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Beshear orders more closures Keeley Butler Contributing Writer kbutler13@murraystate.edu Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order on Wednesday, March 25, closing more businesses in Kentucky and restricting evictions as the state continues to see an increase in positive cases of COVID-19, including two in Calloway County.

Only life-sustaining businesses may remain open, according to the executive order. Nonessential Kentucky businesses are ordered to cease operations as of Thursday, March 26, at 8 p.m.

Among those allowed to stay open, grocery stores, gas stations, financial ser vices, restaurants for delivery and take-out and funeral ser vices. Critical labor union functions, like the administration of welfare funds, are also permitted. W hile certain businesses are allowed to remain open to meet the bare minimum needs of Kentuckians, officials have urged business owners to telework as much as possible.

D uring his daily public briefing, Beshear said the state has 198 confirmed cases of COVID-19. He also added that a fifth Kentuckian has died as a result of the virus.

The Calloway County Health Department confirmed a second resident has tested positive for the virus. The first was an employee at Murray Calloway County Hospital who spent significant time with an out-of-state visitor who later tested positive. No information has been released regarding the second case as of press time.

Beshear also warned against complacency in Kentucky’s fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.

He said the next two to three weeks will be critical in the battle against this coronavirus. He said the United States is seeing an escalation in COVID-19.

In some places, Beshear said, cases have doubled every two days. “ W hat you are doing is working,” Beshear said.. “Your sacrifice is helpful.

What we have done and the steps we

are taking are helping. I am proud of what we are doing, but in these next two weeks we have to do even better.”

Beshear said it is the patriotic duty of all Kentuckians to limit contact with others and to fully engage in social distancing by staying Healthy at Home.

La Tasha Buckner, Beshear’s chief of staff, said spending minimal time in public spaces such as grocery stores and banks is essential. Referring to the executive order, Buckner said businesses that do not support food, agriculture, shelter, transportation and health should be closed.

“If you make roller skates, for instance, you won’t be able to stay open during this time,” Buckner said.

Steven Stack, Department for Public Health commissioner, also joined Beshear during the press conference.

He addressed those who have not followed the state’s recommendations thus far, speaking directly to college students in the commonwealth who traveled over Spring Break.

“You just went to an environment, probably to a beach, with a lot of other young people,” Stack said. “That is the buckshot model where now you can come back and scatter that disease.”

Stack said if college students traveled over Spring Break they should assume they have the virus and self-isolate for the next 14 days and keep away from their family and friends.

Beshear said there has been a case of a Kentuckian with COVID-19 who contracted the virus in Florida. As Spring Break is scheduled in the coming weeks for K12 schools, the governor gave a warning to those families thinking about taking a trip.

“Don’t go on Spring Break,” Beshear said.

“You’re going to put your health and the health of your family and the health of those around you at risk.”

The governor included good news in his daily briefing. Beshear said those Kentuckians who have had to leave their jobs or go on unpaid leave because of the quarantine will now qualify for unemployment. Groups of workers like cosmetologists, substitute

March 26, 2020 | Vol. 94, No. 23

Photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of Governor Andy Beshear Facebook Gov. Beshear signs SB 177, allowing school districts the ability to request an unlimited number of non-traditional instruction days for remote learning during COVID-19.

teachers, independent contractors, small business owners, gig economy workers and child care workers from churches were among those urged to file for unemployment. To file for unemployment visit kcc.ky.gov.

Beshear concluded the press conference by stating that the best way to help

stop the spread of COVID-19 is to not let fear take control during this stressful time.

“If we let our fear get the best of us, then more people will be harmed out of this than the [COVID-19] ever could,” Beshear said.

Student starts petition to change grading criteria Nick Kendall Staff Writer nkendall1@murraystate.edu

Photo courtesy of Change.org A Murray State student started a petition to change grading to a pass/fail system.

In the midst of many academic changes, a Murray State student started a petition to change the grading criteria to pass/fail grading for the spring semester.

Drew Stanley, sophomore from Paducah, Kentucky, started the petition on Friday, March 20. As of press time, the petition has received over 1,550 signatures.

“This movement will allow all students to receive their education, while a t t h e s a m e t i m e e a s e p ro f e s s o r s ’

technological disadvantages they are going through,” according to Stanley’s petition. “Professors are expected to put an entire semester of material online for each of his or her classes and that is outrageous to ask of them. [ We need to] cut them some slack along with the students who are struggling to comprehend the material and switch the grading criteria to pass/fail grading.”

Trey Book, S tudent Government Association president and student regent, said he is aware of the petition and has spoken with President Bob Jackson about it.

,

see Petition page 2

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News

March 26, 2020

Sirloin Stockade closes until further notice Addison Watson Staff Writer awatson25@murraystate.edu Voted Murray’s favorite steakhouse and buffet for ten consecutive years, Sirloin Stockade decided to cease carry-out and delivery options because of COVID-19.

In a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page on Friday, March 20, the local establishment announced to the public that it was not an easy decision to make, but they believe it’s the right thing to do.

Having allowed carry-out options earlier that day, the post was published late in the evening and explained the decision to temporarily close until conditions were favorable to re-open.

After sitting down and discussing what their best option would be moving forward, Adam and Lisa Carver, the owners and operators of Sirloin Stockade, decided to close the doors before learning of the positive COVID-19 case in Calloway County. On Facebook, they listed three primary reasons for their decision to close, their most important being the health of their employees and customers.

“First and foremost, we want to do our part to protect the health of our employees, guests, and community,” according to the Facebook post. “We felt like this decision

PETITION From Page 1 “For me, I will always support what is in the best interest of the student,” Book said.

“I know other schools have implemented this model, but there are exceptions. I believe in this time we cannot be quick to a decision. We need to think through what is best and go from there. This decision is being spearheaded by our very capable faculty and they are doing a fantastic job.”

The News reached out to University administration on Saturday, March 21, for a comment. The story will be updated once a response is given.

Melony Shemberger, faculty regent and associate professor of journalism and mass communications, said while she is personally not a fan of the pass/fail grading criteria, she thinks it is worthy of examination.

“I don’t have an opinion on this at the moment that would reflect the reality of this topic, and I understand the call for this in light of the public health crisis,” Shemberger said. “However, there are some considerations and questions to ask. For those programs accredited by an agency, would a pass/fail system be allowed? For high achieving students motivated by grades, how would such a move affect them?

Could there be an option for students and faculty to choose letter grades or pass/fail?”

The change in grading could also affect faculty who have already been working on changing their course content.

“Faculty have worked since March 13 to move their face-to-face courses to Canvas, and some likely have reduced the number of assignments to ease this transition for students,” S hemberger said. “Faculty would need to review their learning objectives and assessment measures to determine whether a pass/fail system is feasible and reflects the work intended for the course.”

Shemberger also said some students put more effort in than others and should be awarded an appropriate grade.

was imperative in stopping the spread of the COVID-19 in our area.”

Though many employees rely on Sirloin Stockade for their income, they will have to find alternate options. The Carvers said the decision was not easy to make, but they wanted to assist their employees in every way possible moving forward. “ We wanted the time to assist our employees with the processing of their unemployment claims and other needs during this time of uncertainty,” according to the Facebook post. “We have an amazing group of 90+ [employees] that we MUST take care of.”

The restaurant had a surplus of unused perishable food items from closing.

Keeping their employees in mind and at the forefront of all decisions made, the Carvers knew they had only one choice of how to disperse the remaining food.

“We invited our employees and their families to come in and shop for their needs. The remaining food was donated to various non-profit organizations in Murray,” according to the Facebook post.

Adam said given the unfortunate circumstances surrounding COVID-19, he is able to spend much needed time with his family and is encouraging his employees to do the same.

“ We s p e n t t h e e n t i r e d a y w i t h our family and it was great,” Adam said. “ We are tr ying to embrace this opportunity.”

Adam said he and his wife are in constant communication with their employees ensuring they are doing well.

“Our staff is family to us and I mean family in the true sense of the word,” Adam said.

Adam couldn’t place an exact timeline on the restaurant’s plan to reopen, but realistically he hopes that after six weeks they will be able to reopen to the public.

“Many students want to know where they stand academically, and I am one of those students as I work on my third master’s degree,” Shemberger said. “The gradepoint average helps to tell this, but pass/fail measures would not factor into the GPA.” Despite Shemberger’s concerns, she said she understands the equity issues involved and does not feel it is appropriate to make a decision on how she stands at the moment.

Stanley said he appreciates Murray State’s administration and faculty members for trying to provide all of the necessary resources for students to seamlessly continue their education, but he thinks a change in the grading criteria is the next crucial step the University needs to take.

To get the word out, Stanley has shared it on all of his social media platforms and is encouraging others to do the same. He is also encouraging greek organizations and Murray State’s athletic teams to help spread the petition.

Maddy Stewart, freshman from Kennett, Missouri, said she was sent the petition by a friend and is in full support of it.

“Ever yone is going through a lot of stress and change right now, and there is so much going on in everyone’s lives,” Stewart said. “I think it is unfair to the students and professors that all of their lesson plans and study habits are having to change this quickly.”

Stewart also said the change is a big concern for students who don’t have access to the internet which could heavily impact their GPAs. “When we enrolled for classes this semester no one expected to have to figure all of this new online stuff on their own,” Stewart said. “For example, [my friend] has recently told me that she has to find a place to go do her work in a public place in town.

That puts her at risk and puts more stress on her because she has to work so hard in a limited amount of time to do her school work.”

The creation of this petition follows the decision by the administration of the University of Louisville to change its grading criteria to pass/fail grading on Friday,

March 20. Stanley said he was inspired to start the petition after other universities began to change their grading criterias.

“ When I heard this, I thought to myself ‘why not try it,’” Stanley said. “I could be the change the students and professors are looking for in this time of need.”

UofL’s administration made the decision to change after Chidum Okeke, a UofL student, started a petition on Thursday, March 19, similar to Stanley’s. With a total of 3,751 supporters in two days, the grading criteria change was made.

Okeke’s petition similarly states the difficulty professors and teaching assistants will have as a reason for the change. His petition also states the diverse group of students UofL has as a challenge.

“Lectures starting at 8 a.m. in Louisville would require that students living on the west coast be up at 5 a.m. to participate in the class,” according to Okeke’s petition.

“For international students who returned home, this means even earlier/later times.

We have over 600 international students from approximately 43 countries, and it would be an injustice to discount their academic needs during this crisis. To expect our students to follow a straining regiment in the middle of a semester puts students at academic risk.”

Both Stanley and Okeke highlight the impact the transition to virtual learning will have on student ’s mental health in their petitions as well.

Breanna Neal, sophomore from Bedford, Kentucky, is a student at UofL who supported and signed Okeke’s petition. She has decided to convert some of her classes to the pass/fail grading criteria, but she also plans to use the normal grading criteria for others.

“It does give me comfort and security knowing that I won’t have negative repercussions if I don’t do well online in some of my courses, but I’m still going to try my best in other courses because I want a higher GPA,” Neal said.

W hile Stanley has received a lot of support, he said some oppositions to the change include concerns about how pass/ fail grading would not affect students

GPAs. Stanley said he thinks this be a positive so students won’t have to stress about maintaining a high GPA. “To that argument I explain, realistically can a teenage student be expected to learn calculus, OSHA, biology, chemistry and many more daunting skills without the help of an in-person professor,” Stanley said. “The answer is no, it’s impossible, so this grading scale would allow students to deal with these difficult classes and get their education without stressing out about their GPA.” UofL’s new academic policy change gives undergraduate and graduate students the option to convert their courses to pass/fail. Students can make the decision on a course-by-course basis. Should students earn a passing grade, it will not impact their GPAs for better or worse. A passing grade for undergraduate students is a D- or better and a passing grade for graduate students is C- or better.

However, if some departments or colleges have conflicts with their accrediting agencies, students will not be able to conver t those courses to pass/fail grading.

Several of those who have signed the petition have also left comments in support of the petition. Andrea Daniels, junior from Belleville, Illinois, left a comment stating the transition to online learning and teaching alone will heavily impact students’ mental health, but adding the stress of maintaining a high GPA will only make it harder academically and other aspects.

“This matters beyond the classroom,” Daniels said. “Many scholarships, fraternities, sororities, academic groups, clubs, etc. require certain GPAs from the students involved. We have already had our semester ripped away. Some students have gotten their graduation snatched from them. It simply would not be right to put our scholarships and groups at risk as well.”

To view the full petition, click here.

Stay tuned with The News as we follow how the University’s administration reacts to the petition.

Photo courtesy of Sirloin Stockade’s Facebook page Sirloin Stockade owners decided to cease delivery and take-out options to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and protect their employees and customers.

Opinion

March 26, 2020

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Andy Beshear earns praise The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board.

Gov. Andy Beshear has earned national renown and praise for his handling of COVID-19 in his state.

For the past couple of months, the novel coronavirus has been wreaking havoc on whatever semblance of a society we have left.

Our world is changing, seemingly at the speed of light. Gen Z and Millenials went from being told that we were too obsessed with technology to being ordered to function on it entirely.

Our means of shopping for food and day-to-day necessities has been altered.

Our learning style has been forcibly changed.

Even tax day has been postponed, although maybe that change comes as more of a relief than a setback.

Through each and every change, Beshear has been there to ease Kentucky through it. Despite the constant influx of breaking news, Beshear has addressed his constituents daily with words meant to comfort and inform.

He has been setting trends for weeks now, calling for social distancing, encouraging businesses to have non-essential personnel and staff work from home and sending schools into all-online classes.

The morning of Wednesday, March 25, Beshear made an executive order to shut down all non-life-sustaining businesses; this order follows an order that shut down all non-essential retail businesses.

All of these have been great meth-

ods of keeping Kentucky’s cases of COVID-19 at a minimum, but this is not what Beshear has become popular for.

Everyday at 4 p.m. CST, Beshear addresses his constituents in a livestream.

He gives updates on the infection rate, new cases in Kentucky, how the government is working with the medical system to give out as much aid as possible and tells people how they can keep themselves safe and healthy. He is proving the importance of communication via the internet and electronics (along with the help of sweet, wellloved Kenneth Mansfield and Virginia Moore).

“I’m done with politics,” Beshear said in an interview with WDRB. The Kentucky governor is now solely focused on reducing the risk and spread of COVID-19. He said it’s about protecting his people.

And his people could not be prouder of their governor. They are flooding him with support, commenting their appreciation for his humility and drastic action all over his livestreams. Some of Kentucky’s youth have even taken it upon themselves to create a meme page meant for humorous pictures of praise for the governor. Many of them display Beshear as a father shielding his child (Kentucky) from something the meme creator has pasted the word “coronavirus” over.

Beshear is seemingly moving mountains for his people. He is a father

helping his child over a big rain puddle, only Kentucky is the child and COVID-19 is the big rain puddle. A political figure who cares deeply for his state and people is practically uncharted territory for not only Kentucky, but all of America. After almost four years with President Donald Trump and four years with former Gov. Matt Bevin, Kentucky truly forgot what it was like

to have competent leaders.

Now that there is such a leader in office, the people who call Kentucky home are unconditionally grateful.

Beshear hasn’t been in office long, but he has already shown his state that there are no lengths he will not go to in order to protect them.

It’s amazing to have a governor who is on #TeamKentucky again.

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

Bryce Anglin Jenna Carnes Production Manager Chief Copy Editor

zanglin@murraystate.edu jcarnes2@murraystate.edu

Kalea Anderson Elizabeth Erwin

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

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

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cdame2@murraystate.edu jkirk11@murraystate.edu

John O’Neill

Dr. Stephanie Anderson Online Manager Faculty Adviser

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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 strives to be the University community’s source for information. Our goal is to present that information in a fair and unbiased manner and provide a free and open forum for expression and debate.

The News is prepared and edited by students and is an official publication of Murray State University. The first copy is free. Additional copies are available for 25 cents at 111 Wilson Hall.

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Sports

March 26, 2020

Watford adjusting to life in Iceland

Josh Embry Sports Editor jembry3@murraystate.edu

Since arriving in Iceland on Thursday, March 12, senior forward Miyah Watford has had to adjust not only to a new country but also to living in self-isolation amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first case of COVID-19 appeared in Iceland on Feb. 28 and the number of confirmed cases has since risen to 737, resulting in two deaths as of Wednesday, March 25.

Compared to the United States, Watford said Iceland has not had to make considerable changes to slow the spread of the virus yet.

“Iceland has not gone into as much of a panic as people are in America,” Watford said.

“There really haven’t been any lockdowns or anything.”

However, Watford was told to self-quarantine on Sunday, March 22, after one of her teammates tested positive for the coronavirus.

Watford said she “feels fine” and that she is allowed to leave her home to do certain things.

“We just stay in the house,” Watford said.

“I’m allowed to leave and go running and I think [go to] the store [too].”

Watford, who plays for IBV in the Úrvalsdeild kvenna, Iceland’s highest-ranked professional women’s soccer league, said their season is postponed until further notice and that her team is not able to practice together either.

With her being both quarantined and not being allowed to practice with her team, Watford has found alternative ways to stay in shape and train while being under self-quarantine.

“Training is very different,” Watford said.

“They’ve been sending us at-home workouts to do on our own without the ball. To keep up with my touches, I’ve been kicking

the ball around my apartment whenever I am walking.”

Watford said when she does get the chance to run outside, Iceland’s weather has proven difficult at times.

“I try to go running whenever the weather is good to stay in shape, but it’s been difficult because it’s been raining here and the winds can get up to 40 mph,” Watford said.

To pass the time, Watford said she watches Netflix, plays games on her PlayStation and FaceTimes her friends who live in the United States.

Watford, who is originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, said she and her family have kept constant communication during her time in Iceland, and her parents are not overly concerned about her being over 3,000 miles away from home.

“I would say [my family is] handling it pretty well,” Watford said. “We’re a close family, but we aren’t homebodies and we don’t have to be together everyday. I talk to them almost every day just because of the circumstances with coronavirus.”

Despite all the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on her daily life, one positive Watford took away from the virus was that school will be easier for her since Murray State has moved all classes online.

“Actually, I had to work out with my teachers on how to still graduate on time this coming May and play soccer overseas,” Watford said. “I figured out a way to work something out with my teachers and left. Now with school being all online, it made it easier for myself because now they have to work with everyone and not just me, so the coronavirus helped me in a way to cooperate with my circumstances.”

Gage Johnson/TheNews Senior forward Miyah Watford controls the ball in a game against Austin Peay against EIU.

2020 Tokyo Olympics postponed

Jon Dunning Staff Writer jdunning1@murraystate.edu

The International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government decided on Tuesday, March 24, to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games to 2021 bec ause of the COVID-19 pandemic.

IOC President Thomas Bach and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe made the decision via a conference call.

They decided postponement of the popular sporting event was necessary based on data from the World Health Organization showing that there were more than 375,000 cases of COVID-19 worldwide and rising, and that the virus had reached nearly every country.

The IOC and Japanese government decided the games must be rescheduled beyond 2020, but no later than summer 2021. The two parties see postponement as a necessary step to prevent further spread of the virus among those involved in the Olympics.

D e spite the troubling events that caused the postponement, Bach offered words of encouragement to Olympic athletes and fans.

“We all will be able to celebrate the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, even if it’s only in [2021],” Bach said. “You can be

Bryce Anglin/TheNews

sure that you can make your Olympic dream come true.”

The Olympics will still be held in Japan and will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

The Olympic flame will also remain in Japan.

Bach believes the Olympics can be a positive event for the world to look forward to once the pandemic has ceased. “ We all are together in a very dark tunnel, and we do not know how long this tunnel is and we do not know what is happening tomorrow,” Bach said. “But

we want this Olympic flame to be a light at the end of the tunnel.”

The Olympics have been canceled before because of war in 1916, 1940 and 1944, but the COVID-19 pandemic marks the first time the Olympics have been postponed.

March 26, 2020

Features

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Student sews masks for community during pandemic

Grant Dillard Staff Writer Gdillard@murraystate.edu

Turning a hobby to helpful practice, senior Kendall Clark utilizes her extended time at home to sew masks for the medical community in Medina, Tennessee.

Nationwide, there is a shortage of personal protective equipment because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clark has friends working in the medical field who are lacking equipment, and when Clark learned of their shortage, she decided to sew masks for them.

“I saw on a quilting Facebook page where ladies were sewing these masks to give to healthcare professionals in their areas,” Clark said. “I thought that I could use some of my scrap fabrics to make masks for some of my friends.”

Clark did research on the best fabrics to use for medical masks and pulled options from her own fabric stock. With shortages across stores, it was difficult for Clark to find elastic, so she substituted with thin elastic headbands from the Dollar Tree to create ear loops.

Clark said the process of sewing masks is simple.

“There are downloadable templates online that you can print out,” Clark said.

“You then just cut the fabric using the stencil, and then you stitch the sides together. I added a fabric on the inside of mine that is supposed to help in the protection against the COVID-19 fabric, so that did add a few extra steps.”

When Clark was growing up, she loved quilts and wanted to sew her own. She fell in love with sewing and mostly creates quilts.

Kendall Clark, senior from Medina, Tennessee, sews masks to support her medical community.

Like other students, Clark was taken aback by the news of classes moving online for the remainder of the semester. Since this was her last semester, Clark was especially upset by the news.

“I understood the need to take such measures, but I had looked forward to these final months on campus with my classmates,” Clark said.

Clark was also concerned about her access to the internet.

“Where my family lives, we cannot get internet, so I have had to find creative ways to get access through mobile hotspot,” Clark said.

Clark has been using her parents’ internet hotspot to keep up with school assignments. When the hotspots run out, she goes to other people’s houses to use their internet.

To keep track of her schoolwork, Clark spends Sundays writing down due dates and preparing for the week’s assignments, which she turns in when she gets internet access.

Clark also has an on-campus job in the biology department. Though she’s now unable to work, she still gets paid because she is a Federal Work-Study Program recipient, which she said is really helpful during

Photo courtesy of Kendall Clark

this time so she can continue to pay her bills.

Besides sewing masks and keeping up with school assignments, Clark spends her time checking in on her family’s farm animals. On rainy days, Clark likes to fill the time by watching movies.

Clark’s advice to other students who are still adjusting to working from home is to not wait until the last minute so that they don’t have to worry about assignments later.

“Remember to check on your friends and stay in contact,” Clark said. “Although we may not be together on campus, we are still Murray [State]. Go Racers.”

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Features

March 26, 2020

Beshear memes encourage safety and positivity

Megan Reynolds Opinion Editor mreynolds12@murraystate.edu

Kentucky Gov. Andy Besear has received nation-wide praise for his quick handling of COVID-19. He became so popular that a Facebook group dedicated to memes about him was created.

The page, “andy beshear memes for social distancing teens,” has gathered almost 135,000 members within a few weeks and each post gathers thousands of likes. It supports many of Beshear’s proposals of how to stay healthy during the pandemic.

Jeremy McFarland, office manager at Fairness Campaign, created the Facebook group with James Lines, communications director for State Rep. Patti Minter.

“Jeremy and I want this to be a space where we can enjoy creative and wholesome memes, cheer on Andy Beshear and folks across Kentucky who are taking positive and proactive steps to keep people safe and look out for one another at a really difficult time for all of us,” according to Line’s Facebook post to the group.

The group encourages positivity and stresses to its members that their memes should not contain misinformation.

Many Murray State students have become avid followers of the group.

“They make my day better,” said Edie Greenberg, junior journalism major. “I love scrolling through Facebook and seeing the memes shared. It takes my mind off of these scary times.”

Greenberg said knowing that Kentuc ky has a go ver nor like Beshear makes her happy.

Beshear has been quite the trendsetter for dealing with the virus. From stressing social distancing to closing all nonessential businesses to sending schools to all-online teaching, he has shown his care for the health and safety of his constituents.

Celeste Siqueiros, senior pre-medical major, shares Greenberg’s sentiment.

“I love the [memes],” Siqueiros said.

“I think they’re pretty funny.”

The meme page also advocates for support of those in political offices and businesses deemed essential by raising awareness that these workers are putting their best foot forward and working extremely hard.

While acknowledging the seriousness of COVID-19, this meme group allows people to praise Kentucky’s governor in a lighthearted way.

Beshear is aware of the meme group and spoke about it in one of his daily livestreams to his constituents.

“If it makes people smile right now, I’m for it,” Beshear said.

Many people look forward to seeing the memes on their timeline. In a time of social distancing and stress, the memes provide a positive outlet to let out a laugh and support Beshear.

Photos courtesy “andy beshear memes for social distancing teens” Facebook group Facebook meme page supports Beshear through COVID-19 pandemic.