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Sept. 17, 2020 | Vol. 95, No. 4

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Photo courtesy of Sam Aguiar

Pictured on the left is Sam Aguiar and his youngest son Owen and pitured on the right is the late Breonna Taylor.

Alumnus brings closure to Taylor family was national scrutiny regarding Gage Johnson the murder. Editor-in-Chief Shortly after, a couple of activgjohnson17@murraystate.edu ists let it be known that Taylor’s Sam Aguiar, Murray State alum- case was not being paid attention nus, helped bring about police re- and the case picked up steam. form across Kentucky and $12 Lonita Baker, who went to law million to the family of Breonna school with Aguiar and had been Taylor, the Louisville woman shot working with him since 2017, and killed by police during a raid joined in Aguiar’s efforts on the case and immediately built a trein March. The settlement between the city mendous relationship with Tayof Louisville and the Taylor fam- lor’s family. ily was finalized on Tuesday, Sept. B e n Cr um p, a cr it ic al l y ac 15, six months and two days after claimed attorney who specializes in civil rights and catastrophic Taylor was shot to death. I m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g h e r personal injury cases and has repdeath, while on vacation in Flor- resented the families of Trayvon ida, Aguiar received a phone call Martin, Ahmaud Arber y, Martin L ee Anderson and is leadfrom Taylor’s parents. “I got a call from the family that ing George Floyd’s family’s legal basically said ‘hey, our daughter team, then reached out and said got killed and we don’t know why he also wanted to help with the and we want to figure out some case. answers,’” Aguiar said. “And of Forming a three-headed snake course you hear the initial story of attorneys, Aguiar, Baker and and we know a guy fired shots at Crump went straight to work on the cops and they fired back and the Taylor family’s case. immediately your radar goes up They filed the lawsuit in April and you’re like ‘well, these cops are in order to get subpoena power just going to claim self-defense,’ to bypass denials that prevented but the more they told us about them from receiving the police Breonna and the type of person investigative files. In June and Jul y, there were she was and about the atmosphere of the house and how it looked multiple hearings in which the like a warzone, the more I just judge sided in their favor and files said ‘hey, we gotta look into this.’” began to be turned over to AguW h e n A g u i a r r e t u r n e d , h e iar and his legal team. As they we n t t o v i s i t t h e c r i m e s c e n e continued to receive files, Aguiar and was appalled at what he’d continued to see red flags in the s e e n . W i t h b u l l e t h o l e s d i s - crime scene and investigation that persed all over the apar tment let him know they could get anyand taking a look into the offi- thing they asked a jury for. cers involved, they saw immedi- Aguiar recognized the killing was egregious and that even if the ate red flags. But with the pandemic stil l Attorney General and the FBI raging on, the case didn’t receive didn’t come back with charges, much attention. However, after they had a strong civil lawsuit. The case gained national attenthe Ahmaud Arber y case, in which Arber y was shot jogging tion over the summer when the near his home in Georgia, there WNBA dedicated its season to

Important voting dates approach News Opinion Sports Features

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Taylor; NBA players dedicated their post-game interviews to her as well; and ‘Justice for Breonna’ protests erupted throughout the country. T h i s l e t A g u i a r, B a k e r a n d Crump know that justice for Taylor was not the only endgame in this case—it was to help put the city back together, which couldn’t be done until there was a resolution for Taylor’s case in Aguiar’s eyes. Tamika Palmer, Taylor’s mother, couldn’t have agreed more. “Tamika Palmer, since day one, said that she wanted two things,” Aguiar said. “She wanted to know the truth about what happened to her daughter and she wanted to make sure that there was reform implemented that reduced the likelihood of any other mother having to go through what she went through.” Aguiar said they’ve been digging for truth and gotten most of it and when the public hears it, it will make them sick to their stomach. In order to help reflect change within the Louisville Police Department, the trio of attorneys proposed some legislation and ideas for the city to implement. “ We laid out a list of like 20 things,” Aguiar said. “We decided that like five of them the city would do if they could, but they can’t. It ’s going to have to go through legislation, so we proposed some legislation. The other 15, we said ‘these are things that can happen now that will impact the way search warrants are conducted, that will promote public safety, that will establish integrity within the police department and will incentivize the police department to get more into the communities they actually patrol.” Aguiar said they told the city from the beginning that if city

And a little child shall lead them

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officials were not willing to look at the police reform component of the proposal, then it was off the table. After the proposal was made, the city approved 12 of the 15 action items they’d asked for. “It took several weeks of backand-forth to finalize it, but there was never much tension there,” Aguiar said. “The city was ready to start healing, the city was ready to acknowledge that the criminal case was going to do what the criminal case was going to do, but regardless, Breonna shouldn’t have gotten killed and there were violations of civil rights laws that led up to that. Any time you get a settlement they always put a clause that says ‘we don’t admit any fault,’ but let’s face it, they wouldn’t have paid $12 million dollars and given us 12 items of reform if they didn’t think they did anything wrong.” In addition to letting the police chief go, initiatives for reform which you can find in the full article on www.TheNews.org.. Along with reform, Aguiar said while his and Palmer’s goals were not mainly about money, he hopes this will help the city think twice before implementing more aggressive tactics in the future, because it will cost the city financially. Despite completing the settlement, Aguiar was not overcome with joy right away. The thought of “did I leave something on the table” or whether the city would think Palmer was doing this for the wrong reasons sat in the back of his mind, not to mention the backlash from some citizens via social media after the announcement of the settlement.

see ALUMNUS page 4

Newcomb becomes manager of Miller Memorial Golf Course

Non-traditional student achieves her dream

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News

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Important Voting Dates Voter registration deadlne: Oct. 5 Absentee ballot request deadline: Oct. 9

Early voting: Oct. 13 - Nov. 2 Absentee ballot submission deadline: Postmarked by Nov. 3 Election Day: Nov. 3

Kentucky voters have more options to participate in the general election on Nov. 3 than previous years because of COVID-19. Drew Seib, associate professor of political science and interim department chair, provided insight into both the importance of taking part in the electoral process and how students can participate in this year’s election. While Murray State has helped keep campus COVID-19 cases low, some students who vote in Murray are worried about their voting options if Murray State has to transition to virtual-only instruction. While Seib is optimistic that this transition won’t happen, he recommends students apply for an absentee ballot as soon as possible. “You can request your absentee ballot now, but the state of Kentucky is not sending out ballots yet,” Seib said. “They should be sending them out really soon. They are in the process of printing at the moment. The deadline to request them is Oct. 9.” Seib said whether students plan to vote in person or by mail, the most important thing is to have a plan. The last day to register to vote in the general election is Oct. 5. Seib also said rhetoric about more absentee ballots opening up the door for mass voter fraud is not based in fact and should not deter people from the method. “There have been investigations into potential fraud and very little comes out of it,” Seib said. “As someone who teaches about democracy and ensuring democratic legitimacy, but also someone who studies voters and elections, it’s not something I’m concerned about.” Seib also emphasized the importance of Murray State students and young people in general participating in elections. Seib said the political priorities of younger and older voters, even within the same political party, can vary greatly. Seib discussed an older person’s likeliness to care about social security and a younger person’s likeliness to care more about making education affordable as an example. Because older people turn out in larger

8:40 P.M. 15th and Olive Lot

A person was found to be in possession of marijuana. A citation was issued.

11:49 P.M. Hester College

A person was found to be in possession of marijuana. A citation was issued.

4:59 P.M. Residential College

Rape was reported on the residential college side of campus. No criminal complaint was received.

7:55 P.M. College Courts Parking Lot

Theft was reported after contents were stolen from a vehicle on Aug. 28. The investigation is still open.

Gage Johnson/The News

Important voting dates approach Ben Overby Contrbuting Writer boverby2@murraystate.edu

Sept. 17, 2020

numbers to vote, politicians focus more on their needs. However, Seib said if young people become a more powerful political force, it could alter the priorities of politicians. “Long term, the youth are going to have to take on the consequences of the policies we choose to enact,” Seib said. Govoteky.com directs people to the website for the Office of the Secretary of State of Kentucky which includes information about the various voting options for Kentuckians. The first option is absentee ballot by mail. “Kentuckians concerned with contracting or spreading COVID-19 can request a ballot by mail,” according to the website. Ballots can be requested through the website until Oct. 9. In order for these ballots to count, they must be postmarked by election day on Nov. 3 and received by Nov. 6. Dropbox locations, determined by county clerks, will be available for those worried about postal delays, according to the website Voting Kentuckians also have the option of voting early. “Beginning Oct. 13, three weeks before the election, every work day between Oct. 13 and Election Day, and every Saturday for at least four hours, every county clerk will provide a location for safe in-person voting,” according to the website. It is also clarified that early voting differs from absentee voting. Anyone can vote early for any reason. Voting in person on Election Day is the voter’s last option. County election officials will be deciding election sites for Election Day, according to the website. Additionally, every county will have at least one voting super center where people can vote regardless of precinct. Photo ID will be required, with exceptions. “Kentuckians who were unable to get a driver’s licenses or photo ID due to the pandemic because their clerk’s office was closed, or because they were afraid of exposing themselves to COVID-19, can sign a document explaining this concern and cast their ballot,” according to the website. Voting information, the absentee ballot request portal and voter registration are available on govoteky.com.

11:10 P.M. Richmond College

Theft was reported after laundry was taken. The investigation is still open.

11:32 A.M. Hart College

Fraudulent use of a credit card was reported after someone used another’s person credit card without permission on Aug. 29. Prosecution was declined.

6:56 P.M. Alexander Hall

Theft, fraudulent use of a credit card and receiving stolen property under $500 were reported after a credit card was stolen from a purse and used at a local business. The investigation is still open.

12:08 A.M. Chestnut Street and Gilbert Graves Drive Possession of alcohol by a minor was reported. Subject was reported to a court designated worker.

2:29 P.M. Hester College Possession of marijuana was reported. Subject was referred for administrative action.

2:18 P.M. College Courts Theft was reported after a bicycle was stolen on Sept. 6. The investigation was suspended pending other evidence.

4 P.M. Residential College Rape was reported on Aug. 28. No criminal complaint received.

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

Sept. 17, 2020

News

Screenshot of Gov. Andy Beshear’s livestream Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack discussed the new reporting tools to help track COVID-19 on Monday, Sept. 14 during Gov. Beshear’s daily press briefing.

Governor updates campus COVID-19 reporting guidelines Murray State plans to report COVID-19 cases twice a week Daniella Tebib News Editor dtebib@murraystate.edu In compliance with Gov. Andy Beshear’s and Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack’s requirements for reporting COVID-19 cases, President Bob Jackson said the Murray State COVID-19 dashboard will be updated twice per week. Jackson said University administration communicates with the Calloway County Health Department daily and receives regular guidance from Stack and other state and federal officials. During Beshear’s media briefing on Monday, Sept. 14, the new plan to report and track COVID-19 cases on college and university campuses in Kentucky was unveiled. On Wednesday, Sept. 16, Beshear reported there have been a total of 2,396 positive student cases and 83 positive faculty/staff cases based on information from 34 public and private institutions in Kentucky. Stack discussed the details of the new reporting system the government is asking higher education institutions to adhere to because of their close proximity and relation to the communities they belong to. Since students of colleges and universities are also members of the community, Stack said he has been treating them as part of the community. Because there is a lack of distinction between college and university students and the communities they live in, the guidelines for reporting and handling of COVID-19 is different from the standards K-12 schools are expected to abide by. “In discussing with college and university presidents, each of these institutions has different resource bases, different approaches and plans they’ve tailored to their communities,” Stack said. “I asked them, given the choice between me architecting a solution that we put to them all or them adhering all voluntarily to the minimum expectations for dashboard for what they would do, and they have risen to the challenge.” To ensure transparency with Kentucky residents and to track COVID-19 cases on campuses

across the commonwealth, the Kentucky Department for Public Health has developed two easily accessible resources. The KDPH has compiled the COVID-19 dashboards of each college and university in Kentucky. The full list, including links, of each COVID-19 dashboard can be found on TheNews.org. The KDPH also reports verified COVID-19 information from 36 colleges and universities daily. The report can be found on TheNews.org. However, some of the numbers the KDPH reports do not match the self-reporting COVID-19 dashboards of colleges and universities. “ We do the best we can, but there’s a lot of different people collecting numbers,” Stack said. “I would use this information as a reliable way to find out information we’ve been able to verify and put here. This is not rumor; this is us talking to people and confirming the data. The colleges and universities are doing their own parallel version of what we’re asking K-12 to do.” M. Christopher Brown II, president of Kentucky State University, also spoke at the media briefing about how colleges and universities have been handling the reporting of COVID-19 information. “Higher education in the commonwealth is unlike K-12,” Brown said. “It’s comprised of public and private four-year colleges, community colleges, barber and beauty schools, trade academies and even research hospitals. So, unlike K-12, elementary and high schools, students attend our colleges by choice. They pay, in fact, for the opportunity to attend. As a result, we operate like non-profit or not-for-profit businesses in the commonwealth. While higher education does not have a clear mandate or guidance, we are operating under the health at work and that has been a blueprint for our success.” Brown said the only way higher education institutions can continue to operate is through contact tracing. “We have been relying on public health and the contact tracers that the governor has provided and working with our health departments to make sure we are keeping

track of the rise and incidents in the population,” Brown said. Deborah Birx, a member of the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force, was appointed the nation’s Coronavirus response coordinator by the Trump administration. Birx visited the University of Kentucky’s campus on Sept. 14 for a press conference regarding the status of COVID-19 on campuses in the commonwealth. Birx applauded the plans Kentucky universities and colleges have put in place to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, but she said it is also up to the students as individuals. “In the end, universities can have incredibly brilliant plans, but unless the students are part of that plan, have bought into that plan and are willing to follow the critical behaviors that we’re asking ever y student to follow, not only on campus but off campus, to ensure that transmission doesn’t occur, then it will occur,” Birx said. It’s actually at this point more dangerous to both the students and the communities to have universities close or create the perception of close of going exclusively online. - Deborah Birx, Coronavirus response coordinator

Birx said she believes the majorit y of infections on college campuses are not happening because of the decisions to hold in-person classes but because of activities happening off campus. “ We’ve now seen throughout the summer that these infections are brought into institutions due to what happens off campus and in communities,” Birx said. “This i s a b o u t re a l l y e n s u r i n g t h a t there’s good behavior on campus and good behavior off campus.” Birx also said she thinks it would be more dangerous for campuses to close and send students home based on campus closures across the country. Despite closing campuses, most students did not return home. Instead, a majority of them stayed in

their college or university town in community and rental housing. “It’s actually at this point more dangerous to both the students and the communities to have universities close or create the perception of closure of going exclusively online,” Birx said. “Then you’ll have students distributed throughout the community without real linkages to each other and the psychosocial support they need from in-person classes, and also the psychosocial support of those caring for them when they turn positive or have to be in quarantine.” Jackson said University administration is happy with the campus community’s cooperation regarding the Racer Safe and Healthy Guidelines. “I want to thank our students, faculty and staff for working hard to keep our COVID-19 infection rates low and adhering to guidelines in order to keep our campus safe and healthy,” Jackson said. “This has not been easy in all cases. We meet or communicate with our campus community near ly every day, and in most instances. We are very pleased with the adherence to the Racer Safe and Healthy Guidelines.” As of press time, Murray State has repor ted 95 total positive COVID-19 cases on campus out of the 486 confirmed cases in Calloway County. Based on data collected from Murray State and the Calloway County Health Department, Murray State COVID-19 cases account for approximately 20 percent of Calloway County’s total cases. For the week of Sept. 7, to Sept. 13, Murray State reported zero faculty/staff cases, 23 student cases, 68 recoveries and 95 total cases since Aug. 1. Murray State’s COVI D-19 dashboard c an be found on TheNews.org. As of press time, the Calloway County Health Department reported 487 total confirmed cases with 434 recoveries, 41 isolated at home, three hospitalizations and nine deaths. COVID-19 case information is reported on TheNews.org and our social media platforms as they are updated by the University and Health Department.

News

Sept. 17, 2020

Photo courtesy of Sam Aguiar

Pictured on the left is Breonna Taylor’s family and on the right is Sam Aguiar and his two sons Evan and Owen at an NFL game.

ALUMNUS From Page 1 However, after the press conference was held, in which Palmer spoke, the community seemed to back Taylor’s family. “When we gave the press conference yesterday, after that people could really see the conviction with her, with the legal team and the city’s office, that this is just the first step,” Aguiar said. “That’s when all of a sudden the environment changed. Ultimately at the end of the day, it’s a phenomenal result, but if this is the only thing that comes out of Breonna Taylor’s killing, it is a tremendous failure.” With the officers as the defendants in the civil case, the city had to evaluate the conduct of the officers when they were determining whether to settle the case. However, then the case was out of the city’s hands. “We don’t have any leverage at the bargaining table to talk about charging the officers,” Aguiar

said. “ We did reiterate that we think these officers should be fired, but ultimately we’ve got a lot of state law protection on that too. We’ve got a really strong police unit and a really strong state law that affords too many protections to police officers.” Though the officers not being fired is a let down to the trio of attorneys, Palmer feels good about the result of the settlement. Aguiar sat down with Palmer on Monday to discuss the settlement before finalizing it, saying that reassurance was needed as she didn’t want to do anything that Taylor would not like, but in the end they finalized it with the understanding that it was one way to uphold Taylor’s legacy. Going forward, the trio of attorneys and three law students have proposed legislation including rules about drug and alcohol tests being issued to officers after shootings, officers being terminated if something warrants it, that it be state law that all officers wear body cameras and that there be a statewide ban on no-knock search warrants despite the fact

“Breonna’s Law ” was passed by Louisville Council shortly after Taylor’s death. And while the trio of attorneys and Palmer have brought forth such change with this settlement, Aguiar says it has to be made known this was an initiative made by a united stand amongst citizens across the country. “I think what this case has revealed too is that peaceful protest, when done correctly, really does work,” Aguiar said. “Because I don’t want to sit here and suggest this was just Tamika Palmer, Lonita Baker, myself and Ben Crump. This was the entire country’s collective voice begging for change and demanding change that resulted in this.” Aguiar said it ’s amazing that they were able to do something really historic with this case, with one of the most talked about civil cases in recent memory. “I think it’s a testament to having a conscience to being willing to fight the hard fight and doing things for the right reasons,” Aguiar said. “ We never said we were going to go and be a civil

Photo courtesy of Sonja Wilde-de Vries via Facebook Alumnus Sam Aguiar spoke at a press conference where his team, which represented the family of Breonna Taylor in the civil lawsuit against the city of Louisville, introduced proposed state legislation on police reform.

rights firm to go get $12 million results, we said that we’re going to do civil rights cases because somebody needs to be a voice for these people.” He said part of preventing incidents like Taylor’s in the future lies in continued reform, as well as making sure the younger generation is not raised into systemic racism, among other things. H e a l s o s a i d w o r d s a r e n’t enough to solve racism across the country with a black America that has been oppressed for over 400 years. “I do think that reform is so critical,” Aguiar said. “ You’ve gotta put people in office that aren’t going to have any tolerance for police corruption, for systemic racism, for oppressiveness, for poverty and you gotta find the right people that are going to do that. The problem that I have with politics right now is you hear a lot of words, but I’m an ‘action speaks louder than words’ kind of guy you know, so you can say all this and you can say all that, but do it.”

Opinion

Sept. 17, 2020

Contributed

And a little child shall lead them Robert Valentine rvalentine@murraystate.edu Contributor I wonder if you are like me. Most people are, despite our many variations. See how similar we might be. When I first heard the phrase, “Black Lives Matter,” I have to admit that my first thought was, “Of course they do. They are lives, aren’t they?” I am an ol’ college debater, so words mean a great deal to me. The right word can win an argument; the wrong use of a word can lead to confusion and loss. My obsession with word meanings and uses drives my friends nuts — those who are not ol’ college debaters. Still, as my wife says with a voice of resignation, “It’s who you are.” So, are you like me? After I thought about it, I decided that “Black Lives Matter” was not really what was intended. What should have been said was, “Black Lives Matter Just as Much as Yours.” Of course, that’s a bit longer even if it’s just as true. Now, however, it was being addressed only to people who were not Black. In

fact, everyone needs to be aware of the sentiment. It was getting complicated, even though the principle is quite simple and very easy to understand: there is no person whose life is not sacred. I find that easy to believe, because I grew up with The Declaration of Arboath. My dad was born in Arbroath, Scotland, in 1904. We often talked about his heritage, of which he was justifiably proud. The Declaration was a big deal. In 1320, the King of England was planning to invade Scotland. He asked the Pope’s blessing, claiming the the Scots were crude, dangerous, irreligious people who needed his guidance. The Scottish leaders gathered at the abbey in Arbroath and wrote their own letter to the Pope, arguing that they should not be subjugated by England, and vowing to fight. And then they explained why: “It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours, that we are fighting, but for freedom — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.” Scottish descendants believe that is the first time that anyone declared that every person is born with freedom at the very core of

being. No one can deny your freedom, and you will be free until you die. We’re very proud of that. But no one wants to hear an ol’ college debater talk about the Declaration of Arbroath and, despite the best efforts of teacher and coaches, I could not come up with a useful improvement on “Black Lives Matter.” Of course they do; it’s a truism. And that a little girl in Paris, Tennessee, was photographed holding a big while poster on which had been written these words: “WE SAID — Black Lives Matter NEVER SAID — Only Black Lives Matter WE KNOW — All Lives Matter” We just need your help with #Black Live s Matter for Black Lives Are in Danger. Young Armani Williams is a lovely little girl. She’s got a smile that would light up the court square at midnight. By now her photo, taken by Sarah Wills of Paris, has probably been seen by nearly one million people — maybe more. Who knows about things that go viral? Her hand-printed sign says it better than anyone can put it. The

“

. . . freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.

”

lives of free people are in danger, and that is not right. There is not a true Scot on the face of the earth who cannot empathize with Armani. There should not be a true American who cannot respond to a fellow citizen in danger, either, regardless of who that person is, what he or she believes, who their forebears were — life alone is the measure. The Hebrew prophet Isaiah foresaw a future filled with peace where the lion would lie down with the lamb . . . “and a little child shall lead them.” Was Isaiah thinking about young Armani Williams? If you’re like me, you might think so.

Letter to the editor Got opinions?

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Editorial Board

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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.

Sports

Sept. 17, 2020

Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics/Dave Winder

Nick Newcomb is leaving the Benton Country Club golf course to manage Miller Memorial Golf Course.

Former Racer returns home Newcomb becomes manager of Miller Memorial Golf Course

Simon Elfrink Staff Writer selfrink@murraystate.edu

With his playing days behind him, former Racer golfer Nick Newcomb took a position as the pro-shop manager at the golf course he played on for years— Miller Memorial Golf Course. Newcomb, who was pivotal in the rebuilding of the Racers’ men’s golf program, found himself getting a callback to Miller Memorial after taking over after Director Will Snodgrass retired. “I am thrilled to be able to come back to Murray State for this opportunity,” Newcomb said. “Golf

is my passion, and I am very happy to be part of the team that cares for this great golf course at Miller Memorial.” After Snodgrass retired, Newcomb got the opportunity to interview for and eventually occupy the vacant position. He had been running the Benton Country Club golf course for the last several years, so when the opportunity came to work closer to home he felt he was more than ready to come back to Miller Memorial. “It feels good to be back here,” Newcomb said. “I really like Murray. Me and my wife have been living here for the past two

years. We had a house in Murray even when I was traveling to Benton every day. I’m just happy to be back and I’m really enjoying it so far.” As a golfer for Murray State, Newcomb had the opportunity to play on the Miller Memorial Course, where he found great success in his four-year collegiate career from 2007-10. In his time with the Racers, Newcomb placed first in the OVC Tournament in both 2008 and 2010. Newcomb and his younger brother Patrick Newcomb helped the Racers win the OVC Championship in 2010 as well. The Newcomb broth-

ers were inducted into the Racer Hall of Fame for their feats with their golf clubs. As shop manager, Newcomb will be responsible for organizing events, internal affairs, inventory, sales, marketing and promotion of the course. Newcomb said Snodgrass kept the course in great shape and that while there’s a lot of marketing and public relations that needs to be done to get people back on the course in the wake of COVID-19, Snodgrass set the bar high for Newcomb, who hopes he can follow suit and run Miller Memorial as well as his predecessor.

Koclanakis earns preseason honors Jakob Milani Contributing Writer jmilani@murraystate.edu

With his senior season quickly approaching, senior linebacker Anthony Koclanakis was named to the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Third Team. The preseason nod adds to Koclanakis’ plethora of accolades he has accrued during his Murray State career.. After being a 2019 First-Team All-OVC selection, he was also named to the 2020 Preseason All-OVC team, 2020 HERO sports preseason AllOVC team and the Phil Steele Preseason All-America and AllOVC teams. In 2019, Koclanakis was a starter for all 12 of the Racers’ games. He was the league leader in tackles in the OVC with 124, with 63 of them being solo tackles. He averaged 10.3 tackles per game, ranking 11th across the country, with 5.3 solo tackles per game, ranking 20th in the country. Koclanakis was also a problem for backfields last season, lead- Anthony Koclanakis makes a tackle in a game against SEMO. ing the Racers with 9.5 tacklesand posted a career high 18 tack- ies and an interception. for-loss and posted an additional Koclanakis is one of the 101 les in two of those games. Other 3.0 sacks. He finished the season impressive stats for Koclanakis in players across 56 different schools with seven 10-plus tackle games, 2019 include two fumble recover- from 13 FCS conferences to be

Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics/Dave Winder

named to the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America teams. At this time Murray State doesn’t have its schedule released.

Sept. 17, 2020

Features

Non-traditional student achieves her dream Mason Galemore Contributing Writer mgalemore@murraystate.edu

Everyone has a story, but Patricia Eskridge, a 60-year-old non-traditional senior, has a unique story filled with resilience and redemption. After receiving double brain surgery, Eskridge said her biggest regret if she had died would have been not receiving her doctorate degree, so she chose to attend Murray State to study psychology. Despite the hardships of relearning the most basic functions, she is on the path to graduation. Eskridge grew up on a farm in Metropolis, Illinois, where her mother made clothing for the entire family by hand. Like clockwork, Eskridge and her large family would attend church every Sunday and Wednesday nights. “I was the youngest of seven children,” Eskridge said “We basically raised all our own food and had to buy very little from the store.” At a young age, Eskridge gained interest in how the human mind works, and this interest continued to grow as she did. “I was interested in how the mind works, why people think the way they do and why individuals raised by the same parents make very different choices,” Eskridge said. W hen Eskridge was only 25 years old, she began experiencing severe migraines, which were followed by years of trial and error of seeking treatment for her condition. No treatment seemed to help her. “The medical advice was medication along with to stay in a dark, quiet room and let it wear off,” Eskridge said. She tried this treatment for years then finally decided to go to Vanderbilt University Medical Center

in Tennessee, but they too had no other treatment options for her. In 2005, Eskridge’s symptoms had worsened to the point of incoherence, and her memory and cognitive skills had taken a turn for the worse. “All I remember is my friend saying ‘you have been in bed for three days. I am going out to feed the horses and if you are not up when I get back you are going to the doctor,’” Eskridge said. When her friend returned Eskridge was still in bed and she was then taken to the hospital where she received double brain surgery. She remembers nothing of the journey to the hospital, preparing for surgery or that she was going to have a procedure at all. “All I know is when I woke up my friend told me I had double brain surgery and to take my hands down from my head because half of my head was shaved, half staples and half stitched,” she said. Eskridge had to relearn how to walk, speak, write and even eat after her surgery. Despite her psychological state, she could still retain numbers and codes as a result of working in a bank for several years. “I could tell you anything that I knew before the surgery with numbers,” Eskridge said. “I could still recite it and even now I can not retain anything, but anything with numbers I can.” Her main motivation for recovery was being able to go home and be with her family. Before she could achieve that, Eskridge had to complete a scavenger hunt to prove she was ready. “ The nurse gave me a certain amount of money and told me to go to a specific floor and buy her some coffee, and I had to make sure I got the correct change back and I had to take the stairs,” Eskridge said. “I also

Photo Courtesy of Patricia Eskridge Patricia Eskridge said her family, including her son pictured above, was her motivation for recovery.

had to go to another floor and count the fish in an aquarium.” After completing several other tasks in a 15-minute period, Eskridge passed the test and was finally able to return home. Her recovery was not complete, however, because it took another eight months for her to be able to function on her own. After years of recovering, Eskridge decided to pursue her passion in psychology. Not being able to pursue this passion would have been her biggest regret if she had died. “I would regret not getting my doctorate in psychology,” Eskridge said. “My doctor assigned me with the task of getting my transcripts and finding out what it would take to get into school.” In 2016, Eskridge started school at Murray State. She assimilated into the college lifestyle while relearning things that seemed foreign to her. “Everything was so elementary,” Eskridge said. “I was relearning everything for the very first time. When I started at Murray I didn’t even know what a laptop was. Talk about a challenge. Everything takes twice as long.”

Eskridge has received help from her academic advisors and her professors. She stresses the importance of good communication between students and professors. “While attending Murray State, network as much as possible, do not be afraid to ask all the questions and use all your professors and career services as resources to help you to succeed and obtain your goals,” Eskridge said. Along with her academics, Eskridge is a part of the National Society of Leadership and Success. She also cares for her 93-year-old mother. “Everyday I can care for her is a true blessing for me,” Eskridge said. “Really isn’t that what psychology is all about: being a service to others. It needs to start at home.” Eskridge also gave advice for students with disabilities. “Talk with your professors and let them know exactly what your needs are,” Eskridge said. “They really do make themselves accessible to the students and they really care. If you are a student with a disability, go to the office of students with disabilities. They will advise you on what you need to do to get the help you need, whether it be a tutor or individual note taker or supplies.”

Features

Sept. 17, 2020

Contestant to be crowned for 50th Ms. MSU Cady Stribling Contributing Writer cstribling1@murraystate.edu

The year’s Ms. Murray State University pageant will be unlike any of the other 49 that came before it. Ms. MSU was originally set for April 11 last semester but was put on pause when the pandemic forced students to pack it up. Now rescheduled for this semester, the pageant will take place on Saturday, Sept. 19, with a few changes in place. Rather than an audience cheering the contestants on in person, the event will be livestreamed. Mollie Beck, junior elementary education major, said a virtual event still gives them the opportunity to reach many people through social media. Beck, who is representing Alpha Gamma Delta, said the girls are competing in person in the Curris Center Large Ballroom and will wear masks. Each contestant will be 6 feet apart at all times. “We are abiding by the Racer Restart plan, and are to wear masks the entire pageant,” Beck said. “It is not what I expected when I applied in November, but I am so honored to still be able to experience Ms. Murray State.” Each contestant was nominated by their respective organization last November then interviewed by a panel of judges made up of members from multiple departments at Murray State. From these interviews, the top 15 contestants were chosen to compete. Isabel DiSalvo, junior elementary education major representing Sigma Sigma Sigma, said the top 15 began practicing last semester before everyone was sent home in March. DiSalvo said since this semester has begun, the contestants will have had only three practices before the event Saturday.

“We all have been looking forward to having this pageant and are so excited we still get to have it,” DiSalvo said. “As much as we would all love to have our families and friends there, it isn’t possible with COVID-19 guidelines. We all understand this and are just glad we still get to have the pageant.” The contestants will undergo an interview and deliver a one-minute speech Saturday morning. For the pageant Saturday evening, they will compete in their evening gowns, and the top five contestants will deliver their speeches to the audience. After the speeches, all contestants will come together and the awards will be given out. Amara Stroud, senior secondary English education major, said she had some pageant experience when she was little when she won Little Miss Muhlenberg County in 2005. Stroud is representing Hart Residential College Council. When the pageant was supposed to be last semester, Stroud had immediately prepared her speech, practiced walking and speech skills and hemmed her old prom dress. When the pageant was put on pause, Stroud said she had to keep practicing once or twice a week on the interview and public speaking skills to keep her mind sharp. Stroud is very excited for the speaking portion because her speech is very personal to her. She said it has been wonderful tapping into some of her great childhood memories and she cannot wait to share those with the judges. Stroud is happy that Ms. MSU will take place virtually. “I think that it is really cool that we have the technology to support virtual events like Ms. MSU,” Stroud said. “I am really thankful that Emily Perry, our pageant director, and Jeanie Morgan have worked so hard

Photo courtesy of Emily Perry The top 15 contestants for Ms. MSU will compete on Saturday, Sept. 19, wearing masks and distancing.

to make sure this Murray State tradition can happen—even if the circumstance isn’t normal. Emily and Jeanie actually bought all of us girls lace masks with our numbers embroidered on them—they are super cute. We will be wearing them during our speech and throughout the pageant.” Stroud said these masks were a sweet gesture from Perry and Morgan to go out of their way to do for the contestants. “I have made wonderful connections, friends and memories that I will always remember,” Stroud said. “Though things aren’t necessarily normal, I know this will be a great experience.” Stroud says she gives all props to Perry and Morgan who have worked so hard to ensure this longlived tradition is a success under the circumstances. Perry recently graduated from Murray State and has returned to receive her master’s degree in postsecondary education administration. “I par ticipated in Ms. MSU in 2019,” Perry said. “It was truly the experience of a lifetime and

something I never would have seen myself doing as a freshman. I never thought of myself as someone who would do a pageant, but Ms. MSU is different because it focuses on the academic and involvement aspects of contestants.” This is Perry’s first time directing the pageant and said it is even more fun to direct than to be in it. Perry said each contestant was so easy to work with, especially with the changes because of COVID-19, and she has gained 15 new friends. “I am most excited for these contestants to show how amazing they are,” Perry said. “Not everyone got to see the amazing resilience and determination they had when it came to having a pageant in the middle of a pandemic, but I know their positive qualities will be put on display on Saturday night, and I couldn’t be more excited for them to finally get their shining moment.” The pageant will be live-streamed on YouTube at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, or go to murraystate.edu/ streaming to watch.