The News would like to wish you all good summer. See 2A for a semester in review
The Murray State News
May 5, 2016
Vol. 90, No. 29
TheNews.org
Interim chief’s past raises questions Dunaway’s tenure in Nashville police marred by demotions, controversy Alicia Steele
Assistant News Editor asteele5@murraystate.edu
Interim chief of police and director of Public Safety and Emergency Management, Roy Dunaway, who is a finalist for the permanent position, gave false testimony under oath during a high-profile murder trial ten years ago. The next year, Dunaway was investigated concerning a burglary of a Fraternal Order of Police camp in Wilson County, Tennessee. By July 2007, Dunaway had been demoted from detective, placed on restrictive duty and stripped of his law enforcement powers, according to documents from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. It is unclear who at Murray State knew about the missteps in Dunaway’s past because the Nashville Police said officials there were not contacted when Murray State hired Dunaway as an officer in 2013. University officials declined to discuss Dunaway’s background citing confidentiality of personal records. Dunaway, who has served as the interim chief of police since June 2014 and is the president of the Kentucky Association of University Law Enforcement Administrators, refused multiple requests for comment. In addition, Dunaway’s resumé makes no mention of his demotions. And the issues didn’t come up in a public forum March 31 when Dunaway interviewed with faculty, staff and students. “It is a key position for the uni-
versity, it is one that is obviously high profile and when we think about the university, a key consideration is the safety for our campus, for our faculty, our staff, our students,” President Bob Davies said. “It has a direct impact on our reputation and many attributes to the campus so I consider it to be a key hire.” Davies said he did not participate in the search for chief of police candidates. However, he did interview the finalists and provided his insights, thoughts and comments to the search committee. “The search committee will then determine how it proceeds in making a recommendation,” Davies said. Davies said this position reports to the vice president of finance and administration, Jackie Dudley. “Ultimately, it will be her decision as it is a direct report to her, but she and I will definitely talk and provide direct input when the final decision is made,” Davies said. “…And we have not had that discussion yet.” Davies said Murray State’s policy when hiring for a new position is that the university’s human resources department conducts a formal background check after making an offer. The background check is completed before the person signs a final contract. He said all candidates are vetted – investigated thoroughly – regardless of position, “as best they can.” Dunaway became interim chief of police in June 2014 after David DeVoss retired from the position. Dunaway joined the Murray State police force as an officer in 2013. How-
ever, Murray State did not consult the Nashville Police, whose records indicate that “no documents or files in the custody or control of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department were requested, examined or reviewed,” according to a letter sent to Randy Dunn, then-Murray State president, from Steve Anderson, the Nashville police chief. “I am compelled to insure that this agency is on record as NOT being an active or passive participant in any ‘stringent background examination’ that may have been conducted as a part of this process,” Anderson wrote.
FALSE TESTIMONY
While working as a homicide detective for the Nashville police, Dunaway was the first to respond to a crime scene in Oak Hill, Tennessee. Belinda Mercer, a Nashville lawyer, faced murder charges in the shooting death of her husband. During the trial on Oct. 3, 2006, Dunaway testified that the defendant, Mercer, admitted to him that she had shot and killed her husband. However, the defense said from the beginning that she didn’t intend to shoot her husband. After Dunaway’s testimony, the judge granted a mistrial. “I stood up in front of the jury in an opening statement and said she’s denied this from day one,” Hal Hardin, Mercer’s attorney, told The News. “And he got up on the witness stand and said ‘I shot him, I shot him’ and the
see POLICE, 2A
University answers student FAFSA questions Ashley Traylor Staff writer
atraylor@murraystate.edu
Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA, can be a difficult process to some. Murray State’s financial aid office is working to inform students about the application process. Cassie Fannin, senior from Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, said there is not one part of the process that is difficult, but the whole application is hard because you have to set your information up and if it doesn’t save, you have to do over again. Morgan Page, junior from Campbellsville, Kentucky, also said she thinks the process is difficult and repetitive for students. The financial aid office is holding FAFSA workshops to make the application process easier for students. A student can come into the financial aid office and someone will go through each step of the process with him or her. “We help them respond to the question, so that way it gives them a feel for what they have to do,” said Teresa
WHAT’S
INSIDE
McKenna Dosier/The News
At the University Hall, Davies speaks on what has been previously described as a “fluid” situation.
Students face tuition increases
Bailey Bohannan Staff writer
bbohannan@murraystate.edu
Returning Murray State students will face a tuition increase in Fall 2016, but the specifics of the new tuition model haven’t been decided yet. Davies said two different tuition models have been proposed for current and returning students when he presented at the Student Government Association (SGA) meeting and the University Hall meeting last week. The first proposal would include a 5 percent tuition increase across the board for all current and returning students, while all other fees and rates remain the same. The second proposal would include a 4.5 percent tuition increase, remove the current web premium and add a $65 web fee for online classes. In addition, students would be charged additional tuition for credit hours over 15. The second proposal received the majority of support by the SGA members present at the meeting. Emma Boehm, sophomore from Waterloo, Illinois, also supports the second proposal. Boehm is currently ahead on her credit hours, making her a sophomore even though this was her first year of college. She said the credits she needs for her exercise science major do not require her to
take over 15 hours in the coming semesters, therefore she said she will not be affected by the tuition charged for hours more than 15. She also said she is interested in taking online classes in the future and the reduction of cost for web premiums would benefit her. Hannah Rickard, freshman from Eddyville, Kentucky, said she would prefer the first proposal with a 5 percent increase across the board. Rickard said she will have to take more than 15 credit hours in the future and is scheduled for 17 credit hours next semester. She said she won’t benefit from the web premium reduction because she doesn’t take many online courses and doesn’t plan to do so. “Having to pay for credit hours over 15 is doable, but I feel like the students who are going above and beyond by taking more than 15 hours should have some type of discount or reimbursement for going the extra mile,” Rickard said. Davies said at the University Hall meeting last Thursday that the tuition proposal chosen will ultimately come down to him. He and the executive team will be making their final recommendations to the Board of Regents on May 13. “These are, indeed, challenging times, but we will not lose sight of our commitment to
see TUITION, 2A
CORRECTION
Emily Harris/The News
A few of the posters spread out across campus that hope to aid in what some would call the “confusing” process of financial aid. Palmer, associate director of financial aid. “Then, every year will it make it easier for them.” She said the one-on-one workshops have been very beneficial for the students. Palmer said she does not know why students have difficulty filling out the application. Palmer said the FAFSA ap-
plication changed four years ago. There is a tab on the FAFSA application called “transfer my information.” It will pull tax returns from the IRS and transfer the data needed for the application back in. All of the demographic information should transfer back
in year after year, she said. Students who do not wish to complete FAFSA must fill out a denial form. Fannin said filling out a denial form is ridiculous and a waste of time. “Why take the time out of
see FAFSA, 2A
On Thursday, April 28, The Murray State News’ article “Sig Ep draws criticism at All Campus Sing” included comments that Bellarmine Ezumah, assistant professor of journalism and mass communications, made during the April 22 event “A Night in Africa.” The article failed to make it clear that Ezumah’s remarks were not in response to the fraternity’s performance at All Campus Sing. Ezumah was not asked by The News to respond directly to that performance, which she had no knowledge of.
On Thursday, April 21, The Murray State News printed an article about some faculty members’ suggestions for Murray State to do more to help spouses of employees find jobs. The article ran under the headline “Women’s caucus pushes for new spousal policy,” which didn’t accurately reflect the content of the story. The Women’s Faculty Caucus has not taken up that issue as one of its official goals. The article now can be found online under the headline “Some faculty members want help in bringing spouses to Murray.”
The News regrets the error.
The News regrets the error.
MENTAL HEALTH
OUR VIEW
WOMEN’S SOFTBALL
ALL GREEK
Awareness month reveals coping mechanisms for stress, 6A
Strategies for stress relief as the semester winds down, 4A
Season is on the line against Austin Peay State, 1B
Annual award ceremony adds pageant to the agenda, 5B