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February 27, 2020 | Vol. 94, No. 20

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Coronavirus strikes again

Students unable to spend semester in South Korea Daniella Tebib News Editor dtebib@murraystate.edu Two Murray State students were on a plane in Detroit, Michigan, ready to fly to Seoul, South Korea, when they received text messages telling them to get off of the plane immediately because their program had been canceled. Over 80,000 cases of coronavirus have been reported worldwide and nearly 1,300 cases have been reported in South Korea. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention put out a level 3 travel advisory warning to avoid nonessential travel. Carrie Owen, sophomore from Henderson, Kentucky, and Austin Coursey, sophomore from Russellville, Kentucky, arrived in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday, Feb. 20, for their 8:55 a.m. flight. Neither student had ever flown on a plane or even been in an airport before and were already overwhelmed with nerves. They later arrived in Detroit, Michigan, for one of their connecting flights and boarded the plane during their 20-minute layover just to find out they were no longer going to study abroad for a semester in South Korea. Coursey said they discovered their program was canceled because he decided to check his phone while they still had a few minutes before the plane was going

to take off. After deactivating airplane mode, he received numerous texts from his parents and an unknown number telling him and Owen to get off of the plane immediately. “I immediately showed Carrie the messages and we got off of the plane, silent and devastated,” Coursey said. After rushing off the plane, Coursey said he called the unknown number from Murray State and Melanie McCallon Seib, director of education abroad, was on the other line. Coursey said McCallon Seib assured him everything was going to be okay, but the trip had been canceled because of a coronavirus outbreak in Daegu, South Korea. “There weren’t any tears from me,” Coursey said. “I was mostly in shock. I knew that the coronavirus was a thing that existed and it was causing some problems, but I never expected my exchange program to not work out. I was scared that this would affect my graduation date because I would be missing a semester of college and I was dreading the cramped plane ride home.” Owen said their orientation had already been canceled at Korea University and the semester had been delayed, but she never expected the entire program to get canceled.

see CORONAVIRUS page 4

Bryce Anglin/The News Photo courtesy of Austin Coursey

Racers earns sixth straight NCAA Rifle Championships Nick Kendall Staff Writer nkendall1@murraystate.edu

Nick Kendall/The News Athletic Director Kevin Saal talks to the Rifle team after the selection show concluded.

News Opinion Sports Features

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After the selection show came to a close on Tuesday, Feb. 25, it was confirmed that Murray State Rifle will make the trip to Lexington, Kentucky, for its sixth straight trip to the NCAA Rifle Championships. The team that was on the outside looking in a few matches ago, but found itself right back in the competition by putting up two season-best aggregate scores in the last two matches against Jacksonville State and the University of Nebraska. After struggling early, Head Coach Adam Lollar was happy to see that his team picked the pace back up and were able to recover, earning a spot in the championships. “Our goal at the start of the year is to be able to play on the last day,” Lollar said. “If you can make it to the last day of the season, then we got a chance to win it all.” Losing six All-Americans over the last two years has been rough for Lollar, but he has been proud of the fight the team has

been showing and believes that they have no idea how far they can go. “They never got discouraged when it was tough,” Lollar said. “I have seen them getting better over the last six weeks of the spring and just when they needed to. This is one of the few teams I’ve had at this time of the year that is getting better.” Making their sixth consecutive appearance is a big deal for senior Meike Drewell. Carrying on the tradition of winning for Racer rifle means the world to her and the rest of the squad. “I think it’s going to be similar to last year,” Drewell said. “We know what it feels like, we know exactly what we’re capable of and we know that we can line up with any team that shows up. We’re going to give them a run for their money because we know we have that confidence.” After hearing the team’s name in the selection show and knowing how far the team has come, Drewell is ecstatic for the tournament.

see RIFLE page 6

Murray State gets a new brand

Eroding minimum wage is cause for concern

Racers fall one run short against SIU

James Young chats memories, music and more

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News

February 27, 2020

Workshop looks to help female STEM faculty Sarah Mead Staff Writer smead@murraystate.edu Murray State will host a “When to Say Yes and How to Say No” workshop on Friday, Feb. 28, for female faculty. The workshop will provide guidance for female professors on the appropriate responses when determining priorities between workplace responsibilities, tenure expectations, a myriad of service requests and personal home life. Made possible by the University ’s ADVANCE leadership team, the event is a part of a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to promote strategic equity initiatives for female faculty members. Maeve McCarthy, interim assistant dean for Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology, is the director of Murray State’s ADVANCE program. “ADVANCE is a program designed to improve the recruitment and retention of women faculty and staff,” McCarthy said. “ Women are historically underrepresented in science, engineering and math. When students look to see role models in their field and they see that there are one or two women in the department that teaches their major, then it’s not as encouraging as when there’s better representation. What we want to do is recruit and retain more women faculty so that they can serve as role models for our students.” The keynote speaker, Eve Riskin, is the associate dean of diversity and access in the College of Engineering and faculty director of ADVANCE at the University of Washington. Riskin has been a faculty director for ADVANCE since 2002 when the University of Washington first began its program. Her interest in the program began because she found it hard to balance both her home life and her position as a professor. At the workshop, Riskin will share her reflections and experiences on prioritizing requests. “The topic of saying yes [or] no is important because I see women being asked to do things that aren’t fair,” Riskin said. “The academy can expect them to ‘be good sports’ even if it’s not good for their careers.” McCarthy said in addition to their responsibilities as a professor, female faculty are asked to take on additional roles more often than their male counterparts. “ They get asked to do the same amount of teaching [and] the same amount of research, [but they get asked to do] more service,” McCarthy said. “Where this service comes in is in advising students, advising student groups, committee work, selecting textbooks and all these kinds of things that are part of being an academic. Women find that they are asked more often [to take these responsibilities] and find it hard to say no.” Laura Sullivan-Beckers is a biology professor and has been active in the ADVANCE program for three years. She said she found this issue important because she often feels that her personality makes it nearly impossible to say no when people ask for her help or input. “It’s a common issue that doesn’t just affect faculty,” Sullivan-Beckers said. “I think what this workshop is going to be about is helping faculty figure out how to navigate the issues in balancing the different components of the job. As faculty, we’re expected to teach, do research

I’ve heard people say yes to requests that were ridiculous or even offensive, so I like to give people permission to say no. Conversely, I have heard people say no when they should have said yes.

Photo courtesy of Eve Riskin Eve Riskin will speak at the ADVANCE workshop for female faculty on Feb. 28.

and also contribute service to the school. Trying to balance those things [with your home life] can be very hard.” Alyx Shultz, department head of Agricultural Science, said being a woman in a STEM field is both a challenge and an opportunity. While it can be hard to find balance between various responsibilities, these additional opportunities show the potential for women in the field is forever broadening. “It’s both a challenge and a phenomenal opportunity because we have so many directions that we can go,” Shultz said. “It’s for sure a challenge to learn where you’re going to balance and where you’re going to prioritize, but it’s also an open door in that no matter what you’re good at as a faculty member, there’s something that you can get plugged into that will help students.” Defining the line of when to accept or decline additional responsibility can be hard, and this workshop was designed to make that process clearer. “I’ve heard people say yes to requests that were ridiculous or even offensive, so I like to give people permission to say no.” Riskin said. “Conversely, I have heard people say no when they should have said yes. Depending on who the request is coming from, it can be career-limiting.” The workshop will include tactics in how to say no to tasks that overextended

a person’s capabilities, especially in the event of being asked to take on additional responsibilities by a supervisor. “If you’re being asked by your superior to do something that’s related to your job, your position about saying no is somewhat tenuous,” McCarthy said. “It’s difficult to know what you can say no to and what you can’t. If you say yes to everything, you end up overextended and then you’re not doing as good of a job overall.” Shultz said while prioritization is hard, most people are understanding of the limits she sets on her time. “It’s hard, but I think that [over the] years you lean toward things that you’re automatically strong at,” Shultz said. “You’ve just got to be real with yourself, and if you don’t have time, you don’t have time. Every time I’ve said no, people have understood. It’s often harder on the person saying no than it is on the student or administrator asking. You’ve just got to draw your line and not cross it.” Sullivan-Beckers said she felt this topic was especially important for retaining new faculty at the University. She said young professors are trying to get their name out around campus and to become a valued member of the community as they search for tenure and promotions. However, it is very easy for new faculty to get overwhelmed with responsibility, which she said is unfortunate because

having female role models is important to encouraging students to stay in STEM fields. “It is useful to know that she’s going through what I’m going through, and if she can do it I can do it,” Sullivan-Beckers said. “Having those role models and knowing that other women have survived and stayed in [the industry] is motivating. It’s encouraging to see women advancing, especially in the biology department [because] we have a lot of senior female faculty.” The “When to Say Yes and How to Say No” workshop will serve as an opportunity for female faculty to congregate together to discuss this issue and others that they face on campus. “There’s a lot of open dialogue and I think that’s so important,” Shultz said. “Awareness is 85 percent of the battle and from awareness we can take steps of action to get a system in place that lends itself to this [problem]. There are definitely some leaders pushing for this right now and the conversation is so important.” What: Workshop When: Friday, Feb. 28 Where: Curris Center

News

February 27, 2020

‘Opportunity Afforded’ to ‘We are Racers’

Murray State gets a new brand

Keeley Butler Contributing Writer kbutler13@murraystate.edu

Murray State’s new brand identity “We are Racers,” which cost the University approximately $150,000, was publicly celebrated on Wednesday, Feb. 26. “We are Racers” was developed by the Office of Branding, Marketing and Communication and the marketing consulting firm Stamats Communcations, Inc. The collaboration included an audit of the University’s brand, an assessment of its brand in the marketplace, strategies for improving school recruitment efforts and an assessment of academic program opportunities which analyzed enrollment growth. To ensure the new message is open to interpretation, Shawn Touney, executive director of marketing and communication, said the Office of Branding, Marketing and Communication utilized focus groups, campus forums, open houses, internal and external meetings, concept testing and discussions. Because his office approached this transition thoroughly, Touney said he feels confident the new brand will be well-received by Murray State. He also said the new message centers on the word “Racers” as it is a single word that has many different meanings to many different people. Touney said “We are Racers” is meant to sum up many of the great attributes of Murray State, including a family-like campus atmosphere, personal and professional growth opportunities for our students, supportive faculty and staff who are committed to student success, high-quality, career-defining academic programs, outside-the-classroom experiences and a larger, global Racer family. The University’s collaboration with Stamats has slowly been implemented into the University’s branding, marketing and communication over the past few months. “ We have a 30-second commercial spot,” said Emily White, design specialist for the Office of Branding, Marketing and

Elizabeth Erwin/The News Students participate in reveal of Murray State’s new brand by writing what “We are Racers” means to them.

Communication. “We are starting to put signage out, and it will be on social media. As time passes, we are going to try to build it up more.” White said the new brand is flexible, so it can be altered to accommodate publications and may be framed to unify individual colleges and departments. A brand tool-kit is available to the public on Murray State’s website and it provides all elements of “We are Racers” as well as instructions for incorporating the brand into individual circumstances. Some students feel the new brand identity is a better fit than the previous one, “Opportunity Afforded.” Sophomore Kaya White was among many students who stopped for the brand

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celebration. Kaya said the new message is more appropriate. “Well, it’s not really affordable to go here, so I understand why they wanted to change it,” Kaya said. “I don’t feel like there is a lot of initiative going into the ‘affordable’ part.” On April 26, 2019, the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education approved an increase in tuition and fees for undergraduate students of Murray State. In the fall 2019 semester, those students experienced a one percent increase in those costs. While some students find “ We are Racers” to better fit the University ’s brand, others simply find the change to be refreshing.

Freshman Tara Payne was walking through the Curris Center when the celebration caught her eye. Payne said the brand change was exciting, interesting and promoted a culture of community. “The Racer is our mascot, and this is just a more exciting slogan,” Payne said. The Office of Branding, Marketing and Communication knew they wanted the idea of “Racers” to be the foundation of the new brand. With unifying the University as their core goal, employees including Touney will be working diligently to promote it. “We are excited to celebrate this with our campus and greater community. In a way, that is exactly how a brand should be—inclusive and shared,” Touney said.

News

February 27, 2020

Sarah Mead/The News Former Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton speaks with students on Tuesday, Feb. 25 after her speech on campus.

Former Lt. Gov. Hampton visits campus Sarah Mead Staff Writer smead@murraystate.edu Former Lt. Gov. Jenean Hampton visited Murray State on Tuesday, Feb. 25, to discuss bipartisanship and her background in politics. The speech, joint hosted by Turning Point USA and the College Republicans, is part of a movement by conservative organizations to bring inclusivity and awareness of different political ideals onto college campuses. Hampton began her speech highlighting her time growing up as a child in Detroit, Michigan, and her struggles to get an education. She described her childhood-self as being “obsessed with freedom,” and she saw her education as her way to escape poverty. “I grew up in poverty,” Hampton said. “My parents divorced when I was young. My mom didn’t graduate high school, so her job prospects were limited. We grew up not having [a lot of things]. If you looked at my background, you would never imagine that I would be here in this [position].” After putting herself through college while working in the manufacturing industry, Hampton became an officer in the U.S.

CORONAVIRUS

From Page 1

“This was both of our first flights ever, so we were already pretty flustered and confused,” Owen said. “I didn’t say much when I found out. We were just kind of in shock and survival mode… I didn’t cry until I had to call my mom to tell her. I really, really didn’t want to go home… It was a pretty dark couple of days.” The University paid for both Coursey and Owen’s plane tickets back home. “At home, I spoke with many people from Murray State and they advised me to get back in classes this semester,” Coursey said. “They worked with me on the financial side of things and the academic side of things. Everyone was extremely helpful and understanding.” Coursey and Owen arrived back on campus on Monday, Feb. 24. Both students have been able to enroll in courses and are still on track to graduate on time. “I am taking 12 credit hours, and I just jumped right into classes,” Coursey said. “I am lucky that all of my professors are working with me to help me catch up and make up anything I missed. I should be able to graduate on time, but I still have to study abroad to

Air Force. Later in her career she moved to Kentucky and started getting involved in politics. After moving to Kentucky, Hampton became an active member in the Bowling Green Southern Kentucky Tea Party movement where she spent long hours lobbying with her local and state representatives to share her political values. “We quickly realized that we were missing the issues that were going on in our own backyard,” Hampton said. “I started going to the city council meetings, school board meetings and attending fiscal court meetings. All those meetings are open to the public and nobody ever went.” Her active approach with politics is what made Turning Point USA and the College Republicans want to hear her speak on campus “She was a real inspiration for us [when] we were trying to get this group going and trying to have more events like this,” said Dakota Shuck, president of Turning Point USA. “I thought this would be a great opportunity for her to come in and be able to share her story, how she got involved into [politics]. With us, what it is about is getting

people involved in politics and encouraging people to follow her lead.” Hampton also discussed political discourse in the United States and on college campuses. She said the amount of violence and political intolerance on college campuses is frightening and she hopes things will move in the direction of respect. “I think colleges are supposed to be the bastion of free speech and open minds,” Hampton said. “We’re seeing on a lot of other campuses that it’s not that way, unfortunately. People will show up to [a speaker], stand up and be disruptive and there’s no need for that. If you’re going to bother going, hear what he has to say and ask a respectful question.” This sentiment was echoed by Shuck, as he said Murray’s Turning Point USA chapter is about sharing their values in an informational manner. “I think it is very important that we all respect other opinions,” Shuck said. “ Turning Point is non-partisan, although we do align more with conservative values. It’s not like the liberal presence bothers me, it’s just the fact that I want people to be informed. If they are informed of what is going on and the

situation, maybe they can make different remarks from there.” Abby Rock, president of College Republicans, said she finds it important that conservative ideals are given the same respect as liberal ideals on college campuses. “All college campuses tend to be liberal, but we’re kind of different,” Rock said. “We’re situated in a pretty conservative area of Kentucky. That doesn’t change the fact that it’s more of a liberal university. You just have to learn how to stand up for yourself and your voices and make sure you’re heard.” Hampton said she found it important to reach out to students about these topics. While the future often looks uncertain, she said she wanted to share her positive look on overcoming adversity. “I think it’s really important to go out and speak to students,” Hampton said. “You have your whole life ahead of you. I just sense a lot of anxiety about [the future] and I just want to say ‘don’t sweat it, it’s all going to work out.’ It may be a different path than you planned, but there’s still opportunity. Look for those opportunities. There’s so much negativity out there, so it’s easy to get scared and a little down. I just want them to know that it’s going to be okay.”

fulfill the honors requirement, so I don’t know if that will affect it.” Coursey said his transition back to campus life has gone smoothly so far because of the help from the University. “The Education Abroad office has worked with all of the other departments on campus like housing, bursar and registrar to make sure it was a smooth transition,” Coursey said. Despite their program being canceled, they still hope to study abroad in the future. Coursey said their layover in Detroit was the farthest he has ever been from home. “This has been a terrible situation, but I still think studying abroad would be an amazing experience,” Coursey said. “I would like to do a semester still if possible. I also am, as far as I know, still required to do it in some form.” Because of the recent outbreaks of the coronavirus worldwide, the University issued a coronavirus update on Wednesday, Feb. 26, following an update from the Center for Disease Control warning Americans to prepare for a possible outbreak. “Murray State University continues to proactively monitor and assess the spread of the Coronavirus as it relates to the health and well-being of our campus community. Currently, faculty, staff and student travel to and from China and

South Korea is temporarily suspended,” according to the update. To ensure the safety of students on campus, the University is going to continue to review all scheduled study abroad programs and programs to campus from foreign countries. “ We are hopeful to resume normal travel schedules in the very near future in furtherance of important academic and cultural opportunities and exchanges,” according to the update. Natalie Howard, sophomore from Carmi, Illinois, is supposed to leave on March 29 to spend a semester abroad in Tokyo, Japan, but she isn’t sure if her program will be canceled or not. Howard said she has been in contact with the Education Abroad office to come up with a back-up plan in case the program is canceled. “Even just a week ago, I wasn’t really all that worried about my study abroad being canceled,” Howard said. “But the news of South Korea study abroad cancelations and the CDC raising the Japan travel advisory, I’ve been getting pretty anxious about my program. I really don’t want it to get canceled since it has been my dream to visit Japan for many years, but I know that if the coronavirus spreads much more in Tokyo and other parts of Japan that I will have to postpone my study abroad there.”

Howard said she’s holding out hope that she will be able to study abroad still, but if not she plans to travel to Japan next year. She has been working with the Education Abroad office and her family to develop a plan B. If the Japan study abroad program is canceled, Howard plans to take 12 or more credits over the summer. Amid the continuous updates of worldwide coronavirus outbreaks, some Murray State students are currently abroad. Camryn Clift, junior from Princeton, Kentucky, is currently studying abroad in Alicante, Spain. She said fear is consuming Europe because of the worldwide outbreak, but she is not currently worried for her personal safety. “ There hadn’t been muc h worr y about the coronavirus until two days ago actually, but now with the steadily increasing issue in Italy there has been a bit more hysteria,” Clift said. “There are cases in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia as I understand it… The media coverage here would instill panic into anyone. It’s very doom and gloom, and the mood behind it all lends a hand to fanning the flames of fear.” Stay tuned with The News as we follow how the coronavirus will affect campus.

February 27, 2020

Opinion

Eroding minimum wage is cause for concern The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board. “Nickel and Dimed,” a production presented last week by the University’s department of global languages and theatre arts, confronts the idea of the minimum wage. Based on the book “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America,” by Barbara Ehrenreich, the play is about a writer who wants to shine a spotlight on the struggles of the lowwage working class. To do so, she goes undercover, working in three different minimum wage positions. What she learns shocks her to her core—the situation in the low-wage working class is much worse than she could have imagined. Looking at the situation from a realistic standpoint, not a world set in a novel or a play, the situation really is that horrific. The minimum wage has been eroding for decades. In an age where the minimum wage has developed the unfortunate need of being a “living wage,” this is a problem. Larry M. Bartels, author of “Unequal Democracy: The Political Economy of the New Gilded Age,” has researched the erosion of the minimum wage. Though his research was done in 2015, it is still scarily applicable today. Between 2006 and 2009, the minimum wage rose from $5.15 to $7.25. It increased 70 cents annually, as called for in the 2007 Fair Minimum Wage Act. Despite this seemingly upward trend, Bartels found that the actual value, in 2015 dollars, was 26 percent lower in 2009 than it had been four decades prior. Thanks to inflation, the moment the minimum wage was raised to $7.25, it began eroding again. Before getting into anything, two things are understood: if the minimum wage increased, so would the cost of living and the wage should reflect the work put in. These are not things to be oblivious to, to discount and to throw uneducated, baseless solutions at without having all the facts. They are, however, things to be used to strengthen the argument for a higher minimum wage. Now, into the nitty-gritty. The minimum wage is a hot button topic for the 2020 campaign trail; republicans and libertarians tend to be against the raising of the minimum wage, whereas democrats are often for it. It was democrats who fought so hard

for the implementation of the 2007 Fair Minimum Wage Act. There are multiple arguments on both sides. The republican and libertarian side uses the rise in cost of living as a major reason to retain the current minimum wage, and they also believe that raising the minimum wage would do little to actually aid in decreasing poverty. On the other hand, democrats argue that the majority of those aided by raises in minimum wage would be those in poverty. Research done by Laura Buscila and Curtis J. Simon of Clemson University also suggests that a higher minimum wage would benefit businesses, acting as incentive to work. A higher wage offers employees the knowledge that they will be able to easier afford their rent, groceries and other needs, as well as making them feel more valued as workers. There seems to be a stereotype about who low-wage workers are—high school students learning responsibil-

ity and entering the workforce for the first time, or folks who graduated high school and never moved on to do anything with their lives. These are aged, expired stereotypes that are continuously reinforced by conservatives who still believe that hard work will make you invincible; high school culture would also have students believe that if they do not go to college, they will end up in minimum wage jobs “flipping burgers” for the rest of their lives, when that is simply not the case. This editorial is the first edition of a series on the issues of minimum wage; is it a living wage? Who are the real people working minimum wage jobs? How would changing the minimum wage affect businesses and the economy as a whole? These are just a fraction of topics that will be covered. Until then, keep your head up. At the end of the day, money is just money. It’s not like it pays to keep food on the table or anything.

By the Numbers:

Minimum Wage in...

1980: $ 3.10 1990: $ 3.80 2000: $ 5.15 2007: $5.85 2008: $6.55

Sports

February 27, 2020

Jillian Rush/The News Senior catcher Bryan Chilton watches a pitch while on base.

Racers fall one run short against SIU Simon Eflrink Staff Writer selfrin@murraystate.edu Murray State baseball’s four-game winning streak came to an end after losing 2-1 to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Head Coach Dan Skirka was disappointed with the 2-1 loss, admitting his team didn’t play to its fullest potential. “It was a very close, competitive game, which is kind of what we expect every time we play Carbondale,” Skirka said. “We just pitched them into too many rallies and gave them opportunities, and then we couldn’t cash in on our opportunities.” Redshirt senior Joe Ivey took the mound to start for the Racers, pitching four innings. He allowed three hits and one run off a double in the third inning.

RIFLE From Page 1 “People might be surprised, especially after the season that we had,” Drewell said. “We are not surprised at all because this is exactly how we’ve been training all year. We’re excited that we get the chance to play on the last day and show everyone just what we’re capable of.” Freshman Matias Kiuru has been an x-factor for Murray State by recording some high individual scores, including his career bests of 588 in smallbore and 596 in air rifle against Jacksonville State. The Helsinki, Finland, native is looking to continue his excellent play to help the team make a deep run in the tournament.

“Joe competed and did a great job for us,” Skirka said. “[That’s] what we expect from a senior. He’s going to go out, throw strikes and compete. He had us in a position to win when he came out of the game, and that’s what we ask from our starters.” Redshirt freshman Jacob Pennington threw 2.2 innings. He walked four and struck out two before surrendering the mound to redshirt junior Braydon Cook, who walked one Saluki before allowing the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning. Junior Carter Poiry came in to get the last two outs of the eighth, but the damage was already done. Skirka said the abundance of walks issued by Racer pitching made it easier for the Salukis to get by. On the flipside, hitting never came at the right time. The Racers outhit the Salukis 7-3, but the

Racers didn’t take full advantage with runners on base. Junior infielder Bryson Bloomer had a good day at the plate, going 3-4. Senior Catcher Bryan Chilton was the only other player with multiple hits, going 2-3. Looking back on the game, Skirka mentioned the lack of availability of runners on the basepaths early on in most Matchup: innings. “We’ve just got to do a better job of getting our leadoff hitter on base,” Skir- Murray State vs. Bowling Green ka said. “Two out of nine innings were First pitch: the only times we got our leadoff guy on. That’ll be our focus going into the weekFriday, Feb. 28 @ 3 p.m. end against Bowling Green: getting that leadoff guy on and putting the pressure TV/Radio: on them.” The Racers will look to bounce back ESPN Plus against Bowling Green University at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, at Reagan Field for the first game of a three-game series.

“I have been training hard for many years now,” Kiuru said. “There are still some points left for me to take going to the NCAA [Rifle Championships], so I can definitely do even better. There’s no doubt about that.” Lollar hopes to go all the way, but he knows the competition this year is heavy so the Racers will have to continue to bring the fight he knows they have. “We just want a chance to make a run at it [so] we will do what we can do,” Lollar said. “This is a sport that you can’t stop another team from shooting good. If TCU, Kentucky, Nebraska and West Virginia want to blow it up, they can and there is nothing we can do to stop them, but there is nothing they can do to stop us either.” The NCAA Rilfe Championships in Lexington, Kentucky, will begin with smallbore on March 13 and end with air rifle on March 14.

NCAA Rifle Championships

Vs.

Field of 8 Air Force

Nebraska

Akron

Navy

Kentucky

TCU

Murray State

West Virginia

February 27, 2020

Sports

Gage Johnson Danilla Tebib Cady Stribling Josh Embry Megan Reynolds Editor-in-Chief News Editor Features Editor Sports Editor Opinion Editor gjohnson17@murraystate.edu dtebib@murraystate.edu cstribling1@murraystate.edu jembry3@murraystate.edu mreynolds12@murraystate.edu

Editorial Board

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Sports

February 27, 2020

Racers voted to finish first in OVC poll Jon Dunning Staff Writer jdunning1@murraystate.edu The Murray State women’s golf team is the 2020 OVC golf favorite according to a poll of league head coaches released on Feb. 10. Out of the nine first-place votes in the poll, Murray State received six of them, being chosen over Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Belmont and Austin Peay, among others. Murray State is entering the spring 2020 season after competing in four tournaments in fall 2019. Senior Raeysha Surendran finished in the top 20 at each of these events and won the Chris Banister Classic. Surendran currently leads the OVC in stroke average with 73.9. Expectations for the Racers to do well this season don’t just stop with other OVC coaches though, as Murray State Head Coach Velvet Milkman sees a lot of potential in her team this season. “[I] expect us to play well,” Milkman said. “I think we’ve got a lot of talent. We are very young, so we’ve got to continue to mature and get better, but our expectations to perform well are high.” Even though the Racers are OVC favorites, the team is still looking for ways to get stronger for the games ahead. “We’ve been practicing and then we’ve had the opportunity to play seven rounds here at our golf course,” Milkman said. “That’s really going to make a difference for our first tournament.”

The three-time defending OVC champions will start the spring season at the Kiawah Island Intercollegiate in Kiawah Island, South Carolina, from Sunday, March 1, to Tuesday, March 3. Murray State will then travel to Jacksonville, Florida, to play at the UNF Collegiate on March 9 and March 10. Milkman believes the Kiawah Island Intercollegiate is a great event for the Racers to begin their spring campaign. “[I] feel good about it,” Milkman said. “It’s a three-day tournament…53 teams, which is the biggest college golf tournament in the country. We play on two different golf courses, so it’s a fun tournament. It’s a good way to start the year, and we’ll get to see plenty of competition so we’re really excited about it.” Murray State will compete at the Bama Beach Bash in Gulf Shores, Alabama, from March 20 to March 22, and will travel to Stockbridge, Georgia, from March 29 to March 31 to play in the John Kirk Intercollegiate the following week. The Bama Beach Bash will be a new event for the Racers. “We’re excited about that one,” Milkman said. “[We’re] going to go down a few days early and practice. I like to call spring break our spring training. [We] usually get into some little bit warmer weather and the chance to really get in some good practice as well as competition.” The Racers will play at home in Murray on April 10 and April 11 in the Jan Weaver Invitational before venturing to Owens Cross Roads, Alabama, for the OVC Championship from April 19 to April 21.

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Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics

Senior Raeysha Surendran follows through her swing.

Murray State will conclude the season at the NCAA Regional, beginning May 11 and concluding May 13, at a to-be-determined location. No matter which event the Racers compete in this season, Milkman said her team views each one as equally important. “Every tournament for us is one we want to go out and compete and have a chance to win,” Milkman said. “So, we kind of break it down into segments. This is the most important one for now, then the next one and the next one. They’re all important…and all of

them are good. To us, they all carry the same weight.” Murray State golf is anticipating a fun and competitive season ahead. “We’re excited to get ready and play,” Milkman said. “We’ve been practicing a lot. It’s time to get out and see what we do against the other competition, and we’re excited about the challenge.” Murray State will travel to Kiawah Island, South Carolina, to participate in the Kiawah Island Intercollegiate— its first tournament of the spring season— from Sunday, March 1, to Tuesday, March 3.

Sports

February 27, 2020

Gage Johnson/TheNews

Sophomore foward Alexis Burpo drives baseline against Morehead State.

Burpo ascends to key player for Racers Josh Embry Sports Editor jembry3@murraystate.edu Sophomore forward Alexis Burpo’s play in the second half of this season has led to her sudden rise as the do-it-all player the Murray State women’s basketball team envisioned when she first stepped foot on campus. Burpo cannot recall when she first hit the hardwood, but she did play in junior leagues and played for Hickman County’s high school basketball team while still in middle school. “I really don’t remember when I started [playing],” Burpo said. “I remember playing Upward basketball and going from that [to] then playing middle school. I then played high school ball as an eighth grader at my old school in Hickman County.” Before her freshman year, Burpo and her family moved roughly 40 miles east to Murray. At Murray High School, Burpo became reacquainted with two players she had met and played with before in Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball: sophomore guards Macey Turley and Lex Mayes. “Macey moved [to Murray] in seventh grade and then Lex moved the same year as me—my freshman year,” Burpo said. “I played with Macey on some AAU teams and then my seventh grade year, all three of us played together. We all knew each other.” The three teammates quickly became best friends as well as a terrifying trio to go against on the basketball court. Burpo was the inside player of the three, leading the team in rebounds her last three seasons and shooting over 52% each season. By the end of her high school career at Murray High, Burpo amassed over 1,500 points (11.4 ppg) and nearly 1,000 rebounds (seven rpg). She helped the Tigers win three regional titles and finish in the final four of the KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16 Basketball Tournament twice. Everyone knew Burpo was a good player coming out of high school, but there were

questions about whether or not she had what it takes to play at the Division I level. Burpo received offers from other schools, but when Head Coach Rechelle Turner, who was the head coach of Murray High during Burpo’s freshman and sophomore years, offered Burpo the chance to play for Murray State, she could not turn down the opportunity to play with her old coach and stay in Murray. “I [chose Murray State because of ] Turner and, also, I just wanted to be closer to home,” Burpo said. “Even if I didn’t come to Murray State and went somewhere else, I would still want to be close to my family and friends.” Another reason Burpo decided to be a Racer was because both Turley and Mayes were offered the chance to play for Murray State. The trio wanted to continue to play together and the three signed with Murray State on the same day. During her freshman year, Burpo showed flashes of solid play and averaged 19.2 mpg, while earning 12 starts as well. She finished the season with averages of 3.8 ppg and 3.8 rpg though, as she struggled shooting the ball compared to her high school days, shooting just 41.2%. Burpo said it was an adjustment from the high school level to Division I in regards to the court size and talent differential. “It was a faster pace and just getting used to the length of the floor and also getting used to the players [was an adjustment],” Burpo said. “Everyone is bigger [and] stronger so that was an adjustment too.” Entering this season, Burpo had greater expectations and responsibility placed on her by Turner and by herself. Burpo started this season coming off the bench and played well, but after four games she was averaging just 4.3 ppg and 3.8 rpg. In the Racers’ fifth game, she earned her first start of the season and had her best game, as she finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists against Christian Brothers University. Burpo continued to play well throughout the ensuing games, but on Jan. 11 against Tennessee Tech, she showed her underlying

potential. In the game, she had career highs in points, rebounds and assists with 18, 14 and six, respectively. Following the game, Turner said Burpo proved in that game that she has what it takes to be a solid player at the Division I level. “That’s the Alexis Burpo that deserves for people to 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.” Since then, Burpo has continued to dominate the OVC with her inside scoring and rebounding, as she averages nearly a double-double in conference play (12.2 ppg and 9.4 rpg). Burpo has continued to eclipse her career highs throughout the season. She has reached the 20-point threshold four times so far and collected a career-high 15 rebounds against SIUE on Feb. 1. Additionally, Burpo has evolved from merely being an inside player to becoming one of the team’s primary ball handlers. Although she has struggled at times being the head of the offense, Burpo continues to serve adequately and has gotten better at it with each passing game. Burpo earned the OVC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week in early February because of her stellar play. Turner said if she continues to play so well, she might receive votes for being a member of an AllOVC Team. “I told you, when she consistently does this then we can start talking about her being an OVC-type player,” Turner said. “Well, she is consistently starting to do it.” Burpo said her improved play stems from her increased confidence in herself and from her coaches and teammates. “I would say confidence [has helped me play better] but also belief in my coaches and teammates because they want me to drive and look for people to shoot it,” Burpo said.

Assistant Coach Amber Guffey said Burpo’s confidence in herself is the reason she has improved so much from her freshman to sophomore year. “Burpo is probably our most improved player from last year to now, to even in conference play,” Guffey said. “I think she just has more confidence. She knows she can do it. She has proven she can produce at this level whereas people probably doubted that she could, but I think she has done a good job.” Burpo’s teammates are her biggest cheerleaders, which was evident when Mayes talked so highly of Burpo’s rising play following a game where she played especially well. “Oh my gosh, it is amazing,” Mayes said. “You knew it was coming and [she] just needed her time and here it is. I love to see it because I do not think there is anybody who can stop her when she gets her mind set and she wants to go off.” With Turley out indefinitely because of a knee injury, Burpo has increased responsibility and added pressure going into the final two games of the regular season as the Racers are currently defending the final tournament spot in the OVC standings. One of Burpo’s main goals before her time at Murray State is finished is to win an OVC Championship, something the Racers haven’t done since the 2008-09 season when Guffey was a senior for the Racers. Burpo’s stellar play and leadership will be crucial for the Racers’ chances of obtaining her goal in March. Burpo’s ascension from a role player to a key cog in Murray State women’s basketball has been nothing short of a pleasant surprise for her fellow players, coaches and fans alike. “If anybody has taken a huge jump from their freshman to sophomore year, it has been her,” Turner said. “I couldn’t be more proud of who she has become this year not only as a basketball player, but as a confident young woman and that’s going to really pay dividends going forward for us. She just continues to shine each and every night.”

Features

February 27, 2020

Eli Young Band rocks out at Murray State James Young chats about memories, music and more

Cady Stribling Features Editor cstribling1@murraystate.edu

Do you or the band have pre-show or post-performance rituals or traditions?

“We make sure to break off some time right before the show to have some quiet and get in the right headspace. Nothing real exciting!”

Ciara Benham Staff Writer cbenham@murraystate.edu Students and community members crowded to the CFSB Center to welcome the Eli Young Band for a performance on Saturday, Feb. 22. Fans had been excited for the much anticipated concert and welcomed the multi-platinum award-winning band. On Friday, Feb. 21, The News sat down with lead guitarist James Young for an exclusive phone interview. Some answers have been slightly edited for clarity. Are you all excited to perform tomorrow night? “We are. It’s going to be fun. We’ve slowly been getting back into the new year playing shows, so we’re fresh and ready to rock out.” I understand you and Mike met at the University of North Texas. How did the two of you begin making music together?

“We played acoustic shows at local bars around Denton, Texas, which is where we all met. People started calling us Eli & Young. That’s when we started writing our own songs, and we’d play every cover under the sun. Soon, not shortly after that, is when Jon and Chris jumped on stage, and the rest is history.” What was it like coming from a small band in college to creating platinum certified songs, winning Academy of Country Music Song of the Year and being nominated for awards like at the Grammys and CMAs? “We’ve been very blessed, and we knew we wanted to take it as far as we could. If you would’ve told me long ago that all this would have been in the cards… (laughs). But we were very serious about it, and it truly is a blessing that we’ve been able to make music to-

How do you balance life as a dad and life as a successful musician who is often on the road?

Cady Stribling/The News Lead guitarist James Young plays alongside Mike Eli at the concert at the CFSB Center.

gether for 20 years since we all met in college. We’ve gotten to do a lot of great things, and we’ve been all over the world playing music. It’s been awesome.” How was the college experience important to the band? “I think college is when you find yourself and your passions, and you can really narrow down what you want to do with your life. College is about developing life-long friendships as well, and we did that with the band. It brought us all together and it prepared us to do what we love for a living.” How would you best describe your newest single “Break It In”? “‘Break It In’ feels like the right song for the moment for the Eli Young Band. We’ve been together for a while, and it feels like we’re just starting to break this thing in. [We are] now hitting our stride after all these years, which is awesome. It’s also a point in our lives where we all have kiddos as of recently. The first line of the song hooked me the moment I heard it—which is about breaking a ball glove in—[because it reminded me of when] I was outside with my son throwing the ball to him.

The Eli Young Band performed on Saturday, Feb. 22 at the CFSB Center.

So yeah, it’s got a dual meaning for us fan-wise and where we are in our personal lives as well.” The music video shows snippets of the band over the last two decades. Why did you guys choose to highlight the band’s past for this music video? “It was to show where we came from. We started out as crazy college kids playing music traveling around in an abandoned trailer and [it] shows where we are now. It was mainly to highlight that… and us feeling like we’re starting to break it in. Old codgers will have 100,000 miles on their truck and say ‘it’s just getting broke in!’” Over the band’s 20-year career, what has been your most favorite moment? “Winning an ACM was amazing. We kind of felt at that moment that we finally fit in the club a little bit, but longevity was always the key goal for us when we started out. To know that we’re still doing it all these years later, that’s a big highlight. We’ve gotten to go overseas to play for the troops… every year is a new thing, and we’re always looking for that next thing.”

“When we’re home, we’re home. We get back home a lot these days. We got all of our heavy touring out of the way when we first started. Before we had families, we’d be out on the tour bus for months at a time without a care in the world. We’ve been there, done that, so now we can fly home and be with our families for most of the week.” Who did you listen to when you were growing up?

“We all came from a hodgepodge of influences. I was all over the place with George Strait, Waylon Jennings, Smashing Pumpkins, U2 and Stevie Ray Vaughan, being from Texas. As a guitar player, I listened to classic rock guitarists... yeah, we all came from a wide array of musical influences.”

What’s next for the band in 2020 and the new decade?

“Well, we’re going to be putting out more music. Hopefully in the beginning of this year we’ll go back in and cut some more songs. Right now we’re doing our own tours—theaters and festivals. We’ll be going over to the UK for the first time this year. We’ve played Canada, but we’ve never done a full-on tour all the way through, and we’re going to get to do that this year, so that’s exciting. What advice do you have for college students who are following their dreams?

“If you want to be a songwriter, write 100 songs and maybe one will be great. If you want to do music especially, write your own songs, continually practice and work on the craft. You’ll never know where you land, so you gotta try a little bit of everything.”

Cady Stribling/The News

February 27, 2020

Features

Jillian Rush/The News Above: Students who attended the event potted plants as one of the planned activities. Left: Coordinator for the Office of Student Engagement and Success Jennifer Smith and Student Government Association President Trey Book provide tips about mental health to a student.

Students experience ‘Feel Good February’ Racers Empower shares tips about mental health for students

Dionte Berry Contributing Writer dberry11@murraystate.edu

To celebrate “Feel Good February,” the Racers Empower: Healthy Mind, Healthy Campus initiative partnered with several on-campus groups to share mental health tips and campus resources, as well as relaxing activities like rock painting and plant potting. Mental health has gone through major stigmas, but in recent years mental health awareness has triumphed over the negative connotations. To continue the trend at Murray State, the Racers Empower initiative was established to spread mental health awareness and make campus resources known with monthly activities. Racers Empower is a collaborative effort of both faculty and students. The event was led by the Office of Student Engagement and Success, the Counseling Center and the Wellness Center.

They were joined by the student organization Active Minds, which focuses on spreading monthly mental awareness. In partnership, the organizations provided statistics regarding stress in college. They said eight out of ten college students suffer from frequent stress. To follow up the statistics, they provided tips to reduce stress. These stress reducers include exercise, coloring and spending quality time with friends and family. Tips on how to stay positive—using positive words, complimenting others and believing in yourself—were also provided. These organizations came together to create a safe and positive space for Murray State students to discuss mental health. Racers Empower member Jennifer Smith, who is a coordinator for the Office of Student Engagement and Success, was happy to be a part of the initiative. “Our main goal in the office is make

sure that students are academically successful while looking out for their personal health and well-being,” Smith said. This is the second event hosted by Racers Empower, the first one being “Jump Start January.” “In January we shared campus resources, helped students with time management and posted goals on the Empowerment Wall,” Smith said. The Empowerment Wall allows students to post positive messages for themselves and others that correlate to the theme of the month. “Since February is known for Valentine’s Day, the Empowerment Wall will spread messages of love,” Smith said. “Students can write on a sticky note what they love about themselves and stick it to the wall.” Junior education major Hillary Weathersby appreciates the initiative because they don’t ignore mental health issues. “They don’t try to pretend that men-

tal health issues don’t exist,” Weathersby said. “They give us ways to cope with stress and anxiety and let us know that we aren’t alone.” Weathersby also said knowing there are people who are willing to help is important. For those looking for a safe space to learn more about mental health and the resources that Murray State has to offer, Racers Empower is open to all students. The event was sponsored by the Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology and the School of Nursing and Health Professions, which partnered with the Office of Student Engagement the Success. To learn more about Racers Empower and stay updated on upcoming events follow the Murray State Student Affairs Instagram @studentaffairsmurraystate and their Twitter @racersuccess. Their next event is “Mindful March” at 11 a.m. on March 30 at the Curris Center Rocking Chair Lounge.

Student showcases Black History Month with art exhibit Ciara Benham Staff Writer cbenham@murraystate.edu

Senior art major Jasmine Groves has brought Black History Month to life with a new art exhibition. Her exhibition showcases photographs of black families, including her own and her friends’. “I love that we have the ability to admire the past, but also move on,” Groves said. She was inspired by the artwork of Mickalene Thomas, a black contemporary visual artist who is best known for her elaborate paintings. Groves decided to pay tribute to the history of the black families in the photographs. “I want this exhibition to stand as a reminder of the strength of black families,” Groves said. “Especially during and after the civil rights movement in America.” According to Groves’ artist statement, the civil rights movement and decades after were crucial to the African-Amerian family unit. “Stories of segregation and persever-

ance are passed down from generation to generation, inspiring more current movements like “#BlackLivesMatter,” the artist statement said. Three weeks before the art installation, Groves began recruiting photographs from fellow black and African-American students and friends. The results were an impressive collection featuring families from Kentucky to Rwanda. Among these photos is one of the artist’s own family. The photograph features five generations of Groves’ family including her cousin, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and her great-greatgrandmother. “For as long as we could, my family took a lot of pictures of the five of them as a testament to perseverance and love,” Groves said. “This one is my favorite because it was candid.” Groves feels a special connection to these photos and loves to immerse herself in the stories they tell. “When I look at these people, I imagine how they were feeling at that moment,” Groves said. “Maybe they were excited to spend the day with their friends, perhaps they were absentmind-

Cady Stribling/The News Groves’ family of five generations is displayed on the 7th floor of Prince Doyle Fine Arts.

edly looking at something outside.” She also said she views each of these photos as the ‘last page of a book,’ as they represent stories that have now ended. “When the picture was taken, they could have been thinking about what they were going to cook for dinner that

night or how they were going to resolve an issue with a loved one,” Groves said. “But now those stories have come to a close. They move on.” Groves’ art exhibition is on display in the cases on the 7th floor of Prince Doyle Fine Arts until March 13.

News

February 27, 2020

Student organization highlights deaf community

Levi Brandenburg Contributing Writer lbrandenburg1@murraystate.edu

Issac Ash Contributing Writer bash2@murraystate.edu

After many months of planning, the Advocating for Respect Culture organization hosted a program about the deaf and hard of hearing culture in America and how it affects Murray State. Blake Noland, an employee of the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, spoke at the program on Tuesday, Feb. 25, about deaf culture and his experience as a deaf individual. According to KCDHH’s website, the organization advocates for deaf and hard of hearing persons on legislative issues. Its mission is to provide efficient leadership, education, advocacy and direct services to deaf and hard of hearing Kentuckians. “There is about 17 percent of Americans with hearing loss,” Noland said. “It could be from war, old age, loud music. In Kentucky, we have nearly 700,000 Kentuckians who have hearing loss of some form and 90 percent of children born with hearing loss are born to hearing parents. We help them receive resources and support.” Lily Grieve, member of ARC and host of the program, was excited to have a member of the KCDHH speak, as KCDHH is the main center for advocacy for the deaf and hard of hearing in Kentucky. “When we found out that KCDHH was available to host a program, we were ecstatic,” Grieve said. “It took Ashleigh, ARC’s scribe, five months to plan because there are not many active organizations advocating for

the deaf community in western Kentucky. Through this program, people were able to learn more about deaf culture, which we do not regularly hear about but is present in our everyday lives.” This program highlighted issues the deaf and hard of hearing community faces in rural areas like western Kentucky. “There are limited resources and advocacy groups for deaf people in western Kentucky, so this program is important to make people aware that a deaf community exists and should be acknowledged,” Grieves said. “I think many people know that a deaf community exists, but unless it is presently advocated for, it is hard to remember to acknowledge these other cultures.” Sally Lott, freshman member of ARC, was also pleased with the program’s turnout. “It was very insightful to get information about the deaf community and culture from Blake,” Lott said. “Normally sign language interpreters from Student Disability Services will be interpreting for the deaf in the audience, but in this presentation they were interpreting for the hearing. It was a really cool experience to have the tables turned that way.” Murray State offers students who are deaf or hard of hearing accommodations through SDS, like note-takers, interpreters or C-Print Captioning devices in order to help them succeed and thrive in a world that often relies on sound. Gabrielle Kennedy, sophomore from Miluwakee, Wisconsin, was born with moderate hearing loss in both ears and only learned about her hearing loss at 4 years old. “I wear hearing aids to help hear in the classroom and at social events,” Kennedy. said “Many times I have had issues with people trying to speak to me from behind

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Paige Bold/The News Blake Noland from the KCDHH speaks at a sign language program hosted by ARC.

when I cannot hear them. I have also run into issues where the dormitory fire alarms were not loud enough, so my roommate had to tell me about the fire drill.” Kennedy said those who are deaf or hard of hearing want hearing individuals to understand how to communicate with them. “Please face us when you are speaking so that we can pick up as much as we can when talking to you,” Kennedy said. “This helps me, as I personally need to read lips. And, I know it gets frustrating when we ask you to repeat the same thing many times. Nonetheless, please be patient. Those of us with hearing loss are not asking you to repeat yourself just for amusement. We genuinely cannot hear and we also get frustrated having to ask you to repeat yourself.” While Kennedy has not needed any personal accommodations through SDS, she believes there should be more services

for the deaf and hard of hearing community on campus. “I would like to see teachers using subtitles for videos or movies played at social events or in the classroom,” Kennedy said. “This is a very simple task that is an extremely helpful tool for myself and others who are hard of hearing.” K e n n e d y a p p re c i a t e s t h a t A RC is raising awareness of the students who have hearing problems on campus. “I think that there should be more awareness of hard of hearing students,” Kennedy said. “I was very pleased when I heard ARC was bringing in a program to speak about deaf culture, but I hope that this program inspires more communication and outreach to the deaf and hard of hearing community on campus.”