M
THE MUR R AY STATE
NEWS
Into the OVC
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90 years of excellence
April 20, 2017 | Vol. 91, No. 26
Battling anxiety A look at mental illness on campus
Jenny Rohl/The News
Abby Siegel || News Editor asiegel@murraystate.edu
Lindsey Coleman || Staff writer lcoleman7@murraystate.edu
“I would shake in fear on nearly a daily basis because I didn’t trust anyone,” said Abbey Avis, sophomore from Evansville, Indiana. “I always hated myself for that because I felt so pathetic, like I was weak or something.” Avis said she struggled with anxiety since she was 8-years-old. Multiple major events in her life caused Avis to be crippled by fear. She said she would avoid driving after being involved in a wreck, and she couldn’t trust anyone after being in abusive relationships. “I think that is the hardest part about anxiety for me – being misunderstood,” Avis said. “I’m often told things like, ‘Just don’t worry about it’ or ‘You aren’t even being rational,’ but anxiety is something that isn’t easily controlled but rather faced.”
According to the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors, anxiety is the most predominant and increasing concern among college students, followed by depression, relationship concerns, suicidal ideation, self injury and alcohol abuse. Angie Trzepacz, University Counseling Services director, said depression is the No. 1 issue for Murray State students at the center, but anxiety closely follows. “At Murray State, many of our clients list both anxiety and depression as their presenting issues, but when asked to identify their primary concern, over the past few years, 35 percent of incoming clients have indicated depression and 30 percent have indicated anxiety,” Trzepacz said. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 75 percent of all individuals with an anxiety disorder will experience symptoms before age 22, and people with generalized anxiety disorder may experience symptoms of prolonged worry, restlessness, fatigue, muscle
Ashley Traylor Staff writer
Destinee Marking
atraylor@murraystate.edu
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just watch out for everyone in general and to always be kind no matter what kind of a day we are having.” Phillips said students often recognize they need help when they “run out of options” or can’t cope with what’s happening. “I think anxiety is a normal thing – it’s learning how to handle it,” Phillips said. Avis said despite a negative stigma about seeking counseling, it can be one of the bravest decisions someone experiencing anxiety can make. “Anxiety can do a lot of things, but it doesn’t ever define you,” Avis said. She said she refuses to let anxiety take over her life. As a middle schooler, she was referred to as “mute,” but now, she performs spoken word. “Anxiety is terrifying, but it doesn’t have to be crippling,” Avis said. “I’m terrified to death of everything, but I keep making steps towards what I am afraid of because I don’t want it to control me.”
The News’ shoe collection kicks off for local charity
Soldier celebrates early grad President Bob Davies held an early commencement ceremony for a Murray State student who will be absent from graduation because she will soon be deployed. “It was my honor and privilege to conduct a special graduation for Murray State University senior Ashtan Williams and her family,” Davies said. “Ashtan will be deployed to Afghanistan with the U.S. Navy on the day of graduation but will have earned her degree in geosciences from the finest place we know.” Ashtan Williams, senior from Marion, Kentucky, has served in the Navy for eight years. Williams said she decided to join the Navy to pay for her college education, as well as to be a role model. “I thought it would make
tension and sleep problems. Channing Phillips, counselor at University Counseling Services, said many Murray State students come in with symptoms of anxiety, and counselors at the center teach them ways to handle it, including self-soothing or relaxing. “I think it’s good for some people to seek out that help,” Phillips said. “We try to advocate and help individuals learn how to cope so they know how to handle it before it gets to the point where it’s affecting them… when they feel like they’re giving in or giving up.” Avis said she didn’t realize she needed help with her anxiety until she came to Murray State. As her friendships grew and her involvement at the Baptist Campus Ministry increased, she said she found ways to cope with her anxiety. “I have never felt so loved in my life, and everyone here has really changed my perspective on my own anxiety,” Avis said. “I’ve never really had that before, and I think that’s the best thing we can do for those with anxiety, to
Lori Allen/The News
Ashtan Williams, senior from Marion, Kentucky, took part in a special graduation ceremony. me a good example for my brother who is one year younger than me,” Williams said. Williams has missed school for reasons related to her service in the past. She said her professors were always helpful and understanding. Since she will not be walking at graduation, Williams said she reached out to the President’s Office and asked for pictures of her to be taken in her cap and gown. “I honestly hadn’t expected so much,” Williams said. “They were so kind about it.” Williams’ parents, fiance,
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her fiance’s parents and brother were all able to attend the occasion. After her last day of school on April 21, Williams said she will then spend five weeks in training before being deployed. Williams is in an abnormal situation, and she said this is not how she imagined her senior year of college. “It’s been very different for me, because I thought I’d be spending this semester looking for a job,” Williams said. Robin Zhang, professor and
see GRAD, page 2
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Although Today Show weatherman Al Roker did not choose to visit Murray State as part of the Rokerthon 3 contest, The Murray State News is collecting shoes to donate to family resource centers with the Murray Independent and Calloway County family resource centers, as well as Soles4Soles. To enter Rokerthon 3: Storming Into The Madness, each university submitted a one-minute video and a suggestion of what Guinness World Record Roker should break at the university. If Roker had come to Murray State, a shoe drive would have been held to set the record for the most shoes donated to a philanthropic cause. Stephanie Elder Anderson, instructor of journalism, and Leigh Wright, assistant
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professor of journalism, said they wanted to continue with the shoe collection to benefit the community because it is the “Racer” thing to do. Donation drop-off boxes will be set up in each residential college, as well as Waterfield Library and the Curris Center. The News will be collecting shoes April 27 through May 12. “I think it shows the great pride and tradition of Murray State that the students would be willing to continue with the shoe collection despite not having been chosen for Rokerthon,” Elder Anderson said. “The Murray State community has such big hearts and always so giving.” Wright said she hopes the community will donate new or gently-used shoes to benefit those who do not have a pair of shoes to “wear to school” or “walk to the store.” “I think it shows our students truly do care about the campus and community, and
we do want to put our best foot forward to help others,” Wright said. John Morris, senior from Nashville, Tennessee, and Emily Hancock, sophomore from Bumpus Mills, Tennessee, are creating a promotional video for the collection. Despite Roker not choosing Murray State, Hancock said it says a lot about the community to collect shoes for those who need them. “Seeing how our community is still coming together to carry out the collection of shoes is heartwarming,” Hancock said. “We truly carry the name ‘Friendliest Small Town in America’ very well.” Morris said Murray has many genuine people who come together to support a positive cause, and he is proud of the university for trying to bring Roker here. “Murray State has a lot of unique things about it and
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April 20, 2017
Housing options open up Murray State alumnus, professor receives Golden Apple award Lindsey Coleman Staff writer
lcoleman7@murraystate.edu
Many new businesses are bringing attention to the sales side of Calloway County, while other investors are looking to expand the housing options of the town. Of the more than 10,000 students enrolled at Murray State, only about 2,300 of them live in the residence halls and about 150 live in College Courts. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s annual census, the population of Calloway County was 37,657 in 2013, and according to the Kentucky State Data Center, that number will exceed 40,000 by 2020. West Wind Rentals, Greenspace Properties and Poplar Place Properties will all add apartment complexes to their properties within the year to accommodate the people of Murray, including college students.
WEST WIND
Matthew Morris, business manager at West Wind Rentals, said they rent to a wide variety of people, including college students. He said a few new buildings have been finished recently. One, two and three bedroom options are available. Monthly rent runs from $625 to $1,200, depending on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
100 days of
Sabra Jackson Staff writer
sjackson30@murraystate.edu
Chalice Keith/The News
Three property management companies will be constructing additional complexes this year. West Wind locations are at 440 Jones Sparkman Road and 440 Utterback Road in Murray. Applications can be found on their website: www.wwrmurray.com.
GREENSPACE
Greenspace Properties will be opening two new townhouse fourplexes in July, weather permitting. They will be two bedroom and one and a half bathroom complexes at $800 per month. All spaces are pet-friendly.
Week 13
TRUMP Day 91
Trump’s foreign policy tested Collin Morris
Assistant Sports Editor cmorris29@murraystate.edu
The administration of President Donald Trump increased its involvement in foreign affairs through day 90 as the United States’ new relationships with Russia and North Korea continue to materialize. After bombing a government-controlled air base in Syria, U.S. and Russian officials entered a war of words about the current nature of the two countries’ relations. In a press conference fol-
lowing the first official meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 12, Trump elaborated on the deteriorating relationship. “Right now we’re not getting along with Russia at all, we may be at an all-time low,” Trump said. Russia’s state-operated news organization criticized Trump Wednesday on live television, contrasting their previous months of praise.
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Co-owners Jayson Roberts and Tony Nolcox said they make the environment a priority. It will be an eco-friendly place to live, complete with a dog park and LED lighting. “We try to plant as much grass as possible,” Roberts said. The existing Greenspace property is located at 301 Maple Street in Murray. The two new townhouses will be on Cottage Lane.
Read more at TheNews.org.
GRAD From Page 1 chairwoman of the department of geosciences, is Williams’ adviser and has known her for more than two years. “Ashtan is a very intelligent and hard-working individual,” Zhang said. “She sets her goal and never lets it out of sight.” Zhang said among other
SHOES From Page 1 does a lot of great stuff, and this is just one to add to the books that makes me even more proud to be a Racer,” Morris said. The mission of Soles4Souls is to provide relief
John Dressler, professor of music, was awarded the Golden Apple by the Murray State Alumni Association April 7. “I am grateful to and overwhelmed by our alumni recognizing me for having given freely of all of these elements as well as my time and talents in an unselfish way to better our graduates as citizens of the world,” Dressler said. The Golden Apple award is “one of the most distinguished awards we offer on campus to faculty on behalf of the Murray State University Alumni Association,” said Carrie McGinnis, director of alumni relations. “To have received the 2017 Golden Apple Award is both humbling and an act of affirmation that I have had a positive effect during my nearly 30 years on campus,” Dressler said. McGinnis said the award goes to a faculty member who has gone above and beyond their duties, providing excellence inside and outside of the classroom. This faculty member must have taught for eight consecutive years or more. “[Dressler] has been here for nearly 30 years,” McGinnis said. “He’s much beloved and has proven himself to be an outstanding professor.” characteristics Williams embodies, she is helpful, kind and positive. Williams said her professors were all able to change assignment deadlines and are giving her exams early, and she is thankful for that. “The school has been really, really great,” Williams said. As for her future, Williams said she is researching master’s degree programs and hopes to continue her education while deployed. through the distribution of shoes to break the cycle of poverty. According to the Soles4Souls website, 900 million people live on less than $1.90 per day, and 400 million are children, so many do not have access to life’s basic necessity: a pair of shoes. The News encourages the campus and community to donate new or used shoes.
Chalice Keith/The News
Dressler Dressler holds a Bachelor of Arts in music education from Baldwin Wallace University and a Master of Music with distinction in French horn performance from Indiana University. He holds the first Doctor of Music distinction award in French horn performance by Indiana University. Students nominate professors through an email that is sent out to juniors, seniors and graduates. On these nominations students make remarks about why they think the professor should be nominated. The nominations are then sent to a committee of the Alumni Association to determine the final winner. Dressler was selected among 85 nominations. “He’s helped a lot of students in the past,” said Quinton Roberts, senior from Belleville, Illinois. “He will talk to anybody.” Roberts said Dressler was the
college head of Lee Clark Residential College before he knew him through the Music Department. When Roberts showed interest in becoming a residential adviser, Roberts said Dressler helped him with the process. “He gives a lot more than he takes and that’s really big here in college,” Roberts said. Dressler volunteers as an organist and pianist at Lone Oak United Methodist Church. He also plays second horn with the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, and serves as an extra player, when needed, with the Indianapolis Symphony, Memphis Symphony, Owensboro Symphony and the Evansville Philharmonic. Dressler served as an academic adviser for 22 years and continues to advise students in the liberal arts music concentration. He came to Murray State in 1989 from Baylor University. Katie Payne, associate director of alumni relations, said the number of nominations gets larger each year. She hopes to incorporate a way to let the professors know just how much the students say about the professors in the future. “Our student body continues to give such positive feedback about our professors and it’s just heartwarming and just so beautiful,” Payne said. Dressler will be retiring after the Spring 2017 semester.
February’s shooting suspect arrested on Missouri base Staff report The Murray Police Department identified 20-year-old Army soldier Monyea Williams as the shooter in the assault of former football player Kendarian Jennings on February 20. According to a press release sent out Wednesday, Williams was arrested Tuesday and will be extradited to Kentucky to face a 1st Degree Assault charge. He is currently being detained in the Pulaski County Jail in Missouri, near the Fort Leonard Wood military base where he is stationed. The Murray Police Department led the investigation into the Welch Court shooting. The press release indicated a “network of information that led
to District Court Judge Randall Hutchens signing the arrest warrant. The U.S. Marshals then took up the search Williams and apprehended Williams on post. A motive has yet to be released. According to the press release, 1st Degree Assault is a class B Felony, subject to 10-20 years for anyone convicted. The News would like to remind our readers that all suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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April 20, 2017 News Editor: Abby Siegel Assistant Editor: Alicia Steele Phone: 270-809-4468 Twitter: MurrayStateNews
Journalism student chosen for Waskul.TV internship
POLICE BEAT APRIL 12 1:02 a.m.
A caller reported a noise complaint at College Courts. Officers were notified.
5:35 p.m.
A caller requested a welfare check of a person in the Quad. Officers, the on-call residence director, Student Affairs and the Calloway County Sheriff’s Department were notified. The person was transported to Four Rivers Behavioral Health.
APRIL 13 12:15 p.m.
A caller reported being stuck on an elevator at James H. Richmond Residential College. Officers and Facilities Management were notified.
10:39 p.m.
A caller reported a motor vehicle collision with no injuries at Winslow Dining Hall. Officers were notified and an information report was taken.
APRIL 14 12:21 a.m.
The Murray State Police Department received a general incident reporting form in reference to a person using false identification at Hester Residential College. Officers were notified.
3:24 a.m.
Staff writer
dmarking@murraystate.edu
John Morris, senior television production major from Nashville, Tennessee, was chosen by Waskul. TV and Broadcast Education Association staff members to be a 2017 StudioXperience intern. Beginning April 22, Morris will spend seven days in Las Vegas working with the Waskul.TV production team to put on a live broadcast from the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show. According to the StudioXperience website, Morris and other interns will be working with “state-of-theart technologies and IP-based solutions that will dramatically change how news is collected, managed and delivered to audiences throughout the world.” Leigh Wright, assistant professor of journalism, met Morris in 2012. She said she recommended this program for Morris because she knew he needed more experience and thought this would be an incredible way to get it. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Wright said. No Murray State student has received the opportunity to participate in this program before. Wright said she believes Morris was chosen to be an intern because of his work ethic. “He works hard,” Wright said. “He’s calm and he just kind of makes everybody feel better.”
Joshua Wilmer, senior from Millington, Tennessee, is a close friend of Morris’ and said he is someone people want to work with because of his motivation and ability to work in a team. “John Morris is a very outgoing person with a creative spirit and reliable and professional attitude,” Wilmer said. Morris said he has overcome some personal struggles over the past five years to be the person he is now. He originally came to Murray State to play football as a wide receiver but didn’t have any playing time during his freshman year. He said he felt down about that and his attitude toward being here took a toll. He played the next year, however, and continued to play through his junior year. Morris said he struggled with managing his time while he was a student-athlete. He said he made it work but decided to quit football and focus on gaining experience in television production and journalism his senior year. In the future, Morris said he hopes to work in multimedia or sports broadcasting. “TV has a big impact on our society, and I want to have a big impact on our society,” Morris said. As someone who has been at Murray State for five years, Morris said his advice to students is to stay focused and work hard. “Stick to what you’re doing,” Morris said. “If you have a passion for it, stick to it.”
Katlyn Mackie || Staff writer kmackie2@murraystate.edu
The Sigma Sigma Sigma Alpha Chi chapter at Murray State recently celebrated 75 years on campus Sunday, April 9. The anniversary was celebrated during a banquet with their alumnae in the Curris Center, which had more than 200 people in attendance. Tri Sigma Alpha Chi came to Murray State in 1942 and was the first national Greek organization to be chartered on campus. The sorority combined the anniversary with the celebration of their founder’s day – 119th for the national sorority – that had initially been celebrated in January. Among the attendees was Donna Herndon, a Tri Sigma alumna who served as the alumnae director for 11 years and is currently the alumnae relations adviser on the chapter advisory board. Herndon was initiated in 1961 and said she enjoyed seeing all of the people she has come into contact with throughout the years she has been a part of Tri Sigma. “It was a very nice occasion and I think the greatest joy for me was one of the original charter members, Grace Solomon, who is 95 years old, was able to be with us,” Herndon said.
APRIL 15 11:14 a.m.
A caller requested assistance locating a person. Officers and the Murray Police Department were notified. The person was located and an information report was taken.
11:20 p.m.
An officer conducted a traffic stop at Wendy’s. A verbal warning was issued for expired registration.
APRIL 16 6:59 p.m.
A caller requested a residence unlock in the 600 block of College Courts. The on-call residence director was notified.
7:56 p.m.
The Murray State Police Department received a fire alarm at the General Services Building on the alarm center computer. The Central Heating and Cooling Plant was notified.
APRIL 17
Jenny Rohl/The News
John Morris, senior from Nashville, Tennessee, was chosen for a Waskul.TV internship in Las Vegas.
She said she has enjoyed having a relationship with the older sisters, and now enjoys having a relationship with the younger sisters. “I feel like with my age and my involvement with the sorority I’ve had the best of both worlds because I’ve been
Photo courtesy of the Marshall University Tri Sigma chapter
able to know and be inspired by the older members and, I guess you’d say, invigorated by the younger ones,” Herndon said. Kayla Thompson, sophomore from Red Bud, Illinois, said Herndon always does her best to be at the chapter events and support the members in every way possible. During the banquet, Thompson said, they heard the history of Tri Sigma on campus. “It is so cool to hear about how we began and how we came from the brightest and best students on campus,” Thompson said. She said being part of the 75th anniversary was an amazing experience. “This founder’s day is one I will never forget and it reminded me how lucky I am to be a part of such an amazing sisterhood,” Thompson said. Kayla Grunduski, Tri Sigma president and senior from Louisville, Kentucky, said she joined Tri Sigma because it felt like home and a place she could be herself and be accepted no matter what. Grunduski said it’s cool to be part of a sorority with such an extensive history and it is interesting to learn everything that has happened within the chapter. “It reminds that you are a part of something bigger than just yourself and right here, right now,” Grunduski said. ”There is so much that has come before and so much that is going to come after you.”
Paducah aims to keep police officer deaths ‘Below 100’
12:49 p.m.
A caller reported a vehicle with the headlights left on in the Faculty Hall parking lot. The owner was notified.
5:31 p.m.
A caller reported a medical incident not requiring emergency medical assistance. Officers and Facilities Management were notified. A medical report was taken.
Katlyn Mackie || Staff writer kmackie2@murraystate.edu
APRIL 18 2:46 a.m.
The Murray Police Department advised of a fire alarm activation at the 1000 block of College Courts. Officers, the Central Heating and Cooling Plant, the on-call residence director and the State Fire Marshall were notified and a fire report was taken.
3:29 p.m.
A caller reported a theft complaint at Hart Residential College. Officers were notified and a theft report was taken for theft by unlawful taking from a building under $500.
2 0 0
Alicia Steele, Assistant News Editor, compiles Police Beat with materials provided by Public Safety and Emergency Management. Not all dispatched calls are listed.
Destinee Marking
Sigma Sigma Sigma celebrates 75 years
A caller reported a medical emergency in the Faculty Hall parking lot. Officers, Murray-Calloway County Ambulance Service, Student Affairs and the on-call residence director were notified. The patient was transported by Murray-Calloway County Ambulance Service and a medical report was taken.
MOTORIST ASSISTS RACER ASSISTS ARRESTS
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Paducah City Police Department has joined national efforts to aim “Below 100” police deaths per year with the Below 100 training program. Below 100 is a national training curriculum that was established in 2010. It focuses on keeping the number of deaths of police officers below 100 per year. According to Below 100’s website, the average number of deaths in law enforcement between 2000 and 2010 was 150 each year. Robert Bringhurst, captain of operations at the Murray State Police Department, said the program entails five key components: • Wear your seat belt. • Wear your vest. • Slow down, revitalizing officers to watch their speed. • WIN: What’s Important Now? • Complacency Kills, asking officers to stay vigilant According to the website LawOfficer, WIN encourages officers to stop taking unnecessary
risks, be aware and assess situations for maximum safety, which is the goal of Below 100. “The leadership of the MSU Police Department supports a culture of safety and provides the police officers with the training, tools and resources to keep them safe,” Bringhurst said.
The Murray Police Department has set up a diminishable skills course to allow one day a week for officers to work on their pursuit driving skills, a few days for shooting skills and another few days for traffic stops training. The department is encouraging officers to be more
Photo courtesy of the city of Paducah
The Paducah City Police Department joined the national “Below 100” training program.
aware of their surroundings. “It starts with awareness on our part,” said Sergeant Brant Shutt of the Murray Police Department. Shutt said the Murray Police Department has not yet added to this program but may look at doing so in the future. Sergeant Kelly Drew of the Paducah City Police Department said Below 100 works on diminishable and perishable skills. Drew said he does not know of any other police departments in the region that are incorporating this program into their department, but each department must go through Kentucky Law Enforcement Council (KLEC) training. Drew hopes to see more departments develop programs similar to this. Below 100 allows officers to go through 40 hours of training that include driving, mobile field force, active shooter, firearms and defensive tactics. The Paducah Police Department has an in-house training program that works in conjunction with the KLEC. The KLEC requires a mandatory minimum of 40 hours of training every two years for police officers professional standards certification. Drew said each officer within the Paducah Police Department spends an average of 80 hours per year in training. Officers have been sent to other agencies in the state to get training in other fields that are not done at the Paducah facility.
The News
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April 20, 2017
Opinion Editor: Hallie Beard Phone: 270-809-5873
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Opinion Our View
Between livestream and death For many, Easter Sunday was a peaceful celebration with family, complete with egg hunts, elaborate meals and spring decorating – a time to turn away from the negativity and crime broadcast on the news. For one family, however, April 16 was a day of loss and pain, and millions of people were witnesses. On Sunday, a man named Steve Stephens murdered 74-year-old Robert Goodwin and livestreamed the heinous crime on Facebook for the world to see in detail. Since then, it has been reported that Stephens shot himself. Aside from the sheer terror of the homicide, the event is stirring up a debate about Facebook and its responsibility. It took almost two hours for the video of the murder to be removed from Facebook, according to a story in The New York Times. During that time, the video was watched, shared and circulated on other platforms by people outraged by what happened, but ultimately, the majority of those viewers didn’t intervene. They simply engaged in the killing spectacle behind the safety of their smartphones or laptops while a family faced the death of a loved one. How can Facebook do a better job of preventing these kinds of violent videos from being live-streamed without inhibiting personal privacy? Shouldn’t there be some kind
Selena McPherson / The News
of gatekeeping system in place? While heavily censoring video before its release – or getting rid of the live video function altogether – might seem like an extreme idea, Facebook and similar platforms could turn into a cesspool of dark content if no one makes drastic changes. Apart from inappropriate photos and videos that already circulate on social media, there have already been other attacks and crimes broadcast using Facebook Live since its inception. As long as illminded people have access to such technology, they will use it to draw attention to their
The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board.
Between You and Media
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crimes if there is not serious preventative action. What’s most frightening is the fact that, as viewers, we’ve already become desensitized to these kinds of posts. Because we are so used to seeing and hearing about detestable crimes via television, radio and other outlets, seeing a murder on Facebook is unfortunately not as shocking as it should be. As a modern society, we look back at ancient killing spectacles – public hangings, beheadings and fights to the death – as barbaric and unimaginable. But how different is it, really? Our coliseums and guillotines might be pixelated on a computer screen, but the dy-
namic is the same: we’re consuming acts of violence in the same space we consume entertainment. Why hasn’t Facebook done something drastic, like disabled the live video function? Platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are supposed to be places for family and friends to share memories and engage in entertainment in order to bring each other joy and creatively express themselves. Social media is an escape – but when violence, murder and mayhem begin to infest those spaces, we could spiraling into a dangerous state as a society. Either our platforms become more inundated with negative news, or they become extremely censored via artificial intelligence and human content monitors. As long as human beings still commit horrible crimes, there will be no middle ground for media. Facebook’s administrators must make a tough decision – will they continue to give users as much freedom as possible and subject them to the sickening content that seeps through, or will they enforce more strict censorship policies in order to protect their users? At the end of the day, responsibility lies with users, too. If you witness a troubling post, do not be a bystander. Act as you would if witnessing it in person: do something. Stand up for what’s right, and don’t share violence for the sake of sensational entertainment.
Rachel Wood Contributing writer rwood7@murraystate.edu When I was in middle school, I’ll admit I was a bit of an annoying superfan; I was obsessed with TV shows, video games, bands, books, basically anything that had a fan following. While I think I’ve mellowed out (at least a little bit) since then, I’m reminded that, sometimes, superfans do some awesome things. Two weekends ago, I had the incredible opportunity to see Panic! At the Disco on their “Death of a Bachelor” tour. The whole show was amazing, of course – probably one of the best I’ve ever been to. But I think my favorite moment by far was one fans put together themselves. If you’ve seen any photos from the tour, you’ve probably seen pictures of crowded arenas of fans holding their phones’ flashlights against colored paper hearts during the band’s performance of “Girls/Girls/ Boys,” creating a multicolored light show in support of the LGBTQ community. At first, this seems like something the band’s stage designers would put together to be on par with things like Taylor Swift’s music-synced wristbands, but this project
was created from the ground up by fans. At each tour stop, groups of fans have been getting together, cutting out thousands of paper hearts, and posting themselves around the arena to hand them out — all because they’re passionate about the band and what they stand for. This is especially awesome to see during this particular song, as it is a physical representation of the acceptance that Brendon Urie is singing about. I think these kinds of acts are far cooler than any light show the stage crew could’ve put together. These acts certainly aren’t limited to showcases during concerts, of course. In fact, I think some of the best charities and movements are started by people who are superfans; they want to support creators and their ideals simply because they want to spread the impact a creative work has had on them. The Harry Potter Alliance is one of my favorite examples of these fan-led projects. In its almost 15 years of existence, the Harry Potter Alliance has used stories and characters from the beloved franchise as a starting point to teach people about activism: spreading literacy to rural communities, fighting net neutrality, even
encouraging Warner Bros. to ensure the Harry Potter brand chocolate meet Fair Trade guidelines. The Alliance has chapters on almost every continent, full of people of different ages, races, genders and sexual orientations – all of whom are united by their love of Harry Potter. For some people, these campaigns are their first real look into the world of activism; using a fanbase as a common ground makes activism more accessible to a wider (yet still enthusiastic) audience. Fanbases have an amazing way of connecting strangers through mutual interests, then using those interests to inspire others to make a difference. Whether it’s raising awareness for an issue or raising money for research, linking fans together through the things they love certainly can have quite the impact. These groups can become places for support and inspiration, using various creative outlets to begin to teach real lessons about creating change. So, maybe you are inclined to roll your eyes at the teenagers who can’t stop squealing about their favorite bands or TV shows. But, remember, those same teenagers can use that shared passion to make a real difference.
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
April 20, 2017
Page 5
Rational Animal
Meet your future self John Muenzberg Contributing writer jmuenzberg@murraystate.edu Why are you going to Murray State? Presumably it is because a bachelor’s degree will help you become the person you want to be in the future. Curiously, recent research in psychology indicates the further in the future we imagine the less we think of that future self as the same person as we are today. This has important consequences on our actions concerning ourselves and society in general. When you think of yourself right now you imagine events happening to you from your perspective. If you stub your toe, you feel the pain. When you imagine yourself stubbing your toe, you imagine yourself feeling the pain. But this is not how we think of other people. If I see my roommate stub his toe I can recognize he is in pain but I do not imagine it as my pain. I may empathize with his pain, but I do not confuse it for my own. When you think of your imme-
will have on our future we tend not to be as motivated because it is difficult to think of that person as the same person we are today. It is easy to tell people that they should save for retirement, but most people imagine their retired self as different from who they are today. We can tell people global warming will cause problems in 2050, but few people imagine that future as their future. Our more immediate demands feel l i ke t h ey happen to us, while future demands are viewed with disinterest. One way to overcome this natural tendency is to stop talking about these actions as part of the will and instead simply describe them as necessary. Scolding people to save money for their retirement will have a limited effect
diate future self you imagine the events as if they will happen to you. If you think of your grade at the end of the semester you think of it as your grade. Your future excitement or disappointment will be your own, therefore you work for a good grade. When you think of the distant future many people imagine the events as if they will happen to someone else. If you imagine your job prospects in five years, or where you might live in 10 years, you tend to think of these events as happening to someone you are observing rather than yourself. The problem with this is we react to our own future selves the way we might to our roommate, concerned or empathetic, but not as motivated as when the events might happen to us. This means when we think about the effect today’s actions
“...it is difficult to imagine this future self and us as the same person.”
because they don’t imagine that life as their own. A much more effective way is to make saving automatic and not a choice. For example, we require that people pay into federal social security whether they want to or not. The other thing we can do is make the future seem more immediate. This forces decisions about the future to become decisions about today. We may not be able to imagine the hot and dry world of the future will affect our current self. Not imagining this means I will not reduce my gasoline consumption today. On the other hand, a federal carbon tax now will cause me to reduce my carbon emissions today in ways that warnings about a warmed future will not. So many decisions we make today, such as what we eat or drink, whether we smoke or exercise or how treat the environment, will deeply affect us in the future even if it is difficult to imagine this future self and us as the same person. By understanding this, and employing effective strategies, we should be better at acting for our future good.
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Cheers to ... ACS Cheers to another successful year of singing, dancing and acting on the steps of Lovett Auditorium! As 22 groups performed, there was quite a crowd in the Quad and plenty of precious dogs, relaxing hammocks and cozy blankets. We think it’s the favorite Murray State tradition of most Racers for a reason. Give a round of applause for the 2017 grand champions, Alpha Delta Pi!
CHEERS Jeers to ... Anxiety
& JEERS
In the news section this week, we’ve got a story on students with high-functioning anxiety and how they deal with school. This seems to be a rising problem among college students, who more and more have to juggle multiple jobs and responsibilities on top of regular classes. It’s a tough world, but know there is help if you need it. Don’t forget there are free counseling services on campus!
Cheers & Jeers is written by The Murray State News’ Opinion Editor. Questions, comments or concerns should be addressed to hbeard2@murraystate.edu
Some Things Considered
Troubling reasons why Hallie Beard Opinion Editor hbeard2@murraystate.edu There will always be a conversation happening about how media affects its viewers – especially young ones – and how problematic video games, movies, advertisements, etc. can influence real actions. I usually don’t feel a reason to speak about the problem, but a certain Netflix show has me troubled. If you’re an avid Netflixer or student who read teen literature in the mid 2000s, you’re probably aware of the streaming service’s original series “13 Reasons Why,” based on the book by Jay Asher. In order to discuss my views, I have to issue a spoiler alert now. I’ll be mentioning important events in the show, so if you haven’t watched it yet or want to finish it without any prior knowledge of the plot, don’t read ahead. The show, essentially, is about
We still want to hear from you. Your voice matters.
a girl named Hannah who commits suicide and leaves behind 13 cassette recordings explaining the reasons – or the people – that motivated her death. From the get-go, it’s a pretty disturbed premise, but the details make it so much worse. As most teen-based dramas do, the show is full of stylish, attractive people playing primarily rich and popular high schoolers, and that’s problem one: visually, it’s an alluring show. It has a soundtrack any moody youth with ears would adore, and the total aesthetic – the fashion, the photography/coloring, the set – is fit for a lonely girl’s Tumblr page. Teenagers worship media; a show revolving around suicide that is visually “cool” and artistic is clearly a bad idea. The show is also incredibly graphic, though the intensity increases with each episode. Every concern people have about high school mental and physical health and safety happens on the show: bullying in various forms, physical abuse, substance abuse,
rape, gun violence and suicide. Each of these happen at various times throughout the show and in an explicit way. In the finale, which covers Hannah’s actual suicide, there is a scene which clearly shows the character slitting her wrists in a bathtub and dying. Before that, there were graphic rape scenes and numerous portrayals of violence. It was hard to watch as a peacefully-minded adult, and I can’t imagine sitting through it as an emotional, lonely teenager. The main plot point, the cassette tapes, perfectly encapsulate the teenage mindset: because the world is “against” them, they must get revenge on everyone who hurt them and receive the attention they deserved. Wouldn’t a suicidal teenager watching the show be inspired by the characters method of a suicide note? It’s artistic, retro in a way millennials love right now and stylized. Why are we offering, by way of addictive media, artistic options for suicide notes?
Want to be a cartoonist for the Opinion section? Stop by the newsroom or email Opinion Editor Hallie Beard at hbeard2@murraystate.edu for details
Supporters of the show claim it’s a conversation-starter about suicide prevention, mental health, etc. That’s true – it has certainly started a conversation. But that doesn’t negate the fact that it romanticizes and glamorizes suicide, depression and revenge. By the end of the show, I was emotionally drained. Watching portrayals of violence – especially sexual violence and suicide – is not my cup of tea, and I’m not a fan of gory or graphic movies and television. I’m sure the show’s creators had good intentions and wanted the show to bring awareness about teen suicide. But, because of the aesthetic nature of the show, it could potentially do more harm than good. If the purpose of the show was simply to initiate a conversation about the topics on the show, it did the intended job. However, if the purpose was to show suicidal teens there is a light at the end of the tunnel, it failed completely.
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April 20, 2017
Sports
Sports Editor: Sarah Combs Assistant Sports Editor: Collin Morris Phone: 270-809-4481 Twitter: MSUSportsNews
‘Stars align’ for tennis in quest to OVC Tournament Blake Sandlin Staff writer
bsandlin1@murraystate.edu
Kelli O’Toole/The News
Freshman Sara Loncarevic from Guilherand-Granges, France returns a hit at Bennie Purcell Tennis Courts.
Murray State’s tennis team needed a plethora of situations to work in its favor if it hoped to see its postseason aspirations materialize. To qualify for the OVC Tournament, the Racers needed to secure a win against Austin Peay on Wednesday – they did. They needed Southeast Missouri State to lose to Eastern Illinois – check. They also needed Eastern Kentucky to beat APSU – done. Lastly, the Racers needed to defeat an EKU team that sits at third in the OVC on Saturday – they did, claiming a 4-3 win to extend their season another week. On the Racers’ final match of their regular season and their senior day, the duo of Amina Hadzic, sophomore from Esbjerg, Denmark, and Anja Loncarevic, freshman from Guilherand-Granges, France, won their doubles match against Colonel junior Laura Argente Escamilla and junior Raquel Montalvo Perez 7-6. The team of senior Alina Schibol, from Hamburg, Germany, and Claire Chang, freshman from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, won their match 6-2 against EKU freshman Kristina Lagoda and sophomore Viktorija Demcenkova to win the doubles point for the Racers. Schibol, who was honored prior to the match as the lone senior on the team, also won her singles match
against sophomore Margaux Lacroix 7-5, 6-0. Head Coach Jorge Caetano said Schibol’s senior leadership is critical to the team’s success. “[Schibol] has been leading this young team that we have so well,” Caetano said. “She’s a huge, important part of our team, and the girls play for her.”
“
This whole week we’ve been telling ourselves we still can do it, we’re still winning.
to hope for a couple results to go our way.” Caetano said that as his team saw the stars beginning to align, it helped them come into their match on Saturday with a vengeance. “The girls were very fired up for today,” Caetano said. “They were ready to go for senior day for Alina [Schibol].” Murray State’s win locked up the final spot in the OVC tournament. The Racers will face a familiar opponent in EKU in their first round matchup. Murray State is the No. 6 seed in the tournament, going up against the No. 3 seeded Colonel team. The defending champions, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, will hold the No. 1 seed coming into the tournament, followed by UT Martin at the No. 2 seed. The No. 4 seed belongs to EIU, followed by SEMO at the No. 5 seed. Caetano said that matching up with EKU in the first round will play to their advantage. “Now they’ve played everyone once, and they know we can beat anyone in the tournament,” Caetano said. “We got the last spot, but the thing is we play EKU again, so we play the team we just beat. I think it’s going to give us even more confidence going into the tournament; we have to go one match at a time.” The Racers will kick off their first match of the OVC tournament at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 21 against EKU at the Centennial Sportsplex Tennis Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
”
- Jorge Caetano, Head Coach of women’s tennis
Sara Loncarevic, freshman from Guilherand-Granges, France, defeated EKU junior Sagung Putri Dwinta 6-4, 6-3 in her singles match. Sara Bjork, freshman from Malmo, Sweden, won in three sets against EKU senior Marina Marti Hernanz by scores of 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. The Racers’ win pushed them to 7-11 overall on the year and 4-5 in the conference. Caetano said although it was a tough road to qualifying for the tournament, his team kept believing. “This whole week we’ve been telling ourselves we still can do it, we’re still winning,” Caetano said. “We had
It takes guts: Gutzler makes a comeback Refereeing in the
Kelly Diesel Staff writer kdiesel@murraystate.edu
After a season-ending injury last year, Brandon Gutzler has made the most of his comeback for the Murray State baseball team. In Gutzler’s redshirt junior year with the Racers, he leads the team in several categories. He holds a team best in both batting average at .369 and slugging percentage at .624. Gutzler has a team high 52 hits in his 141 at-bats and leads the team in RBIs with 39. He is second on the team for the most home runs with eight and is only behind freshman outfielder
Jenny Rohl/The News
Ryan Perkins who has nine on the year. With 12 doubles, Gutzler shares a three-way tie for the most doubles on the team with junior infielder Kipp Moore and freshman infielder Davis Sims. Gutzler injured himself in 2016 running after a fly ball that was heading for the fence. “I remember hitting the fence and trying to get up to run after the ball, but after my first step, I knew something was seriously wrong,” said Gutzler. “I remember standing up and my foot fell straight down toward the ground, it was as straight as can be.” While dealing with the injury that kept Gutzler off the field for
six months, he still found ways to be around and support the team. Gutzler said he tried to get into the dugout when he could, he commentated on some of the games and he even sang, “Take Me Out To The Ball Game,” before one of the games last season. “I just tried to affiliate myself any way possible,” Gutzler said. “I tried to do anything possible to stay with the team and help out any way I could.” Before suffering an injury last year, Gutzler played in only 16 games for the Racers. In those 16 games, he put up five home runs, 24 RBIs and had a batting average of .385. In 65 at-bats, Gutzler had seven doubles and a slugging percentage of .723. In that same year, Gutzler was named OVC Player of the Week at the end of February. In the five games during that week, he hit 22 RBIs and had a batting average of .571. Before coming to Murray State, Gutzler attended St. Louis Community College-Meramec for two years. In 2014, his freshman year, Gutzler had 68 hits in 178 at-bats, giving him a batting average of .382. Gutzler also hit 17 doubles, 47 RBIs and five home runs. Gutzler improved his sophomore year with a batting aver-
age of .423 with 83 hits on 196 at-bats. He also hit 16 home runs and 72 RBIs his sophomore year. He was selected to the NJCAA All-American Second Team in 2015 and was named the Region 16 Player of the Year. The biggest difference to the St. Louis Community College-Meramec team and the team here at Murray State is their style of play, Gutzler said. “The guys at Meramec all kind of grew up playing with and against each other,” Gutzler said. “Here some of the guys have done that growing up but it’s not as relaxed as Meramec and I think that is the biggest difference. Gutzler’s plans after college including trying to play professional baseball somewhere. “I can see myself doing it, and even succeeding with it,” Gutzler said. “It’s always been a childhood dream of mine and I want to make it come true.” Head Coach Kevin Moulder said he believes Gutzler has the potential to play at the next level after college. “I feel like he’s the best hitter every time we come to the park, no matter who we’re playing,” Moulder said. “He will have an opportunity to play professional baseball someday, he’s a nextlevel hitter.”
Turner brings legacy up the ranks Bryan Edwards Staff writer bedwards16@murraystate.edu
In the few weeks she worked as the Murray State women’s basketball coach, Rechelle Turner and her staff have already started building the program for next season. Turner, who spent 21 seasons in the high school ranks, accepted the job after the university announced they were parting ways with longtime Head Coach Rob Cross. Turner said she wasn’t sure if she wanted to take the job when Athletic Director Allen Ward initially offered it to
her. “When I first talked with [Ward], we talked for over three and a half hours and we had the same vision for the program,” Turner said. “I felt like there was a calling to come here. God called me to this job and I felt like it was the right thing to do.” McCracken County High School girl’s basketball coach Scott Sivills said Turner will bring a winning culture to Murray State. “Coaching is coaching at any level, and she will do a great job,” Sivills said. “She will adapt very well to the college level. She will recruit
to her style. She will fight for her kids, her staff and her university.” Sivills and Turner played at Murray State at the same time and have coached against each other at the high school level. Sivills said they were both very competitive with and against one another. “Off the court, we got along very well,” Sivills said. “On the court, we both wanted to beat each other, but we both respected what each did to prepare our teams each night.” Turner left a winning legacy behind at Murray High School. In 21 seasons, she led
the program to a 460-178 record, coaching them to 13 district championships, an All-A state championship and backto-back trips to the semifinals of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Sweet 16 State Tournament. Over the weekend, Turner was honored by the Murray Independent School District by having the court in the Murray High gymnasium named the “Rechelle Turner Court.” Turner said the achievement was an honor. “It was an awesome and humbling experience for me,”
see TURNER, page 7
digital age Blake Sandlin Staff writer
bsandlin1@murraystate.edu
A loud whistle sounds, prompting an echo of boos to fill an arena. It’s a reaction an NCAA referee is all too familiar with, but in a world driven by social media, it doesn’t stop there. From verbal insults and harassing phone calls to personal attacks and death threats, referees are becoming more and more susceptible to criticism and harassment as a result of sports fans and their access to the internet. Several weeks ago, longtime collegiate referee, John Higgins, was met with thousands of harassing phone calls, negative reviews on his roofing companies Facebook page and even death threats after Kentucky basketball fans felt victimized by some of Higgins’ calls in their Elite Eight matchup against North Carolina. While Higgins plans on suiting up in the black and white for his 29th season next year, he was met with lots of questions from fellow official regarding how to survive in the harsh climate of collegiate refereeing, to which Higgins blames social media. “Nobody has ever seen anything like this,” Higgins said in an interview with the Omaha World-Herald. “This is crazy.” Curtis Shaw works as the coordinator of men’s basketball officials, overseeing referees in the Big 12, OVC, Conference USA and Southland Conference. Shaw agrees referees in the digital age are more open to harassment, but that harassment, he says, is unwarranted. “I think they’re more susceptible, but most of it has no basis – it’s just a fan,” Shaw said. “Fans, they lose, so they’ve got to blame somebody. One of my big concerns with today’s society is that no
one just loses a game anymore, everybody has to look for an excuse or find somebody to blame. Sometimes your team just gets beat.” Shaw, who has officiated six Final Four games in his career as an NCAA referee, said the pressure referees face when they step onto the court in this day and age is substantially greater than it was before he retired in 2010. “Well, it’s always pressure,” Shaw said. “In this day of social media and 42 cameras and all of the different replays, it’s even more so than it probably was in 2000.” Despite that pressure, the correct calls by officials far outweigh the incorrect over the course of a season, Shaw said. “We average, when we put all of our numbers together within a year, we get around 92 to 93 percent of our plays right,” he said. “Well, out of 100 plays that’s a pretty good percentage, and truthfully, it’s a better percentage than what else goes on during a game.” Of course, boos and expletives screamed at a television screen during the heat of a game is natural, but there is a fine line, Shaw says, and when that line is crossed is when it becomes an issue. “People complaining, booing about calls, that’s part of the game, it’s OK,” Shaw said. “But to get personal, to target somebody’s business, his family, to make direct threats to that person, then we’ve lost focus on what’s important and what’s real in life and what’s just a game. That’s what worries me about a lot of aspects of today’s society.” This current trend of online harassment towards referees can be explained by the online disinhibition effect, which suggests online users will show less inhibition on the web as opposed to a face-to-face con-
see REFEREE, page 7
The News
Sports
April 20, 2017
Page 7
Baseball drops the ball at home Kelly Diesel Staff writer
kdiesel@murraystate.edu
Murray State fell to Tennessee Tech last weekend in a three-game series to move to 16-19 on the season, 6-9 in conference.
GAME 1
On Thursday, April 13 at Bush Stadium, Murray State lost to Tech by a final score of 4-2. Senior pitcher Ryan Dills started for the Racers and pitched six innings, giving up four runs on 11 hits. Dills struck out six of the 30 batters faced and also walked a pair. Dills is now 2-2 on the season. Tech’s sophomore outfielder Kevin Strohschein put the Golden Eagles on the board with an RBI single to left-center, to make it a 1-0 game at the end of the first. The Racers tied the game in the fifth inning with an RBI double to left-center by junior infielder Kipp Moore.
TURNER From Page 1 Turner said. “For them to feel that I warranted to have the court named after me is a dream come true. It shows that they appreciate everything that everybody in the last 21 years has done for the program.” Turner also said her accomplishments at Murray High wouldn’t have materialized if it hadn’t been for the people who helped her along the way. “I didn’t get here by myself – I didn’t get 460 wins alone,” Turner said. “I had so many assistant coaches and so many good players help me do that.” Since being hired, Turner has wasted no time, announcing her plans to host a basketball camp over the summer and has started recruiting players for the future. Murray High junior guards Macey Turley and Lex Mayes verbally committed to Murray State to become Turner’s first recruits for her 2018 class. Even though transitioning coaches can be difficult, Turner said she has high expectations for the team next season. “You have to set the bar high so the players understand the level that we need them to be at,” Turner said. “This first year will be a transition year for everyone, but you won’t hear any excuses from me or my players.” She said she expects to bring the winning tradition back to Murray State women’s basketball. “We will take the floor with the expectations to win every night,” Turner said. “We want to get these kids back on track. They deserve to be
Tech retook the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth, and added two more runs in the sixth. An RBI single from sophomore outfielder Alex Junior and a solo home run from senior infielder Matt Jones made it a 4-1 game after six innings. Murray State added a run in the top of the ninth with a solo home run from senior first-baseman Jack Hranec but couldn’t complete the comeback, losing 4-2.
GAME 2
On Friday, April 14, Murray State lost to Tech by a final score of 6-4. The Racers fell behind in the first inning when Tech’s junior infielder Trevor Putzig hit an RBI sacrifice fly to right field, putting the Golden Eagles up 1-0. Murray State tied it up in the second inning with an RBI sacrifice fly to left field from freshman infielder Davis Sims. Tech added two more runs
winners, they deserve to be in the tournament and they deserve to have a shot to go to the NCAA Tournament every year.” Turner said building relationships with returning players is one her goals. “The first thing I did was have individual meetings with the players to get to know them,” Turner said. “We wanted to see what we could do for them. It wasn’t about how many points they can score for the program, but it’s about how can we make you a better player, a better person and a better person in general.” Turner has an experienced bunch returning next season, including First-Team AllOVC Player Ke’Shunan James. The senior forward finished second in the voting for OVC Player of the Year last season. The team also returns junior guards Bria Bethea and Jasmine Borders, as well as sophomore forward Abria Gulledge. Coaching in high school and in college has its differences, but Turner said the transition between the two has been smooth. “The transition has been great,” Turner said. “Everybody at Murray State has been outstanding and so helpful. It’s a whole different level as far as the job goes, and with each passing day, we’re getting more grounded.” In the end, Turner said it was hard to leave Murray High, but she’s ready for the challenge Murray State offers. “Leaving Murray High was very difficult, because it was all that I knew,” Turner said. “It felt like I needed to take this opportunity and I had to see what was next, but I’m excited to get started here.”
Move ahead with summer courses
in the bottom of the second and one more in the third with an RBI double to right field from senior catcher Chris Brown. The Racers scored two runs in the fourth inning after a balk and a wild pitch from Tech’s senior pitcher Jake Usher, making it a 3-4 game. In the bottom of the fourth, Putzig added two more RBIs to his total with a two-run home run to right field. Murray State scored once more in the sixth with an RBI double to center field from Hranec but couldn’t overcome Tech’s 6-4 lead.
GAME 3
At 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, the Racers fell to the Golden Eagles in the third game of the series by a final score of 14-10. The scoring started in the second inning for Murray State with freshman outfielder Ryan Perkins hitting a three-run home run to center field. After a wild pitch that
scored sophomore infielder Jaron Robinson, the Racers had a 4-0 lead. Tech responded in the bottom of the second with a three-run home run to right field from Junior, making it a 4-3 game. Perkins hit a second threerun home run in the third inning, and junior outfielder Brandon Gutzler hit a tworun home run in the fourth to put the Racers on top 9-3. The Golden Eagles scored two runs in the fourth off Strohschein’s two-run home run and scored two more in the fifth with Putzig’s tworun RBI double, cutting their deficit to 9-7. In the sixth, Tech scored six runs, giving them a 13-9 lead. Tech added another run in the eighth. Sims added an RBI single in the ninth for the Racers, but fell 14-10. Murray State will take on Western Kentucky in their next game at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, at home on Reagan Field.
Jenny Rohl/The News
Senior pitcher Austin Dubsky and his catcher meet at the mound at Reagan Field.
Racer Athletic Hoopalooza REFEREE From Page 1
Blake Sandlin Staff writer
bsandlin1@murraystate.edu
The Murray State athletic department announced plans to hold the fourth annual Racer Hoopalooza in honor of Murray State Hall of Fame power forward Popeye Jones. The event is set for Aug. 4-5 and will assemble past players, coaches and managers for a two-day reunion packed full of activities for both fans and alumni. The event will kick off Friday, Aug. 4 with a reception and dinner, followed by a golf scramble and pick-up basketball games on Saturday. Hoopalooza will not only be a time for former Racers to reminisce on the past, but will also serve as a time to honor a player who put Murray State’s basketball team on the map. “The 2017 Racer Hoopalooza event will mark the 25th year since Popeye Jones concluded his illustrious playing career at Murray State,” Head Coach Matt McMahon said. “This is the perfect time to celebrate and honor one of the all-time great Racers.” Jones was born in Dresden, Tennessee, and led the Racers to the NCAA Tournament during the 1991 season. He currently ranks fourth on Murray State’s all-time scoring list with 2,057 points. In the 1990 season Jones led the NCAA in rebounds, and still holds the all-time rebounding record at the school today. After Murray State, Jones went on to play profession-
Jenny Rohl/The News
Senior guard Bryce Jones scans the floor. ally for 11 years, playing for the Mavericks, Raptors, Celtics, Nuggets, Wizards and Warriors. After his playing career, he joined the coaching ranks and has spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers. Jones said the opportunity to be honored 25 years after playing at Murray State is an experience he is eagerly awaiting. “It was a joy to catch up with not only the guys I played with [at the first Hoopalooza], but also the people that support Murray State,” Jones said. “I’m look-
ing forward to coming back to Murray again and seeing them laughing and giggling talking about the old times. It’s always a joy.” The first Racer Hoopalooza was held in 2013, a tradition started by then Head Coach Steve Prohm. “Coach Steve Prohm deserves all the credit for creating and building the special Hoopalooza reunion event recognizing the championship tradition at Murray State, the elite players and coaches to come through here and the amazing fan base we call Racer Nation,” McMahon said.
versation because of the lack of anonymity and authority. Shaw said the sports world has not been immune to the issue. “People who don’t have to answer to anybody, they just think that they can see anything they want,” Shaw said. “Then we have people that read it and think it’s all true just because somebody said it.” The effects of social media on athletics does not discriminate from the men’s game to the women’s. Sally Bell worked more than 30 years as a collegiate referee and now works as the coordinator of women’s basketball officials, overseeing six conferences including the OVC and the SEC. Bell said while the women’s game hasn’t reached the level that the men’s has, it is well on its way. “In the women’s game, it’s following down the path of the men’s too,” Bell said. “Social media is just part of the game now. I don’t deal with it at all, social media. As a coordinator, that’s not something I do, and I try to discourage our people from entertaining that piece of it. They just need to leave it alone and not go there.” As social media continues to grow, so too will its effects on the game. And while criticism has always been present, Bell said social media lifts it to an all-time high. “People are criticized,” Bell said. “I mean, if you’re in the business of judging, you’re going to be criticized no matter what. If you’re in the business of playing, you’re going to be criticized no matter what. So that will never change, it’s just on a bigger stage right now.”
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Sports
April 20, 2017
Softball splits the weekend with Tech Bryan Edwards Staff writer bedwards16@murraystate.edu
Murray State’s softball team returned to Racer Field for eightstraight games, beginning with a doubleheader against Tennessee Tech. With both games going into extra innings, the Racers fell in game one 2-3 but were able to split the series with the Golden Eagles for a 3-2 victory in game two. Head Coach Kara Amundson said the team put itself in a position to win both games but couldn’t close the deal. “We put ourselves in a good position in both games, but we couldn’t close the door in one of them and walked out with a split,” Amundson said. “We tried to battle back in the game, but we just couldn’t climb back into it. We only got one run in the first game, but that should have been enough for us to take the game.” Amundson said the second game could’ve gone the same way but was happy her team finished the job. “The second game could’ve gone a completely different way for us because of what happened to us in the first game,” Amundson
said. “We stayed competitive and relentless and took the game. Tennessee Tech was ahead of us in the standings coming into the weekend, so splitting with them helped us keep our place and keep us going in the right direction moving forward.” The Racers opened the scoring between the two teams in the fifth inning when freshman infielder Lexi Jones was thrown out at second base but scored senior infielder Cayla Levins in the process to put Murray State up 1-0. The Golden Eagles evened the score 1-1 in the seventh inning thanks to an RBI double by junior utility player Callen Griffin. Tennessee Tech scored two runs in the eighth inning and held the Racers’ rally short to take game one of the doubleheader. Senior pitcher Mason Robinson pitched 7.1 innings, allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out four in her outing. Robinson is one win away from tying the record for most wins in a single season. The Racers finished the game with six hits, three of which came from junior infielder Erika Downey. Downey went 3-for-3 in the game and was the only player with more than one hit for Murray State.
Amundson said Downey played well but also complimented the bottom half of the batting order for playing consistently. “You’re mainly looking at the middle of the batting order to find your big hitters, but I don’t think that’s true with our lineup at all this year,” Amundson said. “Our bottom half of the lineup is capable to help out by getting hits and turning over our lineup to our leadoff hitters.” Murray State began the second game with an early run in the first inning thanks to an RBI single by senior catcher Jocelynn Rodgers. The Racers scored another run in the fifth inning to take a 2-0 lead heading into the final inning. Tech rallied in the seventh inning to tie the game 2-2, sending the second contest to extra innings. Senior infielder Jessica Twaddle opened the eighth inning with a lead-off single. Following a single by Rodgers that advanced Twaddle to third, a sacrifice fly to left field by sophomore infielder Madison Culver scored Twaddle for the walk-off victory. The Racers stay at home and play four games over the weekend, beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 22 at Racer Field against Tennessee State.
Photos by Kelli O’Toole
The News
Page 9
April 20, 2017 Features Editor: Gisselle Hernandez Assistant Features Editor: Emily Williams Phone: 270-809-5871 Twitter: MSUNewsFeatures
Features
9 Best Places to Cry on Campus Nick Erickson || Staff writer nerickson@murraystate.edu
Stress is an inevitable factor for college students and sometimes the pressure is simply too much. With finals week approaching, one may feel the urge to cry. Luckily for students, there are plenty of spots on campus where one can let the tears flow and the stress escape for a while.
1. THE ZEN GARDEN
The Zen Garden, located outside between Old Fine Arts and Price Doyle Fine Arts Building, is praised highly by students. Many go to sit under the wooden awning, gaze upon the bedrock and take in the fresh air; however, during several hours of the day, the area is desolate. This is perfect for the quiet crier and outdoor enthusiast.
2. WATERFIELD LIBRARY
Everyone knows libraries are quiet environments, but for those who can keep their volume down, there are a plethora of places to cry inside of Waterfield. Arguably the best spot is in one of the study cubicles on the top floor. Students can rent these out for their studies during finals week and weep to themselves without anyone watching.
5. THE SHOE TREE
4. WINSLOW
After failing a final, one may feel the insatiable urge to binge eat waffles. Those not afraid to cry in public, look no further than Winslow Dining Hall. The waffle maker will listen to students vent even if their friends won’t.
7. A HAMMOCK IN THE QUAD
In a similar vein to how students set up hammocks on the Quad to relax, one can do the same to cry. As the hammock provides enclosure, one can rock back and forth under the shade to take their mind off things, whether it be finals or crippling, impending college debt.
3. CURRIS CENTER
The top floor of the Curris Center is used for various activities, including marching band banquets and foreign film showings. Additionally, there are glass tables near the window overlooking the campus walkway where students can go to watch happy couples pass by as they cry and eat their Thoroughbred-Room takeout.
6. THE PROFESSOR’S OFFICE
An upheld Murray State tradition, this tree is enveloped in pairs of shoes. When two lovers who met on campus marry, they return to nail their shoes to the tree. With benches to the side, heartbroken students can sit and sulk as they long for true love.
While students cry over their grades, it’s worth a shot for them to try begging their professors to curve said grades. Head to them during their office hours and attempt to let the tears sway.
8. THE CAR
Let’s face it: there’s no better feeling than crying in the privacy of one’s own room. With no one there to judge (provided one has locked their roommate outside), students can lie in bed, eat Doritos and watch “Friends” on Netflix for the nth time. It’s the best consolation.
9. THE DORM ROOM
Arguably one of the best places to cry on campus is in one’s own car. It’s stressful enough to find parking as it is, but if one is fortunate enough to, they can crank the AC, turn up Adele and cry about the price of that parking ticket on their hood.
Graphic courtesy of Kelsey Fannin/The News
Seeing Double
Taking a look at how twin Racers do college life Sydni Anderson Staff writer
sanderson33@murraystate.edu
When a person is walking on campus and feels like they have seen double, they have probably come across one of the few pairs of twins who have attended Murray State. The Murray State News set out to find what it’s like attending college with your twin.
THE WHITMAN TWINS
Liz and Becca Whitman, juniors, are fraternal twins from Louisville, Kentucky. Liz is an Early Childhood Education major while Becca is a nonprofit leadership major. Q: Why did you choose to go to Murray State? Liz: I chose to go to Murray State because of the small, friendly campus and town and also because the education program is so great. Becca: It is close enough to home where we can drive home for the weekend if we wanted to but far enough away for us to be independent. Q: What are your future goals? Liz: My goal is to become a teacher at a local preschool
back in Louisville. I hope to teach 3s or 4s. Becca: I want to work for CASA in Louisville or Charleston – two of my favorite places – and be an advocacy volunteer coordinator. Q: What are the perks of being twins in college? Liz: A perk of being a twin in college is that I always have a support system, no matter what. Becca: You always have a friend to go to whenever you need someone. I know that even if my friends don’t understand what I am going through, there is a sense of comfort because Liz knows how I am feeling and what I am going through. Q: What is your favorite thing about having a twin? Liz: My favorite thing about my twin is that she always has my back. No matter what, she will always be there for me. My favorite thing about having a twin is the constant support. Becca: I’ll have a forever friend no matter what, where we’ll go or what we do, we will always have each other’s backs and I’ll be her number one supporter and she’ll be mine.
“
THE HANCOCK TWINS
Hilliary and Kayla Hancock are identical twins from Bumpus Mills, Tennessee. Kayla graduated in December 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. Hilliary graduated May 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in agriculture. Q: Why did you choose to go to the same university as your twin? Hilliary: The thought of going to a different university than my twin never crossed my mind. We shared everything from clothes to books to even our first car. Therefore, it only made sense for us to share an education from Murray State University too. Kayla: We just always knew we would go to the same college and take as many classes together as we could. In fact, we took the majority of our freshman year classes together and really caused some fun confusion among our classmates and professors. Q: How do your college experiences differ from your twin’s? Hilliary: My twin and I had different college experiences. One difference was that my twin gained career experience through externships and clinicals while I worked part time for the USDA and on the family
I’ll have a forever friend, no matter what, where we’ll go or what we do, we will always have each other’s backs. – Becca Photo courtesy of Becca Whitman
farm with my dad. Kayla: My twin sister was very involved with clubs associated with her agriculture business major. She was a counselor one summer with IFAL (Institute for Future Agricultural Leaders) and worked with the USDA Farm Service Agency during her last semester of college. Although I wasn’t in the same major as her, I often attended meetings with her and spent much time with the friends she had made in her agriculture classes. On the other hand, I spent the majority of my time outside of nursing classes in clinicals and working as a nurse extern. Q: What is your favorite thing about having a twin? Hilliary: My favorite thing about my twin is that she is my birthday buddy. I have always thought it would be so sad to not have anyone to blow out birthday cake candles with on your birthday. My favorite thing about having a twin is always having someone I can relate to on a level only relevant to twins; twin telepathy is the best. Kayla: The best part of having a twin is having a forever best friend. I’ve never known life without her by my side and I’m so thankful for that. She’s my greatest source of encouragement and the one who always supports me in all my endeavors.
“
Spring festival raises funds for nonprofit Joel Polarek
Contributing writer jpolarek@murraystate.edu
Murray State students Sara Schacht and Tristan Ritter raised $675 by organizing West Kentucky Mentoring’s spring festival for their nonprofit leadership studies course. Booths with clothing, bags, soaps, makeups, essential oils and crafts lined the Curris Center dance lounge walls. Vendors talked about their wares while a few potential buyers milled about the floor. One of the vendors, Heidi Reno from Clarksville, Tennessee, was right in the back. She travels to about three events each month to sell her Perfectly Posh products. “I saw an advertisement that vendors were needed, so I decided to give it a shot,” Reno said. Vendors paid a small entrance fee to reserve a spot at the festival, but Reno said she enjoys helping good causes. “I like giving back to the community, so if it’s a nonprofit event, I try to go,” Reno said. Schacht and Ritter stationed themselves at the entrance to hand out raffle tickets and collect donations for the mentoring program. “West Kentucky Mentoring used to be Big Brothers Big Sisters here in Murray, but they lost their corporate funding,” Schacht said. “They only have
one paid staff member, and that’s the executive director, Suzy [Cook].” Schacht said the mentoring program is sustained primarily through donations and volunteer work. They both said West Kentucky Mentoring is important in the lives of the young people enrolled. “We actually did our mock grant proposal for our class for West Kentucky Mentoring,” Schacht said. “One of the big problems that [Suzy Cook] discussed was that [the students] have a lack of positive relationships with other people, so that’s where they bring in the mentors and establish those positive personal relationships.” In Schacht and Ritter’s proposal, students are expected to see an increase in academic scores, establish more longterm and short-term goals and decrease risky behavior. The program pairs college students with grade-level students age 5 to 18. The pairs meet occasionally to work on homework or just to hang out. Schacht said the program mirrors Big Brothers Big Sisters, just on a smaller, more local scale. “Having a good mentor in your life or having that somebody you can look up to is extremely important. Having my big sister to look up to helped me so much,” Ritter said. “Some of these kids don’t have that so they need that person in their life.”
I have always thought it would be so sad to not have anyone to blow out birthday cake candles with on your birthday. – Hilliary Photo courtesy of Emily Hancock
Jenny Rohl/The News
Jessi (right) explains to Sarah how to order books.
The News
Features
Page 10
April 20, 2017
Bone Hunt bonds furry friends with owners
Emily Williams
Assistant Features Editor ewilliams15@murraystate.edu
The Humane Society of Calloway County continued its tradition of hosting a pupfriendly Easter celebration on Saturday in its annual Easter Bone Hunt in Murray Central Park. The event, while always a crowd-pleaser, seemed to draw even more attention this year and served as a bonding opportunity for furry friends and their owners. The event kicked off with an Easter Bonnet Parade, where pups of all shapes, sizes and temperaments were given the opportunity to strut their stuff while sporting their best costume or Easter bonnet. Mary Turner, former Murray resident from Eddyville, Kentucky, brought her dogs Haley and Adrienne to the event to participate in the Easter Bonnet Parade, Haley sporting her best pink hat
complete with a flower on top. Turner said she and her mom have been bringing their dogs to the Easter Bone Hunt for almost three years now because they have loved it in the past. When asked what Haley’s best trait was, Turner said it was definitely her personality. “She’s fun, but she can be sassy,” Turner said. Turner and Haley weren’t the only pet and owner duo with a special bond at the event. Emily Dunbar and Garrison Evans, residents of Murray, brought their basset hound, Sandor, to the event. They said they named him after a “Game of Thrones” character. When asked what Sandor’s best trait was, the two agreed he is a very loving dog. “He doesn’t need a whole lot of attention – he just wants to know you’re there,” Evans said. “He just gets too excited to see anyone, especially my family members.” Evans said one of Sandor’s
unique talents is his ability to sleep in the oddest positions. “He will just fall asleep,” Evans said “Anytime, anywhere.” However, the events aren’t limited to just dogs. Leroy Alan, a fun-loving potbelly pig, made a special appearance at the event this weekend, as well. Beth Wilhelm, from Murray, said she has had Leroy for about four years now after finding him on Facebook and taking him in since she had a barn. She said before Leroy came to live with her, he had been hit by a train and suffered injuries. “He only has half a hoof back there,” Wilhelm said. “He’s missing his tail and almost lost his front leg.” Wilhelm said Leroy is very involved with the Humane Society already. “I like the fact that I can use him as an ambassador,” Wilhelm said. “Not many people understand pigs. I mean, they’re a great pet. Out of all the critters I have, he’s
my favorite.” Kathy Hodge, executive director of the Humane Society, said they continue to do this event because they always look forward to spring events. “Everybody thinks it’s so funny to think of the dogs doing an Easter hunt, but most of them seem to understand that there is something important going on,” Hodge said. Hodge said the event was not initially meant to be a fundraiser until they began charging $5 for the dogs to participate in the hunt. She said they usually make between $700 and $1,000 at this event, which they use for general programming. She said future events are coming up, such as their annual yard sale, and volunteers are welcome at any of the Humane Society’s events. “We just want to continue to provide a really fun event to be out and about and enjoy some family time with your dogs,” Hodge said.
Photos by Jenny Rohl/The News
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The News
Features
April 20, 2017
Page 11
Franchise keeps fast pace Grant Dillard Staff writer gdillard@murraystate.edu
Photo courtesy of static.srcdn.com
Since 2001, “The Fast and the Furious” franchise has provided high octane entertainment with its intense car chases, incredible stunts, and ridiculous over-the-top action. With “The Fate of the Furious” being the eighth installment in the series, it is understandable to worry the series may be running on fumes. Thankfully, “The Fate of the Furious” is yet another great addition to the series and is a sign to moviegoers that the franchise isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The film starts off with Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) vacationing peacefully with his wife, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) in Cuba for their honeymoon – at least until a mysterious criminal known as Cipher (Charlize Theron) comes in and ultimately convinces Dom to work for her, as well as telling him to betray his team. Given no other choice, Dom turns against his team and heads off with Cipher. Wanting to stop Cipher as well as to get Dom back, the team including
Letty, Hobbes (Dwayne Johnson), Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris), and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) have to join forces with the villain from the last movie: Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham). The plot for the film is one of the better stories told in the series. It’s interesting to see Dom, the main protagonist throughout the series, suddenly become a bad guy and fight against his team. It also helps that Dom’s motivation for working with Cipher, which is revealed halfway through the film, is easy to identify with. Audiences can easily understand why Dom is making these decisions. Also, Deckard working with the team leads to several humorous interactions between him and Hobbes, always having something snarky to say to each other every chance they get. This is where many of the film’s funniest moments come from alongside Roman still providing great comic relief. Like any “Fast and Furious” film, especially the more recent entries in the series, the action is completely over-the-top as well as extremely fun to watch. Director F. Gary Gray does a
great job with the intense car chases and hand-to-hand combat sequences. They’re fast, full of energy, and feature plenty of jaw dropping moments. There’s no poor editing or extreme camera shaking, making it easy to see what’s happening. Of course, like other installments in the series, “The Fate of the Furious” isn’t a movie that should be taken very seriously when it comes to its action setpieces. There’s no doubt the laws of physics were broken at least a few times throughout the film. However, the movie understands it’s not meant to be taken seriously and its purpose is to provide great entertainment to its audiences. “The Fate of the Furious” is a lot of fun and is a good start for a new storyline in the series that will continue with the upcoming ninth and 10th installments. Even with that, it still stands on its own as a good movie. Hardcore fans of the series will most likely enjoy this film the most, as it features plenty of callbacks and surprises that tie in to the other installments in the series. But even for non-fans of the series, it’s worth checking out.
Vin Diesel makes his switch to the dark side in “The Fate of the Furious.”
Nick’s Notes
The Chainsmokers place substance on the back burner
Shut-In to Senior: College Changes You In April 2014, I threw together the most colorful outfit I had while waiting for my parents to finish getting ready. Wanting to look decent for my first tour of Murray State, I decided to go against my usual attire scheme of all black and gray and opt for a turquoise Nick Erickson shirt and khakis. I’m thankful I did, for I Staff writer didn’t realize I’d be taking photos for a Racer ID that same day. I’ve carried that same ID with me everywhere I’ve gone for the last three years, until last week. The magnetic strip on the back of the card finally wore down, prompting me to walk to the Curris Center to get a new one. I sat down, gave my best attempt at a closed-mouth smile and took the picture. Upon getting my new card, it initially felt strange not looking at the same photo taken of me three years prior. As I walked back to my residential college, the realization hit me: I’m about to be a senior. In a way that I feel wouldn’t make a lot of sense to others because it doesn’t make much sense to myself, my senior year of high school feels more recent than my freshman year here at Murray State. I’m unsure why that is, but one
thing I’m certain of is that my time here has flown by. As I compared my new ID to my original one, I realized just how much I’ve changed since starting here. The past three years have shaped my persona into something I never would have thought of starting college. As a naturally introverted person, I have branched out in effort to better myself. It started with me joining cymbal line in Racer Band and learning to do cartwheels (albeit not well). It started with me facing my fears of public speaking in COM 161. It started with me trying my hand in the Music Department and being told I was not good enough, only pushing me to better my musicianship. It started with me being heartbroken and driving me to pursue writing. It started with the subtle push of my newswriting professor which led me to begin writing for the campus newspaper. It started with me being a shy, soft-spoken 17-year-old getting his photo taken without certainty that I’d even attend Murray State. I’ve changed these past three years. I’m thankful for the surface level changes, for no longer straightening my hair or always wearing band T-shirts. The changes I’m most thankful for, however, are in my ability to step outside my comfort zone. Time is flying by, and with only a year left here I can honestly say I look forward to what I can become. nerickson@murraystate.edu
Photo courtesy of edmrush.com
Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall of The Chainsmokers pose for a close-up shot. Nick Erickson || Staff writer nerickson@murraystate.edu
Photo courtesy of pbs.twimg.com
Rainn Wilson posing for his “Twit Pic” in front of some multi-colored Post-It notes.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
“I am pretty.” -Rainn Wilson AKA Dwight K. Schrute in “The Office”
Pop music has gradually evolved in its form. Throughout the 2010s, the computer has taken an almost equal role in composition as humans. This is the case with EDM-pop duo The Chainsmokers’ new album, “Memories...Do Not Open.” Though coupled with infectious melodies and notable guest features, it’s all too forgettable. The duo comprised of Alex Pall and Andrew Taggart have already made a name for themselves and have found their way on top of the Billboard Hot 100. However, in the same vein as their debut EP, “Bouquet,” the record is plagued with the repetition of these attributes: rarely varying tempo, overproduced vocals and blunt lyricism. A surprising stand-out from the album’s majority, opener “The One” is a mellow piano-driven ballad, with traditional EDM tendencies sprinkled in. Singing of reluctance to end a failing relationship. Taggart’s voice fits into the mix. Despite this, it proves that even though buried in production, it’s a bit unsubstantial compared to the likes of other pop artists of today, such as John Legend. From there, conventional dance numbers take the forefront. The energy of “Paris” lies primarily in the edginess of Taggart’s lyrics. The themes, like many, rely too often on feelings of pettiness in regards to a relationship and often
give off a narcissistic vibe. As almost in a continuous succession, track after track bleed into one another. “It Won’t Kill You” is almost identical in pace to “Honest,” only varied with some spontaneous synthy stabs at chords and another lackluster melody by Taggart. Pall’s digital production on “Wake Up Alone” is atmospheric and catchy but the rudimentary trap beat that is ever present on the album holds back any chance of it standing out. Already a radio hit, “Something Just Like This” features a collaboration between the duo and the legendary Coldplay. Beginning in similar Coldplay fashion with light, melodic guitar and the smooth croon of Chris Martin, the track ultimately falls into a heavy synth bass beat that distracts listeners from what would be a magnificent vocal feature. Closing the album is “Last Day Alive,” which is an odd concoction of ‘80s-esque keyboards and the grit of featured guests in Florida Georgia Line. One would think a country and EDM collab would be groundbreaking, but with the seemingly endless loop of the phrase “It’s now or never,” this track feels not only disjointed, but monotonous. The Chainsmokers have realized there is a formula to crafting successful pop music. Taking the niche of sing-song melodies, simple beats and a thick coat of studio production, the duo has made their debut LP one that will get stuck in listeners heads. Substance, however, is but a memory.
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The News
April 20, 2017