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January 17, 2019 | Vol. 93, No. 14
OMING SOON Chick-fil-A and Einstein Bros. Bagels coming to Murray State in fall 2019 Alexis Schindler Staff writer aschindler1@murraystate.edu
Through its new vendor Sodexo, Murray State will be introducing Chick-fil-A and Einstein Bros. Bagels to campus for fall 2019. Chick-fil-A will be occupying a space in the Curris Center Stables and Einstein Bros. Bagels will be taking over the space Waterfield Cafe currently occupies in Waterfield Library. “This announcement is exciting news for Murray State University,” Interim President, Bob Jackson said. “Chickfil-A is a national brand that will bring a great deal of satisfaction to our campus community and to future students. Their presence will add tremendously to our existing dining options in order to best serve our University.” Sodexo Universities was established as Murray State’s new food service provider in fall 2018. Sodexo and Murray State’s leadership are working together to create a dining advisory board that will be student-led in pursuit of an increase in recruitment and retention rates. Along with introducing new eateries, Sodexo is introducing a new concept to campus called Simple Servings. This concept gives students, especially those with common allergies, another food option. Simple Servings will serve food options free of gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, wheat, soy, milk products and eggs. The staff members will also be trained to avoid cross-contact to ensure the safety of students. “Sodexo also has plans to work closely with the University’s farm and local business community to purchase local, seasonal and sustainably-grown products,” according to a press release sent to the media on Jan. 11. In an effort to cut down the amount of food waste on
Photo courtesy of Sodexo
Murray State recently-named food services provider, has announced that Chick-fil-A and Einstein Bros. Bagels will debut on campus for Fall 2019. campus and help those experiencing hunger, Sodexo will work with Murray State to explore ways to transform food not used in dining halls, grocery stores, restaurants and farmer markets. “We are excited that we were able to respond quickly to the interests of Murray State University,” Stephen Gibson, director of business development, at Sodexo Universities, said. “Our plan is to continue to create a customized dining experience in partnership with the University and we
hope the new Chick-fil-A will be welcoming news for the University and community.” Rumors have been circulating campus for a while on Murray State acquiring a Chick-fil-A. “I have heard rumors about a Chick-fil-A coming to campus for about a year,” Ashley Jones, a freshman commuter, said. “I am very excited that we will not only be getting one new dining option, but two.” see page 2
Chick,
NEWS:
SPORTS:
FEATURES:
OPINION:
#BringDickieVtoMurray
Ballin’ over break: what you missed
82nd Campus Lights brings ‘Mamma Mia!’ to campus
Between a wall and a hard place
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NEWS NEWS Plant-based soap company opens in Murray M
THE MUR R AY STATE
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1/03 12/20 12/06 12/02
Buff City Soap, located at 630 N. 12th St., is a retail shop that handcrafts soaps on site for customers who want products without use preservatives, animal fats or harmful detergents.
January 17, 2019
1:15AM Subject was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, underage drinking and having an open alcohol container in a vehicle.
12:47PM Criminal mischief was reported in the Curris Center parking lot after a vehicle was damaged.
9:09AM A burglary was reported and attempted fraudulent use of credit cards in Racer Arena. Credit cards, cash and ID cards were stolen and subject attempted to use them. The investigation is still open.
12:38PM
Subject was arrested for giving a false name and multiple outstanding warrants.
12:42PM
1/13
Subject was arrested for trafficking marijuana, driving on a DUI-suspended license, improper equipment and drug paraphernalia possession.
4:40PM Theft was reported in Hart College after a bicycle was taken. The investigation is still open.
6:30PM
Criminal mischief was reported in Springer College after damage to property.
Chick
Correction
From Page 1 David Looney, executive director for auxiliary services, said meal swipes are not part of the Chick-fil-A or Einstein Bagels program at this time. Students can use all other forms of payments. The Thoroughbred Room and Winslow Dining Hall will be operated by Sodexo. Meal swipes will be accepted at Winslow and flex dollars will be accepted at the T-Room.
In the Nov. 29 issue of The Murray State News, we incorrectly reported the story, “Campus weighs in on age-old holiday debate” by not gaining permission of those quoted. The News regrets the error.
1/14
Kalea Anderson/The News
12:18AM Citation issued for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia in the Roy Stewart Stadium parking lot.
The Police Beat is compiled from the Murray State University Police Department’s Crime and Fire Log.
Photo courtesy of the Murray State University Facebook.
Interim President Bob Jackson and the Chick-fil-A mascot greeted students on Jan. 14.
Colton Colglazier/The News
News
January 17, 2019
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#BringDickieVtoMurray Racer Nation social media campaign urges ESPN to send Dick Vitale to Murray State
Miranda Carpenter Staff writer mcarpenter4@murraystate.edu
Murray State fans are campaigning to get Dick Vitale to call the Racers’ battle against Belmont on Jan. 24 at the CFSB Center. Vitale, also known as “Dickie V,” has been a broadcaster for ESPN since the network launched in 1979. Vitale called ESPN’s first NCAA game - Wisconsin at DePaul on Dec. 5, 1979. “The idea for the campaign originated from the 2012 appearance by Dick Vitale, which brought a great deal of excitement and publicity for the men’s basketball team, and to a larger extent, the University as well,” Shawn Touney, director of communications, said. “Due to the team’s phenomenal success so far this year, the national recognition surrounding Ja Morant, and the televised game against Belmont on 1/24, there were numerous realities in play which led to a concerted effort, driven through social media, to invite Dick Vitale to be our guest and return to Racer Nation
that evening.” The Racers are currently 13-2 in the regular season and 4-0 in conference play, holding first place in the Ohio Valley Conference. Murray State guard Ja Morant is leading the country in assists and projected to be a Top-5 pick in the NBA draft. Belmont is currently 12-3 in the regular season and 3-1 in conference play. The Bruins are ranked fourth in the OVC, close behind Murray State. Belmont Guard forward Dylan
“
Had fun, super atmosphere, heartbreaking loss,
-Dick Vitale, ESPN Analyst
”
Windler is also a projected NBA draft pick. Austin Morris, senior from Louisville, Kentucky, believes it would be great for Vitale to come to the Belmont game. “Murray State basketball has a history of success and with the way Morant is playing this year, it sure would be a good game to watch,” Morris said.
The Murray State News reached out to Vitale via Facebook to get his reaction on coming back to Murray again after he attended a game in 2012. “Had fun, super atmosphere, heartbreaking loss,” Vitale said in a message. Many fans have taken to Facebook and Twitter to get Vitale to return to Murray using #BringDickieVtoMurray. Fans hope to get Vitale to the game to influence the numerous NBA scouts who will be in attendance. Interim President Bob Jackson also took to Twitter extending an invitation to Vitale. “Dickie V, the invitation stands and we’d love for you to join us 1/24 against Belmont for our televised game,” Jackson wrote. Cierra Zwyghuizen, senior from Michigan, thinks it would be very beneficial for some of our basketball players if Vitale came to Murray State. “I think some of our players could get into the NBA like Ja Morant, and Vitale can bring a big influence for this to happen,” Zwyghuizen said. The game will tip off at 8 p.m. CST at the CFSB Center in Murray.
Jesse Caruthers/The News
Dick Vitale signed autographs for Racer fans during his 2012 visit to campus.
Jesse Caruthers/The News
Dick Vitale played one-on-one with senior forward, Donte Pool in 2012 at the CFSB Center before the Bracket Buster game.
Photo courtesy of Tap 216 Facebook
On Facebook, Tap 216 offered Dick Vitale a free dinner if he came back to Murray State to call a game.
News
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Nick Bohannon/The News
Part of Land Between the Lakes has been closed and trash collection has been neglected because of the shutdown.
Government gridlock Shutdown strikes close to home Daniella Tebib News Editor dtebib@murraystate.edu
Since Dec. 22, 2018, the government has been partially shut down, impacting many people of the Murray-Calloway County community as well as local parks. The partial shutdown has been caused by the lack of negotiations between President Donald Trump and the Democrats. Trump wants over $5 billion to build a wall on the southern border, but Democrats refuse to approve the funding. “Congress must appropriate money and provide authority for government agencies to spend money,” Drew Seib, assistant professor of political science, said. “Congress can appropriate money all at once to every agency or can appropriate money one agency at time… This is also supposed to be a once-a-year process, but for quite some time, Congress has struggled to appropriate money for an entire year. They have had to pass… continuing resolutions to appropriate money for periods as short as a day and sometimes as long as several months. Currently, some agencies have funding, which is why this is called a partial government shutdown.” Neither Trump nor the Democrats have backed down, making this the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. “We can stop it, but we can’t stop it if we’re going to play politics,” Trump
said at the convention of the American Farm Bureau Federation in New Orleans, Louisiana on Jan. 14. The Murray community has experienced many inconveniences because of the shutdown. “For people in the community, the government shutdown may affect things like mortgages underwriting by the federal government,” Seib said. “Because of this, it may take longer to close on a home you are trying to buy, depending on the type of loan you have. It has also impacted the FDA, which means that there won’t be safety inspections to ensure the food we buy at grocery stores doesn’t have E. coli or salmonella. If the government shutdown lasts several more weeks, we are likely to see effects on vulnerable populations, such as those who receive SNAP benefits.” Murray State students, faculty and staff can feel secure knowing that they aren’t being directly affected by the shutdown currently. However, Seib said, if the government shutdown continues, they might experience minor inconveniences. “Pell grants and federal loans are mandatory spending, meaning that their funding is mandated and thus authorized by their respective laws,” Seib said. “These programs are not part of the current budget showdown… It is possible that as the shutdown drags on, students may feel minor effects given the skeleton staff at the Department of Education. For faculty and staff, the
effects should generally be minimal; any federal grant should have already been appropriated by government. Faculty and staff will be able to apply for new grants with the federal government, but they may not be processed until after the government reopens, depending on the sponsoring agency.” Murray’s National Recreation Area, Land Between the Lakes has also been affected since it is run by the USDA Forest Service. Parts of LBL have been closed and trash collection has been neglected. While the government is shut down, volunteers and organizations have stepped up to help pick up trash. Melissa Dunn, from Symsonia, Kentucky, volunteered with the Paducah Jeep Owners Club to help clean the park. “Paducah Jeep Owners Club rides the numbered roads a lot at Land Between the Lakes,” Dunn said. “We take trash in, we take it out and are always picking up trash from others on our rides. If we want to be able to continue doing what we love, we have to take care of it even if it means going the extra mile. We will be helping keep Land Between the Lakes clean during the shutdown and also after it is over.” Many other non-profit organizations have stepped up to help keep the park clean as well. For more information on how to volunteer with Friends of LBL, visit TheNews.org.
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Ballin’ over break: What you missed Blake Sandlin Sports Editor bsandlin1@murraystate.edu
Though classrooms were closed during winter break on Murray State’s campus, the hardwood stayed open for business, yielding plenty to be excited about as the Racer men’s basketball team prepares to embark on the latter half of their schedule. Non-conference no more The Racers handled business in their non-conference slate, accumulating a 9-2 record to enter the OVC portion of their schedule blistering hot. Two of the Racers’ losses came in tight contests against the SEC’s Auburn University (9388) and the University of Alabama (78-72). Highlighting the team’s triumphs in the non-conference were commanding wins against Wright State University – the defending Horizon League champions – Missouri State University – predicted to finish first in the Missouri Valley – and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale – another Missouri Valley foe that has compiled an impressive resume this season. Conference has come After testing their talents against unfamiliar opponents, the Racers rang in the new year on Jan. 3 with their OVC opener against Morehead State University. Murray State knocked off the Golden Eagles with relative ease, riding a double-double effort from junior forward Darnell Cowart to seal a 90-69 win. On Jan. 5, the Racers faced an early scare from
up NBA Draft boards over the break and was, even being predicted to be selected as high as the No. 3 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, according to ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. This puts him two spots behind his former AAU teammate, standout Duke University forward Zion Williamson. The national media is
EKU and its star forward Nick Mayo. Though Murray State trailed by as much as 12 in the second half, the resilient Racers fought back for a 97-85 win on the back of sophomore guard Ja
Morant’s 34 points. A 2-0 start grew to three last Thursday, Jan. 10, when the Racers made the short trip to Martin, Tennessee. The deceptively talented Skyhawks soared for most of the first half and were nipping at Murray State’s heels at halftime, but two Racers derailed UT Martin’s plans in the second half. Freshman guard Tevin Brown tied the all-time single game 3-point record with nine, finishing with 31 points. Morant dished out 18 assists to set the single game assist record and guide his team to victory. Entering the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on Saturday, Jan. 12, Murray State hoped to remain unblemished in its conference schedule. It did just that, never trailing the
ball-handling ability and sheer freak athleticism has been a driving force behind the Racers’ 13-2 start. With unprecedented averages of 23.1 ppg, 10.7 apg (first in the country) and 6.3 rpg, it’s easy to see why he has the nation buzzing. Preparing for the Panthers With four games under its belt in the OVC, Murray State will now turn to Eastern Illinois University for its next stop on its four-game road trip. The Racers will come in as the favorite against the Panthers, yet Eastern Illinois has quietly scraped by through four games of conference play. Sitting at 10-7 and 3-1 in the OVC, the Panthers have already played in two overtime games this year (both wins). Their lone loss came against Jacksonville State University 69-62, in a narrow defeat to a Gamecock team tied for second in the OVC. Murray State Head Coach Matt McMahon said Eastern
Redhawks in order to cement a lopsided 85-67 result. Morant keeps moving If you haven’t made it out to the CFSB Center to marvel at Morant’s magic yet, well, why not? The sophomore point guard out of Dalzell, South Carolina, has shot
even beginning to recognize the Racers’ next point guard heir, with ESPN analyst Jay Bilas singing Morant’s praises in a tweet last week, and ESPN featuring two of Morant’s dunks over the break in the No. 1 spot in SportsCenter’s Top-10 plays. Morant’s speed,
Illinois has been on a tear since Christmas, executing a massive turnaround from its 6-6 start to the season. “They’re playing really well,” McMahon said. “Coming back from Christmas they’ve won four out of five, the one loss being a down-to-thewire game at Jacksonville State. They’re really shooting the ball well from three; they do a good job with their motion offense; share the ball offensively; defensively, they’ve been solid coming back from Christmas.” Led by guard Josiah Wallace at 14.9 ppg, the Panthers have a plethora of ways to score, though they frequently rely on the three ball. They are ranked second in the OVC in 3-point field goal percentage, averaging over 36 percent per game and 8.3 threes per game. Murray State has showcased an ability to neutralize its opponents’ offensive prowess, however. The Racers rank No. 1 in the OVC in scoring defense and No. 46 nationally, allowing just 65.9 ppg. The team also has a knack for guarding the 3-pointer. The Racers have a conference-best 3-point defense that forces opponents to 27.1 from beyond the arc, ranking No. 5 in the country. The Racers will make the trek to Eastern Illinois for their 7 p.m. tip-off on Thursday, Jan. 17, in Charleston, Illinois.
Blake Sandlin/The News
Sports
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January 17, 2019
Rifle targeting sustained shooting in spring Keenan Hall Staff writer khall16@murraystate.edu
Coming off a 10-2 record in the fall season, Murray State’s rifle team is primed to carry its momentum into the spring. After a week of training before starting the spring semester, Murray State senior Alathea Sellars is ready to secure her third consecutive OVC title. Sellars spent time with family in snow-filled New Mexico over the winter break, and is coming back with a focused mindset. “Right now in the season we are focusing on our goals for the end of the year, and focusing on our execution,” Sellars said. “As one of the four seniors, we are focused on the team and ending our careers at Murray State strong.” Sellars and her teammates have done just that in the early part of the season. Murray State has outshot its opponents in 10 of the last 12 matches during the fall schedule. The top-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers and the No. 4 Kentucky
Wildcats were the only two schools that scored higher than the Racers in the fall. For Head Coach Alan Lollar, who has coached Murray State to five OVC Championships during his tenure, sustainability is the goal. “I was really happy with the fall schedule, I thought some people that needed to step up and get some experience had done that,” Lollar said. “Our team goal is to shoot as close to our potential as we can. That means staying consistent, staying in the moment, shooting in matches how we train and not worrying about anything except what we can control.” The first step in that mission begins this weekend. The Racers have a one-on-one at Jacksonville State. The last time the Racers shot against the Gamecocks, they finished with a season-high aggregate of 4716 and were voted No. 1 in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association. Looking ahead at the Racers’ spring slate, the team will return home the following week for the Withrow
Blake Sandlin/The News
Senior Alathea Sellars aims at her target during Murray State rifle’s practice on Tuesday, Jan. 15. Invitational. The showcase will feature several NCAA teams ranked in the Top 30 in the country. The No. 5 Racers will get another shot at the Wildcats, and will shoot-off against the No. 7 University of Memphis. The University of North Georgia, which is
currently ranked at No. 20, will join the event and so will the No. 22 ranked University of Alabama-Birmingham. The Gamecocks and UT Martin will also compete in the invitational. After the Withrow Invitational, the Racers have a short turn-
around with the OVC Championships, followed by an NCAA Qualifier versus No. 6 University of NebraskaLincoln. “We have got OVC and NCAA qualifiers coming up so we just hope to do well in those,” Lollar said. “I appreciate the
support from everybody who comes out and watches us at home, and I look forward to seeing everybody sometime in the spring.” Murray State will faceoff against Jacksonville State at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26, at Pat Spurgin Rifle Range.
THE MURRAY STATE NEWS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Morant was a maestro with the basketball last week, averaging 21.5 ppg, 16 apg and 3.5 rpg in two conference wins. Against UT Martin, Morant tallied 18 assists, which set the single-game assist record at Murray State. He is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation in assists with 10.7 per game.
The Racer Rundown Podcast is your source for all things Murray State sports. With guests, analysis and laughs, The Racer Rundown Podcast is available every Tuesday on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Ja Morant
Sophomore Guard Basketball
Sports
January 17, 2019
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Track and field earns fourth against talented competition Adam Redfern Staff writer aredfern@murraystate.edu
The Murray State track and field team returned to action for the first time in the new year, competing at the Illini Open at The Armory. In a field of eight teams, including multiple Big Ten and Big East squads, along with OVC opponents Southeast Missouri State University and Eastern Illinois University, the Racers finished fourth. Head Coach Adam Kiesler was pleased with his team’s performance in the Illini Open this weekend. “Overall I think we did really well; we had a lot of kids do their off-event,” Kiesler said. “We had three individual wins and a bunch of PRs.” Senior Aubrey Main
was the first winner of the day for the Racers, placing first in the high jump with a mark of 1.70 meters which tied her personal best. Sophomore Antoinetta Avant and senior Tamdra Lawrence were next. Avant won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.83 seconds, placing seventh overall. Lawrence won the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.52. The Racers saw multiple high-placing performances from the team, including freshman Rachel Hagans, who finished third in the 400m (1:00.07 PR) and eighth in the 60m (7.94). Senior Daijah White earned a sixth-place finish at (1:01.16) in the 400m dash, while junior Katelyn Gilbert finished seventh and set a new personal record in the mile (5:35.39). Three Racers fin-
ished in the top 10 in the 600m, as junior D’Miya Thornton finished third (1:38.81), Main finished seventh (1:40.65) and junior Norma AbdurRafia took ninth (1:43.48). Junior Hilary McAdam was the only Racer to run in the 800m, managing a second-place finish with a personal-best time of 2:16.46. Freshman Emma Creviston (10:46.58) and senior Ida Mutai (10:48.81) each ran personal records in the 3000m. Senior Christina Meinhardt was the top Racer in the shot put, as she put up a distance of 12.19m, while junior Destiny Carey led the Racers in the weight throw with a personal best of 14.58m. Freshman Brooke Misukonis finished sixth in the pole vault with a vault of 3.46m. Freshman Gabby Kennedy also
vaulted 3.46m to finish eighth, while Jessie Kinder set a personal best at (3.31m) in ninth place. Senior Emily Heil rounded out the pole vault for the Racers, finishing tenth with a vault of 3.31m. Senior Jabreuna Brimlett placed sixth in the long jump with a mark of 5.55m. She also had the top time of 8.78 in the 60m hurdle preliminaries, placing eighth in the finals. Sophomore Jessikha Ribeiro competed in two jumping events and had a Top-10 finish in both, finishing fifth in the high jump (1.55m) and ninth in the long jump (5.42m). Freshman Alayna Stalter ran her best in the 60m (8.38), and freshman Shannon Riley surpassed her previous best in the pole vault (3.16m). The relays ended the day, and saw the 4x400 team of Thornton,
Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics
Senior Aubrey Main competes in the high jump, an event she placed first in last weekend. McAdam, White and Adbur-Rafia finish second (3:59.08). The 4x800 team of Gilbert, Morgan Vosler, Sophie Grogan and Riley placed fifth (10:24.08).
The Racers’ next meet will be Saturday, Jan. 19, when they travel to the University of Indiana to compete in the Gladstein Invite.
Sports
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January 17, 2019
Racers aiming for resurgence in 2019 Gage Johnson Senior writer gjohnson17@murraystate.edu
While most students headed home for the holidays, the women’s basketball team remained hard to surpass league expectations. Non-conference no more The Racers took losses at the hands of the University of Illinois, then-ranked No. 16 University of Kentucky, then-ranked No. 10 University of Tennessee and Butler University in one of the toughest non-conference slates in recent memory. Their three other losses were to Arkansas State University, Alabama A&M University and Southern Illinois University. Murray State finished non-conference play with a record of 4-7, defeating Oakland City University, the University of Evansville, Lipscomb University and Bethel University. Conference has come The Racers were projected last in the preseason OVC polls, expected to not win a single game. While Murray State is not dominating the league by any means, it has already exceeded its peers’ expectations. The Racers struggled in their conference opener, shooting just 39.7 percent from the field. Morehead State was powered by the OVC’s leading scorer, junior guard Aliyah Jeune, who sat out last season after transferring from Rutgers University. Jeune scored 33 points en route to an 83-61 victory. Bouncing back in its next game against EKU, Murray State would have a strong second quarter performance by outscoring the Colonels 23-11, proving crucial to
a 81-63 victory. Junior forward Evelyn Adebayo would also post a double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while sophomore guard Janika Griffith-Wallace, freshman guards Lex Mayes and Alexis Burpo all scored in double figures. Looking to claim their first road victory of the season, the Racers headed to UT Martin. Despite another double-double from Adebayo, the team’s 22 turnovers gave 16 points to the Skyhawks, leading to a 75-67 loss. Murray State traveled to SEMO for its second straight road matchup, and claim its first road victory of the season. Freshman guard Macey Turley would pour on a career-high 32 points, and Adebayo would add 15 points and 10 rebounds to push the Racers past the Redhawks for a 64-59 win.
Adebayo poised for OVC Player of the Year
Before the season began, Head Coach Rechelle Turner stated that everyone would know Adebayo’s name by the time conference play came around. She was right. Sitting out a season after transferring from Gardner Webb University, Adebayo has since notched eight double-doubles, including a career-high 28-point performance against Tennessee. Adebayo is second in the OVC in scoring (18.7) behind Morehead State’s Jeune. She’s also tied for 10th in field goal percentage (48%) and leads the conference in RPG at 10.1. Turnovers and depth When the Racers have found themselves in the loss column as of late, there tends to be two culprits: turnovers and
depth. While Murray State is in the middle of the pack in the OVC in turnovers, the team still averages 17.5 tpg, which usually end in a large sum of points off turnovers for its opponent. Another glaring issue for the Racers has been their lack of depth. With a season-ending injury to freshman forward Macie Gibson and an injury to junior guard DeAsia Outlaw, Murray State has found itself struggling to find time for starters to get rest, with three of them averaging more than 30 minutes per game. “We’ve had one recruiting class; we’re not deep enough right now,” Turner said. “But I’ll go to battle every night with the kids that were on the floor tonight because they’re the ones that’ll give you everything they’ve got, regardless of the result.” Preparing for the Panthers Sitting at 2-2, the Racers will now hit the road to take on Eastern Illinois. The Panthers sit at 1-3 in OVC play, and are currently riding a three-game losing streak. Despite EIU’s unique playing style, Turner feels her staff and players are still well prepared to take on the second-best three-point shooting team (34.1%) in the conference. “They make me nervous because they’re so unorthodox,” Turner said. “They kind of play a European Style of basketball. They have a lot of international players. Defensively, they’re unorthodox. It’s like a 2-3 trapping matchup zone. Our kids have done a really good job of being able to understand how to make changes.” Murray State will continue its four-game road stretch against EIU at noon on Thursday, Jan. 17, at Lantz Arena.
Blake Sandlin/The News
Sophomore guard Janika Griffith-Wallace calls out a play against Eastern Kentucky earlier this season.
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NEWS FEATURES THE MUR R AY STATE
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JMC students explore London during winter break Sara Howell Features Editor showell6@murraystate.edu
While most students choose to spend their break from school relaxing, eight Murray State students chose to study abroad in London, England. For about two weeks they were tasked with keeping a daily journal and writing travel blogs and reviews as part of the class “Beyond the Selfie: Exploring London to Communicate Inward and Outward Journeys via Multimedia Storytelling.” Marcie Hinton, associate professor of public relations, led the class. “As a class we visited Canterbury, Dover and the Warner Brothers’ Harry Potter studios,” Hinton said. “We also visited the offices of travel industry professionals. We studied photography and storytelling at the Victoria and Albert Museum and London history and culture at the Museum of London and the Tate Modern Museum.” They visited Westminster Abbey, tested their map-reading skills in Hyde Park and took a rock and roll walking tour. They stayed in the Mayfair neighborhood of London, about three blocks from Buckingham Palace. “We spent most of our time in London, but we took a day trip to Canterbury, where the Canterbury Cathedral is located,” Hinton said. “Since I teach a
travel writing course it is also significant because it was the destination of the traveling storytellers of Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’.” Hinton said her favorite part about teaching abroad in London over Winter Break is that students get to see the city two different ways. “We spend the New Year in London,” Hinton said. “The Christmas markets, lights and sales are still in full swing when we arrive, then after the New Year celebration, the city goes back to business as usual.” Katelyn Suiter, recent graduate from Clarksville, Tennessee, decided to study abroad because she felt it would further her career in advertising. “Advertising is all about targeting people and their specific needs,” Suiter said. “In order to gain a better understanding of what people from all around the world need, I decided to immerse myself in a different culture; London will be one of many.” She said her favorite part of the trip was seeing Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace and Dover Castle. “The tour inside the Westminster Abbey was the most interesting thing I got to do in London,” Suiter said. “The architecture was so beautiful inside and outside of the building that it quite literally took my breath away.” Though Joel Polarek, senior from Dover, Tennessee, lived abroad for two
Photos courtesy of Joel Polarek
Polarek, left, Suiter, right, and classmates walking to Buckingham Palace a few hours after arriving in London. years, this was the first time he’d gone abroad for school. “I knew I wanted to travel but didn’t know where,” Polarek said. “When Dr. Marcie Hinton told us about the CCSA Winter in London class she’d be leading, I knew I couldn’t give up the chance to study abroad with a travel expert.” He said Hinton taught them how to grill their raw experiences into palatable stories which relayed the true nature of the places they were able to visit. “Most of my favorite moments of my study abroad were made in the cathedrals,” Polarek said. “Every corner was filled with paintings, sculptures, memo-
rials and burial markings of important people of the United Kingdom.” He said early on New Year’s Day, he, Hinton and her mother, Martha Hinton, went to St. Paul’s Cathedral. “I climbed several spiral staircases to the top of the dome and experienced the London skyline from the Golden Gallery,” Polarek said. “Painted and gilded in and around the inside of the dome are depictions of St. Paul’s conversion and ministry and the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.” He said traveling to London gave him a hope and confidence for the future which won’t soon waiver and made for an unforgettable experience.
Features
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January 17, 2019
82nd Campus Lights brings ‘Mamma Mia!’ to campus and give their recommendations, but at the end of the process, it’s up to the members.” He said about 50 students auditioned for the show and 22 students got roles. “The students will have rehearsed two weeks before the show,” Arnold said. “Most productions usually have two months to rehearse, so we have three intense rehearsals each day for a week and a half.” He said audience members should expect a positive and upbeat show with some very heartfelt moments. Tristan Houser, junior from Mt. Vernon, Illinois, said he plays Pepper, the flirtatious bartender. “I decided to audition because a lot of my friends have been a part of this program in the past and
Sara Howell Features Editor showell6@murraystate.edu
Are you in need of some weekend plans? Come out to Murray State’s annual production of Campus Lights this Friday, Saturday or Sunday at 7:30 p.m. This year students will be performing “Mamma Mia!”, which highlights hits from the Swedish pop group ABBA. Nathan Arnold, the Campus Lights stage director from Mount Vernon, Illinois, said Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Mu Alpha are asked for theme suggestions. “The Board of Producers and Staff narrow down the options and give the fraternities three options to vote on,” Arnold said. “The directors explain the pros and cons of each show option
I’ve always wanted to but never had time,” Houser said. “Luckily this semester, I had a little more free time and who doesn’t love ‘Mamma Mia!’?” He said though the whole experience has been stressful and time-consuming, it has been well worth it. “Spending time with this cast and meeting new people has been great and seeing the show come together after just a few weeks has been incredible,” Houser said. He said the cast has grown into a family. Caroline Oguin, sophomore from Sturgis, Kentucky, is playing to role of Sophie Sheridan, Donna’s daughter, who wants to have the perfect wedding by having her father walk her down the aisle. She said this is her sec-
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ond time participating in Campus Lights. Last year, she played Rapunzel in “Into the Woods.” “I adored the tradition and the significance that Campus Lights has on this campus, and I knew I wanted to do it again this year,” Oguin said. She said these past two weeks have been nonstop but the cast and crew have put the show together quickly. “We all have worked so hard these past few weeks and we can’t wait to put on a great show for this community,” Oguin said. “We hope you enjoy ‘Mamma Mia!’ as much as we have loved performing it.” Ticket are available on the Campus Lights 2019 Facebook page. Adult tickets are $15, student tickets are $10 and children, 12 or younger $7.
Photo courtesy of Campus Lights
The money from Campus Lights goes toward a scholarship fund.
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January 17, 2019
NEWS OPINION THE MUR R AY STATE
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Our View
Editorial Board Ashley Traylor
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Daniella Tebib
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Sara Howell
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Gage Johnson
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David Wallace
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Between a wall and a hard place When Congress set out to approve the budget for 2019, no one expected it to cause a national crisis. President Donald Trump and the Republicans threw a curveball when he had $5.7 billion added to the budget for the border wall and refused to back down. Trump met with Democratic leaders, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Chuck Schumer to discuss the border wall funding on Dec. 11. “If we don’t get what we want… I will shut down the government,” Trump said. “I am proud to shut down the government for border security.” The shutdown began on Dec. 22 and has set the record for longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Shutdowns are not a new occurrence for the U.S. government. Under former P r e si d e n t Barack Obama, the struggle to pass the Affordable Care Act caused a 16-day shutdown. Interestingly, during that shutdown Trump tweeted, “The reason why Americans have to worry about a government shutdown is because Obama refuses to pass a budget.” Hypocrisy aside, there is a recurring problem within the U.S.
Autumn Brown/The News
government: a refusal on both sides to compromise because of selfishness and stubbornness and an overall lack of regard for the American people. Even worse, the biggest consequence our representatives face is the disdain of the public, while America and her people are suffering greatly. The shutdown means that fundingfor several government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, Justice Department, Department of Agriculture and more is being appropriated by
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Congress until a budget is passed. The American workforce is taking the biggest hit from the shutdown. According to a statement from the Senate Appropriations Committee, more than 420,000 federal employees are working without pay and an additional 380,000 are not working at all. When many working-class citizens live paycheck-to-paycheck, a total cease of payment can lead to an inability to keep the lights on and food on the table. American families are suffering.
The FDA ceased routine food inspections, but resumed the process Tuesday with unpaid workers. In December, there was an E. coli outbreak, which was contained by the FDA and CDC, caused by contaminated lettuce. The U.S. was unprotected from similar dangerous outbreaks from Dec. 22 to Jan. 15, and is only protected now because FDA employees are willing to work without pay. National parks are also being hit hard by the shutdown. Employees that normally keep parks clean
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.
and safe are furloughed or working without pay, leaving the parks understaffed and vulnerable to vandalism and misuse of park lands. There is no way to effectively close an entire park. What can be closed has been, and while the government is shut down, parks are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars from entry fees that are used to keep them up and running. Land Between the Lakes is currently at risk for issues such as the spread of garbage, human waste and illegal camping. Visitors are also at risk of becoming lost or injured without trained employees to help. America is suffering at the hands of its own elected leaders. Congress has a fundamental inability to work together and it is ignoring the needs of its people for selfish interests. Students, this is something you should care about. You are affected by the government shutdown directly and indirectly. The American governmental system is proving to be ineffective and broken. Students are the future of this country. No matter what your political ideals are, this shutdown has a negative effect on your life. Keep that in mind the next time you vote.
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
January 17, 2019