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September 13, 2018 | Vol. 93, No. 4

Meet your Interim President Destinee Marking Senior writer

dmarking@murraystate.edu

Interim President Bob Jackson believes Murray State’s best days are ahead... but who is he?

A 1985 graduate of Murray State, Jackson took over as Interim President on Aug. 16.

The News sat down with Jackson to discuss his history at Murray State and what he hopes to accomplish during his presidency.

Early life and family Jackson grew up in Magnolia, Kentucky, which is a fact he said most people don’t know about him.

“Most people think I grew up [in Murray] because I’ve been here so long,” Jackson said.

“I’ve done so many things here.”

In the fall of 1981, at 19 years old, Jackson moved from his hometown to attend Murray State. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance.

“Of all the schools I looked at, big and small, private and public, this was just the perfect fit,” Jackson said.

Since the 1980s, Jackson said a lot has changed,

but Murray State’s core characteristics are still here.

“The look and design and feel of campus has changed,” Jackson said.

“We haven’t lost the attributes of the personal touch, student-centered approach, caring worldclass faculty, small classes… This place is different. It really is and I’ve been at big universities and small colleges, and this place is different. I suspect that’s why others came here too.”

Jackson’s wife, Karen, also graduated from Murray State. After graduation, Jackson and his wife put roots down in Murray, raising their two children here.

Though, Jackson said he did not initially see himself staying in Murray and raising his family. He said he has had opportunities to leave but he has not taken them.

“We love it here,” Jackson said. “It’s a great place to live. The quality of life is extremely good. It’s a wonderful caring community just like the university.”

Now, their son works as an attorney in Lexington and their daughter works in communications in Washington, D.C. Jackson said he and his wife enjoy partaking in campus activities in their free time.

“Living in a college town provides s o m e unique opportunities, so we try to take

advantage of all that,” Jackson said.

Life before presidency After graduating college, Jackson worked many different jobs.

Among his corporate jobs, he worked in finance, investment banking and financial advising.

Jackson also served as

Kentucky’s 1st District state senator from 19972004.

“That’s a tough duty,” Jackson said. “When you serve in the legislature in this part of the state, that’s a tough duty, so I admire all of my former colleagues and current colleagues who do that service. It’s important to Murray State. It’s important to this region.”

Following his work in

the state senate, Jackson shifted his focus to Murray State. Since 2004, he has served Murray State in a number of different ways including the senior adviser to the University for see

JACKSON, page 3

Rebecca Mosella/The News

Interim President Bob Jackson met with the staff of The Murray State News for an interview.

NEWS: RACERS TAKE THE WHEEL WITH ENROLLMENT EFFORT

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SPORTS: MEET THE MILKMAN

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FEATURES: GRADUATE STUDENT SEES A NEW SIDE OF AGRICULTURE

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OPINION: DRAW ON LOVE, NOT HATE

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NEWS NEWS THE MUR R AY STATE

September 13, 2018

Slur scrawled on wall of Fine Arts Elizabeth Erwin News Editor

eerwin1@murraystate.edu

When a slur is written on a wall and then painted over later in the day, does it still matter?

On Friday, Sept. 7 the words “F--k Islam” were discovered on the exterior wall of the Fine Arts building. Upon discovery, University officials were notified.

At 1:20 p.m. Friday, the incident was reported to the Murray State Police Department, according to Murray State’s Crime and Fire Log. By the end of the day, the slur was painted over

by Facilities Management.

However, the slur was on the wall for two days before anyone reported it.

The incident is reported to have occured at 8:00

a.m. on Wednesday, Sept.

5, according to Murray State’s Crime and Fire Log. Interim President Bob Jackson said he was made aware of the incident and he believes it was an isolated case.

“I’ve been around [Murray] a long time, and I’ve not ever sensed any major issues on this campus in my tenure,” Jackson said. “I think it’s very isolated, there’s no place for that at all.”

Jackson said students should strive to understand one another more.

“The world would be a much better place if we understood each other just a little bit better,” Jackson said. “That someone who did that is ignorant of others and others’ beliefs.”

Student Government Association President J.T. Payne was not aware of

the incident, but he said students can combat ignorant behavior by leading by example.

“When you see things happening, don’t laugh at it,” Payne said. “Sometimes we make jokes that may not be appropriate, and it’s important that we have people that are willing to diplomatically say ‘that’s not right, we can’t say things like that - we shouldn’t say things like that’ because we’ve got to create an environment that everyone feels welcome and comfortable being a student here.”

The case remains open.

“There are no suspects in custody at this time regarding this incident,” according to a statement from University officials.

“Those with information are encouraged to contact the Murray State Police

“F--k Islam” was written on the exterior of the Fine Arts building. The photo of the slur has been edited for decency.

Department. This incident is not reflective of our diverse campus community and does not align with our principles of respect and inclusion for all. Individuals who need assistance as a result of this incident may contact University Counseling Services at 270-809-6851.”

This is not the only recent graffiti case to affect Murray State’s campus. On Sunday, Sept. 9 at 3:53 a.m. graffiti on the foot bridge over Chestnut Street was reported to Murray State Police, according to Murray State’s Crime and Fire Log. The incident was reported to have occured at 12:30 a.m. before police were notified. The case remains open but there is no clear connection between the two incidents.

10:35AM Murray State Police received a call about a theft at 15th and Valentine streets. According to the call log, an investigation into the theft of the stop sign at the intersection is ongoing.

2:50PM Someone reported harassing communications on Aug. 27 at White College.

The caller said they were receiving unwanted emails and prank deliveries.

The case remains open.

12:30AM A subject was arrested on campus in a residential facility for violating a protective order.

9:20PM Criminal mischief was reported in HC Franklin Hall after wall decorations were damaged.

9:40PM A subject was arrested at the Fivestar Food Mart after a traffic stop for driving under the influence, failure to illuminate headlamps, failure to produce insurance, possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a prescription controlled substance that was not in the proper container.

8:00AM A rear wiper was damaged on a vehicle in the parking lot outside of Regents Hall.

1:10PM Graffiti was reported on the Fine Arts exterior wall.

8:00PM Indecent exposure was reported in College Courts after a subject exposed his genitals to another individual.

3:53AM Graffiti was reported on the foot bridge over Chestnut Street.

Julie Boeker/The News

The Police Beat is compiled from the Murray State University Police Department’s Crime and Fire Log. For the complete list of dispatched calls visit www.TheNews.org.

Colton Colglazier/The News

News

September 13, 2018

JACKSON From Page 1 state and federal governmental relations and as the president and chief executive officer of the Murray State University Foundation.

From 2006 to 2013, Jackson was the director of a major fundraising campaign at Murray State, which raised more than $71.7 million.

In 2014 and 2015, he co-chaired a committee to create a strategic enrollment plan in order for Murray State to become a university of choice.

Stepping into presidency Jackson was named interim university president

in August following Bob Davies’ departure.

Even before he entered the role of interim, Jackson said it is his goal to leave any of his positions better off than when he started.

“Anyone, in any job, they should say that and they should believe that,” Jackson said.

In this new role, Jackson said he believes he has multiple strengths.

“I’ve been here so I know most everybody on campus and they know me,” Jackson said. “There’s probably a level of comfort and understanding. That’s an advantage.”

He said another advantage is his experience in state government and understanding the processes that affect the university.

He also said being connected to supporters of the

university gives him an edge.

“I know our alumni,” Jackson said. “I know our donors. I know personally, and I know well, a lot of the big supporters of the institution who are willing to help this place, so that’s an advantage.”

Even with his many strengths, he said no one can do this job alone.

“We have great people here that want success just like you do and I do,” Jackson said. “They’re willing to help make that happen. That’s where we’re really fortunate.”

“I believe in Greek life,” Jackson said. “I was Greek when I was here. I was president of my fraternity, so it’s important to me.”

While most Greek organizations are making a positive impact on its members, he said they have steps to take to restore their positive image.

“Greek life should be about building young men and young women, character building and preparing them for the world,” Jackson said. “That’s the message we all need to carry in regard to that.”

A message on Greek lifeit’s not all negative

To the students of Murray State

The Murray State Greek life social suspension was lifted in August but it still remains a topic on the minds of many.

Looking ahead, Jackson’s early ties to Murray State inspire him to appreciate this opportunity.

“I love this place and I

Page 3

Orville Herndon/The News

Jackson said he wants to be more accessible to students. owe it a lot,” Jackson said.

“I owe it more than I could ever repay it. I look forward to working hard and leaving what I’ve been given better than I found it. I think that’s the real key.”

He said he urges

students to do well here and get involved outside their comfort zones.

“This is a wonderful exposure to the world, your four years here,” Jackson said. “It’s the best period of time in your life. I promise.”

82nd SGA passes first legislation Daniella Tebib Contributing writer dtebib@murraystate.edu

On Sept. 12, the Murray State Student Government Association passed their first pieces of legislation for the 2018-2019 academic year.

The new pieces of legislation passed include a resolution for a Parking Advisory Board and a Constitutional Amendment change.

Parking Advisory Board The resolution to create a Parking Advisory Board passed with a unanimous vote from the senate.

The purpose of the Parking Advisory Board is, “For the Student Senate of the Student Government Association at Murray State University to act in accordance with the Faculty Senate and Staff Congress in supporting the idea of Shared Governance for Murray State University Parking Services,” according to Resolution 82-18-R2.

Once established, the board will serve as representation for students, faculty and staff on the decision-making process for future parking issues.

“It has been expressed that individuals on campus do not feel their voices

are being heard concerning parking changes, which exhibits a lack of Shared Governance on campus,” according to the resolution.

However, because the new board will act as an advisory board, it is unlikely to have the power to rescind any previous decisions.

SGA President J.T. Payne said the board will deal mainly with zoning changes because other changes to parking already have student representation.

“We are hoping to have a shared government resolution that shows Staff Congress, Faculty Senate, and Student Government Association all support the formation of a parking advisory board to where any zone changes that are being made will go through that council, and advice from that council is given prior to those changes happening,” Payne said.

The senate was eager to pass this resolution as students will now have a voice on campus regarding future parking issues.

“I think the board will be very beneficial for students, as it will give them broad representation,” Maggie Moore, Senator at Large, said.

Once created, the board will be comprised of both students and faculty.

Members of the parking board will designated by the University.

“I encourage our student representatives to be pulled from the judicial board because the student judicial board is who handles all of the parking appeals and parking complaints,” Payne said. “To me, naturally, that would be a good group to pull from since they already have that experience and knowledge, and they’re already representing students with the issue of parking,” Constitutional Amendment The resolution to change a constitutional amendment passed with a unanimous vote from the senate.

The Constitutional Amendment SGA is seeking to change will affect Article III Section 3. The resolution will allow SGA to change committee names to better address their needs and goals.

For a Constitutional Amendment to be changed, the changes must be confirmed by the senate with a three-fourths vote. After it is voted upon by the senate, the student body will be offered to vote on it via MyGate. If the student body approves, the changes will

then be recommended to the Board of Regents who will have the final say.

Since this resolution has been passed by the senate, students will be able to vote on it via MyGate on Sept. 17 and 18.

Payne said some of the current SGA committees provide a good example for the necessity of this amendment change.

“For instance, 50 years ago, we probably would not have had a diversity committee,” Payne said. “But diversity, in recent years has become a priority to the university so we added a diversity committee. Same, with 50 years ago, we definitely would not have had a Multimedia and Public Relations chair because we didn’t have social media but now we do. Since it’s outlined in the constitution, it really discourages those things from being changed.”

The current committees are Multimedia, Public Relations, Diversity and Inclusion, Governmental Relations, Election Ways and Means and University Affairs. If the resolution is approved by the Board of Regents, the Public Relations committee will be consolidated with the Multimedia committee and a committee dedicated to enrollment will be added.

WINSLOW JOBS AVAILABLE “We currently have 21 full-time employees left, 22 temporary employees, 14 open spots and approximately 27 student employable spots,” Director of Dining Services, Charlie Liming said on Sept. 5.

SENATE SEAT OPEN The Regents senate seat is open.

LAPTOP BANK Students can apply for laptops through the Murray State laptop bank program online.

CHALK ON CAMPUS “It is university policy that you do not chalk on the sidewalks or any surfaces on campus,” Christian Barnes, Office Coordinator and Graduate Assistant for Student Activities said.

FRESHMEN ELECTION PONY UP! Freshmen elections will be open on MyGate from Sept. 17-18.

The Pony Express is open and will be at the Biology building for lunch and at Regents and White for dinner.

The next SGA meeting will take place next Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. in the Curris Center Barkley Room. All students are encouraged to attend.

Colton Colglazier/The News

News

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September 13, 2018

Richmond reconstruction races forward Paige Effinger Staff writer

peffinger@murraystate.edu

After an explosion in James H. Richmond Residential College last summer, the construction process for the building draws near as the bidding selection begins.

In the Board of Regents meeting held Aug. 31, the board members discussed the renovations and reconstruction of James H. Richmond Residential College.

The Buildings and Grounds committee, co-chaired by Regent Sharon Green and Regent Phil Schooley, presented the items to the board. The presentation was given by Jason Youngblood, associate director for facilities design and construction, and Kevin Jones, interim chief facilities officer.

Richmond residential college is currently a shell of a building due to the explosion. The incident also damaged Clark’s roof, which needs repairs.

Jason Youngblood said it was mostly the south-

east corner of Richmond that was destroyed during the explosion.

“The other wing had some minor damages,” Youngblood said. “The whole building will have some renovations, but essentially we consider the south half of the building as damaged.”

Selective demolition has taken place at Richmond for the last couple of months, and the bidding process for the project will begin later this week. During the selective demo, Youngblood said they also tested the existing systems in the building, such as plumbing, electrical systems, etc.

The bidding selection for the project will be a “best value bid process,” which is a more evaluative method than Murray State has exercised in the past.

“We evaluate the contractor themselves, we check references and it’s more like an interview-type process,” he said. “We want to make sure they are assembling

Nick Bohannon/The News

A gas leak caused an explosion in James H. Richmond Residential College in June 2017. a good team and meet the schedule that we are laying out.”

Youngblood said they are using a points system based on experience, references, contractors, and price. Therefore, the contractor with the lowest price may not necessarily get the project.

Youngblood said in the past the University has used a “lump sum low bid” which meant the team with the lowest bid would receive the project.

Youngblood said they have not always gotten

the best quality or best value, and wanted to change that.

The bid process is not public at this time, but will be by the end of the week.

At a future date, a committee will be formed to review the bids.

Youngblood said the higher administration will choose the committee members.

The current open date for Richmond is August 2019, so students will be able to move in for the fall semester.

“We are going to try to stick to that date as best as we can,” Youngblood said. “It could be subject to change. If we have three or four builders and none of them can say they meet that date up front, we may have to come up with some alternatives.”

Most of the building will look similar to how it was before the explosion with a few exceptions.

The building will receive upgrades such as a larger lobby area, a glass wall in the north meeting room and a larger second-floor lobby. These enhancements were selected by the Board of Regents and the housing office.

“The only other updates we’ll do are some mechanical updates, LED lighting, HVC updates, new equipment,” Youngblood said.

“The lobby will be getting some new furniture, but the bedrooms will pretty much be the same as they were.”

According to the special Board of Regents meeting held May 1, 2018, the total cost of the project will be $12.5 mil-

lion. The rebuilding of Richmond will be mostly paid for by insurance; as such, Murray State will only be paying for the enhancements that were not there pre-explosion, totaling about $2 million.

The roof of Lee Clark Residential College sustained a great deal of damage in the explosion.

Debris hit the roof which dented and punctured it.

Youngblood said there was enough damage to the roof that insurance will pay for the renovation.

This is one of the first items that will receive repairs, and he said that the extent of the damage to Clark college’s roof was unknown until recently.

“We didn’t really know it was that bad,” he said.

“That roof is very difficult to get on, and we ended up using drones to examine the roof.”

The renovations to Clark are expected to be completed before students leave for winter break on Dec. 8.

Racers take the wheel with enrollment effort Miranda Carpenter Contributing writer

mcarpenter4@murraystate.edu

As the University combats enrollment declines, select faculty, staff and students are taking matters into their own hands to improve the situation.

The Road Scholars program was reinstated earlier this fall to reach out to high school students who otherwise might be unfamiliar with Murray State. The program is designed to bring Murray State faculty and staff to schools across the state and increase 2019 enrollment by 125 students.

“One of the central goals of the program is to develop or further an existing partnership with many high schools, with the goal of sharing the Murray State story

for prospective students who are considering their college options,” Don Robertson, Vice President for Student Affairs, said.

The Road Scholars program is free for high school students to participate in. High schoolers that participate in the program will also be eligible for a $500 scholarship.

Two students per high school will be eligible for these scholarships.

This year, faculty, staff and students in the program hope to reach out to numerous regions through a new model.

“Year one will focus on all high schools in the westernmost 26 counties; our 18-county primary service region plus Daviess, Muhlenberg, McLean, Ohio and Jefferson/ Oldham,” according to information presented

at the Board of Regents annual retreat on Aug. 30.

The future goal is to implement the program in different regions in Tennessee, southern Illinois, southern Indiana and expand to more counties within Kentucky. “[Road Scholars] gets us in front of high schools, not just in our limited region,” Interim President Bob Jackson said. “But I want to see this all the way to Louisville, and even multi-state ultimately.”

The program will have a strategically-chosen team of Murray State faculty and staff including targeted alumni. Each team will be assigned to a high school and will make at least one visit per high school per academic year.

“When we launched [Road Scholars] about a month ago… a hundred fac-

ulty, staff, and administrators showed up,” Jackson said during an interview on Sept. 11. “Today, I think there is about 170 that are now engaged which is a real testament to our faculty, staff and administrators here - that they care about what we’re doing.”

Along with school visits the program will include a Murray State Information Fair for students, parents and teachers.

The program will also include a “bus in” where Murray State will reimburse $1.40 per mile for high schools to send their

students to Murray for a campus visit.

All of the high school visits are projected to be finished by Dec. 1, 2018.

Jackson also said that there are several opportunities for students to get involved in the program.

“Our best recruiters are [students],” Jackson said.

Any

Murray State students or alumni who wish to help with the Road Scholars program can contact program coordinator, Julie Boyken at jboyken@murraystate.edu.

Colton Colglazier/The News

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September 13, 2018

NEWS SPORTS THE MUR R AY STATE

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The Haves and Have Nots The financial divide between state and athletic departments Blake Sandlin Sports Editor bsandlin1@murraystate.edu

The Haves

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$ $ range of 50 or 60 percent of the athletic budget that comes from the school, which is really coming from the state,” Tyra said. “So they take significant hits; they don’t have the benefit of a large conference that has large media rights, and certainly a much larger donor base.”

The majority of the funding that athletics receives from the university comes in the form of student athletic fees and gender equity. Given the budget shortfalls, the university slashed gender equity and utilities for some facilities from its budget, forcing

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While regional universities’ athletic budgets are being cut to the bone, national schools, which operate predominantly independent of their universities, continue to thrive.

Athletic departments like the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky function largely separate from their universities, rendering them mostly immune to the daunting budget cuts that the majority of regional schools are facing.

For the most part, Louisville and UK aren’t subjected to the various cuts that their respective universities make because they are funded through predominately external revenue streams.

No school exemplifies that reality more than Louisville. One of the highest-grossing athletic departments in the nation, Louisville athletics are flourishing amid state cuts.

While the university itself enacted a 5 percent across-the-board cut to Louisville’s general fund, resulting in a 3.5 percent tuition increase for in-state students, Louisville athletic department was essentially exempt from any cuts.

Louisville Athletic Director Vince Tyra said his department relies on about 10 percent of its budget funding from the University. The remaining 90 percent is generated through various revenue streams such as ticket sales, licensing deals, donations and TV deals - a narrative vastly different for midmajors in Kentucky and beyond.

“When you get into some of these smaller mid-majors or less, they may be in the

Rosalyn Churchman/The News

the athletic department to cover those expenses in their 2018-19 budget, an event Tyra likens to a cut.

He estimates the school currently provides about $7 million of aid to athletics.

The first-year AD said he hopes to phase out university support to the point where athletics is operating entirely independent of the school within the next 3-5 years.

UK’s athletic department already functions this way.

That’s not the only difference between Louisville and other schools in the state. Louisville, as well as UK, employ a

budgeting method called “zero-based budgeting.”

Different from traditional budgeting strategies utilized by regional schools like Murray State, Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State, which demand making incremental increases to previous budgets, zerobased budgeting gives schools more flexibility in their spending.

With zero-based, Lousiville doesn’t budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year beforehand. Instead, it starts with a “zero base” and justifies expenses as necessary.

With ever-changing

variables to consider at a school of Louisville’s stature, Tyra said zerobased budgeting provides spending flexibility to the school.

“I think some schools just say, ‘Well, here’s your budget from last year and you get a 2 percent increase or a 2 percent decrease.’ We don’t look at it like that,” Tyra said. “We think it’s proper to go year-by-year, sport-by-sport because for one, the scheduling. And if we do have to tighten our belts, we kind of look at saying ‘You’re not entitled to $1 million this year, you’re only going to get

$900,000 because we’re just not going to give you the benefit of maybe those road trips or tournaments across the country.’”

During the 2017-18 season, Louisville’s football budget alone was slightly less than $19 million – a budget more than double the size of Murray State’s total athletic budget. The Cardinals pulled in $38 million in football revenue and $27.8 million in basketball revenue.

Of the combined $65.9 million in revenue from Louisville’s most see

SERIES, page 6

Sports

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SERIES

From Page 5

profitable sports, the largest percentage came from ticket sales, totaling more than $28 million, about 43 percent. In total, Louisville athletics grossed $113.6 million in revenue last year.

So as budget shortfalls loom over regional universities in the state, larger school’s athletic departments are left predominately unscathed. However, while others are grappling with budget woes, administration within the administration of Louisville’s athletic department faces a vastly different conundrum.

If smaller mid-major schools are allegiant to their academic institutions, then large powerhouse schools are allegiant to donors and fans. That notion was clearly evident over the past year, as Louisville found itself embroiled in several controversies that caused donor support to waver more than ever.

With almost $16.8 million in revenue stemming from annual seat donations and $28 million in ticket sales, it’s no hyperbole to state that fan support is paramount at Louisville. But when ex-Louisville Head Coach Rick Pitino was referenced in a federal investigation into recruiting fraud and corruption last September, fan and donor trust in the program faltered.

Pitino, as well as longtime athletic director Tom Jurich, were fired, ending a tenure tainted with controversy. Yet for Louisville athletics, distancing itself from

Jurich and Pitino wasn’t enough to restore confidence in the athletic program – a reality Tyra quickly saw firsthand.

“I’ll say the first half of the basketball season last year we did (feel donor impact), and then it improved,” Tyra said. “I’ll say it got back to normal during the back half.

It definitely did. We had donors that had paused their donations or had maybe held out on some pledges, and that had some impact.

So for us it makes us think about what we’re doing in our budget. We tried to be thoughtful about that and took what those trends were and rolled them into our budget.

It has definitely had an impact. We didn’t have the flexibility in the budget that we would have liked to have.”

Notably, Louisville basketball ticket sales originally budgeted to gross $16.2 million actually made $13.9 million, likely due to the recruiting scandal.

Seat donations totaled approximately $200,000 less than estimated.

Thus, healing the wounds and reestablishing donor trust in the program has been a key priority for Tyra in his first year in order to cultivate a strong base for his department and ensure sustainability for years to come.

“I think just making good decisions and then frankly talking about it [can build trust],” Tyra said. “I think we had to fix some things internally, and I think gaining their trust is key...And then making them feel more apart of it. I think we’ve worked hard to make our donors and our ticket holders

feel more a part of our programs. Get them a little closer to the program and let them see what we’re doing and be a part of it.”

But for smaller Kentucky schools with a limited donor base, that same luxury isn’t available. While Tyra himself has little to worry about in terms of state budget cuts, he does sympathize with the future of collegiate athletics.

And if cuts to higher education continue, the “Murray States” of the world could face a daunting future.

“I hate to say it, you really are relying on the donors,” Tyra said of smaller schools.

“Whether they be your corporate citizens in the states, if you talk about Murray or Western, Bowling Green certainly with Fruit of the Loom being based there and others, you really do kind of look to these companies to help you be viable.

You like to think that’s where their future employees are coming from is from those universities, and they would like to be supportive to the max amount that they can. But it is tough. Unless you have enough high net worth or companies in the community; we’re obviously in a good position at Louisville because we’re in the largest city in the Kentucky and we have more companies based here and more population and employees, but when you get into the smaller communities and smaller state schools, you’re really relying on those local accounting firms, law firms, banks, anybody you can to engage or the business model is not going to work.”

September 13, 2018

Meet the Milkman Blake Sandlin Sports Editor bsandlin1@murraystate.edu

When 13-year athletic director Allen Ward resigned his position on July 13 to accept a job at Abilene Christian University, it took the campus community by surprise. But for all the shock Ward’s departure evoked, it was the announcement of his replacement that took the social media world by storm.

Ward named longtime women’s golf head coach Velvet Milkman as his successor. For those familiar with

Murray State athletics, the appointment of the 25-year head coach was nothing out of the ordinary, but as we’ve come to learn, the internet can make the seemingly ordinary extraordinary.

A tweet from a local reporter announcing Velvet Milkman as Ward’s replacement ignited a social media storm practically unparalleled. Soon, everyone from Sports Illustrated to Barstool Sports to just about every person with a Twitter account began fawning over the enigma known as Velvet Milkman.

“Velvet Milkman is the

Blake Sandlin/The News

Velvet Milkman began coaching at Murray State in 1993.

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greatest name in the history of college administration,” The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie wrote.

“Don’t care what sport she coach, I want to play for THE Velvet Milkman,” wrote Barstool Sports personality Tyler I Am. Even as recently as this week, there were more than 25 Twitter users with the name Velvet Milkman, including “Velvet Milkman Appreciator” and “Velvet Milkman Buddha”.

Sports reporters like ESPN’s Darren Rovell, Yahoo! Sports’ Pat Forde and Kentucky Sports Radio’s Matt Jones each shared the bizarre name on their accounts, helping to propel “Velvet Milkman” to the No. 2 trend in the country on Twitter. Once Milkman learned she had gone viral, she immediately turned competitive.

“We were [trending at] number two at one point, and then I got competitive,” Milkman said. “The coach part of me was like, ‘Well, let’s go for number one if we’re just going to throw it out there.’”

Milkman inherited her last name from her husband, Martin Milkman, an economics professor at Murray State. Although she was surprised by her unexpected national acclaim, Milkman said this isn’t see

MILKMAN, page 7

We are now looking for FRIENDLY COLLEGE STUDENTS to JOIN OUR TEAM! 932 s. 12th Street, Murray, KY 42071 (270) 293-1934 | lcarver@sirloinstockademurray.com

Sports

September 13, 2018

MILKMAN From Page 6 the first time her name has become the subject of discussion.

“I’ve been married for 25 years,” Milkman said.

“It used to bother me a little bit more, but now it’s just normal. It doesn’t phase me. It did kind of blow up on me when I was playing in the state AM event, I made it to the finals and it blew up there, but that was before social media. So this did take me a little by surprise. It didn’t bother me, but it did take me a little by surprise because social media is so quick and so fast.”

Milkman said she received the name Velvet from her mother, who thought it was a rare and pretty name. By the time she started dating Martin Milkman, admitted she seriously contemplated what she was getting herself into.

“I thought, ‘Am I really going to go through life

with this name?’ Because I’ve heard it all. Well, I thought I’d heard it all up until [Twitter]. But I’m old fashioned; we’re a team,” Milkman said.

When the name exploded Friday, Milkman had already left the office.

When she returned the following Monday, she was welcomed by 25 missed phone calls, emails and an interview request from CBS Sports Radio.

“Anytime we can get Murray State’s name and athletic department out on a national level, I think that’s important,” Milkman said. “So you really can’t put a dollar figure on that. I didn’t think it was a negative in any way. I was hoping it wasn’t; that was my first thought. My peers, my coaches that I coach with that are my friends, I thought, ‘Here we go; we’re going to be a laughingstock’, but they weren’t. It was fun; it was a cool name. But that was my thought when it first came out, but it was all

in good fun and it wasn’t anything negative in my mind and I thought it was funny.”

Nevertheless, Milkman has been adamant about her intention to not let her newfound internet popularity overshadow Murray State and her new job.

A veteran coach who has steered Murray State’s women’s golf team to 11 OVC titles since its genesis in 1993, Milkman has been a fixture at Murray State.

Only one other current head coach, rifle’s Alan Lollar, has been at the school longer (1992).

Because of her longevity at the school, in addition to her experience as Murray State’s Senior Women Administrator, Ward said Milkman was an obvious choice to succeed him temporarily.

When former Murray State President Bob Davies approached Ward about the possibility of appointing Milkman, he was all for it.

“There are several people on staff that were qualified to take on the responsibility,” Ward said. “But I felt Velvet provided the best opportunity for both the internal and external operations to continuing functioning in a similar fashion. I had an excellent staff and was completely confident in their ability to move the program forward with Velvet at the helm. And considering the fact that football was around the corner, the fewer disruptions the better.”

Ward met with Milkman prior to his resignation to discuss the prospect of her inheriting the athletic director position on an interim basis.

“I had to think about it just because, one, I was a little surprised,” Milkman said. “That’s what had to sink in first, was the possibility he may be leaving. It’s something that I don’t take lightly. It’s a big responsibility in a lot of different ways. I also have a golf team that I’m

Page 7 really passionate about, and those 11 young ladies coming back, I needed to make sure that I was comfortable and could do both and not shortchange it. He told me I had a week to think about, so I took a week to think about it.”

Since accepting the position, Milkman has continued to coach the golf team. She said juggling the two can be a challenge, but ultimately she is prepared to steer the ship while Murray State actively searches for a qualified candidate.

“It’s been a challenge, absolutely, but I’m very fortunate that our staff’s very good and that I can rely on them, and that when I’m at golf practice I truly don’t worry about things going on at the office because I know they’re taken care of,” Milkman said. “But for me personally, balancing both of them has obviously been a little bit of a challenge because you’re adding a lot to your plate,

but I’m getting better at it.

Boasting a finance degree and a master’s degree in business administration, Milkman has the credentials to captain the athletic department in the meantime – and possibly even long term. The 12-time OVC Coach of the Year said she’s unsure what the future holds, but wouldn’t rule out the potential of pursuing the role full time.

And while the future is still uncertain for Milkman, she certainly has a vote of confidence from her former boss. “...No one is more respected than Velvet, both on campus and in the community,” Ward said.

“She’s got what it takes to do the job and I think she’d be an excellent AD should she be interested in the permanent role.”

Whatever Milkman decides to pursue, it’s safe to say she’ll have the support of “Velvet Milkman Buddha” and the rest of her social media admirers.

Sports

Page 8

September 13, 2018

Football faces UK Keith Jaco Staff writer rjaco@mrraystate.edu

Murray State’s football team will look to rebound from an 0-2 season start when it meets in-state opponent UK on Saturday.

This week, the Racers will look to use what they learned against the University Central Arkansas in hopes of knocking off a resurging UK team.

Murray State Head Coach Mitch Stewart was pleased with the team’s effort Saturday, when the team gave up just 26 points and limited turnovers to two, but believes there is still room for vast improvement heading into week three.

“There are some things that we’ll talk about in our meetings that I was proud of; some plays and tremendous effort,” Stewart said. “But there’s also a lot of execution things, lack of execution and that kept us out of being able to win that ball game, and those are things we have to get corrected and our guys know that.”

Murray State will face UK for only the second time in school history on Saturday afternoon. In their prior meeting, the Racers suffered a 37-6 loss in the second game of the 2003 season, as former UK quarterback Jared Lorenzen threw four touchdown passes to lead the way for the Wildcats.

The Racer defense will have their hands full Saturday with UK junior running back Benny Snell Jr. Snell has posted 303 yards on 47 attempts in two games this season, rushing for 178 against the University of Florida alone, and is showing no signs of slowing

down heading into the matchup with Murray State.

Senior linebacker Quincy Williams understands the task at hand in containing Snell come Saturday afternoon.

“They have a really, really great running back,” Williams said.

“He’s a very big guy, the way he runs is very physical with downhill running so our biggest thing will be stopping him and forcing them to play in the air.”

On offense, sophomore wide receiver Sylvaughn Turner believes the key to the Racers’ success lies in sticking to the game plan.

“They’re looking at us like we’re a cakewalk,” Turner said. “But we’re going to come out and play our ball and do what we do best, which is playing fast and hitting people in the mouth.”

Stewart expects his team to enter Kroger Field on Saturday ready to compete against a soaring Wildcat team.

“We have nothing to lose,” Stewart said.

“It’s still going to boil down to one thing and that’s effort, and that will never change.

That’s non-negotiable.

We focused on that last week; we watched tape on that last week, and we constantly showed examples of that. We’re going to go up there and we’re going to play with the same effort, if not better than last week; that’s the charge.”

UK is entering week three with a 2-0 record – its best start to a season since 1986. Much of this success comes from the running game of Snell, as well as important defensive stops from senior linebacker Josh Allen. Allen was awarded SEC Defensive

Player of the Week as a result of his five-tackle performance against the University of Florida.

Allen also contributed to the only takeaway in the contest, sacking University of Florida sophomore quarterback Feleipe Franks as the Wildcats delivered the improbable late Saturday night.

UK Head Coach Mark Stoops had a similar game plan as Stewart and the Racers: limit the turnovers.

“We will continue to work on them,” Stoops said. “You don’t ever want your team to play with any fear. You want them confident and making throws and things of that nature, but securing the football and fumbles are something we cannot tolerate and will not tolerate.”

UK defeated Florida for the first time since 1986 Saturday evening in Gainesville, Florida.

The Wildcats had been unsuccessful in knocking off the Gators in 31 consecutive chances until their victory Saturday night.

Coming off this historic win, Stoops reminded his team of their expectations and the importance of moving onto the next opponent.

“I think we have to talk to the team about what our standards are,” Stoops said. “Every team is different and every year is different. I really love this group and how they handle things, and I expect them to handle this game the same way.

Going back to worrying about us and creating our own standards and living up to them is important.”

Murray State will travel to Lexington, Kentucky, to face off against UK at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15 at Kroger Field.

THE MURRAY STATE NEWS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Junior outside hitter Rachel Giustino was named to the UniWyo All-Tournament Team following a 38-dig showing through three games last weekend. She recorded a double-double against Arizona State, and helped lead the Racers to a win against Binghamton to improve their record to 5-4 this season.

Rachel Giustino Junior, Outside Hitter

Rosalyn Churchman/The News

Golf victorious in opener Keith Jaco Staff writer rjaco@mrraystate.edu

Murray State’s men’s golf team placed first in the MSU Invitational on Tuesday afternoon at Miller Memorial Golf Course in Murray.

The Racers captured back-to-back wins after claiming a win in the event one year ago.

The Racers played three rounds between Monday and Tuesday, scoring 282, 282 and 279 for a total score of 843. Close behind the Racers was second place Morehead State University with a score of 847, followed by Delta State, rounding out the top three with a score of 857.

On Monday, Murray State was led by Racer newcomer James Boone, a sophomore from Murray, who shot the

low for round one with a 67.

Junior Austin Knight from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, played three solid rounds this week for the Racers. Knight posted scores of 68, 70 and 70 in three rounds to take home third place in the tournament. Despite holding the lead going into round three, Knight settled for a third-place finish after scoring a 68 on Tuesday afternoon.

Junior Justin Wendling, from Lithia, Florida, and senior Gabe Wheeler, from Sikeston, Missouri, each shot complete rounds for the Racers, as they both managed to crack the top-15 on Tuesday.

Wendling shot 68, 74 and 70 for a total of 212, earning a 10th place spot.

Wheeler followed close behind with scores of 69, 70 and 74 for a total of 213, giving him a share of

13th place.

Head Coach Eddie Hunt was pleased to see his team get off to a good start this fall.

“We played really well as a team,” Hunt said. “Austin Knight had another good tournament and that makes us excited to see what else he does this year.”

Hunt believes the key to success this season is playing together and consistently.

“We have to use this tournament going forward,” Hunt said.

“Playing together as a team is going to be important in doing well down the stretch, and we have to remember what we did well this week in order to succeed in future events.”

The Racers will travel to Richmond, Kentucky, on Saturday, Sept. 15 to face off in the EKU Classic.

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September 13, 2018

NEWS FEATURES THE MUR R AY STATE

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Graduate student sees a new side of agriculture Bridgette McAuliffe Staff writer

bmcauliffe@murraystate.edu

A

Murray State student recently completed an internship with a nationwide grain company in St. Louis, Missouri.

Sydney Hunter, graduate student from Evansville, Indiana, is studying agricultural science. She recently completed an internship as an operations management trainee for Archer Daniels Midland.

“Coming from an animal background, I didn’t know much about what I was getting myself into,” Hunter said.

She learned how various commodities like wheat, corn and soybeans are graded by the government. Hunter said she also spent time with the men in the truck dump area, learning how to load those commodities in and out in large quantities.

“With a steel hauler, the whole truck has to be lifted in the air, which is something pretty unique to St. Louis,” Hunter said.

Hunter spent the summer learning how various parts of the company connect and operate together as a cohesive unit.

“It was a lot of learning the technical side of things, which isn’t something you can just do in a day,” Hunter said.

“It was over the course of the whole summer.”

The facility also had its own railways to ship grains in and out on trains. Hunter said this is where she found her niche. She was responsible for helping the team unload 90 to 115 train cars within 24 hours, 10 to 15 times per month.

“If I could load and unload a train all day, I would do it,” Hunter said. “I don’t know why but I felt like a little kid

again.”

Hunter learned about managing logistics within a large company and also faced challenging technology and engineering projects, including an electronic labeling project.

“I had to follow electrical blueprints which is not something I’ve ever done in my life,” Hunter said. “It was out of my comfort zone, but was something that looked great in the end.”

Although she is not pursuing a career in the grain industry, she said the internship gave her valuable experience in the field.

“It’s definitely an internship that gives me a whole new perspective on how our commodities are made, and it was neat to see and grasp my mind around,” Hunter said. “It showed me a whole different side of agriculture than what I pictured myself doing.”

Brock Kirk/The News

Sydney Hunter, agricultural science major, poses at Murray State’s West Farm.

Hunter said the most valuable part of her internship was being able to learn something new.

“If you can do anything for 11 to 12 weeks and

work with enjoyable people, you’re going to have a great time,” Hunter said. “I loved the people that I worked with and would do it again.”

A life dedicated to helping the less fortunate Bridgette McAuliffe Staff writer bmcauliffe@murraystate.edu

A Lexington, Kentucky native has dedicated his life to donating luggage to children in foster care throughout Kentucky.

For 20 years, Don Pratt has acted as a foster father to over 12 girls and 53 boys.

All the while, he traveled the Commonwealth to donate luggage to foster children in need. He has seen firsthand the trauma of children, ripped away from their homes, with nothing more than a garbage bag to carry their luggage.

Pratt said this was never a formal organization, but something he started doing 20 years ago because it needed to be done.

When Pratt was a single foster father, people within his community took notice of his work and began

donating luggage for children in the foster care system.

“When word got out, people who weren’t buying luggage brought over 500 pieces of luggage to the mall and then I had a lot of luggage to deliver throughout the state of Kentucky,” Pratt said.

This turned into a project to deliver suitcases, backpacks and duffle bags.

Community members have come by the hundreds to donate to this project.

One tragic case that Pratt saw sheds light on the need for foster children to have something as simple as a backpack or suitcase. Pratt witnessed a mother and child get evicted from their home; the mother had to leave behind the child with just garbage bags.

“I had to go through their closet and pack everything into garbage bags without

washing them,” Pratt said. “We were driving to Lexington and one of the trash bags ripped open, so we had to pick up all the clothes from the side of the road.”

Pratt said that the trauma of losing your lifestyle and only support system, especially as a kid, is damaging.

“It’s an embarrassment to move around in a garbage bag and go home in a garbage bag,” Pratt said. “If I can give this to them, I know it can help.”

Regardless of the massive need for programs like this, government organizations are hesitant to accept donations. Pratt said many individuals and organizations fear the transfer of bed bugs and germs.

“In reality, we, foster parents, risk that every time we bring a kid into

can take with them.” our home,” Pratt said.

“I don’t fear the worst, I Pratt runs this project just fear that the children from his own home. For will be moving in garbage information on how get bags when I can provide involved with this project something that would or how to donate, contact help.” dbp91044@gmail.com.

He said he has not continued doing this for a personal gain. He does it because it is the right thing to do.

“It’s nice that other people feel good about donating, and I often get a wonderful thank you from social workers and organizations I deliver to,” Pratt said.

“I just have a dream that kids can have a backpack to put their school lunches in and a suitcase.that they Savannah Walton/The News

Miscellaneous Pursuits

WWE and burnt brownies It is always a funny ‘oh my g o s h ’ moment w h e n I make the conSara Howell Features Editor n e c t i o n w i t h someone that we both watched WWE as kids. This happened the other day with my friend Kerry while we were waiting for class to start. Laughing and talking about who our favorite WWE stars were (Batista, Randy Orton, Triple H) made me happy and a little embarrassed of how into it I used to be. One time, my dad let my brothers order a wrestling match for us all to watch off of Pay-Per-View. Mitchell and Daniel decided to make lasagna but I wasn’t complaining because it is delicious.

Once the show began we were glued to the couch.

About halfway through my brother Mitchell decided to make brownies. In the excitement of the show we forgot about them until it was over.

By the time they were taken out of the oven they were as hard as a rock. We laughed about it but were also disappointed we did not get to eat them. The one downfall of liking wrestling was when our cousins would practice moves on us. That was not fun at all. I don’t know why but it seems boys never get the memo to start wearing deodorant soon enough. I feel sorry for my younger sister; she had to deal with that the most. I felt pretty robbed when I found out wrestling was fake. We stopped watching after that. Though we aren’t mega fans anymore, it is good to look back and reminisce on all the times we spent cheering at the TV at times when Rey Mysterio would do the 619 or Evolution would step into the ring.

Features September 13, 2018 SPCC walk to instill hope, honor Grote works toward the future Page 10

aboggan@murraystate.edu

A common misconception of suicide is that only experts are able to prevent it. In all reality, suicide prevention is everyone’s business, and anyone has the ability to take the matter in their own hands.

The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Calloway County SPCCC is hosting its yearly Warriors of Hope Walk of Remembrance and Tranquility on Sept. 15 at 6 p.m. at the courthouse.

This event began in 2015 when the SPCCC was founded. Participants walk a 1-mile route honoring all lives lost to suicide and support those who have experienced suicide loss.

Jennifer Taylor, secretary for the SPCCC, said this is a group of local Calloway County residents dedicated to disseminating accurate

information, advocating for suicide awareness, providing education and training and raising awareness.

“As we stand together, we find tranquility, strength and awareness,” Taylor said. “Join us this year to remember those lost to suicide and find comfort in knowing that you are not alone.”

“

Join us this year to remember those lost to suicide and find comfort knowing you are not alone.

walk spreads awareness of Calloway County’s high suicide rates, the need to support struggling friends, and education to our community on the warning signs of suicide.

All proceeds stay in Calloway County and benefit the education and training activities to aid in the zero tolerance mission of the coalition.

“Community members are always welcome,” Taylor said. “We also periodically offer crisis intervention trainings.”

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the nation and the second leading cause of death for Kentuckians between the ages of 15 and 34. The Calloway County area has one the highest suicide rates in the state.

For more information on the next SPCCC meeting, contact Taylor at jtaylor@ murraystate.edu.

“

Allison Boggan Contributing writer

-University Counseling Center, Jennifer Taylor

The goal of this walk is to unite affected families and bring the Calloway County community together. The

“Alpha” is a doggone good movie Grant Dillard Staff writer

gdillard@murraystate.edu

“Alpha” has had a tough journey to actually make it to theaters. Though it had two previous release dates in 2017 and 2018, it was finally released in August 2018. All the time that it took for the film to play in theaters might lead you to think that it won’t be that good. Thankfully, “Alpha” turned out to be an excellent survival tale.

Twenty thousand years ago in Europe, a young boy named Keda is part of a tribe on a hunting exhibition. After an attack on a buffalo herd goes wrong, he gets separated from the tribe. While making his way back home, he is chased by a pack of wolves and injures one of them in the process.

Over time, Keda nurses the wolf back to health and the two work together to make their way back to his tribe.

While not the most

riveting character, Keda makes for a decent enough protagonist; he has a good story arc about getting home to prove to his father and tribe that he can be strong. KodiSmit McPhee gave a great performance and his chemistry with his animal companion is equally impressive. The relationship between boy and wolf is the heart of the film.

What the movie lacks in storytelling, it makes up for in visuals. The film is beautifully shot, with a variety of wide and aerial shots to showcase the gorgeous landscapes. The colors also really pop, be it bright orange with black shadows during a sunset or a somber blue in the cold and dark woods.

The major problem of the film is its pacing. It starts out with a well-shot and exciting sequence in which the tribe encounter the herd of buffalo, then flashes back to before the tribe set out on their

expedition. This first act feels the slowest, with neither exciting visuals nor interesting scenarios to show off. When Keda wakes up after being thrown off the mountain the film picks up more.

Throughout the third act, the pacing starts to feel off again. Every now and then, there’s a scene that goes on for too long, which makes the film feel drawn out. Thankfully, it’s not enough to make the film boring as a whole, but the pacing is something that needed work.

While it could have been yet another forgettable film, “Alpha” manages to leave an impression thanks to its terrific visuals and strong direction. It’s unlikely to make anyone’s “Top 10 Films of 2018” list, but it also doesn’t deserve to be forgotten. For those looking for a good survival film, or for moviegoers who want a more visual experience, “Alpha” is a great film to check out.

Ally Grote, junior and animal science major, poses with her horse at her own farm in Murray.

Amy Turner Staff writer

aturner32@@murraystate.edu

Almost every major on campus shares one thing in common: the need for an internship. This requirement is usually fulfilled in the summer to avoid interfering with classes.

Ally Grote, junior from Bowling Green, Missouri, completed an internship this summer with Purina Animal Nutrition in Labadie, Missouri. Grote worked in market analysis, meaning she spent her summer surveying customer satisfaction.

“Simply put, I went doorto-door of existing and non-existing customers asking them to complete a short survey,” Grote said.

“Questions varied from species to species, but the main goal was to gain their opinion about Straatmann Feed and Purina Animal Nutrition.”

After discovering this internship, she researched

the position and knew she wanted to apply. She got the opportunity to work for one of the Purina Dealers, Straatmann Feed.

She said this was her second internship and she was able to make lasting connections with the people she interacted with.

“The thing I loved the most about this internship was the hands-on experience I gained,” Grote said.

“A majority of my time was spent outside interacting with the customers. I was able to help fix some of the complaints customers and gain their business back.”

The passion she has for her career goals was reassured through this experience.

“After working so closely with the customers, I know I want to be involved in the process that actually develops the feed,” Grote said. “My goal for the future is to become a Ruminant Nutritionist, which means working as a

Brock Kirk/The News

nutritionist with cattle.”

This summer not only helped to solidify her career goals, but to ease her mind about the treatment of animals.

“This summer made me realize just how important nutrition is to animals, and how farmers and horse owners definitely do have the animal’s best interest at heart,” Grote said.

When thinking of all the people who helped her get to and through this opportunity, a few strong supporters came to mind.

“My friend Sydney helped me get through the summer when things got crazy and my stress level was through the roof,” Grote said. “I am also very thankful for my professor, Dr. Amanda Davis, for pushing me to do my best.”

She said she is also very blessed and thankful to have her parents who have always shown her love and supported her endlesslyduring this internship.

Tracey D. McKinney, CIC Steven S. Dabbs, CIC A ut o

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September 13, 2018 Ashley Traylor Editor-in-Chief • 270-809-6877 atraylor@murraystate.edu Savanna Rininger Production Manager • 270-8095877 shatfield2@murraystate.edu Elizabeth Erwin News Editor • 270-809-4468 eerwin1@murraystate.edu Destinee Marking News Senior Writer• 270-8095878 dmarking@murraystate.edu Colton Colglazier News Graphic Designer ccolglazier@murraystate.edu Sara Howell Features Editor • 270-809-5871 showell6@murraystate.edu Savannah Jane Walton Features and Opinion Graphic Designer swalton2@murraystate.edu Blake Sandlin Sports Editor • 270-809-4481 bsandlin1@murraystate.edu Gage Johnson Sports Senior Writer • 270-8095878 gjohnson17@murraystate.edu Rosalyn Churchman Sports Graphic Designer rchurchman@murraystate.edu Ginni Sisemore Opinion Editor• 270-809-5873 vsisemore@murraystate.edu

NEWS OPINION THE MUR R AY STATE

Page 11

Our View

Draw on love, not hate The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board

Students often stop to look at the silly drawings and phrases scattered throughout the Zen Garden- mocking them, agreeing with them and even adding their own.

When something offensive is displayed on the wall, do students continue mocking, agreeing and adding to it or do they step up and do something about it?

Ask yourself what you would do if it was a homophobic slur or a hurtful message directed toward your personal beliefs.

Are students apathetic when the slur is not aimed at them or their friends?

The answer is yes.

Maybe students are too caught up in their own lives to notice something that doesn’t directly affect them, but they revealed their apathy last week.

A hateful message aimed at Muslim students was left on the outside wall of Fine Arts for two days.

Fortunately, the graffiti was eventually reported, and the University was

quick to respond and paint over it by the end of the day.

University officials won’t stand for discrimination on campus and for a good reason. Murray State has a huge international presence, with

not make it go away, and you become part of the problem when you don’t take a stand.

The message didn’t just hurt Muslim students, it had the ability to permanently damage Murray State’s reputation as one of the friendliest campuses in America, which could impede already dropping enrollment.

Not only does Murray State welcome international students, it relies on them. Murray State is in an enrollment crisis in the wake of statewide budget cuts, and one strategy for boosting enrollment is dependent on the tolerance of Murray State’s student body.

About 7,000 students from Saudi Arabia will be relocated from Autumn Brown/The News Canada to other countries after a diplomatic students from more than issue between the two 50 countries, according to countries, according to a the University ‘s website. recent CNN article.

Why didn’t the stu Some of these disdents say something placed students could sooner? Complacency in end up at Murray State. the face of hate will never A solution to the be acceptable. enrollment issue is star Ignoring a problem will

ing the University in its face, but the opportunity could pass Murray State by if it garners a reputation for intolerance.

Students choose Murray State because of the friendly and welcoming people who make up the faculty, staff and student body. In an area considered largely conservative, Murray State is an oasis of acceptance and love.

Students must come together to combat Islamophobia and other hateful dispositions on campus. We are here to learn, and we all come from different backgrounds and upbringings.

Students who come to Murray State with an open mind will leave with an education, both academically and culturally.

The opportunity afforded to Murray State students to interact with others of different cultural backgrounds is priceless. Do not allow hate to build a wall between you and this invaluable experience.

David Wallace Chief Copy Editor• 270-809-5877 dwallace15@muraystate.edu Chandler Cochran Ad Sales and Circulation Manager • 270-809-4478 ccochran3@murraystate.edu Rhiannon Branch Photography Editor • 270-8095878 rbranch@murraystate.edu Rebecca Mosella Chief Video grapher • 270-809-5878 rmosella@murraystate.edu Ravi Shankar Shah Online Editor • 270-809-5878 rshah2@murraystate.edu Dr. Stephanie Anderson Adviser • 270-809-3937 sanderson37@murraystate.edu

Cheers to: One month down

Jeers to: Warm weather leaving

We’ve officially survived the first month back in classes, and we’re that much closer to fall break.

You’re doing great sweetie.

Before you know it, hammocking will be a thing of the past and hiding your face from the biting wind will be the new between-class pasttime.

The News 2609 University Station Murray State University Murray, Kentucky 42071-3301 murraystatenews@icloud.com Fax: 270-809-3175

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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 atraylor@murraystate.edu.

Contributions to The News are the opinion of the author and not that of The Murray State News.

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 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 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.

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News

September 13, 2018