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September 26, 2019 | Vol. 94, No. 5

Richard Thompson/The News

Daniella Tebib News Editor dtebib@murraystate.edu Breanna Harris Contributing Writer bharris17@murraystate.edu Chick-fil-A celebrated its grand opening on Sept. 25 welcoming students, faculty, staff and the public. President Bob Jackson said the Murray community has long awaited the arrival of Chick-fil-A on campus. “We are appreciative of everyone’s patience as final preparations are made by those who are leading this project, as many necessary steps are involved, particularly in working with a national brand,” Jackson said. “This is an exciting time at Murray State, and the addition of Chick-fil-A will grow our campus dining options tremendously.” Shawn Touney, director of communication, said specific visitor spaces that do not require parking permits or registration are available for members of the Murray community in the Curris Center parking lot. Students on the All Access Meal Plan can use one meal

News Opinion Sports Features

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exchange per day between 3 and 8 p.m. Students on the All Access Premium Meal Plan are also allowed one meal exchange per day anytime after 1 p.m. The meal exchange consists of a regular Chick-fil-A sandwich or eight nuggets with a medium waffle fries and medium soft drink. Students on other meal plans can use Flex Dollars to make purchases. Faculty and staff can also use their Dining Dollars. Cash, major credit cards, Google Wallet and Apple Pay are all also accepted. However, Chickfil-A gift cards are not accepted. Many students were excited about the grand opening, with some even showing up an hour before doors officially opened. “I am glad there is finally a Chick-fil-A in Murray because it’s more accessible and convenient because we can use our flex so it makes it so much better,’’ Allison Rowe, junior from Paducah, Kentucky, said. Some students said they are excited they will no longer have to make the drive to Paducah for Chick-fil-A. “I am so excited, espe-

cially since there is something different to go to on campus and now I don’t have to drive from Murray to Paducah anymore to get it,” Janae Pembrook Ward, junior from St. Louis, Missouri, said. Despite the excitement from some students, the LGBT+ community on campus has vocalized their concerns with the opening of Chick-fil-A. The restaurant has donated to multiple groups who have expressed anti-LGBT+ sentiments in the past. Kearby Stiles, president of Alliance, said he feels like the decision wasn’t a statement against the LGBT+ community. However, he still plans on boycotting the restaurant. Robert Scott, alumnus from Paris, Tennessee, said he doesn’t view Chick-fil-A as a positive thing coming to campus as it promotes discrimination. “It isn’t very exciting for LGBT+ students and alumni for Murray State to allow a business on campus that has actively discriminated against the LGBT+ community and donated to organizations that promote con-

Community honors life of Samantha Ratledge

Murray’s Family Video set to close

Former Racer proves doubters wrong

Winner crowned in Mr. MSU pageant

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version ‘therapy,’” Scott said. However, Jackson said the University administration did not bring Chick-fil-A to campus with the intention of offending anyone. “I’m always sensitive to any issues like that, and from what I’ve heard, there is an overwhelming majority of students who are excited and looking forward to Chick-fil-A,” Jackson said. “I don’t want anyone to have any angst or concerns about anything we do on campus. What Murray State

University is trying to do is provide the best products we can provide for our students, faculty and staff. The reason these particular national brands are coming to campus is because that’s what students identified they wanted.” In addition to the arrival of Chick-fil-A and Einstein Bros. Bagels, students can expect to see Starbucks and Steak ‘n Shake on campus. Chick-fil-A will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Lauren Morgan/The News LGBT+ signs were placed on top of Chick-fil-A’s signs on campus.

News

September 26, 2019

Community honors life of Samantha Ratledge Emily Shepherd Contributing Writer eshepherd2@murraystate.edu The Murray community has banded together to raise money in honor of Samantha Ratledge, the Murray State student who died in a boating accident over Labor Day weekend. On Sept. 19, the American Society of Safety Professionals chapter, an Occupational Safety and Health organization, honored Samantha and Calloway County Fire and Rescue for its hard work and dedication to the community. The ASSP raised over $1,000 for the rescue squad. Samantha was pursuing a degree in occupational safety and health. The event was supported and facilitated by students. “Not only was she a Racer but she was a great OSH student as well,” Trevor Cheatham, president of ASSP, said. CCFR headed the search for Samantha after she fell over the railing on the pontoon boat she was riding on. Fire Chief Thomas Morgan said the fire department was overwhelmed by the amount of support shown by the entire community and the support of Samantha’s family. Morgan estimated the fire department has collected over $7,000 in donations. The donations will be put toward new sonar equipment called side scans. The updated sonar equipment will allow for more efficient water search and rescue. The department plans to update five units that are over a decade old. “We just appreciate the support, it’s been overwhelming as far as the support, we’ve gotten cards, even people from out of town are thanking us for our time,” Morgan

said. “I appreciate everything everyone is doing for us.” Morgan also said the fire department might add an additional boat to the fleet with the excess donations after updating the sonar equipment. The new boat will be named after Samantha, to honor her memory. Every donation will be used to help strengthen the emergency services in the community. “Our goal is to prevent future families and friends from having to go through the long waiting process we experienced while searching for our friend Samantha Ratledge,” according to a GoFundMe page setup by Samantha’s friends to aid in fundraising efforts for the fire department. David Ratledge, Samantha’s father, said their family is grateful for all the support they have received. “We feel Murray is a small town community in the Bible Belt where they treat everyone as family and when a family member is in need, we rally around them,” Ratledge said. “Words cannot express the generosity that has been shown by this community.” As of Sept. 26, the GoFundMe page has raised $3,915 out of their $6,000 goal with 75 donors participating. Ratledge said Samantha will be remembered for her kindness. “She often doodled down little sayings like ‘be good to strangers, for no reason’ and ‘the only regrets we have in life are the chances we did not take,’” Ratledge said. “She took chances, loved people wholeheartedly, and left this world with no regrets.” If you would like to make a donation in honor of Samantha, you can find the GoFundMe page on TheNews.org.

Photo courtesy of Trevor Cheatham The American Society of Safety Professionals raised over $1,000 for CCFR.

Correction: On Thursday, Sept. 19, The Murray State News misquoted President Bob Jackson when he spoke about the dissolution of the Accelerate U! Program. The quote should have read, “The problem is with a lot of these students, there is no money available from their KEES, Pell Grants, student loans, whatever the case may be.” The News deeply regrets this error.

Photo courtesy of David Ratledge The Ratledge family takes a photo while on vacation.

September 26, 2019

News

World Contraception Day sparks awareness Megan Reynolds Editor-in-Chief mreynolds12@murraystate.edu

World Contraception Day, which takes place on Sept. 26, is an annual worldwide campaign to improve awareness of contraception and enable people to make informed choices regarding sexual and reproductive health. According to a press release from Nurx, a company dedicated to reproductive health, millions of women live in areas where contraceptive health care isn’t as accessible as it should be. “Currently, 20 million women live in contraceptive deserts,” according to Nurx’s press release. “They lack reasonable access in their county to a health care center that offers a full range of contraceptive methods.” According to reports from the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization focused on sexual and reproductive health, 30 states, plus the District of Columbia, require both sex education and HIV education. Out of those 30 states, 17 require the content in the edu-

Graphic courtesy of Nurx

cation to be medically accurate, according to the Guttmacher Institute’s website. Of those states offering HIV education, 19 require education on condoms. Of those offering sex education, 20, plus the District of Columbia, require education on contraception. In 2018, Kentucky passed Senate Bill 71, which required inclusion of abstinence education in any human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases curriculum. The state also mandates that HIV education be taught in addition to sex education. World Contraception Day raises awareness for the advocacy of contraception over the abstinence education that many states require. “Contraceptives are an important part of reproductive health, not only as a means of family planning, but also in order to reduce sexually transmitted infections,” Abigail Wilcox, the coordinator of the Women’s Center at Murray State, said. Despite the importance of contraceptives for sexually-active students, some are still unable to get their hands on them. “Financial barriers are always a predominant limitation,” Wilcox said. “For others, anxiety about making the purchase can be a deterrent.” The price of contraception like condoms, and the hope to keep their students healthy, is why many campuses offer free contraceptives. Before Health Services was outsourced, it offered free condoms to students via a brown bag in the waiting room. While Primary Care, the current provider of on-campus health services, does not offer them, students can expect that to change. “That’s [condoms] not something that we currently offer, I think it’s something that we’ll probably work on.” Scott Curran, a physician assistant with Primary Care, said. Curran said he thinks the stigma on contraception has changed, saying that people are a lot more open minded about it than they used to be. “I think that, generally, it’s regarded in a positive light, now,” Curran said. One of the more stressed topics World Contraception Day works to raise awareness for is barrier contraception, like condoms, that protect from STIs. The morning-after pill, oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices, none offer protection from STIs, which can potentially progress into sexually transmitted diseases. According to the American Sexual Health Association, STIs do not necessarily display visible symptoms; symptoms that are displayed can be so mild they are often overlooked. An STD is the outward, visible expression of viral or bacterial infections. Even if signs or symptoms of STDs are not present, students are still encouraged to get tested. “The biggest thing, and most companies that provide non-barrier forms of contraception do a good job of mentioning this, but they don’t do anything to prevent STDs, and they’re still a problem,” Curran said. “Unless you just really trust a person and you’re okay with having permanent consequences from your relationship, you just need to use barrier protection even if you’re using a contraceptive.”

Students get career ready at JCPenney Mallory Hlava Contributing Writer mhlava@murraystate.edu Murray State University students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff are invited to shop for heavily discounted business attire at the JCPenney Suit-Up event. The event will take place Sept. 29, from 4 to 9 p.m. at 720 N. 12th Street in Murray. According to Career Services’ JCPenney Suit-Up event flyer, the store will offer 60 percent off business suits, shirts, pants and shoes. Some new items such as men’s khakis, men’s basics and fashion jewelry, will also be available. Shoppers can download the JCPenney Mobile App ahead of time to start earning $10 rewards. Career Services intern Emily Perry said February’s Suit-Up event was a major success.

I got $115 worth of clothes for $50. - Senior nursing major Abby Hammitt

“We doubled our goal for the number of students that participated, which meant over 400 people attended,” Perry said. “We want to have even more show up this year.” Suit-Up, Shoes Up The Suit-Up event is a practical way for Murray State students to shop professional clothing at a reasonable price and it reminds everyone about the wardrobe demands in a professional setting. Perry said Career Services has been collaborating with JCPenney throughout the past few months, planningto make this year’s Suit-Up event even bigger and better than last year’s. “JCPenney has been so great to work with for this event,” Perry said. “They have been very organized and excited to collaborate with us again on an event that truly gives back to our campus and community. JCPenney staff will be on hand at the event, helping

students with outfit selection and measurements.”

Spreading the word Bailey Crossley, social media specialist, said she has been posting about the event twice a week for a month on multiple social media platforms and passing out flyers. She also said Career Services has been visiting groups, organizations and departments since the beginning of the month to spread the word as much as possible. Crossley said the event is scheduled for the weekend after Family Weekend because she is hoping students will talk to their parents about getting the means to participate. “We are specifically promoting to encourage parents to help students figure out what attire they are in need of and what attire they might need for the future,” Crossley said. Matthew Purdy, director of Career Services, said the event was also scheduled with the Oct. 15 and 16 career fairs in mind. “Proper attire is critical to networking and interviewing,” Purdy said. “This gives Murray State students the opportunity to get some very nice, new professional clothing at a fraction of the normal price.”

Student perspective Senior nursing major Abby Hammitt participated in the Suit-Up event last semester and said it provided her with numerous benefits. “This event gave me the opportunity to get new professional dress for interviews and presentations,” Hammitt said. “I got $115 worth of clothes for $50 and I was even able to order my dress pants in longs and have them shipped to the store with the same discount.” Hammitt said she purchased two pairs of dress pants, two blouses and one dress at the event. She encouraged students to take advantage of the major discounts to be fully equipped with essential clothing for the future. Purdy said he has heard wonderful stories of students who were buying their first suit or students who wore their JCPenney suit to their interview with success. “Things like that are super inspirational to us in the Career Services office,” Purdy said.

News

Daniella Tebib News Editor dtebib@murraystate.edu Students and other organizations emphasized the importance of voting on National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 24. The deadline to register to vote in Kentucky’s November election is Monday, Oct. 7. Murray is located in Kentucky’s 1st Congressional District, and during the upcoming midterm election, Kentuckians will vote for governor and many other offices. Drew Seib, interim chair and associate professor in the political science department, said the easiest way to get registered in Kentucky is to do it online. Seib said students can register to vote in their hometowns or in Murray even if they live in the residential colleges, but it depends on where they want to make an impact. “If you are frustrated by local politics, then changing your voter registration to your college town, such as Murray, makes sense,” Seib said. “It also makes it more convenient to vote on Election Day. However,

many students plan to return home after they graduate and in those cases it may make more sense to keep their registration back home at their permanent address.” Those who wish to stay registered in their hometown can still participate in elections with absentee ballots. Seib said the process for submitting absentee ballots varies from state to state. “It is going to vary by state and Rock the Vote will have information on the process for each state,” Seib said. “In Kentucky, you have to request an absentee ballot from the county clerk’s office where you are registered. Kentucky requires that you have a reason for not being able to vote on Election Day in order to receive an absentee ballot. This process can be handled by mail or in person.” Regardless of where you vote, Seib emphasized the importance of voting. “If you don’t vote, politicians don’t listen,” Seib said. “Politicians pay closer attention to the wants of older age demographics than the college-age demographic because they know older people are more likely to

vote. However, it’s important to remember that the needs of college students and older people vary substantially… These two groups have very different wants and policy needs, yet because older voters show up at the polls at such higher rates, the needs of the younger demographic tend to be ignored.” During the 2019 primary election there were 3,421,799 registered voters but only 294,947 were between the ages of 17 and 24, according to voter data from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Despite the low numbers, turnout of young voters has actually increased across the nation. “There are a few possible reasons here,” Seib said. “First, we have a unique president who people are reacting quite strongly to both in support and in opposition. This is reflected in the data. Not only was the youth vote up in 2018, but voter turnout was up overall. Second, there is some speculation that the youth are becoming more active, awarev and involved in the political process, including voting.” Madison Hillberry, co-president of College

September 26, 2019

Democrats, said they are hosting voter registration drives in the Curris Center until the deadline approaches. She also emphaszied the importance of getting registered. “It’s the number one way students can have a direct impact on those who are influencing their lives, anywhere from their individual rights to the amount of tuition they have to pay in order to attend school,” Hillberry said. Abby Rock, president of College Republicans, said she thinks young voters are apathetic because students don’t feel like their voices matter. “From my personal experiences, I have found people fail to vote because they think their vote doesn’t matter or they simply don’t understand the political process,” Rock said. “It’s sad that as a demographic we are perceived by public officials as a group not worth paying attention to. What reason do they have to respond to our problems when they can’t count on our vote come election time? The increasing voter turnout of young voters gives me hope that our age group is becom-

ing less apathetic and will show up on Nov. 3 to show our public officials we are ready to be heard.” Scott Thile, piano technician, helped host a voter registration drive with the Kentuckians for the Commonwealth on Sept. 25 on campus. He said he thinks it’s especially important to get young voters registered because voter turnout is so low during midterm elections. “Voter turnout is often low especially in midterm elections like we have coming up for governor, but they have a huge impact on many of the issues concerning young people,” Thile said. “Change happens slowly. Sometimes it’s hard to vote when our choices are not what we would want them to be, but it is still important to vote for candidates and issues that are closest to what we want. It can be overwhelming to think of the challenges we face, but voting is one of the most tangible ways we can meet them.” To make sure your voice is heard in the upcoming election, make sure you’re registered to vote before Oct. 7.

Daniella Tebib/The News Sophomore, Ryan Ackermann registered to vote during a voter registration drive on campus on National Voter Registration Day.

Opinion

September 26, 2019

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

Murray’s Family Video set to close The local Family Video will permanently close its doors. Since it opened, Family Video effortlessly matched Murray’s atmosphere: comforting and family friendly. Families love the familiarity of strolling through aisles and browsing through the many different genres of movies, TV shows and video games. An official closing date for Family Video is not yet confirmed. On a positive note, Family Video still has about 550 stores open in the U.S. and Canada. According to Newsweek, Family Video maintains stores in over 700 locations as of 2018. It remains the largest successful video rental chain. The success of Family Video, however, is not shared by others. The video rental business is dying out. According to an article from The Chicago Tribune, there were 15,300 video rental stores open nationwide in 2007, 86 percent of which closed by 2017. What once was the most popular pastime for family and friends has since been replaced by the Internet. When the Internet was still growing, popular rental chains were able to adapt their stores to keep up with new technology. However, when Internet streaming became available, movie rentals declined. Video on Demand brought the demise of video rentals. Other popular streaming services such as Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Hulu, etc.

Autumn Brown/The News

have taken over how people consume television and movies. People began turning to the preferred option of streaming movies online without having to leave their homes. It’s sad to see Family Video close. Remembering perusing through Blockbuster or Family Video with family and friends brings back feelings of nostalgia. These businesses bring back many happy memories that we associate with loved ones.

Those activities created memories that will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, the convenience of Internet streaming has the power to put places such as Family Video out of business. People dub the regulations of video rental chains as inconvenient. Internet streaming sounds more appealing when one can avoid returning the video and avoiding late fees. Netflix allows consumers to access hundreds of TV shows and

movies for a monthly fee. In the era of the Internet, a lot of business models or pastimes will die out or be replaced. It goes to show how much technology is beginning to influence even smaller towns. Streaming services are becoming increasingly more expensive. Paying for all streaming services available could become just as expensive as buying a cable package. According to Newsweek, Family Video maintained its presence by focusing on rural areas, suburbs, and smaller cities. Family Video also buys and develops most of its buildings and land, as well as more than 600 retail strip centers. Dabbling in real estate and owning a small chain of fitness centers helps keep the business afloat. Despite its ever-lasting progress, even Family Video underwent losses with the rest of the industry. In the last six years, it closed about 70 stores. The local store in Murray will soon be added to the list. Perhaps Family Video can stay in the market with a retro atmosphere; the theme of customers taking a “trip back in time” could potentially save them. Family Video is still a great way to find movies that are hidden gems or pick something that isn’t necessarily on Netflix’s recommended list. The price and memories are unmatchable. Murray will miss Family Video.

Megan Reynolds Daniella Tebib Claire Smith Gage Johnson Cady Stribling Editor-in-Chief News Editor Features Editor Sports Editor Opinion Editor mreynolds12@murraystate.edu dtebib@murraystate.edu csmith110@murraystate.edu gjohnson17@murraystate.edu cstribling1@murraystate.edu

Editorial Board

Bryce Anglin David Wallace Production Manager Chief Copy Editor zanglin@murraystate.edu dwallace15@murraystate.edu Kalea Anderson Elizabeth Erwin Chief Videographer Public Relations Manager kanderson29@murraystate.edu eerwin1@murraystate.edu

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 mreynolds12@murraystate.edu.

Connor Dame Brock Kirk Ad Sales Manager Photo Editor cdame2@murraystate.edu jkirk11@murraystate.edu John O’Neill Dr. Stephanie Anderson Online Manager Faculty Adviser joneill4@murraystate.edu sanderson37@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.

Sports

September 26, 2019

Former Racer proves doubters wrong Quincy Williams shines early in NFL career

Lauren Morgan/The News Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Quincy Williams waves to the Murray State crowd.

Gage Johnson Sports Editor gjohnson17@murraystate.edu

After dissecting OVC offenses for four years, former Murray State linebacker Quincy Williams is already making a name for himself two weeks into his NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Since earning the week one starting nod for the Jaguars, Williams is third amongst all rookies in total tackles with 20 (14 solo, 6 assisted). For those who watched Williams during his time as a Racer, these numbers may not be surprising, but to many Williams was a reach when taken 98th overall by the Jaguars. Many viewed him as the brother of No. 3 pick defensive lineman Quinnen Williams rather than the linebacker with 78 solo tackles and 111 total tackles in his senior season. With him not being on many teams’ radars, it was a thrill for Quincy to get the call from Jacksonville. “I wasn’t really sure where I was going to go,”Quincy said. “I had heard free agency and

I heard anywhere from third or fourth [rounds]. When I got the call it was kinda crazy, this is just a true blessing.” While many had their doubts about Quincy, Jaguars General Manager Dave Caldwell and Head Coach Doug Marrone knew he would fit in well with their defensive scheme. “We think he’s a pretty good player,” Caldwell said. “We do like the big school guys, but we’ll take a guy in that fringe range where you take the guy and trust your scouting staff. His speed and his ability to strike people. You watch some of the tape; he’s an explosive athlete and can close ground and make plays on the ball. He’s everything we preach on defense.” While Quincy has been able to come in and contribute, most notably with his ninetackle performance—six solo tackles—against the Houston Texans, his starting opportunity was almost nonexistent. It was reported in early August that Quincy tore his meniscus in practice and was expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks.

However, that wasn’t going to stop Quincy from making his NFL debut during week one. “The biggest thing was the want to,” Quincy said. “You have to break it down and say ‘I want to get better’ and stuff like that and actually believing in the process and trusting the process. That gave me six weeks to get healthy, but I wanted to be prepared for week one so that’s what I did.” Once he was completely healthy, Quincy’s work in camp led to Marrone telling him he would start for the Jaguars in week one. “At first it was kind of a big weight on my shoulder,” Williams said. “But then a lot of my teammates like Calais Campbell, Marcell Dareous and Myles Jack just let me know it’s still football, it’s just on a bigger stage.” Being able to play alongside and learn from athletes such as Campbell, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and some of the best the NFL has to offer is something Williams has had fun with. “I play right next to Myles

Jack, right behind Marcell Dareus, right in front of Yannick,” Williams said. “It’s amazing.” Along with the support of his teammates, getting to live this dream with his brother Quinnen is something that Quincy will cherish as he continues his career. “We talk every single night,” Quincy said. “So you have that person that understands what you’re going through. We came from the same household, same mom, same dad, so it’s like talking to yourself but he’s at another team so we’re understanding and helping each other a lot.” While Quincy’s early success hasn’t come easily, getting adjusted to life in the NFL on and off the field is a crucial thing Quincy has had to tackle. “One of the biggest things is getting adapted to the NFL,” Quincy said. “The game speed, getting used to on-thefield stuff, off the field, living; it’s been amazing. The city is a whole lot bigger. Murray looks like a neighborhood compared to Jacksonville.

The fans are still huge and the stadium is louder, but Murray is my home.” His favorite part of his NFL experience so far—practicing—has been a huge help in making the adjustments to the professional football life. “My favorite part is actually practice,” Quincy said. “Being out there with my teammates, joking around, listening to music the whole practice and in the locker room getting to gel with my teammates is my favorite part.” Quincy plans to continue the high-level play he has sustained to this point and to keep answering the questions fans and scouts had when he entered the league. “When I got drafted, the biggest thing was ‘Who is Quincy Williams?’” Quincy said. “So now I want to show people who I am rather than just telling them who I am. My biggest thing was I’ve been doing this my whole life, so I didn’t let that get to me and just played football and lived up to the hype.”

September 26, 2019

Sports

Rifle sets sights on OVC title number six

We have special prices on drinks! (Monday and Wednesday) Photo Courtesy of Racer Athletics Murray State rifle senior Meike Drewell prepares her shot at Pat Spurgin Rifle Range

Nick Kendall Contributing Writer nkendall1@murraystate.edu

After losing a large and talented senior class, the Murray State rifle team is looking to return to its sixth-straight NCAA Tournament. Last year, the team was ranked No. 1 in the nation for a week and finished fourth in the NCAA Tournament. Seniors Shelby Huber and Meike Drewell are the co-captains of the team this year. Their past experiences will help them lead the underclassmen to the rifle team’s high standard of performance. “We had great leaders on the team when we came on,” Drewell said. “ I think both of our goals is to be that for the rest of the team, because now we’ve stepped into the shoes. We are the leaders of the team and we want to provide that good example and provide a great team environment for everybody where everyone is encouraged by each other.” With new faces on the team, Huber is glad to see that the underclassmen will have opportunities he didn’t always get. “Having a smaller team this year really gives everyone the opportunity to get enough match experience,” Huber said. “Everyone can get a better amount of experience than we had when we were freshmen. Last year’s senior class consisted of MacKenzie Martin, Barbara Schläpfer, Alathea Sellars and Eric Sloan. That senior class helped the Racers nab their fourthstraight OVC Championship and punch their fifth-consecutive ticket to the NCAA

Tournament. For Head Coach Alan Lollar, replacing those seniors is going to be hard. “Basically, we’ve lost six All-Americans in the last two years,” Lollar said. “What we’re trying to do is build new. Our goal is always to take what we had and get a little bit better and so it’s up to this group to find their potential to take us a step further.” While the majority of the team is still made up of upperclassmen, Lollar believes that the underclassmen can come in and contribute right away. “Chloe Odle’s got a lot of potential on both guns,” Lollar said. “She just needs some maturity and consistency. Lauren Frealy is a freshman from Missouri, [she’s] a really good sling shooter, and is working hard. Before the year’s over, I feel like she’ll be able to contribute. Then we’ve got, we’ve got a transfer coming in January that we’ll talk about then.” This year, Lollar and the team’s goal is to still be standing on the last day of the season. “If you’re playing on the last day of the year, you got a chance to win everything,” Lollar said. “The NCAA championships is an animal like none other as far as the stress and the distraction and everything else that goes along with it. It’s not quite… as big as a basketball final four, but it’s as big as it gets for us and If we can get to that day, we’ve got a chance.” The Racers’ season begins at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 6, at the Pat Spurgin Rifle Range as they take on UT-Martin and Jacksonville State.

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Sports

September 26, 2019

Anna Moore From OVC Champion to assistant coach

Photo Courtesy of Racer Athletics Murray State women’s golf Assistant Coach Anna Moore follows through her swing during her senior season.

Simon Elfrink Contributing Writer selfrink@murraystate.edu

After five years of playing golf at Murray State and becoming the 2019 OVC Women’s golf champion, Anna Moore will stick with the Racers as assistant coach. Moore spent the months following her final year weighing her options, debating the next step in her career. Knowing she didn’t want to leave golf behind, Moore looked into coaching and professional play. Both had been on her mind throughout her time at Murray State, where she helped the women’s golf team win the OVC title three years in a row after being a redshirt freshman. However, by the end of the summer, Moore made the decision to join the Racers’ staff. She says the goal of becoming a coach became more and more real as she continued her playing career. “I had the thought for probably three or four years leaning that way,” Moore said. “I was pretty set on it from my junior year on.” Murray State women’s golf Head Coach Velvet Milkman coached Moore throughout her career with the Racers and they met over the summer to discuss Moore’s future. By the time July rolled around, Moore had more than considered her options. Knowing Milkman had extensive knowledge

on coaches and colleges in the area that could use an assistant, Moore recognized her former coach as a perfect resource. “We were just talking and she said ‘why don’t you just come back here?’” Moore said. “I don’t think it was really a plan. It just happened, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.” Moore said she wouldn’t be opposed to being a head coach someday, just not this soon. “I would definitely like to be a head coach,” Moore stated. “There were some opportunities that smaller schools were looking for a head coach, but I didn’t think that I could jump into that coming straight from playing.” For the time being, Moore is excited to get to work with the Racers as the season is underway. “We have a good mix this year,” Moore said. “Some of my closest friends are still here. We got a good group of younger girls this year, so I’m focused more toward them.” Moore admits coaching is quite different from playing, but based on what she’s seen so far, she has nothing but high hopes as the season continues. After some early success in the season opener, the Murray State Women’s golf team will head to the University of Kentucky to compete in the Betty Lou Evans Invitational on Friday, Sept. 27.

THE MURRAY STATE NEWS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK In the Racers’ OVC opener, Jones broke the single-game assist record with four. The sophomore forward also added a goal of her own to the scorebooks, helping Murray State defeat SIUE 5-0.

Abby Jones

Sophomore Forward Soccer

Features

September 26, 2019

Winner crowned in Mr. MSU pageant Claire Smith Features Editor csmith110@murraystate.edu The Mr. MSU pageant celebrated its 39th anniversary on Friday, Sept. 20. Ali Eader, philanthropy chair for Alpha Omicron Pi, said preparations for the pageant began in January or February when they booked Lovett Auditorium and decided on a theme. The pageant is one of Alpha Omicron Pi’s biggest philanthropy events. “All the proceeds go to the Arthritis Foundation which is AOPi’s international philanthropy,” Eaders said. Alpha Omicron Pi also held a rebate night and a Venmo board challenge. All of the proceeds raised from these three events will go toward their philanthropy. “There are so many things that go into planning this event, such as booking the auditorium, getting nominations, designing tickets and programs, tabling to sell tickets and practicing/decorating the whole week of the show,” Eader said. Leading up to the pageant the members of Alpha Omicron Pi and the contestants rehearse and decorate Monday through Thursday. This year’s theme was outer space with the tagline “Murray State Men Are Out Of This World.” “Every sorority and fraternity on Murray State’s campus are able to nomi-

I had no idea that I was going to win and whenever they called my name, my jaw just dropped to the floor

- Tyler Balk, senior from St. Louis, Missouri

nate a contestant or multiple contestants,” Eader said. “I contacted each president around May and finalized them in August.” After contestants are finalized they almost immediately begin practicing. “Before the show, the contestants have an interview,” Eader said. “During there is an opening number dance, formal wear and talent portion.” There were 15 contestants and nine awards were given. The nine awards given out include: Mr. MSU, Tyler Balk; First Runner-up, Noah Houser; Second Runner-up, Joseph Rushing; Third Runner-up, Trey Book; Fourth Runner-up, Bobby Stephens; Mr. Congeniality, Jonathan Hudgens; Best Legs, Rob Dawson; Crowd Appeal, Rob Dawson; and Most Spirit, Payton Martin. Balk, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon from St. Louis, Missouri, was the winner of the Mr. MSU pageant. He found out about his nomination from his girlfriend, Kendall Knox, who is a member of the Kappa

Delta sorority. “After I was nominated it was mostly just getting my talent and costume ready and showing up to rehearsals to learn the group dance and the ebb and flow of the show,” Balk said. Balk dressed up as Elton John and performed “Your Song” for the talent portion of the competition. Going into the show preparations Balk initially thought it was going to be stressful to learn the opening dance number. “Every night we had practice was something I looked forward to,” Balk said. “I loved meeting all the AOPi’s and the other contestants, and dancing around the stage. It was just an overall blast” He was shocked when he found out he won. “I had no idea that I was going to win and whenever they called my name, my jaw just dropped to the floor,” Balk said. “There were so many contestants that deserved to win and I’m just so thankful and blessed that it was me that was chosen.”

Photo courtesy of Ali Eader Tyler Balk was crowned Mr. MSU on Friday, Sept. 20.

Alumnus travels in racer style Grant Dillard Staff Writer gdillard@murraystate.edu

Photo courtesy of David Bailey Alumnus David Bailey travels the world in his Murray State gear.

Murray State graduate David Bailey has spent his retirement traveling the world to visit iconic locations, and taking pictures in his Murray State gear. Bailey graduated from Murray State in 1970 where he majored in elementary education with a minor in English. In his junior year, Bailey wanted to change his major to golf course agronomy, but the major wasn’t offered in Kentucky at the time. After graduating, Bailey moved to Palm Beach, Florida, where he lived for 37 years. Bailey left education after one year of teaching, and worked at golf courses until he retired in 2007 at age 60. He now lives in Paige, Arizona, in a small town near the Grand

Canyon. Bailey started traveling long distances as a mental getaway, playing golf from Augusta National to Pebble Beach in the United States, to St. Andrews in Scotland and Royal Melbourne in Australia. “I have been to six continents, all 50 states at least twice,” Bailey said. “Though I get too seasick for an Antarctic adventure; I’ve driven to the end of the road in Alaska, and the Arctic Ocean.” He decided to bring his Murray State gear along with him, after noticing others do the same on a mailing list from the University of Arizona. “Alumni do it in the newsletter, to show support for their teams,” Bailey said. Whether it’s Egypt, India, China, or any other location he’s visited, Bailey doesn’t have one singular favorite. “All are adventures,” Bailey

said. “There can be no single best place. That is why you keep exploring.” Carrie McGinnis, director of Alumni Relations, said hearing stories of alumni wearing their blue and gold is a good conversation starter and shows affection for the University. “Seeing stories like David’s on social media might spark other alumni to jump online and order some swag from our bookstore, or proudly sport their favorite Racer gear while traveling,” McGinnis said. The alumni office often gets stories like David’s. “Our Racers are everywhere, so we hear stories all the time of alumni running into fellow Racers in places far and wide, and making a connection simply because they were wearing a Murray State t-shirt or hat,” McGinnis said.

Features

September 26, 2019

Musical talent showcased at Fall Fanfare Staff Writer Over 500 people watched in awe as the music department put there talents on display with a spectacular showcase of Murray State’s many talented musicians. On Family Weekend, the College of Humanities and Fine Arts hosted the 13th annual Fall Fanfare concert. The concert allowed different musical ensembles to perform pieces they had worked on for the first month of the semester. “Fall Fanfare began as a way to showcase the many diverse musical ensembles and experiences that our students have at Murray State,” Stephanie Rea, a professor in the department of music, said. “You hear things like our Concert Choir singing a traditional African song, the University Orchestra performing Broadway, a saxophone quartet, a big band playing a jazz standard, music of Jimi Hendrix played on mallet percussion instruments, traditional classical elements in a piano duo, a flute quartet… there were so many types of music, some performed by the same students, as many are in multiple ensembles.” While the concert is an exquisite display of the hard work of the professors and students in the music department, the fanfare also serves to benefit music students who need assistance paying for school. “[It is] of utmost importance that this is a fundraiser,” Rea said. “One of the reasons that many of our faculty are so proud of this concert is that we

raise money for scholarships for current music students. One hundred percent of the ticket price goes directly to scholarships for current students.” Students may be rewarded monetarily through scholarships, and Fall Fanfare also rewards students with the fulfillment of performing alongside their peers. “Fall Fanfare is a quintessential part of Family Weekend for all of those involved in the Murray State music department, College of Humanities and Fine Arts and the Racer Band,” Katie Zheng, a junior music education major said. “It’s the perfect way to showcase what we’ve been up to for the first month of college and being able to share that with our families and friends is nothing short of rewarding.” Fall Fanfare is truly beneficial to all who are involved from parents in the audience, to the performers on stage, to the professors who work with the students. “The arts are a powerful force, and it’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t like music,” Rea said. “It’s great for them to hear their grown children creating a high-quality, impactful musical experience for an audience. It’s also important for our students to have the opportunity to perform for such a large audience.” The music department considers this year’s Fall Fanfare a smashing success, and can’t wait to do it all again next year.

Richard Thompson/The News The College of Arts and Humanities hosted its 13th annual Fall Fanfare, a fundraiser for scholarships that are awarded to current students.

Features

September 26, 2019

Saturday, Sept. 28th: Cinema International

“Transit Camp Friedland” @ 7:30 p.m. in Curris Center Theatre

Monday, Sept. 30th: Pride Film Screening “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson”

@ 7:30 p.m. in Curris Center Barkley Room

Autumn Brown/The News

University prepares for LGBT+ Pride Week Iris Snapp Contributing Writer isnapp@murraystate.edu

For the second year in a row the Murray State LGBTQ+ community will celebrate Pride Week, emphasizing self expression, LGBT history and activism. Murray State Pride Week, which runs from Sept. 30 through Oct. 4, will feature fun and empowering opportunities for the campus community to enjoy. The week also offers educational and health-based programs with an emphasis on inclusivity. “Pride Week is a celebration of all people and all the identities they come in,” M.C. Lampe, LGBT+ coordinator, said. The week will begin with a screening of the film “The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson.” Johnson was a transgender activist for AIDS victims. She was present at the Stonewall riots, one of the first large protests for equality of the LGBT+ community. The movie is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Barkley Room of the Curris Center. Tuesday, Oct. 1, will be the first of two days of free HIV screenings provided by the Graves County Health Department. The screening will be located

Tuesday, Oct. 1st: Safe Zone 101 Training @ 10 a.m. in Curris Center Mississippi Room

Free HIV Testing @ 10-2 p.m. in Curris Center Ohio Room

LGBTQ+ History Bingo in the Ohio Room of the Curris Center from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. “It’s a great thing for the health of the campus as a whole,” Elise Abbott, a junior from Indianapolis, Indiana, said. The day will also include Safe Zone training, which creates safe spaces for LGBT+ people, while also teaching professors and staff how to be allies for the community. LGBT+ Bingo will be hosted in the Ohio Room of the Curris Center at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, Oct. 2, at 5 p.m. there will be Inclusive Sex Education to teach attendees, specifically members of LGBT+ community, what they were not taught in school. The lesson will be on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 5 p.m. in room 249 of the Blackburn Science Building. Queer Karaoke and Jackbox Game Night will immediately follow in the same room. Everyone is invited for a night of singing and fun. It will be a great chance to make friends and meet new people while seeing who’s the best at board games. Thursday, Oct. 3, will be the last day for free HIV screenings. That day is also the Body Positive Pool Party, which is open to all, especially those who were

too afraid before. The pool party, which will be held at the Wellness Center from 6 to 8 p.m., is put on by Campus Recreation and LGBT Programming. “It’s great because LGBTQ+ feel that they are very left out,” Mason Richardson, a sophomore from Louisville, Kentucky, said. “With this, they can make up those things they missed out on.” Friday, Oct. 4, is the day of Pride Prom, a night for everyone to get dressed up and have a prom without being told what to wear. It is open to everyone from 6:30 to 9 p.m. in the Curris Center Ballroom. The night will be full of positive vibes and music. Along with all of these events, the week is meant for the LGBT+ community to be their unapologetic selves and know that at Murray State they have a place to go and feel comfortable with who they are. The week commemorates those who made sacrifices for the progress of LGBT+ rights and shows that there is still work to be done for a better future. “We are really fortunate to be on a campus that allows us to celebrate those things, and we have progress to make, but we are moving in the right direction,” Lampe said.

@ 7 p.m. in Curris Center Ohio Room

Pet Therapy

@ Noon in Oakley Applied Science Building

Wednesday, Oct. 2nd: Inclusive Sex Education

@ 5 p.m. in Blackburn Science Building Science Room 249

Queer Karaoke and Jackbox Game Night @ 6:30 p.m. in Blackburn Science Building Room 249

Thursday, Oct. 3rd: Free HIV Testing

@ 10-2 p.m. in Blackburn Science Building Room 243

Every Body Pool Party!

@ 6-8 p.m. in Wellness Center Pool

Cinema International

“This is Our Land” @ 7:30 p.m. in Curris Center Theatre

If you would like to see your event featured email the features editor at csmith110@murraystate.edu. Colton Colglazier/The News

September 26, 2019

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