M
THE MUR R AY STATE
NEWS
6
Ways to
Cope with
Tragedy
1 Take care of yourself
4 Get enough ‘good’ sleep
out to friends and 5 Take care of pets or get out2 Reach family side into nature
3 Talk to your children
6 Know when to ask for help
Baseball starts practice Page 3
February 1, 2018 | Vol. 92, No. 16
Former MCHS practicum student reacts to shooting Ashley Traylor News Editor
atraylor@murraystate.edu
“I’ve always tried to take the extra effort and understand where each of my kiddos come from,” she said. “How is their home life? How are they treated by their peers? Are they happy?” Kenley McNamara, Murray State alumna and teacher at Crittenden County Middle School, said she has caught herself worrying about each of her students even more since a 15-year-old male student opened fire on his classmates at Marshall County High School on Jan. 23. “Even the ones who never give me a reason to think they’re anything other than happy and cared for,” McNamara said. “I don’t want to miss anything.” McNamara completed her mega-practicum at Marshall
see PRACTICUM, page 2
Photo courtesy of Kenley McNamara
McNamara speaks out about how to address students’ questions and concerns about the Marshall County High School shooting.
Red Cross provides aid to victims Ashley Traylor News Editor
atraylor@murraystate.edu
When disaster strikes local law enforcement calls on the American Red Cross to assist those affected, and it was no different last week when the
community was shaken by the Marshall County High School shooting. The Red Cross provided comfort and care by helping with community assistance, feeding first responders and volunteers, as well as working directly with those affected.
“The Red Cross was called within minutes (of the shooting) to provide on-site care for first responders including food, water and coffee,” Evelyn Miller, Red Cross executive director, said.
see RED CROSS, page 2
Payroll Tax goes into effect despite strong opposition Lindsey Coleman
Assistant News Editor lcoleman7@murraystate.edu
Julie Boeker/The News
QDOBA now delivers within the city limits including to Murray State.
QDOBA delivering in city limits James Turner
Contributing writer jturner@murraystate.edu People on campus now have another option when it comes to food delivery. Two weeks ago, QDOBA rolled out a new delivery service for the residents of Murray who are within the city limits. The Mexican restaurant now delivers daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. to all of Murray . QDOBA is owned and operated by Bluegrass Fresh Mex Company, which is headquartered in Paducah, Kentucky. Managing Member, Tony Page said over the past six months, QDOBA has begun delivering in many locations nationwide to better serve their customers. Page added that college students are their primary audience. Page said people have been asking about delivery since their lo-
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cation in Murray opened in 2013. “If something as simple as delivery makes their day a little easier, we figured why not,” Page said. The cost is $2.50 per delivery plus the price of the meal. Shift supervisor, Taylor Crawford, said business is starting to pick up now that they have expanded beyond just the Murray State campus. She also said there are big incentives for the delivery drivers. “We get paid more than most delivery drivers,” Crawford said. “We get minimum wage and we get to keep our tips.” Additional staff were hired to make sure orders are kept up, quality food is made and customers are ensured quick deliveries. “Murray has been great to our family over the past 4 years and this is simply another way to show our customers how much we appreciate them,” Page said. “Catering is a big part of our business
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and we’ve always made it a point to deliver those orders. This is the next step, a way of expanding our services to better take care of our customers.” With the new service only coming out a couple weeks ago, students are just learning about the new delivery option. Tyler Covington, junior from Murray, said he admires QDOBA for making the change.
“I commend QDOBA on efficiently taking advantage of the market,” Covington said. “Murray people want better food, more quickly, without it being an inconvenience to themselves. It’s evolution of society.” Page said they are opening another QDOBA location in Paducah, Kentucky, in front of the Kentucky Oaks Mall, next month.
@TheMurrayStateNews
On Jan. 1, 2018, the City of Murray implemented a 1 percent occupational tax for any employee working in the city, including non-residents, and the Murray community is speaking out. A committee of concerned Murray citizens formed and collected almost 1,500 signatures for a petition to oppose the payroll tax. One of the members of the committee, Orville Herndon, staff member in the Journalism and Mass Communications department, said the idea to create a petition came about after he perceived it to be clear that Murray’s City Council was going to enact a payroll tax regardless of any opposition. “A payroll tax in many ways is an invisible tax,” he said. “It is another deduction on the check stub. In time, few people notice it is there,
Contributed by Orville Herndon
A payroll tax was imposed on the city of Murray, but now concerned citizens are speaking out. and fewer will notice when it gets nudged up.” In early August, the committee began collecting signatures via social media and collection points in Murray: Greg Taylor’s law office, Primary Care, the Curris Center and County Judge Executive Larry Elkins’ office. Taylor said his involvement with the committee to reverse the payroll tax has
been limited, other than providing his office as a collection point for petitions. He said the bulk of the work on the petitions was done by Ed Davis and his committee of citizens, which included Orville Herndon, Donna Herndon, Jennifer Lynn and Kimberley Griffith. For Donna, she said she
PAYROLL, page 2
Beaver Dam opening delayed Destinee Marking Staff writer
dmarking@murraystate.edu
The opening of the Beaver Dam Rest Area has been delayed. The Jan. 26 reopening of the popular rest area along the Western Kentucky Parkway has been postponed due to construction issues. Finance and Administration Cabinet Secretary, William M. Landrum III said the construction issues were unforeseen. “A grand opening date has not
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been determined but is expected in late February or early March,” according to a press release from the Finance and Administration Cabinet. The rest area, which had a gas station and an Arby’s restaurant closed a year ago after the lease expired. As a halfway point between cities like Lexington and Louisville, Murray State students used to utilize the stop before it closed. Sarah Burden, sophomore from Mount Washington, Kentucky, said she used to stop
nearly every time she traveled home. “It was always a nice place to stop to rest and get gas before making the final stretch back home,” Burden said. “I was pretty bummed out when it closed.” Burden said, now, she does not stop anywhere when she travels home. “The convenience of being able to stop without getting off the exit was just really nice,” Burden said.
@TheMurrayStateNews
@MurrayStateNews
see BEAVER DAM, page 2
The News
Page 2
February 1, 2018
News Editor: Ashley Traylor Assistant News Editor: Lindsey Coleman Page Designer: Savanna Hatfield Phone: 270-809-4468 Twitter: MurrayStateNews
News
RED CROSS From Page 1 In times of tragedy, the nonprofit which has been around for more than a century, provides various services from food and water to mental health counseling, health services and financial assistance. After experiencing a traumatic situation, it is typical to be anxious and overwhelmed, which is why the Red Cross helps victims and their families cope with tragedy. Common adult reactions are changes in sleep patterns, changes in eating habits, mood swings, decreased productivity, withdrawal, exhaustion and hopelessness, and numbness and confusion. The Red Cross encourages those experiencing these trauma reactions to seek action by talking about what happened and how you are feeling, crying, exercising, doing what calms and relaxes you, gradually returning to a routine, surrounding yourself with others, accepting help, noticing the positives and don’t blame. Children who are trying to cope with tragedy may experience stomach aches or headaches, irritability, difficulty concentrating, high levels of anxiety, separation anxiety, difficulty sleeping and developmental regression. To help children cope, the Red Cross emphasizes having a routine, allowing children to talk, limiting media exposure and slowing down. The Red Cross is able to support the families of the victims and survivors financially because of the “generosity of financial donors.” Financially, the Red Cross can help with unmet need for unexpected costs attributed to the event such as travel expenses or other needs. Miller said it is important to note that the Red Cross has not
The News
The News staff accepted the awards at the KPA awards banquet in Lexington, Kentucky on Jan. 26.
Photo courtesy of the Red Cross
The Red Cross provided food and drinks to the families of victims. and will not solicit donations for the shooting. Nearly 50 Red Cross volunteers spent the last week headquartered at the Marshall County Extension Office, coordinating food and water deliveries and reaching out to the families of the students injured. Miller said the outpouring of support that the Red Cross has received from local residents has been outstanding. “The thank you’s that we have received has been very touching,” Miller said. “The community has been through a lot in the past couple of weeks, and the community appreciation for what we have done has been overwhelming.” Miller said she worked closely with the family of Bailey Holt, and the family asked she attend
the visitation service so they could thank the Red Cross for all of the support. “The fact they have even noticed we have been around is amazing, since they have so very much going on,” Miller said. The community held the Marshall Strong blood drive on Tuesday, Jan. 30 and had more than 100 people turn out to donate. Miller said the blood collected will not go specifically to the survivors of the shooting. The majority of the survivors have already been released from the hospital and are at home recovering; however, she said many of them did receive blood transfusions as part of their emergency care. If you would like to sign up to be a Red Cross volunteer visit www.redcross.org/volunteer.
The News wins big at Kentucky Press Association in Lexington News award winners with The News were the following: Best General News Story: 1st (Collin Morris) and 2nd place (Katlyn Mackie) Best Features Story: 3rd place (Sydni Anderson) Best Column: 1st place (Gisselle Hernandez) Best Sports Feature Story: 2nd place (Blake Sandlin) Best Ongoing Coverage: 1st place (Staff) Best Business/Agriculture Story: 2nd place (Sabra Jackson) Best Use of Social Media: 1st place (Staff) Creative Use of Multimedia: 3rd place (Ashley Traylor) Best Features News Picture: 2nd place (Jenny Rohl) Best Sports Picture Essay: 1st place (Chalice Keith) Best Special Section: 2nd place (Staff) Best Sports Section: 2nd place (Staff) Best Lifestyle Page: 1st (Gisselle Hernandez) and 2nd place (Gisselle Hernandez) Best Editorial Page: 3rd place (Hallie Beard and Tyler
Anderson) Best Front Page: 3rd place (Staff) Best Headline: 2nd place (Connor Jaschen) General Excellence Award: 2nd place overall, moving up a notch from the 2016 contest. Advertising award winners with The News were the following: Clothing store: 1st and 2nd place (Austin Gordon) Entertainment/Dining: 3rd place (Austin Gordon) Special Sections: 2nd place (staff) Holiday Greeting Ads and General/Misc: 1st and 2nd place (Austin Gordon) Special Events: 2nd place (Austin Gordon) Creative Use of the Newspaper/Newspaper Promotion: 1st and 2nd place (Austin Gordon) Best Online/Digital Ad: 1st place (Austin Gordon) General Excellence Award: 2nd place overall Austin Gordon also won three certificate of merits in addition to the awards listed. above.
was very concerned about the payroll tax and its implications in Murray. “We felt very strongly that we did not want this tax to be a burden or a detriment to our Murray State students who are working part time and need every penny or to our working folks throughout the county, as well as Murray, who are being impacted but had no say in it,” Donna said. She spent 11 years working at the Calloway County Schools Family Resource Center, and she said she dealt daily with lots of families and people who live paycheck to
paycheck. “To some folks, this may not seem like a lot of money,” Donna said. “People that don’t have any trouble paying bills probably just don’t understand the opposition, but I do, because I’ve worked with the people who struggle to pay their bills.” As a retired citizen, she said some people have asked why she is so concerned. “I can’t stand by and see other people hurt and negatively impacted by decisions that have been made by a city council with the thinnest of margins,” she said. The petition signatures are being verified by Calloway County Clerk, Antonia Faulkner and her staff, and Orville said this must be completed by mid-February. Faulkner
will determine whether the petition has met the number of signatures needed to be placed on the ballot, and if so, the question of whether or not residents in Murray are in favor of the payroll tax will be added to the November election ballot. If the people of Murray vote against the tax, Taylor said the elected group of city council members would be responsible for new legislation, likely in 2019. Orville said there are several ways to voice your opinion about the new tax legislation: running for mayor or for city council, registering to vote, educating the community about the payroll tax campaign and voting in the November election.
their community, as they will not go down in history as just another location of a school shooting. McNamara said their support system is one that other communities envy, because they are a “strong, tight-knit community.” “It’s like one giant family,” she said. “The love that they share for fellow Marshall Countians is simply unreal. This will not define them.” Karly Hardin, Marshall County High School alumna and Murray State student, said she never expected a shooting to happen at her high school; it’s the last place she thought human suffering would occur. “It’s just hard to believe because it’s always something you see on the news happening somewhere else, and you don’t really think of it happening,” Hardin said. “You don’t put yourself in those people’s shoes, or you can’t.” Like McNamara, she said
Marshall County is a rural, close-knit community, “where everyone wishes the best for everybody else,” and they have rallied around each other. “Marshall County people come together more than any community around here, I think, when something tragic happens,” Hardin said. Since the shooting, not only have the surrounding cities come together to support Marshall County – Kentucky has banded together, as well. Vigils were held across the western Kentucky area, and many businesses are showing their “Marshall Strong” support through t-shirts and bracelets. Shop Local Kentucky online store created an orange and blue “Marshall Strong” t-shirt, in which shirt sales have raised over $100,000 to benefit the victims and their families, according to their website. Reel Southern in Benton, Kentucky and Action Sports in
Paducah are also selling “We are Marshall” shirts. Proceeds from these sales will go toward those affected. Several businesses in Murray have placed bows in the school’s colors on their mailboxes. Carey’s Boutique had a Marshall Strong benefit weekend where a portion of their sales Friday, Jan. 26 though Sunday, Jan. 28 were given to the victims and their families. The Kentucky Oaks Mall in Paducah is promoting “Marshall Strong” with a blue and orange balloon arrangement and a sign that reads, “We are all Marshals.” “We have to take care of our people first,” McNamara said. “No matter how hard it is, we can’t skip over the love that families, kids and communities need. Does something need to be done? Absolutely. Go to the right people...We need to get back into a compassion first mindset.”
Ashley Traylor News Editor
atraylor@murraystate.edu
The Murray State News staff brought home 33 awards, including 10 first place awards, from the Kentucky Press Association Convention, an annual awards banquet that recognizes newspapers across the state for their reporting, photography, design and advertising. The awards contest is divided into divisions of daily, weekly and collegiate newspapers. All entries are judged by a press association from another state. The convention took place Jan. 25 and 26 in downtown Lexington, Kentucky. Award winners for the advertising category were announced Jan. 25, while winners for KPA’s Excellence in Newspapers News Contest were announced the following night on Jan. 25. The News brought home 13 more awards than the previous year.
PAYROLL From Page 1 Photo courtesy of the Red Cross
Red Cross volunteers unloaded cases of water donated by Pepsi MidAmerica.
BEAVER DAM
From Page 1 When the stop reopens, Burden said she will once again utilize it like she used to. Secretary Landrum said he is still confident in what Martin and Bayley, Inc, the company
PRACTICUM
From Page 1 County High School, which is the step before student teaching. For her, the shooting hit a deeper emotional level because she has friends, mentors, previous coworkers and family members who are part of the Marshall County community. The school has a special place in her heart. The tragedy has sparked conversation in her classroom, as she said students in the western Kentucky area are scared and shaken. “I think you do the best you can [to address questions and concerns],” McNamara said. “You make yourself approachable as a teacher. You make all kids feel like they could tell you anything. You make them feel welcome, like they’re import-
operating the rest area, brings to the table. “Even with the best planning, there is always the possibility of something happening that could force delays,” Secretary Landrum said. “We want things done right for the safety and security of the construction team and customers.” Martin and Bayley, Inc VP for real estate, Jim Whetstone, said
their goal is to get Beaver Dam operational as soon as possible. “We know travelers are anxious for the gas and convenient store to open, as are we,” Whetstone said. “We look forward to bringing our services and hospitality to new customers in the western Kentucky area.” Details on the opening will be released as soon as a new target date is determined.
ant, and more importantly, like they’re loved. I think we can do a better job of teaching our kids to cope with emotions they’ll face for the rest of their lives.” During active shooter drills, McNamara said it is critical for students to understand it is a serious matter, while giving them peace of mind by building trust with their teachers, yet no one can truly be prepared for such an event as the Marshall County shooting. “I tell my kids that I will do whatever it takes to keep each and every one of them safe,” McNamara said. “And they trust me. They know that I genuinely mean that. In a situation like this, trust goes a long way.” She said her heart breaks for the Holt and Cope families, whose students died in the tragedy. But, she also hurts for the shooter’s family, because she said they are also experiencing loss. “You know, they lost their
son,” she said. “Not from this earth, but physically; he will never return home. Mentally that probably isn’t the baby they raised. And emotionally, they will have to go through a grieving stage like nothing others know. Not only do they experience loss, but they have to experience the grief of the loss of others.” After the shooting, she spoke to teachers at Marshall County, and they told her it was their “worst nightmare.” “They said it was unbelievable how milliseconds felt like an eternity,” McNamara said. “But, they refuse to let it define them as educators. They showed up ready on Friday to welcome their kids home. Marshall County High School is their home. They absolutely refuse to let someone take that away from them.” The Marshall County community also refuses to let this incident define their school or
The News
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February 1, 2018
Sports
Sports Editor: Bryan Edwards Assistant Sports Editor: Blake Sandlin Page Designer: Rosalyn Churchman Phone: 270-809-4481 Twitter: MSUSportsNews
Soccer hires in-house coach Gage Johnson || Staff writer gjohnson17@murraystate.edu
Following the departure of Jeremy Groves, Murray State has announced former assistant coach Matt Lodge will take over the head coaching role for women’s soccer. Lodge joined Groves’ staff four seasons ago and was a crucial pillar to the program’s success. Director of Athletics Allen Ward was well aware of this and jumped at the chance to put Lodge at the helm. “This decision was really a nobrainer,” Ward said. “Alongside Coach Groves, Matt has been instrumental in building our women’s soccer program into one of the finest in the nation. He’s an outstanding coach and an excellent recruiter. He has earned the opportunity to lead this team and his promotion will be well received by the three-time defending conference champions.” Ward wasn’t sure if he would even have the chance to let Lodge follow in Groves’ footsteps as the head coach at Murray State. “I was afraid I might lose Matt
this off-season to another program, but thankfully, it worked out to Murray State’s advantage,” Ward said. “We’ve got something really special happening with our women’s soccer program and I’m excited to know that a change in leadership won’t disrupt that at all. The future was extremely bright with Coach Groves and it’s no different with Coach Lodge at the helm.” During Lodge’s tenure as an assistant coach, the Racers own an overall record of 50-21-6, while holding onto a conference record of 32-3-5. Along with that conference record, they have gone three straight years without losing in conference play during the regular season, while winning three regular season OVC titles, two OVC tournament championships and earning two trips to the NCAA tournament. Lodge already has the players’ support before the season has even gone underway. Former Murray State soccer player Destiny White (2014-2017) expects to see the same level of excellence
see LODGE, page 4
Dave Winder/Murray State Athletics
Matt Lodge accepted the position as the new head coach of Murray State women’s soccer after his predecessor Jeremy Groves accepted a position as Associate Head Coach at Mississippi State.
Baseball begins practice, prepares for season opener Gage Johnson || Staff writer gjohnson17@murraystate.edu
You can already smell the popcorn and hear the singing of “Take me out the ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch, as Murray State baseball has officially begun. The Racers kicked off their season on Friday, Jan. 26, when they had their first practice of the spring season. They split up the team and held a five inning scrimmage during their practice. This will be the team’s fourth season under Head Coach Kevin Moulder. In his three seasons at Murray State, Moulder has a record of 72-99 overall and a record of 41-49 in OVC play. The Racers are coming off a season where they went 29-30 overall with a 15-15 conference record, and were eliminated from postseason play when they were defeated by Belmont in the OVC tournament. The 29 games won by Murray State are the most wins in a Racer Baseball season since 2009. It is the seventh-best season in program history while making the OVC tournament for the first time since 2010. Murray State has gone 15-15 in conference play over the past two seasons. Those 15 wins in OVC play are the most in program history. The team this upcoming season will be relatively young, as they’re comprised of three graduate students and two seniors. The rest of the roster is comprised of nine juniors, nine sophomores and a freshman
Julie Boeker/The News
Murray State’s baseball team officially began practice on Friday, Jan. 26 ahead of its season opener against Kansas on Feb. 16. class of 12. The Racers will be without former catcher Tyler Lawrence. Lawrence is Murray State’s alltime leading hitter with 266, RBIs with 189, doubles with 59, total bases with 432 and a total of 843 at-bats. He is also second all-time in career runs with 174 and third all-time in walks with 139 free bases received. The 31 home runs in his career place him as the sixth-most and his 222 games played are the most in Racer history. Lawrence is now pursuing a career profes-
sionally, as he is currently playing for the Milwaukee Brewers’ Arizona league team. Despite the departure of Lawrence, Murray State has some key returning players to their young roster, as well as some talented freshmen. Graduate outfielder Brandon Gutzler, sophomore outfielder Ryan Perkins, graduate first baseman Ramsey Scott, senior pitcher Tyler Anderson, junior pitcher Blake Clynes, junior infielder Jaron Robinson and sophomore infielder Davis Sims are some
of the key returning players for the Racers. Gutzler was the leader of the bunch last season, owning a batting average of .353 while also tying a team-high 16 home runs and leading the bunch with 71 RBIs. Freshman infielder Grant Wood is also a nice addition and could be key for the Racers this upcoming season. Wood was the Missouri Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year last season at his high
see BASEBALL, page 4 Rosalyn Churchman/The News
Basketball prepares for first OVC rematch Blake Sandlin Assistant Sports Editor
bsandlin1@murraystate.edu
As Murray State men’s basketball prepares for the back end of its OVC schedule, it’ll be looking to retain its second place position in the OVC standings as it travels to take on Southeast Missouri State. The 10-13 Redhawks are seventh in the conference and sit at 4-6 in OVC play. When they host the Racers on Thursday, Feb. 1, they’ll be looking to shake off their performances from a week ago, where they suffered double-digit losses to Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech.
SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS
Rosalyn Churchman/The News
Southeast Missouri State boasts several weapons in its arsenal which it can use to their advantage in Thurs-
day’s game. The Redhawks are adept from the threepoint line, ranked second in the OVC in three-point percentage (behind Murray State) and three-pointers per game. Head Coach Matt McMahon said his team will need to turn up the heat defensively if they hope to stop the Redhawks. “At the defensive end of the floor, we’re going to have to be dialed in,” McMahon said. “They’re really explosive offensively. They feature obviously one of the best players in the league in Denzel Mahoney. They make 10 threes a game at over 38 percent and can really stretch you and space the floor out so you have to be really locked in defensively against them because they can put up a lot
see MBB, page 4
The News
Sports
Page 4
February 1, 2018
WBB hits the road for ‘huge week’ Gage Johnson || Staff writer gjohnson17@murraystate.edu
Bryan Edwards/The News
Freshman Janika Grifith-Wallace (0) drives around a screen from fellow freshman Brianna Crane (31).
After splitting a short two game home stint, Murray State women’s basketball team will hit the road to face off against Southeast Missouri and UT Martin. Murray State comes into the short road trip owning an 8-13 overall record, while holding a record of 4-6 in OVC play. They will be coming off a close 82-80 loss in late fashion to Morehead State, and a 75-68 win over Eastern Kentucky. The Racers are led by senior guard Ke’Shunan James, who is the second leading scorer in the OVC, scoring 20.8 and averaging 8.4 rebounds a game. Senior forward Bria Bethea is fifth in the OVC in scoring, averaging 16.0 points a game despite coming off the bench recently. “It’s not about who starts the game, it’s who finishes it,” Turner said. “It’s about who can come in and make us better. She has been extremely great off the bench. She comes in and brings us instant offense and she opens things up for other players on the floor. It’s one of the key moves we’ve made, and she has been very selfless in taking that role.” The first of two conference road games for Murray State will begin with them taking on the Redhawks of Southeast Missouri. They stand at 10-12 overall, while owning a 5-5 conference record currently. They are coming off a road loss to Jacksonville State. They are led in scoring by freshman guard Tesia Thompson at 13 points per game. The Racers
took a loss to the Redhawks with a final score of 85-74 the last time the two conference foes faced off. They will then take UT Martin for the last road game. The Skyhawks sit at 10-12 overall and 6-4 in conference play. They are currently on a two-game win streak after defeating Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech. They are led by sophomore guard Kendall Spray who is fourth in points and minutes per game in the OVC. She is also second in three point field goal percentage and first in three point field goals made, averaging 3.7 threes a game. Spray put up 24 points against the Racers the last time they matched up, where UT Martin won 97-80. In order to bolster their chances of making the tournament, the Racers could use some key road wins this week. “It’s a huge week,” Turner said. “Things just seem closer for us on the road. We’re more focused in the locker room. They treat them like business trips. This week is vital. If we want to make it to the tournament we have to come up big in these last eight games. I think we’ll be ready for this week on the road.” Murray State kicks off the road trip looking to change its fortune from its previous matchups with the two teams. The Racers will face off against Southeast Missouri at 5:15 on Thursday Feb. 1 at the Show Me Center and follow it up taking on UT Martin at 4:00 on Saturday Feb. 3 at the Tom and Kathleen Elam Center.
Rifle puts together record tying performance Cory Sharber || Staff writer csharber@murraystate.edu
The No. 4 Murray State rifle team emerged victorious in a record-setting match on Sunday against No. 17 Morehead State 4720-4629 in Lexington, Kentucky. The Racers achieved an aggregate of 4720, which tied the program record for the highest score set, matching the Racers’ November 2016 match against Jacksonville State. In smallbore, Murray State shot a season-high 2342. In air rifle, the Racers shot a 2378, which lies just one point short of the program high that was achieved in 2016 against Ohio State. Junior Barbara Schläpfer, from Gais, Switzerland, emerged as the high markswoman of the event, shooting a season-high aggregate of 1182. In smallbore, she posted a score of 587 and in air rifle, Schläpfer achieved a new ca-
BASEBALL From Page 3 school. He was honored as first team all-state, BCA first team all-American, and ABCA third team all-American. However, he’s not the only freshman in the class of 12 that’s expected
LODGE
From Page 3
from her former team with their new head coach. “I was excited to hear that Lodge was going to be named head coach,” White said. He has been a huge impact to
reer-high with a 595 for the day. Her air rifle score was also matched by senior Ivan Roe, from Manhattan, Montana, and senior Bobby Broadstreet, from Ozark, Missouri, which marked season highs for both of them. Roe finished right behind Schläpfer with an aggregate of 1180, setting a new season best in smallbore with a score of 585. Broadstreet obtained an aggregate of 1171, finishing with a 576 in smallbore. Head Coach Alan Lollar was pleased with their performances noting their execution. “They were really focused well and stayed within themselves and executed their match plan very well,” said Lollar. Other notable scores included junior Mackenzie Martin, from Fairhaven, Massachusetts, who fired an aggregate of 1179 with a 586 in smallbore and a 593 in air rifle. Senior Ben Estes, from Ozark, Missouri, shot an aggregate of 1175, finishing with a 584
in smallbore and a 591 in air rifle. Junior Alathea Sellars, from Puryear, Tennessee, rounded out the results for the Racers with an aggregate of 1170, with a 581 in smallbore and a 589 in air rifle. Lollar expected the team to perform well due to their training and believes it could lead to a solid performance at the OVC Championships. “When we train well and execute our match plan, we expect to perform well. It doesn’t matter when that is,” said Lollar. “If we train well and execute our match plan effectively, the score will take care of itself.” On Feb. 3-4, the Racers will be hosting the OVC Rifle Championships at the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range. On Feb. 3, the teams will be shooting smallbore, and on Feb. 4 the teams will be shooting air rifle to determine the OVC champion. Shooting will start at 8 a.m. for both occasions.
to make an impact as a Racer. Head Coach Kevin Moulder said the abundance of youth he was able to recruit will be key in the future of Murray State baseball. “I’m extremely excited about our freshman class,” said Moulder. “I just mentioned Grant Wood being the projected freshman of the year. He’s a special player. He’s
going to have a great career here. Dylan Letellier, a very good middle infielder that will be great here. I’ve got some pitchers I’m really excited about. Weston Schad is also an exciting young power hitter.” Murray State will open up the season in a few weeks when they begin a three-game road series at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, at Kansas University.
this team and is part of the reason this program has been such a success. He was there when we broke records and went unbeaten, he knows the culture and what it takes to be successful. It’s going to be an easy transition for the girls, as they are comfortable with him and respect him. There is no doubt in my mind
that they will win another championship with Lodge as their head coach. It’s going to be another unbelievable season.” As the team prepares for next season, the excitement within the program is still there, and Lodge and his Racers will look to pick up where they left off.
WE’RE
HIRING Pick up an application at 111 Wilson Hall or apply online at thenews.org/apply
Bryan Edwards/The News
Freshman Ja Morant catches and finishes an alley-oop from senior teammate Jonathan Stark
MBB From Page 3 of points in a hurry.” Their greatest weapon, though, is sophomore guard Denzel Mahoney. Mahoney is one of the premier players in the OVC, ranked second in scoring with 19.5 PPG behind Murray State’s Jonathan Stark. Ledarrius Brewer, averaging 13 PPG, and Daniel Simmons, averaging 12 PPG comprise a SEMO team that can shoot the three.
LAST MEETING
Although the Racers earned a 16-point win in their last meeting and held Mahoney to just 14 points, they struggled to stifle Brewer, who scored 19 points and shot 7-of-13 from the field. Stark torched the Redhawks for 36 points in that game, while freshman guard Ja Morant added 17 of his own. Murray State was also able to apply the pressure to SEMO, forcing them to commit 15 turnovers.
“We lost Brewer some in the first half, and he can really shoot it,” McMahon said of the Racers’ last meeting with the Redhawks. “He hit a couple of NBA-range threes. Our three-point defense in the first half was poor. [...] We did a good job on Mahoney. He did get in some foul trouble, which was beneficial for us, obviously.”
POSTSEASON IMPLICATIONS
The Racers (8-2) lie one game behind Belmont (9-1) in the conference standings, so their performances in the next eight games of their season will be critical in deciding their postseason seeding. As long as the Racers remain second place in the conference over these next eight games, they will be awarded a double-bye in the OVC tournament – a luxury they weren’t afforded last season. However, the margin of error is slim. There are three teams – Jacksonville State, Tennessee Tech and Austin Peay – who are biting at the Racers’ heels with a 7-3 conference record.
U.S. 641 N. Murray 270-753-9622 Circus Skate Murray, KY
Murray State still has the opportunity to clinch the conference, but it’ll need help from the OVC’s top squad to do it. Even if Belmont manages to lose one game before the end of the season and tie the Racers’ record, it would still receive the OVC regular season title and a No. 1 seed in the OVC tournament. The Bruins win over the Racers on Jan. 18 secured the tiebreaker.
START TIME
Murray State will look to extend its three-game win streak to four against the Redhawks at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 1, at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Fans can view the game on the OVC Digital Network at ovcdigitalnetwork.com.
WHAT’S NEXT?
After the Racers’ game against Southeast Missouri State, they will stay on the road and head to UT Martin for a rivalry game against the 8-15 Skyhawks. That game will tip off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, in Martin, Tennessee.
The News
Page 5
February 1, 2018 Features Editor: Emily Williams Assistant Features Editor: Nick Erickson Page Designer: Rachel Solomon Phone: 270-809-5871
Features
Shaffer Coffee brews quality Nick Erickson
Assistant Features Editor nerickson@murraystate.edu
Between the hustle of awakening for a dreaded 8 a.m. class and late night study sessions in Waterfield Library, it’s no surprise students become easily drained throughout the school year. With a soft opening preceding last semester’s finals week, Shaffer Coffee Co. is officially open and ready to perk up the spirit of the new year. With its unique industrial aesthetic, cinder blocks and the smell of coffee beans emanating out onto the streets, Murray natives Mike and Kellie Harlan’s Shaffer Coffee Co. has already gathered the city’s attention in a relatively short timespan. Kyle Morgan, barista at Shaffer, said that opening during finals week made for a hectic first week of business. Though things settled a bit after finals had ended, Morgan said it didn’t take long for business to pick back up again. “As word of a new coffee shop in Murray spread, a lot of locals began to pour in after the college students left,” Morgan said. Leah Hecht, barista at Shaffer, said with the growing business, the staff has anticipated the beginning of the semester.
“Business has kept us on our toes, but I can’t wait for the college kids to come and fill the tables,” Hecht said. With other local coffee shops like 5th and Main and chain offerings such as Dunkin Donuts within the same vicinity, Shaffer Coffee Co. is offering a diverse menu to appeal and cater to everyone’s preferences. The menu includes a variety of lattes, cappuccinos and drip coffees. Macchiatos are 3 oz, cappuccinos are 6 oz, and lattes are 12 oz, with the main difference in size being the amount of milk used in preparation. For those who enjoy a colder variety, cold brew and iced coffee is an option. Anyone wanting an extra dose of wake-up can get espresso drinks made to order. “We do pour overs,” Morgan said. “It’s essentially a slower, more precise way of making black coffee, one cup at a time.” Morgan said a big hit with customers lately has been the honey cinnamon latte, in addition to another recognizable seasonal drink. “We have an Almond Joy Latte just like the candy bar,” Morgan said. “It consists of almond, coconut milk, chocolate, whipped cream and coconut shavings.” To anyone with indifference to coffee, the shop of-
Brock Kirk/The News
Shaffer Coffee Co. continues to draw in Murray State students and members of the Murray community since its opening in early December. fers seven different teas to choose from. “We have two types of green teas, a black tea, two chai teas and an earl grey tea,” Morgan said. In order to both create a bond with the community and provide the best possible ingredients, Morgan said the shop meticulously uses as many local suppliers for
Beating the blues aturner32@murraystate.edu
The temperature is hovering around 30 degrees and the sun seems to have disappeared. There are rumors of snow while you are left longing for the days of mistletoe and family curled up by the fire. Along with the decrease in temperatures comes the drastic decrease in motivation. Here are some quick tips to help you stay motivated during the dreary start of the spring semester.
STARTING THE MORNING OFF RIGHT
Since getting out of bed can be the toughest part of the day, fight off the spring semester blues by choosing not to use the snooze button. When the alarm rings, get up and actually make the bed. This will prevent you from curling back up after feeling the early morning cold and you will have achieved the first item on your morning checklist. Listen to some upbeat music while getting ready. The fun music will help to not only wake you up, but lift your early morning blues. Don’t be afraid to dance in the privacy of your room. This will help to increase your mood and get some blood flowing. If you’re a coffee drinker, have everything prepared the night before so in the morning you can press a button and instantly have coffee brewing. This will not only save time but also help soften the blow
tionally, we plan on also offering small food down the road like soup and salad.” Brianna Jones, graduate student from Louisville, Kentucky said she likes going to Shaffer Coffee because of the atmosphere. “It just feels comfortable and homey enough for you to study and get work done while you sip on quality cof-
fee.” Shaffer Coffee Co. is located at 404 Fourth Street on Shaffer Square in Murray. The coffee shop has regular hours of 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. For additional information regarding hours and special offers, follow Shaffer Coffee on their Instagram and Facebook pages. Stop by and see where the magic happens.
Keeping the peace Murray State graduate invited to serve in the Peace Corps Amy Turner || Staff writer aturner32@murraystate.edu
3 practical ways to stay on top of your to-do list this semester Amy Turner || Staff writer
the shop as possible. “We even go as far as to get farm fresh milk from right here in Kentucky,” Morgan said. Kait Greer, barista at Shaffer, said the shop will have many new additions in the upcoming months. “We plan on having a reward system to keep up with points,” Greer said. “Addi-
Autumn Brown/The News
of the first few early mornings. Grab breakfast. Most students choose to forego the meal which is often valued as the most important of the day. Breakfast can help increase energy, motivation and even focus. To maximize the good feelings, grab some fruit. It will add some natural sweetness and vitamins as cold and flu season runs rampant across campus.
GOING TO CLASSES
Be prepared. Check the weather and bundle up appropriately for the frigid temperatures of the winter season. Sweaters and fun socks can add color and personality to any look. Get organized before class and arrive a few minutes early. This will allow you to catch your breath and get ready before the professor begins class which will increase focus and reduce stress. Starting off the semester late can act as a precedent for you to have a lazier semester. Stay on track in your courses by getting back into your routine studying habits. If you struggle to study, try to find a new place to study for a change in environment. A group study setting can be super helpful as long as you focus on staying on task. Use a planner. This will help you stay organized and remember deadlines. Update your planner with homework assignments, projects, personal events, and test dates. Once an assignment is fin-
ished, cross off the assignment to keep track of your progress.
KEEPING BALANCE
Once you have established a routine and settled back into life at the university, it is important to remember to maintain balance. Make time to hangout with friends, spend time trying new hobbies or simply enjoy old favorites. As the weather begins to grow warmer, spend time soaking in the sun and finding ways to be active. Don’t forget to eat meals, even when you are crushed by deadlines and business. Keeping snack foods in your dorm can help while working on assignments. Having both good grades and a social life shouldn’t mean sacrificing personal health and well being. If you’re not feeling well, the university has Health Services available to students and faculty. They are located on the ground floor of Wells Hall right beside Faculty Hall. Their student hours are 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. every weekday as well as 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. every weekday but Wednesday. In addition to Health Services, the university offers counseling services free of charge to all students. Located in Oakley Applied Sciences building, they are open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For emergency situations a counselor is on call daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tyler Mathews is a recent December graduate of Murray State, but his success story doesn’t end at his graduation. After earning a bachelor’s degree in international business and political science, he was invited to volunteer for the Community Economic Development sector of the Peace Corps in Moldova beginning in June 2018. Like most upcoming college graduates, Mathews struggled with figuring out his post-graduation plans. “In reality, the Peace Corps offered me a solution to all of my post-graduation worries.” said Mathews. “I desperately wanted to travel somewhere I’d never been, I needed some time to figure out if I wanted to go to grad school or law school and I really just wanted to apply what I had learned in undergrad immediately.” Mathews found out about the Peace Corps in the summer of 2016 but didn’t make the decision to apply until December of the same year. Mathews said the largest hurdle he faced was the fear of the unknown that comes with volunteering with the Peace Corps. Through the help of his Spanish professor, Robert Fritz and the program coordinator, Shawna Thomas, Mathews said he was able to overcome the fear and hesitation and let eagerness take over. “Once you have been in the Peace Corps, you share a special bond with all those who have served or intend to serve.” said Fritz. “I’m thrilled for Tyler and happy that I was able to contribute to his Peace Corps experience in even a small way,” Mathews said his main goal in the process is to learn more about the world and understand the way that people outside of our boarders live. “It’s really easy, in a country as large as the US, to become border centric and forget that we have neighbors struggling to live day to day.” said Mathews. “It is almost impossible to understand how someone in Moldova can live on 1.70 Euro/day until you are fully immersed in that life.”
Photo courtesy of Tyler Mathews
Tyler Mathews is the first graduate from the state of Kentucky to invited to serve. Mathews said once he decided to apply, he had a long journey ahead before he was officially accepted and invited to volunteer. The process started with the actual application, which a nervous Mathews didn’t submit until the last minute. He immediately received a confirmation email, but still had interviews to attend and legal documents to send. Even now, after he has been accepted, he is still waiting as a few more tasks will trickle in. “I’m really looking forward to the learning opportunity at hand.” said Mathews. “Almost every returned volunteer I have talked to has mentioned that I will leave the Peace Corps having learned more from the people I work with in country than I will leave them with.” “I really want to take this time engulf myself in the culture and the language,” said Mathews. The Peace Corps Prep Program has been on campus for two years and currently has eight students going through the program and has graduated four participating members. Its goal is to prepare members such as Mathews to go on and
serve with the Peace Corps upon graduation. Mathews is a large success story for the program. Not only is he the first from the program to get invited to serve but the first graduate from the state of Kentucky to be invited to serve. “This program allows students to gain knowledge of their chosen Sector, prepare themselves for international living and be involved in their local community,” said Thomas. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, the Peace Corps Prep Program is a great place to start the search. The program gives students the opportunity to begin to prepare for Peace Corps service. “Peace Corps is a profoundly enriching experience for the volunteer, in both personal and professional terms.” said Ritz. “Service can sometimes be difficult and there are many challenges to overcome – language barriers, cultural differences, physical hardships – but in the end you acquire unique insights into another part of the world, its people, and the challenges they face in their day to day lives.”
Page 6
Features
The News
February 1, 2018
STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION Get Involved!
POSITIONS President - must be: Junior by fall semester, 2.7 gpa Executive Vice President - must be: Junior by fall semester, 2.7 gpa Vice President of Administration - 2.7 gpa Vice President of Finance - 2.7 gpa Senator At Large – 8 positions, 2.0 gpa College of Business – 3 positions, 2.0 gpa College Education & Human Services – 3 positions, 2.0 gpa College of Humanities & Fine Arts – 3 positions, 2.0 gpa College Science, Engineering & Technology – 3 positions, 2.0 gpa Hutson School of Agriculture – 3 positions, 2.0 gpa School of Nursing & Health Professionals – 3 positions, 2.0 gpa RCA President - 2.7 gpa RCA Vice President – 2.7 gpa RCA Secretary/Treasurer, 2.7 gpa Residential College Senators, 2.0 gpa (2 per Residential College)** **ALL RCA officers must have lived in residential college 1 year prior to election
Applications due MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2018 at NOON in the CSI office. MANDATORY CANDIDATES MEETING Curris Center Theater, 3rd floor, 4 pm ON-LINE VOTING, MONDAY, MARCH 12, 2018 AT 12:01 AM THROUGH TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2018 AT 11:59 PM
SENATE CHAIR Elections/Ways & Means – 1 position, 2.0 gpa Public Relations, 1 position, 2.0 gpa University Affairs – 1 position, 2.0 gpa Judicial Board Chair – 1 position, 2.0 gpa MultiMedia – 1 position, 2.0 gpa Government Relations – 1 position, 2.0 gpa Diversity & Inclusion – 1 position, 2.0 gpa
Applications due TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018 at NOON in the CSI office.
OTHER Judicial Board – 10 members, must be Junior by fall semester, 2.0 gpa Campus Activities Board – 15 chair positions, 2.0 gpa
Applications due TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018 at NOON in the CSI office.
Student Government Association applications are available online www.murraystate.edu/sga or in the Center for Student Ivolvement office, 111 Curris Center.
The News
Page 7
February 1, 2018
Opinion Editor: Tyler Anderson Page Designer: Tori Wood Phone: 270-809-5873
Opinion Our View
The DeVos dilemma The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board.
Connor Jaschen Editor-in-Chief • 270-809-6877 cjaschen@murraystate.edu
Austin Gordon Production Manager • 270-809-5877 agordon4@murraystate.edu
Ashley Traylor News Editor • 270-809-4468 atraylor@murraystate.edu
Tyler Anderson Opinion Editor • 270-809-5873 janderson49@murraystate.edu
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Dr. Stephanie Anderson Adviser • 270-809-3937 sanderson37@murraystate.edu
The News 2609 University Station Murray State University Murray, Kentucky 42071-3301 murraystatenews@icloud.com Fax: 270-809-3175
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has headed the United States Department of Education for a year now. Compared to other leaders of the current administration, DeVos has kept a surprisingly low profile. Now is a good time to reflect on her impact, or lack thereof, on the uncertain future of our education system. DeVos’ position on Title IX protections has raised many eyebrows. Title IX, a law passed in 1972, prohibits sex discrimination in schools. Former President Barack Obama interpreted the law as meaning students should be protected from sexual harassment and assault as well. Women’s rights activists and other groups heralded this as a huge step towards creating positive and safe learning spaces for all students. However, DeVos has been outspoken about the former administration’s take on Title IX. She felt the rights of the accused were being thrown by the wayside, and due process was being ignored. In a press release from September 2017 concerning her changes to Title IX investigations, DeVos said “this interim guidance will help schools as they work to combat sexual misconduct and will treat all students fairly.” To critics of the Obama-era regulations, this was a step towards protecting the rights of all involved parties. Opponents of DeVos criticized this move, citing a long history of unreported and unresolved sexual assaults which were only beginning to be taken seriously in the past decade. The school choice movement is another important tenet of DeVos’ crusade to better our schools. In short, school choice refers to broadened freedom for students to pursue primary education outside of the public school system, a system which DeVos has criticized on many occasions. This initiative aims to increase public funding for charter schools and online institutions. Public schools are required to meet certain benchmarks or show intent to meet said benchmarks in order to not be penalized or investigated. This is one of the checks put into place to make sure taxpayer money is being used as efficiently as possible. Charter schools are under no such obligation. They siphon money from public schools without incurring any of the responsibility. The effectiveness of charter and online schools has been widely debated. According to a report by The National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, the “impact on student achievement varied
TheNews.org The News welcomes commentaries and letters to the editor. Submissions should be 600 words or less, and contributors should include phone numbers for verification. Please include hometown, classification and title or relationship to the university. The News reserves the right to edit for style, length and content. No anonymous contributions will be accepted. All contributions should be turned in by noon on Monday of each week via email to janderson49@murraystate.edu. Contributions to The News are the opinion of the author and not that of The Murray State News. The News strives to be the university community’s source for information. Our goal is to present that information in a fair and unbiased manner and provide a free and open forum for expression and debate. The News is a designated public forum. Student editors have authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. The paper offers a hands-on learning environment for students interested in journalism. The campus press should be free from censorship and advance approval of copy and its editors should develop their editorial and news policies. The News is prepared and edited by students and is an official publication of Murray State University. The first copy is free. Additional copies are available for 25 cents at 111 Wilson Hall.
Autumn Brown/The News
significantly across schools.” Urban charter schools appeared to fare better than their rural counterparts on average according to the study, though the data we have does little to prove that creating alternative publicly-funded institutions will help solve the current issues permeating our education system. Perhaps the most controversial of DeVos’ changes has been to the student loan forgiveness program which was created to provide relief to defrauded students. For-profit colleges often used predatory practices to draw in students, regularly leaving the victims with large loans they could not repay. Under the Obama-era regulation, if one could prove they were wronged by a secondary education institution, their loans were entirely forgiven. DeVos set in place a sliding
relief scale, one which offers full forgiveness to students who earn less than 50 percent compared to their peers. However, the more your earnings, the less likely you are to receive substantial loan forgiveness. Critics of DeVos have often noted her ties to for-profit colleges and loan companies. Rescinding protections for students victimized by said institutions does little to instill faith in the Secretary of Education. So how effective was Betsy DeVos in her first year as the head of the Department of Education? We’d say somewhere in the middle. DeVos is certainly unafraid to rock the boat, even if she herself falls overboard. Avoiding many of the controversies plaguing her colleagues is commendable, but she has accomplished little in terms of bettering our education system.
Looking Forward
Controller envy Tyler Anderson || Opinion Editor janderson49@murraystate.edu
“Overwatch” is currently one of the most played, streamed and viewed online multiplayer video games of this console generation. Since its release in May 2016, the first-person shooter juggernaut has amassed a following that dwarfs many of its rivals. The game’s developer, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., wasted no time in building an esports empire known as Overwatch League around the successful game. With a steady cash flow and burgeoning viewership, it appeared to be smooth sailing for the league as players participated in the first week of competitive play. However, one week is all it took for competition to give way to scandal. Overwatch League player Félix “xQc” Lengyel of the team Dallas Fuel was fined and suspended on Jan. 19 for directing homophobic remarks towards Austin “Muma” Wilmot of the Houston Outlaws. This is far from his first transgression against other “Overwatch” participants, but what makes this a particularly troubling offense is that Wilmot is openly gay. Many “Overwatch” enthusiasts are aghast that a grown man has been reprimanded for bad behavior. (How dare his actions have consequences,
indeed.) Hostility, racism and toxicity among gamers is simply par for the course in an industry dominated by straight men with so many complexes my apartment is jealous. As an avid “Overwatch” player myself, I can confirm the trite, playground insult of “that’s so gay” is still used freely. Does it necessarily hurt my feelings or cause me great emotional distress? No, not really, but it does not surprise me so many people are sticking up for Lengyel and defending his behavior. When it’s all said and done, perhaps it’s not entirely Lengyel’s fault. The culture surrounding the gaming industry has been anti-diversity since its birth. Women and people of color regularly find their identity under attack when they attempt to enjoy something as simple as a video game. Live chatting with other online players will validate my accusation in seconds if one has doubts. Immaturity still thrives, unfortunately. But I believe the time for coddling sensitive egos is over. Blizzard was quick to condemn Lengyel’s comments and reported his fine and suspension soon thereafter. With a firm hand and a simple public statement, the developer forwent a rambling response regarding their values and the importance of respecting everyone, and instead chose to swiftly denounce the behavior and dole
out appropriate consequences. Had Lengyel made death threats or more vile comments, I am confident Blizzard would have taken appropriate action. The rapid evolution of Blizzard’s reporting and ban system gives me faith that such behavior in the future will be dealt with in a similar, or harsher, manner. The public narrative concerning societal privilege and diversity is evolving, as is how we react to racist, homophobic and sexist banter. We don’t need a corporation to influence or define our culture’s social and political movements. The conversation is already evolving on its own from “give everyone the chance to defend their point of view” to “insulting a person’s existence and hindering the ability to live freely is wrong and is a non-defendable offense.” Competitions get heated, and some things can be said in the heat of the moment that may not fully represent a person’s character or values. This does not, however, excuse the behavior in question. I applaud Blizzard for dealing with the issue at hand quickly. The developer has saved itself from a nasty public relations debacle and made its position on harassment known. Other companies should take notice and stop providing a platform for immaturity and harmful behavior to thrive upon.
The News
News
Page 8
February 1, 2018
This week at Marshall County High School
Nick Bohanan/The News
Members of several local churches stood outside the entrances of the high school with signs to welcome students back.
Photo courtesy of the Red Cross
Gov. Matt Bevin held a special event on Friday, Jan. 26 and declared Sunday, Jan. 28 as a day of prayer in Kentucky.
Nick Bohanan/The News
Marshall County High School students were greeted with signs, balloons and flowers the first day back after the shooting.
Photos courtesy of the Red Cross
The Red Cross was called out immediately after the shooting to provide aid to the victims’ families and survivors.
February 6th:
MR. CHURCH
February 13th:
PRICELESS
February 20:
DESPICABLE ME 3
February 27:
THE MOUNTAIN BETWEE
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