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August 30, 2018 | Vol. 93, No. 2
Grenade blows up social media
NEWS: Interview with J.T. Payne
—Page 2
Elizabeth Erwin News Editor
SPORTS:
eerwin1@murraystate.edu
The haves and have nots, week 2 —Page 4
ESPN partnership —Page 5
FEATURES: Phi Kappa Phi —Page 7
Movie review
—Page 9
OPINION: A buffet of new rules
—Page 10
Getting the Business —Page 11
FUN FACT: The Murray State News was originally named The College News.
After the Murray State Greek life social suspension was lifted on Aug. 24, The News compared the updated social event policy with the 2017-2018 policy. The policy was reviewed over the summer by a designated Greek life social policy committee after Greek life was put on a social suspension on May 9. Vice President of Student Affairs Don Robertson said the policy review is not unique to Murray State but rather part of a nationwide trend to make the “safest environment possible” for
students. “We, like many other schools, felt like it was time to step back and put a pause on things, take a thorough look at our policies and see if there were changes that needed to occur, how do we enhance enforcement and decide what needed to be done,” Robertson said. The following are changes to the policy, which were not previously discussed, during a press conference held by Robertson and committee co-chairs Kathy Callahan, chair of the department of history and Tim Todd, dean of the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business on Aug. 24. During the conference, the
Autumn Brown/The News
addition of a software system for check-in and check-out procedures at social events was described as a new change to be implemented in the 2018-2019 school year. The updated policy stated the Office of Greek Life and Office of Student Life would be responsible for purchasing the software program. However, upon further inspection of the 2017-2018 Greek life social policy, it was discovered that a similar software was mentioned in the old policy. According to the 2017 policy under Guidelines for Social Events, “The Office of Greek Life and Division
see
GREEK, PAGE 2
Jenkins-Smith weighs in on the progress of Marshall case Elizabeth Erwin News Editor
eerwin1@murraystate.edu
How do those affected by a school shooting move on afterward? When does the time come for closure? Western Kentucky has seen two school shootings in the last 21 years. While the similarities between Heath and Marshall County high schools are undeniable, there is one clear difference: the length of the judicial process following the attacks. “In the Heath case, it was so different that he came in and pled guilty at the very first court hearing and took the maximum punishment... They didn’t have to go through all what we’re having to go through,”
Mark Blankenship, commonwealth attorney for the Marshall County case, said. “They were the luckiest prosecutors on Earth to get a guilty plea during the first hearing.” Missy Jenkins-Smith was one of the five students wounded during the Heath shooting. The injuries she sustained left her paralyzed from the chest down. “I remember [Michael Carneal’s] sentencing; that was the first court thing I had actually attended,” JenkinsSmith said. “I remember the date well. It was December the 16th of 1998. It was a little over a year or so after it happened.” On Dec. 1, 1997, Carneal opened fire on
Photo courtesy of Jenkins-Smith
students in a prayer circle at Heath High School in Paducah, Kentucky. Three students died and five were wounded. A little over a year later on Oct. 5, 1998, Carneal pleaded guilty but mentally ill to three counts of murder, five counts
see
MISSY, PAGE 3
Photo courtesy of The Murray Police Department
The WWII-era hand grenade was taken to the Murray Police Department.
Ashley Traylor Editor-in-Chief
atraylor@murraystate.edu
A man cleaning out a home on Tuesday, Aug. 28, found a World War II-era hand grenade and took it to the Murray Police Department. After the initial inspection, an MPD detective determined there was a possibility it could be a live device. The detective took the grenade to Renaissance Park, which is located across the street from the Murray Police Department at the corner of Fifth and Poplar streets. “It was a convenient location to try and set it away from where anybody was at the time,” Sgt. Brant Shutt of the Murray Police Department said. “ W e wanted to make sure there was no danger, no harm to anyone.” The regional bomb squad, which includes three explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) certified technicians, was called in to examine the grenade. “We’re what they call a regional team, so even though we’re all from the Paducah Police Department, we cover 13 counties in western Kentucky,” Detective Blake Quinn said. Once the bomb squad and the Kentucky State Police Hazardous Device Unit arrived on scene, Sgt. Chris Bolton, one of the certified technicians, “suited up” in the EOD suit, commonly
known as a bomb or blast suit, before entering the park to examine the device. After seeing the photos on TheNews.org of Bolton in the suit, many social media users questioned why he did not have gloves on. “When you put on gloves, you lose a little bit of dexterity in your hands and you also, more or less, lose the sense of touch,” Quinn said. “So, anytime you’re working with something such as a hand grenade, you want to have as much dexterity in your hands as possible. And if you are wearing gloves, it cuts down on that.” Upon approaching the grenade, Quinn said Bolton did a visual scan and then used a portable X-ray machine to X-ray the device. It was then deemed to be a live hand grenade. “That means, you pull the pin and you release that handle, it’s going to explode,” Shutt said. The bomb squad took the grenade to the Murray Police Department’s firing range to safely detonate it. Some of the nearby residents were asked to stay in their homes or evacuate as a precaution, and a few blocks surrounding the area were blocked to traffic for nearly an hour. No injuries occurred, but it generated a buzz in Murray. “It’s a first for me,” Shutt said. “I’m sure it has happened at some point, but this is the first that I can recall around here.”
M Page 2
GREEK From Page 1 of Student life shall purchase a software program for use of check-in and check out procedures.” Multiple sources have confirmed that the software was never purchased or implemented by the Office of Greek Life and Division of Student Life last year. According to the updated policy, the cost of the software will be covered by a “Greek Fee” of $10 per semester that will have to be paid by every member of each organization. “We are not really investing [financially in the new system],” Robertson said. “This $10 fee that is going to go toward the software and any other speakers, if that is not enough [the University] will certainly supplement that.” With a new Greek social event calendar being implemented, each organization can schedule up to six social events per semester. However, organizations will be unable to schedule their social events for consecutive
weekends. The maximum number of attendees will now be limited to the total chapter size multiplied by two. The 2017 calculation for attendees was the total chapter size multiplied by three. All social events will be limited to members of the Greek community, with the exception of a guest list that will include the names of up to 15 nonGreek Murray State students. This is a notable change from the previous policy that allowed any University student regardless of Greek-affiliation, to be on the guest list and attend these events. “There have been problems in the past,” Robertson said. Particularly there has been [problems] from non-Greek members, but also this should be activities for Greeks. That’s one reason you join a Greek organization.” Going along with attendees, the previous policy allowed for ten people not on the guest list to be added at the door of the event. The updated policy no longer permits this. The new all-Greek attendee policy will be enforced with the intro-
NEWS NEWS THE MUR R AY STATE
duction of university-issued Greek ID cards. Attendees for all social events must present their Greek ID along with another acceptable form of identification to confirm their Greek status along with their age. In order to enforce the new ID policies, each chapter that hosts a social event will be responsible for hiring one third-party security person. This security person is required to be licensed, bonded and insured as either an employee of the venue or a security company. The security person may also be an off-duty police or parole officer. Due to the addition of a hired security person, the minimum number of ‘entrance monitors’ for each event has been downsized to two people versus the previous requirement of three. Despite the downsizing of entrance monitors, all social event monitors will be required to complete an additional monitor training program. The previous policy did not require any specific training for event monitors. Monitors will now be limited to only active
members of the chapter. This differs from the 2017 policy wherein a maximum of two new associate probationary members could serve as monitors. Organizations will still be required to provide at least one non-alcoholic drink for all guests during the event, but the non-alcoholic option is no longer limited to water. The updated policy also states that chapters should “provide less-salty foods such as breads, meats, cheeses, vegetables, cookies, subs, pizza, brownies, fruit, and dips for guests.” The previous policy did not require any organization to provide these types of foods at their events. Chapters will no longer be required to provide plastic cups for attendees. However, glass bottles will still not be permitted into the event spaces. Attendees will be forbidden from bringing bags or backpacks into events. Previous coverage along with the full updated social event policy can be found on TheNews.org.
August 30, 2018
An inside look into Davies’ university contracts
CMU
MSU
23,000 students
10,000 students
Two Carnegie research classifications
No Carnegie research classifications
Annual salary of $415,000
Annual salary of $300,000
New, full-sized automobile for business and personal use (fuel, repairs and insurance at the expense of CMU)
Vehicle for business-related purposes only
All reasonable travel expenses and membership dues of organizations covered by CMU
President’s residence (furniture & decoration budget)
Daughter receives free tuition
President’s residence (some furniture included) This information was compiled by Paige Effinger, staff writer.
Payne reveals plans for presidency body as the Student Regent on the Board of Regents. On Aug. 24, The News sat down with Payne to discuss the new semester. Some answers have been lightly edited for clarity. What are your goals for the University?
Julie Boeker/The News
SGA president J.T. Payne sits down with The News for a one-on-one.
Destinee Marking Senior Writer dmarking@murraystate.edu
In March, Murray State students elected J.T. Payne
as their new Student Government Association president. A junior from Henderson County, Kentucky, Payne will also be responsible for representing the student
“I want the Board of Regents to be transparent. I want our University as a whole, student government included, to be transparent. We’ve got initiatives, we’ve got problems, we’ve got goals. We have to be sure the whole campus community knows about those initiatives, knows about
those problems, knows about those solutions. Once everybody knows, we can all work together to make things better.” Something on a lot of people’s minds right now is transparency. Are you able to provide any insight as to why students are not being provided with clearer updates on certain issues? “I think that our University is in a transitional period. Our Vice President of Enrollment Management is not here, we have an interim president, we have an interim athlet-
ic director… There’s a lot of change and sometimes things are lost in communication. I’m not making an excuse for anybody; something I have expressed both to the interim president and to the Board of Regents is that we have to be better at being direct about things and saying, ‘This is our policy. This is why we made a decision.’ I think students and the community will respect that.” As the chair of the Enrollment Management and Student Success committee, how can students that already attend Murray State help with
the process of increasing enrollment?
“The way students can help is very simple; go back to your high school, tell your brothers, tell your sisters, tell your friends… tell them how great your experience is here at Murray State… Once we get the whole community together doing that, that’s better than any marketing. Students are the key.”
Payne’s office is on the first floor of the Curris Center in the Center for Student Involvement. To listen to the full interview, visit TheNews.org.
News
August 30, 2018
MISSY From Page 1 Aug. 14 2:10 p.m. An unintentional vehicle fire was reported in the residential circle. No one was injured. Aug. 15 12:05 p.m. Caller reported a rape that occurred on Jan. 31, 2018 on campus in a residential college. Aug. 17 8:44 p.m. An accidental stove fire was reported at White Hall. No one was injured and no damage occurred.
Aug. 18 1:31 a.m. A person was reported to be intoxicated in the HC Franklin lobby. 2:16 a.m. A person was reported to be intoxicated on the lawn of Regents College. Aug. 26 5:28 p.m. Multiple items were reported to have been stolen from an unlocked vehicle in the Regents parking lot. Aug. 25 1:02 a.m. A rape was reported in a residential college.
The Police Beat is compiled with material provided by Public Safety and Emergency Management. Not all dispatched calls are listed.
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of attempted murder and first-degree burglary. Two months later, Carneal was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. With Carneal pleading guilty at the first hearing, families of the victims and the survivors didn’t have to worry about a lengthy trial. Unlike the Heath case, the Marshall County case is expected to go to trial, causing anguish and prolonging any chance of closure for those affected. “They’re frustrated,â€? Blankenship said. “They’d like to see closure. They’d like for this to get done‌ But there isn’t any quick way. This is a murder case and it involves a lot of other assault victims and it’s in a public setting - a school.â€? Gabriel Parker, the student accused in the Jan. 23 shooting at Marshall County High School was back in court Friday, Aug. 23 for a routine hearing. During the hearing, Parker’s defense attorneys requested a private meeting to ask for funding for an expert. The judge granted the defense’s request for a private hearing. The defense also moved to seal any records related to that motion. Parker’s attorney, Tom Griffiths said he has had a difficult time finding an expert witness because no one wants to be associated with the case. “I have been doing this for more than 20 years but I’ve never had an expert say ‘sure I will help, I’m interested’ and then when I told them what case it was they said ‘sorry, I’m no longer interested – I can’t
Page 3 help you,� Griffiths said. “And actually, we’ve had that with multiple folks because the level of notoriety of this case is so high that one expert was pretty blunt, He said ‘it could cost me my career,’ and that’s sobering. Because that’s an indication of not just the level of publicity here, which you would expect in Marshall County, but frankly the level of publicity all over.� Griffiths said the closer the expert is to Marshall County, the more likely it is that he or she won’t want to be associated with the case. With the judge sealing any records related to the motion, it will allow Griffiths to seek an expert without having to reveal the individual publicly. Blankenship said there is a reason the court proceedings will take time. “This is a really high profile, important case,� he said. Although JenkinsSmith didn’t have to endure a long trial, she did have to face her shooter in court and said it was no easy feat. “You don’t know how your emotions are going to be when that kind of thing happens,� JenkinsSmith said. “But, I remember the sentencing in ‘98 being very stressful. Addressing him in front of everybody was something personal.� Since being sentenced, Carneal has tried to appeal his guilty plea several times. He said he wasn’t mentally competent enough at the time of his original hearing to plead guilty. All of his appeal attempts thus far have proven unsuccessful, but they have made it more difficult for those affected by his actions to move on. “For the past 20 years, I didn’t realize all these appeals could pop up
and it would still be right there in front of my face,� Jenkins-Smith said. She attended one of Carneal’s appeal hearings in Paducah in 2008. “I attended with the parents of the girls who passed - pretty much everybody was there except some of the victims,� Jenkins-Smith said. “I just remember being very shaky. I even remember, I think I literally got sick; I felt like I had the flu. I had a temperature during the whole thing; it made me sick.� Carneal is currently serving life in prison but will be eligible for parole on Nov. 25, 2022 - 25 years after his sentence. Jenkins-Smith said those affected [in Marshall County] should be aware of what legalities could happen later on. “I’m hoping in the end they get peace from all of this soon and that it’s over with,� she said. “But just be aware that you never know what is going to pop up or what will happen.� Regardless, JenkinsSmith said it is too early in the court process to tell what will happen to Parker. “Whenever Michael was finally sentenced, it was over a year since [Heath shooting] happened,� she said. “It’s still early even though it feels like it should happen quicker.� Parker’s next court hearing is scheduled for March 8, 2019, nearly 14 months after the shooting. “In the case of Gabriel Parker, for someone to do something like this, they have a mental problem, and I hope that he gets the help he needs,� Jenkins-Smith said. “It’s going to be a lifelong battle for him just like it is for Michael.�
M
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NEWS SPORTS THE MUR R AY STATE
August 30, 2018
The Haves and the Have Nots The financial divide between state athletic departments
Part 2: Eastern Kentucky
Rosalyn Churchman /The News
Blake Sandlin Sports Editor
bsandlin1@murraystate.edu
The Have Nots The “have nots” comprise school athletic departments in the state who rely heav-
ily on funding from their respective university and are thereby subject to large budget cuts. These athletic departments – Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State, Murray State and Western Kentucky – do not subsidize their respective university, and while they may receive
some revenue from their athletic programs, are largely bolstered by the institution itself. Faced with a $25 million deficit, Eastern Kentucky was forced to make the most substantial cuts to its athletic department budget. The school slashed its bud-
get by more than $2 million, a nearly 22 percent cut from its 2017-18 budget. Encompassed within this $2 million reduction was the expulsion of EKU’s tennis programs, which accounted for $571,560 in the 2017-18 budget. This decision, along with the rest of EKU’s cuts,
was finalized on April 6, during which time Eastern’s men’s and women’s tennis teams had matches scheduled in Nashville. When members of the Budget Advisory committee began exploring potential avenues for cuts, it informed athletics it would
be required to cut two sports, and recommended cutting tennis. According to the committee’s Budget Advisory Report, the tennis teams were recommended because: 1. Two Kentucky compre-
see
SERIES, page 5
Sports
August 30, 2018
SERIES From Page 4 ahensives (Morehead State men’s and women’s team and Murray State’s men’s team) and several OVC peers have cut their tennis teams in recent years, thus reducing competition in the conference and increasing competition outside the conference. 2. There is a limited market for tennis in Kentucky and throughout the Midwest. 3. There has been less investment in Tennis than the other teams in recent years. 4. Tennis facilities are easily repurposed for other uses. EKU Athletic Director Stephen Lochmueller said EKU’s predominately international base played an additional role in the decision. “The rationale was that all of our men’s and women’s tennis players were from foreign countries, so they were international students,” Lochmueller said in a phone call with The News. “Two, so to speak, there wasn’t much of an alumni base there. Three, there was not much of a donor base. When compared to the other options we had inside of our athletic department, because we still had to be compliant with the OVC and the NCAA, and we had to take a look at gender equity and Title IX, so when we looked at that, those were obviously the ones that were recommended, so those were the ones that we moved forward on.” Raquel Montalvo, a senior tennis player on
EKU’s women’s tennis team, said the team had no knowledge that the programs were on the chopping block until the day before, when Lochmueller addressed the potential of the tennis team’s being a target for cuts. During the match, Montalvo said the team watched a live stream of the Board of Regents meeting helplessly, as the fate of their programs laid in the hands of University officials. Ultimately, the women’s tennis team responded resoundingly, not only winning their Friday match against Belmont, but going on to finish their conference season undefeated and winning the OVC tournament. “It was hard times until we won the championship, and hoping that they would change their minds,” Montalvo said. “In the end, the team handled it professionally.” The school is granting players on the tennis teams a full release to transfer. Montalvo said out of the five returning players, four of them were pursuing transfer options. If they choose not to, Eastern Kentucky will honor their athletic scholarship through their graduation. However, the timeliness of the cuts, coupled with the burdensome transfer process, made the decision difficult for athletes. “Since it was already so tight on time, almost summer break, some girls had a lot of difficulties while checking other universities,” Montalvo said. “I can see from them that it was the most difficult decision to make. Because we are still hoping that the program can be reinstated; once you
sign with another university, you cannot come back. Plus, they have to check if all their credits were transferable, and other stuff. All that during finals week and most of those days before leaving to their homes outside from the USA.” However, these cuts comprise just a share of the damage EKU’s athletic department has taken at the hands of budget shortfalls. Lochmueller reported that his department has been forced to cut nearly $3 million over the past 18 months, cutting with it a significant portion of essen-
“
Personnel has been one of the hardest cuts we’ve had to make because we’re not overstaffed – we’re understaffed. Stephen Lochmueller
tial staff and operational resources imperative to the functionality of the athletic department. According to the Budget Advisory Committee, the reduction was justified because the athletic department had previously increased their budget in 2014 in an unsuccessful effort to gain a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) bid into the Sun Belt Conference. The cuts to the athletic budget officially ended their pursuit of an FBS bid, and effectively returns their budget to prebid levels.
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Eastern Kentucky announced it would be cutting 153 full-time positions at the school. Among those, athletics will be cutting the following positions: both men’s and women’s tennis coaches and staffs, a senior office associate, a deputy athletic director, a director of basketball operations for men’s and women’s basketball, a sports performance director, program assistant, athletics administrative assistant and a life skills coach. “Personnel has been one of the hardest cuts we’ve had to make because we’re not overstaffed,” Lochmueller said. “We’re understaffed, that’s why we actually have to rely on some insourcing from other folks to come and help us with our game operations.” Despite the extensive amount of reduction to staff and programs, the athletic department still fell short of the 22 percent cut it was required to make. Thus, they were forced to undergo several revenue-generating measures in order to offset the remainder of the cuts. Lochmueller said at least a third of the proposed reductions were supplemented through future measures beginning in 2021, like adding a guaranteed football game every year, two additional guaranteed basketball games and exploring the potential for guaranteed games in other sports. “We’re going to have to require some of our other programs to start picking up some games like softball, baseball, volleyball, wherever we might have the opportunity to pick up some nice revenue,” Lochmueller said. “Those revenues range anywhere from 5,000 dollars a game, all the way up to half a million for a guaranteed football game.” The shortfall has prompted athletics to adopt a more frugal approach to its operations, beginning with how games are scheduled for individual teams. Cuts to expenditures in the department will affect game scheduling. Lochmueller said over the next two years athletics will shift toward adopting an increasingly regional approach to scheduling in an attempt to avoid using airlines for travel to and from games.
Page 5
OVC, ESPN announces new partnership Gage Johnson Senior writer gjohnson17@murraystate.edu
The OVC announced an extension of its media rights agreement with ESPN on Wednesday, which will create unprecedented streaming options on ESPN’s new platform. Over 600 conference games will now be aired on the new subscription service ESPN+. The deal will effectively phase out conference sports coverage on OVC Digital Network, the conference’s free service. The subscription will charge viewers $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year. The platform, in addition to streaming games, will also feature original content and shows. ESPN+ will begin coverage with two OVC football games on Thursday, Aug. 30, including Murray State’s matchup with Southern IllinoisCarbondale. Thirty-six OVC football games will air on the new subscription service during the season, while eight other football “games of the week” will be featured on ESPN3. Although some have contested the move to a subscription-based platform, Murray State football Head Coach Mitch Stewart applauded the
move by the league. “The biggest thing I’ve seen is just from a recruiting standpoint, you know,” Stewart said. “I think that’s a huge deal when you have parents of recruits ask you, ‘Hey, how am I going to get to see my son play?’, and you can tell them, ‘Hey, our conference is partnered with ESPN.’ Whether it’s on TV this week, whether it’s on the computer, whatever. Everybody knows ESPN; it’s a household name. I think it does nothing but help the OVC.” Conference soccer and volleyball will continue to see their regular slot on the OVC Digital Network until its respective regular season championship and conference championship game. “The OVC membership is delighted to be able to extend our long-standing partnership with ESPN and to expand our level of exposure with ESPN+ during its inaugural year,” OVC Commissioner, Beth DeBauche said. “ESPN+ is an innovative initiative that will permit the OVC to not only serve its current fanbase, but expand its reach, as sports fans in general will be able to view our exciting contests and learn more about the storied history of the league.”
Photo courtesy of ESPN.com
Sports
Page 6
August 30, 2018
Finally Football: Racers prepare for Salukis Keith Jacob Staff writer rjacob@murraystate.edu The summer heat is slowly beginning to dissipate and classes are well underway on campus. This can only mean one thing: Murray State football is ready to kick off the new season. The Racers are coming off a 3-8 season where disappointment was a common motif. This fall, Head Coach Mitch Stewart hopes to flip the script on the Racers’ recent woes by implementing a few changes to the program. Where there have been many doubts about the next Racer football season, there is one shining beacon of hope: senior quarterback Drew Anderson. Anderson was thrust into the Racer spotlight the minute he stepped onto campus as a transfer athlete, with
rumors surrounding his possible role as QB1 on the Racer depth chart. Although Stewart has been impressed with Anderson in workouts in the previous weeks, he is still reluctant to name his starting quarterback. “We’ll see about 5:59 or so we’ll make that decision,” Stewart said. “Whoever trots out onto the field, that’ll be our decision at quarterback.” Murray State has made a number of additions to the coaching staff in the offseason including offensive coordinator Nick Coleman. Coleman formerly coached quarterbacks at fellow OVC school Tennessee Tech and plans to take the reins and run the Racers to success. In addition to the Racer newcomers, Stewart has returned wide receivers coach Carson Hunter, placing him with the run-
ning back corps as the Racers look to make drastic improvements to their running game. Hunter has worked with his players throughout the spring and into the summer, including sophomore running back D.J. Penick, who will serve a vital role in the run game for Hunter and the Racers, as they start the season against SIU-Carbondale. Stewart expects Penick to thrive with the running backs that have been placed around him this season. Penick ran for 431 yards and scored three touchdowns in his freshman campaign. “I think [Penick’s] development after last year going through all of the ups and downs and the things that happened, as well as last year’s run game are going to help him this year,” Stewart said. “Plus, obviously some of the guys and the depth we have at
that position now will help him as well.” The Racer defense will be taking a bigger hit this season than in years past as the void left by former Racer defensive back D’Montre Wade will be felt throughout the secondary. Stewart sees the void as a great chance for his players to earn their opportunity. “Somebody’s gotta step up,” Stewart said. “Anytime you lose guys to graduation and those types of things, it’s just a great opportunity, that’s what it is. It’s not a challenge, it’s not an issue, it’s not a problem
and it’s not a concern. It’s just a great opportunity for somebody else to step into that leading role.” Murray State hasn’t seen a matchup with SIUCarbondale since the 2016 season when the Salukis hosted a 50-17 rout of the Racers. Stewart is going into the Saluki matchup this season with more optimism and experience than in previous seasons. “I think they’re a good mix of size and speed,” Stewart said. “Two years ago, I went into that game thinking it’s a Missouri
Valley team and size wise that was going to be our biggest deficiency, but as we got into that first quarter that didn’t really take me by surprise as much as how much speed they had.” SIU-Carbondale is coming off a similar experience to the Racers in 2017, posting a 4-7 overall record. Both teams are poised with senior quarterbacks who will be looking to make a name for themselves come first snap Thursday night. Murray State will host its season opener at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30 at Roy Stewart Stadium.
Blake Sandlin/The News
Senior quarterback Shuler Bentley takes a snap in Monday’s practice. Bentley is one of two quarterbacks competing for a starting spot.
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Features
August 30, 2018
Page 7
Phi Kappa Phi celebrates successes Bridgette McAuliffe Staff Writer
bmcauliffe@murraystate.edu
The Murray State chapter of Phi Kappa Phi honor society celebrated several achievements by students and faculty. Murray State alumna and Phi Kappa Phi member Rachel Wood was honored as one of 51 members to receive a $5,000 fellowship for graduate study. “I am extremely grateful for receiving a fellowship from Phi Kappa Phi,” Wood said. “This organization has created a wonderful community of learners—both at Murray State and nationally—and I am proud to represent them through this award.” Bill Mulligan, professor of history and president of Murray State’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, was elected as division III vice president of Phi Kappa Phi during the organization’s biennial convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, according to a press release. “I was honored to be nominated for a divisional vice presidency and humbled to be elected,” Mulligan said. “Phi Kappa Phi exists to honor and encourage academic excellence.
Central to that mission are strong chapters. I look forward to working with chapters at our peer schools to build stronger chapters across the country so we can recognize more students and encourage and assist them toward success.” Mulligan said Murray State’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi has been around for 11 years, but the national organization was founded in 1897, making it the oldest honor society for all collegiate disciplines. The organization is also noted as one of the most selective of its kind. Melony Shemberger, vice president of Murray State’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi and associate professor of journalism and mass communications, said acceptance into the organization is by invitation only. “Invitations are issued to the top 7.5 percent of juniors, the top 10 percent of seniors and the top 10 percent of graduate students,” Shemberger said. Shemberger is the first Murray State member to serve on the organization’s national board. She ended her second year as board director, where she chaired the advisory council for Forum, the organization’s national magazine, according to
the press release. Chapters of this society strive to live by their motto of, “Let the love of learning rule humanity.” “Our chapter tries to meet a couple of times a semester, and do an activity each semester,” Shemberger said. “Fall of last year we did a GRE test prep. We try not to overload our members, but we do enough to promote our mission, which is to advance the love of learning and anything
we do, that needs to be inherent in those activities.” The chapter also hosts a book drive each spring, collecting children’s books to donate to local elementary schools. Mulligan said this past spring, one of the student vice presidents was able to go with the faculty to deliver the books. “The kids were climbing all over them and thanking them, and you could tell it really meant
a lot to the students,” Mulligan said. Shemberger and Mulligan said honor societies like Phi Kappa Phi provide long-term, tangible benefits for students. “I know from being on the hiring end at my old job, I looked for things like honors societies and if they did belong to Phi Kappa Phi, I regarded their application a little more highly than other applicants,” Shemberger
said. “There are other advantages to being a member and you get to be a part of a community that promotes academic excellence.” She said she loves being a part of new learning experiences and promoting scholarly ideas. “When you achieve this high level of academic excellence, it’s something to be embraced and celebrated,” Shemberger said.
Photo courtesy of Melony Shemberger
Murray State’s chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society, 302, inducted new members in Wrather Auditorium on April 17, 2018.
This one’s for the One Direction fans Sara Howell
Features Editor showell6@murraystate.edu
I have always been into boy bands. Growing up, my sisters and I lived and breathed N’SYNC. It only made sense that when I discovered One Direction in 2011, I instantly became a fan. I remember calling my friend Beth after I watched the music video for “What Makes You Beautiful” and totally fangirling. We were suckers for the accents and dreamy smiles. We listened to them on repeat and talked everyone’s ears off about them.
I was convinced I was going to marry Harry Styles; I low-key still am hopeful. Eventually, Beth and I got the chance to see them in concert. They opened up for Big Time Rush at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. I was not the biggest fan of BTR but I did (and still do) love Carlos Pena so it was still exciting to see them. I had a total fangirl moment when my tweet got featured on the screen before the show began. It was such an exhilarating
and fun night that I’ll never forget. The next time I saw them was with my best friend and now roommate, Madison. We rode to her house after school to get ready and gush about the show. One Direction headlined this one and 5 Seconds of Summer opened for them. Being a huge fan of 5SOS, I was thrilled to see them too. We danced and sang the night away. Not only was One Direction better the second time around,
but this concert helped me and Madison to become better friends. It was definitely a good bonding moment. When Zayn left the band I was distraught; I was even more upset when they broke up altogether. Thinking of it now, I am happy they broke up and were all able to find their own sound. While I am a fan of them all, I am the biggest fan of Harry Styles. He is such a talented and inspiring artist. Madison and I saw him in Nashville at the Ryman
Auditorium and it was life changing. The balance between performing and interacting with the crowd was perfect. He was happy, energetic and free. He seemed to captivate the audience with his radiating positive energy. It was fun seeing him in One Direction but it was mesmerizing seeing him in his own element. This band has not only given me music to jam to, but lifelong friendships and memories.
Features
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August 30, 2018
Easter eggs in Infinity War Grant Dillard Staff Writer gdillard@murraystate.edu “Avengers: Infinity War” was one of the best films to be released this summer. As many times as audiences went back to re-watch this film in theaters, they still may not have caught every detail on screen. In honor of the film’s release on DVD and Blu-Ray, here is a handful of moments shown in special features that viewers may not have noticed during their first or second viewings. A COLLECTION OF COOL CAMEOS Marvel fans will immediately point out Stan Lee’s cameo appearance as the bus driver during the introductory scene for SpiderMan but there are also a few small cameos that you may not have noticed. During the opening scene when the distress signal is sent from the ship holding the remainder of Asgard’s people, the voice of the citizen giving the signal is Kenneth
Branagh, who directed the first “Thor” film. Stephen McFeely, screenwriter for “Avengers: Infinity War”, “Captain America: Civil War” and “Thor: The Dark World”, appears as Secretary Ross’ aide during the scene where Ross interrogates Rhodey about the location of Vision. ARRESTED APPEARANCE During the scene where Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax and Mantis travel to Knowhere to stop Thanos from obtaining the Reality Stone from The Collector, a blue-painted Tobias Fünke from the series “Arrested Development” can be spotted in a glass container. “Infinity War” directors Joe and Anthony Russo previously directed episodes for many TV shows including “Arrested Development.” DEATH HAS A SHADOW Red Skull’s appearance on Vormir was definitely one of the most shocking moments of the film.
Even more interesting is his black hooded cloak, which looks very similar in design to that of Lady Death. In the Infinity Gauntlet comic storyline, she was the motivation for Thanos to wipe out half the universe. Even though Lady Death is not incorporated into the film, it is still nice that it includes a visual reference to her. HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF MUSICALLY In the scene where Tony Stark gets a call from Pepper Potts while onboard the Q-Ship, the musical score is the same as in the scene from “Captain America: The First Avenger” where Captain America talks to Peggy Carter before crashing the plane into the ice. This is quite poetic, as both scenes are very similar; both feature a main hero talking to their love interest for possibly the last time while onboard an aircraft.
Graphic courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
SNEAKY PHOTOGRAPHY When Scarlet Witch and Vision are in Scotland they caught a newscast of the recent attack on New York, which included the news of Tony Stark going missing. The image used for Stark is actually a photo taken of Robert Downey Jr. during a press event for last year’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” While some may consider this lazy, it also highlights how similar Stark is to the real Robert Downey Jr.
FORESHADOWING FATE KIMMEL CALLBACK Early in the film in the scene where Doctor Strange explains to Tony Stark that he has been tasked to protect the Time Stone, Stark jokingly asks what Strange’s job is besides “making balloon animals.” While that alone is a funny one-liner, it could also be a reference to a sketch on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” which features Doctor Strange as a birthday magician making balloon animals.
Shortly before the battle of Wakanda, Proxima Midnight, one of the members of Thanos’ Black Order, demands that the heroes turn over the Mind Stone. Black Panther responds by saying that “Thanos will have nothing but dust and blood.” A witty retort for sure, but it unfortunately comes true in a rather gruesome way when half of humanity turns to dust as a result of Thanos completing his task.
WHAT MURRAY STATE IS WATCHING Bridgette McAuliffe Staff writer bmcauliffe@murraystate.edu
The Punisher Mobsters killed Frank Castle, the Punisher’s family and he is seeking revenge on anyone caught doing wrong. “It instills a sense of justice that cannot be put out there by the system, sort of like vigilante justice,” Freeman said.
Dylan Freeman, sophomore from Calvert City, Kentucky,
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
America’s Got Talent
She loves the “knee-slapping” humor of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Knight said her favorite act on the current America’s Got Talent season is Duo Transcend, a trapeze act.
“I don’t think that kind of physical comedy is very common any more, so it’s really cool,” Martinez said.
“In the judge cut auditions, the dude actually dropped the girl,” Knight said. “They did the trick again in the quarter finals.”
Her favorite episode was in season one of the show, when Kimmy’s best friend was about to get divorced.
Yasmine Martinez, senior from Paducah, Kentucky
Julie Knight, senior from Catawissa, Missouri Rosalyn Churchman/The News
Features
August 30, 2018
Page 9
“The Meg” falls flat to viewers Grant Dillard Staff Writer gdillard@murraystate.edu Shark movies are a dime a dozen these days. Every year, more movies featuring a killer shark come out, whether by theatrical release or straight to DVD or TV. “The Meg”, based on the novel Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror is just another shark movie to add to the lineup. Though it does have one redeeming factor: Jason Statham. Jonas Taylor (Statham) is a rescue diver who is tasked with saving a group of scientists trapped in a submarine. He comes close to saving the last survivor, but Taylor is ultimately forced to leave him behind
when a giant shark attacks the submarine and causes it to explode. Five years later, while on an expedition into a deep section of the Mariana Trench, three members of an underwater facility known as Mana One are attacked by the same giant shark, Megalodon. In an effort to save the lives of the three crewmembers, Mana One recruits Taylor for a rescue mission which places him face to face with the shark that attacked him years ago. The film’s biggest weakness is its tone. This could have been either a serious survival film with nail-biting suspense and tension like “Jaws,” or it could have gone for the more tongue-in-cheek B-movie
style that other movies like “Sharknado” have embraced. The film tries to have it both ways tonally, which ultimately does not work in its favor. The best thing the film has going for it is Statham. With such films under his belt as “Transporter” and “The Expendables” series, as well as the later “Fast and Furious” sequels, he has garnered a reputation as one of the best action stars of our time. Not only is Statham incredible when it comes to the action and stunt work, but he also has a natural likability which makes his character in this film easy to root for. If any other actor was chosen for the lead role, the film would have been much worse.
Another standout is Rainn Wilson as Jack Morris, the CEO of Mana One. Though Morris is the archetypical selfish guy who only cares about money even with the dangerous events going on, Wilson’s performance adds more levity to an otherwise one-dimensional character. Those familiar with his role as Dwight from “The Office” know that Wilson is great when it comes to comedy, but he is quite good in dramatic roles as well. There is a scene in which he gives a speech to the crew of Mana One, apologizing for all the death and destruction that has taken place. In this scene his delivery is very strong and almost touching. Compared to Statham
and Wilson, the rest of the cast does not stand out. The film has a handful of talented actors, but it unfortunately does not give their characters the right amount of development for audiences to get invested in them. As a result, scenes with these characters that should build suspense for the audience seem to fall flat. Suyin Zhang (Li Bingbing) is the only other supporting character that the film attempts to give some development to, but her major purpose in the film is to serve as a potential love interest for Taylor. Cliff Curtis, Robert Taylor and Masi Oka all do decent work given the material they have, but it
is hard to see their characters as anything other than possible victims for the shark to consume. Even Ruby Rose, who has proven to be quite talented in such hits as “xXx: Return of Xander Cage” and “John Wick Chapter 2” seems to lack any energy or screen presence in this film. “The Meg” is not the worst movie of the year, but it just is not as good as it could have been. Along with its lackluster supporting cast, the film doesn’t really succeed as either a survival film or a cheesy killer shark movie. In the end, Statham is the glue that holds “The Meg” together, resulting in a decent but forgettable shark movie that is worth seeing at least once.
Seven ways to get involved on campus Amy Turner Staff Writer aturner32@murraystate.edu
ty for social bonding, but each group has a philanthropic aspect as well.
It can be hard to get back into the swing of things when starting off the new semester. One of the best ways to get your life back on track is to get involved on campus. Getting involved helps to enrich the college experience by introducing students to new friends and social groups. Here are some ways to experience new opportunities and challenges.
CLUBS WITHIN YOUR MAJOR
GREEK LIFE Getting involved on campus can come in various forms. One of the most common ways involves rushing a sorority or fraternity. Each group has an individual identity and can help form friendships for life. Not only does Greek life offer a unique opportuni-
Another way to get involved on campus is through clubs and employment opportunities. Almost every major has an associated club offering students the ability to practice their skills and network with professionals in the field. From pre-vet to journalism, there are hundreds of student organizations and clubs to get involved. CAMPUS MINISTRIES/ RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS Several campus ministries and religious organizations on campus that are always host events and recruit students. These groups meet at
various times throughout the week to serve the religious community of students on campus. RESIDENTIAL COLLEGES These colleges put on events and programing every week. The Residential Advising staff of each college help to create and run social and educational programs to reduce stress and bring joy to residents’ lives. Each residential college also offers students a chance to get involved through RCC. These events can range from movie nights to pet therapy. Be on the lookout for posters and flyers throughout your residential college for information on these events. STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION This is a great way
to stay informed on all things campus-related, as well as get your opinion heard. There are several opportunities to get involved, the main one being the weekly senate meetings on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in the Barkley Room. There are currently vacant positions on the senate and applications can be found online.
ON CAMPUS JOBS There are always jobs to be found across campus. Working on campus guarantees that your work schedule will revolve around your class schedule. It also provides less hours to allow student workers to place a large emphasis on
school work over a job. INTRAMURALS
Intramural sports are a way to get involved through several different organizations. Residential colleges, clubs, campus ministries and various other groups compete in friendly sports games, like soccer and softball.
Graphic courtesy of Pixabay
M
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NEWS OPINION THE MUR R AY STATE
August 30, 2018
Our View
A BUFFET OF NEW RULES The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board Greek life is under attack. In the middle of national Greek life reform, it seems as though university administrations are trying to slowly eliminate Greek life from college campuses rather than bring change to the culture. The future of fraternities and sororities are being debated across the nation. Opponents of Greek life claim these organizations do more harm than good and connote “sexual assault” and “hazing” with fraternities and sororities. Yes, these incidents have occured on college campuses, and no, it should not be tolerated. But we must defend Greek life. The morals and standards of these organizations shape their members to be servant-hearted leaders of their communities both during and after college. Murray State’s Greek life came under fire weeks after a non-Murray State student was found dead at a fraternity house. The death resulted in bad publicity for Greek life, but his death was not at the fault of Murray State’s fraternities. All Greek activi-
ties for both sororities and fraternities were suspended May 9. The social event policy was reviewed by a committee of faculty, staff, alumni and one student representative from each of the three Greek governing bodies to revise the social event policy to make it a “safer environment.” The committee looked at Florida State University, Penn State University and Louisiana State University’s updated social event policies as inspiration for our own. But it is important to remember that Murray State is not as big as Florida State, Penn State or LSU. Our Greek life enrollment is not even half of theirs. From recruitment processes to social events, Greek life is drastically different at larger schools. Many changes have been implemented to the social event policy, but it has yet to be determined if these revisions will cultivate a safer community. The committee “implemented” some rules that were already in the policy. So why are they just now
giving Greeks the resources to adhere to the policies? In the updated policy, the Greek life office will purchase a software system, paid for by Greek students, for check-in and check-out at social events. This same system was in the 2017 policy, but the resources were never given to these organizations in order to follow the rules. The University was putting on a front. If they wanted Greeks to be safe, the University should have provided the “required” software to show they were serious. The fault does not fall on Greek life’s shoulders, but rather the backs of the University’s leadership. Social events will be more exclusive and limited in size. Previously, Greeks could have a guest list equivalent to three times the chapter total, but now it can only be double the chapter size. Each Greek attending the social event must have their newly-issued Greek ID to prove their Greek status. Luckily for members of the Greek community, now when someone asks you to present
three forms of ID, you’ll be able to present your license, Murray State ID and Greek ID. Now if non-Greek students want to attend a social event, they will have to take it to another part of the community, further from campus. Why does this matter? When social events occur close to campus, it is in a contained area. The Murray State Police Department closely monitors the roads to make sure students are getting to and from events safely. If these “events” are moved further from campus, it could potentially cause more danger for the community by leading to increased drinking and driving. Another “necessary” addition to the policy is organizations must provide “less-salty foods such as breads, meats, cheeses, vegetables, cookies, subs, pizza, brownies, fruit and dips for guests.” Has a party turned into brunch? Should you trust food that is sitting out at a fraternity party? The idea behind this rule is students have food to snack on if they
see
BUFFET, PAGE 11
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Opinion
August 30, 2018
CHEERS & JEERS BUFFET From Page 10 choose to drink, but we must also consider how we are told to be careful if someone gives us a drink, alcoholic or not. Shouldn’t we be mindful of what we are eating, too? “Funny” brownies aren’t salty. The updated policy also states Greeks must hire security personnel, but outside of qualifications for that person, the policy does not state who can or cannot be hired to secure the social event. If security is up to the discretion of the chapter, how does the University know this person is going to take security seriously? In theory, this is a great addition to the policy, but it is a rule that needs to be regulated and not open to interpretation. Greek life at Murray State is a community. It is brothers and sisters who have each others’ backs. They are a support system for one another. They are champions of one another. Few schools can say they have the special Greek commu-
nity bond like Murray State. We must preserve Greek life on Murray State’s campus. Members who are Greek affiliated are student leaders on and off campus. They are students who devote their time to recruit high school students to attend Murray State. They are students who serve as the hands and feet of Murray State and the Murray community. It is these students who are giving back to national and local philanthropies. It is these students who have the highest grade point averages across campus. It is fraternity and sorority members who pour the most time and work into Murray State. If the University continues to take away from Greek life, it will hurt Murray State. We need to remember all the positive attributes of Greek life and promote these. Rather than associating Greek life with alcohol, hazing and social events, let’s revert the national conversation about Greek life to service, philanthropy, academics, brotherhood and sisterhood. In the end, that is what Greek life is about.
Savanna Rininger/The News
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Cheers to... Labor Day weekend Even though we’re only three weeks deep into the semester, the three day weekend couldn’t be timed more perfectly.
Jeers to... Professors who give homework over Labor Day weekend This is your break too, so why give yourself and students extra work?
Contributer’s Column
Getting the business Robert Valentine Contributing Writer
rvalentine@murraystate.edu
Murray State teaches
business, yet Murray State is not really a business at all. We think a lot about business these days. Look at these examples: In Kentucky, the governor wants to run the State more like a business. Like any good business man who finds himself in arrears, the governor has to cut expenditures. Very reasonable, considering that the legislature will not increase taxes. In America, President Trump—allegedly an experienced businessman— seeks to run the nation like a freewheeling bargain hunter. He has cut his revenue to attract people, but has offered no new products for his buyers. Very unbusinesslike. Then, there’s Murray State. Are we a business, too? We take in money, and we spend money. We have employees, and they produce. We sell food, housing, tickets to athletic events— we even have a division of marketing and branding. We look a lot like a business. Sadly, for all those peo-
ple who believe that a tough-minded, business-savvy boss can make more with less, a government is not a business. Look at the reality of the thing. First, consider that a business usually exists for profit—not solely, but without a profit the business will cease to exist. Profit for a business can go into reserves, higher salaries and wages, business expansion or obscene bonuses. Neither governments nor their departments have profit, because all their financial resources don’t really belong to them. “Profit” for a government has to go back to the taxpayers. Whether it is spent on a massive campaign to renew the infrastructure or reduced taxes, governments can’t get rich. Look at Washington: it’s broke and has been for decades. Second, a business sells things. Whether it is a product (jet planes or beer) or a service (pest control or election fixing), you give the business money, and it gives you something you want. If you don’t want it, you don’t pay for it, and you don’t get it. Government, on the
other hand, has nothing to buy. You pay taxes, but not for a specific good or service. You can’t withhold your taxes because you have no kids in the schools. Government can even do with your tax money that which you violently oppose. No, a government is not a business. Businesses have customers, and customers can go somewhere else if the business doesn’t satisfy them. Governments have citizens. You can’t change your government without moving, but you can alter some of its decisions at the ballot box. Usually, it’s too late. Finally, businesses can go broke. When they do, it’s because of bad luck (flood damage, divorce), bad management (crooked bookkeeper) or a changing economy (Who makes manual typewriters?). When a government can no longer sustain itself, the scope of harm far exceeds mere bankruptcy. Many will suffer and some may die. It may sometimes result from bad luck, but it always results from bad management. It’s called “leadership” at that level, but it’s just as harmful. Let’s agree: no govern-
ment can be a business. Likewise, the University is not a business. It does not sell education; it provides a chance to acquire one. It can be made more efficient but, like a government, it really has no customers. It doesn’t produce things; it produces understanding. It needs money, but it runs on hope, ambition, dedication and hard work. Its customers don’t own something they bought; they become someone they will be. A university serves the world. Its impact can reach around the globe and far into the future. A university is a nursery for dreams; dreams of individuals and hopes for a nation. The profit is not in dollars, and the product may not be realized for decades. Universities don’t have managers; they have leaders. The real owners are the people who make it work: students, faculty and citizens. So let us all try to do what we do better, with less waste and more progress, but let’s not imagine that everything is a business. We’re already too far down that dead end street. Let’s wake up and create the dream.
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News
August 30, 2018