M
THE MUR R AY STATE
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Being the First Family
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90 years of excellence
January 26, 2017 | Vol. 91, No. 15
The News brings home the hardware
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Best General News Story: First place – Abby Siegel Best Ongoing Extended Coverage Story: Second place Best General News Picture: Third place – McKenna Dosier Best Sports Picture: Second Place – Jenny Rohl Best Sports Picture Essay: Third place – Chalice Keith Best Special Section: First place Best Graphic: Second place – Austin Gordon and Gisselle Hernandez
Third place – Austin Gordon Best Lifestyle Page: Second place – Gisselle Hernandez Best Front Page: First place – Connor Jaschen Food and Alcohol Ad: First place – Spencer Price Furniture Ad: Ceritifcate of Merit – Austin Gordon Group Promotion: Certificate of Merit – Alex Hilkey Best Use of Color: First place – Spencer Price Best Ad Series: First place Holiday Greeting Ads/Misc.: Certificate of Merit – Austin Gordon Creative Use of the Newspaper: Second place – Austin Gordon
And So They Marched Two locals mobilized hundreds. This is how it all happened.
100 days of
TRUMP Matthew Parks Staff writer
mparks6@murraystate.edu
Abby Siegel || News Editor asiegel@murraystate.edu
Matthew Parks Staff writer mparks6@murraystate.edu
For many Americans, Saturday was a day for their voices to be heard regarding issues of equality and social justice. At least 700 people in the Murray community gathered at Faculty Hall as participants of the March for Social Justice and Equality and a local Women’s March. Meanwhile, Landen Bates, senior from Shelbyville, Kentucky, marched alongside more than 1 million Amer-
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icans in Washington as a participant in the national Women’s March on Washington. Bates said he decided to participate in the march after deliberating for weeks about going with five of his friends from the University of Kentucky. They drove about 15 hours on Friday, ready to rally Saturday morning at 6:30 a.m. “From the moment we got to the metro station, it was a sea of people,” Bates said. “After two stops, the train was full.” Bates said there were veterans, people in wheelchairs, children and men and women everywhere, many wearing
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pink hats and holding creative signs. He estimated one in every eight participants was a man. “I think one of the major misconceptions of it was that it was an anti-Trump march, but it wasn’t,” Bates said. “It was pro-women, pro-civil rights and it just so happens that those views intersect with the administration that Trump has made public.” As a man, Bates said he wanted to march on behalf of the women he knows who he sees as important and full of strength. “The most memorable part
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On his first day of office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order rolling back and limiting the power of Former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act by ordering the health secretary to limit “the maximum extent permitted by the law” and the “financial burden” the act creates on the state. The order reads that the secretary “shall exercise all authority and discretion available to them to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay the implementation of any provision or requirement of the [Affordable Care Act] that would impose a financial burden on any State or a cost, fee, tax, penalty, or regulatory burden on individuals, families, healthcare providers…” Robert Lazewski, president of the consulting firm Health Policy and Strategy Associates, said that while this order does not repeal the Affordable Care Act, its loose language and broad spread gives officials the capacity to “loophole” their way out of its provisions full power to do so. He called the executive order a “bomb” thrown into the healthcare infrastructure, which is already fragile from an abundance of recent changes. Trump has also released an executive order reinstating what is known as the ‘Mexico City Policy,’ originally instituted by the Reagan Administration. This order prevents any international nongovernmental organization from receiving federal funding from the United States if they offer abortion-related services or promote those services. This order brought in swift and widespread criticism; the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, Ilyse Hogue, said “Donald Trump has turned his anti-women rhetoric into policy
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and made it more difficult for women and families all over the world to access vital reproductive care. He really is living up to the lowest of expectations.” In another executive order Trump announced the United States will be leaving the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Trump and his officials argue that international free trade deals are “lopsided” against the United States, and have adopted the slogan “America First” in regards to these negotiations. The Trans-Pacific Partnership was negotiated by the Obama Administration (but had yet to be ratified by Congress) and would have created a trade agreement between 12 nations representing 40 percent of the world economy by reducing tariffs and encouraging trade between the nations in an attempt to foster growth. However, after Trump’s executive order, that deal will now continue without the United States, and as U.S. participation was a major part of the partnership, it will likely have to be re-negotiated in order to continue, said Michael Froman, a trade representative who negotiated the partnership for Obama.
see 100 DAYS, page 2
CORRECTION On Thursday, Jan. 19, The Murray State News incorrectly printed Tanelle Smith as the first African American ever to win Miss MSU in the story, “Springing into the new semester.” The first African American to win Miss MSU was Jerry Sue Thornton, PhD., former Board of Regents member. The News regrets the error.
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January 26, 2017
The sweet taste of giving back Ashley Traylor || Staff writer atraylor@murraystate.edu
Paducah residents Shane and Brandi Rust are pursuing their dreams of opening a chocolate shop in Murray to support their mission trips to Honduras. Poppy’s Chocolate Shop, located on Chestnut Street, opened Jan. 18. Brandi said their mission trips inspired the idea to open Poppy’s because it would give them a place to sell Honduran coffee and the couple said they have always dreamed of owning a chocolate shop. “We’ve always wanted to do it,” Brandi said. “We always wanted to do the chocolate. We wanted to bring the Honduran products, which is the coffee and a little pottery. We would like to support our mission group there, too.” The couple owns a medical clinic in Paducah, Kentucky, and they travel to Honduras for medical clinics. They said they have been to Honduras twice but plan to go every six months. Brandi grew up working in a chocolate factory. She said her mom and aunt owned The Chocolate Factory in Paducah for 40 years. She was two years old when her family opened The Chocolate Factory. But after 40 years, Brandi’s aunt decided to close The Chocolate Factory, she said.
100 DAYS From Page 1 While the United States has taken steps back from global trade policies with this measure, the president of China, Xi Jinping, attended the World Economic Forum last week where he spoke to the benefits of globalization and indicated that China would take the lead in developing that global market. China was not involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as they are involved in their own global trade partnership that includes 15 countries known as the Regional Comprehensive
Shane and Brandi’s grandkids call Shane, Poppy. Brandi said they were trying to think of a name for the business, when their oldest daughter called and said, “Poppy’s! Poppy’s Chocolate Shop!” The shop has a handful of chocolate treats, and they make a variety of handmade fudges. They also serve Honduran coffee by the cup. Poppy’s will make trays for business events, baskets for Valentine’s Day and Easter, as well as comfort baskets parents can order for their students, Shane said. The couple said they have had a great response from the Murray community about their new business. Devan Wiser, senior from Mount Carmel, Illinois, said she was excited about the new chocolate shop. The staff offered her samples of fudge as soon as she walked inside. Wiser said their fudge was rich and high quality. “Murray, to my knowledge, doesn’t have anything like this so I think it’s a great addition to our local businesses,” Wiser said. “It was really smart of them to open before Valentine’s Day. I think this will give people a really great option for gifts.” Poppy’s Chocolate Shop is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ribbon cutting ceremony is at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 26.
Economic Partnership. The U.S. International Trade Commission released a statement saying the United States will be left out of developing rules for global trade, and a majority of international trade will likely be directed away from the US, because Trump ended the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In a more standard move, Reince Priebus, White House chief of staff, released a memorandum on Friday to all departments and agencies to freeze new or pending regulations – this move allows the incoming administration to review pending policies and happens almost every time the White House changes party control. In his inaugural address,
Balthrop named Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts Lindsey Coleman Staff writer
lcoleman7@murraystate.edu
Chalice Keith/The News
Ribbon cutting for Poppy’s Chocolate Shop will be held at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 26.
Trump unknowingly quoted the villain Bane from the film The Dark Knight Rises, stating he would strip power from Washington and give it “back to the people.” Videos comparing the two flooded the internet within hours of the address. White House Spokesman Sean Spicer originally claimed that 1.5 million people attended the inauguration, when pictures, videos and statistics from the D.C. metro showed otherwise. When accused of presenting inaccurate information, Spicer defended his claim. Spicer gave a statement on Saturday accusing the media of contriving pictures to minimize the attendance of Trump’s inauguration.
“This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration,” Spicer said. “Period – both in person and around the globe.” Kellyanne Conway, Trump’s White House counselor, appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press to defend the inauguration, where she infamously coined the term “alternative facts.” Most recently, Trump signed an executive order that would all but clear the way for the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline. He also has signed off on building a wall across the U.S.’s southern border and ordered a temporary halt to all refugees coming into the country. Follow us for more coverage of Trump’s first 100 days in office.
After much involvement on campus since his hire in 1993, David Balthrop will officially become the new Dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts on July 1, 2017. Balthrop served as the Chairman of the Theatre Department for 17 years, he served as the Director of Theatre and he was co-chairman of the University Chairs Council for a total of 23 years of experience at the university. Although it was nationwide, he said the selection process was a pleasant, efficient and professional experience. He said he appreciates and is humbled by the opportunity he has been given. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to work with everyone on campus…from President Davies, the vice presidents, the Dean’s Council, the College’s Chairs Council and to all other groups that I will talk with on a daily basis to continue the forward movement our college currently enjoys,” Balthrop said. As far as his vision for the college, he said he wants to make it the best student-centered college possible and to delegate tasks so teachers are encouraged to be very invested in their work. “We must maintain and grow quality programs taught by the best professors possible, and we will utilize the best administrative staff to fulfill the College’s mission and goals,” Balthrop said. Balthrop said he believes
he is a strong listener and communicator, two qualities that will bode well for him in his new position. “I ask for and respect the input of others,” Balthrop said. “I believe that faculty and department chairs know their curriculum well and should be trusted to make the right decisions.” He said the luxuries of knowing the campus and enjoying change will be an asset to him. “So I bring a mix of historical knowledge and a desire to incorporate change as necessary,” Balthrop said. “I believe the 23 years of administrative experience I have at MSU will serve the students, faculty and staff of the college well.” Staci Stone has been the Interim Dean of the College of Humanities and Fine Arts since July 1, 2015, when Ted Brown stepped down from Dean to return to teaching full time in the English and Philosophy Department. Stone will become Associate Dean upon Balthrop’s initiation as Dean of the College in the summer. Stone said she and Balthrop worked closely together on the Chairs Council, and his years of experience and administration make him qualified. She said his vision, communication skills and general leadership abilities will make him a good leader for the college. “I think that he will be an effective advocate for the humanities, fine arts and social sciences as we navigate this new strategic plan and performance-based funding,” Stone said.
MARCH From Page 1 was when we got finished marching and were at the White House, there were all these fences put out in front and everyone was leaning their signs on them,” Bates said. “That was very symbolic - that was the wall we were going to build.”
LOCAL MOVEMENT Participants of the local march carried signs while strutting to the Court Square that read, “Feminism is another word for equality,” “Losing the popular vote is not a mandate,” “Our rights are not up for grabs,” “God loves everyone. That’s his thing,” “United we stand for social justice,” “America was already great before Trump’s hate” and “Hate does not make America great again.” Together, participants chanted “This administration must work for everyone’s trust,” “Everyone should have a place, every creed and every race,” “No justice, no peace,” “No to racism, no to bigotry, no to fascism, no to misogyny,” “Clean air, clean water” and “1 2 3 4, love is
Kelli O’Toole/The News
Aside from the march, the 10 Action/100 Days campaign is giving citizens the chance to take action, like organized contacting of local and state representatives. what we stand for; 5 6 7 8, we don’t want a world of hate.” The march concluded with live music and speeches in downtown Murray. Peter Murphy, professor of English, and his wife, Sarah Gutwirth, planned the march, hosting interest meetings in November 2016
after the election results were announced. Gutwirth said she was proud they could stand in Murray and march in solidarity with the national Women’s March because “sisterhood is powerful.” “Each and every one of you has the capacity to make
change,” Murphy said. “What you see today is a grassroots organizing effort. Two people might have introduced the idea for a march and a rally, but well over 100 showed up to move that idea forward.”
MARCHING FORWARD The national Women’s
March continues through a campaign, “10 Action/100 Days”. Every 10 days, there will be opportunity to take action on issues the march stood for, according to the Women’s March on Washington website. The first action is to fill a
downloadable postcard and mail it to local senators with thoughts on the issues the march was based on, such as ending gender-based violence, LGBT rights, reproductive rights and women’s health, religious freedom, immigrant rights and civil rights.
New women’s health laws tighten abortion regulations Lindsey Coleman Staff writer
lcoleman7@murraystate.edu
Gov. Matt Bevin signed two bills affecting women’s health on Jan. 9: one requiring an ultrasound to be performed before having an abortion and one banning abortions at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy. According to the Kentucky Legislature website, House Bill 2 created an Ultrasound Informed Consent Act. Under the act, physicians are required to perform an ultrasound on a pregnant patient and explain the results of the ultrasound screening. If audible, the physician is required to let the patient hear the fetus heartbeat.
If the patient chooses, she can refuse to see the ultrasound or to hear the heartbeat. The other bill, Senate Bill 5, prohibits abortion at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy and requires a determination of the fetus’ age before performing an abortion. Abigail French, coordinator of the Women’s Center and Educational Programming, said the impact of these laws will be limited because of the amount of hours women are already driving to receive abortion services. She said many women she sees choose clinics in Tennessee, not Kentucky. As far as services offered at the Women’s Center, she said the new laws will not impact
their plans. “Our role is to help students find appropriate resources and services, so this changes some of the information that we share with a student but does not change anything in terms of procedure for us,” French said. She said often the Women’s Center is involved in referring students to doctors in the area and helping them find birth control resources. “In the Women’s Center, we meet with students individually to discuss their needs and provide information on what their options are, where they can access services and what assistance services are available,” French said. “Every student has different circumstances
and different questions, so we work case-by-case to help students get the information they need.” For Life House Care Center, a pregnancy center in Murray, the announcement of the new laws was more impactful. Hailey Roach, client services director, said it’s going to be an exciting year for their center because the laws will positively affect lives of unborn children. In 2016, Life House began planning to add an ultrasound branch to their center. She said they will be offering free ultrasound services for their clients starting soon this year, with the hopes of saving more unborn babies from harm and advocating for their right to life.
“The law requiring women to have an ultrasound before an abortion is performed is a step in the right direction,” Roach said. “Too often these babies are dehumanized, and an ultrasound will empower these moms to see that these are real lives. They have the power to provide a future for these babies, whether that be through parenting or adoption.” However, Melanie Davis, junior from Mt. Vernon, Indiana, said House Bill 2 is degrading and unnecessary, both medically and emotionally. Davis said restricting access to abortions will only worsen the issue. “If it continues to be difficult to receive medical attention in this way, that doesn’t
mean abortions will stop,” Davis said. “It only means that they’ll continue to happen unsafely, thus harming even more individuals — souls, if you will, both unborn and born — in the process.” Davis said she is less convinced of the positive effects of House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 5. Instead, she believes abortions are a personal decision — one she said the government shouldn’t control. “I do really wish they would stop beating around the bush and just admit to what they’re doing: controlling women through their medical health,” Davis said. “Bans on abortion, unaffordable birth control, defunding of women’s health centers … It’s a pretty common theme.”
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January 26, 2017 News Editor: Abby Siegel Assistant Editor: Alicia Steele Phone: 270-809-4468 Twitter: MurrayStateNews
POLICE BEAT Jan. 18
5:12 p.m. A caller reported a power pole arcing at the intramural fields. Officers, the Central Heating and Cooling Plant, Murray Fire Department, the state fire marshal and Murray Electric were notified and a fire report was taken. 8:54 p.m. A caller requested an escort from Franklin Residential College to Oakley Applied Science Building. Racer Patrol was notified.
Jan. 19
9:25 a.m. An officer advised of a parked vehicle obstructing other drivers’ view on Payne and 14th Streets. The owner was notified and requested to move the vehicle. 1 p.m. An officer advised of a sick student in the North 16th Street parking lot. The student refused medical assistance and the officer stayed with the student until a family member arrived to pick them up. An information report was taken.
Jan. 20
10:49 a.m. A person requested to speak to an officer in reference to a possible scam. Officers were notified and an information report was taken. 5:08 p.m. A caller reported an animal complaint at Franklin Residential College. Officers and Calloway County Animal Control were notified.
Jan. 21
10:26 a.m. A caller requested a medical emergency in the Quad. Officers and Murray Ambulance Service were notified and the patient was transported to Murray-Calloway County Hospital. 1:12 p.m. The Murray Police Department reported a medical emergency at the CFSB Center. Officers and Murray Ambulance Service were notified and the patient was transported to Murray-Calloway County Hospital.
Jan. 22
9:31 a.m. An officer conducted a traffic stop at the roundabout. A verbal warning was issued for license to be in possession, no proof of insurance and failure to wear a seatbelt. 11:40 a.m. An officer conducted a traffic stop at Burrito Shack. A verbal warning was issued for expired license plate.
Jan. 23
12:26 a.m. A caller reported unwanted physical contact of a person by an acquaintance at Elizabeth Residential College. Officers were notified and determined no unwanted contact had occurred and an information report was taken. 11:22 a.m. A caller reported being given an unknown substance in food without their knowledge. Officers were notified and a report was taken for 4th degree assault.
Jan. 24
9:41 a.m. A caller reported a stolen vehicle at Jesse D. Jones Hall. Officers and Facilities Management were notified and the vehicle was located. No crime was committed and an information report was taken. 11:43 p.m. Public Safety a general incident reporting form in reference to a possible harassment complaint at Regents Residential College. Officer and the on-call residence director were notified and an information report was taken. Racer assists – 0 Motorist assists – 5 Arrests - 0
Alicia Steele, Assistant News Editor, compiles Police Beat 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.
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COEHS develops task force to update core curriculum
Alicia Steele
Assistant News Editor asteele5@murraystate.edu
The College of Education and Human Services compiled a task force of 28 Murray State faculty members to examine and update the current core curriculum of the college. “The task force is about getting ready to respond to what we see as the coming needs of our teachers that graduate,” said Robert Lyons, assistant dean of the college. “It’s not a situation where it’s not working.” Lyons said the college is seeing a change in what is being expected of teachers so the task force will work to update the core curriculum to match those expectations. “As part of our self-study, we’re beginning to see what some trends are, and we just know that to restructure our competencies to do what we need them to do we have to really look at those classes and how those classes fit together and exactly what’s in the classes,” Lyons said. He said every eight years the college does a self-study and writes a report for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, which sends a team to look at the program and interview students, considering the quality, field experiences and content provided, to determine whether or not the program deserves re-accreditation. “It’s also important because you would not be able to see financial aid without your program being accredited,” Lyons said. He said it’s too early to say exactly how the curriculum will change, but current discussions are focusing on competency areas, which would run from the beginning of the program until the end. “For example, the use of technology or addressing diversity within the classroom,” Lyons said. “That’s the type of skill or competency area or the disposition to be a teacher that ought to be from the beginning to the end.” He said the task force is also interested in introducing clinical experience – student teaching, practicums, observing teachers, tutoring – earlier in the curriculum because research shows that the earlier you can get a student into those experiences, the better. “The reason for that is it helps shape their un-
derstanding of who they are as a teacher,” Lyons said. “It helps them build skills, it helps them understand what we mean in later classes when we talk about a certain strategy of teaching because they more than likely would have seen that in play.” He said the program currently offers clinical experience early on, but not as many hours as they would like to see because with the current curriculum they don’t have enough hours to give up, considering the clock-hour commitment within a three-credit hour class. “I believe there is no better way to prepare future teachers than to give them that one-on-one experience within a classroom,” said Veronica Hopwood, junior education major from Louisville, Kentucky. “So, I think that’s awesome.” She said she hasn’t been in the program long enough to know what changes will be necessary, but she said she strongly believes the college has
their future teachers’ best interest at heart. Though it’s still very early in the process, Lyons said the task force is also considering looking at assessments, instruction and helping students realize their teaching identity. “We’re going to finalize what the competency areas are that we’re going to measure through the program, and then we’re going to begin to break it down into objectives and assessments,” Lyons said. “Only after we talk about sequencing do we really talk about classes.” The changes however, would not take effect until Fall 2018. “Students who are here now would not need to be worried about us changing the program on them,” Lyons said. Instead, current students would continue with the calendar year curriculum they are working on and only incoming students would follow the new curriculum.
Photo courtesy of the College of Education and Human Services
The College of Education and Human Services task force met on Jan. 12 to discuss possible objectives for the team to focus on.
Bootleg changing ownership and name Matthew Parks || Staff writer mparks6@murraystate.edu
The Bootleg Lounge recently changed ownership and was renamed “The Hangover,” and the new owners said they are attempting to bring an improved nightlife scene to Murray. Sabrina Miller said she and her husband, Ken, bought the bar last June during the three-week period that the Bootleg was shut down and have been making big changes to the establishment since then. The Millers have been Marshall County residents for years and helped open the Bootleg Lounge when it first came to Murray, but they left to run another bar before returning to buy the establishment. They said they have years of experience running bars and taverns and hope to use that experience to bring exciting changes to The Hangover. The bar is still in its transition stage of finalizing its licenses with the city, and when the paperwork comes through the transition phase will officially be over, and their permanent liquor license will be established. While official signage for the new name won’t arrive until February –
Jenny Rohl/The News
The Bootleg Lounge, located on North 16th Street, will change signage in February to show the new name. when they receive their final liquor license – Sabrina said the bar is already officially ‘The Hangover,’ and they are taking changes to reflect that. “Our intentions are to open a new side of the building,” Sabrina said. “There’s another area on the other side of the building that’s around the same size as the original part and we hope to get it opened up when our permanent liquor license comes through in February.”
Ken said the new side of the building will feature raised dance floors, bars and a DJ stage. He said that side will be more pop and hip-hop “dance club” oriented, while the original half of the building will remain as it is now, with seating areas, pool tables, dart boards and a more relaxed ambiance. As of Jan. 20, Sabrina said they have also officially hired their own house DJ, Jeremy Tinsley (DJ Remix),
a first for any bar in Murray. She also said The Hangover is hosting local bands and musicians on Tuesday nights (as well as a weekly beer pong tournament) along with dart tournaments on Wednesdays in order to showcase local talent and attract some of the Murray State crowd. It seems to be a strategy that is working for at least some students. Dondre Jackson, junior from Mayfield, Kentucky, said the bar is much better now than when he first started at Murray State. “They’ve definitely made a lot of improvements,” Jackson said. “I think they still have a ways to go, but hopefully they can make it a great place for Murray State students to go out and have a good time, because places like that are sorely lacking in town.” More than anything, the Millers said they want The Hangover to be an upstanding establishment in Murray, with the cleanest facilities, cheapest drinks and best dance floor, and they are proud of the work they’ve done over the past few months to get it there. “It’s a family affair,” Sabrina said. “My crew is a family and I couldn’t run this place without them.”
Faculty Development Center director named Lindsey Coleman || Staff writer lcoleman7@murraystate.edu
Firm Faith Watson was named Murray State’s new director of the Faculty Development Center (FDC) on Jan. 1, where Watson plans to implement new programs to benefit teachers and students. Originally from Jamaica, Watson earned her undergraduate degree at University of Technology, Jamaica and moved to Illinois to earn her master’s degree at Southern Illinois University. She then accepted a position as an instructional designer at Indiana University South Bend. Therefore, she said she had experiWatson ence with many things Murray State was interested in. “What brought me to Murray was the position itself,” Watson said. “It was a good fit for me in terms of a lot of things that they wanted.” She said the small town charm of Murray won her over. Her husband and son made the move to Murray with her. “It was really the mission of the Faculty Development Center that attracted me,” Watson said. “It really resonated with my professional goals.” She said the goal of FDC programming is to encourage informal conversation about teaching and learning, where faculty can gather together and learn from each other.
“The FDC really supports learning on campus,” Watson said. “Our direct customer is our faculty. Our indirect customer is our students because we help faculty to help students learn.” The Faculty Development Center offers various professional development opportunities, programs, events and help for faculty going up for promotion and tenure. The center works with faculty and has one-on-one consultations, which Watson said help to meet the unique needs of all faculty members. Watson is working on initiating a Course Design Institute program and a digital badge program, both of which will be for faculty to participate in. “It doesn’t matter how many programs, workshops or events that we offer, faculty may still need to work on something or they may have a goal,” Watson said. “That’s where the digital badges come in.” Watson said when creating a program or initiative, faculty can work with the Development Center. Faculty members can earn a bronze badge for planning, a silver badge for implementing and a gold badge for sharing their efforts with other educational communities. Watson said she thinks mid-semester feedback from students through the FDC is important for effective instruction. “The students benefit in that semester,” Watson said. “That’s the good thing about the small group instructional diagnosis.” Watson will also be serving as an assistant faculty member under the University Libraries. Ashley Ireland, associate professor and dean of
University Libraries, said Watson attended sessions of the Faculty Development Center Blitz Week, held Jan. 9-13. There, Ireland said Watson saw the many talents and interests of the Murray State faculty and demonstrated that she would be an asset to the university. “She has a wealth of knowledge about improving teaching to increase learning, and she brings her experience of helping faculty implement those strategies to Murray State,” Ireland said. “She will be a tremendous asset to the Faculty Development Center, to the University Libraries and to the university as a whole because she has a student-centered focus to teaching and is preparing programs, services and resources to support faculty in their growth as instructors,” she said. Justin Patton, media specialist at the FDC, said he has been discussing future plans and ways to improve the center with Watson. “Watson has a strong background in Canvas and course design,” Patton said. “Her knowledge of modern pedagogical theory is truly vast, and she has an intrinsic passion for improving learning environments and practices - something she developed long before coming to Murray State.” He said Watson’s enthusiasm for design and deeper learning will be strengths for her. “I believe she will continue to engage faculty and staff in a powerful way because of her ability to communicate so effectively, to cast a compelling vision for connecting with students and to motivate instructors to seek out emerging ideas in pedagogy, while remaining rooted in the proven foundations,” Patton said.
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January 26, 2017
The News
Opinion
Opinion Editor: Hallie Beard Phone: 270-809-5873
Our View
The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board.
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The News
Without a doubt, one of the hottest topics of the 2016 Elections was college tuition and how to pay for it. Whether it was Bernie Sanders’ plan that set you ablaze or Trump’s lack of one that discouraged you, the issue is by no means settled. Earlier this month, New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed free college tuition for New York State colleges, according to The New York Times, but don’t miss the crucial fine print: the waiver would apply for eligible “middle class” students – in this case, students whose personal or family annual income is less than $125,000. In Kentucky, that benchmark may sound glamorously high for the gift of free college, but in New York, it may not affect as many students as hoped. With such an ambitious plan – one the governor wants to enact starting in the fall with a $100,000-income benchmark – Cuomo has already encountered plenty of skepticism and criticism.
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For most of America, the idea At Berea College, for example, of free tuition might sound like each student receives a Tuition a dream too good to be true. But Promise Scholarship, according does every student actually want to the school’s website. Translathat gift at the expense of taxpaytion: no student pays for tuition. ers? However, that incredible prom At a university like Murray ise is counterbalanced by student State where many students labor. In addition to view working as a nechaving a full class essary and worthload, all stuwhile pursuit dents must during college, work 10-15 Institution: Berea College some students hours per Location: Berea, KY might favor a week for work-for-tuthe uniEnrollment: 1,661 (2011 data) ition tradeversity. Classification: Private, Liberal Arts off rather B e Cost of tuition: $0.00 than a costly c a u s e waiver. In M urray The catch: all students work C u o m o ’ s State is 10-15 hours per week case, that cost larger than is $163 billion, a a private instiprice he advertises tution like Berea, as extremely low. it’s unlikely that Even that deal may strike every single student would be able to score a campus job in students as impossible, but conexchange for full tuition. If that sidering that many Kentucky were the case, our acceptance graduate programs and private rate would surely plummet and undergraduate programs offer become much more competitive. similar options, the fantasy might be attainable in the Bluegrass Perhaps free tuition is only imaginable for private or comState.
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munity colleges, given the size is small enough. It can’t be in reach for everyone, as politicians claim – even Hillary Clinton’s and Bernie Sanders’ plans made that sneakily clear. In Clinton’s plan, families with an income of $125,000 or less would receive free tuition, but only at in-state, four-year public universities, according to the former presidential candidate’s website. While Sanders offered a similar plan and encouraged student work-study, his program – which had a proposed cost of $75 billion – would be paid for by the wolves of Wall Street. “If the taxpayers of this country could bailout Wall Street in 2008,” Sanders’ website reads, “we can make public colleges and universities tuition free and debt free throughout the country.” The plans sound dreamy, but with the hairpiece who currently sits in the Oval Office, it’s highly unlikely that even a semblance of those proposals will grace struggling American college students any time soon.
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- Gov. Andrew Cuomo on college tuition
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‘Like starting a race with an anchor tied to your leg’
The war on truth Dylan Doyle || Contributing writer ddoyle2@murraystate.edu In the words of the incomparable Neil deGrasse Tyson, “The good thing about science is that it’s true whether or not you believe in it.” Science – the physical, the biological, the psychological – asserts that reality itself is knowable, that the truth is attainable through logical processes and rigorous challenging of old hypotheses. It is one of the fundamentals of our democracy, and certainly of our education system. The bad news: it is under attack. For those of you that thought President Donald Trump would be a champion for the sciences and the press, those sacred keepers of truth in our society, you were mistaken (and if you entertained that thought for more than a moment, you just have not been paying attention). In fact, Trump’s constant lying is a product of an electorate more concerned with spectacle than veracity. Americans like Trump for the same reason they like “Celebrity Apprentice:” deep down, we know it’s fake, but we would rather be entertained than have our beliefs or comfort challenged. This culture of lies, misinformation, ignorance and anti-intellect produced Donald Trump, but he has already won the election. That’s in the past. Let us focus on the here and now. Enter Betsy DeVos, Trump’s nominee for secretary of education. Her confirmation hearing has stirred a fierce debate between promi-
nent Democrats and Republicans, but set that aside for the moment. Set aside also the fact that she has not completed any of the ethics reviews meant to protect the American people from leaders with conflicts of interest. For the moment, set aside the deep hypocrisy of the Republican party, who have traditionally been staunch defenders of the ethics review process. In the bizarro world of Donald Trump, this is all the new normal. Instead, focus on DeVos, the causes she supports and what scant information we can dig up on her views. DeVos is a proponent of “school choice,” which is a code word to describe the privatization of the public education system. Instead of supporting and improving our schools, DeVos and her peers want to implement a voucher system, allowing parents to send their children to private – and often Christian fundamentalist – schools using taxpayer dollars. A questionable practice to be sure, as having a scientifically-informed electorate is a basic need of a democracy, and that includes the climate and evolutionary sciences at which churches often cringe. It seems the separation of church and state is also under siege, but let’s sidestep that rabbit hole for now. Much more frightening is DeVos’ rhetoric around guns, opting to let “locales” decide whether guns are allowed in schools or not. Her rumored donations to pro-conversion therapy groups are also cause for alarm. Her unfamiliarity with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is shocking to say the least,
but all of this is beside the point. The confirmation hearing for DeVos, the person Trump has chosen to lead American education, lasted about three hours – three hours longer than DeVos has ever spent working in or attending public schools. She is monumentally unqualified for the job, which begs the question, why was she nominated in the first place? “Do you think that if you were not a multibillionaire,” asked Sen. Bernie Sanders, “if your family had not made hundreds of millions of dollars in contributions, that you would be sitting here today?” He’s right on the money, which is to say, the money is always right. We have moved past the age of experts and knowledge straight into a nightmare of political cronyism and demagoguery, and coming together as a society to reassert our commitment to truth and scholarship is our only remaining recourse. Democracy does not mean my ignorance is just as good as your intellect. To paraphrase Harlan Ellison, no one is entitled to be ignorant. However, I suppose if you can be elected president with no public service, law or political science background of any kind, it almost makes sense to make a billionaire the secretary of education instead of, say, a teacher. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have watched 13 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, so it’s about time I start performing surgery. I am just as qualified for that as Trump and DeVos are to lead our nation.
OUR CONTRIBUTORS
Hallie Beard Opinion Editor
Dylan Doyle Junior from Marion, KY
John Muenzberg Lecturer of philosophy
Robert Valentine Senior lecturer of advertising
Rachel Wood Junior from Birmingham, AL
The News
Opinion
January 26, 2017
Some Things Considered Hallie Beard || Opinion Editor hbeard2@murraystate.edu
My favorite lie about college is that it’s a time when students are constantly enlightened by new philosophies or surround themselves with diverse friend groups. “But, that isn’t a lie!” you’re thinking. “My college experience is very diverse – I’ve changed my form of agnosticism three times!” Well, go ahead and put a coin in the I Know Myself jar, then. You might think you’ve nobly surrounded yourself with people who are different from you, but here’s my question: how have you done that in a system that is designed to group us together according to our proclaimed tracks? As some gen-ed-enduring readers may know, some sections of the almighty ENG 105 are major-specific, meaning there might be a section full of art major wannabes and a section full of Future Farmers of America. Essentially, it’s a recipe for one-track-mindedness on the students’ part in a setting meant to combat that very thing. Think about it: freshmen coming into the university will already be grouped with likeminded individuals through their transitions
class and any major classes they’re able to take on. Then, they might get a major-specific gen ed like 105. Let’s say, too, that they’ve tested out of some other gen eds, so before you know it, this student has already solidified the group of people they’ll be studying with and learning from for the next four years. Expansion of the mind and diversification of social groups, yeah? It’s no secret that Murray State is fairly homogeneous in terms of race and ethnicity, and that’s a trend that will take quite a while to change drastically. White people make up nearly 80 percent of the student population (and faculty data isn’t much different), while black and African American students edge on 7 percent, according to the Fall 2015 Fact Book. That means other categories such as Asian, Hispanic or Latino have whopping rates of 0.9 or 1.8 percent, respectively. Of course, there’s also Greek life. Now, because the ever-circling hawk of Greek
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Diversify this life swoops into The News at any whisper of their name, I’m not going to use this as an opportunity to air my opinions of the Greek system. Suffice it to say that recruiting members according to gender, appearance, interests, financial status and connections is a sure-fire way to keep fraternities and sororities as they are: stereotyped, positively and negatively, from day one into infinity. Apart from academics and extra curriculars, we must face that we do naturally surround ourselves with likeminded individuals because, as humans, we’re lazy, selfish and resistant to change. Before you become defensive, let me put you at ease: someone who only spent time with people who were drastically different from them would probably be insane and have a strange empathetic ability. If you were in relationships where communication was inhibited and you were unable to
it’s a recipe for one-track-mindedness in a setting meant to combat that very thing.
”
express love, honesty or happiness because you didn’t share any common interests, that’d be a miserable, pointless relationship. No one does that, and if you do, stop. I’m not asking you to be constantly uncomfortable by, I don’t know, going on weekly dates with Vegan Victoria when you’d rather talk beef production with Angus Andy. You should not be miserable in your relationships and “squads.” What you should be, though, is mildly uncomfortable at times, for good measure. Think of your diverse or challenging experiences or friendships as a type of beneficial itch. They’ll cause some discomfort, but they’ll prompt you to examine your own beliefs and keep your wits sharp. Maybe they’re the itch in your head that makes you realize, “Oh, darn it all to heck, I have huge freaking lice on my head and that’s why my hair is disgusting. I should change that!” (In case you missed it, your friends are not the lice in that metaphor. Your thoughts and prejudices are.) Thanks for hearing my opinion, loyal readers. I’m sure it completely enlightened you, considering the shortage of ranting thinkpieces by white college girls we’ve got in this world.
Got opinions?
Jeers to ... the EPA freeze
Cheers to ... Gals who lift
Well, President Donald Trump certainly took his time in making drastic changes, didn’t he? The Trump Administration had the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) halt all contracts and grants in review, meaning anyone currently conducting environmental research on grants is out of luck.
It’s early in the semester, so the gym is still full of people fulfilling their resolutions. There’s always the typical protein-heads checking themselves out in the mirror and grunting, but thankfully there’s also been an influx of strong women taking charge on the “bro side” of the Wellness Center. Don’t fear the iron, ladies!
Cheers to ... Chocolate
CHEERS & JEERS
Poppy’s Chocolate Shop recently opened up near campus, and boy have they got the sugar we need. With fudge, Honduran coffee and plenty of other confections, Poppy’s is sure to sweeten up your cold and dreary walk across campus. Support local businesses – pop into Poppy’s when your sweet tooth is aching this week!
Jeers to ... The Hangover No, we’re not talking about your headache from this weekend. The Hangover bar (formerly known as Bootleg) threw a party last weekend advertised as a “Naughty School Girl” party, where women who dressed up got in free. What a tasteful and classy theme. Nothing like living in post-sexism era, huh?
Cheers & Jeers is written by The Murray State News’ Opinion Editor. Questions, comments or concerns should be addressed to hbeard2@murraystate.edu The Fine Print
It’s all in the game Robert Valentine Contributing writer rvalentine@murraystate.edu Well, the New Year has begun. You probably heard about it. Traditionally, the New Year is a good time for people to make changes in their lives. Big companies reset the profits clock and aim at higher stock prices. Politicians resolve to raise more campaign money this year, and people who would rather be less than more start new diets. I’m going on a diet, myself, but it has nothing to do with weight. I learned long ago how much good it does a man with no will power to go on a diet. It’s a waste of time and good food — mostly ice cream. So many flavors, so little time. No: I – like all of America – will be going on a football diet. Since August, we have had dozens of football games to enjoy each week. Soon, football will be no more. The long period of football famine will be broken only by the NFL Draft
Comic
(goes on for days, even without the ESPN speculation and analysis), the interviews with recent retirees (will Aaron Rogers quit?) and the constant reruns of “classic” games whose outcome is really not much in doubt. I understand that it affects some people rather severely. They begin to have withdrawal symptoms, as if they have gone “cold turkey” on cigarettes or had an intervention to break them of their six-donuts-per-day habit. They are short-tempered and jittery. Often, they just sit for long hours, staring at the television with dead eyes – almost as if they can see an imaginary game on some screen, somewhere in the shattered fabric of their being. Very sad. This year the football diet won’t be hard for me. I generally watch games to see what the advertising media planners think I need most: electronics, trucks, insurance, beer, snack food and entertainment, apparently. I couldn’t even tell you who won the Super Bowl last year, but I think it was Payton Manners and the Green
Bay Ravens. They played somebody else and apparently won so Mr. Manners could go into the pizza selling business. Frankly, I won’t miss it. When Johnny U and Broadway Joe played, it was a game. Now, it’s a business. A games has to have rules, but it doesn’t require the Supreme Court. Today’s pro football is one long interruption. Why do we have to review each play? Not even a verdict of “death by hanging and dismemberment” is appealed more than the average touchdown. We ask these young millionaires to run at high speed and to stop some other millionaire from dashing to a piece of ground marked with some advertiser’s name. If the runner is touched on the shoulder, however gently, the toucher is penalized. If the runner is nearly crippled by a blow to the spine, there’s no problem. But if some nice 300-pound man moves his head one-half inch to the left before the ball is handed to the
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quarterback, everyone has to move back 5 yards. If anyone makes a touchdown, members of the Ninth Appellate Court review special reports from the CIA and look at photos from the Geosynchronous Overflight Oblate-Spheroid Foto satellite (or, “GOOF”) to see if number 23’s pinky toe was touching a white chalk line. We must know! Crime scene investigators don’t work as hard as the average “tape review” specialist — and they haven’t used tape in the 21st century. It seems silly. After all, it’s only a game. Or, did all that money turn it from a game into a business? That would help to explain a great deal. And what happens now that ESPN is experiencing financial reversal? If the money isn’t there, what will happen to the business of football? Are you worried? Yeah, me neither. The Murray State Happy New Year. Wilson Hall Soccer, anyone?
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Winslow food by Selena McPherson
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January 26, 2017
The News
Sports
Sports Editor: Sarah Combs Assistant Sports Editor: Collin Morris Phone: 270-809-4481 Twitter: MSUSportsNews
DOWN
Racers joined by Division I transfer
TO THE
Bryan Edwards
WIRE Governors snap three-game winning streak in overtime Blake Sandlin Staff writer
bsandlin1@murraystate.edu
The Battle of the Border continued Saturday night as the Murray State men’s basketball team traveled to Clarksville, Tennessee, for a rivalry game against the Governors of Austin Peay State. In a game that went down to the wire, the border rivalry lived up to its hype, with the final decision made in overtime as the Governors clenched an 84-81 win over the Racers, snapping their threegame win streak. Although Murray State came out firing on an 11-2 run to start the game, Austin Peay narrowed the lead to only four points by halftime. The Governors eventually gained the lead after putting together a strong second half run, up 68-60 with 1:10 remaining in the game. Junior guard Jonathan Stark then took the game into his own hands down the stretch, scoring the next eight points for his team, including a game-saving layup in the last two seconds to force overtime. The Governors retook momentum in overtime, securing an early lead they kept for the remainder of the extra period. Murray State made a push to stay alive late in overtime, but it was too little, too
January
Week of Sports
26. 27. 28. 29.
Jenny Rohl/The News
Freshman forward Jalen Dupree attacks the basket. late, as Austin Peay went on to win, ending the Racers three-game win streak. Stark led the Racers with 27 points, adding 8 assists along the way. Junior forward Terrell Miller built on his last performance, scoring 16 points with 12 rebounds to record his second consecutive double-double. Miller struggled with foul trouble early and Head Coach Matt McMahon explained the importance of keeping him out of foul trouble because of the effect he has for his team while on the court. “We really need him on the floor because he’s able to work that high post
Staff writer
bedwards16@murraystate.edu
and mid post areas,” McMahon said. “It puts another great passer and scoring threat on the floor, and he’s really effective in those areas.” Junior guard Josh Robinson and senior guard John Murray came up big for Austin Peay, scoring 22 points each to lead their team. Sophomore guard Jared Savage scored 14 points with 10 rebounds, and senior forward Kenny Jones added 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help secure the victory. McMahon said the team’s 16 turnovers and failure to keep Austin Peay off the glass was crucial in the loss. “We just weren’t able to take care of the ball well enough and we weren’t able to keep them from second opportunities,” McMahon said. The Governor’s two wins on Saturday against the women’s and men’s teams boosted their Battle of the Border series score, although they’re still trailing. The Racers are currently leading 16.5 to 7.5, with 3 points being awarded for each win by the teams. As of now, Murray State has claimed wins in football, volleyball, soccer and cross country to give them an edge over Austin Peay. The Racers will return to Murray for a three-game homestand that will start by welcoming Southeast Missouri State. As the team prepares for their next game, McMahon provided a brief scouting report for Thursday’s match against the Redhawks. “They’re a very dangerous team,” McMahon said. “They’ve gone to strictly a four-guard lineup. They’re really spreading the floor out and they shoot the ball very dangerously from three.” The game tips off at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26 at the CFSB Center.
Racers fall to Governors despite second half rally
With National Signing Day approaching for all football programs in the country, the Racers added a four-star transfer from the University of Georgia to their steadily building recruiting class for the 2017 season. Head Coach Mitch Stewart announced Monday that Rico McGraw, sophomore defensive back and older brother of Racer running back Mareio McGraw, has decided to transfer to Murray State and has enrolled in classes for the Spring 2017 semester. McGraw played two seasons for the Bulldogs, including a breakthrough freshman year, where he played in nine games and started in five, recording 20 tackles and 4 pass break-ups. After having a successful freshman year, McGraw only played in two games for Georgia in his sophomore season, and announced his intent to transfer from the program at the end of the year. McGraw wasn’t the only player to leave the Bulldogs football program this offseason, defensive backs Juwuan Briscoe and Kirby Choates, wide receiver Shaquery Wilson and linebacker Shaun McGee all have also decided to transfer from Georgia for unspecified reasons. Recruited as an athlete out of high school, McGraw attended Ensworth School. He recorded 875 all-purpose yards with seven touchdowns on the offensive end in his junior season, while recording 3 interceptions, 5 pass deflections and 29 tackles de-
Taking advantage of international recruiting Staff writer
bsandlin1@murraystate.edu
Jenny Rohl/The News
The Murray State Racers battle for a road game against Austin Peay. Collin Morris Assistant Sports Editor
cmorris29@murraystate.edu
The Battle of the Border continued Saturday night as the Murray State women’s basketball team was defeated by Austin Peay State 75-63. Their loss brings the Racers’ conference record to 4-2 and gives Austin Peay an additional three points toward the Battle of the Border score, bringing the Governors’ score in the rivalry series to 4.5 going into the men’s game, as each basketball contest is worth three total points. Murray State still holds the series with 16.5 points.
Junior forward Ke’Shunan James, who went into the game as the OVC’s scoring leader, contributed another 20-point game, this time on 39 percent shooting. James also added six rebounds and three steals to her statline for the night. Closely following James was senior guard and the fifth leading scorer in the conference LeAsia Wright, who scored 17 points on 58 percent shooting. Overall, the Racers shot a mere 37 percent shooting to the Governors’ 44 percent. Two players ended with double-doubles at the buzzer for Austin Peay. Tearra Banks, senior Austin Peay center who closely
trails James at third on the OVC scoring list, poured on 23 points and 12 rebounds on 65 percent shooting, while redshirt sophomore guard Falon Baker finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds on 40 percent shooting. The Governors entered the game with a 3-3 conference record but now sit in fifth place on the OVC leaderboards, as the Racers fall to 4-2 and fail to surpass Morehead State (5-2), leaving them at the No. 3 spot. The Racers will meet the Redhawks of Southeast Missouri State in their next game at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 25, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
fensively. He helped lead the Tigers to the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Division II Class-AA State Championship that season as well. As a senior, he helped his team record a 10-2 record with 16.5 tackles, three deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery before falling short of a second straight state championship. Before committing to Georgia, McGraw was a consensus four-star rated prospect out of high school, ranked 144th in the 24/7 Sports rankings and the sixth ranked recruit in the state of Tennessee, where he was a member of the Tennessee Sports Writer Association All-State Team in 2013 and 2014. He originally committed to play for the University of Alabama, before switching his commitment to Georgia when Coach Kirby Smart left Alabama to become the head coach of the Bulldogs. Along with those honors, he was selected to participate in the 2015 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, in which the best high school prospects are invited to play one final game in front of college scouts from all over the country. McGraw will have two years of football eligibility left and will be available to play in the upcoming season. This won’t be the last time McGraw sees his former teammates. The Racers are currently scheduled to face the Bulldogs in Athens, Georgia in the opening weeks of the 2018 season, which will be McGraw’s senior season.
Racer athletics value diversity in program Blake Sandlin
Battle of the Border
Staff Report Entering the weekend, the Racers led the Governors 16.5-1.5 in the Battle of the Border. The Governors resurfaced though, racking up eight points in two days, closing the 15 point gap to only seven points. Both basketball teams traveled to Austin Peay State campus in Clarksville, Tennessee for a doubleheader and Battle of the Border showdown. The women’s team lost to the Governors despite their 25-7 second half performance. The final score was 75-63, posting three points for the Austin Peay win. The men’s team lost in an overtime thriller 84-81, that also weighted three points in the Governors favor. The next meeting for Racer redemption will be another double header on Feb 11 in the CFSB Center.
Battle of the Border
International recruiting has become increasingly prevalent at Murray State, especially within women’s athletics, with 7 out of 9 women’s teams including at least one student-athlete from outside the United States. According to the NCAA, there are more than 17,000 international student-athletes competing at the collegiate level throughout the country. There are 21 international students at Murray State that participate in a sport for the Racers. Women’s basketball has two international players on their roster, soccer has three players, cross country has four players, rifle has one player, tennis has seven and women’s golf has four players recruited internationally. Although many teams are filled with international talent, women’s golf Head Coach Velvet Milkman said she doesn’t believe there is a specific focus on recruiting internationally, it merely functions as a way to diversify her team. “It’s kind of how it works out, but I do like international players, so I’ll always have a few,” Milkman said. “I like the diversity, I think it makes a lot of sense to have diversity.” Junior golfer Moa Folke’s decision to come to Murray State after growing up in Sweden was influenced by one of her high school golf coaches, who graduated from Murray
State, prodding her to attend. She said the decision to leave her home country was a tough one, but she doesn’t regret it. “I definitely think it was worth it,” Folke said. “I love it here, but it was hard. My parents came with me the first time I came over here so that helped to get everything in order. It was hard, but it was also a dream of mine to play here.” For some sports, like tennis, their roster is made up almost entirely of international athletes. Jorge Caetano, head coach of tennis, utilizes international recruiting to gain an edge over larger schools who have a recruiting advantage in the United States. “I think it’s huge,” Caetano said. “That’s how we can compete with the best schools. It’s really hard to get the top Americans. They usually go to power conferences so we have to go internationally if we want to be competitive.” From OVC soccer’s Player of the Year, senior Harriet Withers, from Murwillumbah, Australia, to school record-breaking junior, Vallery Korir, from Iten, Kenya, players from all over the world have committed to Murray State to continue their athletic careers. Although distance keeps most coaches from being able to scout players in action, the presence of large recruiting agencies in most countries makes it easy for coaches to get in touch with athletes.
see ABROAD, page 7
The News
Sports
January 26, 2017
Page 7
Triple Collateral Blake Sandlin Staff writer
bsandlin1@murraystate.ed
Racers win Withrow Invitational for third straight year
ABROAD From Page 6 “They always send us profiles,” Caetano said. “You sign up for those websites, and they just send you profiles and you take a look at the results, and if you think it’s a good fit, you get back to them and you go from there. After the initial contact, Caetano uses Skype calls with recruits to get to know them better and to see if they are right for the team. “You can tell if a girl is interested when they are asking questions, if they want to know about the other girls or if they want to know how the season’s going,” Caetano said. “So, you can kind of get a sense of their interest.” Senior tennis player Alina Schibol, from Hamburg, Germany, first utilized a recruiting agency before coming to play in America. Schibol said for many skilled German players, playing sports in the United States is a big goal. “The really good people, they try and come here because it’s an opportunity that we don’t have back home,” Schibol said. “For me, it was a perfect opportunity because I wasn’t ready to give up tennis yet, but I still needed to focus on my future.” For many players like Schibol, the lure of experiencing a new country, the opportunity to get a college degree and the chance to continue playing the sport they love is perhaps too much to pass on. “I wasn’t ready to leave, but I was excited,” Schibol said. “I’ve always wanted to go to America and experience the American culture and the American dream. Obviously it’s hard to leave your family, but I was just really excited to have that experience.”
Third-ranked Murray State rifle team welcomed an eight-team field to the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range over the weekend, hosting the Withrow Open for a three-day shooting event. The Racers shot a 4,706 aggregate score to place first in their own invitational for the third straight year. They outperformed fifth-ranked University of Kentucky, who shot an aggregate score of 4,679 to place second. Ninthranked North Carolina State finished in third with an aggregate of 4,659. Murray State shot 2,337 in smallbore to pair with a score of 2,369 in air rifle. The Racers were led by the shooting of sophomore MacKenzie Martin and sophomore Alathea Sellars, who both shot a 587 in smallbore and 595 in air rifle to finish, leading to an aggregate score of 1,182. Junior Bobby Broadstreet also pitched in for the Racers, finishing with an aggregate of 1,176 off of a 592 score in air rifle and a 584 in smallbore. Notably, senior Lucas Koze-
niesky from North Carolina State led all shooters with a 596 in air rifle, and finished with an aggregate score of 1,182 to tie the shooting of Martin and Sellars on the day. Junior Ivan Roe, currently the leading shooter for the Racers, did not participate in the invitational for the team. Roe is currently competing in the Bavarian Airgun Championships in Munich. Head coach of the Racers, Alan Lollar, felt his team stepped up to the challenge without Roe. “I was really looking forward to this weekend,” Lollar said. “It is a big part of our maturing process. Without Ivan they all stepped up and competed with the best. Sixth straight match over 4,700. They are training hard and it is showing up on match day.” Last weekend’s match was the last of the Racer’s regular season, now begin preparing for postseason play when they hit the range at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4 for a two-day event held in Morehead, Kentucky. The event will begin with smallbore on Saturday and air rifle to follow on Sunday. The Racers will be competing for their second straight OVC title and their 12th in school history.
Kelli O’Toole/The News
Sophomore from Gais, Switzerland, Barbara Schlapfer settles her shot at the Pat Surgin RiFle Range during the Withrow Invitational.
Coach Cross examination Collin Morris Assistant Sports Editor cmorris29@murraystate.edu
On Wednesday, Dec. 21, longtime Murray State women’s basketball Head Coach Rob Cross became the 10th winningest coach in OVC history, expanding on his rapidly growing legacy. Over the course of his nine years as the head coach of the women’s basketball program, Cross has amassed a cumulative 117 wins, an OVC Coach of the Year award and an OVC regular-season title, among other honors. A Murray State alumnus, Cross’ relationship with the university is extensive. His coaching career began with an assistant coaching position under then women’s basketball Head Coach Eddie Fields. Cross remained in
that position for 13 seasons, outlasting Fields, as well as two other head coaches, Joy Williams Felton and Jody Adams. Cross said his experiences as an assistant coach readily prepared him for his tenure as head coach. “The three head coaches I worked for had three very different basketball systems and very different personalities, so even though I was here as an assistant for 13 years at the same school, I was exposed, like other people would be moving around to different places,” Cross said. “I got to work for three great people, and I can’t thank them enough for everything they contributed to my growth, both as a person and as a coach. Just five days after the resignation of his predecessor,
Jody Adams, Cross took over as head coach in 2008. He then led the 2008-2009 Racers to a 23-9 record and the program’s first regular-season title. Cross said he attributes his early success to the way he builds relationships with his players. “The players on that team knew me very well, and they knew I was going to be there for them no matter what,” Cross said. “I was the one who was always available to them, and they knew we could make this work together, and we still have work to do to win a conference title. Cross says his commitment to Murray comes from his love for the city, as well as the memories he’s made with his family and team throughout the years.
“The city being named the friendliest town in America a few years ago really is an extension of what the campus means to the town because I think it’s a great place where the people truly care, not just about sports or basketball, but about each other,” Cross said. “The townspeople here really care about the students, and everyone here on campus is really student-centered, and I think that makes [Murray] a special place.” Of the memories he’s had, Cross said he does have a few favorites both on and off the court. “As far as athletics go, my favorite memory is watching our players celebrate that first championship that we won,” Cross said. “That was very special, and at the time there was so many banners from the men’s program
hanging and there were no championship banners from the women’s program. It was something we can cherish forever. But in general, the biggest thing for me is I’ve helped a lot of people come to college and get a debt-free education, graduate and have a chance to be successful in the rest of their lives.” After more than two decades of coaching, Cross naturally had a sizable list of influential individuals who’ve contributed to his career. “My father, from a work ethic standpoint, was influential, but a lot of the men’s head coaches and the women’s head coaches I’ve worked for, as well as the other assistant coaches I’ve worked with, have all been influential, and I’ve tried to take something from everyone,” Cross said.
Athletic department pushes academic excellence Collin Morris Assistant Sports Editor
cmorris29@murraystate.edu
The college life has become infamously synonymous with poor sleeping habits, latenight studying binges and an overall teetering scale as students struggle to balance their overwhelming obligations. Unfortunately for student-athletes, and despite the perception of the public, the workload does not culminate solely on the “student” aspect of student-athlete. Student-athletes may begin cramming or enjoying their two hours of sleep, only after a grueling practice, late-
night game or long road trip for an away series. Athletic Director Allen Ward said Murray State student-athletes traditionally haven’t allowed their sports to interfere with academic responsibilities. “Our graduation rate, I believe, was 2 percent higher than the student body this past year,” Ward said. “Typically we’re higher than that, but this one actually represented a year in which we had two coaching changes. We were 22 percent higher [than the student body] the year before.” Ward also said the cumulative grade point average of all sports teams has never fallen
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below 3.0 in his 12 years as Murray State’s athletic director. Their success has been achieved, Ward says, by following his mantra of “Four years, two goals.” “I tell our student-athletes, when they come here, that I expect them to do two things,” Ward said. “I expect them to leave Murray State with a championship ring on one hand and a diploma in the other. It sounds simple, but it’s a model we live by and it’s something we expect every athlete to aspire to.” According to the NCAA’s we bs i t e , a s p i r i ng stu dent-athletes must maintain a 2.3 grade point average in core courses, putting Murray
State’s athletic department above the nationally-required averages. Ward also said the NCAA tracks student-athletes’ progress toward their degree. “We have to meet certain NCAA requirements for eligibility, and that eligibility means that they’re progressing towards their degree at a mandated clip,” Ward said. “And if they don’t do that, not only will they not graduate, but they’re not going to play either so we track all of that.” Ward said he gets support from the school’s advisers, professors and other faculty and staff with the academic performance of Racer student-athletes.
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“Our advisers give them some very personalized attention to help them understand their time demands and make their classes fit within their schedule when they have practice and everything else going on and to make sure they’re making progress towards their degree.” Ward said along with the support from the faculty, he also expects academic commitment from his coaches as well. “Our teams have had a lot of success academically,” Ward said. “I expect that from the coaches because [academics] are their commitment and that’s the message they send to their team.”
The News
Sports
Page 8
January 26, 2017
Trotting toward preseason
McKenna Dosier/The News
Kat Lyons tries out for the Murray State dressage team. Quinnen Taylor Staff writer
qtaylor1@murraystate.edu
As the horses come out of the stall on Feb. 4, the Murray State equestrian team prepares to compete in its first western competition at Tennessee Tech. Head Coach Sue Robinson said the team standings go by a points system determined by the different events in which the contestants place. She said she’s pleased with the team’s placement. “We are sitting in second with the western team,” Robinson said. “We’re sitting in fourth with the hunt team, but
there’s 10 hunt teams in our region and there’s five western teams in our region. So, the competition is a little different.” Equestrian is split into three categories of riders: hunt, stock and dressage. According to the Murray State equestrian team brochure, the hunt team offers opportunity for beginning riders as well as advanced riders. The competitions incorporate flat classes and over fence classes. The stock team has its similarities to the hunt team. The team welcomes beginning walk and trot riders as well as advanced riders. Competi-
tions include rail work, pattern work and reining. The dressage team focuses primarily on the beginning rider. Murray State’s hunt team captains include seniors Willow Kearns and Natalie Himmelberg, while the stock captains include senior Kevyn Ann Cunningham and junior Laura Ganvik. The season begins in September and the Racers have competed in events offand-on, Robinson said. Murray State hosted its last western competition in November and the next home meet will be March 4-5, presenting a hunt show.
“
It’s not like basketball and football where just your best players can ride in college.
- Sue Robinson, Equestrian head coach
”
To Robinson, the Equestrian program is more than just looking for the best of the best. She believes the program suits many students and gives them an opportunity to be a part of
for colleges but Murray State is not in that. In fact, there is not a Kentucky school in the NCAA.” Murray State will also contend in hunt on Feb. 11 at Middle Tennessee State. The last regular competition and regional competition for the western team is set to take place on Feb. 18 at MTSU. The regional competition for the hunt team will take place on Mar. 10 at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. The Intercollegiate Horse Show Association National Championships will be May 4-7 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.
the team. “I like ours better for our major and minor here because we can give more students an opportunity to ride,” Robinson said. “You have a place in there for your beginning riders who do walk trot, they don’t canter. So, they have a level.” Robinson expanded on her point, saying equestrian doesn’t compare to other traditional American sports. “Then as they increase in experience, then you have a level for each type of rider all the way up to open. It’s not like basketball and football where just your best players can ride in college,” Robinson said. “There is an NCAA
Track and field competes in Indiana Student-athlete, Blake Sandlin Staff writer
bsandlin1@murraystate.edu
With Murray State’s indoor track and field team’s season in full swing, the Racers made the trek to Bloomington, Indiana, to compete in the 2017 Gladstein Invitational. The two-day invitational, hosted by Indiana University, consisted of 19 NCAA teams, including Butler University, the University of Cincinnati and Saint Louis University. The Racers recently returned from competing in the Commodore Invitational at Vanderbilt University and looked to carry their momentum into their meet at the Harry Gladstein Fieldhouse. On day one of competition
for the sprinters, sophomore Jabreuna Brimlett finished second in the preliminary round of 60-meter hurdles out of 30 runners, finishing in 8.66 seconds. Brimlett was followed by junior Taylor McCammon, who finished fourth in preliminaries, running an 8.77. Brimlett went on to finish third in the finals with an 8.65. McCammon ran a 8.67 to follow shortly after her teammate in fourth. In the 60-meter dash, sophomore Tamdra Lawrence finished second with 7.60 seconds to qualify for the finals, where she finished fourth place out of eight runners with another 7.60. In distance, junior Meagan Smith took sixth place out of 18 runners in the 3000-meter run, finishing in 10:21.69. Freshman Norma Abdur-Rafia had a 16th place finish
out of 24 runners in the 400meter with a time of 58.81. On day two of the Gladstein Invitational, senior distance runner Tia Weston took first place out of 15 run-
“
This weekend showed that we are moving in the right direction. - Jenny Swieton, Track and field head coach
”
ners in the 600-meter run, finishing in 1:35.93. For the sprinters, Lawrence placed fifth out of eight runners in the 200-meter dash fast section, finishing with a time of 24.55. Her teammate, Abdur-Rafia, finished seventh with a 24.85. Notable finishes in field
events included McCammon finishing third in flight two of long jump among 11 participants, while her teammate Brimlett placed sixth. In relay, the team of junior Anna Curlin, sophomore Jocelyn Payne, Lawrence and Abdur-Rafia placed ninth out of 15 schools in the 4x400 relay, finishing in 3:55.85. Head Coach Jenny Swieton showed pride in her team’s improved performance over the weekend. “This weekend showed that we are moving in the right direction,” Swieton said. “I am happy with how the team is shaping up and excited to see continued progress.” The Racers next meet will kick off at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 27 at Marshall University for the Thundering Herd Invitational.
Tennis team returns ready for spring Sarah Combs Sports Editor scombs8@murraystate.edu
The tennis team has added four new players to their freshman-majority 2017 roster. Twin sisters, Sara and Anja Loncarevic, from Valence, France, will be joining the team on the courts for the spring season. Since the majority of the team is comprised of international students, training throughout the Winter Break can be a challenge. Head Coach Jorge Caetano said he doesn’t need to worry about his players returning home for the holidays like most coaches. He makes sure to recruit responsible players who can handle both their classwork alongside their athletic responsibilities. “The way I coach, I tell them I’m not their babysitter,” Caetano said. “When I’m recruiting them, I want to make sure they understand that.” Most sports keep their athletes close by during breaks, but Caetano said he trusts his athletes enough to let them travel home and see their family. “I really trust them, they are very good kids and just
Emily Harris/The News
Amina Hadzic, sophomore from Esbjerg, Denmark stretches for a swing at Kenlake courts. want to work hard,” Caetano said. “They came back in really good shape, it’s just a little harder when they go home and everything.” Sending his athletes home when given the chance is actually a very beneficial part of his coaching style, Caetano said. “It’s good for them to go home and see their families; it’s so demanding here to be away from home,” Caetano said. “I think it’s important
for them to go back there and then come ready to go without thinking, ‘Oh I’m homesick and I need to go home.’ They just come back ready and more excited to play.” The roster acknowledges the team’s youth this year with lone senior, Alina Schibol, from Hamburg, Germany. The sophomores come in threes with Amina Hadzic, from Esbjerg, Denmark, Jeanne Masson, from Dinard, France, and Hannah Rickard,
from Eddyville, Kentucky. The freshmen class outnumbers the rest of the team with five, including Sara Bjork, from Malmo, Sweden, Claire Chang, from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Mesa Trimm, from Paducah, Kentucky, and the Loncarevic sisters. Seven of the nine players on the roster are international students and this is the first year that every athlete on the team is a product of Caetano’s recruiting efforts.
a balancing act
Gandy reflects on challenges and a breakout season Bryan Edwards Staff writer
“
bedwards16@murraystate.edu
Being a student-athlete brings a big challenge. Not only do you have to make sure you perform at your top ability on the field, but you also have to make sure you can maintain the grades to be able to suit up every weekend. JorGandy don Gandy is a junior wide receiver for the Racer football team and has had a year to remember both on and off the field. After being recruited by Murray State from East Limestone High School in Athens, Alabama, Gandy spent two years waiting patiently for his spot, and when his junior year rolled around, he made the best of it. After recording eight catches for 135 yards in his first two seasons as a Racer, Gandy had a breakout season in his junior campaign. Gandy caught 62 passes for 976 yards and 11 touchdowns, leading the OVC in receiving yards and in yards per game with 88.7. Gandy’s 11 touchdowns ranked ninth in the country for the year. Gandy was also given the honor of being named to the 2016-17 All-OVC First Team. “I was happy that I was named to the team.” Gandy said. “I was glad to see that all the hard work finally paid off. I sat and waited for my chance to play and when I got that chance, I made the most of it.” Gandy said that the team had a good season and is ready to head to work for next year. “I think overall we played well this season,” Gandy said. “Going forward, I think we have something really special and I’m really excited to see what next season will hold.” Gandy credits some of his
I’m excited to see what we’re going to look like that early in the year.
”
- Jordon Gandy, wide receiver
personal success to his relationship with senior quarterback KD Humphries. Now that Humphries will be graduating, Gandy is excited to start building a relationship with the quarterbacks on the roster next season. “It’s going to take some time,” Gandy said. “We have all offseason to build a relationship with them and we will go forward with the process when we find out who will be starting for us next season.” With all of the accomplishments that Gandy received on the field, he also finished with a 3.0 grade point average for the fall semester. “It’s a tough thing to do,” Gandy said. “It’s something that you have to get through as a student-athlete. If you have down time, you have to do what you have to do to pass your classes and if you don’t have a lot of time, you have to make time to get all of your homework done.” Last season, the Racers didn’t have enough players to have a spring scrimmage game, but this year they will have the numbers to do so. Gandy is excited to get back on the field this spring and start working to make his senior season the best one yet. “I will like it this year,” Gandy said. “We will have a lot of bodies coming back and I’m excited to see what we’re going to look like that early in the year.”
January 26, 2017
Page 9
The News
Features Editor: Gisselle Hernandez Assistant Features Editor: Emily Williams Phone: 270-809-5871 Twitter: MSUNewsFeatures
Features
The First Family Q&A
Jenny Rohl/The News
Gisselle Hernandez Features Editor
ghernandez1@murraystate.edu
Murray State’s President Robert Davies and his family are no stranger to cameras and a slew of reporters while attending events, but there’s more to the first lady and first daughter who adopted Murray State as their new home in 2014. The News sat down with wife Cindy Davies and daughter Katie Davies for an inside look into Murray State’s first family and what it’s really like adopting 10,000 students under their watchful wings.
Q: What’s the biggest difference between Oregon, where you were before Murray State, and Murray, Kentucky?
Katie Davies:
The humidity. It’s not fun to be in the humidity during summer because soccer. We are practicing three hours a day in the humidity and we’re dead.
Cindy Davies: That’s the
big difference. The weather.
Right now, they’ve got many feet of snow, and we are lucky to be warm and dry and above freezing.
Q:
When President Davies was named one of the presidential candidates for Murray State, what were your initial reactions?
KD: I was shocked. CD: Katie didn’t know
he applied, so when she heard he was a finalist she went, “Yes.”
KD:
I took a careers class and so they told us to find top colleges based on your preference based on what you want to do and your interests, and Murray State popped up for me. I showed my parents.
CD: It was about two weeks later when Murray State contacted Bob and asked him to apply, so he said “I gotta apply.” We didn’t tell her until he became a finalist and she went, “Yes.” Q:
What do you miss the most from Oregon?
CD: Probably our friends. Being closer to family. We were really close to them, like a day’s drive, but we are still close to them because with the same amount of hours we can get on a plane and be there. Q:
Was there anything that surprised you once you moved to Murray State?
CD:
Well, not that we weren’t used to, but we enjoyed the people. We didn’t know if we would enjoy living on campus, but we have really enjoyed living on campus because we are closer to the students, the activities and we can easily go to all the student activities on campus.
Q: So President Davies has said he has been a dad in a way, adopting 10,000 students. Do you feel like you have adopted 10,000 students as well? CD: It’s funny – whenever we go to a basketball game or a big event, someone would
say, “Well, which student are you here for?” And we would say, “All of them.” We do take a parental role, and Katie takes a friendship role as a sister or sibling to all the students. We really like the students, and I hope it’s reflected that they like us.
Q:
President Davies posts a lot about family traditions on social media. What other traditions are there, and which one is your favorite?
KD: Doughnuts. CD: It’s funny – it all revolves
around food in our family. Katie’s favorite is Thanksgiving morning, her and her dad make doughnuts. It started when she was about 2. Hanging on my leg, we had some men’s basketball members students coming for Thanksgiving because they had to stay on campus due to a tournament, and I’m trying to
make dinner, and she’s hanging on my leg, and I said, “Bob, why don’t you take her somewhere?” So they went to Starbucks and got doughnuts and hot chocolate.
Q: Do you embrace the title of first lady, and is there any first lady you look up to? CD: I don’t care for that title of First Lady just because it’s presumptuous. I think every lady is a first lady. I don’t know looking up to one, just those that are kind. Q: What’s a typical day like in the Davies’ household?
KD: Well, get up, eat breakfast and go to school, come home and do homework. CD: It’s
a daily routine. One thing we have on our schedule that most people may not have is all the student events; all the concerts and athletic events and theater events, and we’ve really enjoyed doing those things with the students.
Q:
Are there any funny/embarrassing habits President Davies does?
CD: Well, he has gotten into
this funny thing with funny socks. Of course, they’re blue and gold – Murray State colors, but he wants to show his personality silently sometimes and sometimes in a bolder way, with fun socks. And that was started by a student on campus. It was a Jamaican student, I believe, because they were Jamaican colored socks and he went, “Oh, I like those socks.” And so shortly after that, he was collecting some blue and gold socks, showing his school spirit.
Read more at TheNews.org.
Music Shaming: an epidemic Nick Erickson Staff writer
nerickson@murraystate.edu
As years pass, people age and their views on certain things may change. Those who openly love Justin Bieber’s album “Purpose” might have abhorred his early discography, whereas those who once loved country music now would never be caught listening to the genre. One constant, however, is that some people would argue there have always been a select group of people who perpetuate “music shaming.” While it might sound drastic, it’s very much a real issue to students at Murray State. Some people go out of their way to criticize others for their music tastes. While some people do this in a joking manner with their close friends, many do so seriously. When they see someone listening to a band or artist they do not enjoy, whether it be in person or online, they may put them down. Many students on campus are aware of this issue, and as a consensus, believe it’s a disrespectful thing to do. Clay Barnard, senior from
Nixa, Missouri, has experienced music shaming first hand. “My favorite artist is Owl City and a couple of years ago, that was not a cool band to like for some reason,” Barnard said. “I caught a lot of flak for that.” Barnard said he thinks legitimate music shaming can be hurtful. “Outside of a joking context, and especially if the person on the receiving end doesn’t take it as a joke, it can be bad,” Barnard said. “Someone’s favorite song typically tends to reveal a lot about who they are as a person, and if you’re attacking that, you’re essentially attacking part of them.” Brooklyn Meador, senior from Scottsville, Kentucky, said she was music shamed throughout high school for her tastes. “I listened to a lot of 90s grunge music, and me looking like a sorority girl kind of made it bad for others, apparently,” Meador said. Meador also said that she thinks judging others for their music tastes, or assuming their tastes based off their appearance, is ludicrous.
“Just because you look a certain way, doesn’t mean you listen to a certain type of music,” she said. Tristan Houser, freshman from Mt. Vernon, Illinois, said he was shamed for listening to heavy metal music growing up, and he believes it is unjust for others to do that. “I think it’s honestly really disrespectful, as everyone is entitled to their own opinion in music,” Houser said. “Many people will pick their favorite song based off their personality, and because of that, no one deserves to be shamed for what they enjoy.” T h o u g h not everyone may agree on music preferences, the question lingers: can people coexist peacefully without fear of being shamed for what comes up on their shuffle?
Graphic courtesy of Austin Gordon/The News
Students criticized for music tastes
The News
Features
Page 10
January 26, 2017
“Sister Act” blesses the audience
Melissa Bergmann
Contributing writer
mbergmann@murraystate.edu
For 80 years, Campus Lights has been a much anticipated event by many students on campus and members of the community. This year’s production of “Sister Act” was no exception. Most were familiar with this musical since it was based off the 1992 movie starring Whoopi Goldberg. The musical was successful in keeping the crowd entertained with its high energy music and the acting of many students. Hunter Carter, senior from Madisonville, Kentucky, who served as chairman this year, said putting on a show of this size was no easy task. “I started preparing for this Campus Lights March of 2016,” he said. His hard work paid off. Opening night was over half full, and the crowds only continued to grow each night. Many feel that Campus Lights sets itself apart from typical drama productions. “Campus Lights is entirely student-run,” said Keioni Hall, a senior from Memphis, Tennessee, who played the character Dolores in the musical. “It’s your peers giving you critiques and telling you how to be a better star.”
Campus Lights offers experience to those students who hope to one day have a career in the theater field but is also open to students of all majors. Hall chose to take advantage of the fact that Campus Lights is open to all majors and auditioned even though she is a public relations major. This annual event’s unique attributes draws in participation and attendance from all over. Phil and Kitty Sparks, who were in the audience on opening night, embody just how much this show means to people even out of the Murray area. “We come all the way from Nashville every year to see Campus Lights,” Phil said. “We’ve never had a student in the show, but we think they do a great job every year so we keep coming back.” He said this year was the most individual talent he’s seen from a cast in all the years they have come to the production. As this year’s Campus Lights excitement draws to a close, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Sigma Alpha Iota successfully raised money for the theater scholarship Campus Lights funds. The high attendance and audience satisfaction ensured that many students will receive financial help from this event that also was able to entertain many. For more information on what you might have missed visit TheNews.org.
Photos courtesy of Cameron Witte/The News
Veteran professors look back on societal changes Sydni Anderson
Contributing writer sanderson33@murraystate.edu
Murray State, like many other universities, has professors who are a part of many different generations. They could be new to the university, or have worked here for more than 50 years. The latter is the case with Dr. Helen Roulston. Roulston is 78 years old and arrived in Murray in 1964, when she began teaching part time. Out of all the professors on campus, she has taught at Murray State the longest. She teaches critical reading, writing and inquiry as well as global cinema and special topics: Disney films. Roulston said the students she taught when she first ar-
rived on campus are generally the same, save for some minor differences, as the students she teaches now. “The students’ interests change and their styles change.” Roulston said. She said one of the main differences between her first years at Murray State and the present is the environment. “Murray has grown a big deal. The changes keep you young.” Roulston said. Despite the stereotype that older professors have trouble with technology, Roulston said she stays current. “We didn’t use computers when we came here, but I have learned various computer programs. I do a lot more online than I used to.” Roulston’s reviews on Rate
Sydni Anderson/The News
Michael Kalinski first started teaching 1969 at the Keel Institute in the former Soviet Union. My Professor, a popular website for professor reviews based on student feedback, are mixed, but she said she always gets along well with good students. One review on the site referred to Roulston’s age and read, “She has some
wisdom to teach that other younger professors don’t.” Michael Kalinski, 72, a professor in exercise science, said he first started teaching in 1969 at the Keel Institute of Physical Culture and Sport in what was the former Soviet Union.
and listen,” he said. He said he captures students’ attention because he is passionate about what he teaches. Kalinski said the lesson he learned throughout his years of teaching is professors need to continuously grow and learn. “If I think that I know everything I will be proved immediately wrong. Science is not stopping. Science is just accelerating,” he said. “Every professor needs to keep up with science.” He said he tries to transfer this mentality of always being up to date to his students. By looking back, these older professors have stressed the importance of looking forward.
Kalinski came to the United States in 1990 and said the technology has changed dramatically since when he first began teaching. “It was chalk previously. Now it’s PowerPoint and all other technologies.” Kalinski said. To stay up to date, Kalinski said he follows improvements in technology. He said his first interaction with the internet was in 1994 when he attended a conference in New York and listened to someone give a presentation over it. He said the differences between teaching now and then are astonishing. “Now you have to earn the attention of the students. You have to present in such a way that students become excited
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January 26, 2017
Bye Bye, Felicia
Under the Radar
Nick Erikson || Staff writer nerickson@murraystate.edu
Photo courtesy of hollywoodreporter.com
John Mayer comes out of hiding
Page 11
Over the last few years, there have been numerous films drawing heavy influence from 1980s horror classics. Many of these, including 2011’s “You’re Next,” pulled off the vibe successfully. Even the critically acclaimed Netflix series “Stranger Things” has managed to capture the essence of the time period and genre’s finest attribute. However, with every terrific bundle comes a couple of bad apples. In this case, director Stacy Title’s “The Bye Bye Man” is excruciatingly generic and even comically executed at times. Setting up with a flashback to a scene of mass murder set in the 1960s, viewers are shifted to present day. Viewers are presented with an all-too-familiar scenario: college students staying at a new place, where a haunting occurs. In this case, three college students, Elliot (Douglas Smith), his girlfriend Sasha (Cressida Bonas), and his best friend John (Lucien Laviscount), have rented
Just when the majority of his fan base was ready to give up on him (or riot in the streets, for that matter), John Mayer released four new tunes for the first time since Paradise Valley, which he released in 2013. At the end of last week, Wave One of his new album The Search For Everything surfaced and has left fans and spectators anxiously anticipating the release of Wave Two. Mayer maintains a blues-rock, mellow vibe throughout the four releases with (obviously) some emphasis on romance and change, which is not uncommon for him. Whether you are Mayer fan or not, Wave One is most definitely worth a listen.
a house off-campus. After Elliot discovers the name of the title-character, the “Bye Bye Man,” and “don’t think it, don’t say it,” engraved on his nightstand, the friends attempt a seance. It’s not long before it all heads south, as the friends learn that you cannot say the entity’s name out loud, for if he hears his name, he possesses people to commit unthinkable actions. While yes, it’s a rehashed-to-death premise, this will not deter many from watching. People just like to watch a horror movie simply for the jump scares (which there are plenty of in this film). However, these jump scares, which can be perceived as cheap, are the film’s only saving grace. Director Stacy Title (Let The Devil Wear Black) drags out the plot past it’s welcome. There are large chunks where things are rather slow and inactive. Fortunately, when things pick up, they are undoubtedly sure to stun, as all jump scares inevitably do. Outside of the jump scares, moments of uneasiness and genuine fright builds are far and few. There was a lot of potential in-
stated within the film’s gritting opening flashback sequence, but once the overbearing cliches of the main cast and plot take shape, it halts. The subjective downside to the action and actual “horror” bits all fall into the animation. When things turn violent, (shotgun wounds in one scene, for example) leave nary a trace of blood. Acting during these sequences is equally unbelievable, with characters wincing in pain awkwardly. The Bye Bye Man himself looks quite haunting, but his trusty sidekick – a skinless hound – is rendered so poorly by CGI, it’s laughable. As aforementioned, “The Bye Bye Man” borrows elements from the horror greats before it. However, when a film brings virtually nothing new to the table, and throws in cheesy acting, graphics and a paper-thin plot, it’s a death sentence. There are spooks to be found in this film, but no more than one would find in a campfire ghost story, which is where a monster with such a name probably belongs.
Beauty in simplicity
Photo courtesy of timeout.com
Nick Erikson || Staff writer nerickson@murraystate.edu
Photo courtesy of wikipedia.com
American historical drama stirs emotion ‘Loving’ tells the inspirational story of interracial couple, Richard and Mildred Loving, who must fight against social injustice in order to live a peaceful, happy life as a married couple. The film is based off of the book by Nancy Buirski and tells the true story of the couple whose marriage prompted the 1967 Supreme Court case (Loving vs. Virginia) that invalidated state laws banning interracial marriage. The film is truly touching and will have you sweating, crying tears of anger, laughing and finally crying tears of happiness before all is said and done. This emotional rollercoaster of a film is more than worth the time it takes to watch it.
Though it can be argued that most conventional pop music is simplistic in composition, the term “minimalism” seems to carry a negative stipulation with it. However, there are bands that present a stripped-down style, without watering down the emotion or passion within. One of these bands is British indie-pop trio, The xx. With two albums under their wing, their newest work, “I See You,” feels more natural than ever before. The trio’s first album together in more than four years, “I See You” is a fresh sound from 2012’s “Coexist.” Comprised of singer/guitarists Jamie Smith and Madley Croft and singer/bassist Oliver Sim, the band fits perfectly together, equally contributing to their own piece of the dance-floor-esque synthy beats presented. Creeping into the listener’s ears is opener “Dangerous.” “They say you are dangerous, but I don't care,” Smith sings over an ambitious horn loop and a funky bass line that don’t show any mercy. “I Dare You” makes use of an ordinary, clapped beat with vocal harmonies provided by both Croft and Sim, who sing of infatuation. Similarly, “Lips” conveys its message through the use of tropical vibes. When the topic shifts from love drunkenness to the loss of Croft’s parents on “Brave For You,” it’s gut-wrenching in the best of ways and ultimately the
highlight of the album. “So I will be brave for you Stand on a stage for you Do the things that I’m afraid to do I know you want me to.” The pain can be felt in Croft’s voice as she sings over a light beat and staccato keyboard hits. Her timbre is carried well in the reverb it’s engulfed in and gives off a vibe of feeling enclosed, almost as a reflection of her internal struggle with the loss. Croft also shines on “Performance,” an ode to romantic heartbreak. The cautious strummed guitar and faint strings are enough to push her hurt front and center for the listener to empathize with. Soft, somber piano chords pave “I See You” to the closer, “Test Me.” The band drew inspiration from their own demons encountered in years past, including Sim’s alcohol addiction. The strain is reflected as the band sings in unison. "Test me, see if I stay," the trio sings. "How could I walk the other way?" It's haunting and ambient, resolving the album to a powerful coda. The saying “There’s beauty in simplicity” holds truth, and The xx pulls it off better than the average pop-infused indie band. While their instrumentation is basal, it’s for good reason, as it helps to aim the spotlight on what they succeed at most: their dynamic range of emotion. “I See You” will surely see its way to the top of the Billboard.
The Heart of the Matter
Go-Getter As much as I hate to admit it, I wouldn’t exactly pride myself on my ability to implement change in my life. As January draws to a close, most of us (if Emily Williams we’re being Assistant completely Features Editor honest with ourselves) have already fallen short of that list of New Year’s resolutions we might have absentmindedly scrawled onto the back of a coffee-stained napkin on Dec. 31. While resolutions are absolutely a wonderful notion and making them is an indication that we are willing to grow and challenge ourselves, are resolutions really the best approach to seeing tangible change in our lives? Honestly, how many times have you found that only half-heartedly acknowledging that growth needs to happen has caused any real change to come about in your life? I’ve found that growth doesn’t come from hoping for change as much as it comes from setting goals in order to put change into action over time in our lives. We cannot expect to pick up a pen, write down an obscure idea of how we want our lives to look and then walk away with no plan or intention of taking any practical steps to get to that point. While resolutions deal with hoping for change, goals deal with planning for change. While resolutions are abstract, goals are concrete. You can hope for that resolution of getting all A’s and B’s this semester, but unless you set the goal of meeting deadlines and put conscious effort into the work you produce, you won’t pull it off. Setting goals enables positive results while making resolutions have the potential to cause regret. As we power on through a new year and a new semester, make it a point to develop the mindset of working for what you want. Try to avoid being stagnant. You are capable of setting goals and meeting them. You are capable of being better than you were yesterday. You are capable of doing big, beautiful and impactful things. Don’t buy into the lie that this opportunity to get better at something, to learn something new, to make a couple of new friends or whatever it is that you may have in mind for your life, can only happen at one specific time. Change can take place in your heart and mind at any time of the year, not just Jan. 1. Every breath can be a second chance; it’s just a matter of understanding that and taking advantage of it. As The Avett Brothers flawlessly said, “Decide what to be and go be it”. This is a statement that has carried me through many dark times and confusing circumstances. You may not know exactly where you are headed, but you can take practical steps in the direction you want to go. ewilliams15@murraystate.edu
Soundbyte “Bob Ross is very calming.” -Ryan Reynolds Because duh, right?
Out this week
Photo courtesy of ultimatemusic.com Photo courtesy of virginmegastore.com
Read It
“A Hope More Powerful Than the Sea” Melissa Fleming
Photo courtesy of vulture.com
See It “Gold”
Hear It
“A Girl a Bottle a Boat” Train
Photo courtesy of impawards.com
Rent It “Inferno”
Photo courtesy of kotaku.com
Play It
“Resident Evil 7: Biohazard”
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The News
January 26, 2017