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January 16, 2020 | Vol. 94, No. 14

University vandalized

Police release security camera picture of Winter break graffiti suspects Addison Watson Staff Writer awatson25@murraystate.edu

Murray State Police is asking for the public’s help locating the individual(s) responsible for vandalizing areas of campus over Winter Break.

On Dec. 24, 2019, while on routine patrol, officers found graffiti on the side of buildings and dumpsters, in stairwells and on signage throughout the University.

Murray State Police made a plea for the public’s assistance through their Facebook page earlier this month.

The pictures shared in the post show various wording, drawings and a tag that reads: “I-M-P.” Murray State Police Chief

Jamie Herring said no arrests have been made but security cameras in the area were able to produce a low-quality image of potential suspects.

Officers stopped multiple suspicious persons during Winter Break, but none were connected to the vandalism.

Herring said the graffiti was cleaned up immediately after the holidays but still provided investigators with important information.

“Much of the graffiti was unique, which is often the case with those who engage in graffiti vandalism,” Herring said. “It will help us identify the people in the long run.”

The department’s Facebook post on Friday, Jan. 10 said the graffiti appears to be “the work of vandals

who commit these types of crimes regularly.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Murray State Police Department at (270) 809-2222 or via the LiveSafe app, or to call Crime Stoppers at (270) 753-9500.

“You can remain anonymous and still claim a reward,” Herring said.

Crimestoppers is offering a reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of suspects responsible for the vandalism. The reward amount varies based on the number and severity of charges that the suspect receives.

To see more photos of the graffiti on campus, visit TheNews.org.

Top: Photo courtesy of the Murray State Police Department The stairs on the lower level of the Fine Arts building was one of the locations struck by vandals over Winter Break.

Left: Photo courtesy of the Murray State Police Department Security camera footage inside the New Fine Arts lobby captured this image of the suspects in the Dec. 24, 2019 vandalism on campus.

Starbucks breaks ground on campus of communication. “Progress began over the holiday break as the new structure is currently framed in, with most of the plumbing roughed in.”

Emotions regarding the new additions are mixed, as some students are excited to see the new options and others are concerned about the construction itself.

“Not going to lie, I find the construction in Curris a [bit] nonessential to our campus,” said Kirsten Moore, sophomore art education major.

“The want the newer to be ‘newer,’ but they forget about the needs of others.”

Moore said she finds her-

self more worried about the construction that needs to be done on the residential side of campus rather than in dining facilities.

The Curris Center has been home to a University coffee shop that is licensed to sell Starbucks products.

Many students are wondering what will become of the current café, the Thoroughbrewed Café.

To this question, Touney said the space will become a student lounge area. As the dance lounge once offered students a large space to

Changes on campus

Racers grab first two conference road wins

Autism center has busy first semester

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page 6

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

Lauren Morgan/The News The Curris Center undergoes renovations in preparation for Starbucks.

News Opinion Sports Features

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College of businesss updates financial markets classroom page 2

As the renovations of the dance lounge in the Curris Center take off, students are looking forward to the completion of Starbucks.

The addition of a Starbucks to campus was announced shortly after the partnership between Murray State and Sodexo. Along with Starbucks are the additions of Steak ‘n Shake, Tres Habeneros and Sub Connection.

“The current plan and goal is to open Starbucks following Spring Break,” said Shawn Touney, director

,

see STARBUCKS page 4

News

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January 16, 2020

4:31PM

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11:48AM

Theft was reported after a bicycle was stolen from Pryce Doyle Fine Arts on Nov. 29.

The investigation was suspended pending other information.

Theft was reported in the Curris Center after several food items went missing from a dining facility on Dec. 4. The investigation was suspended pending other information.

8:03PM

12/12

Possession of marijuana was reported in the College Courts. Subjects were referred for administrative action.

Harassment was reported in Pryce Doyle Fine Arts after a subject reported that another subject has been verbally harassing them over a period of time. Prosecution was declined.

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12:22PM

Criminal mischief was reported on campus after several locations were vandalized with graffiti on Dec. 24. The investigation was suspended pending other information.

2020 1/7

The Murray State Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business has completed recent renovations of the financial markets classroom.

“This is a student-centered classroom space that really reflects our mission to equip Racers with the best academic environment we possibly can,” said David Eaton, interim dean of the College of Business, in a press release. “This space is one of many new and revitalized rooms in the business building that we’re excited to teach classes in.”

Murray State Foundation President David Durr said the undertaking and brainstorming for this project began over 10 years ago.

“We wanted a teaching lab/trading room where we could teach finance students with cur rent tools and technology,” Durr said.

“The room brings financial markets into the classroom.

The room will motivate and inspire students to expand their understanding of financial markets.”

The renovations include an installation of new glass panel windows, a live stock market ticker to illustrate

“Part of this space is obv i o u s ly f o c u s e d o n s t udent learning, but there is a ‘front-door’ appeal to this space that will assist with marketing and recruitment efforts of the AJB-College of Business,” Durr said. “The capabilities created by this room support our current classes but make it possible to expand our course offerings for courses that will benefit from the technology the room provides.”

The project was funded by the dean of the Bauernfeind College of Business.

Over the course of several years, they set aside funds for the project in a renovation account.

“We now have a beautiful room and a great naming opportunity for a donor,” Durr said. “We are actively seeking donor sponsorship for the room.”

This renovation was made possible by President Bob Jackson, Director of Facilities Management Jason Youngblood and Associate Director of Facilities Design and Construction Angela Lampe.

“This is a great addition to the Bauernfeind College of Business,” Durr said. “There are many people who have contributed to this successful project. As it should be, students will be the beneficiaries of the efforts, creativity and generosity of so many.”

9:55AM

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Emily Sheperd Staff Writer esheperd2@murraystate.edu

trends and an active learning center with mock-trading capability.

“It was completely renovated to showcase a high-finance touch of the College of Business,” said Timothy Todd, interim provost. “Concrete blocks were taken out and replaced with glass, so as you enter the main entrance of the Bauernfeind College of Business, you see this high-tech space.”

The classroom suite has tiered seats that can hold more than 40 people. The room will serve as a computer lab as well as an area to host scholarly presentations.

“Two large displays are mounted in the room that show other relevant financial data and financial/ wo rl d n ew s t h ro u g h o u t the day,” Durr said. “Two electric screens and two projectors were added. A 98-inch TV is mounted at the front of the classroom.

There is also a hidden/sliding whiteboard that can be used. There are multiple way s t h e i n s t r u c t o r c a n present/project information to the students. There are also 44 laptops that are stored in the room for use in the class that can be used for the portfolio and f or other classroom purposes.”

The space was designed to support current students and also recruit potential students.

5:36PM

An individual impersonated a peace officer and sent an email while pretending to be the chief of another agency on Dec. 28, 2019. The investigation is still open.

Burglary was reported after a ring was taken from a room in Hart College on Dec. 9, 2019. The investigation is still open.

10:51PM

Theft by extortion and harassing communications were reported in Hart College after an individual received threatening messages requesting obscene photos on Sept. 9, 2019. The investigation is still open.

1/13

Sarah Mead Staff Writer smead@murraystate.edu

A vehicle was struck by another vehicle that left the scene of the accident. The investigation is still open.

5:03PM

Lauren Morgan/The News Financial markets classroom recieves updates to better accomdate students.

College of Business updates financial markets classroom

2:59PM

8:23PM

Assault was reported on Chestnut and Gilbert Graves after and individual was struck in the face with an egg on Jan. 9. The investigation was suspended pending other information.

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

Colton Colglazier/The News

January 16, 2020

News

3

Richmond Demolished December 2019

Demolition on Old Richmond Hall began on Dec. 23, 2019. The first of the low rise residential colleges to be built, it was constructed in 1960. It had 45,912 square feet and originally cost $704,438 to build.

Photos courtesy of Orville Herndon

News

4

January 16, 2020

Speed tables slows traffic Staff Report

Among other changes on campus, three speed tables were installed along North 16th Street while students were away for Winter Break.

As North 16th Street is typically busy with Murray State students, speed tables were added to replace previously existing crosswalks to encourage drivers to slow down and increase their awareness of students and other pedestrians walking.

“We are greatly appreciative to the city of Murray and those involved with the installation of these speed

tables along 16th Street to continue to support the safety of students, employees and visitors to the University,” said Shawn Touney, director of communication.

“Motorists are asked to exercise caution and observe the posted speed limit.”

Some students are also pleased with the new addition.

“I think the new speed tables will improve safety tremendously because it’s a really busy street and students are constantly walking across it,” said Brandon Cooper, sophomore from Greenfield, Tennessee.

STARBUCKS From Page 1

ing for building it in a new location inside of Curris,” Jordan Moore said. “We already have a spot that is operational.”

Others echoed the same concern.

“I feel like we already had a decent coffee shop,” said Stephen Mullins, junior music education major.

Mullins said he would have rather seen the addition of a

study and gather, this addition is a welcome one.

Moore’s older sister, Jordan Moore, is a junior premedical biology major who works in housing. She said she is confused as to why we needed another coffee shop.

“I wish I knew the reason-

Lauren Morgan/The News The City of Murray installs three new speed tables to increase safety measures for students and pedestrians.

shop that sold more food options -- and healthier food options, at that -- as he believes Murray State’s campus is lacking in that area.

Still, students are looking forward to having an official Starbucks on campus.

“I’m excited because I like some of the drinks that are exclusive to Starbucks,” said Tori Faust, junior english secondary education ma-

jor. “I’m happy I won’t have to drive to Hoptown [Hopkinsville] or Paducah to get them.”

Amy Turner, senior journalism student and residential advisor at Elizabeth College, is ready for the new pastries and food options that accompany an official Starbucks.

“I’m glad the University is making an effort to expand

our dining options,” Turner said. “Coffee is a big part of college life.”

Construction in the Thoroughbred Room is expected to begin at the end of the current spring semester.

“The renovation will include new eateries such as Steak ‘n Shake, Tres Habaneros and Sub Connection, with the goal of opening this fall,” Touney said.

Welcome Back racers 1201 Payne Street Murray 270.761.4800 @future_grounds on Instagram

Opinion

January 16, 2020

5

Changes on Campus

Old Richmond, Speed Tables and Starbucks... oh my!

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

Along with the new decade, the campus has undergone many changes right in time for the start of the semester.

It was impossible to miss the large vacant space where Old Richmond Hall once stood as students moved back into their dorms.

Perhaps students noticed the white tarps in the Curris Center or drove over the three gigantic speed tables built on 16th Street.

Murray State constantly improving and updating its campus is very promising. Last semester, students enjoyed New Richmond College, Chick-fil-A and spirit-filled Racer emblems.

Seeing the start of construction for Starbucks excites current students and encourages prospective students to come to Murray State.

Currently, the dance lounge in the Curris Center is barricaded, which takes out a substantial amount of seating and a number of tables.

Shawn Touney, Director of Communication, said the goal is to open Starbucks following Spring Break.

When it opens, Starbucks should include the coffee bar and aplenty of space to lounge.

Starbucks will also be in a much better location.

Dustin Wilcox/The News

Thoroughbrewed Café is in an awkward place, and it often gets clogged since people walk to lunch, get mail and have tables set up throughout that area.

The current café only offers some of the drink options and prices of a Starbucks, so now everyone can enjoy the brand to its fullest.

It’s interesting to ponder what Thoroughbrewed Café will become. A grab-and-go snack stand would be beneficial for students who do not have time to sit down or wait in long lines.

Steak ‘n Shake won’t be

added to campus until next semester. Touney said other restaurants will be added along with this chain.

“We anticipate construction for the T-Room renovations to begin at the end of the spring semester,” Touney said.

“The renovation will include new eateries such as Steak ‘n Shake, Tres Habaneros and Sub Connection, with the goal of opening this fall.”

Steak ‘n Shake will be a great addition for everyone to enjoy. Although there is a smaller population of vegetarian and vegan students, an eatery accommodating these

lifestyles in addition to Steak ‘n Shake would be welcomed on campus.

Now that Old Richmond has been demolished, there are many rumors of what will fill the space.

The need for more parking on the residential side of campus has been grumbled among students for some time, but the Old Richmond area appears to be too steep of a hill to park cars securely.

Likewise, many petitions went around last year for more green space. Green space around campus, however, is of no use if it is

blocked off and unable to be utilized.

The vacant area where Old Springer used to be is simply patchy grass. If there are no plans to build another dorm, students could grow a community garden, compost pile and trees.

Aesthetic features like water fountains and sculptures would improve the appearance of campus greatly.

People love going outside when the weather is nice, so park benches or picnic tables in this vacant patch or in the Quad would encourage people to spend time outside.

Woods Hall, which has been torn down, will become Woods Park and hopefully help promote students to study outside even more.

Traffic on 16th Street and the safety of those crossing has been a concern for many years.

The speed tables installed seem unfavorable among students – especially drivers – because of their enormity.

But Murray State didn’t have to pay for them, and the purpose is for student safety and flow of traffic.

It’s good that positive changes are happening on campus.

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 Jenna Carnes Production Manager Chief Copy Editor

zanglin@murraystate.edu jcarnes2@murraystate.edu

Kalea Anderson Elizabeth Erwin

Chief Videographer Public Relations Manager kanderson29@murraystate.edu eerwin1@murraystate.edu

The News welcomes commentaries and letters to the editor. Submissions should be 600 words or less, and contributors should include phone numbers for verification. Please include hometown, classification and title or relationship to the University. The News reserves the right to edit for style, length and content. No anonymous contributions will be accepted. All contributions should be turned in by noon on Monday of each week via email to mreynolds12@murraystate.edu.

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cdame2@murraystate.edu jkirk11@murraystate.edu

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Dr. Stephanie Anderson Online Manager Faculty Adviser

joneill4@murraystate.edu sanderson37@murraystate.edu

Contributions to The News are the opinion of the author and not that of The Murray State News. The News is a designated public forum. Student editors have authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval. The paper offers a hands-on learning environment for students interested in journalism. The campus press should be free from censorship and advance approval of copy and its editors should develop their editorial and news policies.

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.

Sports

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January 16, 2020

Racers grab first two conference road wins Gage Johnson Sports Editor gjohnson17@murraystate.edu After going 7-5 in non-conference play, Murray State men’s basketball opened up OVC play with a bang over Christmas break by winning its first four games.

Jacksonville State After sweeping its first twogame homestand of OVC play, the Murray State men’s basketball team grabbed its first conference road win of the year by defeating Jacksonville State 72-68.

The win was also the Racers’ first road win since Tuesday, Nov. 26, when they defeated Weber State University 69-68 in the Gulf Coast Showcase.

Murray State started the game on a 9-3 run, but by the 12:14 mark the Gamecocks knotted things up at 11-11.

From there, it was a nailbiter until the finish.

The Racers were able to take a 35-30 lead into the locker room after a back-and-forth affair in the first half.

However, Jacksonville State came to play in the second half, using a full-court press to force multiple Murray State turnovers. This helped the Gamecocks grab a 42-41 lead—their first lead since 21-20—with 7:42 left in the first half.

The Racers bounced back after the under-12 media timeout, going on a big run to take a 57-50 lead with 7:37 left to play.

Head Coach Matt McMahon said it was the team’s defensive

effort that was they key to them regaining the lead and disassembling Jacksonville State’s full-court press.

“I thought they had a great response after the under-12 media,” McMahon said. “We were down five in a great environment and a great atmosphere [then] we came out of the media timeout over the next five minutes with a 14-2 run. I think it started at the defensive end of the floor and then led to some transition baskets and free throw attempts that we were able to convert.”

A three-pointer from sophomore guard De’Torrion Ware cut Murray State’s lead to 63-61 with 5:39 left to play in the second half, but that was as close at the Gamecocks got.

Despite the late comeback attempt for Jacksonville State,

the Racers were able to hold on to their lead and escape with a 72-68 victory.

A key part of Murray State’s success was its three-point defense, which held the Gamecocks to 7-for-28 from beyond the arc.

“If you look at the stats of their last five home games, they’re making over 12 threes a game at 44 percent,” McMahon said. “I thought that would be a big key tonight and I’m sure they probably feel they just missed a few, but I thought our effort to contest shots was really good. [Then] I thought our defensive rebounding was much improved in the second half which then enabled us to get out in transition and get some easy baskets.”

Freshman guard Chico Carter Jr. also continued to take

Freshman guard Chico Carter Jr. drives toward the lane against Tennessee Tech.

steps torward in getting back to 100 percent after suffering a hand injury earlier this season. Carter Jr. finished with nine points on 3-for-7 shooting in 24 minutes of action.

“I’m really proud of him,” McMahon said. “I thought he was very good tonight. He was efficient at the offensive end of the floor and more importantly, what won’t show in the box score, I thought this was his best defensive game as a Racer. Tonight I thought his effort and activity level was really good at that end of the floor and was really locked in to the scouting report. I think you just see him keep getting better and better.”

see

Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics

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Sports

January 16, 2020

7

Racers fall in first two OVC road games Josh Embry Contributing Writer jembry3@murraystate.edu Murray State women’s basketball hit the road for its first two conference road games of the season and fell to Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech.

Jacksonville State While shooting only 34% from the field and 19% from three-point range, the Murray State women’s basketball team suffered a 68-51 road loss to Jacksonville State on Thursday, Jan. 9.

The Racers fell to 1-2 in OVC play and 8-6 overall. The Gamecocks earned their sixth win of the season and moved to 2-1 in conference play.

Murray State was out-rebounded 46-32 and had only four second-chance points to Jacksonville State’s 18.

Jacksonville State opened the game with a 6-0 run but the Racers rallied back and scored the last six points of the quarter to cut into the Gamecocks’ lead, making it 15-13.

The second quarter was fairly even despite Murray State shooting only 5-for-14 and 0-for-3 from behind the arc.

Jacksonville State shot 7-for-16 from the field and led 31-25 at halftime.

Senior forward Cekeya Mack led all scorers at the half with 10 points and junior guard Taylor Hawks led the Gamecocks with nine points.

The second half was not as evenly matched as the first, as Jacksonville State won both quarters.

The Gamecocks scored nine of its 16 third-quarter points off second-chance opportunities to outscore the Racers by three points to make it 47-38 entering the fourth quarter.

Murray State was not able to stop Jacksonville State’s offense in the fourth quarter, allowing them to shoot 50% from the field and score 21 points to the Racers’ 13 points. The Gamecocks won by 17.

Hawks scored a game-high 21 points on 7-for-14 shooting to lead Jacksonville State. Senior forward Chloe Long secured a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Sophomore guard Yamia Johnson added nine points on 3-for-3 shooting from behind the arc. Junior guard Kiana Johnson contributed eight points.

Playing all 40 minutes of the game, sophomore guard Macey Turley led the Racers in scoring with 15 points despite shooting 4-for-17 and 2-for-9 from behind the arc. She collected five rebounds and two assists as well.

Mack dropped a career-high 14 points on an efficient 7-for11 shooting to go along with five rebounds. Sophomore guard Lex Mayes added six points and junior forward Laci Hawthorne grabbed a teamhigh 10 rebounds while also scoring four points.

Tennessee Tech Despite leading the majority of the first three quarters, Murray State women’s basketball was not able to hang on, losing 77-72 to Tennessee Tech on Saturday, Jan. 11.

The Racers slip to 1-3 in OVC play and 8-7 overall. The Golden Eagles remain undefeated in conference play and move to 11-4 on the season.

After only scoring 51 points in their last game, Head Coach Rechelle Turner was pleased that the team scored over 70 points and with the amount of shots the team attempted.

“We got 71 shots up, which was our goal,” Turner said.

“We still didn’t shoot the ball well but we got enough shots up and got to the foul line enough that we were able to score 70 points.”

Despite being severely outsized, Murray State was able to out-rebound Tennessee Tech 50-40. The Racers were out-rebounded in their last three games.

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Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics Sophomore forward Sadie Hill defends the post against Tennessee Tech.

Turner was pleased with the team’s effort and effectiveness on the glass.

“I thought the job that [the team] did on the boards was unbelievable and a lot of that was effort and a lot of that was just execution,” Turner said.

The Racers started the game by shooting an efficient 9-for-19 from the field in the first quarter while holding the Golden Eagles to 7-for-19 shooting. Murray State was up 21-18 at the end of the quarter.

Both teams cooled down in the second quarter, with the Racers shooting just above

30% and Tennessee Tech shooting 29%. Going into halftime, Murray State held a 32-28 lead.

The second half showed how talented the Golden Eagles are and why they were on a six-game winning streak prior to this matchup.

Murray State went even colder in the third quarter, shooting only 5-for-19 but went 7-for-8 from the charity stripe to score 18 points.

Tennessee Tech shot a solid

,

see WBB page 10

Sports

8

January 16, 2020

Giustino adds to plethora of accolades Jon Dunning Staff Writer jdunning1@murraystate.edu

After her amazing performance this season, Murray State volleyball senior outside hitter Rachel Giustino was named All-American Honorable Mention and Midwest All-Region Team.

The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) named Giustino to the Midwest All-Region Team on Dec. 10, 2019. She is the fifth Murray State volleyball player to be named All-Region and the first since Scottie Ingram in 2016.

The AVCA named Giustino All-American Honorable Mention on Dec. 18. Giustino is the third Murray State player to be named All-American and the first since Heather Norris in 2006. Giustino is also the 14th OVC player to be named All-American and the first since Ellie Robertson of Morehead State in 2012.

Giustino felt grateful to be named All-American and Midwest All-Region, attributing her success to her team and university.

“I couldn’t have accomplished that without my amazing university and team and coach and everything behind me,” Giustino said. “I mean, it’s exciting.

It’s kind of a nice little capstone to my career here at Murray State.”

Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics Senior outside hitter Rachel Giustino prepares to spike the ball at Racer Arena.

These honors follow Giustino being named OVC Player of the Year and AllOVC First Team on Nov. 20.

Giustino dominated the

2019 season, setting a new single-season record with 610 kills. Moreover, she became Murray State’s career leader in total kills on

Nov. 1 in a match against SIUE and ended the season with 1,764 kills. Giustino averaged 5.35 kills per set, the third best in the

country this year. She also was second on the Murray State team in digs with 345 and service aces with 29.

Giustino is driven to play at such an outstanding level by her desire to help her team succeed.

“Part of something I’ve learned just through sports is that it’s not about what you have to get from it, it’s what you have to give and thankfully I had a lot to give this season,” Giustino said. “I really love my team and I love my school and I loved the opportunity to play with these girls. I just felt like I had the ability to give them everything that I had.”

Even after Giustino moves on from Murray State, she will never forget her experiences here.

“I could not be more amazed and surprised by the time that I’ve had here,” Giustino said. “I couldn’t have asked for, like, a better small town in the middle of nowhere to be like a place that I’ll forever feel is a little bit of my home.”

For further updates on Murray State volleyball, follow The Murray State News.

Giustino helped the Racers win two OVC Championships and make two NCAA Tournament apperaances, to go with a record of 86-39 in her high profile four-year under Head Coach David Schwepker.

Racers announce Clear the Track campaign Nick Kendall Staff Writer nkendall1@murraystate.edu With the arrival of a new coach and coaching staff comes the Clear the Track campaign for the 2020 Murray State football season.

Created by Murray State Athletics, the new campaign focuses on annual donations which help fund resources to raise Racer football to a championship-level program.

Athletic director Kevin Saal wants to create a program that wins games and makes the community proud.

“The Clear the Track campaign is intended to further bridge the gap by providing ample resources to support a highly competitive football program equipped to win championships,” Saal said.

Previous donor benefits such as priority points, respective donor level gifts, etc. apply to all gifts contributed to Murray State football through the athletics de-

partment. Additionally, each Clear the Track contributor will have access to in-game hospitality in the Racer Room on game days.

Head Coach Dean Hood is anxiously awaiting the start of the season.

“Our purpose is to use football as a platform to develop authentic men,” Hood said. “Along the way, we aspire to obtain degrees, win championships and inspire a community. Join us in this important journey and know your investments in Murray State football are greatly appreciated.”

Racer Athletics encourages everyone to help reach the $250,000 goal. Thanks to families and other partners, a third of the goal has already been achieved.

Anyone who is interested in supporting the Clear the Track campaign should contact Taylor Mudd at tmudd3@ murraystate.edu or Athletic Director Kevin Saal at ksaal@ murraystate.edu.

Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics Former Racer One Jockey Bailey Coffman races around the track with Racer One after a touchdown.

Sports

January 16, 2020

9

Skyhawks down

Racers rifle beats UT Martin in second matchup Josh Embry Contributing Writer jembry3@murraystate.edu The Murray State rifle team opened the new year with a 4659-4592 victory over UT Martin in Martin, Tennessee, on Saturday, Jan. 11.

The Racers secured four of the top five aggregate scores, with newcomer freshman Matias Kuiru earning the top aggregate score with 1170. Kuiru also shot a match-high 581 in smallbore and 589 in air rifle.

Sophomore Anna Scheer was right behind Kuiru, finishing one point shy of his aggregate score.

Scheer shot 573 in smallbore and finished with the day’s best air rifle score—596.

Senior Shelby Huber finished third in scoring, earning a 1165 aggregate while shooting 573

in smallbore and 592 in air rifle. The Skyhawks’ senior Kaitlin Korinek shot the fourth best aggregate score of the match with 1163.

Sophomore Emily Fitzgerald rounded out the top five with a 1158 aggregate score. She shot 569 in smallbore and a career-high 589 in air rifle.

Freshman Chloe Odle finished with an aggregate score of 1153 and junior Dana Buessler shot a 1152 aggregate. Freshman Lauren Frealy shot an aggregate score of 1145 and a career-high 586 in air rifle.

Senior Meike Drewell shot 566 in smallbore but did not compete in air rifle.

Murray State will play its last match of the 2019 Gamecock Open when they travel to Jacksonville, Alabama, to compete against Jacksonville State on Saturday, Jan. 18.

Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics Sophomore Anna Scheer lines up her shot against UT Martin.

Racers Tennis spring schedule released Jon Dunning Staff Writer jdunning1@murraystate.edu Murray State women’s tennis Head Coach Jorge Caetano released the complete schedule for the spring portion of the 20192020 season.

The schedule features 23 matches, 15 of which are non-conference. Moreover, 13 of the matches will be on the road.

Caetano looks forward to a challenging but exciting season.

“I think we are going to be playing competitive matches,” Caetano said. “We have a chance to win all of them, but we know it’s going to be tough. Some tough road matches. I think it’s really

going to prepare us for conference play in March, and we are going to have some really good home matches as well with some strong teams that are very similar to OVC competition” The Racers will start the spring campaign on Saturday, Jan. 25, with matches against Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis at 9 a.m. and Bradley University at 1 p.m. in Peoria, Illinois.

Caetano believes that this first game will allow the Racers to gauge how prepared they are for the rest of the season.

“I think from the very first day that we play—Jan. 25— it’s going to be very similar to what we are going to see in OVC, so I think that’s

Photos courtesy of Racer Athletics

going to be a plus for us,” Caetano said. “We have a double header, so that’ll be tough but at the same time I think it really prepares us physically for the rest of the season. It’s not going to be easy matches, but the girls have been following our strength and conditioning program, so they should be in really good shape coming back after the break. I think those two matches really, really help in that aspect. If you can last a day playing two doubles and two singles, you know, it gets you not just physically but mentally ready for the next challenge.

You know you can sustain one match in one day.”

This season’s schedule will see the Racers taking on new opponents such as the

University of South Dakota in Springfield, Missouri, on Saturday, Feb. 8, as well as New Orleans on Tuesday, March 17 and Tulane on March 18 during a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, in the middle of Murray State’s 2020 OVC campaign.

Caetano views these matches as some of the Racers’ toughest tests during the spring.

“We are going to play South Dakota in Springfield, Missouri,” Caetano said.

“We’ve never played them.

They are very similar to OVC schools, their level, so that should be good. We are traveling to New Orleans for Spring Break. We are going to play New Orleans and Tulane, and those are two teams we have never

played, so that should be interesting to see. Tulane has a really, really strong program. That will be the toughest match in our schedule for sure. They’ve been ranked.”

Even though the Racers will spend a lot of time traveling this season, Caetano says it is less than normal.

“It’s the most we’re playing at home,” Caetano said.

“We usually play away even more. We are going to be playing…five matches at Kenlake, which is our home when it’s indoor, and five on campus. I really believe that road matches make us tougher.”

For further updates on Murray State women’s tennis, continue to follow The Murray State News.

Sports

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MBB From Page 6 Sophomore guard Tevin Brown led all scorers with 24 points on 7-for-15 shooting to go along with six rebounds and three steals in 40 minutes of action.

This win is big for the Racers considering the team hasn’t beat Jacksonville State at home since 2018 and McMahon said it is something they can build on going forward.

“I think the confidence comes from beating a really good basketball team,” McMahon said. “They’re playing very good basketball and they’re a very disciplined, well-coached team. I think finding a way to win in a great environment like this— we can take confidence in that going forward.”

Tennessee Tech Murray State men’s basketball moved to 4-0 in OVC play by winning its second of a four-game road swing against Tennessee Tech 81-69 after having an 18-point lead vanish in the first half.

The Golden Eagles took a quick 7-4 lead after a triple from freshman guard Keishawn Davidson, but then the Racers bounced back with an offensive clinic.

Murray State took a 25-7 lead when Carter Jr. finished

WBB From Page 7 7-for-13 from the field and 8-for-10 from the free-throw line to score 23 points.

At one point in the quarter, the Racers held a six-point advantage but were not able to hold the lead. Following two made free-throws at the end of the quarter, the Golden Eagles held a 51-50 lead going into the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth contest that saw both teams go on big runs. With Murray State down two with seven minutes left, junior guard Jordan Brock went on an offensive tear, scoring eight points in a one minute span to bump Tennessee Tech’s lead to 10 points.

Murray State clawed back into the game following layups, made free-throws and two clutch three-pointers by sophomore guard Macey Turley to cut the lead to four.

However, the Racers did not get any closer as they turned the ball over and missed shots in the final minutes to hand the Golden Eagles a fivepoint victory.

Turner commended Tennessee Tech’s ability to close out the game and said that her

a layup on a fastbreak to cap off a six-minute 19-0 run.

However, minutes later TTU bounced back with a 15-0 run to cut Murray State’s lead to 27-24 with 5:43 left to play in the first half.

The Golden Eagles continued to claw their way back with a three from sophomore guard Jr. Clay—his second of the game—to head into the locker room trailing 36-35.

The deep ball was a constant weapon for TTU throughout the night, as they converted on 11-for-24 attempts. Meanwhile the Racers used their post presence to counterbalance the Golden Eagles’ consistency from beyond the arc.

With assistance from a 17-point performance from sophomore forward KJ Williams and a 14-point 10-rebound double-double from senior forward Anthony Smith, Murray State was able to outscore TTU in the paint 40-26.

Head Coach Matt McMahon said that their dominance in the post helped minimize how effective the Golden Eagles were from three.

“They did a nice job and hit a lot of threes,” McMahon said. “Too many more than we would like to give up, but overall I thought the advantage that we had inside paid off, especially in the second half.”

Murray State used this to its advantage, never losing its lead in the second half en route to an 81-69 victory. team was not able to make key stops down the stretch.

“Just a very-well coached team [in] Tennessee Tech,” Tur ner said. “Kim does a great job and they made big shots [and] they made big plays. We had done such a superb job defensively all night and when we needed stops the most, we let some of them loose and they made big shots.”

The Golden Eagles had ver y balanced scor ing throughout. Five players scored in double figures, with Brock scoring a team-high 15 points. Junior guard Kesha Brady contributed 13 points while senior forward Anacia Wilkinson added 12 points.

Both junior forward Mackenzie Coleman and freshman guard Maaliya Owens scored 10 points while senior guard Akia Harris finished with six points, three rebounds and five assists.

Sophomore forward Alexis Burpo had her best game as a Racer, finishing with a career-high 18 points (7-20 FG) and career-highs in rebounds and assists also, with 14 and six, respectively.

Turner was impressed by Burpo’s performance and said that Burpo is proving those who are critical of her play to be wrong.

“That’s the Alexis Burpo that deserves for people to

McMahon was thrilled with his team’s fight and ability to stall the Golden Eagles’ comeback attempt and said it was a huge factor in the win.

“I was pleased with their composure,” McMahon said.

“Credit to Tennessee Tech [as they] battled back. They made it a one-point game at the half [and] I think sometimes [that makes] you go in there at the break and you feel like you’re down 20. The momentum had swung in the game and I thought our guys moved forward from that, came out and really executed

January 16, 2020 when we really had to in the second half and were able to do enough to win.”

Along with solid post play, freshman guard DaQuan Smith and senior guard Jaiveon Eaves provided plenty of offense at the guard position.

Eaves finished with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting to go along with three assists and two steals, while DaQuan Smith finished with 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting.

DaQuan Smith flipped the script offensively against TTU after struggling to register a single point against JSU and

said keeping a shooter’s mentality helped him have a solid night on the offensive end.

“Just moving on to the next game,” DaQuan Smith said.

“It’s a short turnaround, so [I] just have to stay aggressive and keep taking the same shots that I’ve been taking.”

DaQuan Smith also made an impact in the rebounding battle, grabbing five while dishing out two assists. At the end of the day, Smith knows he’s capable of impacting the Racers in multiple ways and is willing to do whatever it takes to get the win.

Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics Head Coach Matt McMahon calls out a play against TTU.

Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics Head Coach Rechelle Turner talks to her players during a matchup with TTU.

get off her back about not being good enough to play Division I basketball,” Turner said.

“She had 18 [points] and 14 [rebounds] against one of the best teams in the conference and she kept us in the game defensively as well as offensively all night long.”

Sophomore guard Macey Turley continued her impressive season by scoring a game-high 28 points while shooting 9-of-22 from the field, 5-for-9 from three-point range and 5-for-6 from the charity stripe.

Senior f orward Cekeya Mack just missed having a double-double, finishing with

10 points and nine rebounds in only 18 minutes of action due to foul trouble.

Sophomore guard Sadie Hill added six points along with three rebounds and two assists. Junior forward Laci Hawthorne contributed five points and controlled the glass by grabbing 13 rebounds.

Despite the loss, Burpo said that the team will find success as long as they stay united and focused throughout the remainder of the season.

“If we just keep sticking together and staying the course, I think we can do something good down the road,” Burpo said.

Turner wants the team to lear n and grow from this game because their schedule does not get any easier.

“We’ve gotta take some things from this game and take it into the remainder of our conference schedule and it doesn’t get any easier,” Turner said. “We got UT Martin on Thursday on the road so we know what we’re up against and we just gotta stay the course.”

The Racers will look to get back into the win column when they travel to Martin, Tennessee, to take on the Skyhawks at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16.

Features

January 16, 2020

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Friday, Jan. 17: Racer One Stop

@ 8 a.m. in Curris Center Small Ballroom

Campus Lights Presents: “All Shook Up”

@ 7:30 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium

Saturday, Jan. 18: Jillian Rush/The News Inside the Murray State Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders where families from seven states have visited.

Autism center has busy first semester Dionte Berry Contributing Writer dberry11@murraystate.edu

The Murray State Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, which opened in August 2019, had a successful and busy first semester.

Director Sean Simons specializes in school psychology, which is a branch of psychology that focuses on the wellbeing of students and their ability to work in school environments.

“School psychologists get more involved with students who are having trouble at school that may be caused by learning, behavior, social and emotional problems,” Simons said.

Working in schools as a psychologist, a big part of Simons’ job was behavior analysis.

“I first became interested in behavior analysis once I began working difficult cases during my time in schools,” Simons said.

This trend led to him working with students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Now leading Murray State’s Center for Autism Disorders, Simons provides clinical care options, including three important services that aren’t commonly found elsewhere.

“First, we provide diagnostic evaluations to the community for families who are concerned that their child may have ASD,” Simons said.

“Second, we want to be intentional about engaging

with the community on a number of fronts. We offer free parent training to all families who receive an ASD diagnosis from us, which, unfortunately, isn’t a very uncommon practice today. Finally, we work directly with children with ASD to build essential life skills.”

I’ve been blown away by how the community has rallied around our work.

- Sean Simons,professor leds the Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Another goal of the center is to give Murray State students hands-on experience that can benefit them in a wide range of career paths.

“Autism touches so many different disciplines, so it’s great to be able to work with those with backgrounds in psychology, education, special education, communication disorders and pediatric nursing,” Simons said.

Despite the center only being open for one semester it has been quite bus “We saw f amilies from Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia last semester alone,” Simons said.

Within the center, Simons oversees multiple tasks such as the conducting of diagnostic tests, which takes around three hours. Simons said he performs these three to five times a day.

He also has a student team that he takes to local schools that need consultations on ASD and coping with common behaviors.

Simons is not daunted by the heightened activity of the center.

“I like being busy, so we’ll keep growing this semester,”Simons said.

During its second semester of operation the center will most likely gain some updates, but nothing is official yet.

“You’ll have to wait and see,” Simons said.

The center is making steps toward being more involved with the community and possibly teaming up with other community organizations to grow their work.

Simons is thankful for all of the support that the center has received.

“I’ve been blown away by how the community has rallied around our work,” Simons said.

A nyo n e i n t e re s t e d i n lear ning more about the center can find more information at murraystate.edu/ autism. Although the facility is geared towards recruiting psychology students, all are welcome to apply and can do so by emailing Simons at ssimons2@murraystate.edu.

Campus Lights Presents: “All Shook Up”

@ 7:30 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium

Sunday, Jan. 19: Campus Lights Presents: “All Shook Up”

@ 7:30 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium

Monday, Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day No Classes

Campus Give Back Initiative

@ 8:30-10:30 a.m. in Curris Center Banquet Room

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

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Features

January 16, 2020