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April 4, 2019 | Vol. 93, No. 24

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Blake Sandlin/The News

Morant heading to NBA Draft NEWS FACULTY VIE FOR OPEN REGENT POSITION

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OPINION

SPORTS

WOMEN WILL ALWAYS STAND OUT

ESPORTS TAKES OVER MURRAY STATE IN MARCH AND BEYOND

ALUMNI JAZZ BAND GATHERS FOR REUNION

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FEATURES

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News

April 4, 2019

Meet the faculty regent candidates Bassam Atieh Bassam Atieh is a professor in the department of occupational safety and health. He has worked at Murray State since Jan. 1, 1991, and has been tenured since 1997. Within his department, he is involved in advisory committee activities, the curriculum committee and ABET accreditation/self-study and preparation. He established the AIHA/Murray State Local Chapter in 1992 and served as a faculty adviser from 1992 to 1998 as well as from summer 2001 until now. Within the University, he served as a college representative on Murray State’s academic council from 1993 to 1996 and was the team captain of the Road Scholars Program at Graves County High School from 1994 to 2008. He also has served as the residential college head of Richmond College since August 2016. His accomplishments include the Murray State 2017-18 Omicron Delta Kappa “Faculty Advisor of the Year Award,” multiple nominations for the Max-Carman Award for teaching excellence and the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 2002.

Katherine Farmer Katherine Farmer currently serves as the Education Research and Instruction Librarian and director of the COEHS Curriculum Materials Center. She has also served as a faculty senator and vice president of the faculty senate from 2014-16 and faculty regent from 2016-19. She is a part of the faculty and staff leadership committee, ADVANCE grant internal advisory board, faculty and staff insurance and benefits committee and library tenure and promotion committee chair. She also spearheaded the effort to provide voting rights to lecturers and was awarded the Board of Regents’ Award for Teaching Excellence in 2013.

Kemaly Parr Kemaly Parr is an assistant professor in the adolescent career and special education department and joined Murray State’s faculty in 2015. She currently serves as the director of career and technical education. She also spearheaded the creation of MOU between KDE office of CTE and Murray State. Parr was awarded $222,000 in grant funding and oversees the Murray State region for the new CTE Teacher Mentor Program. She also represents Murray State on multiple department-level committees at the national, state, university, college and department levels and on advisory boards at the national, college and regional levels.

Melony Shemberger Melony Shemberger is an associate professor of journalism and mass communication. Her work has been published in several peer-reviewed publications. Some of Shemberger’s other accomplishments include being named a Business Journalism Professors Seminar Fellow in 2014 and a Scripps Howard Academic Leadership Academy Fellow in 2017. She has served as interim director of the Faculty Development Center in 2016 and vice president of the faculty senate in 2016-17. Shemberger is also a lifetime member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi where she serves as Murray State’s chapter’s vice president. She also belongs to Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society, American Journalism Historians Association, History Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and the Education Writers Association.

Paul Walker Paul Walker has been an associate professor of English at Murray State since 2007. He has served on the faculty senate from 2012-15, including one year as chair of the government relations subcommittee. He also served as an inaugural member of the president’s commission on sustainability from 2010-16 and the commission’s chair from 2014-16. Walker is currently the chair of the tenure and promotion committee in the department of English and philosophy. Some of Walker’s accomplishments include being awarded the Presidential Research Fellowship in 2012 and being named the College of Humanities and Fine Arts outstanding researcher in 2013. He has also authored a book and several peer-reviewed articles and was the Democratic nominee for U.S. House of Representatives District 1 in 2018.

Photos courtesy of each professor

Milli Cecil/The News

News

April 4, 2019

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Faculty vie for open regent position

Daniella Tebib News Editor dtebib@murraystate.edu Five faculty members have been nominated to take on the role of faculty regent. Whoever is elected faculty regent will be responsible for representing faculty members on the Board of Regents. The candidates competing for the position are Bassam Atieh, Katherine Farmer, Kemaly Parr, Melony Shemberger and Paul Walker. A candidates’ forum will take place at 5 p.m. on April 9 in the Freed Curd Auditorium to give faculty members a chance to hear from them. Faculty members can vote in the election via MyGate on April 10 and 11. Candidates answered the following questions from The News on April 2. Some answers have been lightly edited for clarity. Why did you choose to run for faculty regent? Atieh: “With 28 years of being a faculty at Murray State, I have experienced both the highlights and the challenges. In the current economic and political environment, as faculty regent, I will ensure that the faculty have a strong voice and that they will be heard.” Farmer: “I decided to run for re-election because I do not feel that the job I started almost three years ago is done. When I ran for office the first time, I was the only faculty member who stood up to serve as faculty regent during times of great struggles of budget cuts, low faculty morale and low enrollment. I feel that in the

past eight months that the University has finally made a turn toward better times. I would still like to be part of the process of turning the corner toward a better future for the University.” Parr: “I honestly hadn’t thought too much about this opportunity until I was asked to consider running by a couple of colleagues. While thinking about this option, I realized that it could be an opportunity to represent my colleagues and friends on the Board of Regents. I feel like communication between the faculty ranks and our Board of Regents is very important.” Shemberger: “When the General Assembly eliminated state tuition waivers for state employees in 2018, I was disheartened with this news because I had just returned to the graduate classroom in spring 2018 to earn a master’s degree in instructional design. I voiced my concerns about this on my Facebook page. Several faculty emailed me with their concerns and questions, and I knew then that our voice needed to be loud on this matter, as well as other topics. Eventually, state waivers were granted for fall 2018 and spring 2019, but the benefit disappears after this semester. Faculty received little to no warning on this. I learned this news from a news report and asked President (Bob) Jackson, who was able to work with other university presidents in extending the waivers for employees to take classes at other Kentucky public schools. In addition, faculty deserve transparency. Frequent communication is desired. My campaign slogan, if you will, is “Empowering

the Faculty Voice,” which I launched on my Facebook page after I filed my petition. This message would act as the core of my service to faculty throughout my threeyear term, if elected.” Walker: “I believe that my experience and accomplishments can best serve our University at this time. I have full confidence in my fellow faculty members, including the others running for this position, but I feel that I can be the most effective as regent in representing the faculty in decisions as the board moves our University forward.” If chosen as faculty regent, how will you meet the needs of the faculty and represent them? Atieh: “My experience at Murray State has allowed me to meet and work with faculty and administration across campus. I will try to find out what concerns faculty most and take the concerns to the appropriate channels to discuss and create avenues for resolutions.” Farmer: “If I am chosen to be faculty regent again, I would continue to work to meet the needs of the faculty by remembering to listen first, asking questions to find an understanding of all sides of an issue and being an advocate for the faculty with the administration and the Board of Regents.” Parr: “Through my experiences, I have developed a picture of the needs of our faculty, students and region. I understand the educational needs of employers, the challenges of being a faculty member who strives to meet these needs and the

Faculty Regent Candidates’ Forum Date: April 9 Time: 5 p.m. Place: Freed Curd Auditorium Voting: April 10 - 11 Milli Cecil/The News

students’ perspective who are looking to better themselves. I will carry these needs to the board for consideration as well as maintaining a constant outlet of communication between faculty and the board.” Shemberger: “Frequent communication with faculty is paramount. First, I would send emails to faculty as soon as I receive the Board of Regents agenda, so that faculty can see what is slated for discussion and/or approval. Second, immediately after Board of Regents meetings, I would send emails to faculty to report to them all the activities and how I voted. Third, I would hold monthly faculty forums leading up to Regents meetings to share with faculty what I know, issues and other topics - and ask them what needs to be brought to the Regents table. Faculty not only want to be heard, but they want someone to fight for them. I am that person to lead the charge.” Walker: “As faculty regent, I will be accessible, transparent and open to ideas from all faculty members. The priorities of

all faculty are my priorities - I will not use the position for my own agenda or ambition. I believe we need to protect and increase our governance role, ensure that we have full academic freedom and have the resources and morale to do the best we can do in teaching, scholarship and service.” Why do you feel like you would be a good faculty regent? Atieh: “Murray State is my home and I want to ensure that current and future faculty have the same sentiments. As a faculty member, it is my duty and obligation to support fellow faculty and assist them in having a conducive and productive environment. I will always speak out loud and clearly.” Farmer: “I feel that I am a good faculty regent because I have a proven track record of: being willing to step up to get the job done, taking the time to listen and research all sides of an issue before making a decision and developing relationships to create the best environment for

working toward solutions.” Parr: “I am a first-generation college student and I fully understand the value and role that faculty play in the development of our students. I will strive to communicate the needs of our faculty to fulfill those roles to the Board of Regents. I am a hard worker and I love Murray State. During my time at Murray State, I have had the chance to teach 11 graduate and 14 undergraduate classes, serve as director of CTE, and have served on over 35 committees at the University, college, regional, state and national level in service to the 18-county region and brought in $222,000 dollars in external funding. I have created Graduate and Undergraduate CTE Certificates in CTE and created and revised curriculum for all CTE programs to meet the needs of community stakeholders and students. I want our faculty to always be proud to work for Murray State and have confidence in our leadership.” Visit TheNews.org to read more about the candidates.

Correction On Thursday, March 28, The Murray State News misspelled Hannah Huckeby as “Hannah Huxley.” The News deeply regrets the error.

News April 4, 2019 Murray State highlights sexual assault awareness

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Haley Penrod Staff writer hpenrod1@murraystate.edu Take Back the Night was hosted on Tuesday, April 2 to observe Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Abigail Cox, the coordinator of the Women’s Center, said this is a tradition at Murray State. “It’s sort of a gathering of people who feel passionately about sexual assault prevention,” Cox said. “For me, Take Back the Night represents something symbolic that we are taking a moment to reflect on each of our own roles in preventing sexual assault as well as our responsibility to the campus as a whole and how we individually play into creating the type of campus that we want to have.” Rebecca Thomas, residential director of Hart College, said going to college can offer positive and negative experiences. “Sexual assault and domestic violence is something we wish

to not exist,” Thomas said. “It is something we do not necessarily think about or consider until it happens to us or someone close to us.” Thomas said the residential colleges’ goal is to create a safe and open environment to prevent and discuss sexual assault. Thomas opened up about her own experience in an abusive relationship. She said she was in denial that it was happening and acted out. Thomas also said she wants students to know residential colleges offer resources to help students, including campus sources, housing options and simply having someone to talk to. Events like Take Back the Night are one way to educate students, faculty and staff about sexual assault and how to help survivors. The Women’s Center will also host a panel to help educate faculty and staff. “We will be having a panel for faculty and staff, talking to them about how to be support-

ive and respond to students who may disclose sexual assault to them,” Cox said. “Toward the end of the month, we will be having an event with our nursing students to educate them about a program called ‘Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Certification,’ and we will be talking about how they become certified, as well as the benefits.” Lily Grieve, sophomore from Edwardsville, Illinois, is the president of Advocating for Respect Culture. She said their mission is to create a world where everyone has the freedom to live fully through education, empowerment and advocacy. “We want to create a space where everyone feels like it is safe to talk and ask questions,” Grieve said. ARC was originally created as a sexual assault advocacy group. They promote the importance of consent and healthy relationships. The club will host an event in Waterfield Library called

Richard Thompson/The News

The Women’s Center hosted Take Back the Night to observe Sexual Assault Awareness Month. “2020 A Comprehensive Look at Sexual Assault.” It will consist of a series of posters from each academic department on campus to show their view of sexual assault in their field of study. Ryan Ackermann, freshman from Louisville, Kentucky, said it is important to talk about events like this because sexual assault is notoriously prevalent on college campuses nationwide. Jaime Mason, a sophomore from Louisville, Kentucky, also

said it’s important to talk about sexual assault because of the stigma around it. “It is something that is stigmatized and people really don’t like to talk about it,” Mason said. “Especially survivors talking about it if they can handle it is very effective.” Students, faculty and staff who experience sexual assault should contact the IDEA office. Contact information can be found on TheNews.org.

Research participants wanted

Study title: Tracking mobile device usage: the impact of social media notifications on screen time Through this study, Dr. Tim Vance and Dr. Stephanie Anderson will determine how much social media notifications impact mobile device usage. Requirements:

Informational Meeting:

*Must be a Murray State student *Must be at least 18 years old

Thurs., April 11 at 3:30 p.m. or Friday, April 12 at 1 p.m.

For more information: tvance2@murraystate.edu or sanderson37@murraystate.edu

Reading Room 2nd Floor Wilson Hall

There is no compensation for participating in this study.

News

April 4, 2019

Tuition increase proposed at budget forum Ciara Benham Staff Writer cbenham@murraystate.edu Tuition increases, deferred maintenance and increased pension costs were discussed on March 28 at the University Tuition and Budget Forum. President Bob Jackson defined the upcoming budget changes and goals at the Budget Advisory Committee FY20 Budget and Tuition Review. Jackson said the main focuses of the budget are recruitment, deferred

in recent years and is currently around $110 million. In order to increase the budget, the University is trying to focus on boosting enrollment. In the past, enrollment has been approximately 11,000 students per year, but it is now less than 10,000. With that decrease, Jackson said the University is focusing on finding the “right sizing” for campus and the ideal size of the student population is between 10,500 and 10,700. In spring 2019, the

Photo courtesy of Michelle Hawks

President Bob Jackson presented the budget proposal at a forum on March 28. maintenance and raising wages for employees. “Obviously first and foremost is teaching and learning,” Jackson said. “We can’t keep cutting back and expect great things to happen. This year I think [students] will be pleased in regard to how these things have been addressed.” The budget has decreased

University was $2.3 million short of its budget projections. With its shortcomings and decreased budget, the University will increase some costs to generate revenue. These increases include a 1 percent tuition increase, a 2 percent increase on housing rates and 2.63 percent increase on meal plans. Jackson said these rates

are on par with public universities across Kentucky, but are still significantly lower than private institutions in the state. These increases are expected to generate at least $740,000 in new revenue. Aside from students, the University budget is also focusing on faculty and staff. The new budget proposes raising wages to $10.10 per hour for full-time employees in areas such as food service. The University is also eliminating 29.5 job positions in the coming year. However, Jackson said faculty and staff will not be affected by these cuts. “About 30 positions will be eliminated,” Jackson said. “No one will be impacted by this due to transitionary retirements or empty positions.” The budget also focuses on deferred maintenance and campus construction. Some projects outlined in the budget are enhancements to the Curris Center, completion of J.H. Richmond Hall, razing of Woods Hall, pressure washing and painting of New Fine Arts and updating campus buildings to be more energy efficient. “Deferred maintenance has been an issue that we have discussed on this campus for many months,” Jackson said. “Deferred maintenance issues are issues on nearly every public college university campus and private college university campus. It’s a big issue for Kentucky.” The University will need approximately $16 million for deferred maintenance

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projects. To fund these costs, the budget will establish a $7 per credit hour fee on classes for asset preservation. The revenue from this fee will only apply to academic facilities on campus and will not include housing. The budget is set by the Budget Review Committee composed of faculty, staff, administration and students. One of these students is Student Government Association President and Student Regent J.T. Payne. “My most significant contribution to the University budget process is my role as student regent,” Payne said. “I am the sole student voting member on the Board of Regents who actually approves the budget each cycle.” Payne also appointed students Cassie Wooley and Kelly McIndoo to work alongside the faculty, staff and administration to represent the student body and voice the issues that concern students. “I was able to discuss budgetary constraints and concerns with many students through student government and other campus involvement,” McIndoo, SGA vice president, said. “Then, I would take those concerns and sit down with J.T. and Cassie and determine how we would approach advocating for those particular issues during budget advisory meetings.” The budget will be presented for approval at the April 5 Board of Regents meeting.

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Your Guide to Registering for Classes Graduate/Post-baccalaureate Last names: A - Z: 8 a.m.

April 9

Seniors

Last names:

E- L: 8 a.m. M - R: 10 a.m. S - Z: 12:30 p.m. A - D: 2:30 p.m.

Juniors

April 10

Last names:

M - R: 8 a.m. S - Z: 10 a.m. A - D: 12:30 p.m. E - L: 2:30 p.m.

April 11

April 8

Sophomores

Last names:

S - Z: 8 a.m. A - D: 10 a.m. E - L: 12:30 p.m. M - R: 2:30 p.m.

Freshmen

Last names:

A - D: 8 a.m. E - L: 10 a.m. M - R: 12:30 p.m. S - Z: 2:30 p.m.

April 12

• Students can register for classes via MyGate. • Undergraduate students are required to meet with an academic adviser prior to advanced scheduling. • Students can view their registration status at the Registration Status Link on their Academics Tab via MyGate. • Students can schedule at their assigned time or any time after. Milli Cecil/The News

Our View

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Editorial Board Blake Sandlin Interim Editor-in-Chief 270-809-6877 bsandlin1@murraystate.edu Bryce Anglin Production Manager 270-809-5874 zanglin@murraystate.edu Daniella Tebib News Editor 270-809-4468 dtebib@murraystate.edu Sara Howell Features Editor 270-809-5871 showell6@murraystate.edu Gage Johnson Sports Editor 270-809-4481 gjohnson17@murraystate.edu Megan Reynolds Opinion Editor 270-809-5873 mreynolds12@murraystate.edu David Wallace Chief Copy Editor 270-809-5876 dwallace15@murraystate.edu Connor Dame Ad Sales and Circulation Manager 270-809-4478 cdame2@murraystate.edu Brock Kirk Photography Editor 270-809-5878 jkirk11@murraystate.edu Kalea Anderson Chief Videographer 270-809-5878 kanderson29@murraystate.edu Dr. Stephanie Anderson Adviser • 270-809-3937 sanderson37@murraystate.edu 2609 University Station Murray State University Murray, Kentucky 42071-3301 msunews1927@gmail.com Fax: (270) 809-3175

TheNews.org

April 4, 2019

The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board.

Women will always stand out With the passing of March, Women’s History Month draws to a close, sticking the excited babble around feminism back in the closet until next year when March rolls around again. As much as the world talks a big game about equality, we are failing epicly at making that into a simple truth. From scientific discoveries to representation in the work field to equal pay, we as a people are failing miserably in giving women what they deserve. One of the saddest things about Women’s History Month is, as amazing as the celebration of women is, it’s shoved under the rug as soon as March is over. It’s the same problem we have with Black History Month. We celebrate them and forget about them, all in the span of four weeks. During the celebration, we work to highlight women who’ve made leaps and bounds for the world, but barely make a dent in the number of women that deserve recognition. Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughn are finally becoming household names after “Hidden Figures” released in 2016. These women made the moon landing possible, yet we only heard about them nearly 50 years later. But, of course, we’ve known Neil Armstrong’s name since the very moment it happened, we can even quote him. “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Some

Autumn Brown/

giant leap. How many other women have been the markers of these huge historical landmarks and go unknown, forgotten to the pages of our history books? Rosalind Franklin, Vera Atkins, Elizabeth Fry? Wangari Maathai, Grace Hopper, Nellie Bly? Have you ever heard their names? For most, that answer is most likely no. Franklin paved the road to the discovery of DNA being a double helix. Atkins was a military intelligence agent who found over 100 missing soldiers. Fry brought to light the mistreatment of prisoners, Maathai showed society that the destruction of Mother Nature we are pursuing is going to destroy us in turn. Hopper changed the way the technology of

computers works and Bly showed the world that women can be hard-hitting reporters just as well as men. That is but a miniscule fraction of a fraction of the women that are cut out of history, broken off from the taught world. The world struggles with gender equality longer than just one month. The wage gap is very real, the glass ceiling is very real, the lack of representation is very real and the objectification of women is very real. And while we’ve progressed in any of these areas, we have backtracked in others. Yes, women are finally managing to break into the political and STEM worlds, but trans women and women of color are seemingly com-

pletely discounted from modern feminism. It’s almost disgusting, the way that many “progressives” will speak out for “women of all kinds” until it becomes uncomfortable for them. It’s like sticking a knife in their back. “White feminism” is toxic feminism. These “progressives” walk around, claiming “equality for all,” yet always seem to have hidden agendas. They scream about the glory of women and the need for raising women’s wages to be equal to those of men, but ask them how they feel about the Latina woman who just moved nextdoor from Mexico, or how they feel about the trans girl that just joined their daughter’s softball team. They seem to go silent, despite their boasts of “fighting for the little guy.” Many of them don’t even realize they do that, though. They are brainwashed from birth to be wary of anyone different from themselves because that’s the excruciating fact of the world we live in. It’s depressing, and it’s something to combat. Women will always stand out, no matter where they are. It’s in their nature to stand up and fight back. It’s both their downfall and their greatest strength; their ability to rise up against the odds and raise their fists in defiance. It’s an inspiration.

Cheers to the weather!

Jeers to the weather!

Spring has finally rolled around and is (hopefully) here to stay!

After sun through Wednesday, it’s supposed to rain and storm the rest of the week.

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.

Opinion

April 4, 2019

Page 7

mreynolds12@murraystate.edu

TTERS TO TH E L SE

TO:

ITOR

are. Political parties are at odds, races and ethnicities are at odds, genders are at odds - the division is seemingly ceaseless. The worst part is that the infinite amount of schisms in our nation have been bred by the very people who compose this nation. We have truly become our own worst enemy, fighting our own reflections. Peele also hides small yet extraordinary symbols within “Us.” An escalator that only goes down represents the impossibility to rise out of poverty. Americans’ self-awareness of their appalling state is shown in the son’s awareness of his mother’s true origins. Our own monstrosity that we hide deep within ourselves is displayed in the murderous nature of the Tethered. The most horrid thoughts that we never let leave our tongue show themselves when our very primal nature is embodied in a clone of ourselves. Peele has taken the genre of horror and given it new, higher standards, and I am excited to watch him bring society’s issues into the foreground, combating them and working to crush the problems of the world.

have in this film is pretty reasonable: Who are they? The answer is one of the best lines in the film. “We are Americans.” Enter the social commentary. Peele has said that we, as a nation, are our own worst enemy. This film has taken that statement and personified it, and it is truly terrifying. Taking every single human in the nation, copying them exactly and dehumanizing that clone, it brings about a level of self-reflection most are not comfortable with. Peele has removed the sensible speech(and I use the word sensible very loosely here, the language they use in the film is entirely a developed language, just not to our ears) and given them this chaotic, almost uncivilized manner. To our eyes, they would be savages, monsters. But they are us. They are Americans. They are divided against themselves and they are ready to fight because of it, despite the pain and havoc it will wreak across the nation. The Tethered are hungry for their time in the sun, just as the many divisions in the United States

Jordan Peele, comedy writer turned to horror, released his latest film on March 22, “Us.” In February 2017, Peele released his first attempt in the horror genre, “Get Out.” This film quickly set high standards for the new writer, producer and director. It also showed moviegoers everywhere that Peele’s films weren’t going to be as simple as the others in his newfound genre. There is nothing cookie-cutter about these films in the slightest; they are soaked in hidden social commentary. Horror has long been host to social commentary; it’s a genre that explores our fears, but it goes much deeper than surface-level fear. Horror gives audiences and creators a chance to delve into why it is that we fear what we do, the psychology and embedded societal norms that lead to these fears. Peele took his chance to preach, embracing the genre. “Get Out” set the stage for Peele’s pulpit, covering controversies such as the sexualization of

African Americans, systemic racism and white feminism. After “Get Out” astonished audiences with its success not only in the realm of social commentary, but also as a horror film, Peele knew he could take it even further. “Us” centers on an African American family, a normal family with normal family problems and successes. A husband, a wife, a teenage daughter and a young son. The family is vacationing at Adelaide’s (the mother) old home; it’s a quaint, lakefront home decorated with paintings from Adelaide’s childhood. The family is friends with a wealthy white family that vacations in the same area they do. A mother, a father and twin girls, the family seemingly argues nonstop. And each of them has a doppelganger, an exact carbon copy of themselves, just as every other human in the United States of America. These copies have lived underground for years and years. And these copies, the Tethered, they call themselves, are sick and tired of being forgotten. The No. 1 question every character seems to

S UB

Megan Reynolds Opinion Editor

MI T

Jordan Peele preaches through the social commentary of “Us”

mreynolds12@murraystate.edu

Savannah Jane Walton/The News

Sports

Page 8

April 4, 2019

Morant declares for NBA Draft Blake Sandlin Interim Editor-in-Chief bsandlin1@murraystate.edu

Sophomore guard Ja Morant announced on Wednesday, April 3, that he will end his celebrated twoyear college career and officially enter the 2019 NBA Draft. The news, which was delivered by Morant alongside his mother Jamie, father Tee, Head Coach Matt McMahon and a large crowd of fans gathered in the CFSB Center, comes as no surprise to many who followed Morant along his historic run with the Racers. The 19-year-old sophomore is expected to be taken as the No. 2 pick in this coming draft, according to ESPN mock drafts. Yet before he steps into the spotlight on June 20 in New York, Morant took the time to thank those who helped guide him to this point. “First, I’d just like to thank God for blessing me and allowing me to play the game of basketball,” Morant said. “I’d like to thank my

coaches, teammates, managers, advisers, fans; just everybody for everything y’all have done for me.” Despite all the expectations of Morant’s impending departure throughout the season, the Dalzell, South Carolina, native admitted that leaving the Racers was a tougher decision than he expected. “It was difficult,” Morant said. “Obviously me and my teammates had a great season this year, but just talking with my parents we thought we could take a day to make the decision, but another day went by, another day went by. So it was a very tough decision to I guess leave Murray State. There’s still a place in my heart, and I’ll always be a Racer.” Morant announced he would be represented by Tandem Sports and Entertainment through the draft process and into his NBA career. Tandem also represents NBA legend Ray Allen, who has ties to the Morant family after playing on the same high school basketball team

as Morant’s father, Tee. Morant’s decision means he’s just the second player in Murray State history to forgo his remaining years of eligibility to enter the NBA draft. Cameron Payne became the first in 2015. He will become the 23rd player in Murray State’s history to be taken in the draft when his name is called in June. “I’ve said it all season long, Ja is a once-in-a-lifetime player,” McMahon said. “We look forward to celebrating his many future successes, both on and off the basketball court for years and years to come. It’s been an absolute privilege to get to Blake Sandlin/The News coach Ja, and an absolute Sophomore guard Ja Morant passes the ball at the CFSB Center. privilege to welcome the is fortunate enough to draft you.” superior athleticism, and his head Morant family into our family Morant has garnered an oncoach couldn’t have been prouder at Murray State. We wish you the slaught of media attention thanks to of how he handled it. very best, and can’t wait to bring “I want to thank Ja for being Racer Nation to whatever franchise his highlight-reel performances and

Sports

April 4, 2019 the ambassador that he’s been and will continue to be for the University,” McMahon said. “It’s amazing where the game of basketball can take you. He started off inspiring people in his hometown of Dalzell, South Carolina, then to Murray, Kentucky, and now impacting people not only across the country, but people around the world.” Although he’s departing, Morant made sure to leave his mark on Murray State’s record books. In addition to leading Murray State to two OVC Championships and one NCAA Tournament win, Morant also set the Racers’ assist record in just two

“

seasons and set single-season records in assists and points. He led the NCAA in triple-doubles this year with three,

school, and took a chance on him when no other program would. “I want to give another shout out to (former Murray State assistant) coach James Kane for coming to a packed gym and finding me, and really giving me the opportunity to play at Murray State, a great -Ja Morant, sophomore program, and in front of great fans,” Morant said. and became the first NBA fans will player in NCAA hisnow wait with tory to average 20 points and 10 assists bated breath while the regular season in a season. begins to wane, as Even with all the they hope to get a fame, expectations chance at Morant. and accolades Morant’s former Morant has accrued AAU teammate, over his two years Zion Williamson, at Murray State, he is currently tabbed was quick to rememto go No. 1 in this ber the one man who made his dream year’s NBA Draft. Per the new NBA a reality in high

There’s still a place in my heart, and I’ll always be a Racer.

”

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lottery system, the bottom-three teams in the league have an equal chance of securing the No. 1 pick. Currently, the Knicks, Suns and Cavaliers own the greatest odds of landing the top picks in the 2019 draft. The Bulls, which have played home to both Payne and former Racer Isaiah Canaan, have a 48.1 percent chance of landing a top-four pick. The draft order will be decided during the NBA Draft lottery on May 14. As for what’s next for the sophomore guard as he prepares for the draft, Morant summed it up best. “A whole lot of work,” Morant said.

Blake Sandlin/The News

Tee and Jamie Morant join their son and his coach, Matt McMahon, on stage during Wednesday’s press conference.

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April 4, 2019

Morant declares for NBA Draft Blake Sandlin Interim Editor-in-Chief bsandlin1@murraystate.edu

Sports

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seasons and set single-season records in assists and points. He led the NCAA in triple-doubles this year with three,

There’s still a place in my heart, and I’ll always be a Racer.

”

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Blake Sandlin/The News

Tee and Jamie Morant join their son and his coach, Matt McMahon, on stage during Wednesday’s press conference.

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April 4, 2019

MOBA Madness:

Esports takes over Murray State in March and beyond Gage Johnson Sports Editor gjohnson17@murraystate.edu While Murray State men’s basketball took to the hardwood for the NCAA Tournament, Murray State’s Esports club was battling Marquette and Florida State in the virtual world. Two nights before the Racers faced the Golden Eagles in the Round of 64, Sean Mitchuson — the advisor of the club — reached out to Marquette in hopes of having a ‘tournament prediction’ League of Legends game. After getting rosters, the livestream and game settings in place, the five players from each university took each other on. “It’s a 5v5 ‘defend the base’ game,” senior Kyle Greene said. “Player versus player; both teams have a roster of champions to pick through that has 150 now. Each player picks one, and the whole objective is to get further and further toward the other side of the map and destroy their structures and eventually their nexus, which is the center of their base.” While they may have split the two games, losing the first against Marquette and winning the second against Florida State, these games are just the beginning for this club. The club is looking to expand its membership, as well as earn funding to further improve the Esports experience. This all begins with efforts to create funding and gain the proper equipment, as all the students in the group currently bring their own equipment for each meeting. The group is currently working with the Telecommunications systems management department at Murray State to design a hybrid Esports/laboratory classroom in order to provide the full package for students. By doing this, junior interim club president Aaron Nethery thinks they can not only increase the club’s size, but its ability to travel and compete more often at venues, like a trip to Cincinnati that the club made last year. “Because we don’t have the gear here to keep people in one location, it’s hard for us to coach people effectively and get a really solid team together,” Nethery said. “I feel like once we do have that, we’ll be

Richard Thompson/The News

Interim Esports club president Aaron Nethery practices by playing League of Legends. able to go to different venues and physically go to different schools and compete because we’ll have a cohesive team.” Nethery hopes they can eventually make it to these different venues for competitions, because the team’s trip to Cincinnati is one he’ll never forget. “We didn’t leave until midnight for Cincinnati, so we didn’t arrive until like 5 a.m.,” Nethery said. “Once we got to the actual school, since we didn’t have anywhere to stay, they had opened up the lobby so we went in there carrying our desktops. It was like a sleepover you’d have in elementary school. There were hundreds of people in their lobby with their computers and all their stuff set up. It was crazy. They had Riot [the company that developed League of Legends] cards and merch being handed out, and people from the actual company there, so that was huge.” While League of Legends gaming may have created these opportunities, this isn’t the only option available to a club member. They are working on adding games such as Overwatch, Fortnite, Apex Legends and any other game that is popular at a particular time.

With local high schools developing Esports teams, Mitchuson believes that by continuing to build upon the foundation of the Esports club, it will help bring students into the school. “Murray High School has a League of Legends team, Massac County has an Overwatch team,” Mitchuson said. “We want to invite these high schools here, show them this nice playing area, compete against our team and then maybe they’ll think, ‘I want to go to Murray State.’” With collegiate athletics in big tournaments, teams earn compensation for each win or for reaching certain milestones during the season. Since the NCAA has not sanctioned Esports yet, this allows the money to go straight to the students to help the program and also offer scholarships as winnings to students. “There is a collegiate NACE (National Association of Collegiate Esports) commission that is kind of going through this and they basically have said if you win money, the students get to decide what to do with it,” Mitchuson said. “A lot of these tournaments are scholarship winnings. It’s a free ride for four years

just for winning instead of paying Murray State $100,000. It’s more scholarship funding and things like that.” Schools like Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, UC Irvine and the University of Akron all have venues prepared for tournaments, while Ohio State University has begun a medical study on Esports athletes. Esports is a buzzing industry, with people like Ninja — a YouTube gaming streamer — being named ESPN’s athlete of the year, as well as venues like Madison Square Garden selling out for Esports tournaments. With an activity like this becoming so prominent nationwide, Mitchuson thinks it should be a priority to further the club at Murray State and provide interested students a pathway to this possible career field. “It’s extremely important,” Mitchuson said. “Colleges getting involved is another way to build their own brand. It’s important for us to show that we have these interests that newer students that will be coming have already. So it’s really important to build this community that is currently not reaching out enough to the student body, because it’s just not been thought about that much,

and growing that into something that students can have Racer pride in, like they would basketball or anything like that.” Being a YouTube streamer or being a full-time Esports gamer has become a viable career in the United States. While Nethery isn’t interested in this career path himself, he hopes that they can build the program so that it can give the opportunity to others. “There’s so much potential in this program,” Nethery said. “It’s [Esports] becoming so popular that they’ve even created academies that are basically ‘minor league.’ Just because that’s there and because they still pull from colleges, imagine if we had a venue or program that was so successful that we could tap into that or that they could draw players from. That way maybe people who do want to get into that sort of entertainment business, they can do that through us. The opportunity is definitely there.” While this career field and club create opportunities for gamers, it has plenty more facets to it than just online gaming. “Journalism, we need broadcasters that can film these events and stream these events, Murray State will need statisticians and mathematic people to keep stats for different players, dieticians, nutritionists —there are all these other fields that get involved with Esports that people don’t really think about,” Mitchuson said. “This is a whole new way of looking at [students’] possible job outcome in the sports field through Esports.” Most of all, for anyone who is interested in the Esports club, Greene and Nethery said students gain a “second family” through the relationships made through the group. “Me personally, when I came in I didn’t know hardly anyone,” Greene said. “Then I started going to the club meetings, I started making friends with a bunch of people and the friends that I made there I’m still friends with and I’m roommates with a lot of them now. I’ve grown such a good friend group through the club here. It’s a really good opportunity to meet people and make friendships and bonds that can stick around for a while.”

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Blake’s Take: Top 10 moments from 2018-19 9

Blake Sandlin Interim Editor-in-Chief bsandlin1@murraystate.edu

For the past two seasons I’ve spent my Thursdays, Saturdays and virtually every day in between covering Murray State’s men’s basketball team as a beat writer. Though it appeared from the beginning that the program had potentially seen its best days after the heralded careers of Isaiah Canaan and Cameron Payne, these past two season have shown me that this program has plenty more to give. After all, just two years ago Murray State blew a streak for consecutive winning seasons that had stood for 29 seasons. By all indications, I was stepping into covering a program that was 33-31 the last two years, clearly struggling to attain the enormously high expectation set by the teams before it. Two OVC regular season titles, two OVC Championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances later, it’s safe to say my presumptions were wrong, and we’re all better because of it. In this season in particular, I’ve witnessed abundantly more highs than lows, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t commemorate the best of the best. Look out Buzzfeed, here’s my top 10 moments of the 2018-19 season.

Year of the air guitar:

The air guitar celebration was first introduced by sophomore guard Ja Morant during an emotional comeback win against Eastern Kentucky. Since then, it took on a life of its own for the team, becoming a trademark for the squad during big offensive stretches and providing the perfect harmony for a team that finished 28-5 this year.

the NCAA Tournament, and signaled the fourth NCAA Tournament game win in Murray State history.

Morant claiming a life:

No list is complete without the mentioning of Morant’s freakishly “Ja-dropping” (yes, I know it’s overplayed) dunk over UT Martin. There’s literally no other way to describe this gravity-defying feat. We were all overcome by flashes of Vince Carter when Morant cleared the head of unsuspecting UT Martin defender Quinton Dove, and in doing so he etched his name into the national conversation for good.

Morant Mania:

OVC Tournament home-court advantage: Since the Ford Center became the home of the OVC Tournament last season, Murray State fans must have unanimously concluded to make it their second home. If you were at the event this year, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Even after two years, the unwavering support Murray State fans dedicate is probably the most staggering. It’s literally unprecedented in the OVC, and likely in the majority of mid-major schools, as well. To recap, two CFSB Center attendance records were broken this year in games against Belmont and Austin Peay, and the crowd at the OVC Tournament broke records on back-to-back nights. The OVC Championship crowd numbered 10,525 strong to set the largest-ever neutral site attendance record, and let’s just say most of those record-breakers were wearing navy and gold.

‘Downtown’ Tevin Brown bursts onto the scene: Freshman guard Tevin Brown ingratiated himself with Racer fans from the start, hitting five threes in the Racers’ season opener against Wright State, but it was his monumen-

Blake Sandlin/The News

Freshman guard Tevn Brown awaits a pass during an EKU press. tal game against UT Martin – the same game Morant baptized a defender – where he tied the school record of nine threes that reassured Murray State that it would have a reliable marksman on the team for years to come.

year progressed he evolved into a reliable low-post scorer with the footwork of a gazelle. That translated into 10.3 ppg and 6.3 rpg. That output is returning next year, and so is his patented “meathook.”

tionate nickname of “Hall-ofShamer.”

Celebrity shout outs:

If you’d have told me I’d be recounting a season where Ed Marlowe’s press conferMurray State caught the attenence questions: Devin Gilmore and Brion tion of WWE legends Triple Whitley: Pride of The Paducah Sun’s H and Ric Flair, NFL greats sports section and former Patrick Mahomes and Larry sports writer of The Murray This year, there was always Fitzgerald or NBA superState News, Ed Marlowe a game inside the game, stars like Magic Johnson, has struck up quite the fun-lovand that game was bench Kevin Durant and Stephen ing relationship (I think) with celebrations. Countless times Curry, I’d naturally be cynMurray State Head Coach I glanced over to the bench ical. Nevertheless, Murray Matt McMahon over the State and Ja Morant received after an awe-inspiring play, years. praise from all, making for a only to see sophomores Brion Marlowe attempted to whirlwind of a year that capWhitley and Devin Gilmore in capitalize on this relationship tured the hearts of America absolute hysterics on the sidemultiple times in press conferin March. lines, hands-on-head, dancing ences throughout the season, and yelling. No player had inquiring on topics as trivial more energy and enthusiasm as McMahon’s Valentine’s than Whitley and Gilmore, Busting Brackets: Day plans, to which he stared and it was evident every night. blankly at Marlowe for what felt like an eternity before Cowart’s emergence: Oh yeah, Murray State another reporter asked a won an NCAA Tournament question. Or there’s the time game, too. The Racers he asked about the “catharIt’s hard to believe junior wreaked havoc on bracksis” of winning a championforward Darnell Cowart was ets everywhere by pulling ship, and McMahon respondplaying JUCO basketball last off the infamous 5-12-seed ed by asking for a definition. year. The junior was slow to upset that frequents March McMahon is constantly adjust to the college game Madness. The 83-64 win looking for a chance to taunt early in the year, frequently over Marquette marked the Marlowe with his sarcastic getting his shots blocked by largest margin of victory the quips any chance he gets, larger defenders, but as the Racers have ever recorded in which has led to his affec-

As historic as Murray State’s colossal win over Marquette was, it couldn’t have come to fruition without the play of No. 12. Murray State fans saw the potential as early as his first game as a Racer, when Morant recorded 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists in an exhibition win over McKendree University. He was still relatively unknown coming into the 2018-19 season, but he quickly announced his reign over college basketball with a 38-point showing against Alabama and a slew of highlight reel finishes along the way. He’s the first player in DI history to average more than 20 points and 10 assists in a single season, and he became Murray State’s all-time leader in career assists with 532 and the single-season points leader with 808. The media circus that has justifiably followed the star sophomore throughout this season would be enough to break the average 19-yearold kid. Every week he was fielding an onslaught of interviews from major media outlets while managing class and team responsibilities, and through all the ensuing chaos he always made time for those who mattered – his family, his teammates and the winding crowds of fans that waited for autographs and photos with him after every game. Morant has embodied the spirit of Murray State this season, and no matter if he falls to No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 in the NBA Draft, he’ll always be the No. 1 memory when Racer fans look back on this Murray State season packed with unprecedented accolades and notoriety. And to think, I thought the Racers’ best days were behind them...

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April 4, 2019

Rifle seniors set standard for future members Keenan Hall Staff writer khall16@murraystate.edu Murray State rifle’s senior class of 2019 closed the book on their extraordinary careers as Racers. Their stories are highlighted by a plethora of accolades. For starters, seniors Barbara Schläpfer, MacKenzie Martin, Alathea Sellars and Eric Sloan are the fifth Murray State senior class to win four OVC rifle titles. In addition to dominating the OVC, those championships led to four-straight NCAA Rifle Championship appearances. Schläpfer, from Gais, Switzerland, had a productive four years as a Racer. She went from OVC Freshman of the Year in 2016 to being voted Rifle Athlete of the Year by the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Association in 2019. As a senior, Schläpfer finished the regular season with the nation’s highest individual aggregate average with 1182.3 points per match. She also shattered a few Murray State rifle records during her time here. After finishing the season with a 594.3 air rifle average, Schläpfer broke a school record. On Nov. 10, 2018, versus Ohio State University, she reached a personal best in air rifle, scoring a 599. That score is currently the highest air rifle score in school history. “Our sport relies heavily on individual performance when you go anywhere else. It’s almost like being on our own,” Schläpfer said. “College is the only place where we can have a team like this in our sport.” Martin, a Fairhaven, Massachusetts, native, was voted the OVC Smallbore Athlete of the Year in her junior year. Then she ended her career being named a CRCA All-American for the fourth year in a row after being voted to the First-Team Smallbore team in 2019. She also finished her senior year with a 585.2 smallbore average. While the memorable performances were certainly important, they’re rivaled by her relationship with the team. “I am definitely going to miss the team thing; it’s like a family and it’s going to be weird not having that family,” Martin said. “Of course, we have our real families but when it’s someone you see every morning it’s different. Now we are going on our own paths, and I feel like I’m

leaving a piece of me behind.” Sellars, Martin and Schläpfer consoled one another after realizing they would no longer be teammates at the conclusion of the NCAA Championships. “It’s always been a really good atmosphere between us four,” Martin said. “We were like a family, and it was a nice moment because we all knew that it was the end of four years that we had together. Even though it was still bittersweet.” Sellars also had a successful career at Murray State. She posted the second-best air rifle average on the team with 589.2 points per match. Sellars’ season-high in air rifle was 594 points against the Buckeyes. In her last season, Sellars took a step back to appreciate this year’s class’ body of work. “This last year really summed it all up – four years, four seniors and four rings,” Sellars said. “I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to experience that with Martin, Sloan and Schläpfer.” Sellars gives credit to her classmates and her teammates for encouraging her to be the best version of herself. “Whether at practice or in the classroom, these last four years have pushed me to be better every day,” Sellars said. “I’ll never forget the wins, but more importantly, I’ll never forget the amazing memories and friendships I made with my teammates.” Sloan ended his career as a Racer averaging 582.7 points in air rifle. During a tightly-contested OVC Championship match, he contributed a critical 586 points in air rifle to help seal the win for his team. “My career over the last four years has been an adventure, to say the least,” Sloan said. “I have had my ups and downs but overall I feel that it has been good.” Sloan has been an intricate piece to the success of the team over his collegiate career. He will continue to cherish these years as he moves on from Murray State. “The highlight of my career I would say is being part of a team that has won the OVC Championships the past four years in a row,” Sloan said. “It has been very educational and exciting getting to shoot for Murray State. The one thing that I will take away is to not give up and to just keep working hard every day because you never know when it will be your time to shine.” Schläpfer glorified Sloan for

Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics

Seniors MacKenzie Martin, Barbara Schläpfer, Althea Sellars and Eric Sloan pose for their senior class photo. the enthusiastic praise he gave Sloan was a member of the com“I am continuing to shoot with to his teammates. She said the missioner’s honor roll during his the national team and I’m still more successful the team was, the sophomore and junior years. sticking around to work with harder Sloan celebrated. Although it is the end of coach (Alan) Lollar because he’s “Out of everyone on the team, Schläpfer and Martin’s careers the best there is,” Martin said. “In Eric was the most uplifting and as Racers, the All-Americans will a couple of days I am leaving to supportive,” Schläpfer said. “If continue to shoot for their native go to a national selection match we’re winning, you can’t make countries. in Georgia for a couple of World anyone happier than Eric.” “First I have to get through Cups.” Sloan’s and Sellars’ hard work recovery and then when I go Schläpfer has enjoyed her time showed in class, as well as on home it’s straight to practice at Murray State, and embodthe range. The duo was among camp,” Schläpfer said. “Then, ied the tradition student-athletes the seven Racers voted as CRCA about a month after I return keep after they transition to the Scholastic All-Americans for home, I have qualifiers for the post-graduate world. achieving a 3.20 GPA this seaEuropean championships.” “One thing I will take with me son. Sellars was also selected to As for Martin, her break as I go on to the next chapter is, the OVC commissioner’s honor between competition will be once a Racer always a Racer,” roll for three consecutive years. shorter than Schläpfer’s. Schläpfer said.

THE MURRAY STATE NEWS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK James had two impressive performances in the circle last week. Against Tennessee State University, James gave up two runs—one earned— while giving up four hits and striking out 10 in seven innings. She followed this performance by throwing the third perfect game in Murray State history. James is the second Racer to accomplish this feat and the ﬁrst to throw a seven-inning perfect game.

Hannah James Freshman Pitcher Softball

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Family environment draws Goetz to Murray Adam Redfern Staff writer aredfern@murraystate.edu

Multiple players have

excelled to put Murray State one win away from its total number of wins in 2016, but senior infielder Lillie Goetz has been at the forefront of the Racers’ success. Goetz knew from a very young age that softball was the sport for her, and she wanted to do her best to play at the next level. Goetz drew inspiration from a former high school player who played before her time at Owensboro Catholic High School. “She went on to play at (the University of) Kentucky,” Goetz said. “My dad would always take me to watch them. When I was little the Catholic High program was one of the more established programs in Kentucky. I always wanted to be exactly like her when I grew

up. It was that drive to be like her that led me to softball.” Goetz parlayed that inspiration into an impressive high school career. Goetz was a four-time Class A first team all-state selection, twotime Kentucky Class A Player of the Year (2014 and 2015), four-time all-district honoree (2012-14), the 3rd Region Most Valuable Player (2013), and a two-time all-region tournament selection (2012, 2013) during high school. After racking up the accolades at Owensboro Catholic, Goetz was on Murray State’s radar as soon as she graduated in 2015. However, Goetz chose to go to the University of Louisville to continue her career, where she played in 73 games and started 57 with a .272 batting average. Goetz decided to move to Murray State after her sophomore year, and it’s been an environmental change established by Head Coach Kara

Amundson and her teammates that has made a world of difference. “The family aspect of Murray State is a big difference from Louisville, for me,” Goetz said. “At Louisville it was kinda like you are just a player or number trying to do everything you can do to win. Here at Murray, everyone truly cares about you and everyone genuinely wants to see you succeed.” Goetz has thrived in this family environment with the Racers, leading the team in batting average (.352), slugging percentage (.582) and RBIs (27). Goetz attributed her success in the box to her teammates who are always able to keep the mood light while she is preparing for her at-bats. “I do my best to imagine a box where my strike zone will be,” Goetz said. “Here recently Madison has been joking with me that if I don’t get on she’s gonna rub peanut butter on my

pillow. They always do their best to lighten the mood. I always try to rely on my teammates to keep me loose.” Not only has Goetz’s offensive capabilities been an asset for the Racers, her ability to play multiple positions has been a major plus for the team defensively. “She’s been great for us,” Amundson said. “She’s gritty; she’s been willing to play multiple positions; she’s a true utility. We’ve had her at third; we’ve had her at second. She’s been playing left field almost exclusively for us this year and she’s kind of been all over the place of us this year. She just said that Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics everyone would run through Senior infielder Lillie Goetz starts her swing as the ball comes towards home plate. walls for her but she would also do the same for us and her teamhead on her shoulders,” stuff translates into being good mates. Amundson said. “She is one of softball players and good ath While Goetz has proven to the hardest workers on our team; letes. She just said that everybe a formidable player statistishe tries to keep a super posione would run through walls cally, her hard work and leadtive attitude all the time; she’s just for her but she would also do ership skills are traits Amundson a well-rounded human being. the same for us and her teamis thankful to have. I think a lot of times we talk as mates, so I think that’s definitely “She just has such a good a staff about how that kind of reciprocated.”

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Joe McGrannahan, tenor sax player, was one of the organizers of the reunion concert.

The Men of Note gathered in Lovett Auditorium to perform a reunion concert.

Features

April 4, 2019

Tradition reignited Alumni jazz band gathers for reunion concert on campus Claire Smith Staff writer csmith110@murraystate.edu

Richard Thompson/The News

After over a year of planning, alumni returned to campus, bringing with them an old musical tradition of great “note.” The Men of Note jazz band is a former tradition at Murray State that began in 1939 and lasted into the ‘70s. The Men of Note were a part of the Phi Mu Alpha fraternity. They performed at events such as the Quad State Band Festival and helped with recruitment efforts. The jazz band consisted of saxophones, trumpets, trombones, piano, bass, drums, guitar and a vocalist. They performed compositions from the Duke Ellington Orchestra, the Glenn Miller Band and original compositions. Carrie McGinnis, the director of alumni relations, said planning for the event had been underway for over a year. A group of

volunteers and friends of the University brought their vision to life. “To my knowledge we haven’t had an event of this type in recent history,” McGinnis said. “You can imagine the tremendous amount of effort required for some of our alumni who may not have played with a group in years, to learn the music, practice and perform in front of a crowd, in addition to the fact that many of them haven’t seen each other for decades.” There were up to 100 alumni expected to attend the event with 20-25 of them set to perform. “We are so proud and appreciative that our Racer alumni still have such a connection to each other and their alma mater that they are willing to take on the challenge, time and expense it takes to come back to Murray State, in some cases hundreds of miles from home, to share in this experience and allow our students and campus

community to share in it, as well,” McGinnis said. The reunion was held over two days from Friday, March 29, through Saturday, March 30. Festivities kicked off with a reception and evening banquet. Roger Reichmuth, a former chair of the music department and music educator, emceed Saturday’s concert. The concert was put on by 21 alumni of the Men of Note, led by John Goode, a former director of the group, and Dan Beard, a former student of Reichmuth. “I enjoyed being the emcee as most of the returnees had been either students of mine, or were here when I had just become a faculty member as marching band director and music education person,” Reichmuth said. “It was wonderful reconnecting with so many I had not seen in years.” The two-day event also included guest performances and clinics that were open to the public.

Richard Thompson/The News

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Professor emeritus hosts book signing Alexis Schindler Staff writer aschindler1@murraystate.edu Recently retired Murray State Professor Emeritus of history James Duane Bolin hosted a book signing for his new book, “Adolph Rupp and the Rise of Kentucky Basketball.” According to the book summary on Amazon’s website, “Bolin covers Rupp’s early years, from his rural upbringing in a German Mennonite family in Halstead, Kansas, through his undergraduate years at the University of Kansas playing on teams coached by Phog Allen and taking classes with James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, to his success at Kentucky.” Bolin taught at Murray State for 22 years. Bolin said the idea for the

book was passed down to him by a professor of his from the University of Kentucky, where he completed his graduate work. “He had researched Rupp for about 15 years himself,” he said. “Then, he retired from the University and gave me this collection of taped interviews, court transcripts, newspaper clippings, all of his research. When he retired he decided he couldn’t write the biography, so he asked me to.” Bolin said the collection of research was unbelievable and included over 100 taped interviews from Rupp’s former players, his assistant coaches, University of Kentucky presidents, Kentucky politicians and many others. Bolin was awarded several grants by Murray State to have the interviews transcribed. He said his graduate professor’s request for him to write

the book was not the only reason he decided to write it. “I grew up a University of Kentucky basketball fan,” Bolin said. “I wanted to write it. When he gave me this collection, I jumped at the chance.” He said in the book he wanted to show how Adolph Rupp changed Kentucky by uniting the state behind Kentucky basketball and making basketball into a bigtime college sport. Despite copious amounts of information and research, writing a book is not easy, and Bolin testified to this. “Writing is hard,” Bolin said. “One thing I had to learn as a historian is when to cut off the research and start writing.” Many past colleagues of Bolin and members of the Murray community were in attendance for the event. The attendees received their signed copies of Bolin’s book

after a question and answer session with Bolin. Professor Emeritus of History Charlotte Beahan, a colleague of Bolin, said she has been looking forward to the book’s release. Beahan is a lover of biographies and did some editing for Bolin in the early stages of his book. “I’m anxious to see how the finished product has turned out,” Beahan said. “I know Dr. Bolin has put a tremendous amount of time and effort into it. He really loves sports and I’m sure that is going to show up in the book.” Dean of the College of Business Timothy Todd said he plans to buy a copy of the book for himself and several other copies to give to family members. “I would encourage others to get out and read the book,” he said.

Richard Thompson/The News

James Duane Bolin’s book is available on Amazon.

NASA awards professor with $25,000 grant Alexis Schindler Staff writer aschindler1@murraystate.edu A Murray State professor is taking action to improve local girls’ interest in STEM fields with the help of the Girl Scouts and a grant from NASA. Aleck Leedy, associate professor of engineering physics, searched for a way to increase the local interest in these areas among women. Leedy saw he had an opportunity right in front of him through his daughter in Girl Scouts. He wanted to have an Engineers Day, or E-Day, for the Girl Scouts that would help them work toward earning STEM badges while teaching them what the STEM fields have to offer. “We need more girls interested in STEM fields of study,” Leedy said. “The earlier girls are interested, it’s more likely that they will select a STEM field of study when they enter

college.” Leedy is partnering with the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana to host this event. There are about 800 girls in the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana program in the western Kentucky and Purchase area. The Girl Scouts who choose to attend the E-Day event will get hands-on experience in areas of practical engineering such as robotics, space science and mechanical engineering. There will be five types of badges the girls can earn at the event. Three can be earned in robotics, one in space science and one in mechanical engineering. This E-Day outreach event will provide practical engineering experiences that focus on improving their hands-on skills, robotics skills and enhancing the quality of their STEM education. This outreach program allows the opportunity to build the number of local girls interested in STEM fields.

Photo courtesy of Aleck Leedy

Aleck Leedy will use this grant to create a new program within the Girl Scouts. For this event to happen Leedy knew he would need some funding, so he applied for an Enhanced Mini-Grant Award through the NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium. The grant award was for $25,000.

Leedy submitted a grant proposal with a support letter from Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana to the NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium. He was awarded the grant and is moving forward with the E-Day plans.

“I am proud and grateful to have the support of the NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium and the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana in this endeavor,” Leedy said. Jennifer Wilcox, chief operations officer of Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, wrote the support letter for Leedy’s grant proposal. She said due to the competitiveness of the grant, the fact that Leedy was awarded it serves as a testament to the great work he did on the proposal. “Grants like this are important because it allows organizations like Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana to broaden our program and partnership reach and to serve our girls better,” Wilcox said. “This particular grant is important because it provides an access point to STEM education and experience to our girls in a society where girls are encountering technology at a rapid

pace.” According to the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana website, women make up approximately 52 percent of the workforce, but only about 14 percent are in science and technology careers. “This grant will not only benefit Girl Scouts in the Murray/Calloway County area – the program will be open to Girl Scouts across our council footprint and may even be used to encourage new girls to join Girl Scouts,” Wilcox said. “This benefits our girls in two key ways – first, they are exposed to a variety of topics and career prospects in STEM that they might otherwise not know; and second, participating in activities that are challenging helps girls build resilience and encourages them to try new things and to take safe risks.” The proposed date for the E-Day is Oct. 26, 2019.

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News

April 4, 2019