus press should be free from censorship and advance approval of copy, and its editors should develop their editorial and news policies. The News is prepared and edited by students and is an official publication of Murray State University.
pared to do more than just define said problem because we need to be prepared for the possibility that the definition, quite literally, may not do the problem justice. What if there is no power imbalance? How can one differentiate between a friend teasing a friend and a friend bullying a friend? What does “social behavior” entail? Does it include cyberbullying, or does that warrant a definition of its own? What happens when Sally overhears John joking around with Owen and thinks it’s bullying? John did say Owen smelled funny that day – a likely “unwanted verbal behavior” – but does that mean he should be pegged a bully and Owen should be labeled a victim? How long will those labels follow them? This definition is a good start to a conversation that clearly involves a lot of unanswered questions, and it’s a conversation that needs to turn into action.
Students, teachers and parents need to be aware of the signs and need to be educated on the many forms bullying takes. Certain policies and codes, however, may cause children and teenagers to avoid any conflict or differing viewpoint altogether for fear of strict punishment, which may do more harm than good – hindering critical aspects of childhood development. Such action may also deter children from speaking up. Will they get someone suspended or expelled over what may be a one-time occurrence? What if everyone finds out they’re a “tattle-tale” and they get bullied more or become an outcast? Programs need to focus more on education and empowerment. We can keep trying to put the term “bullying” in a box, taped up and “clearly labeled,” but at a certain point we will have to open that box and face its contents head-on.
Poll We asked our Twitter followers if they have been bullied. Here are the responses of 79 people.
Write to us! The News welcomes commentaries and letters to the editor. Letters should be 600 words or less. Contributors should include phone numbers for verification. Please include hometown, classification and title or relationship to the university. Commentaries should be between 600 to 800 words. The News reserves the right to edit for style, length and content. No anonymous contributions will be accepted. All contributions should be turned in by noon on Tuesday of each week via email at aborthwick@murraystate.edu. Contributions to The News are the opinion of the author and not that of The Murray State News.
what bullying is, thus improving schools’ systems of tracking and reporting cases of bullying. Here’s where things actually get confusing, though: we’re attempting to qualify an every-changing, ever-complicated social problem and quantify its consequences. Other states have passed similar bills with definitions of their own – but how do you paint a face on a monster that will never sit still? Victims and perpetrators of bullying don’t look a certain way, don’t act a certain way and don’t fit into a certain age demographic. Bullying itself is just as hard to peg down and simplify – its characteristics are as adaptable and responsive to its environment as children are. Now, before we get in too deep here, let us say this: bullying is a seriously terrible problem and any effort to solve it or prevent it from happening in our schools is not only admirable, but necessary. However, we need to be pre-
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Like our polls? 37%
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24% Yes, both.
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Yes, in person.
5% Yes, online.
No.
In our latest poll, we asked you if you felt comfortable seeking counseling resources on campus. To participate in future polls, follow us on Twitter, @MurrayStateNews.
The News
Opinion
April 14, 2016
5A
Letter to the Editor There is no factual evidence that Marquise had been considering suicide “for a very long time.” Zero. Had the barest due diligence or minimal investigation been performed, it would have become abundantly clear this was the case. No family members, long-time friends or even Marquise’s pediatrician from birth were contacted to inquire if he’d shown any evidence of mental health issues or depression. He did not, though his high school friends did notice a negative change in his personality after he joined the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and was required to take part in their twisted activities. Marquise became increasingly distressed and troubled by the secret hazing rituals he was required to endure and witness. Sadly, Marquise never shared any of the violent and extreme activities in his fraternal life with us before he died, but we discovered plenty of evidence of that on his phone and laptop. The reason he didn’t tell us is likely because he was ashamed of the things he and his Phi Sigma Kappa brothers were doing.
Considering his warm and friendly personality and life-long Catholic upbringing, watching while his frat brothers begged for the hazing to stop would have consumed Marquise with guilt. It also had him questioning his own decency and Christian faith. Fraternities are also secret societies, and he would be subject to punitive measures if he spoke out. Perhaps he was… The grand jury determined that Marquise had been violently hazed but chose to take no action despite clear evidence of that fact. Sadly, their decision to forgo any punishment is the normal result in hazing cases, even fatal ones. Pennsylvania has a long and sordid history of hazing deaths, dating back to one of the earliest recorded cases in 1885. Some frat members even choose to come to Pennsylvania from other states to haze their pledges. The apparently lax attitude taken by the criminal justice system in response to hazing cases actually helps to perpetuate them. Once Marquise has his day in court, we will be able
I Have a Lot of Feelings So long, folks.
to clearly and convincingly show that he was a victim of hazing and that prior to being recruited by Phi Sigma Kappa, he had been completely focused on his bright and promising future. Through our civil action, we’re determined to hold those who profit from hazing accountable and will require them to publicly disclose their history of illegal and illicit behavior so other young men and women – and their parents – can truly make informed choices before deciding to become one of their members.
Richard Braham
Father of Marquise Braham
We still want to hear from you!
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 aborthwick@murraystate.edu.
This Letter to the Editor is a response to “Hazing prevention aims for zero tolerance.”
Rational Animal
Discrimination and public life
John Muenzberg
Lecturer of philosophy
When Mississippi passed House Bill 1523, they legalized discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. They also legalized discrimination against unwed mothers, sexually-active senior citizens and women who wear pants. Similar laws were proposed in North Carolina, in which it was passed, and Geor-
gia, in which it was blocked. The Mississippi law allows businesses and organizations to refuse service to people who violate their views of marriage and gender identity. Some rules are specific to religious organizations, but others are based only in “sincerely-held religious or moral convictions.” By claiming such a conviction, one can protect oneself from possible lawsuits. On the surface, it appears that HB 1523 allows
Cheers and Jeers Cheers and Jeers is written by the Opinion Editor. Questions, comments or concerns should be addressed to aborthwick@murraystate.edu
Comic
individuals to refuse service to people in LGBT weddings and other ceremonies, but the law is more broad than that. Since the basis is the assertion that “sexual relations are properly reserved for such a marriage,” any premarital sexual relations could be a basis for refusing service. Teenagers looking for information about sex or contraception can be refused service by a government agency because one employee disagrees with premarital sex. In addition, it lets businesses set “sex-specific standards” concerning dress or grooming. In practice, this means that your boss can specify what you wear based on old-fashioned gender ideals. This is one reason this law, and laws similar to it, should be rejected. They are written to satisfy the anti-LGBT attitudes of a minority of people, but their impact is to justify outdated attitudes toward all sexual relations. The idea of protecting people’s religious beliefs has some appeal, as it is intuitively problematic to have a government agency force us to act in ways that we dislike. Appeals to religious liberty often cite the freedom of religion that we enjoy in the U.S. The imposition of religious beliefs on others is not the same as religious practice. Religious practice generally refers to specific traditions related to religious expression, such as worship services, wearing of specific clothing or religious symbols or observing specific holy days.
Cheers to ... Susan Guess.
Religious practice does not generally refer to moral choices. That the Bible prescribes punishments for adultery does not grant one the right to punish adulterers. That the Bible prescribes punishments for those who eat the wrong foods or wearing the wrong fabrics does not give one the right to interfere in other people’s lives. That someone believes that homosexuality is a sin does not give one the right to deny other people access to health care or a public life. As I have written before, the courts have made broad exceptions for religious-organizations, such as a church or religious school, to follow religious beliefs. It is illegal for a private company to refuse to hire women, but a religiously operated organization is allowed to discriminate in certain cases. But the courts often reject such accommodation if it impedes people’s ability to live a public life. Religious liberty was used to oppose the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The courts rejected this defense because the implementation of one’s private morality in the public sphere caused harm to specific individuals. Allowing a woman to wear modest clothing allows her to live according to her religious beliefs. Allowing her to deny services to a LGBT couple imposes those religious beliefs on other people. This refusal of services disrupts public life and denies individuals equal participation in society. This is why discrimination is considered wrong and why laws such as HB 1523 should be rejected.
Jeers to ... Tennessee.
Susan Guess, member of the Murray State Board of Regents, has been spearheading anti-bullying initiatives in Kentucky along with her daughter and their Guess Anti-Bullying Foundation since 2011. The recent approval of Senate Bill 228 is a huge victory for them.
The Tennessee Senate recently approved a measure to establish the Holy Bible as the state’s official book. This is problematic for several reasons, including but not limited to the fact that a governing body is endorsing a religion.
Jeers to ... Paywalls.
Cheers to ... New editors.
One of the biggest buzzkills in our technology-driven lives is finding a link to an article that looks incredibly interesting only to click on it and find a paywall blocking you from reading the article in its entirety or at all. We’re a newspaper, so we understand the need to make a profit, but come on - why block people from getting their news?
The current editors of The Murray State News gathered all day on Sunday to select the leaders for the upcoming 2016-17 school year. Bias aside, we’re looking at a very talented group of people here. They begin their training this week - wish them luck, and get ready for some fresh, new voices!
“Ask and you shall receive.” This is a phrase we probably all know well. It’s a common rewording of Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek and ye shall Allison Borthwick find.” I, however, Opinion Editor always heard a not-soslightly different version of this notion. “Don’t ask, and you shall receive,” Dori Borthwick said, all throughout my childhood. She probably added the “don’t” right around the time my sister and I were old enough to torment her in the grocery store, as a retaliation to our demands for toys and candy. Her method of thinking was probably something like, “I see what you’re saying, Matt. And I respect it. No offense to you or Jesus, but I don’t think you guys had sugar-crazed children in mind when you published that in your global best-seller. So, I’m just going to do my own thing.” If I received everything I asked for in life, especially as a sugar-crazed child, my little sister would have been “sent back,” my diet would have consisted exclusively of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and I would have dropped out of school by third grade to pursue the life of a kitten. You know, because the Bible told me so. And I still have high hopes for those last two dreams. But, alas, my mother changed the game and I, for years, thought that if I just wished for something to happen without asking for it, it would indeed happen. I learned the hard way that this doesn’t really apply to everything. For instance, I apparently can’t expect my significant other to know I really want Mexican food for dinner when I say, “Doesn’t matter to me! You pick.” I also can’t sit on my couch for the next month watching episode after episode of “Bob’s Burgers” in the hopes that I’ll get my dream job without applying for it. I can’t wish for a candidate to be the President of the United States and not vote. What I think my mom did mean, however, was, “Don’t be selfishly expectant and you will probably be rewarded.” Put good energy out, get good energy back – that sort of thing. I don’t know what kind of good I put out there, but I have gotten a lot of good things in my life without asking for them. I got gifted with the talent to perfectly execute Mario Kart’s Rainbow Road. I got an uncanny ability to recite the entirety of both “Ace Ventura” movies. I got to live in a world where penguins, kittens and Johnny Depp exist. I got a family that continuously shows me how to laugh and love. I got a stone-cold pack of weirdos – friends who constantly bring tears to my eyes with their insane senses of humor and their thoughtfulness. I got a job I never thought I would apply for, let alone thrive in for the past year. I never thought I would be Opinion Editor of The Murray State News, but it’s an opportunity I received anyway, and I am very grateful. I got a work family that showed me that true talent requires insatiable drive and undeniable goofiness. I got an opportunity to have a lot of feelings. I couldn’t have asked for a more rewarding job or for more brilliant coworkers, and I couldn’t be more grateful that I received both. Thank you for reading. aborthwick@murraystate.edu
Rainy class days
By Selena McPherson
The News
News
6A
April 14, 2016
Last chief of police interviews held Alicia Steele || Staff writer asteele5@murraystate.edu
Ashley Traylor || Staff writer atraylor@murraystate.edu
Now that the four finalists have interviewed on campus, the search committee for chief of police and Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management will make its recommendation within the next week to Jackie Dudley, vice president of finance and administrative services. Interviews for chief of police concluded this week after the final two of four applicants visited campus to field questions from Murray State faculty, staff and students. Earlier this month, Roy Dunaway, current interim chief of police, and Robert L. Spinks, chief of police at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana, held their forums. (See TheNews.org for coverage of their interviews.) The final candidate, James Herring, held his forum Monday and told the audience he wants to get to know Murray State during his first months as chief, and he would want to discuss his leadership rules, values and experience on the job. The third candidate, Klay Peterson, held his forum Friday and told the audience about his experience as chief of police and Director of Public Safety at both the University of South Carolina Upstate and California Lutheran University and answered questions that followed.
KLAY PETERSON
Peterson said he chose to apply at Murray State because it was a department he wouldn’t have to “clean up.” “Everything I have heard and seen about the staff and faculty is that Murray reflects an outstanding pool of people who work cohesively, who care about each other and take time for each other,” Peterson said. During his time at Upstate, Peterson said he created a program known as “Good Will Hunting,” to promote better relationPeterson ships between students and the officers. This program required officers to meet one new person on campus. It resulted in an annual survey showing officers were more visible on campus. Peterson said his time teaching criminal justice classes was also a great way to build relationships with students and learn what they struggle with to better help them. During the forum, Peterson told the audience that he once joined a sheriff deputy to pick up a robbery suspect, and while stopped at a red light, the deputy began yelling profanity out of the car window to a white schoolteacher with 25 young African Americans. When they arrived at the suspect’s home, the deputy placed a gun under the chin of the suspect’s sister and told her if she didn’t tell
him where her brother was, he would kill him and the county would buy another bullet. “In that moment I knew that my police career, wherever it took me, I was going to be everything that man was not,” Peterson said. “He was an embarrassment to the badge, to the profession and his community.” To end his forum, Peterson said he believes that to be an effective leader, one must be a disciple. “You are willing to serve and help others,” Peterson said. “When we signed up on this job and raised our right arm, we signed to do just that.”
JAMES HERRING
The final candidate, James Herring, spent Monday on campus and told the audience he wants to get to know Murray State before making changes in the department. Herring applied to Murray State after retiring from his position as chief of police at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Before that, he served as the assistant chief, a sergeant and then Herring lieutenant in the field operations division. Herring said he retired in 2015 for financial reasons, because in North Carolina the pension plan allowed him to retire and bring home roughly the same amount as a salary. “I could make as much staying home as I
could working,” Herring said. He said during his time as chief of police, North Carolina banned pornography. During this time, a student began posting flyers around campus advertising the sale of pornographic movies. Herring said he went undercover and was able to arrest the suspect. “This was the only successful prosecution of that law in North Carolina,” Herring said. Herring said he was interested in Murray State because of the personal interaction he could have with students and staff. Herring said he believes if crime happens around campus, than it relates to campus, so it is expected for campus police to be involved. He also said Greensboro used the Livesafe app, similar to Murray State. During the launch of the app, Herring sat in a dunking booth and told students that if they showed him that they downloaded the app, they would get three balls to throw to dunk him in the water. Herring repeatedly told the audience that he wants to get to know Murray State, learn how to be an officer at Murray State and where the buildings are before making any major changes to the department. “I can’t see coming in and making wholesale changes without knowing why things are the way they are,” Herring said. Herring said he believes officers should have time off if a family issue arises. “If you’ve got something going on with your family, I will make sure you get time off if I have to put a uniform on and drive around myself,” Herring said.
Wildlife Biology program defeats reigning champions Cody Hall || Contributing writer chall22@murraystate.edu
The Wildlife Biology and Conservation Biology program defeated the University of Georgia, which has won 14 times since 1988, at this year’s Southeastern Wildlife Conclave. The Southeastern Wildlife Conclave was held at Eastern Kentucky in March. It is an annual competition in which schools compete in wildlife biology-based events. Murray State won Quiz Bowl – the most academic and prestigious events of the competition because of its quick recall format. This is the third time that Murray State has won this competition since 1988. The Racers defeated 23 different schools and placed in other event that were held at the conclave. The Murray State Quiz Bowl team is composed of five students: Jason Matthews, junior from Louisville; Christy Soldo, senior from Hop-
kinsville; Melanie Torres, graduate student from compete in the different events, including misEaston, Connecticut; Miranda Thompson, senior cellaneous animal calls, dendrology and a twofrom Louisville; and Nathan Tillotson, junior mile-long obstacle course. “Most of these from Paducah. “We practiced a lot, we had teams in the Southeastern region, they the knowledge, and we had are ready, you have more strategy than previous to beat them,” said years,” Thompson said. “We Joe Caudell, wildlife practiced once a week since biology professor. the beginning of the semester, “They studied more, and had a Canvas class that we they practiced a lot could use to practice outside and some of these the meetings.” Thompson said the team that students even had a - Steve White, former adviser for the went to the conclave this year chance to compete in wildlife biology program was an experienced one, with the national competimembers who had gone to this tion two years ago.” event for years and decided this Caudell came from the University of Georgia to Murray State, and was the year they were going to win the Quiz said it was a good feeling to take the Murray Bowl. State team into the competition to beat the Uni Murray State brought a team of 22 students to
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This is equivalent to winning the SCC, and they already beat the biggest threat in the nation.
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versity of Georgia. He said Murray State always places well at the Quiz Bowl event, usually in the single digits. “And the Murray State team has a good shot at winning nationals, too, because this is one of the first times that the same team that won regionals will be going to the nationals,” said Steve White, former adviser for the wildlife biology program. “This is equivalent to winning the SCC, and they already beat the biggest threat in the nation.” Howard Whiteman, wildlife biology professor, said exams are not always all of what students know. “There were questions they had that I don’t know, and I marveled in that fact that they answered them,” Whiteman said. Whiteman said this is something that is going to stay with the students forever, similar to if a football player won a major game. Winning the Southeastern Conclave in some cases is even more important than winning the national event.
April 14, 2016
Section B
The News
Sports
Sports Editor: Kelsey Randolph Assistant Sports Editor: Mark McFarland Phone: 270-809-4481 Twitter: MSUSportsNews
For full coverage of Wednesday’s game check out TheNews.org
Folke leads Racers at home Sarah Combs Staff writer
scombs8@murraystate.edu
The women’s golf team finished second collectively in the Jan Weaver Invitational last weekend, which was their only home tournament at Frances E. Miller Memorial Golf Course. The Racers closed the invitational with a scorecard of 309-310-319 – 938 behind Morehead State who scored 312-312-311 – 935, only a five-shot gap. The Racers pushed through difficult course conditions the first day, struggled the second day, but finished second as a team and had an individual medalist to end the weekend. Sophomore from Tranas, Sweden, Moa Folke tagged her first college tournament win at the 54-hole event with 75-76-72 – 223, just two strokes ahead of Morehead State’s Katie Rice who finished scoring 78-75-72 –
225. Faced with a situation similar to last week, Folke adjusted and pulled out the win on the last day, shooting even par. Folke improved her third day from last week by three strokes, shooting 75 in the Rebel Intercollegiate and 72 on her home course. Folke looks forward to carrying her momentum and improvement into her second appearance in the OVC Championship. Last year, she shot 26 over par, which placed her in a five-way tie for 31st position. Head Coach Velvet Milkman said the win gives Folke momentum going into the OVC Championship. “She learned from her mistakes from the week before,” Milkman said. “That was the difference between her winning and losing. I’m really proud of her.” The Racers finished sixth last year, and if the Racers win the OVC Championship,
see GOLF, 2B
McKenna Dosier/The News
Racers lose to Salukis in one game Wednesday
Mark McFarland
Assistant Sports Editor
mmcfarland1@murraystate.edu
Murray State took three of four games last weekend against both Tennessee State and Belmont. The Racers moved to 7-7 in the OVC and sit in sixth place in the conference heading into a three-game series against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville this weekend at Racer Field. Head Coach Kara Amundson said the team is playing really well and they are putting it together at the right time. “I think we are just trying to keep things simple,” Amundson said. “At different times throughout the year, we were trying to make situations a lot bigger than they needed to be.”
In the second game of the series, Murray State continued where it left off in the first game by adding 11 hits to its total on the day and winning 4-0. The Racers scored all four runs in the first two innings, and it was enough for sophomore pitcher Haven Campbell
to earn her fifth win of the season. She pitched seven innings of shutout, giving up five hits and two walks. Amundson said she was proud of her team, after losing the second game against Tennessee State, for coming back on Sunday
see SOFTBALL, 2B
SIUC
The Salukis defeated the Racers 2-0 Wednesday night. The Racers are now 17-21 overall and the Salukis are 2412. The Racers finished with three hits while the Salukis had four hits, two runs and one RBI. Senior infielder Shelbey Miller had two of the three hits, and sophomore outfielder Maddy Fenney took the third hit.
WHAT’S
INSIDE
Mark McFarland
Assistant Sports Editor mmcfarland1@murraystate.edu
The Racers traveled to second place Jacksonville State last weekend and came away with one win. Despite having only one win in the series, the Racers’ offense did its part to help the team in the losing effort with 34 hits and 17 runs in three games. Head Coach Kevin Moulder said the bats have been there all season and have kept the Racers in games. “We have been really consistent. We hit a little hole right after [Aaron]Bence and [Brandon]Gutzler got hurt and we kind of had to refine who we were,” Moulder said. “It took a little bit for guys to settle back into new roles, and as soon as they did that we’ve kind of picked back up where we were early in the season.”
EVANSVILLE In a game where both teams
BELMONT SERIES
The Racers defeated Belmont 4-1 and 4-0 in their doubleheader Sunday. Murray State rattled off eight hits in the first game and were led by Miller, who finished the game going 2-3 with a home run and two RBIs. Feeney came in with a 2-3 game to add to the hit total.
Baseball bats stay alive despite defensive shortage
McKenna Dosier/The News
Senior infielder Shelbey Miller jumps around third base after hitting a home run during Sunday’s game against Belmont.
SENIOR DAY
scored in a combined three innings the Racers lost to Evansville University 2-1 on Tuesday. Senior right-handed pitcher Brad Boegle got his first start of the year and pitched six innings giving up three hits and one earned run. Boegle has been sidelined with an injury for most of the season. Moulder said he sent him out for the seventh inning due to giving up only two infield singles. “He basically, more or less hadn’t given up a hit,” Moulder said. “He easily could have had a no-hitter going, had things gone a little differently in the first inning. He was throwing the ball ex-
TRACK FIELD
Racer tennis honor seniors for Racer compete with top eight both men and women’s tennis, 3B finishes over weekend, 4B
It took a little bit for guys to settle back into new roles and as soon as they did that we’ve kind of picked back up where we were early in the season.
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- Kevin Moulder, baseball head coach
tremely well. Brad Boegle is our top returning pitcher from last season and this is the first time he’s been fully healthy.” The Racers finished the game with five hits and zero errors, while the Purple Aces finished with four hits and zero errors. Moulder was proud of his teams defensive effort to keep them in the game. “Tonight I thought was the best defensive effort we’ve had all season,” Moulder said. “And probably our best pitched ball game all season as well.”
GAME THREE
In the third and final game of the series, junior righthanded pitcher Ryan Dills pitched 5.1 innings, giving up no runs on three hits to earn his second win of the season. Sophomore infielder Caleb Hicks led the team with a 3-4 game and two RBIs. Moulder said Hicks and a few other guys have stepped up and given the team good at bats since the injuries to junior outfielders Aaron Bence and Brandon Gutzler. Murray State scored two runs in the fourth, one in the seventh and three in the eighth to give the Racers the
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6-0 lead. The Gamecocks scored four in the eighth and one in the ninth, but could not tie the game or take the lead. Right-handed pitcher and redshirt sophomore Brandon Hicks earned his first save of the year. The Racers’ defense gave up four errors in the game which gave the team 12 errors in the series.
GAME TWO
The Gamecocks scored 22 runs on 23 hits in the second game to beat the Racers 22-7 to clinch the series victory. Despite having 12 hits, the Racers offense could not bring anyone in, leaving 12 runners on base. Murray State scored six runs in the first three innings for a 6-4 lead. However, Jacksonville State scored five runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 9-6 lead. Junior first baseman Ramsey Scott led the Racers with a 3-4 performance, a double and three RBIs. Although the offense did their part to give Murray State a chance to win, the defense gave up four errors to give the Gamecocks opportunities to score. Moulder said the defense needs to mature
see BASEBALL, 2B
CAMPUS SING
MISS MSU
Sigma Sigma Sigma wins Grand Champions, 5B
Rachel Ross crowned new recipient of scholarship, 6B
The News
Sports
2B
April 14, 2016 Red’s Report
It’s been real
McKenna Dosier/The News
(Left) Moa Folke from Tranas, Sweden, hits an approach shot at the Jan Weaver Invitational last weekend. (Top) Sydney Trimble, junior from Paducah, Kentucky, walks on the green carrying Murray State equipment.
GOLF From Page 1 it will be the first time since 2014. The 54-hole OVC Tournament course is known for its vast amount of greens with a lot of break and Milkman is preparing her team appropriately by working on putting speed and the 5-6 footers that have break with them, which
SOFTBALL From Page 1
and winning both games.
TENNESSEE STATE SERIES
The Racers had 13 hits in the 7-2 first game victory over Tennessee State Saturday in Nashville. Junior infielder Maggie Glass finished the game by going 3-3 with two RBIs and a walk. Junior infielder Jessica Twaddle followed Glass with a 2-4 performance and two RBIs. Amundson said she was impressed with how Glass contributed this weekend as she had been struggling earlier in the season. “Maggie Glass had a heck of
a week,” Amundson said. “She had been somebody that had been struggling for us to start this year, and she just kind of settled in and took what pitchers were giving her and just putting balls in play for us.” Murray State lost to the Lady Tigers 5-4 despite coming away with 11 hits in the game. The Racers scored two runs in the first inning but gave up one run in the bottom half to take a one-run lead early in the game. In the fourth inning, Murray State scored another run only to give one more up in the Lady Tigers’ half of the inning. Tennessee State and the Racers did the same in the fifth inning setting the score 4-3 with Murray State leading. The Lady Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win the game
off a walk-off double. Murray State was led offensively by Miller, who went 2-4 with a double and two stolen bases, followed by Feeney who turned in a 2-3 effort and a stolen base of her own. Amundson said the hitting for the Racers has really come on in the last couple weeks, which has led to better team performances. “Offensively, we kind of settled in a little bit,” Amundson said. Amundson said pitching and defense need to continue to get better as the team makes the push to get into the OVC Tournament. “We haven’t been playing the ‘best’ in conference, Amundson said. “We’ve talked about just get us to the tournament and it’s a whole clean slate.”
will help improve their short game. “We certainly have the talent to win. We have won in the past so they know what it means to win,” Milkman said. “I’m excited about the week, we are in a good position. We just have to be patient with ourselves the first couple of days.” Junior from Paducah, Kentucky, Sydney Trimble has been a force for the Racers this season and grabbed 19th place with scores of 79-78-81 – 238.
Trimble is optimistic about the upcoming weekend and said her team will arrive prepared. “With anything, I think working hard beats any kind of talent out there,” Trimble said. “With Velvet [Milkman] as our coach we have definitely worked hard. We have been through all of the conditions so I think we are prepared and ready for what’s ahead of us.” The Racers are preparing for the upcoming OVC Championship in Owen’s Crossing, Alabama.
McKenna Dosier/The News
Senior infielder Erica Howard stands prepared to catch a ball during the Racers’ second game against Belmont last weekend.
Congratulations! We welcome our newest members as of April 13! Joyce Ann Shepherd-Allen Courtney Lee Ann Girvan Staci L. Peyton Matthew T. Allen Tony Neil Gladwell Jr. Kate Post Taylor Allen Lisa-Marie Hahne-Poeppl Curt A. Prebe Badr Almazroo Matt Hall Andrea L. Puricelli Yousef Alsedais Sarah Hampton Katherine E. Race Dustin L. Alton Callie J. Hancock Sawyer R. Rambo Kristin Danielle Andrews Shannon L. Harrell Franziska Maria Renz Sofia Arichavala JoAnthion A. Harris Melissa Ridgeway Danny R. Armstrong Mary E. Heard Ronald J. Rhoades Elaina Barnett Jessica Hedrick Austin S. Rogers Donald James Benkendorf Matthew L. Hicks Tiffany Sanderson Amanda K. Blankenship Scottie L. Ingram Storm J. Santos Brandi Bloodworth Chelsea D. Jenkins Stephanie Lee Sharp Robert A. Blumrick Kaitlyn Jernigan Christopher Sheeran Ann-Kathrin Ninja Bolsinger Ryan Joiner Rebecca M. Shelton Michael L. Bradshaw Prashanth Katakam Raymond E. Sheridan Matthew B. Brasher Saiseshu Kodali Christina Marie Sherman Caitlyn E. Byrd Madison Lane Catherine E. Steele Alicia J. Bumpus-Carthell Xian Feng Liang Paula Ann Strong Stella Catherine Childress Adam Loehr Maftuna Tojiboeva Maxamadali Qizi Jonathan Chumbler Lisa Hurt Lovell Suharsha Tokala Jordan Lynn Combs Breanna Danielle Lowrance Amonia Lois Tolofari John M. Crofton Hannah M. Martin Melissa Tyndall Leia DeShon Mitchell S. Mathes Cathy Jane van Lit Hanh Truong My Dinh Tara Brooke Matson Derek Van Order Allie Douglass Courtney Davis McIntosh Julian Ulrich Norbert Vogel Tammy S. Dunaway Susan E. McNeill Rajiv Vutukuri Claire Alcott Dunning Carly J. Mitchell Courtney Madison Walker Miriam Eaton Andrea Moore Rometta Washington Jeanette Ilene Ellis Vishal Adithiya Nataraj Murugananthan Tina R. Wiggins Kristen A. Emerling Collins Mamuyovwi Ojarikre Clay Wyatt Kathleen M. Farrell Toby H. Omli Rachel Katelyn Wyatt Abdullah Al Faruk Katherine A. Patterson Zhang Xiaowei Parker Franklin Shaye Patterson
Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline academic honor society. The Murray State University chapter will induct new members at 4 p.m., Thursday, April 21 in the Wrather Museum auditorium. Membership is highly selective and by invitation only.
“Let the love of learning rule humanity.”
McKenna Dosier/The News
Junior first baseman Ramsey Scott hits the ball into the ground in Wednesday’s 7-3 win over Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
BASEBALL From Page 1 in order for the team to improve. “I am afraid the answer is to get a year older,” Moulder said. “We’re extremely immature and young on the infield, and some of it is an experience deal and some of it is we got to get better.” The Gamecocks continued their hot streak when they scored 13 runs in the final five innings to put the Racers away and secure the victory.
GAME ONE
Jacksonville State took an early 5-0 lead in the first three innings on its way to an 11-4 win over Murray State. The Racers had three different players have a multi-hit
game to help the team get to 11 hits in the game. However, Murray State’s defense struggled, allowing four errors in the game, which led to six of the 11 runs given up by the team to be unearned. With the series victory, the Gamecocks moved from 9-0 in the conference to 11-1 and still sit in second place in the conference. The Racers moved to 6-9 in the OVC and are in eighth place. Murray Sate will have a week off before traveling to University of Mississippi for a mid-week showdown April 20. The Racers will have a conference showdown at home against fifth place Tennessee Tech April 22-24. Moulder said Wednesday’s game is more like a football game. “We have a week off,” Moulder said. “You don’t want to be sitting around with a loss for a week.”
Murray State has been a breeding ground for firsts. It’s where I discovered another human being as awkward as me, where I Kelsey Randolph watched the Sports Editor stars truly fall, where I’ve seen support go further than a pat on the back, where I walked into a position I knew nothing about and where I finished a four-year race to the finish line we call graduation. Farewell is never goodbye, I’ve left my legacy with my successor, and it will hopefully leave a lasting impression that will carry with future editors. Murray as a city has been more than gracious to foster me as I grow, succeed, fail and then pick myself back up. Being a student journalist can be difficult. You’re held to the same standards as every other journalist, but you’re still trying and sometimes failing. It’s inevitable that something will go wrong and you’ll write a story that will make an entire department dislike you, and they may even tell you what you wrote is the worst piece of journalism they’ve ever read. But you keep going. I’m not leaving this column as a sappy retweet of every other farewell column, but a piece of advice for not only student journalists, but students. First, remember that it’s OK. You can make mistakes, you can fall on your face, you can ask a stupid question (yes, I believe there is such a thing as a stupid question), you can forget someone’s name, age or position at the university, but you need to remember those moments and learn from them. It’s not how you fall; it’s how you pick yourself up. It’s not about remembering the mistake; it’s about correcting it. It’s not about asking the stupid question; it’s about owning it. And it’s not about forgetting someone’s position; it’s about getting it right the rest of the time. Second, do everything humanly possible. Whether it’s about studying abroad multiple times, being part of every organization, never getting sleep and single– handedly keeping Red Bull in business, just do it all. When you’re 70 years old, retiring to some quaint home you’ve dreamt of your entire life and your kids and grand-kids ask you what you did in college, be able to tell them you did everything you possibly could because now is the time. Third, remember you have the rest of your life. Just because you might have had a relationship that didn’t work out, scored a 60 percent on a test or slept through class a few times, it’s not the end of the world. Your life doesn’t stop when you graduate and certainly neither does continual growth. Graduating is only just the beginning. You’ve got your entire life to find love, make 60 percent commission off of a sale or sleep on vacation, which you paid for yourself. Just because one person told you they didn’t like your story, article or column doesn’t mean you crawl back in your shell. For every person who tells you they didn’t like it, there are 100 people who loved it. Lastly, be passionate about it and embrace it. Everything you’ve succeeded in, fallen for or jumped into, just embrace every moment of it because Murray State is worth every moment, and I couldn’t be more proud of myself and the people around me. I am passionate about many things, but the most passionate moment of my time at Murray State has been the solitary second of realization that I made it to the end of the four-year race. Murray State has been a breeding ground for firsts, lasts, but never a forever. I bid my due and tip my hat as I enter the world of realization. It’s been real, keep on keepin’ on and whatever other cliché farewell on Urban Dictionary. Just keep on swimming and don’t jump off a bridge just because your friends did. Kelsey Randolph can be reached at krandolph3@murraystate.edu
The News
Sports
April 14, 2016
3B
Senior Day brings big wins for men’s and women’s tennis
Chalice Keith/The News
Women’s tennis in OVC Tournament with win on Friday Sarah Combs || Staff writer scombs8@murraystate.edu
After the Murray State women’s tennis team swept Tennessee State 7-0 Tuesday, the players put themselves in position to lock down a spot in the OVC Tournament if they beat Jacksonville State on Friday. The Racers relied on their two seniors – Erin Patton from Memphis, Tennessee and Megan Blue from Mississauga, Ontario – to complete Tuesday’s sweep and will be leaning on the pair’s postseason experience to help steady the team as it aims for its third straight OVC Title. “That’s the main thing that these seniors do – they have the winning Caetano mentality,” Head Coach Jorge Caetano said. “They want to work hard and make sure we get the job done. They always keep believing.” The Racers need to beat Jacksonville State on Friday to make the tournament and try to win their third straight title. Both teams are 4-4 in the conference. The tournament will include only the top six teams in the conference. Murray
State is ranked sixth, Jacksonville State is ranked seventh and Austin Peay State ranked fifth and are all tied for the two final spots into the tournament. “It’s gonna be a war this weekend,” Caetano said. “I just want the girls to be ready to play.” The sunny conditions offered an ideal backdrop for Senior Day on Bernie Purcell Tennis Courts. The Racers won the doubles match early and dominated singles. The seniors give the younger team a confidence in themselves, said Caetano. The conference has a lot of young players, Caetano said which gives the Racers an advantage. The singles match of the day came from Court 4, where Patton, delivered a nail biter. Patton fought her way through a tie breaker and pulled out a tough win for her last match on her home court as a senior. Patton played a good first set, winning 6-2, but lost a couple points in the second 3-6. The match was a battle, but she sealed the third set 7-6. “It was a tough match,” Patton said. “That third set really made the difference and being able to focus in to get the win.” Patton said the final match on her home court was bittersweet. She hopes the team remembers the two championships that the team has won since her freshman year and can build on that.
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“It will never be something that I just put down,” Patton said. Blue played the first position for the Racers. Blue held the lead throughout the match, delivering 6-2, 6-2 for the singles win. After playing for four years, working her way from the three position to the one and winning two rings, Blue said she is looking forward to winning a third ring. Blue said she’s sad to be playing her last match on her favorite courts. She said the competition and team atmosphere is what she lived for during her four years on the team. Blue said the match against Southern Illinois University Carbondale was her best performance of the year. Blue delivered a 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 to win her singles match against the Salukis. Blue said she hopes future teams look back on the 2016 Racers and remember them for the extra effort that paid off. “It all comes from hard work,” Blue said. “I’m hoping that’s what we are remembered by, how much we wanted it and how much we worked for it and at the end of the day, we did it.” A third senior was honored Tuesday, Suzaan Stoltz from Brisbane, Austrailia. She played three years finishing 23-21 in single matches and 22-10 in doubles matches.
Chalice Keith/The News
Men’s tennis sends Kashyab off on high note in final home match Clara Firtos
cfirtos@murraystate.edu
Men’s tennis was defeated by Belmont 5-2 Friday, but the Racers beat Tennessee State 4-3 Tuesday at home, bringing its record to 3-20. Despite losing on Friday, the Racers held a ceremony for junior Anjan Kashyab from Tell City, Indiana, on Senior Day Tuesday because he will graduate a year early.
SENIOR DAY
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Marcel Ueltzhoeffer, sophomore from Oftersheim, Germany, played in at No. 1 for the singles matches. Ueltzhoeffer battled and won against his opponent 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. No. 5 David Hess, junior from Louis-
“
Kashyab said team trips and being coached by Head Coach Mel Purcell are a couple of his favorite memories from being on the team. “He is what made my experience of playing for Murray State enjoyable and unique,” Kashyab said. “I’ve learned a lot of things from him during my time here and not many players can say their coach was ranked as high as 21 in the world.” Kashyab also said Purcell gave him well-thought advice, important tips, good laughs and always made sure he was having fun. “I hope to stop by and see everyone once in a while after leaving,” Kashyab said, “We had a lot of great and funny memories together.” Kashyab formed good friendships with his teammates.
Email: mpl@murrayplazalodge.com
Court Square
“We learned a lot about each other’s countries and cultures,” Kashyab said. “I can now say I have friends all around the world.”
Contributing writer
TheNews.org
We learned a lot about each other’s countries and cultures. I can now say I have friends all around the world.
- Anjan Kashyab from Tell City, Indiana
”
ville, Kentucky, also defeated his opponent 6-0, 6-1. Javier Villar, freshman from Madrid, won the match as well 6-0, 6-1. In at No. 2 was sophomore Will True from Bowling Green, Kentucky. True was defeated by his opponent 6-4, 4-6, 7-6. No. 3 player Srdjan Trosic, sophomore from Novi Sad, Serbia, lost his match 4-6, 4-6 and 4-6. The doubles competition started off strong with No. 1 Ueltzhoeffer and partner David Schrott, sophomore from Mannheim, Germany winning their match 7-6. Ueltzhoeffer and Schrott won the deciding game in the match
7-3. In at No. 3 were Villar and partner Srdjan Trosic, who won their match 6-4. The No. 2 duo True and Hess lost their match 4-6.
BELMONT
During the singles competition, Ueltzhoeffer was in No. 1 spot. Ueltzhoeffer lost his first set 1-6, but came back in the next two sets winning 6-3, 6-1. True played in the No. 2 spot for the Racers. True’s opponent, senior Robin Demasse from St. Jean de Braye, France, was yelling inappropriate language in French during their match. Due to this, True won his match by default. In at No. 3 was Schrott. Schrott lost his match 6-0, 6-3. No. 4 player Trosic was defeated by his opponent 6-3, 6-2. No. 5 Hess lost a close first set 7-6, before falling 6-0 in the second set. Villar played in the last spot for Murray State. Villar lost his match, giving the Bruins the victory in the singles portion of the match. In the doubles competition Ueltzhoeffer and Schrott won their first set 4-1, but the second set went unfinished against Belmont. True and Hess played in the No. 2 spot. The team lost 6-1, giving the win over to their opponents. No. 3 partners Trosic and Villar lost their match 6-2. Men’s tennis is scheduled to play Jacksonville State on Friday.
The News
Sports
4B
April 14, 2016
Track and field has multiple top eight finishes Justin Gatson
Contributing writer jgatson2@murraystate.edu
Murray State traveled to Bowling Green, Kentucky last weekend for the Western Kentucky University Relays and had 10 top-eight finishes. Freshman sprinter Tamdra Lawrence competed in the 100meter dash, finishing in fifth place with a time of 12.03 seconds. Lawrence also competed in the 200-meter dash, placing sixth with a time of 24.86 seconds. Sophomore sprinter Anna Curlin placed seventh in the 400-meter dash, finishing with a time of 57.22 seconds, a new personal best. Junior mid-distance runner Tia Weston competed in the 800-meter dash, finishing ninth with a time of 2:15 and ranking ninth all-time at Murray State. Sophomore distance runner
Vallery Korir competed in the 1,500 meters, taking fourth place with a time of 4 minutes, 39 seconds. Freshman hurdler Jabreuna Brimlett ran a time of 14.11 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles, placing second. Freshman pole vaulter Emily Heil vaulted a new personal best, staking her claim with the third best score in Murray State history. Heil cleared a vault of 3.42 meters. Freshman thrower Christina Meinhardt threw a new personal best in the shot put with a throw of 12.83 meters. Her throw ranks the eighth all-time in Murray State history. Sophomore high jumper Taylor Horton tied for seventh, clearing a height of 1.55 meters. Senior long/triple jumper Jill Jachino competed in the triple jump, making a jump of 11.44 meters, which placed seventh. The 4x100 meter relay team
of freshman sprinter Jocelyn Payne, Brimlett, Curlin and Lawrence finished with a time of 48.32 seconds, placing sixth. Senior distance runner Ali Hester ran as an unattached runner (a competitor with no relation or affiliation with the university) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing with a time of 10 minutes, 59 seconds. Hester’s time would have been ranked third fastest all-time at Murray State if eligible. Sophomore distance runner Rebekah Priddy also competed in the event, finishing with a time of 11 minutes, 2 seconds, placing her fourth in this event. Priddy’s time ranks third fastest in Murray State history. With the season winding down and OVC Championship only a month away, Head Coach Jenny Swieton said in an interview earlier this month she is very confident in her team and
IM Standings: Soccer Women’s
Men’s
Sorority A
Fraternity 2-0
2-0
1. Sigma Phi Epsilon
2. ADPI and Kappa Delta
1-1
2. PI Kappa Alpha, Lamb1-1 da Chi Alpha, Sigma Pi and Alpha Sigma Phi
Independent Independent 2-0
2. Ball Crushers and Girls 1-0 Gone Wild
Residential College
1. AL-NASSR
Don’t miss the Racers Women’s Golf
Men’s Golf
Location: Alabama
Location: Alabama
April 18 OVC Tournament day one
April 25 OVC Tournament day one
April 19 OVC Tournament day two
April 26 OVC Tournament day two
April 20 OVC Tournament day three
April 27 OVC Tournament day three
3-0
2. BCM Booters and Korean Malakas United 1-0
Women’s Tennis
Residential College
1. Lizo A
3-0
1. Lizo A
2. Springer-Franklin A
2-1
2. Hart A and Richmond A 2-0
Results are as of Tuesday. Standings courtesy of IMLeagues.
Meckenna Dosier/The News
Jabreuna Brimlett, freshman from Popular Bluff, Missouri, throws a javeline in the home meet March 4.
Check out some of the Racers as they push for an OVC Title
1. Tri Sigma A and AOII A Team
1. Granny Panties
expects them to continue to improve. Swieton said she isn’t afraid of the competition from the bigger schools that are scheduled for the remaining meets this seasons, believing the Racers place being right beside this top competition. “They need to know – and they already know – that they belong,” Swieton said. The Racers have steadily improved throughout the indoor and outdoor season and continue to top their own personal records and even some school records along the way. But Swieton is confident that the Racers still have a lot left in them this season to continue exceeding their best. “We haven’t pushed them as hard in practice as we had before in the previous years and I think it’s worked for them,” Swieton said.
3-0
April 15 TBD at Jacksonville State April 23 OVC Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee
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April 14, 2016
5B
The News
Features Editor: Connor Jaschen Assistant Features Editor: Gisselle Hernandez Phone: 270-809-5871 Twitter: MSUNewsFeatures
Features
ALL CAMPUS SING QUEENS
Gisselle Hernandez
Assistant Features Editor ghernandez1@murraystate.edu
Sigma Sigma Sigma took home the Grand Champion trophy after beating two-time champion Alpha Sigma Alpha at the 58th All Campus Sing Wednesday. All Campus Sing, one of Murray State’s long-standing traditions, brought out students, faculty, alumni and residents of the Murray community to spread blankets and hammocks in the Quad to await the musical ride that was to come. Master of ceremonies Logan Stout, who has hosted All Campus Sing three years in a row, describes the highly-anticipated event as “one giant picnic.” A former Racer, Stout said he enjoys hosting All Campus Sing much more than the other events he is asked to host. “All Campus Sing is a whole different deal,” he said. “The whole community gets involved; it’s so much bigger than me or bigger than the students. It’s awesome and I love being a part of it.” In his senior year, Stout sang at the 2011 All
Campus Sing with his fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha, who took home fourth place for the fraternity category this year. He said hosting All Campus Sing makes him feel like a student again, especially seeing 1,000-plus alumni, students and their families and pets sitting on their blankets spread-out on the Quad. Spectators took advantage of the sunny, warm weather by bringing their furry friends, from dogs to bunnies, to the event. The a capella group Cloud 9 kicked off the event, which lasted to almost 8 p.m. Twenty-two groups participated this year, ranging from independent groups and residential colleges to Greek organizations. Jennifer Roberts, All Campus Sing chairwoman, said the Sigma Alpha Iota chapter raised almost $8,000 for the People To People philanthropy, the most it’s ever raised and more than any other chapter in the country. The project funds music education in underdeveloped countries, a cause that 22 groups, along with All Campus Sing attendees, contributed to. Roberts said it was challenging to stay organized throughout the time leading up to the event, especially because so many groups
participated. She said her favorite part of All Campus Sing is seeing all the students and community come together in the end for the sound of music. “I think it is a tradition as much to the community of Murray and to the alumni as it is to the students,” she said. “It’s pride in your alma mater, I would say.”
RESULTS • Best Sorority: Sigma Sigma Sigma • Best Fraternity: Sigma Phi Epsilon • Best Independent: Honors College • Best Residential College: Springer-Franklin • Best Choreography: Kappa Delta • Best Soloist: Black Student Council • Best Costume: Alpha Omicron Pi • Spirit Award: Sigma Sigma Sigma • Spectator’s Choice: Kappa Delta • Director’s Choice: Sigma Alpha • Most Creative: Track and Field • Grand Champions: Sigma Sigma Sigma
Jeff Ramsey
Contributing writer jramsey@murraystate.edu
Learning the vocals, choreography and routine needed to take home a trophy at the end of All Campus Sing simply can’t be taught overnight. Alpha Sigma Alpha has won the sorority division the last two years. Kelsey McIlroy, sister of Alpha Sigma Alpha, took on the role of coach for the sorority when she was elected Song Leader Officer for her organization last semester. McIlroy said she created the compilation of music for the group’s performance over Winter Break to have it ready for the practices she knew would begin as soon as the spring semester began. Once the semester started, she said she ran into the problem of finding a place for the girls to practice. Their usual spot, the annex of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity house, was being used by the sorority’s step team, so she had to outsource for a new location. Eventually, ASA found space in the gym of First
see CHAMPIONS, 6B Nicole Ely/The News
Sigma Sigma Sigma member Kristin Henson performs in the sorority’s New York-themed set during All Campus Sing on Wednesday.
‘Murray.snaps’ posts illegal activity under anonymity
Taylor Inman || Staff writer
tinman1@murraystate.edu
On Friday nights, it’s pictures of nudity and drinking; on Saturday nights, it’s pictures of people snorting cocaine. This isn’t a television show or a scene from a big city, but things happening on the local Snapchat account “murray.snaps,” where people can post whatever picture or video they desire, with the comforting notion that it is “temporary.” The account has garnered negative attention from locals in recent months, with word-of-mouth accounts of pictures being posted without permission. And the heavy drug use has the law enforcement carefully monitoring what’s posted. Calloway County Sheriff Sam Steger said the sheriff’s department has deputies looking at the Snapchat account whenever they can.
“We use sites like that to assist us in identifying drug users,” Steger said. “You can’t tell if one person is posting ten pictures of the drugs or if there are ten different users.” The threat of being caught has people on the account hiding their faces and surroundings in pictures where illegal substances can be seen. But there are still people who post these things that bypass the danger of being caught to satisfy what Murray State psychology professor Sean Rife calls “a form of exhibitionism.” “People have a desire to be known, to be seen,” Rife said. “It’s a way to gain notoriety while controlling how anonymous they are.” The decision to stay anonymous is found among many of the pictures that are posted on the account, but the account itself can’t escape from being banned, as a picture was uploaded last week with
the warning and a backup account to add called “murray_snaps.” Although the account has its fame among the students of Murray State, it has also reached the local high schools. The nudity seen on the account could be from some-
“
People have a desire to be known, to be seen. It’s a way to gain notoriety while controlling how anonymous they are.
”
- Sean Rife, professor of psychology
one who is 30 or someone who is 15, and Sheriff Steger said law enforcement considers it a crime just like any other. “It is illegal for someone to post nudes underage; we treat it like any other crime,” Steger said. “We
try to take whatever steps to find them, whether it’s themselves posting the pictures or somebody else.” Calloway County High School Principal Randy McCallon said the administration and staff at the school do whatever is necessary to warn students of these dangers. “We’re all aware of social media,” McCallon said. “It’s a continual thing through the year, it’s in our student handbook and we talk about it at orientation.” McCallon said the real threat happens when students are at home and not at school. “Parents need to be diligent on the weekends; we can’t be at home with them,” McCallon said. “There are no monitors, often parents don’t know what their child is posting on there, and there are so many different tools to do that.” Rife said that often the problem is that the users of the account are just that: underage.
“Most of them are underaged. Young people have an impaired ability to make those decisions,” Rife said. “That’s why we allocate certain rights to adults because older people can make better judgments.” And is the account just a sign of what technology is doing to our generation? Rife said no. “My view is that this isn’t categorically new. Young people have been making fools of themselves for generations,” Rife said. “New technology doesn’t make people make more stupid decisions. It just makes their decisions easier to see.” Murray.snaps is still currently running under the same account name and has yet to see any bans. “There is a perception that Snapchat is temporary,” Rife said. But temporary can turn into forever with just one simple screenshot.
The News
Features
6B
April 14, 2016
‘Childhood dream come true’: Ms. MSU on winning Gisselle Hernandez
Assistant Features Editor ghernandez1@murraystate.edu
When Rachel Ross heard those anticipated words uttered over the microphone, a childhood dream came true. Ross, junior from Murray, took the reigns from the former champion Tanelle Smith on Saturday night as she was crowned Ms. Murray State University 2016 in Lovett Auditorium. Ross, who had sat in the auditorium as a 5-year-old fantasizing about that very moment, strut her first walk as Ms. MSU down the catwalk, the crowd cheering and applauding. “I sat here for as long as I can remember, looking at these women,” she said. “I knew one day, when I went to Murray State, I wanted to be somebody that made that big of an impact. So getting this was a dream.” The 15 Ms. MSU contestants had to go through two previous rounds before the actual pageant on Saturday. On Saturday morning, the ladies had a four-minute interview with the judges and then presented a one-minute speech. For the pageant, the last round was the Evening Gown modeling. Karlie Nattier, executive director for Ms. MSU, said the pageant does a good job in high-
lighting women that are not only star students, but actively involved at Murray State. “I think often society sees pageants are pretty girls who walk on stage and talk about world peace, but in reality, pageants are much more than that,” she said. “This program instills confidence and communication skills in young women.” When the doors opened at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, the crowd saw 15 ladies, who had been training and practicing for weeks before, model in their evening gowns for the judges to score. During the individual modeling, dresses from all styles and colors captivated the audience’s eyes, from bride-esque gowns to lacy mermaid bodycons. As each contestant walked across the stage and runway, smiling widely at the judges and audience, masters of ceremony Evan Ditty and Clint Combs read their biographies. After the grand parade of contestants, Emily Duff, senior from Mayfield, Kentucky, received a standing ovation for her cover of Adele’s “Hello,” serving as entertainment while the judges rounded up scores for the Top 5 Finalists. The finalists had a chance to give the speech they had presented to the judges earlier, and topics ranged from passions for creative writing to the common
#Cultureof Respect: Sexual assault campaign taken online CHAMPIONS From Page 5B Methodist Church located in downtown Murray. “They really helped us out a lot,” McIlroy said. “It actually worked out perfectly with everything because they had a stage for us to practice on.” McIlroy said her dance experience began in high school, where she was active in theater and was eventually given the opportunity to choreograph a production of “High School Musical.” She is also a member of the Patt Holt Singers, a song-anddance show group that travels all over Missouri performing at county fairs, retirement homes and parades, even going to the White House to perform for the president. “It just came down to breaking down the dance and teaching it, but also being patient,” McIlroy said. “Dance is not everyone’s thing, or it isn’t something they necessarily like to do. It’s a whole different experience than teaching people that have done it forever.” McIlroy said she came up with most of the choreography, but had help from another member, Victoria Pope. Pope, a senior member of Alpha Sigma Alpha, isn’t competing this year, instead opting to help McIlroy with the choreography and practices, having had previous dance experience in high school and college.
experience of life’s awkward moments. At the end of the night, when Smith crowned Ross and bestowed upon her the coveted sash of Ms. MSU, Ross said winning is all about knowing “you’re special and standing out with that special quality.” Smith, whose reign as Ms. MSU is up, said she will miss being able to attend all the events and visits to elementary schools she used to do as Ms. MSU the most. She said being a natural-born leader helped in being a role model to others, something she had always strived to do. “The kids line up when they see the crown on your head and I think that’s what I’ll miss the most – engaging with the community,” she said. Smith was the first African-American to win Ms. MSU, and with almost seven decades since the first year of desegregation at Murray State, Smith said she found it fitting that she made history last year when she won. “At first it didn’t hit me, but once people started coming up to me and saying how proud they are, I thought it was really empowering,” she said. “Especially with all the barriers African-Americans have had to face.” The winner of Ms. MSU receives an $850 scholarship and
Da’Sha Tuck || Staff writer dtuck@murraystate.edu
Murray State’s Women’s Center joined the #CultureofRespect campaign, an educational movement aimed at promoting behaviors and approaches to discourage sexual assault, this month. The Women’s Center also invited students, faculty and staff to get involved through the #CultureofRespect Facebook page. After joining, students could post pictures or videos saying what a culture of respect meant to them. “This campaign is meant to challenge students to think about the culture they live in and how they can make a positive impact by promoting respect,” said Abigail French, director of the Women’s Center. French said traditionally, efforts have focused on preventing “rape culture.” Now, the focus has shifted to creating a “respect culture.” “College students across the country participated online through various social media outlets to share messages of support for a culture that promotes
“We started off the year a little later than we had planned and we thought we would be behind, but our girls really stepped it up,” Pope said. “We had a smaller group this year but the girls that are competing have really tried their best to be at all of the practices and have worked really hard.” Pope said the sorority tried something new last year and provided video resources so girls could learn the performance on their own. The tool was used again this year to help the practices run smoother. McIlroy said girls learning dances and music on their own helped out a lot at practice. “If you know the stuff you can have more fun with it so you’re not stressed out trying to learn it,” McIlroy said. “I think that’s really important, and I’m glad we were able to use that tool to accomplish that this year.” Pope said this year she didn’t feel like there was as many questions about the routine as in previous years and everyone seemed to know what they were doing. “I’ve recorded some of the practices and posted them on our page so people can see if they’re smiling, if they need to put more into it, make better faces or be sassier,” Pope said. “They can compare themselves to other people in the group and match their level. It’s really helpful because you don’t know what you look like during practice.” Three weeks ago, the group relocated its practices to Wells Hall, which has steps similar to Lovett Auditorium, in order to
the pageant is a long-standing tradition at Murray State, a tradition Ross said she cannot wait to dive into. “I really look forward to being able to advocate for the university and getting in touch with more women about being successful in college,” she said. Ross said it was difficult trying not to let the nerves get to her. She said “being yourself” is the most important part, and as long as the contestants were true to themselves during the pageant, nothing else mattered. The challenges do not end after being crowned; great tiaras come with great responsibility. Smith said one of the most challenging aspects was having to maintain a reputation and an image that represented Murray State as a whole, an ordeal she called a “blessing and a curse.” Smith may be moving on to better things in the future, such as her study abroad in South Korea, but she shared some parting words to encourage the new Ms. MSU. “I would tell her to take every day in strides. Wake up every day and think of something new to do with your title,” she said. “It’s only a year, but use it to open new avenues for you to do more things at Murray State.”
respect,” she said. A group of parents with college-aged children founded Culture of Respect in 2013. The parents were unsettled about the rate of sexual assaults on college campuses and wanted to act. These parents wanted to make a way for students and victims of sexual assault to have more access to information and resources they could turn to in an assault situation. Despite the efforts, getting the word out about the #CultureofRespect campaign proved to be difficult over the last two weeks. French said the Women’s Center advertised the campaign in several ways. Information about how to join the campaign was shared online, like how to contact the housing staff to get residents involved, set up tables in the Curris Center and encourage the online social media presence of student leaders such as resident advisers. Jeanie Morgan, adviser of the Student Government Association and student organizations, said she sent out information to all student organizations regarding the #CultureofRespect campaign.
help with performing on elevation and in a closed space. During practice, the women went into organized dance instinctually, syncing into a unit in every aspect, from their warmups to their moves, all in the chilly nights that plagued the week leading up to their performance. “It’s been really cold, but the dedication that those girls have is phenomenal, it blows my mind,” McIlroy said. “It hasn’t been raining, but even if it was sprinkling; the girls would text me and make sure I still held practice even in the rain. I just really like their enthusiasm and how they were willing to do that to help.” Last Sunday, the group took the steps of Lovett Auditorium for an 8 a.m. practice, which McIlroy described as a quiet but rewarding practice, because everyone knew the moves. “It was freezing because of the rain, so they weren’t super excited about being there at that time,” McIlroy said. “But they were all excited about this week and the show we’ve been working so hard on.” Pope said the sorority normally has 100 girls participating in the event, but this year they only had close to 60. “That’s what I like about All Campus Sing. Even though there are 50 to 100 girls depending on the year, they somehow get together and all do it,” Pope said. “Eventually, the good attitudes kick in; we get going and know that we can do well.” When asked if she thinks the girls were nervous about the
Jenny Rohl/The News
Last year’s winner, Tanelle Smith, crowns Ms. Murray State University 2016, Rachel Ross.
Morgan said she could send reminder emails out all day long, but there has to be some kind of accountability to the students to want to know what is going on. The Murray State News asked several students about the #CultureofRepect campaign, but none knew anything about it and some had no idea April is Sexual Assault Awareness month. However, the table the Women’s Center set up in the Curris Center had a decent turnout. The table was set up with a teal ribbon and a dry erase board with the words “I wear teal because” written on it. Students then finished the statement with their reason for wearing teal. Some of the statements included, “I wear teal because survivors’ voices should be heard,” “I wear teal because silence hides violence” and “I wear teal because no one should be made to feel like they deserve abuse.” Landen Bates, junior from Shelbyville, Kentucky, also had his reasons for wearing teal. He said as a survivor of sexual assault, it has always been important to him to bring awareness to the idea that anyone can be a victim.
“It can happen to anyone and being a victim doesn’t make you less of a person,” Bates said. “It is crucial to stand together as survivors and allies to stand up for the rights of all people whose lives have been affected under these circumstances.” French has more events planned for April aimed at raising sexual assault awareness. Anti-Street Harassment Awareness week started April 10. French said they will distribute banners in the residential colleges that display ways to end street harassment. They will ask people to sign banners and hand out buttons with awareness messages. French said the primary goal is to challenge students to a personal responsibility to create and promote a culture that does not tolerate violence and proactively works to ensure that all individuals are treated with respect and afforded equity. “I firmly believe in positive programming and engaging students in conversations about healthy and positive behaviors,” French said. “It is not enough to tell students what not to do. We also have to talk about what to do in order to facilitate change.”
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Sigma Phi Epsilon won first place in the fraternity division with their theme “Welcome to the Jungle.” event, Pope said the nerves definitely kicked in when they put on their costumes and makeup. “Even after being in it and stepping out to help, I’m just amazed that All Campus Sing comes together,” Pope said. When asked about winning for the third year in a row, McIlroy said she is excited at the prospect of a three-peat, but they would have to work for it. “Kelsey [McIlroy] has put her blood, sweat and tears into this show,” Pope said “It’s just amazing how much not only is Kelsey supporting the whole group but the whole group is supporting her whether she knows it or not.” When asked how she felt when she took the stage, McIl-
roy said she barely remembered being up there and thought she was going to throw up and pass out. “As far as the practice, I don’t think we could’ve done more to make the performance any better,” McIlroy said, after her organization was done performing. “I think we did the right amount.” As the announcer read off the results, only one name was left to call for first place. The girls of ASA stood with faces of anticipation, clinching their fingers crossed. When the final results were announced and the group had to pass on the throne to Sigma Sigma Sigma, many of the girls fought to hold back the tears.
“It’s sad and honestly a little confusing, but we all actually had a lot of fun getting to spend time with sisters, making music and raising money for the People to People project,” McIlroy said after the final results came in. When asked if she had any thoughts on All Campus Sing next year, McIlroy said that hopefully we will have a better idea of what the judges are looking for. “I don’t think there was anything I would have changed in our performance,” McIlroy said. “It may not have been exactly what the judges were looking for, but we put on an amazing show and I’m proud of it.”
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Features
April 14, 2016
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MEDIA REVIEWS Lackluster plot saved by humor Adam Winn || Staff writer awinn@murraystate.edu
As one of Hollywood’s newest “it” women, Melissa McCarthy has appeared in several comedies, and her newly released film, “The Boss,” feels like a never-ending, gruesome “Saturday Night Live” skit, packed with a few gut-wrenching comedic moments. With that said, if the audience goes in with no expectations and just wants to watch nothing more than an average vulgar comedy, then there’s a decent chance they’ll find it enjoyable. When it boils down to it though, “The Boss,” at its core, is a disorganized letdown that not even McCarthy’s witty performance could save. The plot tells the story of the wealthy and ruthless businesswoman, Michelle Darnell (Melissa McCarthy), who gets sold out to the authorities by one of her ex-lovers, Renault (Peter Dinklage), for insider trading. After serving her four-month prison sentence, she is released only to find out that all of her assets have been seized and sold off. She then turns to her former assistant Claire (Kristen Bell), who reluctantly agrees to let Michelle crash on her couch. After coming up with a new idea she thinks will help gain her wealth back, she, Claire and Claire’s daughter, Rachel, set out on a mission to reinvent her tarnished brand. First off, the storyline has plot holes so big, the viewer could park a car in them. One instance is with the character Ida Marquette, played by veteran actress Kathy Bates. Marquette is introduced near the beginning of the film, appears in one other additional scene and then never reappears again. Is her role just meant to be a cameo appearance or did the script writers just not
know what to do with her character? The same thing happened with Michelle’s bodyguard, Tito (Cedric Yarbrough). The character is introduced at the beginning of the story and appears to be an important supporting role and then just disappears without a trace. The film also goes through several different storylines, leaving the viewer wondering if the movie itself doesn’t know what direction it’s going. One minute, Darnell attempts to save her destroyed career. The next, she is trying to get Claire to hookup with one of her new coworkers. The overall plot doesn’t flow smoothly and gives off the feeling that it was written by a high school girl and then given to a male comedian who added in all the crude comedy. Interactions between the characters were at times awkward and uncomfortable, as well. It’s hard to tell if it was the actors’ fault or if it was due to lazy scriptwriting. It was probably the latter. Conversely, the movie did contain some enjoyable and hilarious moments. McCarthy’s comedic timing and charisma make the film a lot funnier than it would have been if another actress played the lead role. There were times when some of the jokes fell flat, but there were numerous occasions that her character had the audience on the edge of their seats holding back laughter. “The Boss” does contain sporadic entertaining moments, but for the most part, it is a jumbled comedic train wreck with a poorly written plot. Audiences would be better off saving themselves the time and money and just waiting until this one hits Redbox in the next few months.
Photo courtesy of fandango. com
Danish band puts soul in modern pop Nick Erickson || Staff writer nerickson@murraystate.edu
Photo courtesy of www.techinsider.io
Suicide Squad releases new trailer Jared Leto in white makeup, Margot Robbie in hot short shorts, Will Smith in heavyarmor – who isn’t excited for this movie? Suicide Squad director David Ayer teased DC Comics fans when they released a new trailer during the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday. With every new trailer showing Leto’s exceptional capabilities at portraying the insane Joker or Robbie being the definition of “psycho girlfriend,” a new batch of hyperventilating comic book aficionados rise. One of the most anticipated films of the year, the “Suicide Squad” trailer caused fans to nearly topple the barricades at the movie awards show, which was held in California, when the cast made a guest appearance.
Over the last few months, the Danish soul-pop band Lukas Graham took the world by storm with their single “7 Years.” The song spread like wildfire across the nation’s radio stations, garnering attention for what made it stand among most other pop songs: it’s emotional as can be. Frontman Lukas Graham Forchhammer, from whom the four-piece band takes the name, shows off his rich, soulful timbre over delicate piano melodies, singing of his parents’ advice on growing up, touching upon the passing of his father and his promising future of having children. This track brings tears to the eyes of listeners everywhere, and there’s good news for fans of the song: the band’s debut self-titled record just hit shelves, and every track is arguably more emotional and striking than the last. After “7 Years” opens up the record, listeners are graced with the pounding piano chords of “Take The World By Storm,” courtesy of keyboardist Kasper Daugaard. Forchhammer belts out an uplifting message of setting the bar high in life and becoming the person one wants to be. “I wanna tear down boundaries. I wanna greet my enemies. I wanna
see what I haven’t seen, ‘cause I know there’s more.” The chant of children carries the anthemic “Mama Said,” inspired by Annie’s “Hard Knock Life.” As Forchhammer sings proudly of his hometown, the pulsating beat of drummer Mark Falgren induces involuntary foot tapping. Plus, Forchhammer’s high vibrato towards the end of the song is mesmerizing, showing listeners how truly impressive his vocal range is. Composed for Forchhammer’s brother, who is serving time behind bars, the touching “Better Than Yourself” is a beautiful follow-up to the band’s previously-released track “Criminal Mind.” Daugaard samples the piano from Beethoven’s famous “Moonlight Sonata,” creating a gentle atmosphere as Forchhammer comforts his brother through song. “I hope you know you’re not alone in that hell,” Forchhammer cries out in the haunting chorus. Bassist Magnus Larsson shines in the upbeat “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout Me,” laying the foundation for the rest of the group as layers of church organs, pianos and even a tambourine fill out the track. Forchhammer assures his loved ones that he’ll be perfectly fine on his own in the real world. It is those same organs that drive the peaceful “What
Happened To Perfect,” where synthetic strings and a basic yet effective drum beat create melancholic vibes. Ending the record on another soft note, the gospel-infused “Funeral” paints an aural image of a memorial service for Forchhammer. A distant church bell and bluesy piano lick ignites the spark. Soon after, the rest of the gang joins in as Forchhammer attempts to reach out to the hypothetical attendees of his funeral, assuring them not to mourn, for he has positively come to terms with his death. “Everyone I know better be wasted,” he sings. “You know I would pour one up, ‘cause the way I lived, it was amazing.” The band, with the addition of a choir, takes the dreary concept of death and flips it around to be an optimistic closer to the album, just as one gains closure from saying goodbye to a loved one. Lukas Graham has the soul needed in modern pop music. The Danish quartet takes the best of R&B and embellishes it. Whether it be the spontaneous keyboards, the rich percussion section or the vocals of a frontman that could make anyone envious, there is enough emotion in the band’s debut release to steal the hearts of millions, not to mention a Grammy or two. Photo courtesy of hitparade.ch
Family above all As the end of the s e m e s ter looms ahead like the monster some of us fear (or the saving grace some feel can’t Gisselle Hernandez come soon Assistant enough), Features Editor the awareness of the running clock leads my heart to a place more than a 1,000 miles away in an itty bitty Third World country: home. Many students travel from all over the U.S. to attend our beloved Murray State, and most have the privilege of visiting back home for breaks. These breaks have a slightly different definition for international students: FaceTiming a half-comatose parent or significant other who wakes up from their slumber to speak with you during breaks at your summer job because time zones suck. The fact that there’s a pang in my chest every time I see my dad’s face or poodle’s furry nose confined to a tiny screen makes me appreciate any time spent with them. I implore the rest of you to do the same. Because Murray State is smaller than most universities, a lot of students have the privilege of commuting from their homes or moving in from somewhere close by. On the other hand, a number of internationals, especially those from across the pond, face adversities apart from the expected culture shock. Obviously, family means a lot to people – often, it’s all most people have. But many cultures, especially Hispanics like mine, value family over everything else. I remember growing up and dreading get-togethers because it would mean having to greet 40 tíos and tías (uncles and aunts) personally. Being raised in cultures where extended families are common creates a bond most people from the outside looking in would not appreciate. Leaving home, whether it be for a better life in the “Americas” or for a better education, often affects families in more drastic ways than others would think. Things like National Sibling Day or National Grandparents Day resonates with a lot of people – you don’t have to be Hispanic to appreciate that. But for students who are thousands of miles away from home, it’s just a painful reminder that the atmosphere and sense of constant support they were used to isn’t as easily accessible as a few hours drive or a quick plane ticket. Millennials take for granted the pestering mom who is a hopeless cause when you’re trying to explain Twitter to them (“come see what I ‘twitted!’” cue the facepalm.) As the Summer Break approaches, while some await sandy beaches and internships, others look forward to the one thing they can’t go back to: home. Of course, it’s not only internationals that face this – students who live far away or don’t have enough money to go back home may experience this, too. But just know that while you roll your eyes when you see a text from your mom pop up on your screen, your family is the one thing that is going to be there for you after all the regrettable drunken nights, the stressful internships and when you feel like you’re utterly and completely alone. Once you appreciate the gifted time you have with them, you never will be. ghernandez1@murraystate.edu
Out this week
Read It
“Kardashian Dynasty” by Ian Halperin
See It
“The Jungle Book”
Hear It
“PersonA” by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Rent It
“The Revenant”
Play It
“Lichdom: Battlemage”
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April 14, 2016