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November 7, 2019 | Vol. 94, No. 10

L L A B T E K e S d BA Insi B A T

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AD YOUR

GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION 2019 Read more about the controversy surrounding the election inside.

Colton Colglazier/The News

News Opinion Sports Features

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Controversy surrounds gubernatorial election

Voter suppression takes toll on polls

Racers earn No. 2 seat in OVC Tourney

Student to earn degree in France

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News

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November 7, 2019

Too close to call

Controversy surrounds gubernatorial election Daniella Tebib News Editor dtebib@murraystate.edu Polls closed at 6 p.m. on Nov. 5 from the Eastern Time Zone to the Central Time Zone in Kentucky, but the election results are still not official yet.

Governor- elect Andy Beshear secured the position with 709,577 votes, according to unofficial results from the Kentucky State Board of Elections. However, incumbent candidate Matt Bevin followed close behind with 704,388 votes and Libertarian candidate John Hicks received 28,245 votes.

More than 1.4 million voters showed up to the polls, resulting in a higher voter turnout than expected. According to unofficial results from the state’s secretary office, voter turnout was over 42 percent, compared to 30.7 percent of voters who participated in the 2015 gubernatorial election. Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes predicted only a 31 percent turnout ahead of this year’s election.

After the polls closed and votes were tallied, Beshear greeted an enthusiastic crowd in Louisville, Kentucky, for his acceptance speech.

“I haven’t had an opportunity yet to speak to Gov. Bevin,” Beshear said. “But, my expectation is that he will honor the election that was held tonight and that he will help us make this transition. I’ll tell you what, we will be ready for that first day in office and I look forward to it.”

However, incumbent Gov. Matt Bevin refused to concede on election night.

According to state law, there are three options for Bevin at this point in challenging the results.

The first option is to request a recanvass, in which county clerks would review machine totals in each of Kentucky’s 120 counties including absentee votes and check the printouts to ensure accuracy when they were sent to the State Board of Elections.

The next option is an official recount of each of the more than 1.4 million votes that were cast.

The last time there was a recanvass in the state’s gubernatorial race was the 1899 election of Democrat William Goebel as governor, who was assassinated just three days

later, according to www. explorekyhistory.com.

Bevin could then file a written request to contest the election, which would have to happen within 30 days of the State Board of Elections certifying the results. This is scheduled to occur on Nov. 25.

Bevin exercised his right to ask the secretary of state for a recanvass, which is scheduled for Nov. 14 at 9 a.m.

“As the Republican candidate for Kentucky Governor in the November 5, 2019 election, this is to request, pursuant to KRS 117.305(1), a check and recanvass of the voting machines and absentee ballots of all precincts in Kentucky involving my race for Governor,” according to the letter Bevin sent Grimes.

Drew Seib, interim chair and associate professor of political science, estimates the recanvass should take about a day.

Bevin’s campaign manager, David Paine, cited an irregularity as his reasoning for requesting a recanvass.

“The people of Kentucky deserve a fair and honest election,” Paine said. “With reports of irregularities, we are exercising the right to ensure that every lawful vote was counted.”

Seib said an irregularity can be defined as anything from a precinct running out of ballots, staying open later than 6 p.m. or last-minute ballots showing up.

For example, Paul Foote, associate professor of political science, said an election irregularity occurred in the Virginia election.

“One voter’s f lawed attempt to be counted in Newport News in December helped decide a pivotal Virginia House election and political control of the chamber,” Foote said. “The bubbles for both candidates, David Yancey and Shelly Simonds, were filled in, but Simonds’ had a slash through it. A court had to decide the voter’s intent, which tied the race and set up the infamous name drawing out of the bowl.

But, had the voter simply asked for another ballot after their mistake, the whole thing could have been avoided.”

Should Bevin decide to challenge the results from the recanvass, he would have to ask a circuit court judge to order a recount.

Governor-elect Andy Beshear gave his acceptance speech in Louisville, Kentucky on Nov. 5.

However, Seib said he does not believe a recount is necessary.

“There are several thousand votes that separate the two candidates,” Seib said. “It is very unlikely that a recount will change those results much, and I cannot see it changing the outcome of this election.”

Seib said almost every state has a procedure to permit recounts and 20 have a process where a recount is automatic if the vote difference falls within a certain percent.

However, Kentucky does not have any procedures listed that require an automatic recount.

The recount process, if initiated, must be completed by Dec. 10, which is when the next governor will take the oath of office.

This process is paid for by the candidate, not the state.

State Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, said the decision could also come down to the Republican-controlled state legislature should Bevin contest the recount results.

“There’s less than onehalf of 1 percent as I understand, separating the governor and the attorney general,” Stivers said. “We will follow the letter of the law and what various processes determine.”

Photo courtesy of KET

Brock Kirk/The News The Calloway County Republican Party held an election party on Nov. 5.

Seib said it is highly unlikely and a major political risk to allow the legislature to make the decision.

However, should it occur, Seib said the process begins with the formation of a board with three members from the Senate and eight from the House to hear a complaint against the election. The members would then decide if there is merit to the complaint and if it was egregious enough to conclude an election never really happened. If this decision is reached, a new election would be called.

While Beshear unofficially won the seat of governor, the rest of those elected in the state races on Nov. 5 were members of the Republican party.

Following the recanvass and any other procedures to ensure the fairness of the election, if Beshear is

still confirmed as the governor, James Clinger, associate professor of political science, predicts he may run into difficulties.

“Gov. Beshear will have a hard time getting his agenda through the General Assembly,” Clinger said. “He wants expanded gaming, but that does not seem likely to pass.

He may veto a number of bills, but those can be overridden. Kentucky’s constitution allows a veto to be overridden by a simple majority of those elected in each chamber.

There is no two-thirds requirement as in Congress.

Beshear may try to get around the legislature with executive orders, but that is difficult when the legislature is not supportive.”

The News will continue to follow the controversy surrounding the election in the coming weeks.

News

November 7, 2019

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Beshear discusses college affordability and pensions Megan Reynolds Editor-in-Chief mreynolds12@murraystate.edu Breanna Harris Contributing Writer bharris17@murraystate.edu Emily Shepherd Contributing Writer eshepherd2@murraystate.edu

College affordability In their recent gubernatorial campaigns, both Gov. Matt Bevin and Governor-elect Andy Beshear highlighted their concerns over college affordability in Kentucky.

College affordability was a hot topic in the gubernatorial election, and rightfully so, as Kentucky was recently ranked eighth worst in the nation, according to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

After Murray State’s recent 2.8 percent increase in tuition cost, students and their families are finding themselves faced with mounting debt.

“For far too many Kentuckians, a college education is financially out of reach,” according to Andy Beshear’s campaign website. “And crushing student loans are burying many of those who do go to college under a mountain of debt.”

Beshear said he fought against for-profit colleges and secured $5 million in restitution or debt relief for students as attorney general.

“And I stopped Matt Bevin when he tried to illegally cut the budgets of our universities and community colleges,” Beshear said.

Kentucky is one of 19 states to cut funding for higher education by more than 20 percent per student between 2008 and 2018, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy website. Between 2008 and 2018, lawmakers cut their per-student spending by 25.6 percent. To contextualize, that’s $2,792 less. This decline nearly doubles the national average of 13 percent, or $1,220.

“It is very important, as students, that college is affordable for everyone,” Jacqueline Stephenson, a senior from St. Louis, Missouri, said. “I know quite a few of my friends who have dropped out of college because it has become so expensive.”

High tuition rates can discourage students from enrolling in college for fear of the inability to pay for their degree. Debt accumulation from those tuition rates is also a deterrent.

Increases in tuition rates also cut down on campus diversity.

Students of color, students from low-income households and more would lose representation on campus, according to the KCEP. “There have been so many cases where I had to consider whether or not I could continue as a student at Murray State because I receive out-of-state tuition that makes it more expensive to attend,” Janae Pembrook Ward, a junior from St. Louis, Missouri, said.

The deep cuts to public higher education funding over the last

decade along with the rising pension costs for colleges and universities has shifted more of the costs to students.

“Without student loans, I would not be able to afford to even go to college,” Tameia Brown, a senior from Radcliff, Kentucky, said. “It is just crazy how much tuition has increased since I came here as a freshman almost four years ago.”

Beshear told a crowd of supporters at a last-minute campaign stop at the Higgins House in Murray the day before the election that public education, including higher education, wouldn’t last with four more years of Bevin at helm.

“The future of higher education is on the line tomorrow because Murray State and our other universities don’t survive another four years under Matt Bevin,” Beshear said.

Pensions Since 2009, Murray State’s contribution to the Kentucky Employee Retirement System has jumped 73 percent.

“To put this new rate of 83.43 percent in perspective, Murray State was paying a KERS pension rate of 10.01 percent in 2009,” President Bob Jackson said.

The rising pension rates led to an increase in educators taking to the polls on Election Day. Not only was Kentucky ranked as one of the worst states in terms of college affordability, but according to 24/7 Wall St., the Commonwealth was ranked as having the worst-managed pension fund in the nation. To rank the pension funds, the financial news website reviewed the average pension funding ratio, which is the market value of a pension fund as a percentage of the total benefits owed to current or retired public employees from 2017.

“As pension costs rise, it places a great deal of strain on the budget and crowds out funding for other public services like education, public safety and infrastructure,” Andrew Morelock, associate professor of political science, said. “For universities like Murray State, these additional costs must be addressed somehow, possibly leading to tuition increases for students.”

Morelock said the pension crisis is an intricate problem that has distinct differences between the pension plans of university professors and K-12 teachers.

“Each of those plans is different, and each has different costs, different benefit structure,” Morelock said. “The level of underfunding is different, all of them are underfunded. It’s just that some of them are incredibly underfunded. There is a plan for teachers, for state police, for members of the state judiciary, one for the state legislatures, for hazardous and nonhazardous work… Again, it gets complicated.”

Governor-elect Andy Beshear has a history of fighting for pensions as attorney general. In 2018, Beshear went to the Supreme Court during a revision of the pension plan and argued

Daniella Tebib/The News Governor-elect Andy Beshear visits the Calloway County Democrats on Nov. 4.

on behalf of the people for their promised pensions.

However, for the future, Morelock said the question for Beshear would be whether or not his plans are politically feasible.

“From a financial perspective, the pension issue is one of the most serious policy problems facing the state today,” Morelock said.

Beshear revealed his plans to solve the pension problem while on the campaign trail with Jacqueline Coleman, lieutenant governor-elect, who is the first active educator since Martha Layne Collins to serve in that role.

In a debate hosted by Kentucky Education Tonight on Oct. 28, Beshear said he plans to legalize gaming and medical marijuana to generate a revenue stream and help fund pensions and public education.

“We lose over $550 million of revenue every year to [Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia and Tennessee] just to casinos before sports betting or any of the rest,” Beshear said. “If we expand gaming, we put that money directly to the pension system. That frees up dollars in the general fund we can use for public education, health care and job creation.”

Beshear said he will not sign a budget into law unless it puts education first. To further the support of public education, he said he will raise teacher salaries in addition to solving the pension problems.

He plans to provide a $2,000 across-the -board pay raise to

prioritize public school teachers and aid the statewide teacher shortage.

“We are not promising too much to public education because there are so much public education needs,” Beshear said. “Our $2,000-a-year raise, which we are not giving to anybody, these teachers have earned, is about solving that shortage.”

Beshear plans to open the door to other revenue streams to fund pensions in addition to his legalization of expanded gaming and medical marijuana.

“The first thing we’re going to do is rescind Matt Bevin’s Medicaid waiver where he’s going to spend $270 million of taxpayer dollars just to kick 95,000 people off their health care,” Beshear said on KET. In an episode of “Hey Kentucky!”

Beshear said the focus of his campaign was to support the public servants who work diligently. He said his administration will protect Kentucky’s teachers. Beshear also promised a seat at the table for teachers so the promises over pensions can be kept.

“Our public servants go to work every day to keep our communities safe, educate tomorrow’s leaders—our children—or put themselves in harm’s way,” Beshear said on his website, andybeshear. com, concerning pension plans.

“The least we can do is protect the promised pension benefits they have paid into during their years of service.”

News

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November 7, 2019

Citizens Police Academy Inside jail programs 4:54PM

Theft by deception was reported in Faculty Hall on Oct. 29 after a subject purchased an item online and did not receive the item. The investigation is still open.

9:06PM

Then, they get their photo taken, fingerprints taken, are asked to get changed into a jail uniform and are assigned a cell. If the inmate is intoxicated or under the influence of a narcotic, they will be put in a detoxification cell until they are sober enough to be placed in the general population cell.

“Inmates can be very unpredictable,” Bryan said.

Bryan said when college starts up in the fall every year, the jail sees an influx of college-aged students.

Most of the charges are alcohol related.

Occasionally, the jail will see inmates who have mental health issues. While there are employees on staff trained to deal with this type of inmate, there may be better alternatives than spending the night in jail.

Sgt. Brant Shutt, public affairs officer for the Murray Police Department, said his officers are trained to recognize mental health issues based on observance and interaction with people they come into contact with.

“A l l o u r o f f i c e rs a re trained in crisis intervention,” Shutt said. “They can make the judgment if someone needs to be evaluated by an alternative mental health center, as opposed to being taken to jail.”

Next week’s class will f e a t u re a p o l yg r a p h demonstration and a course on traffic operations. It is scheduled for Nov. 11.

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.

Domestic violence was reported on Olive Street after a victim was involved in an altercation with the known suspect on Oct. 26.

Prosecution was declined.

9:11AM

Criminal mischief was reported in Elizabeth College after a paper on a door was damaged.

11/02 11/01

“We try to work with the inmates the best we can,” Claud said. “If an inmate is cooperative and qualifies for a work program, we do our best to accommodate them and their skillset.”

In addition to work programs, under the direction of Claud, there are various classes that can be taken by inmates based on their needs to better the direction of their life prior to being released back into society.

The classes include substance abuse counseling, parenting courses, moral reconation therapy and GED courses.

Most of the classes are taught by long-time Deputy Jailer Deeann Benke, who serves as program coordinator. Benke has been a deputy jailer with the jail for 25 years.

“We try to help them not be so overwhelmed when they get out of jail,” Benke said. “If you can’t get the inmates’ attention, some of our programs resonate with the inmates better.”

Benke teaches a class directed toward incarcerated fathers. She noted it is difficult to get the point across to inmates that they need to change their actions and behaviors.

“When you start talking about inmate’s children and families, they respond,” Benke said.

Sgt. David Bryan discussed the process of booking someone into the court system when they first get arrested and the logistics of how the jail operates day to day.

When an officer drops someone off at the jail, they bring the inmate in along with their arresting information. The inmate begins by going through a very precise body scanner that checks for contraband on the inmate before they enter the facility.

8:24AM

12:22AM

11/03

Brock Kirk/The News Citizens Police Academy attendees take a tour of the Calloway County Jail.

10/31

Terroristic threatening was reported in Winslow Dining Hall after a subject threatened to damage another person’s property.

Prosecution was declined.

11:24AM

Possession of marijuana and alcohol intoxication were reported on Olive Street. Subject was cited for possession of marijuana.

10:47PM

Sexual abuse was reported in the Residential Colleges after unwanted sexual contact occured. No criminal complaint was received.

Terroristic threatening was reported in Hester College after a subject sent threatening messages via text. Prosecution was declined.

12:30PM

Possession of alcohol by a minor was reported in Springer College. Subject was referred for administrative action.

6:15PM

Theft was reported in Hart College after decorations were stolen and recovered on Nov. 1. The investigation is still open.

11/04

Nov. 4 was the fifth night of the Murray Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy, and attendees of the program were given a tour of the Calloway County Jail.

Jailer Ken Claud, also a retired Murray Police Chief, led the tour of the full-service jail. The jail operates in a capacity that houses pre-trial inmates, inmates awaiting a sentence and sometimes convicted inmates for a sentence that does not require them to go to a state or federal prison.

The jail was built in 1996, replacing the much-smaller previous jail. Being able to house up to 129 inmates, a majority of the room is available for males. This doesn’t mean if the jail is at capacity law enforcement officials stop doing their job.

Four different law enforcement agencies transport inmates to the Calloway County Jail for booking into the court system.

The jail has operated dayto-day with nearly 200 inmates before, but currently has 171 inmates. The old jail still houses inmates who have been released to work under supervision. These inmates work 40 hour weeks and are compensated 60 cents a day for their work.

There are currently 32 fulltime employees working at the jail. Four deputy jailers must be on staff at all times, and one of the four must be a female.

The jail operates on a budget of over $3 million.

The budget provides meals, proper housing and other necessities to inmates. The jail also has contracts with outside professionals who provide scheduled medical evaluations, mental health counseling and other services.

The inmates on work release do a variety of different jobs for the City of Murray and Calloway County.

Some of the jobs they complete are mowing city cemeteries, picking up garbage along roadways and highways, assisting nonprofits and a variety of other assigned tasks.

Claud informed attendees that in 2018 approximately $450,000 was saved from having to pay employees to complete the work the inmates do. This saves taxpayer money, and allows the inmates to get out of the jail setting everyday and contribute to the community.

10/30

Addison Watson Staff Writer awatson25@murraystate.edu

7:34PM

Possession of drug paraphernalia was reported in Regents College. Subject was referred for administrative action.

Police Beat is compiled with material from the Murray State Crime and Fire Log. Not all dispatched calls are listed.

Colton Colglazier/The News

Opinion

November 7, 2019

5a

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

Voter suppression takes toll on polls The Center for American Progress reported that about 120 million eligible Americans did not participate in the 2018 November midterm elections. Voter apathy can only take part of the blame for why Americans continuously do not cast their ballot in both presidential and municipal elections.

Voter suppression prevents many eligible Americans from exercising their most fundamental right. States target minorities and historically-marginalized groups to make it more difficult or impossible for them to vote. Thousands of votes are negated in every election due to obstacles such as barriers in the registration process, gerrymandering, misinformation and discrimination.

Long lines turn away voters who cannot take time off work. According to CAP, in the 2016 election, 3 percent of people standing in line were forced to leave before voting.

Impoverished communities and minorities are targeted in voter purges – a process in which states remove people who haven’t voted, often in as few as two past elections.

According to a 2018 Brennan Center for Justice report, between 2014 and 2016, states removed 16 million eligible voters. The highest number of voter purges took place in states with histories of discriminatory voting practices.

Minor misspellings or missing hyphens on registration forms can hinder registrants from voting. Before the 2018 midterm election, 53,000 voter registrants in Georgia – 70 percent of whom were black – were in a pending status due to minor errors on their forms. A federal judge intervened four days before the

election, but the registrants still had to gather documents to prove eligibility on a short notice.

Voter suppression happens through moving poll sites away from public transportation limits, so people have a harder time getting to the new location. It isn’t uncommon for politicians to give the wrong information about polling locations.

The United States has the highest incarceration rates and strictest disenfranchisement policies compared to other countries. Except in Maine and Vermont, felons and parolees are ineligible to vote; in 21 states, felons lose their voting rights during incarceration and for a lengthy period of time after, but felons lose their voting rights indefinitely in 11 states.

According to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the United States makes up about 5 percent of the world’s population and has 21 percent of the world’s prisoners. African Americans are incarcerated at more than five times the rate of whites.

Marginalized communities such as minority and impoverished groups are disproportionately targeted, so incarceration rates are higher for these communities. But when the right to vote is taken away from these groups, their ability to effect change is also taken; thus, the cycle of targeted incarceration and voter suppression continues.

Felon disenfranchisement keeps a large population of minorities from voting despite most of their convictions being for minor drug charges.

In close elections, similar to Kentucky’s 2019 gubernatorial race, felon and parole votes could swing the outcome. The NAACP reports

Voting Rights

Brooklyn Burnett/The News

that if Afrcan Americans and Hispanics were incarcerated at the same rates as whites, prison and jail populations would decline by almost 40 percent.

Presidential elections are often depicted as the most important way to take political action and make a difference. They are extremely important, but local elections are equally – if not more – crucial. Presidents and presidential elections receive the most publicity, which becomes representative to the disproportionate amount of attention that Americans give to them and not local officials.

Local officials have much more of a direct impact on citizens’ lives. Focusing primarily on national politics results in local leaders misrepresenting districts and states. Giving little attention, thus fewer votes, to

local elections makes it extremely likely for unfit leaders to take office.

Voting in local elections means voting for the officials who make decisions on roads, public safety, water conditions, sewer systems and etc. while balancing economic and budgetary challenges. Change takes place in various ways, but one of the easiest and most impactful ways to make one’s voice heard is through municipal government.

Although voter turnout is low in local elections, rates have increased over the past decade. According to an article from the Center for American Progress, voter participation was over 10 percentage points higher in the 2018 midterm election than the 2014 midterm election. Hopefully, the number continues to increase in the future.

Cheers to the Thanksgiving Break quickly approching!

Jeers to the uncertainty of the gubernatorial election.

As November begins, so does the countdown to Thanksgiving Break!

With Beshear seemingly winning the election by less than 1 percent, Bevin refuses to concede the race.

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

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cdame2@murraystate.edu jkirk11@murraystate.edu

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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.

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Sports

6a

November 7, 2019

Racers earn No. 2 seed in OVC Tourney Soccer looks to go back-to-back-to-back

Nick Kendall Staff Writer nkendall1@murraystate.edu

The Murray State Racers are all set to compete at the OVC Soccer Tournament, earning the second seed in the event.

The Racers finished the regular season with a threegame winning streak, an overall record of 11-7 and a conference record of 8-2.

This allowed the Racers to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals automatically, meaning they will have to win only two games to bring home a championship.

The only team seeded higher than the Racers are the SEMO RedHawks, who went 11-4-1 overall, 8-1-1 in the conference. The two met once this season, as the Racers defeated the Redhawks 5-0 at Cutchin Field on Sunday, Sept. 29.

Head Coach Matt Lodge likes his team’s chances going into the tournament.

Despite being the two seed, he considers Murray State to be the team to beat.

Sophomore forward Abby

Murray State soccer huddles up before a home game.

Jones agreed the two seed didn’t do the Racers justice, but regardless Jones believes Murray State is in a great position to succeed.

Both she and senior Miyah

Watford mentioned the team’s great opportunity to win the championship this year.

Looking back on the season, Lodge mentioned the

Richard Thompson/The News

variation his team experienced when it came to positioning his players and how that will best prepare them for a run in the OVC Tournament.

“It’s been kind of a crazy whirlwind year,” Lodge said. “We’ve played about eight or nine back forwards, four different goalkeepers. I think we’ve really got something good going on.”

Lodge didn’t see anything in particular his solidified roster has to do to prepare now, other than stay healthy. If they can do that, he says, he anticipates reaching the finals and giving “a good go” for the championship title.

If the Racers do pull it off, they will have won the OVC Championship three years in a row.

The first OVC Tournament game for Murray State will take place on Friday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m. at SEMO, where the Racers will face the No. 6 seeded Belmont, who upset No. 2 seeded UT Martin 3-2 on Sunday, Nov. 3.

A Racers win will give them a chance at the OVC Championship on Sunday, Nov. 10, when they travel to Cape Girardeau, Missouri in hopes of completing the three-peat.

Cross Country closes the books on 2019 Simon Elfrink Staff Writer selfrink@murraystate.edu

The 2019 cross country season carried into November for Murray State as they competed at the OVC Cross Country Championships at SIU Edwardsville on Saturday, Nov. 2.

The Racers’ season came to a conclusion, as the men’s team placed sixth and the women’s team placed eighth in Edwardsville, Illinois.

Cross Country Coach Jordan Wallace was pleased with the way the Racers represented themselves at the conference meet.

“I think we went into the meet with a lot more confidence than we have in years past,” Wallace said.

“Our program has been building with our men’s side, so I think we’re headed in the right direction, trying to get a little closer to the top-five spot.

We haven’t been fifth in the conference since 2003, so that’s definitely a goal that we have. We got just a little closer to that goal.”

The men’s team placed sixth overall, the best they have done at the conference meet since

2015, when they yielded an identical place. Leading the way for the Racers was junior Caleb Kawasaki. Kawasaki placed 18th overall with a time of 25:34.7.

“Caleb obviously had a very good race,” Wallace said. “Probably one of the best performances out of both men’s and women’s cross country for the group.”

Senior Zach Balleau was a little under a minute behind Kawasaki, crossing the line at 26:19.6 and placing 37th. Junior Meyer Makemson came in 53rd overall and timed in at 27:18.4.

Just steps behind him was sophomore Christian Slone, who finished 55th overall with a time of 27:24.3.

Ten seconds later, senior Zan McClelland crossed at 27:34.2, placing 59th overall.

Wallace commented on the close proximity in which the bulk of the top five men finished.

“Christian was running really well throughout the course of the race,” Wallace said. “Then Meyer passed him right there at the end for our third spot. Christian still coming in fourth was awesome.”

Although the women’s team ran comparatively solid personal times, they

didn’t share the success the men had in placement. They came in eighth overall, led by freshman Emma Graf.

Graf placed 26th overall with a time of 18:57.5.

Sophomore Emma Creviston finished with a time of 19:18.9, placing 40th overall. Only seconds behind was sophomore Dani Wright, crossing at 19:21.9 and placing 44th. Senior Katelyn Gilbert and sophomore Morgan Vosler rounded out the top five finishers, placing 53rd and 56th, respectively. Gilbert finished with a time of 19:44.7, and Vosler’s time was 19:56.0 Wallace, while pleased with the individual performance of her women’s team, wasn’t thrilled with getting eighth place.

“It’s not necessarily a place that we are super happy with,” Wallace admitted. “Once again, I think we’re headed toward the right direction. It’s a really great group of girls. They’ve been working very hard this season. They’ve had a lot of individual personal bests along the way.”

Looking forward to the regional meet, Wallace’s only concern is the distance of the race. The men will run a 10k, while the women will run a 6k.

Given the young nature of the team, the majority of her runners have not experienced the regional competition before. However, she said the Racers are prepared for the terrain aspect of the race.

“It’s a little intimidating,” Wallace said. “But luckily,

our home course we raced at back in October really helped prepare us, because the regional course is very hilly. I think we’re prepared based on our home meet.

I’m just really excited to see both the men’s and women’s team get after it. It’s going to be really exciting to see.”

Photo courtesy of Patrick Clark/Athlete Eye Photography Murray State men’s cross country runs in the OVC Championships.

Sports

November 7, 2019

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Jones looks to become Racers soccer great Simon Elfrink Staff Writer selfrink@murraystate.edu

Over the course of the regular soccer season, sophomore forward Abby Jones totaled some impressive numbers and represented herself well among the OVC leaders.

Last season’s OVC Freshman of the Year, Jones will go into the OVC Tournament leading the conference in assists with 10. She is also seventh in shots (40), eighth in goals (6), fifth in shots on goal (25) and third in points (22).

Jones attributes her offensive success to the focus on simply perfecting her region of the game.

“I’ve just been enjoying the game,” Jones said. “I was injured in the spring, so to be able to get back on the field has put a different perspective on the game.”

Jones suffered from a stress fracture last fall, leading to surgery and recovery throughout the winter and spring months. However, after getting the chance to get back on the field over the summer, her recovery yielded an impressive fall season.

Head Coach Matt Lodge was not surprised in the least by her performance this season. Even as a freshman, he could see the makings of a great leader in Jones. After a powerful start, she has certainly settled into the role.

“She’s stayed consistent throughout her growth,” Lodge said. “The

thing that I’ve loved about her this year is she’s stepped into a leadership role as a captain. She’s very vocal. She’ll absolutely let people know if they’re doing their job or not. She’s been a real leader for us this year.”

Lodge explained how pivotal it is to have a player like Jones on the team to make the offensive specialists shine. Lodge commented on how well Jones’ style of play complements the speed and shooting ability of players like senior forward Miyah Watford.

“Abby’s soccer IQ is very high,” Lodge said. “That’s why you see the assists, because she knows she’s playing around people with speed.

She just sees the game a little different than a lot of people.”

Although her time at Murray State has only just begun, Jones has high hopes for the rest of her career.

Jones looks to upperclassman Watford to push her and help her reach new heights. In the coming years, she hopes to outdo her teammate’s numbers and be a leader for her team.

“You know, I want to beat Miyah Watford now,” Jones said. “Obviously we push each other and I respect her; I respect so much of her. [I] just have to keep pushing and be the best I can be.”

Jones’ campaign will continue on Friday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m., when the Racers compete in the OVC Tournament Semifinal against Belmont University in hopes of a third-straight trip to the OVC Championship.

Abby Jones sends a corner kick into the box at Cutchin Field.

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

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

Features

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November 7, 2019

Student to earn degree in France Grant Dillard Staff Writer gdillard@murraystate.edu

Samantha Reattoir is close to becoming the first Murray State student to earn a degree from Emlyon University in Saint Etienne, France, in addition to her degree from Murray State, after participating in an exchange student program.

“I learned about this program when I toured Murray as a sophomore in high school and spoke with Dr. Miller and Dr. Mangold about the International Business Program here at MSU,” Reattoir said. “That was about five years ago, but I knew that this program was something I needed to do,” Reattoir described her experience in France as unbelievable. She said she learned about herself, the world around her and the unique people living in it. She also admitted that being far away from home for two semesters was challenging, but she feels that the experience was rewarding in the end.

“I met so many amazing people and now have friends all over the world,” Reattoir said. “I was able to travel to 12 different countries and countless French cities. Europe is beautiful, and there is so much diversity and history between cultures. The university experience in France was very different than my classes at Murray – I was able to do a lot of hands-on learning in France.”

Some highlights of Reattoir’s trip included visiting friends she made during her first semester in Latvia and the Czech Republic and another new friend taking her to Belgium and showing her around the country. Reattoir’s mother also came to France after her first semester and the two took a road trip across northern Italy and Slovenia to learn about their family heritage; Reattoir said the trip was very special to her.

It’s also important to understand the program Reattoir participated in, which has been sending students to Saint Etienne since spring 2013.

International Affairs major Katherine Powers was the first exchange student from Murray State. Timothy Johnston, marketing professor, has worked as a faculty director for the program and as a mentor for Reattoir.

“As a partner in an exchange program, Murray State aims to welcome an equal number of Emlyon students to study in Murray,” Johnston said.

Emlyon itself is one of the most prestigious business

Photo courtesy of Samantha Reattoir Samantha Reattoir will earn a degree from Emlyon Business School in Ecully, France, which she considers to be her biggest accomplishment.

schools in Europe, only conferring business degrees.

Murray State students can take third- and fourth-year courses in business, and be taught in English after two years of being taught in French. This makes Emlyon an ideal study abroad opportunity for students in the college of business.

“Samantha is on track to be the first Murray State student to receive a second degree from Emlyon Business School, based on two semesters of coursework in France,” Johnston said. “All she needs to do is to finish her last semester at Murray State, which I am sure she will.”

For the work itself in getting an Emlyon degree, a one-semester visit requires enrollment in the European equivalent of 12 hours of classes. The student can then choose from the courses Emlyon has to offer based on what interests them or what they can transfer back for courses they need at Murray

Samantha is on track to be the first Murray State student to receive a second degree from Emlyon Business School, based on two semesters of coursework in France. All she needs to do is to finish her last semester at Murray State, which I am sure she will.

- Timothy Johnston,

marketing professor

State. As for a second degree program, a student takes the same courses full-time Emlyon Global BBA program students take in their third and fourth years.

“Samantha is an excellent student and is a positive contributor to the Murray State and Emlyon business schools.

Murray State could not ask for a better person to be on track to earn the first Emlyon second degree,” Johnston said.

Reattoir considers earning her Emlyon degree the biggest accomplishment in her life right now. Even better is that her experience in France led her to discovering her potential future career post-graduation. At Emlyon she took a hospitality management class and loved it.

Currently, Reattoir is applying for hospitality internships across the United States.

As for advice to anyone looking to achieve the same kind of goals, Reattoir’s words of wisdom are to just go for it,

no matter what obstacles may get in the way.

“It’s going to be stressful,” Reattoir said. “Applications, getting a visa, finding an apartment, packing and moving across the ocean for five months at a time, getting abroad and being a foreigner. But at the end of your program you’ll wish you didn’t have to go home,” Reattoir said.

Ultimately, traveling is about getting out of your comfort zone.

“Going abroad is catching flights and catching feelings – lots of them – the good and the bad,” Reattoir said.

“Travel will fill you with wonder – the truth is that there is a lot more to discover out there beyond Murray, Kentucky; A lot more beyond our own borders here in the United States. The best way to start to understand it and appreciate it is to go out of your comfort zone and start meeting.”

Features

November 7, 2019

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University to celebrate first-generation students Grant Dillard Staff Writer gdillard@murraystate.edu

Murray State University will celebrate its first-generation college students with the upcoming First Generation Celebration.

First-generation students are those whose parents or guardians have not graduated from a four-year university.

The Council for Opportunity in Education and the Center for First-Generation Student Success hosted the first celebration in 2017.

The COE and the Center for First-Generation Students choose Nov. 8 to celebrate not only first-generation students but the Higher Education Act of 1965.

“HEA was intended to help level a playing field that for too long had been weighed against Americans from minority and low-income backgrounds,” according to the Center for First-Generation Students website.

The legislation created grant and loan programs for students and invested in institutions for higher education.

Student Engagement and Success and Student Support Services/TRiO had a hand in planning the event, according to its coordinator Jennifer Smith.

“National First Gen Day is Nov. 8, and we are excited to recognize our first-gen students, faculty, staff and supporters on Nov. 7,” Smith said.

Smith said Murray State is made up of faculty and staff who truly care about students and their success; stating that when students visit campus, they feel a welcoming spirit.

“We hear it all the time, ‘Murray State University just feels like home,’ and it’s true,” Smith said. ”We are a home away from home, we are a community, we are Racers.”

Forty-two percent of the fall 2019 first-time Freshman class at Murray State are considered first-generation, Smith said and 47.2 percent of the fall 2019 undergraduate population is made up of first-gen students as well.

“To be the first in a family to attend college is not only important to the student, but in most cases, important to their family,” Smith said.

Student Engagement and Success recognizes the large population of firstgen students present on campus and works hard to connect with and support students and their families.

The organization also s e n d s a p a re n t / f a m i l y newsletter twice a month to any family who subscribes, and we sponsor the Parent/Family Council. In fact, one of the members of the council is the parent of a first-generation student.

“We are honored students chose Murray State to continue their education,” Smith said. Our faculty and staff are committed to supporting our students, not only in the classroom, but with the many resources available on campus.”

The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 7 in the Waterfield Library Patio.

President Bob Jackson and Vice President for Student Affairs Don Robertson will speak at 10 a.m.

At the celebration first-generation students students and supporters can enjoy cupcakes,punch and hot chocolate. Free shirts and buttons will also be provided while supplies last.

Claire Smith/The News Speech and Debate is experimenting with an online debate format.

Speech and Debate tests online format Grant Dillard Staff Writer gdillard@murraystate.edu

A s o f n o w, M u r r a y State’s Speech and Debate team is undefeated in online debates.

The team’s perfect winning streak is due to the team having only done one debate for the sake of experimentation, Joshua Sanders, junior and head coach, said.

We are given 15 minutes of prep per topic.

Topics range from foreign and domestic policy, pop culture, values and current events.

- Joshua Sanders, senior and head coach of Speech and Debate

Megan Reynolds/TheNews

Sanders has been on the debate team for three years now and is the head coach.

“We typically travel to three tournaments a semester and are a really good team,” Sanders said. “The last tournament, at Owensboro, we just took home first in debate as a team, and second in overall, with

numerous awards with the individuals.”

T h e t e a m ha s b e e n around Kentucky and Tennessee for debates, along with traveling long distances for nationals.

Last year, they journeyed to New York where the placed in first at the National Speech and De bate Association’s Pi Kappa Delta Tournament. Later this year they will travel to San Diego for nationals.

“This will be my third year debating, and my first as the head coach for the team,” Sanders said.

On the debate side of the team, there are three va rs i t y d e b a t e t e a m s consisting of two peo ple each, and three more novice debaters. On the speech side, there are eight other individuals who only do individual events at tournaments. In terms of what the teams debate, it depends on the tournament itself.

“We are given 15 minutes of prep per topic,” Sanders said. “Topics range from foreign and domestic policy, pop culture, values and current events.”

O n l i n e d e b a t e s a re not currently viewable, but Sanders encourages those who would like to see the team debate to attend the Dean’s Debate in Wrather Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7.

As for those who may be interested in joining the team, Sanders isn’t taking on anyone new at the moment. But at the end of the school year, he will begin to contact people who reach out to his email at jsanders17@murraystate.edu about joining the team.

Features

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November 7, 2019

Students form wedding quartet Ciara Benham Staff Writer cbenham@murraystate.edu Five Murray State students have combined their talents to create a hobby and business that pulls on the heartstrings of brides and grooms across the region.

The Heartstrings Wedding Quartet is a group of string instrument players made up of students Katie Beard, Emily Bragg, Autumn Renee, Alex Thome and Gloria Benz. Including violin, viola, cello and bass, the quartet brings an array of talent everywhere they go.

Junior music education major Katie Beard founded the Heartstrings after her past experience playing for weddings.

“I had been in another wedding quartet and greatly enjoyed playing for the clients,” Beard said. “I created this quartet so that we can continue to add some magic to each of our client’s special day.”

Through the quartet, the musicians have gathered

Photo courtesy of Nicholas Bushnell Alex Thome, Katie Beard, Emily Bragg and Autumn Renee along with Gloria Benz make up the Heartstring Quartet.

important life lessons. From what it takes to balance work and school to how to overcome and adapt, the Heartstrings have learned so much more than music together.

“The quartet has taught me how to be flexible. This is extremely important for

being a teacher because we have to be super flexible,”Renee, senior elementary education major, said.

Renee is not the only member who hopes to transfer her newfound skills into the classroom.

“Being in the quartet has taught me to balance

schedules and to coordinate,” Beard said. “This will be extremely helpful when I am later teaching in the school systems.”

The quartet isn’t only rewarding for the members because of the lessons they learn, but also because they genuinely enjoy what they do.

“My favorite part is spending time with the friends that I love to be with,” Benz said.

Ever y member of the quartet said they appre ciated and valued working alongside their fellow musicians.

“I really enjoy getting the chance to work with the other members of the quartet, as they are all very musically talented and fun,” Beard said. “I also enjoy playing for the clients and seeing them enjoy the music.”

Although it’s difficult at times, the Heartstrings work diligently and rehearse often to provide the best performance for their clients.

“It’s definitely not easy at times, but we make sure we get at least two to three practices in a week,” Bragg said.

The quartet exhibits a great dedication to their work by committing to these practices, while also staying on top of their school work.

“I always put academics first,” Renee said. “ But, I love music enough that I can always make time for it!”

Outstanding alumna awarded Claire Smith Features Editor csmith110@murraystate.edu Jennifer Stubblefield grew up to become a teacher in one of the classrooms she was taught in.

Stubblefield graduated from Murray State in 1992 and has been a teacher at Calloway County High School for the last 27 years.

In October she was awarded the Outstanding Alumni Service Award from the College of Education and Human Services.

Stubblefield was humbled when she received the award.

“This is an award that usually goes to Ph.D.s and professor emeritus and a high school teacher receives it,” Stubblefield said.

Robert Lyons, professor and assistant dean of the College of Education and Human Services, said it was the college’s honor to present her with the award.

“Ms. Jennifer Stubblefield is a prime example of our college’s alumni,” Lyons said. “She is a lifelong learner who goes above and beyond the call of duty to serve not only her students but also her peers, our region and the field of education.”

As part of the award Stubblefield participated in the

Homecoming Parade where she got to ride in a vintage car.

“I love parades,” Stubblefield said. “It was great. The man who drove me in the parade is actually a former coworker of mine here at the high school.”

She was able to bring someone to ride with her in the parade and chose her dad because he is one of the biggest reasons she decided to become an educator.

When she was graduating high school the state was just beginning to become computerized and she knew she wanted to work with children.

“I love technology, I love everything about business, entrepreneurship, but I loved kids,” Stubblefield said. “When I got on campus I was quickly introduced to the business education career pathway.”

Stubblefield attended Murray State as a nontraditional student, having married her high school sweetheart between her sophomore and junior years of college. Being a nontraditional student didn’t stop her from taking in all the University has to offer.

“I got to work in all the right places,” Stubblefield said. “I was a student ambassador charged with going to recruit students for Murray State. I was

Brock Kirk/The News Jennifer Stubblefield rode in the Homecoming Parade with her father who is one of her biggest influences.

not in Greek Life but I stayed very busy, there was never a time when I was bored.”

She was also involved in other activities across campus, community service and organizations in the education department.

Her favorite part about being a teacher is the students she gets to work with.

“The kids keep you young, the kids have energy, the kids are what make you want to come to school everyday,” Stubblefield said. “You work with great people, I have some

of the best colleagues but it’s the kids.”

She takes being a teacher very seriously, saying her students are like sponges.

“You could really alter someone’s career path with negativity or your lack of enthusiasm,” Stubblefield said.

Winning this award makes Stubblefield proud to be a Racer.

“The College of Education is one of the oldest and to join this list of all the people they could have picked it is a huge honor and something I don’t take

lightly and will treasure forever,” Stubblefield said.

Stubblefield will retire in April from teaching in the very classroom she had high school classes in.

“I’m looking forward to the next chapter,” Stubblefield said. “I’m definite ly not going to sit home on the back porch and knit and make cookies but I’m ready to start my second career and see what God’s got going out there for me and what door he’s going to open for me next.”

Features

November 7, 2019

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Friday, Nov. 8: Alpha Gam’s Rock-A-Thon Photo courtesy of Ben Littlepage Ben Littlepage, professor of postsecondary education spent time teaching in Hungary with the Fulbright program.

Professor’s Fulbright travels Littlepage details his time abroad Iris Snapp Contributing Writer isnapp@murraystate.edu Professor of Post-secondary education Ben Littlepage has just finished his first stint in Hungary and plans to return with the Fulbright program in the last two weeks of March.

Through this program, Littlepage lectures at different universities around the world and worked with the University’s administration to implement programs that were discussed in September.

Although Littlepage was in Hungary to teach, he spent most of his time observing students and different schooling techniques.

“Anytime I walk into a new campus, the first thing I look at is how students interact, how students are engaged on campus,” Littlepage said.

He also explained the different education techniques he observed. For example, at the university he visited in Hungary, students did not have assignments during the semester. Instead, they just attended class and took notes. Their whole grade was based on an exam at the end of the semester.

“Some students take the semester seriously and go to every class,” Littlepage said. “Some students, like at any campus, are more involved in the social aspects of college.”

One of the places that showed him a new perspective was South Korea when he visited last summer. With this experience, he wanted to find a way to make international students feel more at home on the Murray State campus. He also took a group of graduate students with him. Littlepage and his students spoke about changes that could make transitions for international students smoother at Murray State, and some have been

implemented, such as translated housing applications.

He also noticed school pride is not as strong as it is in the United States. Many students do not own an item with the school name or logo on it. There are also no sports teams.

Although one thing he has noticed everywhere is that if the school does not organize things for the students, the students will do it themselves.

“Either way students are going to organize themselves,” Littlepage said. “If you go out past 11 o’clock at night, you will see students with similar interests together.”

Many international institutions are known for one thing that they specialize in.

These specialized schools draw people from all over the country to attend a school that fits their needs.

These specialties might not only be what the student needs but what the student wants to study, for example, the university in which Littlepage taught at was specialized in agriculture.

“If you were a student in Hungary, and you wanted agriculture, you went to this institution,” Littlepage said.

Most of the interesting parts of his travels were outside of the school, such as the diversity of crops grown in Hungary. There they grow everything from corn and soy to fields of thousands of sunflowers for the seeds.

While in Hungary, Littlepage visited several parts of the country, experiencing everything from Budapest to the rural villages.

“One of the things I noticed about international communities is that people take pride in their country and are very knowledgeable in their history,” Littlepage said.

He also spoke about how riding public transport will give a person more knowledge of the country and its people. Although his primary objective while he was there was to be with the university and work, he got a broader picture of the country by taking transportation and connecting with people.

“Professionally, having the opportunity to share what we do in the United States, and understanding that our model for higher education is unique, and knowing that some of the things we do in the States can benefit a different system of higher education,” Littlepage said.

Littlepage continues to work with the administration on higher education in regards to finance and planning in order to benefit students, as well as globalization.

He also noticed these universities are also push for more international students, and while he was in South Korea, there was a 12 percent international student population. This gave him the chance to speak to students from China and Iraq, which gave him a new perspective.

“I had an opportunity my fourth day there to speak to a student from Iraq,” Littlepage said. “I was the first American he had ever met that did not wear a military uniform.”

These experiences gave Littlepage a different pers p e c t iv e o n t h e e n t i re world and what it is to be an American.

He is extremely grateful for the opportunities the University has provided for him. Whether he’s learning professionally, personally or spiritually, these experiences are something he will never forget.

@ 7 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium

Saturday, Nov. 9: Chamber Concert

@ 7:30 p.m. in Price Doyle Fine Arts Building in the Performing Arts Hall

Sunday, Nov. 10: Fall Choral Collage

@ 3:30 p.m. in Price Doyle Fine Arts Building in the Performing Arts Hall

Joint Senior Recital: Molly Stokes and Hayden Lefevre

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

Murray/CallowayCountyHomeless Coalition Fundraiser Concert @ 7 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium

Monday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day Celebration @ 6 a.m. in Curris Center Theatre

Tuesday, Nov. 12: Tinsel Town

@ 7 p.m. in Curris Center Theatre

BrassandWoodwindChamberMusic @ 7:30 p.m. in Price Doyle Fine Arts Building in the Performing Arts Hall

Career Services Fashion Show

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

Wednesday, Nov. 13: Spanish Conversation Table

@ 3 p.m. in Waterfield Library Gallery

Thursday, Nov. 14: German Coffee Table

@ 3:30 p.m. in Collins Industry and Technology Center Conference Room 206

If you would like to see your event featured email the features editor at csmith110@murraystate.edu.

Colton Colglazier/The News

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November 7, 2019