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February 13, 2020 | Vol. 94, No. 18

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The new ‘s’ word

Murray State Police investigate “sextortion” reports Daniella Tebib News Editor dtebib@murraystate.edu Sextortion has been on the rise both nationwide and on Murray State’s campus.

Jamie Herring, chief of the Murray State Police Depar tment, said “sextortion” is the name of a type of scam where the victim meets someone online, typically through social media or a dating platform. The scammer then requests explicit photos of the victim or takes screenshots from a webcam session and uses the photos as blackmail.

“The scammer receives these photographs and then holds the photos as ‘ransom’ until a fee is paid or more photos are sent,” Herring said. “If the fee is not paid by the victim or more photos are not sent, the suspect threatens to

send the photographs to others, usually the victim’s friends and family, on social media.”

Herring also said scammers often target younger men and women in their teens or twenties.

“Young people are using various social media and dating apps to share nude photos of themselves more now than in the past,” Herring said.

Scammers will sometimes use fake accounts and photos of attractive men and women to trick their victims.

Hailee Miller, sophomore from Cadiz, Kentucky, said she has never heard of the term sextortion before, but she has felt unsafe while using social media platforms.

“There are men that have contacted me before, making me feel uncomfortable and because of it I have made my account private and do not use dating apps or any

app that I do not know well,” Miller said.

The department has investigated several incidents related to sextortion. While many of the criminals involved in this activity are overseas, those who commit the crimes locally can be charged with harassing communications, theft by extortion or distribution of sexually explicit images without consent.

According to the Murray State Crime and Fire Log, harassing communications have been reported 10 times and theft by extortion has been reported on campus three times since January 2019.

Herring provided several tips to protect yourself from these types of scams.

“Never send compromising images of yourself to anyone, no matter who they are or who they say they are,” Herring said. “Do not

open attachments from people you do not know. Be suspicious of friend requests from someone with whom you have no mutual friends. If you know how, do a reverse image search on their profile pictures to see if they have been used elsewhere. Never send money, buy a gift card or do anything to comply with the demands.

To give you peace of mind, keep webcams covered when you are not using them. If an account starts trying to blackmail you, call the police immediately and don’t send them any money.”

If you do find yourself in a dangerous situation, Herring said to not send any photos or money, keep all of the evidence, including messages, and contact the police immediately.

To re a c h t h e M u r ray S t a t e Police Department, call (270) 809-2222.

Jillian Rush/The News

News Opinion Sports Features

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Students react to Wellness Center dress code

Flyers at Wellness incite controversy

Racers set for season-opening series

The Pip-Squeaks serenade for Valentine’s Day

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News

2

February 13, 2020

Lauren Morgan/The News The Wellness Center enforces a dress code in order to prevent the spread of illnesses and infections.

Students react to Wellness Center dress code Daniella Tebib News Editor dtebib@murraystate.edu Flyers enforcing a dress code in the Wellness Center were hung up, prompting negative reactions from many students.

Hannah Tomblinson, a Murray State student, tweeted a photo of a flyer and expressed her dissatisfaction and confusion about the dress code. Her tweet received 362 likes and 38 retweets from others in agreement, as well as several comments.

Photo courtesy of Hannah Tomblinson’s Twitter Flyers were put up around the Wellness Center to enforce the existing dress code.

Jordyn Krueger, sophomore from LaRue County, Kentucky, was one of the several commenters who agreed with Tomblinson’s tweet. Krueger thinks dress codes in general encourage negative implications about the body.

“They imply that bodies are to be hidden, which in and of itself leads to monstrous ideas over body image, etc.,” Krueger said.

“Dress codes that specifically target women also serve as an unfriendly reminder that they are meant to hide themselves to make others’ lives easier.”

Krueger also said she understands women are not the only ones being targeted by the dress code.

“I never said that men we re n ’t a f f e c t e d by t h e dress code,” Krueger said.

“I think the reason women are more open and upset about it is because we are so used to being targeted by dress codes that when we see a new and arguably ridiculous one, we feel we have to be the ones to speak up about it.”

Travis Rawe, director of c a m p u s re c re a t i o n a n d wellness, said the flyers were distributed to combat increasing dress code violations as many were unaware of the existing dress code.

“When staff would approach a member in violation of the dress code, the member would state they were unaware of a dress code,” Rawe said. “This led us to believe that members were not viewing the dress

code policy online. To make members aware of the policy and to give our staff a reference when they needed to address dress code violations, we decided to post flyers.”

T he f lyers consist of a graphic instr ucting men and women what they are allowed to wear and what t h ey a re n o t a l l owe d t o wear. However, the flyers were quickly taken down after causing confusion among many students as the flyers contradicted the dress code policy stated on Murray State’s Campus Recreation and Wellness’s website. The graphic shows a f ew var iations of tank tops which are prohibited, but the policy online states tank tops are allowed and does not specify types that are not.

Rawe explained the confusion about which tank t o p s a re p e r m i t t e d a n d which are not. “ S o m e m e m b e r s we a r modified tank tops that allow f or more exposure of skin—back, abdomen, oblique, etc.,” Rawe said.

“These areas tend to produce more sweat and come into contact with free weight benches, making the risk of infection higher. The flyer would allow for members to be able to see what the recommended tank top is for the Wellness Center.”

Rawe also said while the flyers are new, the dress code is not. A dress code was implemented and has been enf orced since the Wellness Center opened to

help prevent the spread of illnesses and infections. The staff also routinely cleans the equipment and provides wipes for members to wipe the machines after use to prevent illnesses.

“The reason for having a dress code in fitness centers is not to make members feel uncomfortable, but to help reduce the risk of infection and disease/illness being spread,” Rawe said. “Skin-to-skin contact and skin-to-equipment contact increases the likelihood of these diseases being spread, especially staph infections. There was a recent study that showed that free weight equipment can contain 362 times more germs than a toilet seat. By having a dress code, we can limit our members’ exposure to those germs.”

Krueger recognizes the intention of the dress code, but she doesn’t think it was conveyed well enough.

“While I understand that may have been their intentions, I don’t really understand the idea,” Krueger said. “I don’t understand how women wearing tank tops showing their backs or men wearing cut-offs showing their sides could potentially spread illness, as well as the flyer did not say anything about that being the reason for it. [It] just said ‘to ensure a welcoming and safe environment.’”

The full dress code policy for the Wellness Center can be found on Murray State’s Campus Recreation and Wellness’s website.

News

February 13, 2020

Retired Navy admiral invited to campus

Emily Shepherd Contributing Writer eshepherd2@murraystate.edu Murray State’s Presidential Lecture Series invited Admiral William McRaven to speak about his career and his connection to the University at Lovett Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13.

McRaven will speak of his unique connection through his father to the University, which will be followed by a Q&A session.

McRaven is a retired U.S. Navy four-star admiral and the former chancellor of the University of Texas. During his time in the military, he commanded special operations forces at every level, eventually taking charge of the U.S. Special Operations Command. His career included combat during Desert Storm and both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Brian Clardy, history professor, said McRaven’s lecture will be significant because students will hear about the admiral’s experiences in countering terrorism.

The speakers of the Presidential Lecture series are letting students know they too are global citizens and should have a vested interest in the outcome of the war on

terror and any other mention of foreign policy in the United States.

McRaven commanded the troops that captured Saddam Hussein and rescued Captain Richard Phillips. McRaven is also credited with leading the Osama bin Laden mission in 2011.

Clardy said he clearly remembers the fear generated from first the terrorist attacks and how Osama bin Laden projected fear throughout the world.

McRaven has been recognized for his leadership so many times that in 2011 he was the first runner-up for TIME magazine’s Person of the Year.

“When the story about the early part of the 21st century is written, and the story is written about how the United States responded to terrorism, Admiral McRaven is going to be a huge part of that chapter,” Clardy said.

In 2015, the Admiral received the Intrepid Freedom Award for his distinguished service in defending the values of democracy. “[Admiral McRaven] is a true American Patriot and he has a devout love f or this country...I think the one thing we should be above all is grateful,” Clardy said. “I

thank a Veteran every chance I get.”

William McRaven’s father, Colonel Claude “Mac” McRaven, was a 1941 alumnus and a Murray State Athletics Hall of Fame football player and track star, as well as a decorated World War II fighter pilot.

“My father was so proud to have attended the school and always talked longingly about the Bluegrass State,” McRaven said. “His life, and therefore my life, were shaped in so many ways by what he learned and who he met at Murray.”

McRaven’s father was inducted into the Murray State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1975. As a collegian, Claude scored nine touchdowns while gaining Honorable Mention Little All-America honors, as well as selections on the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association and All-Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams in 1938.

McRaven has earned 31 badges of honor and written three books detailing the life lessons he and his men learned while overseas.

Clardy said the lecture will focus on McRaven’s career and his service to the country.

Photo courtesy of Murray State University William McRaven will speak at Lovett Auditorium on Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

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Opinion

4

February 13, 2020

Flyers at Wellness incite controversy The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board.

Dress codes have been a hot button topic for the rising generation for almost as long as those who comprise it have been in school.

Many universities, while they may not have dress codes that overarch the entirety of campus, have dress codes that cover their gyms and recreational facilities. Northern Kentucky University, University of Wisconsin–Madison, the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University are all examples. NKU, UK and WKU don’t have policies quite as in-depth as the written policy you can find on the Wellness Center’s website, but they have them, nonetheless. UW Madison does indeed have one to the extent of Murray State’s Wellness Center, which covers footwear, shirts, pants and more that is and isn’t allowed.

Recently, the Susan E. Bauernfeind Wellness Center put up flyers depicting what to wear and what not to wear at the gym. The flyers depicted mostly tank tops, some that were acceptable and some that had been deemed unacceptable.

The Wellness Center has always had a dress code; Travis Rawe, director of campus recreation, said the staff of Wellness have enforced the dress code since the building was built.

“Since there has only ever been written policies, there has been some confusion over the last couple of years over what is allowed and what isn’t,” Rawe said. “With this, we decided to find a graphic that is similar to what other universities use to show what is best to wear in a gym to lower the risk of infection and diseases.”

Risk of infection and diseases, Rawe said, is the entire reason behind the dress code in gyms and recreational centers.

Sweat is not hard to come by in a gym, with people working out and pushing their bodies to the limit.

Sweat, while made almost entirely of water, can spread chemicals and bacteria that come from your body. It can also give bacteria that is already

on the equipment an easier means of transport.

Rawe said the clothing that is off limits to gym-goers is clothing that leaves more of your body exposed, therefore exposing more of the machinery to your sweat. This increases the likelihood of the spread of germs and infection.

Upon seeing the flyers at wellness, many students were thrown back into their grade school days; students felt the dress code was labeling their bodies as “offensive,” and took to Twitter to voice their protests.

“Omg so sorry I didn’t realize my back is STILL offensive at almost 22 yrs old, I thought we could all be grown ups here,” tweeted Hannah Tomblinson, a Murray State student.

The comment section of Tomblinson’s tweet was full of students from all different schools stating their own

Daniella Tebib News Editor

dtebib@murraystate.edu

Editorial Board

Cady Stribling Features Editor

cstribling1@murraystate.edu

Bryce Anglin Jenna Carnes Production Manager Chief Copy Editor

zanglin@murraystate.edu jcarnes2@murraystate.edu

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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.

views, some agreeing, some not.

The arguments ranged from questions of sexism to concerns about people acting like adults about the bodies of others. Some brought up the issues of sanitation.

Regardless of view, one thing is for sure: dress code is a controversial topic. If one is in place, people will be upset. If there is a lack of one, people will be upset.

There is a case to be made for gyms having dress codes; safety and sanitation are both important ideas to take into consideration. Improper footwear worn during exercise can lead to long term damage to your body, not to mention the fall risk.

There is also something to be said about keeping the equipment sanitary, but just as there is the argument for a dress code to keep equipment clean, there is a rebuttal. Anyone who

has been to a gym even once in their life knows that, once you use a piece of equipment, you are required to wipe that equipment down with the wet wipes provided to you by the facility.

And, at the end of the day, we, as university students and people over the age of 18, are adults. We have learned what is appropriate to wear in public. We have been taught how to respect the bodies of others, and if we don’t know how to respect the bodies of others, then that is a problem that should be addressed on its own.

We are adults, and as such we are mature enough to make decisions all on our own.

Adults are also capable of understanding the necessity of sanitation and cleanliness. There is give and take to every situation.

Gage Johnson Megan Reynolds Sports Editor

Opinion Editor gjohnson17@murraystate.edu mreynolds12@murraystate.edu Connor Dame Brock Kirk Ad Sales Manager Photo Editor

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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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.

February 13, 2020

Opinion

5

Can Mitch McConnell lose in Kentucky?

Dylan Doyle Contributing Writer ddoyle2@murraystate.edu

George Orwell’s magnum opus “1984” concerns itself with an authoritarian political party wielding the full power of a surveillance and misinformation state to dominate the general populace with a constant bombardment of intentionally falsified and contradictory versions of reality. A mere two years ago, Donald Trump’s nightmare quotation at the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention (“what you’re seeing and what you’re reading is not what’s happening,” said the President of the United States) was widely considered to be the new millenium’s echo of a famous snippet from Orwell: “The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

How fitting, then, that the architect of our current political situation, one Addison Mitchell “Mitch” McConnell Jr., first darkened the doors of the Senate in the year 1984.

McConnell was representing Kentuckians on the national stage a full decade before I was even born. He has been a senator for 36 years, and leader of the Republican wing of the Senate for 14. McConnell witnessed the tailend of Reagan’s presidency, both Bushes, Clinton and his impeachment fiasco, Obama’s historic victory and now the age of Trump. It does not seem like much of a stretch for Kentucky Democrats to call him a creature of Washington.

Could 2020 be the year the people of Kentucky finally dethrone him? It’s not entirely likely. Although his approval numbers are firmly underwater (somewhere between 32 and 35 percent) in his home state, McConnell has bet the entire fabric of our republic on his reelection bid.

Since his inauguration in 2017, there has not been a time when a majority of Kentucky voters did not approve of Trump’s presidency, despite all of the impeachment controversy which harmed the president’s numbers elsewhere, according to Morning Consult polls. If you have not been keeping up, McConnell cynically crushed all attempts to allow witness testimony in the Senate impeachment trial and kept his party in line all the way to the acquittal

Discussions with

Dylan

vote, stomping on constitutional norms and common decency in the process. He shamed all Kentuckians by standing in front of the country and admitting on national television that he would coordinate the trial with the White House despite his role as an ostensibly impartial juror.

Why would McConnell go to such extremes for a lawless president he doesn’t even seem to like? Because he’s facing reelection this year and any move outside of Trump’s step would surely result in a deranged Twitter rant to the president’s millions of followers and a depression of Kentucky conservative votes McConnell will need in November.

McConnell has been praised and criticized in equal measure for his keen sense of political self-preservation, and his defense of Trump is no different. It’s also worth noting that McConnell seems to be correct that his years of service to the conservative cause would be wiped away by one of Trumpworld’s multifaceted lashings. Remember, this is the same year in which we find ourselves watching the director of CPAC, the high holy conference of the GOP, saying he could not guarantee former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s physical safety after Romney voted against

Trump in the impeachment trial.

So McConnell’s strategy is to give Trump anything necessary until 2021 when his Senate seat is comfortably his again for another six-year term, excusing any number of impeachable offenses, corrupt schemes and self-dealing ventures by all the president’s ghouls. Fair enough. Will it actually work? That largely depends on the efforts of his Democratic rivals. Kentucky state representative Charles Booker is making a fantastic Bernie Sanders-style case for progressivism in a small, rural state, but in my opinion it’s going to take Kentucky many more years to become purple enough for a senator like Booker.

The only type of person likely to beat McConnell is a center-left pragmatist that can pull away voters left stranded by McConnell’s embrace of the far right. They will also need to raise an unimaginable amount of money, considering McConnell’s tens-of-millions heavy war chest and momentum (McConnell 2020 is the best funded Senate campaign in Kentucky history).

Enter Amy McGrath, a retired 20-year Marine who became the first woman to fly a combat mission for the United States Marine Corps.

She is currently raising money

like a presidential candidate, with over $9 million on-hand according to the Louisville Courier-Journal. Unfortunately, this still puts her below McConnell in terms of finances, but to come so close to a three-decade career politician is nothing to sneeze at either. Her list of endorsements is a mile long, including a whopping 12 former 2020 presidential candidates (itself a who’s who of relevant Democratic senators, representatives and governors).

McGrath has certainly the best chance to take down McConnell, but his unscrupulous ads will likely paint her as a liberal out of touch with Kentucky priorities. Even though McConnell’s polling is not much better than recently ousted governor Matt Bevin, Trump is almost certain to win Kentucky this year, and McGrath would need a sizable number of those voters to break the party ticket and vote for her along with Trump, which seems extraordinarily unlikely.

However, if Trump’s 2016 win taught us anything, it is that the career politician can sometimes lose to a newcomer. Hopefully we are ready to end McConnell’s reign over the swamp Kentucky voters dislike with so much vigor.

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News

February 13, 2020

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Sports

February 13, 2020

7

Racers set for season-opening series Simon Elfrink Staff Writer selfrink@murraystate.edu The Racers will kick off the 2020 baseball season with a three-game series against Southern Mississippi University on Friday, Feb. 14.

The Racers haven’t played Southern Mississippi since 2015 when the Golden Eagles took all three games in the season opener. Meanwhile, Southern Mississippi has built a highly reputed program, winning 40 or more games four seasons in a row.

The Golden Eagles had an eye-opening postseason run last season when they won their conf erence title and played deep into regionals, losing to Louisiana State University 6-4 on June 2, 2019.

The Golden Eagles were a stellar group on the offensive end, chalking up an impressive 426 runs on 611 hits. They had five players hit over .300, led by redshirt sophomore outfielder Gabe Montenegro, who hit .342 with six home runs and 26 RBIs. Montenegro also led the team with 81 hits.

Another big bat returning for the Golden Eagles is senior second baseman Mathew Guidr y, who hit .297 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs. Sophomore third baseman

Gage Johnson/TheNews Sophomore third baseman Wes Schad gets ready to swing at a pitch against Austin Peay in 2019.

Danny Lynch is also looking to continue to produce offensively after a strong freshman season where he hit .296 with 40 RBIs. D e s p i t e t h e re t u r n i n g strength in the lineup, Souther n Mississippi lost some key players, such as former outfielder Matt Walner, who was the No. 39 pick in the

Competitive Balance Round A for the Minnesota Twins. Walner finished his junior season hitting .323 with a team-high 23 home runs and 60 RBIs. Fo r m e r c a t c h e r B r ya n t Bowen is another name absent from the Golden Eagles’ lineup, having transferred to the University of South Carolina for the 2020 season. In

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2019, Bowen hit .341 with 11 home runs and 51 RBIs. Former outfielder Hunter Slater is another loss for Southern Mississippi. The outfielder graduated following the 2019 season, leaving behind a solid hitting line of .302, 11 HRs and 59 RBIs. Meanwhile, the Golden Eagles’ solid pitching staff

is mainly intact coming into 2 0 2 0 . A s a f re s h m a n l a s t season, pitcher Gabe Shepard threw 30.2 innings and struck out 46 batters. He finished with a 3-0 record and a team-low 2.35 ERA. Senior pitcher Walker Powell was another major presence on the mound, throwing 99.1 innings and striking out 73 batters. The Golden Eagles look to him to lead the way this year after finishing the 2019 season with a 6-2 record and a 2.81 ERA. While it won’t be an easy way to start the season, Racers Head Coach Dan Skirka said he is looking forward to taking on such a formidable program.

“We’re excited,” Skirka said. “Anytime you get to play somebody that’s a regional type team, you get to see where you stack up. We’re excited about going down and getting some warm weather.

They just turfed their field, so we’re going to get a Thursday practice, and then Friday, Saturday and Sunday games, so we’re going to get four good days of baseball down there, and that’s what I think we’re most excited about.”

The first game of the threegame road series is set to start at 4 p.m. on Feb. 14 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Sports

8

February 13, 2020

The Dean Hood era inches closer Hood hires eight coaches for first staff

will step into the role of recruiting coordinator. He will also specialize in coaching the offensive line. Richardson’s With months of preparation coaching career is highlightahead for the 2020-21 season, ed by his time spent at Univernew Murray State Head Football sity of North Carolina at CharCoach Dean Hood established lotte, where he coached the his 2020 coaching staff by hir- tight ends and offensive line from 2012 to 2018. Richardson ing eight full-time coaches.

Hood’s new staff is brimming coached the tight ends at Richwith experience and expertise, mond University for a season with a combined 69 years of before finding himself on the coaching, 46 of which occurred Racers staff. at the Division I level. With a Evan McKissack will be combined three NFL draft picks, coaching tight ends and run28 all-conference selections, ning backs in the 2020 season. and two All-Americans, Hood is McKissack has been the aslooking forward to what these sistant offensive coach for the Kentucky Wildcats since 2017. coaches bring to the table.

Several of the coaches have Before his time at University of a long track record with Hood, Kentucky, McKissack coached having either played under for Georgia High School in him or coached alongside him 2015-16. During McKissack’s in the past. Hood said it was no first year, he helped his team coincidence these gentlemen achieve the 2015 Class 6A were at the top of his list for his state title. They went on to win nationals that year. new staff.

“That’s a comfort level thing,” Frederick Walker will be Hood said. “When you go out- the wide receivers coach for side your tree, it gets really the 2020 season. Walker’s exscary because you don’t nec- tensive experience in coachessarily know that person. The ing began at Mississippi State guys that I did go outside the University, where he helped circle on, it was guys within the develop players like All-SEC circle that told me about them.” Tyler Russell while working Head Coach Dean Hood addresses the media at his introductory press conference. Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics The new offensive coordina- with quarterbacks and wide tor and quarterbacks coach is receivers. Walker comes to the coordinator and inside line- most notable players Sanders as a defensive quality control Ben Hodges, who worked with Racers after spending the past backers coach for the 2020 sea- had the opportunity to coach. assistant, focusing primarily on Hood previously at Eastern two years as the assistant quar- son. He started out as a student Allen, the seventh overall draft defensive backs, which is what Kentucky University, contrib- terbacks coach at Duke Uni- assistant for Northern Colorado pick, won the 2018 Chuck Bed- he will be doing for the 2020 uting as a linebackers coach versity. While there, he helped University, his 2010 alma mater. narik Award, naming him the season. and special teams coordinator. quarterback Daniel Jones reach Before arriving at Murray State, nation’s best defensive player. From 2013-15, Boone served Hodges was also the recruiting the No. 6 pick in the 2018 NFL Sanders had a year of coaching Sanders also spent some time as Lawrence’s defensive coordicoordinator while at EKU. In his Draft. A year earlier, Walker experience in Albuquerque at at Utah State University as the nator, leading seven players to time there, Hodges coached played a similar role in mento- the University of New Mexico, assistant linebackers coach, and all-conference selections in just Super Bowl champion tight end ring All-American wide receiv- where he coached second-team was the offensive coordinator of three seasons. His most recent Matt Lengel, as well as 2014 er Dontez Byrd while coaching All-Mountain West linebacker the Colorado Ice in the Indoor position was with the Colorado OVC Player of the Year running at Tennessee Tech University. Jacobi Hearn.

School of Mines, where he was Football League. back Dy’shawn Mobley, 2010 Before his time at Tennessee, Before his year at New Mex- EKU graduate Chris Cunning- the defensive backs coach from All-OVC wide receiver Orlan- Walker coached at Troy Uni- ico, Sanders served at UK for ham teams up with Hood once 2018-19. dus Harris and All-American versity as an assistant quarter- three years as the assistant more after spending years play- Rounding out Hood’s new backs coach. tight end Patrick Bugg. linebackers coach, as well as ing and coaching for Hood at staff signings is Darius Hart, Johnson Richardson, a 2010 Dillon Sanders stands in a defensive quality control EKU in the past. After spending who has spent the last two seagraduate from Wofford College, a s t h e R a c e r s ’ d e f e n s ive coach. Josh Allen is among the some time at EKU as a graduate sons coaching Alcorn State Uniassistant, Cunningham took on versity to back-to-back chamhis first full-time coaching job at pionship titles. Hart’s coaching the University of Pikeville as a career was kicked off when he became the assistant defensive linebackers coach in 2014.

Afterward, Cunningham line coach for West Alabama spent two years as the special University. His time as a defenteams coordinator and defen- sive line coach will be continsive line coach at Lawrence ued with the Racers in 2020.

University. Cunningham then His specific field is in the decoached linebackers at The fensive line, a point proven by University of Virginia’s College All-SWAC and All-American at Wise in 2018 before being defensive end Terry Whittingpromoted to defensive coordi- ton, who played under Hart in nator the following season. Cun- 2018. Hart has spent a portion ningham will serve as the Rac- of his career coaching at Trinity ers’ special teams coordinator, Valley and Pearl River commuas well as the outside lineback- nity colleges, as well as Missouri Southern State University. ers coach.

Yon Boone is another long- The Racers will continue to time co-worker of Hood’s. The put the work in over the course Hamline University gradu- of the offseason in order to preate spent the 2010-12 seasons pare for their 2020-21 season coaching linebackers at EKU. opener next fall against GeorBefore his time at EKU, Boone gia State University on, Sept. 5 was a recruiting assistant for in Atlanta, Georgia followed Hamline University from 2006- by their first home game on Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics 08. Boone then spent several Sept. 12 against Tarleton State AD Kevin Saal, President Bob Jackson, SGA President Trey Book and Head Coach Hood talk after a press conference. seasons at Wofford University University.

Simon Elfrink Staff Writer selfrink@murraystate.edu

Sports

February 13, 2020

9

Track places first in West Virginia Jon Dunning Staff Writer jdunning1@murraystate.edu

The Murray State track and field team placed first at the two-day Marshall Invitational in Huntington, West Virginia on Saturday, Feb. 8, beating out seven other teams.

The Marshall Invitational began on Friday, Feb. 7 with four events. Weight throw was the first event of the day, with senior Jewel Wagner finishing f our th with 7.13m. Senior Destiny Carey placed sixth with a distance of 14.85m and sophomore Ashton Crow threw 13.59m to finish in eleventh.

Pole vault was the second event of the day, with sophomore Brooke Misukonis placing third with a height of 3.67m, while sophomore Shannon Riley placed fifth with 3.37m and freshman Jenna Pauly took sixth with 3.22m.

S e n i o r A m a n d a Pa rke r finished sixth with a time of 18:50.08 in the 5000-meter run, while senior Katelyn Gilbert placed seventh with 19:17.90.

T h e R a c e r re l a y t e a m placed second in the distance medley event with 12:35.77.

Murray State scored 34 points overall on the first day of the event, giving the Racers the lead going into Saturday.

The Racers had a strong showing Saturday, winning m u l t i p l e eve n t s . M u r ray State took the top four spots of the 60-meters finals with redshirt sophomore Jumyia

Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics Freshman Meghan Fletcher flys through the air at the John Craft Invite.

Denning finishing first with 7.70 seconds, freshman Kenia Seals taking second with 7.71 seconds, junior Antoinetta Avant placing t h i rd w i t h 7 . 7 6 s e c o n d s and sophomore Rachel Hagans taking fourth with 7.77 seconds.

Freshman Meghan Fletcher gave Mur ray State its second top of the day when she placed first in high jump with 1.67m.

Murray State’s 4x400 relay team, which consisted of sophomore JaKayla M c S wa i n , s e n i o r D ’ M y i a Thornton, senior Hilary McAdam and senior Norma Abdur-Rafia, set a meet record, finishing in 3:46.27

and placing the Racers first in a third event for the day.

Murray State performed w e l l i n o t h e r ev e n t s a s well, earning numerous top placements.

The 200-meters event saw multiple Racers in leading spots, as Denning finished second with 24.83 seconds, Seals took third with 25.13 seconds and Hagans placed fifth with 25.63 seconds.

M u r ray S t a t e wa s we l l represented in the tr iple jump, with Avant finishing second with 11.70m, freshman Keyandra Mason winning fourth with 10.79m and sophomore Eleri Gelser following in fifth with 10.66m.

Redshirt senior Jabreuna Brimlett took second place

i n t h e 6 0 - m e t e r h u rd l e s with a time of 8.60 seconds.

Sophomore Dotavia Howard placed seventh with 9.21 seconds.

McAdam won second in the 800-meters event with 2 : 1 6 . 0 1 , wh i l e f re s h m a n Amirr Evans followed just two spots behind in fourth with 2:18.15 seconds.

Hagans took second in the long jump with 5.38m, junior Alison Woerner placed fourth with 5.13m and sophomore Ashly Oren took seventh with 4.91m.

In shot put, Carey earned second with a 13.93m and Wagner placed fourth with 12.64m.

Abdur-Raf ia took third i n t h e 4 0 0 - m e t e r s eve n t

with 56.61 seconds, while Thornton placed fifth with 57.39 seconds and McSwain placed sixth with 57.43 seconds.

In the mile, sophomore Emma Creviston took tenth with 5:16.97, while sophomore Morgan Vosler and freshman Kristin Dent took eleventh and twelfth place with 5:20.98 and 5:21.40 respectively.

If there’s one thing Murray State Head Coach Adam Keisler took from the weekend’s event, it’s that he knows ever y member of his team is committed to winning.

“Overall, I think we did a good job,” Keisler said.

“Competition wise, I think the kids all competed.”

While Keisler thinks t h e re m ay s t i l l b e ro o m f or improvement, f ollowing Murray State’s victory at the Marshall Invitational, Keisler is confident that his team can perform well heading into the rest of the season.

“We’re still trying to put the cherry on top of a few things in terms of each individual event, but I think if we kind of can keep the m o m e n t u m go i n g f ro m Marshall into Birmingham I t h i n k t h e re ’ l l b e s o m e things we’ll be happy with,” Keisler said.

T he Mur ray State track and field team will look to carry over the success at the Marshall Invitational in their next meet, the Samford Open, on Friday, Feb. 14, and Saturday, Feb. 15, in Birmingham, Alabama.

Tennis moves to 5-1 following weekend sweep Simon Elfrink Staff Writer selfrink@murraystate.edu Murray State women’s tennis team hit the road for a pair of matches that pushed them to a 5-1 start with a weekend sweep.

The Racers took the first victory 5-2 against Missouri State University on Friday, Feb. 7, allowing them to claim the doubles point for the fifth match in a row. Senior Cliare Chang and junior Stasya Sharapova won their match 6-4, while junior Sara Bjork and freshman Marit Kreugel took their victory 7-6.

In singles, Chang and Kreugel both won in straight sets.

Bjork had a slow start, getting shut out in her first set before coming back to capture a victory in back-to-back 6-4 sets.

Senior Sara Loncarevic also had an uphill match in singles, but came up with the win.

Head Coach Jorge Caetano was pleased with the way Bjork and Loncarevic handled themselves after being down early on.

“Sara Loncarevic had to dig deep to get a win in a threehour-and-ten-minute match, clinching the overall match for us,” Caetano said. “Sara Bjork was also huge, saving five match points and winning a close third-setter.”

The next morning, the Racers went head-to-head with the University of South Dakota. After a long night of play, Caetano admitted the timing of the games was an obstacle to overcome.

“We finished Friday’s match at midnight and had to be back on the courts at 11 a.m. to play again on Saturday,” Caetano said. “It was challenging, but we got the job done.”

Anja and Sara Loncerevic led the way in doubles

matches, routing their opponents 6-1. Bjork and Kreugel fought for a 7-6 win, earning the Racers’ sixth doubles point of the 2020 season.

“Doubles proved to be crucial,” Caetano said. “Sara and Anja Loncarevic played a great match, dominating their opponents from start to finish. Marit and Sara Bjork were down the whole match.

They saved five match points and, when they finally had their chance, they clinched the doubles point for us.”

Sharapova, Kreugel and freshman Samantha Muller all won their singles matches in straight sets.

“We knew singles were going to be physically tough, but I’m just happy we found a way to win three of them,” Caetano said. “Stasya Sharapova bounced back and won a big match in straight sets. A lot of props to our freshmen Marit and

Sam who stayed very calm to give us the win when we had our backs against the wall being down 3-2. Now it’s going to be a lot of recovery so we’re ready for our three home matches next week.”

With last weekend’s matches in the books, Kreugel continues to shine by going undefeated in a combined 12 matches. Kreugel and Bjork have complemented each other’s play perfectly this season, going 6-0 in doubles.

Caetano reflected on the weekend’s matches with approval.

“Our goal was to come back with two good road wins and we accomplished that,” Caetano said. “It was a huge team effort this weekend and I couldn’t be more proud of the way they handled adversity.”

The Racers will look to continue this level of play Central Arkansas University on Thursday, Feb. 13, at the Kenlake Tennis Center in Hardin, Kentucky.

Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics Freshman Marit Kreugel gets ready to return the ball.

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February 13, 2020

Pip-Squeaks serenade for Valentine’s Day Dionte Berry Contributing writer dberry11@murraystate.edu

With Valentine’s Day right

around the corner, the PipSqueaks, a quartet from Playhouse in the Park, have been warming up their vocals for their fourth annual Valentine’s Day serenading fundraiser.

The Pip-Squeaks, led by Brad Brauser, started this fundraising tradition in 2017 because of Brauser’s interest in barbershop quartets.

“I’ve always seen quartet groups on Facebook, and to my knowledge nothing like that has ever been done in Murray,” Brauser said.

Over the past three years that the Pip-Squeaks have sung to people on Valentine’s Day, they have received varying reactions.

“We sang for a woman one time who was quite embarrassed and after our first song she was ready for us to leave, but her significant other paid for two songs, so we just kept on going,” Brauser said.

Beyond embarrassing their customer’s partners during

serenades, the Pip-Squeaks have even garnered crowds.

“One year we sang to someone who worked in the Walmart bakery,” Brauser said. “We stood in a busy Walmart singing love songs while people recorded us on their phones.”

In 2017, the quartet raised about $700.

“People would sign up for two songs which costs $25, but then they would hand me a $100 check,” Brauser said.

“It was crazy.”

The Valentine’s Day serenades started as a fundraiser for the Penguin Project, which is a program that allows special needs kids and those with physical disabilities to be cast in a junior Broadway show hosted by Playhouse in the Park.

From 2017 to 2020, the fundraiser has seen a few changes. Brauser and fellow quartet member Joshua Brower are the only original members. This year they have been joined by newcomers Joshua Byrne and Ian Ball.

All the members of the quartet play a big role in Playhouse in the Park.

Brower has been a member of Playhouse since 2015.

“I fell in love with it immediately, and I have been coming back ever since my first show,” Brower said.

“It’s important to me that the place stays open and that’s why I enjoy fundraising.”

This may be Byrne’s first year participating in the Valentine’s Day serenades, but he has sung with the quartet before and has been deeply involved with Playhouse.

“I have been a part of Playhouse since my sophomore year of high school, which was in 2003,” Byrne said. “I act, direct and I am also the secretary on the board of directors for Playhouse, so I am constantly involved.”

The newest member of Playhouse in the quartet, Ball, has been a member since 2017. Even though he‘s been there for a short time, he has made major contributions and has been in the cast of many shows.

“I love the people here, the projects we do and the impact we have on the community,” Ball said. “I enjoy being able to give back even if it’s just a little bit.”

Megan Reynolds/The News Ian Ball, Brad Brauser, Joshua M. Byrne and Josh Brower practice their number.

Lastly, the leader of the quartet, Brauser, first became aware of the Playhouse in 2006 and started being in their shows the same year.

This year’s fundraiser is for the nonprofit’s general operating budget which will help fund Playhouse’s recent growth.

“Playhouse has just bought a new building due to our growth in audience members, volunteers and show productions,” Byrne said.

Valentine’s Day is friday, Feb. 14, if you want to surprise your significant other with a song or two, contact Brad Brauser on Facebook or by email at bbrauser@gmail. com.

“This is not something we do for ourselves, but to instead raise money for something that is important to all of us, so we appreciate all of the support we can get,” Brauser said.

Students attend music education convention

Grant Dillard Staff Writer gdillard@murraystate.edu

The Murray State Collegiate National Association for Music Education traveled to Louisville, Kentucky for the annual Kentucky Music Educators Association convention.

The event started on Thursday, Feb. 6, and ended Saturday, Feb. 8, and is KMEA’s professional development conference for music educators across the state.

KMEA is affiliated with the National Association for Music Education, which advocates for music teachers around the world, helps implement new trends in music education and provides for further growth for current and future music educators.

Director of Choral Activities and professor Bradley Almquist said Murray State has been attending and participating in the event for as long as it has been around. “[KMEA] sponsors a number of events throughout the year that specialize in band, chorus, orchestra and general music,” Almquist said. “We often send students, as well as having faculty presenting professional development sessions/classes during the

Photo courtesy of Ben Gerkins NAfME chapter traveled to Louisville, Kentucky for KMEA convention.

conference.”

This was the first time the vice president of Murray State NAfME Collegiate Chapter, Allison Grace, junior music education major, attended KMEA. Having stayed for four days, Grace went to sessions in the morning and performances during the day.

Grace said the convention brings the top musicians from the state together and has them participate in various ensembles, like choirs and concert bands.

“I bonded with other students and professors that went,” Grace said. “It really

is a special thing to be able to go to conferences like this and learn more about the craft that we all love. Being able to have open discussions on the sessions was really nice.”

Grace’s favorite memory was watching the All-State Concert Band rehearse with her friends.

“It was just a really special moment that we all shared,” Grace said. “It really reminded me why I wanted to get this degree in the first place.

These kids were so inspired and genuinely loved playing their instruments and making

music together.”

This year, Almquist and music education professor Joan Riley presented classes.

Riley described the conference as an opportunity for professional development.

“Attending conferences such as this is like getting a whole semester of courses in three days,” Riley said.

“Offerings on brain development and learning, choral pedagogy, string pedagogy, teaching improvisation, higher order thinking and band pedagogy were available, as well as the opportunity to observe directors from around

the country as they rehearsed All-State ensembles.”

While this was Riley’s second KMEA, she has been a member of the North Dakota Music Educators Association for over 30 years and has attended many national conferences as well. She looks forward to them every year to renew and rejuvenate her teaching and spirit.

Riley was also in charge of a choral reading session sponsored by Alfred Publishing, a premier publisher of choral music in the U.S. Board Member at Large Ben Gerkins, junior music education major, went to the KMEA convention twice as a performer in high school and twice as a NAfME Collegiate member.

Gerkins’ favorite memory was discussing music and education with his colleagues.

He said it is rewarding to talk about your passions with people who have similar interests.

“If you are a music major or music faculty member, your attendance is highly recommended at the KMEA convention each year,” Gerkins said. “It’s a great place to network with your fellow educators and future employers.”

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February 13, 2020

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Graduates inducted into nursing honors society Ciara Benham Staff Writer cbenham@murraystate.edu Extraordinary nursing graduates have been recognized for their academic achievements by being inducted into an honors society.

Sigma Theta Tau is an international honors society for nursing students who have excelled in their schooling. On Dec. 13, 2019, Sigma Theta Tau inducted 10 new members for their exceptional achievements in the Murray State nursing program.

These inductees included Madison Vandiver, Olivia Chapman, Sydney Snyder, Amber Dublo, Taylor Crouch, Josephine Hubele, Brittany Shelton, Elizabeth Arend, Mesa Trimm and Emma Benson.

“It was a great honor to be inducted into such a prestigious nursing honor society,” Hubele said. “Standing there being recognized for

all my achievements in front of family, friends and professors made all my hard work worth it.”

In order to be inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, students must meet a certain set of requirements and be invited by nursing professors.

According to the Sigma Theta Tau website the criteria includes, “completing half of the nursing curriculum, achieving academic excellence by having a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, ranking in the top 35% of the graduating class and meeting the expectation of academic integrity.”

This organization provides members with exclusive resources and opportunities that allow them to excel in the nursing field. In particular, Sigma Theta Tau focuses on helping nurses with research.

“Through Sigma, research is conducted for the advancement of knowledge to improve the health

of the world’s people,” Shelton said. “Belonging to this organization offers the opportunity of advancement in the nursing profession through continuous research provided by this organization.”

Many of Sigma Theta Tau’s new inductees talked about how this organization will help them continue their nursing careers.

“As of now, myself and the other members have access to academic journals to research nursing and possible changes,” Snyder said. “Another benefit is the connections it provides. There are connections all across the world where Sigma nurses can come together to better healthcare as a whole.”

For these newly graduated nursing students, Sigma Theta Tau is an impeccable honor that reflects their feelings about nursing.

“The organization is important to me because it represents my role as a

h

it w e lov n i l fal

Photo courtesy of Sydney Snyder Sydney Snyder is inducted into Sigma Theta Tau.

nurse leader and allows me to have additional resourc es to continually strive to improve myself and to have an impact on other people’s lives and the healthcare system,” Hubele said.

The organization also provides continuing nurs-

ing education courses, as well as a place to disseminate research and evidence-based practice materials.

New nursing graduates will be inducted into Sigma Theta Tau at the spring 2020 graduation ceremony.

Faculty Couples Ideal Valentine’s Day:

A day that includes a box of chocolates.

~Mike and Christy D’Ambrosio

Favorite Memory Together:

Last summer, Drew was teaching abroad in Barcelona for a month. We are foster parents and had a couple of amazing kiddos with us last year, but we were exhausted and felt like we hadn’t finished a conversation in months. When I arrived in Barcelona to visit him for a week it was like we were meeting for the first time... It was a fantastic time together and reminded us we deserved to do that for each other more often.

~Melanie McCallon and Drew Seib

Advice for Couples:

Say please and thank you, no matter how long you’ve been together. It will make the difficult conversations easier to navigate later.

~Mike and Christy D’Ambrosio

1201 Payne Street Murray 270.761.4800 @future_grounds on Instagram

Advice for Couples:

Focus on experiences rather than things. No matter your economics, something as simple as cooking together or taking the dog for a walk matters. We are doing some renovation at home together and we have never laughed so much as when we are knee-deep in grout and dust and wondering if we can convince each other to get take out... again...

~Melanie McCallon and Drew Seib

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February 13, 2020

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION GET INVOLVED Student Government Association applications are available on line www.murraystate.edu/sga or in the Center for Student Involvement office, 111 Curris Center.

Positions:

President - must be Junior by fall semester, 2.7 gpa Executive Vice President - must be Junior by fall semester, 2.7 gpa Vice President of Administration - 2.7 gpa Vice President of Finance - 2.7 gpa Senator At Large – 8 positions, 2.0 gpa College of Business – 3 positions, 2.0 gpa College of Education & Human Services – 3 positions, 2.0 gpa College of Humanities & Fine Arts – 3 positions, 2.0 gpa College of Science, Engineering & Technology – 3 positions, 2.0 gpa Hutson School of Agriculture – 3 positions, 2.0 gpa School of Nursing & Health Professionals – 3 positions, 2.0 gpa RCA President - 2.7 gpa RCA Vice President – 2.7 gpa RCA Secretary/Treasurer, 2.7 gpa

**ALL RCA officers must have lived in residential college 1 year prior to election

Applications due:

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2020 at NOON in the CSI office.

Candidates Meeting:

MANDATORY CANDIDATES MEETING at 4 PM in Curris Center Barkley Room

Elections:

ONLINE VOTING, MONDAY, MARCH 9, 2020 AT 12:01 AM THROUGH TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2020 AT 11:59 PM

SGA Forum:

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2020 at 5:00 PM in Alexander Hall Auditorium

Senate Chair:

Elections/Ways & Means – 1 position, 2.0 gpa Publications & Public Relations, 1 position, 2.0 gpa University Affairs – 1 position, 2.0 gpa Government Relations – 1 position, 2.0 gpa Diversity & Inclusion – 1 position, 2.0 gpa Enrollment Management & Student Success – 1 position, 2.0 gpa WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 at NOON in the CSI office

Applications due: Judicial Board: Applications due:

10 members, must be a Sophomore by fall semester, 2.0 gpa WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 at NOON in the CSI office

Campus Activities Board: Applications due:

12 chair positions, 2.0 gpa WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1 at NOON in the CSI office