The Murray State News

M

THE MUR R AY STATE

NEWS

www.TheNews.org

@TheMurrayStateNews

@MurrayStateNews

AD YOUR

STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD E R E H

@TheMurrayStateNews

@MurrayStateNews

CONTACT US (270)-809-4478 msunewsads@gmail.com

October 31, 2019 | Vol. 94, No. 9

to the 2019 election

Election Day reminders: Accepted forms of Identification:

Fans can own piece of CFSB Center floor Gage Johnson Sports Editor gjohnson17@murraystate.edu

Murray State Athletics unveiled a new floor in the CFSB Center just in time for the start of the 2019-20 Racer basketball season.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, 255 pieces of the floor that has been used for nearly 10 years came up in just a few hours, and Racer fans will soon have the opportunity to bid on the old flooring.

“The lifespan on these f loors are depending on the amount of times that they’re pulled up and so on or anywhere in that seven to 10 [year] range,” Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities and Game Management Brock Rydecki said. “This floor went in the spring of 2010 after our run in the NCAA Tournament beating Vanderbilt, so we’re easily approaching 10 years.”

The new floor has seen some use before, as it was part of the biggest stage in college basketball for the last two seasons.

“We were able to get an NCAA Tournament floor,” Rydecki said. “This f loor was a Sweet Sixteen floor this past year, so it’s kind of

News Sports Opinion Features

page 2 page 5 page 10 page 12

neat to bring that to Murray. We’ve seen eight games and 16 to 20 practices.”

The floor was designed

by Praters Flooring, which has done floors for the OVC Tournament, the Olympics and the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks.

Driver’s license, Social Security card, county-issued ID, Kentucky state-issued ID, U.S. government-issued ID, credit card or another form of ID with a picture and signature

Confirm your voter registration at vote.org/ky2019 Kalea Anderson/The News Students and faculty help assemble the new floor in the CFSB Center.

Find your polling place at:

the words “CFSB Center” are highlighted and mirrored on the sidelines.

A true boundary line was also added, and the perimeter of the f loor was extended. How Murray State Athletics created the ends of the f loor is something nobody has ever done and Rydecki says it’s going to be great for players and media members.

“We started at six feet on the end of the court and angled that line to seven feet near the basket with a runoff lane on each side of the basket,” Rydecki said. “So essentially there’s more space for run-off for our players. The company we’re working through told us we were the first facility to ever do this. We’re just trying to be innovative and increase player safety as best we can while also providing service for our media that covers our game and such.”

Along with new goals to replace the old ones, which had been in the CFSB Center since 1998, the $150,000 i nv e s t m e n t i s o n e t ha t Rydecki can’t thank the fans enough for making happen.

“It’s all about planning our resources and having the support that we do from our Racer club, our donors, season ticket holders,” Rydecki said. “Without their support we wouldn’t be here. So as much as it’s for our student-athletes, it’s also a ‘thank you’ to our fans.”

If Racer fans want a part of Murray State history, in the near future they can bid on a limited supply of twofoot by four-foot pieces of the old floor starting at $200. Pieces with the center court logo, baselines, conference/corporate marks and free-throw lanes will also be up for bid starting at $2,500.

2019 Calloway County sample ballot

Gauging Gage: Student-athletes canprofitofftheir likeness

Always removes feminine symbol

Fanninreflectson his final year

page 3

page 5

page 11

page 13

Without their support we wouldn’t be here. So as much as it’s for our studentathletes, it’s also a ‘thank you’ to our fans.

-Brock Rydecki, assistant athletic director for Facilities and Game Management.

The new court remains mostly loyal to past CFSB Center floors, with only a few exceptions. The OVC logos are in the paint, while

GoVoteKy.com

Are you voting in the upcoming election on Nov. 5?

76 people participated in the poll on The News’ Facebook.

Colton Colglazier/The News

News

2

October 31, 2019

I tell all of my officers working the case with me to document everything. If you don’t document everything, it didn’t happen.

- Angel Clere, crime scene investigator

Claudia Kern/The News

Citizens Police Academy

Crime scene investigator details process Addison Watson Staff Writer awatson25@murraystate.edu

Night four of the Murray Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy consisted of fluorescent dusting powder, black lights, yellow caution tape and fingerprint lifting on Oct. 28.

Crime Scene Investigator Angel Clere spent four years working as a patrol officer before she became a detective with the department. She taught this week’s class, covering investigating techniques, equipment and a case study.

Clere spent 10 weeks at the Kentucky Criminalistic Academy, which is a part of the Department of Criminal Justice Training in Richmond, Kentucky. As part of her training, she obtained certifications in blood splatter examination, crime scene photography, arson investigation, shooting reconstruction, latent print development and a variety of other fields.

Clere also spent a week at the University of Tennessee’s Anthropology Research Facility, the first of its kind to permit the systematic study of human decomposition. Human bodies are donated to the facility for study and used as a training environment for crime scene investigators like Clere.

Clere spends upwards of an entire day at a crime scene.

Initially, Clere is dispatched to a scene where a murder victim could lay dead, a rape could have occurred or any other number of crimes may have taken place.

It is Clere’s primary job to take the pieces she is dealt and turn them into a

completed puzzle, or as complete as it can be.

“My job is putting the pieces of the puzzle together and getting justice out of it,” Clere said.

A lot more goes into a crime scene investigation than just finding evidence, making an assumption out of it and sending someone to prison.

There are many variables that can affect a crime scene.

EMS may have thrown around furniture to tend to a victim, or firefighters may have broken down a wall in order to access a body. All of this has to be noted and taken into consideration when Clere begins an investigation.

When Clere first arrives, she does a “walk-around” of the scene noting any evidence she may find and marking it with a placard. She has to be careful not to bring additional evidence into the scene or take any evidence out. Each piece of evidence has to be photographed three separate times.

300 photos of just the evidence. This does not include photographs of the entire house, preliminary sketches of the house with the evidence noted on the sketch and any other photographs she feels may be beneficial to building a strong case.

Clere also emphasized the amount of documentation that has to be completed in order for an investigation to hold up in court.

When a case goes to trial, if documentation is out of line, the whole case can get thrown out and a suspect may walk away freely.

“I tell all of my officers working the case with me to document everything,” Clere said. “If you don’t document everything, it didn’t happen.”

Contrary to popular belief, most of an investigation is pieced together separate from the crime scene.

Latent fingerprint kits are used to collect fingerprints from surfaces.

Addison Watson/The News

The first photograph is of just the evidence. The second photograph is the evidence with a measuring object for size reference next to it. The last photo is the second photograph duplicated with a numbering placard in the frame.

Clere said if she finds 100 pieces of evidence, she has

Clere continues her investigation by interviewing possible suspects, witnesses, obtaining search warrants, sending evidence off to a lab to be processed with greater detail, processing statements from all officers and bystanders involved in the case, as well as preparing the case as a whole.

Clere said the department made nearly 1,000 arrests, including misdemeanors and felonies in 2018. Only a small portion of those arrests require a major investigation and a very small percentage of those that require the investigation make it to trial.

Sgt. Brant Shutt has assisted in many crime scene investigations over the course of his career.

“Out of 100 cases that we process and work, two of them may make it to trial,” Shutt said.

“Most of them end in a plea deal.”

Clere does her best to work every crime scene the same way so she remains consistent.

This also prevents her from missing a step when conducting her investigation.

“Work every scene the same way every time because you never know what will make it to trial,” Clere said.

Clere also said investigating crime scenes has become more advanced over the course of her career. She has access to many tools that help her reach a conclusion. Some of her tools include fingerprint lifting kits, black lights to show bodily fluids, evidence collection kits, cameras and measuring tools.

However, not all cases that Clere works on include murder and blood splatter analysis.

“I have worked many cases where juveniles convince each other to send naked pictures of themselves,” Clere said. “Next thing you know the whole school has seen the picture and then someone is being bullied.”

Clere has done her job long enough that she knows how to manage her investigations so

that they don’t travel with her after she clocks out.

“Now that I’ve done this for so long, it’s just a scene, it’s just another day,” Clere said.

An attendee asked Clere what the hardest cases to work are. She said cases that involve children or sexual assaults are especially difficult for her because she has a soft spot in her heart for them.

“Hearing children describe a situation is hard to listen to,” Clere said. “Children are pure and innocent.”

Clere mentioned Lotus, a local nonprofit center that assists her in many of her investigations. Lotus is Kentucky’s regional children’s advocacy and sexual violence resource center for southwest Kentucky, serving the survivors of child abuse and sexual assaults and their supportive family members. Lotus is fully funded by federal and state grants, as well as community donations.

Lotus’ headquarters is located in Paducah, but they have a regional office in Murray as well.

Clere encourages anyone in a position of need to reach out to Lotus for support. She said in a perfect world, when she retires from the police department, she would like to end her working career with Lotus.

A tour of the Calloway County Jail is scheduled for the next Citizens Police Academy on Nov. 4.

Addison Watson is a staff writer for The Murray State News.

As part of his assignment, he is attending the Citizens Police Academy at the Murray Police Department to write this series of stories. You can find all of his articles in the series at TheNews. org.

News

October 31, 2019

3

ELECTION 2019 PURSUANT TO KRS 424.290, “MATTERS REQUIRED TO BE PUBLISHED,” THE FOLLOWING RACES WILL APPEAR ON THE VOTING MACHINES AND PAPER BALLOTS IN THE PRECINCTS LISTED IN CALLOWAY COUNTY FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION, NOVEMBER 05, 2019.

ALL PRECINCTS

Sample Ballot Calloway County

ALL PRECINCTS

News

4

October 31, 2019

Students develop GPS tracking devices Addison Watson Staff Writer awatson25@murraystate.edu Murray State students developed GPS tracking devices to locate and track the movement of box turtles as part of their Wildlife Techniques class.

Andrea Darracq, assistant professor of wildlife biology, led a student-centered field study where students were able to combine technical skills with field experience by tracking box turtles. The project was made possible by the University’s Bring Learning to Life Grant.

The students located the box turtles they intended to study on and off Murray State property and began tracking the turtles using a transmitter. The GPS tracking devices allowed students to record the box turtles’ movements while transmitters and a receiver let students determine the turtles’ precise locations.

“Our students are gaining great experience from manually triangulating each turtle’s location and comparing it to the more precise readings their GPS

units are reporting,” Darracq said.

Darracq chose the field study to be centered around box turtles because they are safe to interact with, require no stressful chemical or physical restraint to mark, and are relatively easy to track due to their slower movements.

“This is a low-cost and safe way for these students to gather GPS data,” Darracq said.

“I’m proud of the work this class has carried out, and I’m excited to see the results from this project.”

Nick Bohannon, treasurer of Murray State’s Wildlife Society chapter, is a senior studying wildlife conservation and biology. He is enrolled in Darracq’s Wildlife Techniques class and participated in the field study.

“It is hard to get experience using GPS and telemetry unless you are in a research job,” Bohannon said. “Most jobs require experience and it is very hard to get experience before that first job.”

Bohannon said he learned a lot from the field study that will benefit him in a future career. He is leaning toward entering the law

Photo courtesy of Murray State University Wildlife biology students use GPS tracking devices they developed to locate box turtles.

enforcement side of wildlife biology and conservation.

“I learned how to use a compass and how to triangulate a location on a tagged animal using radio transmitters and receivers,” Bohannon said. “We also soldered our own GPS units to epoxy to the shell of the turtles.”

If funding allows, Darracq aims to continue this project in the future with other classes. All capturing and marking of the turtles was done with approval from Murray State’s institute on Animal Care and Use Committee and a state educational wildlife collection permit.

Murray State’s Bring Learning to Life initiative improves experiential learning outcomes through the implementation of learning experiences in which students apply principles learned in the classroom in a realworld setting.

Murray State police help prevent domestic violence Emily Shepherd Contributing Writer eshepherd2@murraystate.edu Elizabeth Kimball Contributing Writer ekimball@murraystate.edu Murray State police are taking an active approach to break the cycle of domestic and dating relationship violence on campus.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and it is a reminder that for millions of people, home isn’t a sanctuary.

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 1.3 million women and 835,000 men are victims of physical violence by a partner every year.

The Murray State Po lice Department dedicates time and resources each year to training members of the campus community about domestic violence.

The training includes education on recognizing the signs of domestic and dating violence and what to do if you or someone you know could be at risk.

Education starts with Title IX training issued by the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Access. All students, faculty, staff and police officers are required to complete the training every year on Canvas to stay

up to date on new policies and procedures.

The police department takes the training a step further by holding special training sessions for various University groups and organizations. Some of the organizations include fraternities, sororities and Residential Colleges.

Residential advisers receive special training on how to recognize the signs of domestic violence.

abnormal behavior and unusual markings on an individual’s skin are two traits we look out for. We really want what is best for our residents and their safety is our number one priority.”

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports one of the largest hurdles to overcome is getting students to come forward. Murray State police work hard to break down barriers between

approach me if they need anything.”

Guill said he is not the only officer in the department who can be found on campus interacting with students. It is a department initiative to build a sense of community on campus among students and officers.

One of the ways the department helps cultivate a sense of community is through the national program, Coffee with a Cop.

This is goofy for a 6-foot, 210-pound dude to be playing out and about on campus, but guess what, I do it, they sing along and they look at me like I am human. So I know they would approach me if they need anything.

- Sgt. Austin Guill, Murray State Police Department

RAs are trained to look for signs such as noticeable physical injuries, sudden reclusive behavior or a student hinting at things their partner may have done.

“Violence is something RAs take serious whether it’s domestic or not,” Ashley Porzel, Lee Clark College RA from Valparaiso, Indiana, said. “However, simple signs such as

the department and the student community. One officer even likes to walk around campus playing his ukulele.

“This is goofy for a 6-foot, 210-pound dude to be playing out and about on campus, but guess what, I do it, they sing along and they look at me like I am human,” Sgt. Austin Guill said. “So I know they would

The program, which began in 2011 in Hawthorne, California, is designed to improve trust and build relationships, one cup of coffee at a time.

The Murray State PD recently held its first Coffee with a Cop event of the semester where students were able to speak one-on-one with officers. The event provided a safe environment

for students to address concerns they may have on campus.

“It was such a good time, because it’s a relaxed atmosphere for discussion,” Guill said.

In addition to the Office of IDEA and campus police, the Women’s Center also works to prevent domestic violence.

“It’s important to teach and model healthy relationships starting at a very early age,” Abigail Cox, Women’s Center coordinator, said. “Things like conflict resolution, boundaries and communication help to prevent violence.”

Domestic violence can happen to people of any race, age, sexual orientation, economic class, immigration status, religion or gender. It can happen to couples that are married, living together or dating.

Cox urges anyone in a domestic violence situation to reach out to anyone for help.

“Talk to someone,” Cox said.

“Everyone’s situation is different. But isolation is very very common and almost everyone needs support in these situations in order to make difficult decisions.”

As this month comes to an end, the important discussion it brings to the forefront about domestic violence’s horrific repercussions should not.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, you can reach the Murray State PD at (270) 809-2222. If you are in danger, call 911.

Sports

October 31, 2019

5

IN MY OPINION

Gauging Gage Student-athletes can profit off of their likeness Here’s what the NCAA isn’t telling us On Tuesday, Oct. 29, the NCAA’s governing board voted unanimously to allow student-athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness. However, it’s not as clear-cut as some may think.

Initially with the statement from the NCAA and the excerpt from the chair of the board and president of Ohio State Michael V. Drake, it seemed like a home-run to many.

“We must embrace change,” Drake said.

“Additional flexibility in this area can and must continue to support college sports as a part of higher education. This modernization for the future is a natural extension of the numerous steps NCAA members have taken in recent years to improve support for student-athletes, including full cost of attendance and guaranteed scholarships.”

Shortly after the announcement, many took to social media to express that “it was about time” players were going to be paid for their performances in collegiate athletics.

Many gamers also chimed in, excited for the possibility of NCAA video games made

by EASports making a potential return if the athletes can receive benefits for being in the game.

The company had stopped production after 2010 because of players not receiving profits for their image and likeness being used.

This picked up major steam, especially since Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson told Jason Gay of the Wall Street Journal last week that the possibility of a comeback is real.

“Our position is we would love to build a game,” Wilson said. “If there’s a world where the folks who govern these things are able to solve for how to pay players for the use of their name and likeness and stats and data, we would jump at the opportunity to build a game in a heartbeat.”

However, there’s nothing to get too excited about just yet.

In the press release from the NCAA, it stated that players can profit off of their likeness “in a manner consistent with the collegiate model.” This completely undermines what seemed to be the main idea behind the statement.

If the NCAA is truly trying to pay student athletes, how can they follow the current collegiate model which doesn’t allow players to profit from their likenesses?

Furthermore, the NCAA Board of Governors hasn’t

Gage Johnson/The News Ja Morant surveys the floor against Florida State.

truly made any changes to the bylaws at the time being. The press release states that all three of the NCAA’s divisions should “consider updates to relevant bylaws and policies for the 21st century.”

On top of the fact that how much players could make and how they would receive payment is very unclear, the NCAA also made sure to give itself plenty of time to figure things out its way.

By stating in the press release that the new rules must be implemented by no later than January of 2021, the NCAA pushes California’s Fair Pay to Play Act slightly to the backburner.

The Act signed on Friday, Sept. 27, by Gov.Gavin Newsom was set to go into effect in 2023, but now the NCAA can get ahead of that bill and set the rules that they feel are best for it and the student athletes.

Theoretically, the NCAA will try to find a way to give players as little money as possible by making the changes to their bylaws before the Act goes into effect.

This could practically nullify the Act, as the vast majority of schools won’t look to separate and make their own league if players are already receiving some amount of money.

Despite this, NCAA

Gage Johnson Sports Editor

President Mark Emmert said in the statement released on Oct. 29 that they will find the best way to create fair opportunities for student athletes.

“As a national governing body, the NCAA is uniquely positioned to modify its rules to ensure fairness and a level playing field for student-athletes,” Emmert said. “The board’s action today creates a path to enhance opportunities for student-athletes while ensuring they compete against students and not professionals.”

Many were quick to judge the latter half of Emmert’s Statement, one being ESPN College Basketball Analyst Jay Bilas who’s been known to support the idea of players being compensated for their likeness.

“What nonsense,” Bilas said on Twitter. “‘Student’ means enrolled, nothing more. Status as a student has nothing to do with money.

Zero.”

As it did with Newsom’s involvement in getting the ball rolling with the Fair Pay to Play Act, the topic has furthered its way into politics.

This time, it was with a Twitter post from Sen. Richard Burr, R-NC. Burr said that if student-athletes are going to be able to profit while playing for their respective schools, then he

Lauren MorganThe News Quincy WIlliams waves to fans at Roy Stewart Stadium.

will bring forth to legislation an idea that “subjects scholarships given to athletes who choose to ‘cash in’ to income taxes.”

This post was met by some serious backlash, with over 9,000 comments and 500 retweets within an hour of it being posted. One of those retweets was from former ESPN analyst and current staff writer for The Atlantic Jemele Hill who gave her thoughts on Burr’s idea.

“If scholarships are treated like income, then that would make the athletes employees,” Hill said. “The NCAA screams at every opportunity that college athletes are not employees because they know if they [student-athletes] are classified as employees they [NCAA] would have to start paying them. But go off.”

With all of this being said, the NCAA and student athlete compensation is still in its beginning stages. To the public eye, it seems to be a huge step that has been taken forward, but there’s no guarantee it’ll be exactly what everyone expects it to be. In all reality, people can only speculate the details of the changes the NCAA may make by 2021 and hope that someday fans can hear “EA Sports: it’s in the game” once again.

Gage Johnson/The News Shaq Buchanan drives towards the rim against Marquette.

6

Sports

October 31, 2019

Huber & Drewell lead by example

Senior rifle members leading hunt for another OVC title Keaton Faughn Contributing Writer kfaughn1@murraystate.edu The Murray State rifle team is on the hunt for its fifth straight OVC Championship and this year they are led by seniors Shelby Huber and Meike Drewell.

Both shooters have remained amongst the best academically for the rifle team and have helped lead the Racers to OVC Championship wins in the the last three seasons, making the Racers four-time defending champions.

HuberreignsfromColumbus, Georgia, and has been with the Racers all three years of his collegiate career. In high school, Huber made All-State in the 2014-15 season, thanks to having the third-highest state average in the 3x10 event. He was also a member of the state championship team his junior year in high school and placed second in the J2 category at the National Junior Olympic Championship in the 50m three-position air rifle event.

He visited multiple schools before deciding to attend Murray State, but knew that in the end he wanted to be with the Racers.

“I looked at other colleges to

shoot at,” Huber said. “I visited the University of Kentucky and then Murray State, and Murray really had that home-away-fromhome feeling that I was looking for.”

In Huber’s three seasons with the Racers, he shot for seven matches in the 2016-17 season, nine matches in the 2017-18 season and for all 14 matches in the 2018-19 season.

Drewell, who is from Austin, Texas, also had plenty of success shooting in high school. She was the top shooter in Texas in smallbore and three-position air rifle in 2015, while also coming in fourth in state air rifle in the NRA Junior Sectionals.

As a member of Buckhorn Shooting Club, Austin Rifle Club and Travis County 4-H Shooting Sports, Drewell couldn’t imagine doing anything other than shooting and chose to attend Murray State to continue doing so.

“I chose Murray State because it provides great opportunities in both rifle and my academic field,” Drewell said. “I love competing in rifle because I enjoy the challenge of executing every shot perfectly and up to my standard.”

Drewell’s career highs while shooting at Murray State are some of the best in the program, as she has shot a 587 two times

in smallbore competition, had an air rifle score of 594 as well as an aggregate score of 1179.

Outside of the range, Huber and Drewell have succeeded in the classroom. Both are two-time CRCA Scholastic All-Americans.

Huber was named to the OVC Honor Roll in 2016-17 and 201718, while Drewell is a two-time OVC Medal of Honor winner.

Thanks to her 4.0 GPA, Drewell also received the Elite 90 award last season, which is given to the student-athlete who has excelled in their sport and the classroom.

Head Coach Alan Lollar expects success all around when it comes to his student-athletes and Huber and Drewell are doing just that.

“Coach has a concept we call the ‘Murray State Way,’ it means doing everything with excellence, both on and off the range,” Drewell said. “I want to be as well prepared as possible, and I am looking forward to practically applying what I learn in class.”

Just like they do in the classroom, the senior pair has stepped into leadership roles sharing captain duties for the team. Using their new leadership roles along with other things they have learned, the two seniors have united the

Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics Seniors Meike Drewell and Shelby Huber are co-captains for rifle this season.

team to achieve one goal for the Racers.

“In an individual sport, it can be easy to isolate yourself, but being on a team and competing alongside each other is another reason why I love this sport,” Drewell said. “We’re all working toward the same goal, a championship, and encouraging each other to get better every day.”

As they set their sights on a fifth-straight OVC Championship title, the seniors hope to show the rest of the team how to accomplish its goals.

“As a leader it is important to lead by example,” Drewell

said. “Knowing that my actions are setting the standard for the rest of the team pushes me to handle each situation and each shot the way I would advise them to.

It pushes me to walk the talk every day. Setting a positive example for the others and passing on that legacy is important because they will be the ones leading in the future.”

The Racers will face off against Ohio State University on Saturday, Nov. 2, in Columbus, Ohio, to try and best the Buckeyes and continue the push toward their season goals.

THE MURRAY STATE NEWS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Against Belmont, Skarupsky tallied four saves en route to a 4-0 victory. The freshman then earned two saves in a 1-0 win over Eastern Illinois.

For her six saves, Skarupsky was awarded OVC Goalkeeper of the Week. She is the first Racer to earn the honor since Alex Steigerwald in 2018.

Jamie Skarupsky Freshman goalkeeper Soccer

Sports

October 31, 2019

7

Watford leaving mark on Racer soccer Simon Elfrink Staff Writer selfrink@murraystate.edu On Friday, Oct. 25, Murray State senior Miyah Watford tallied two goals against Belmont University and broke the University’s record for most goals in a single season.

Watford’s career as a Racer has been capped off by her offensiveexcellencethisseason.

She currently leads the OVC in virtually every offensive statistic, including shots (77), shots per game (4.28), goals (14), and goals per game (.78). She is also tied for second in the OVC in assists per game with five.

Watford’s excellence is nothing out of the ordinary. She transferred to Murray State after her freshman season. In her first year as a Racer, Miyah scored six goals and was named the OVC Tournament MVP. The following year, Watford’s game continued to improve. She led the team with 10 goals and 84 shots, 40 of which were on goal.

This year, though, Watford has outdone herself, breaking records set by her former teammate Harriet Withers.

Watford says her game hasn’t really changed much; she’s just going the extra mile to hone her skills. She and a few other forwards take some initiative and come in early to work on finish-

ing, an attribute Head Coach Matt Lodge says is better than it’s ever been.

“She’s got a lot better at her finishing,” Lodge said. “She’s put a lot of time in with Coach Jones. It’s starting to really work out for her.”

Lodge counts himself lucky to have been able to coach both Watford and Withers at Murray State.

“I’d love to see the stats of how many Murray State players havedoneback-to-backdouble digit seasons in goals,” Lodge said. “She got 10, and then 12 [now 14] this year. Harriet did 10, seven and then 12.”

Lodge admits the experience of getting to coach Watford for three years is a bittersweet one.

“We only got her for three years,” Lodge said. “But on the flipside, she already had a year under her belt. She wasn’t coming in as a true freshman.

She came in really as a mature player from an incredible program. She hit the ground running, stepped right in and played almost every minute of her first year. Since we lost [Withers] she’s really stepped up.”

As the season begins to wind down, Watford has done more than enough to have her name thrown around in conversations about OVC Player of the Year.

The consideration is an honor, of

course, but Watford has bigger things on her horizon.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Watford said. “At the end of the day, it’s a team effort. I’d celebrate it with my team. OVC Player of the Year was the last thing on the list.”

Watford has helped the Racers to two-straight OVC Championships and trips to the NCAA Tournament. Watford set a goal to defend their title and make it back to the biggest stage in NCAA soccer and that has been motivation for her and the team since the first day of the season.

“Just work hard,” Watford said. “Lead the team to another championship, get a ring for my senior year and go out with a bang.”

“Going out” could mean a number of things for the soccer phenom. The question of continuing to play is a reality she is more than open to, but her major in advertising and minor in sports communication will surely open up a whole new plethora of opportunities for her.

“If I get the opportunity to play afterwards, I’d take it,” Watford said. “But I’ve also applied for an internship with the NCAA.” First and foremost, though, is gearing up for the conference title. The OVC Tournament will commence on Friday, Nov. 1.

Richard Thompson/The News Miyah Watford broke the single-season record for goals (14) against EIU.

Bulls defeat Morant, Grizzlies in home opener Gage Johnson Sports Editor gjohnson17@murraystate.edu Growing pains are inevitable for rookies coming into the NBA, and that was the case for former Murray State guard Ja Morant during a late comeback by the Chicago Bulls in the Memphis Grizzlies’ home opener.

An offensive showcase from Bulls guards Zach Lavine (37 points) and Coby White (25 points off the bench) ultimately disintegrated the Grizzlies’ hopes of grabbing a win in front of its fans to start the season, handing the Grizzlies a 110-102 loss.

This was Morant’s first action in front of Grizzlies fans and he came out of the gate aggressive.

Morant scored the first five points for Memphis, eventually totaling seven along with one assist to help the Grizzlies to a 29-25 lead going into the second quarter.

However, the Bulls made defensive adjustments against Morant.Forinstance,theymade it harder for him to catch when playing off the ball. An array of double-teams in pick-androll situations also kept him from getting downhill with his speed.

This led to passing windows closing quicker and made it harder for him to find space for his shot. Morant ended the night with 10 points on 3-9, five assists, three steals, three rebounds and four turnovers.

It’s just the second game of Morant’syoungNBAcareerand Memphis Head Coach Taylor Jenkins knows it’s going to be a learning process for the 2019 No. 2 draft pick throughout the early stages of the season.

“Keep teaching, keep growing,” Jenkins said. “[We have to] show him all the coverages he’s getting, see where he’s attacking and what reads he has to make; just show him and guide him.”

Morant showed his passion and competitiveness in the locker room as he was clearly frustrated postgame, telling media members he had to get better in all facets of his game going forward.

Forward Jaren Jackson Jr., who’s in his second season in the NBA and led the Grizzlies with 23 points and 11 rebounds, said he was in the same situation last year and knows Morant just has to take it game by game.

“I already know it’s going through his head because he’s a competitor,” Jackson Jr. said.

“I just try to tell him [to] move on. You have to because it’s a

long season, but I know how he feels because I was the same guy who was like ‘dang, I really want to win really bad.’”

Despite the struggles Morant faced, he also had multiple bright spots. If it wasn’t for his hot start to the game the Bulls wouldn’t have made such drastic defensive adjustments.

On top of that, the young point guard was still able to create for his teammates on multiple occasions, was able to snag three steals and almost posterized a defender for the second game in a row.

Grizzlies center Jonas Valanciunas had a double-double (10 points and 13 rebounds) in 18 minutes of action due to a minutes restriction regarding a sore foot.

Valanciunas spent the first seven years of his NBA career with the Toronto Raptors and played with five-time NBA AllStar point guard Kyle Lowry.

He said Morant can grow into something special.

“That quickness he has and the game understanding he has issomethingelse,”Valanciunas said. “He’s young, working hard, and has the talent. He has all the tools he needs.”

This was the second-straight game that the Grizzlies couldn’t come away with a win because of a late comeback, being

outscored 37-17 in the fourth quarter en route to a 120-101 loss to the Miami Heat in their season opener.

Valanciunas said the team is working in the right direction, but just has to translate their early success through

all 48 minutes of the game.

“We controlled the game for the first half,” Valanciunas said. “We got to keep doing that. We kind of break down in the fourth quarter. We know what we need to do and what we need to get better at.”

Photo courtesy Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images Ja Morant shoots a floater over Otto Porter Jr. at the FedExForum.

Sports

8

October 31, 2019

Richard Thompson/The News Racers soccer seniors receive recognition on Sunday, Oct. 27, before playing the Panthers.

Racer soccer wins on Senior Day Laci Hawthorne Contributing Writer lhawthorne@murraystate.edu The Murray State soccer team honored its five seniors during its final home game on Sunday, Oct. 27 against Eastern Illinois.

The seniors include Karsyn Hasch, Miyah Watford, Allison Samisch, Elizabeth Tilton and Emma Heise.

The game not only marked the last home game but it was the last regular season OVC matchup as well.

The Racers came into the game with a conference record of 7-2 and an overall record of 10-7 and were able to add another win after defeating the Panthers 1-0.

For the seniors, the game was a chance to grab that final win at Cutchin Field.

“I remember my freshman year and watching the graduating senior class have their day, and I just can’t believe how quickly four years have gone by,” Tilton said.

Hasch said she learned as much about life as she did about soccer during her time at Murray State.

“On and off the field I was able to learn leadership,” Hasch said.

“This helped me with being a better teammate. It also taught me how to persevere through the good and the bad moments that we’ve shared as a team.”

For Samisch, it was an honor to represent the Racers.

“MSU has been the best four years so far,” Samisch said. “What the team has done, the friendships made, and the fun that the whole entire team and coaching staff has had can’t be beat.

They really are like my extended family.”

The Racers will make their sixthstraight OVC Tournament appearance on Friday, Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. after clinching a semifinal berth, finishing second in the regular season. Murray State will play the winner of No. 6 seed Belmont and No. 7 seed Austin Peay.

“I’m excited for postseason play,” Hasch said. “I think because we get to continue to play and hopefully make it to the NCAA Tournament. Plus I get to do it with my 27 best friends.”

The last two rounds of the tournament will be played at Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The Redhawks earned the right to host the semifinal and championship games as they had the best record in OVC play.

The Murray State Racers will look to defend its OVC Tournament title for the third-straight season and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

“I know that we’re ready for this challenging task and I have no doubt in my mind that we’ll take care of business,” Hasch said.

To see the entire tournament bracket visit ovcsports.com. The tournament will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Senior forward Emma Heise looks to make a tackle on defense.

We have special prices on drinks!

(Monday and Wednesday) Small margarita buy one at regular price and get the second one for only 25 cents.

(Tuesday and Thursday) Imported beer 23oz $3.50 12oz $2.50 From 3 p.m. to close.

#murraystate #students #discount All Murray State students get 10% off with student ID.

Come see us!

106 S. 12th Street Murray, KY 270-767-1627 Richard Thompson/The News

Sports

October 31, 2019

9

Racer football set to play the Golden Eagles Nick Kendall Staff Writer nkendall1@murraystate.edu After its second straight loss, Murray State football looks to get back in the win column when they head home for a matchup with the Tennessee Tech University Golden Eagles.

On Saturday, Oct. 16, the Racers kept up with the No. 21 ranked Jacksonville State Gamecocks, but their comeback attempt fell short 14-12.

Murray State didn’t score until late in the third quarter on a two-yard rush from redshirt sophomore quarterback

Preston Rice.

Nearly halfway through the fourth quarter, redshirt senior defensive back T.J. Warren forced a safety.

After getting the ball back, freshman kicker Zaden Webber completed a 53-yard field goal—the longest of his career—putting the Racers in a position to win.

With six seconds left in the game, Webber attempted the game-winning field goal at about the same spot he had completed earlier, but he missed wide to the right.

Head Coach Mitch Stewart was not disappointed in the team’s effort, but knows some-

thing has to change.

“You have to be able to play well for four quarters and right now we just can’t put that together,” Stewart said.

“Despite all of that, it does create something to build off of with the players. It creates a little bit of confidence.”

Just like the Racers, the Golden Eagles are coming off a loss in the previous week.

They fell to Austin Peay 58-21 in Clarksville, Tennessee.

Tennessee Tech answered first with an eight-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Bailey Fisher to freshman wide receiver Metrius Fleming for a touchdown.

The Racers celebrate after James Sappington catches the ball for a touchdown during Homecoming Weekend.

However, the Governors went on to outscore the Golden Eagles by 40 points heading into the half.

Austin Peay scored again in the third quarter on a 53-yard pass from junior quarterback JaVaughn Craig to sophomore wide receiver Baniko Harley.

Both teams scored once in the fourth quarter. Craig completed a nine-yard pass to freshman wide receiver Geordon Pollard and Fisher connected on a 45-yard pass to freshman running back John Jones.

Last year, Tennessee Tech kept Murray State from the playoffs with a 27-24 victory

in Cookeville, Tennessee. For Stewart and many returning players, this game will mean just a bit more to them.

“A lot of those guys in the locker room were guys who were here last year when there’s no secret we did not play a good game last year against those guys,” Stewart said. “It’s got a little of a motivational kick.”

Murray State will look to come out on top against Tennessee Tech for the first time since Nov. 11, 2017, when they defeated the Golden Eagles 31-21. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Roy Stewart Stadium.

Jillian Rush/The News

Opinion

10

October 31, 2019

“Joker” film raises concerns of violence Cady Stribling Opinion Editor cstribling1@murraystate.edu Supervillain film “Joker” ended its first month as the highest grossing R-rated film ever. Hype leading up to its Oct. 4 release added to the record-breaking success, as well as the controversy that still has viewers debating it.

The film centers around mentally ill Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian who is bullied and isolated by society. Fleck turns to violence and later his infamous Joker identity.

Director Todd Philips is best known for writing and directing comedy films such as “The Hangover” trilogy. “Joker” was an ambitious leap toward darker themes that people have related to real world violence.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, he admits to his contentious mindset when co-writing the screenplay.

“Go try to be funny nowadays with this woke culture,” Phillips said.

Phillips said it is too difficult to write comedy. He gave up on the genre but wanted to continue to produce irreverent films. He took the comic book movie universe, added irreverence and created this

particular rendition of the Joker’s origin story.

His statement wasn’t overlooked by the public or others in the industry since he implies the only way to be funny is by offending people.

Knowing Phillips’s intentions of creating popular irreverent prose leads viewers to wonder whether his story about a mentally ill man is meant to mock.

Others were concerned that the violent film would induce similar behavior outside the theater.

Many were fearful that the movie might encourage more mass shootings. Arthur meets many demographics and patterns that society associates with past mass shooters. In the film, he inspires a wave of violence that viewers interpreted as similar to the wave of mass shootings.

The movie theater in which the 2012 Aurora, Colorado, shooting took place refused to show the film. A midnight screening of “The Dark Knight,” a popular Batman film that introduced the superhero to the Joker, was playing when the shooting took place.

Families and friends of the 2012 victims wrote to Warner Bros. expressing its right to produce the film but encouraged the company to get involved in the gun control movement.

Warner Bros. responded in a statement saying gun violence is a critical issue and bringing up the company’s long history of donating to victims of gun violence.

The focus of the movie is on mental illness and whether society has blame in worsening it. Debate in the media would have proved more useful had it discussed who takes responsibility when a mentally unstable individual turns to violence.

Arthur comes from an area that is already on the brink of chaos due to high rates of poverty and unemployment.

Viewers easily pick out the harsh conditions of the trash and rat-infested city, but most importantly, that the wealthy businessmen run it.

The protagonist kills three corporate workers who abuse him on a subway – symbolizing his newfound power in chaos against the wealthy.

**DISCLAIMER** THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS ****************

Controversy on whether Phillips romanticizes murder is more applicable to themes in the film. The familiarity of a moral protagonist is challenged as Gotham’s community praises the Joker and creates a heroic image for him despite the chaotic murders.

It suggests Arthur is justified in his actions because he kills the system that was his demise.

Not only his demise, but millions of other impoverished, unemployed, angry individuals who are victimized by the wealthy. He attacks the power that is actively ruining their lives. And for this, the audience is inclined to applaud.

This and the broken health care system that hurts Gotham City’s citizens are replications of real world issues. It is the state that cuts his access to mental health related medication and therapy. It was the privileged wealthy that landed him and his mother in psychiatric care. Despite the truth of a cruel society, it is impossible to condone ruthless violence.

Mental illness, childhood trauma and constant societal abuse propels Arthur in this

violent direction. Directors are often criticized for how they portray mental illness, and Phillips was no exception.

It is difficult to accurately represent struggling individuals, especially when they take a deadly turn. It’s worth noting that Phillips’ interpretation had faults, yet his portrayal was better than many other films.

“Joker” is a great film willing to tackle murky content with phenomenal acting. However, the concern over the film being too violent was unwarranted.

Other extremely violent films have been produced and overlooked. The spy films featuring fictional character James Bond were similarly graphic with an extended number of murders.

“Pulp Fiction” was highly debatable in its 1994 release regarding violence and is now regarded as an American classic.

Warner Bros. also said “Joker” is not an endorsement of violence, and Phillips came out with a statement saying the film does not excuse the Joker’s behavior.

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 cstribling1@ 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 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.

Contact Us 2609 University Station Murray State University Murray, Kentucky 42071-3301 TheNews.org

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

October 31, 2019

11

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

Always removes feminine symbol Always sanitary products is redefining feminine hygiene by removing the Venus symbol from its packaging.

Transgender activists publicly urged Procter & Gamble to be more inclusive with its branding. The Venus symbol, a circle with a small cross underneath, is an astrological symbol that is mostly used to represent the female sex.

Procter & Gamble, parent company to $23 billion brands such as Tide, Herbal Essences, Febreze, Gillette, etc., agreed to redesign the product. A tweet shared by the Always marketing team said the new packaging will be in stores by January 2020.

Venus, Roman goddess of love, is a symbol of femininity; her symbol has adorned Always packaging for over 35 years. It is a symbol meant to empower women, but therein lies the problem.

The inclusivity is aimed at transgender men and nonbinary individuals, with the main argument being not all people who menstruate are women and not all women menstruate. In other words, many people who get their

period do not identify with the female gender.

Despite this victory for transgender activists and allies, controversy surrounds Procter & Gamble’s decision.

But there is no reason for people to be angry.

Removing the symbol simply makes an already-persecuted community feel more accepted in society. This decision does not cause anybody physical harm, nor does it have negative consequences for the involved parties. If this tweak allows people to feel more comfortable in their own skin and celebrate who they are, then by all means tweak.

The News conducted a poll on Facebook asking whether the community agreed or disagreed with the change.

Out of 595 votes, 40 percent agreed and 60 percent disagreed.

Many comments under the post represent the controversy surrounding the issue. Some took the middle ground, stating the change has no effect therefore no harm is being done. Others voiced their opinions more expressively.

“The world is becoming more and more of a freak show everyday,” Jess Thompson said.

This contrasted with other responses.

“Imagine how hate filled you’d have to be in order to DISAGREE with removing something from a product package that literally doesn’t change how you use the product or whether you can buy it,” Alichia Sawitoski said.

Many people didn’t notice the Venus symbol until Always announced it would get rid of it. Had the brand removed it without making an announcement, the majority of people most likely wouldn’t have noticed. It is easy for people to overlook details like the Venus symbol when it doesn’t play a role in their everyday lives.

Minorities work twice as hard to get what is given for others. Objects of debate, like the symbol, are hardly the root of controversy. It is what the symbol is associated with that brings about debate.

The Venus symbol might seem like an insignificant detail. Yet it is difficult for people outside the transgender or

F a c e b o o k

Autumn Brown/The News

nonbinary community to understand how these smaller details can unknowingly perpetuate the dismissal of their community.

Procter & Gamble is following the pattern of other companies who are taking action to support transgender equality in 2019. In May, Lyft announced it was partnering with the National Center for Transgender Equality to offer legal support and resources to its employees who are transitioning.

According to its website, Lyft discusses the difficult process and complexities for a person to change their

name and gender on legal documents. Drivers who have completed more than 100 rides with Lyft can apply for multiple hours of advising from NCTE and $200 in financial assistance to cover the cost of name change fees.

In June, MasterCard announced its True Name campaign. The name on credit and debit cards often does not reflect the true identity of transgender and nonbinary individuals. Cardholders can swap old cards for new ones that have their preferred name on the front.

A little tolerance goes a long way.

P o l l

Q: Last week, sanitary product brand Always announced that they would be removing the female symbol from brands to be more inclusive.

Do you agree or disagree with the change?

60% Disagree

40% Agree

Cheers to spooky Halloween !

Jeers to the gloomy weather!

It’s time to carve pumpkins and trick or treat! Grab your costumes and get ready to eat all the holiday candy.

It’s rainy and Lizzo Lake is back. It’s that time in the semester to splash our way to the end of the semester!

Features

12

October 31, 2019

Take a chance on ‘Mamma Mia!’ Breckyn McKinney Contributing Writer bmckinney14@murraystate.edu

Photo courtesy of Murray State Honors College Honors College students pose for a photo in front of Memphis’ National Civil Rights Museum on their annual trip.

Honors College visits Memphis on annual trip

Camryn Clift Contributing Writer cclift@murraystate.edu

Murray State’s Honors College traveled to Memphis, Tennessee, for an intensive day-and-a-half enrichment opportunity for its students.

The itinerary was jampacked and diverse, including a Memphis Grizzlies game featuring Ja Morant in his first home game as an NBA player, the National Civil Rights Museum, the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, Beale Street and the Peabody Ducks.

Upon their arrival in Memphis, the students braved the rain to wait outside of FedExForum, where they watched Ja Morant play his home opener as a Grizzly.

A tour of the stadium, courtside seats during the teams’ warmups and screen time on the abovecourt monitor were included in the group’s Grizzlies experience.

The second day in Memphis involved a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum, Central Barbecue for a lunch-turned-karaoke session, the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, free time on Beale Street, and watching the famous duck march at the Peabody Hotel.

Katie Waide, a junior economics and organizational communications major, was particularly impacted by the Civil Rights Museum.

“I think it opened my eyes a lot to things I probably needed to consider

more,” Waide said. “Especially being in the ro o m w h e re M L K wa s assassinated.”

Waide has participated

We all need eye-opening experiences to become more well-rounded individuals and to be able to communicate with more people.

-Katie Waide, a junior economics and organizational communitcations major

in the Honors trip every year since she started at Murray State.

She values the learning experiences and the opportunities for professional and personal development each trip has to offer.

“We all need eye-opening experiences to be come more well-rounded individuals and to be able to communicate with more people,” Waide said.

Every fall for the past four years, Murray State’s Honors College has traveled to a new city for its annual trip.

The idea for the trip stemmed from the pro gram coordinators’ desire to offer something new to

the students of the Honors College.

“We first decided that we wanted to do this just to give the Honors students an opportunity to expe rience a culture outside of Murray,” Carole Inman, a student development counselor for the Honors College, said. “We go to different regions that we feel like might have a different culture and experience that.”

The inaugural trip that started the tradition was to Memphis, and Inman said it was time to return to that original site this year.

In the four years the Honors College has taken this annual trip, the groups have visited Memphis, Tennessee; central Kentucky; Saint Louis, Missouri; and have now returned to Memphis.

This year’s trip touted the largest group yet, with 37 students in attendance.

The experience has grown since it began; Inman said this is because upperclassmen continue to return again and again each fall to embrace the tradition.

A key feature to the continual success of the trips is that the group embarks Friday afternoon and is able to return to Murray by Saturday night, allowing students to only miss half a day of classes, or none at all. http://thenews. org/2019/10/29/ honors-college-travels-to-memphis/

Tickets are selling quickly as the Playhouse in the Park plans to showcase its production of the musical “Mamma Mia!” on Nov. 1.

Students and local citizens alike are invited to come watch as a local theater puts on its second to last production of the year.

“Mamma Mia!,” which is based on songs by Swedish pop/dance group ABBA, debuted on London’s West End in 1999. The musical grew in popularity in 2008 with the release of the film version, featuring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried.

It follows Sophie Sheridan who is on a mission to find her biological father and secretly invites three men to attend her wedding.

Stacey Cayton is starring in the musical as Donna Sheridan, the mother of the bride.

Cayton fell in love with the theater in junior high and does plays and improv whenever she gets the chance.

“For as much as I do this now, it’s energizing,” Cayton said. “I still feel a good nervous. I’d be scared if I didn’t get that nervous.”

Many actors and actresses in this production have a wide range of experience when it comes to performing.

Kelly Mackey, one of Donna’s two sidekicks, is new to the performing arts.

“Secretly, it was a childhood dream,” Mackey said.

“I wasn’t comfortable enough to go for it and try it out. Last season, I decided to go for it. It gives me a new set of friends that I wouldn’t necessarily always run around with. You become part of a family for several weeks and then beyond.”

Joshua Byrne is playing the role of Harry, who is one of the three potential fathers in the musical.

“I’ve been doing this since eighth grade probably,” Byrne said. “I put a lot of effort into making sure that the

production that I’m in is the best I can possibly do. It’s energizing, it’s motivating and it’s stressful. It’s a good stress to make the performance as good as it can be.”

This nonprofit organization has been putting out productions since the 1970s and has showcased over 100 shows.

Lisa Cope, Mamma Mia! director and executive director of the theater, has been working for Playhouse in the Park for over 15 years.

“It’s one of my favorite things to do,” Cope said about being a director. “Of course it energizes me, and I love it. It’s also exhausting because this is my job.”

With being in charge of so many cast and crew members comes a vast amount of stress and responsibility, but Cope plans to continue in her position as the executive director as the theater expands.

“We’ve just bought a new building,” Cope said. “We are about to go into a very major capital campaign, so we are getting prepared for that. We are looking for grants and doing a lot of work on this campaign. It takes up a lot of the time I would normally spend doing other things like preparing for upcoming shows.”

While the Playhouse in the Park was created for entertaining those all across the community, the growing theater also benefits local students.

“We love to get students,” Cope said. “I think it’s a winwin. Especially for those theater and music students to get to come here and have a little more experience. Of course it benefits us, certainly, to have them here.”

Tickets for the shows range from $9 to $12. Students receive a discount when purchasing tickets.

Tickets can be purchased from the Playhouse in the Park’s website at playhousemurray.org or from the box office at 701 Gil Hobson Drive in the back of Central Park.

Breckyn McKinney/The News “Mamma Mia!” opens on Nov 1. at the Playhouse in the Park.

Features

October 31, 2019

13

Fannin reflects on his final year Chloe Jones Contributing Writer cjones114@murraystate.edu

The assistant director of bands at Murray State is preparing to retire after 25 years of teaching at the University.

John Fannin started his teaching career at Murray State in 1995. Before coming to Murray State, he taught at high schools throughout New Mexico and Arizona.

In addition to his teaching career, he owns a music production business where he and his team put together high school marching band shows and distribute them to various high schools across the United States. He also works as a guest conductor and an active band clinician in and outside the United States.

Fanninassistswithmultipleprogramsin themusicdepartmentsuchasSymphonic Band, Pep Band, Racer Band and other instrumental music education classes.

“As I wrap up my teaching career, I’m hoping that I’ve impacted future teachers through my classes and taught them to be good band directors and caring humans,” Fannin said.

Fanninhasreceived numerousawards for teaching in Kentucky. He has helped grow many programs in the University music department. In his first year of teaching, the Racer Band only had 85 members. Now during his final year of teaching, there are 235 members on the field.

Fannin has organized some big events tocommemoratehislastyearthoseevents include Racer Band Day and Alumni Day. The Racer Band invited high school student who wanted to be a part of the band to join them on Nov. 2 to perform two tunes during the halftime show, as well as participate in other fun activities throughout the day.

Fannin has invited Racer Band alumni to come play the fight song as well as the iconic opening tune “2001” with him one last time on Nov. 16.

As he wraps up his career, Fannin has started to reflect on his many years working for the University. He hopes the music department continues to grow and develop with the help of the students, faculty and staff at Murray State.

“Some highlights are certainly Festival of Champions every year, certainly this year was a stunning year,” Fannin said.

He works very closely with his students to ensure that everything runs smoothly for the various music programs on campus. He entrusts a leadership team

to help communicate with the other students of Racer Band.

“He is full of this life and excitement that he has poured into everything he has been involved in on campus, not only that, he has shared his passion and knowledge with 25 years of students whose lives have been changed,” Austen Shelton, Racer Band member and trumpet section leader, said.

Fannin’s final year is sure to be filled with many important lasts. He has left a large impact on the students, faculty and staff he has met in his time at Murray State.

JOHN FANNIN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BANDS

25 YEARS

Photo courtesy of John Fannin’s Facebook

Advocates for Respect Culture Organization spreads positivity on campus

Megan Reynolds Editor-in-Chief mreynolds12@murraystate.edu

Advocates for Respect Culture is a recent addition to the organizations list on Murray State’s campus, one that works to ensure all feel accepted and cared for.

ARC is a student organization sponsored by Abigail Cox, coordinator of Murray State’s Women’s Center. It was founded in 2018 and has been dedicated to spreading acceptance, tolerance and positivity throughout campus and the Murray community. It began with a focus on sexual assault advocacy and women’s rights.

“As a club, we help bring awareness to other issues that may be pushed aside or not talked about and it helps bring to light what other

organizations are doing to promote the topic, as well as our stand on it,” LuFei Harder, a member of the organization, said.

Harder said ARC’s promotion of more taboo topics is her favorite part of it. The organization brings in speakers to discuss hard-hitting topics that society tends to tiptoe around.

Each student who participates in ARC loves the organization for a different reason; they find meaning in the work they do for the greater good of those around them.

“Because of the respect culture ARC promotes, I love being part of the organization,” Lily Grieve, president of ARC, said.

Grieve, who joined the organization when it was still primarily focused on sexual assault advocacy and women’s

We have since branched out into advocating for everybody in an effort to take charge of the future by dismantling negative stereotypes and building a community of respect.

-Lily Grieve, ARC president

rights, said she is passionate about the work ARC does.

“We have since branched out into advocating for everybody in an effort to take charge of the future by dismantling negative stereotypes and building a community of respect,” Grieve said.

She is not the only member who enjoys their time as part of ARC. Kali Forden is the vice president of the organization and saw it as a perfect opportunity to expand her knowledge as a psychology major.

“I have been part of ARC longer than many other things during my college career and it only felt right to become a leader and create change in a group that I love,” Forden said.

ARC works in various parts of campus and in the community, striving to help wherever they can. The organization

works closely with its sponsor, the Women’s Center, while also partnering with many other groups.

“In the past, we have partnered with Lotus, the Center for Accessible Living, Active Minds, the Suicide Coalition of Calloway County and others,” Grieve said. “We also host exhibits and events for Sexual Assault Awareness Month every April.”

The organization offers those in the community a safe space for their voices to be heard. Through raising awareness, ARC hopes to create a gradual shift in society toward being more tolerant.

ARC meets every other Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Hart College. Its next meeting will be on Nov. 12. All are welcome.

Features

14

October 31, 2019

Kappa Delta hosts annual Shamrock Shootout Grant Dillard Staff Writer gdillard@murraystate.edu

Murray State’s Kappa Delta organization held its fifth annual Shamrock Shootout starting Oct. 19, bringing in participants from across campus.

Shamrock Shootout, KD’s philanthropy event, is hosted at the William “Bill” Cherry Agricultural Exposition Center. It’s a twoday event that consists of a Greek night where the Murray State Greek community is invited to take part in the event, and also a community day where KD welcomes anyone to play laser tag and help support

P re v e n t C h i l d A b u s e America.

“On Greek night we had approximately 90 participants in the laser tag tournament,” Kaitlyn Guthrie, senior and vice president of community service for KD, said. “Community day is always very unpredictable, depending on the day and the weather, we could have anywhere from zero to 100 people come out to participate.”

The idea of the laser tag event was pioneered in 2014 by a KD alumna, Natalie Simpson, who wanted to do an activity similar to paintball, except indoors. It was from that mindset that the laser tag activity was

born, and continues to this day.

The money Shamrock Shootout earns is split up and donated to several child abuse prevention charities. All profits go to PCAA, with 80 percent donated locally to Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky, a branch of PCAA, and 20 percent donated to PCAA to assist in their charitable efforts.

“Since we started Shamrock Shootout we have raised over $30,000 for Prevent Child Abuse America,” Guthrie said. “Our hope is that we can continue to raise even more proceeds for this amazing organization and bring the community of Murray together in

even more ways. We appreciate all of the support that we have received thus far.”

KD’s sisters want Shamrock Shootout to continue as a successful on-campus event for years to come, and look forward to having as many visitors as possible.

“We could not have done it without the help of our

Greek brothers and sisters and the support that we have from the businesses and people of Murray,” Guthrie said. “We would love to see more of the community take part in the laser tag event and welcome anyone who would like to play.”

Edie Greenberg/The News Kappa Delta hosts its fifth annual Shamrock Shootout to raise funds for its philanthropy Prevent Child Abuse America. A portion of the funds are donated to the local chapter.

Features

October 31, 2019

15

Alumnus wins first award of its kind Grant Dillard Staff Writer gdillard@murraystate.edu

Georgia Moore Contributing Writer gmoore8@murraystate.edu

A Murray State alumnus received the first-ever Kentucky Broadcasters Association Excellence in Broadcasting Award for Best Morning Show.

Steve Schwetman, one of the hosts on the morning show “Bobby and Steve and Mandi” on 93.3 WKYQ in Paducah,

“I had a great time at Murray State,” Schwetman said.

“I’ve made friendships with great people whom I keep in contact with.”

He said he chose Murray State because of its impeccable radio and television program. He worked closely with his professors and adviser listening to their critique as he refined his skills and creativity.

One of the professors Schwetman mentioned was retired journalism professor and department chair Robert Lochte. He said Lochte in-

Steve Schwetman is awarded the Kentucky Broadcasters Association Excellence in Broadcasting Award for Best Morning Show.

Photo courtesy of WKYQ Facebook

Kentucky, accepted the award on Oct. 14 at the KBA Excellence in Broadcasting Awards Show.

In his acceptance speech, Schwetman, somewhat comically, said being a radio show host is about more than just doing a job.

“It’s a vision,” Schwetman said. “Our job is not only to entertain our listeners but it’s also to keep them informed, maybe educating them a little… maybe not too much.”

Schwetman, a Metropolis, Illinois native who came from a farming family, thanked his parents during the speech.

“Marvin and Rosemary, thank you for encouraging me to do this [job],” Schwetman said.

Schwetman said his parents encouraged his creativity as a child. He was always interested in cartoons even while working on the farm and would try learning their voices while also creating his own characters.

He knew he wanted to be in front of the camera and dreamed of being on ESPN as a child. In high school, he realized he had a gift for radio and began working at a local radio station WRIK-FM, Hit Radio K-98.

He originally began his career with WKYQ/WKYX in 1987 but left two years later to focus on his bachelor’s degree at Murray State.

Schwetman majored in journalism during his undergraduate studies and worked at MSU-TV 11, the on-campus student cable station, as a sports anchor, reporter and producer. He also acted as producer and co-host of the sports show, “Sports Overtime.”

spired him to pursue a career in radio and television.

Lochte said Schwetman was always learning during his time at Murray State.

“Very early he focused on a career in radio and landed a job with one of the best station groups in the region,” Lochte said.

Part of Schwetman’s success is his personality.

“He really has a good radio personality with a natural enthusiasm that’s attractive without being obnoxious,” Lochte said. “Steve is someone you enjoy having in your home every morning.”

After a short stint in Las Vegas, Schwetman moved to Los Angeles. He had acted since high school and his minor in college was theater.

“I wanted to try acting, but my dream job was to do voices for animated cartoons,” Schwetman said. “My high school buddy and Murray State alumnus Lee Sanders put me up for a while till I got on my feet.”

During his time in Los Angeles, Schwetman met another Murray State alumnus and actor, W. Earl Brown.

“We met in 1998 after the success of ‘There’s Something About Mary,’” Schwetman said. “He f o u n d o u t I wa s i n L A and reached out to me.

He and his wife [Murray State alumna] Carrie Paschall Brown invited me to their home for supper one night.”

Schwetman said W. Earl Brown gave him great advice on his future career endeavors.

In 2002, he received a phone call from the long-time general manager of WKYQ/WKYX, Gary Morse. Morse told Schwetman that Bobby Cook’s partner at the time was moving to Frankfort, Kentucky, leaving a vacancy in the position. He graciously accepted the offer to return to the station where he began his career and have the opportunity to work with his role model and friend, Cook.

The other co-host, Mandi Turner joined the show in January 2017.

Schwetman said working in local radio is about putting a smile on people’s faces and providing a few laughs now and then. However, he said there is nothing more rewarding than having visitors come up to him and thank him for what he does. “‘Thank you for the coverage of the tornado warning,’” Schwetman said in his acceptance speech. “‘My family got to the shelter in time because you were able to alert us.’That’s what we take to heart.”

Schwetman was surprised when they were given the award for Best Morning Show but it wasn’t the first time he had been nominated for a top award.

“Bobby and I were finalists for a Country Music Association Broadcast award a few years ago,” Schwetman said. “Last year, with the addition of Mandi Turner, we were finalists for a similar award with the Academy of Country Music. This one holds special meaning. It’s the first of its kind, and it’s among our peers in Kentucky.”

In addition to being an award-winning radio show host, Schwetman is a professional actor, currently represented by Graham Entertainment of Nashville.

“Two of my highest-profile projects were playing the lead detective in the crime-recreation series ‘Fatal Attraction’ on the TVOne network,” Schwetman said.

“I also played ‘Captain Ironheart’ in ‘Louis & Skeeter and the Search for Buried Treasure’ for Lifeway’s ‘Submerged’ vacation bible school program. The movie was seen by just over two million kids.”

He is active at Market House Theater, a nationally-recognized community theater in Paducah, Kentucky. He is also a member of “Murder To Go,” a murder mystery troupe affiliated with Badgett Playhouse in Grand Rivers, Kentucky.

Friday, Nov. 1: Quad State String Festival Concert @ 5 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium

Saturday, Nov. 2: Cinema International

@ 7:30 p.m. “Altiplano” in the Curris Center Theatre

Senior Recital: Millie Wade

@ 6 p.m. in the Farrell Recital Hall in Price Doyle Fine Arts Building

Senior Recital: Andrea Campbell and Tyler Balk @ 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Hall in Price Doyle Fine Arts Building

Sunday, Nov. 3: Joint Senior Recital: Gabrielle Rapp, and Dakota Noble

@ 2 p.m. in the Performing Arts Hall in Price Doyle Fine Arts Building

Senior Recital: Ascher Taylor-Schroeder

@ 6 p.m. in the Farrell Recital Hall in Price Doyle Fine Arts Building

Tuesday, Nov. 5: Election Day

Polls open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Pet Therapy

@ Noon in the Oakley Applied Science Building

Wednesday, Nov. 6: Senior Salute December 2019 graduates

@ 10 a.m. in the Curris Center, second floor

Thursday, Nov. 7: Senior Salute December 2019 graduates

@ 10 a.m. in the Curris Center, second floor

German Coffee Table

@ 3:30 p.m. in the Collins Industry and Technology Center

If you would like to see your event featured in the Calendar of Events, email the features editor at csmith110@murraystate.edu.

Colton Colglazier/The News

October 31, 2019

16

NOVEMBER ELECTION ALERT

VOTE

for Governor and other representatives

Tuesday, November 5 6am—6pm

Look up your voting location and sample ballot: vote.org/ky2019 Young voters between the ages of 18-29 changed the outcome of the 2018 election.

We’re expecting record high turnout in 2019 and you’ll want to be part of it.

vote.org/ky2019 Vote.org is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and does not support or oppose any political candidate or party.