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Sept. 2, 2021 | Vol. 96, No. 2

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NEWS

OPINION

SPORTS

LIFESTYLE

Campus Lactation Spaces

Help the Afghan People

Interfraternity council welcomes newcomers

page 2

page 4

Volleyball takes two games in first tourney page 5

page 7

Sam Stewart/ T h e N ew s Clint D raper sings at R acer J am.

Racer Jam takes place after a year in planning

E mery W ai nsc ot t L ifestyle Editor ew ai n sc ott@murraystate.edu M u r r a y S t a t e ’s R e s i d e n t i a l C o l l e ge A s s o c i a t i on h e l d Racer Jam 2021 on Saturday, Aug. 28 on Springer Lawn in front of Hester College.

RCA President Chelsea Jones said almost 300 people attended the event throughout the day. The outdoor event was open for all residents, commuters, faculty and staff.

“In order to enhance the relationships between the leadership of our outstanding individual Residential College Councils, Racer Jam was organized this year by committees consisting of members across colleges,” Jones said.

“These committees each took on a different role within the planning of the event – publicity, food, activities, T-shirts, clean up and set up – and we are so incredibly grateful for all of their work.”

RCA, a branch of the Student Government Association, handed out T-shirts to the first 100 attendees at Racer Jam and Murray State sophomore Clint Draper

see Racer Jam, page 3

D ionte B erry/ T h e N ew s T he F amily R oom opened in the Women’s Center in Spring 2 0 2 0 .

Lactation rooms open for faculty, students, staff

D i ont e B erry N ews Editor db erry1 1 @murraystate.edu On-campus accommodations have been made for lactating mothers with the creation of three spaces that allow for chestfeeding and pumping in private settings with necessary supplies.

The establishment of lactation rooms comes nearly two years after former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin signed the Kentucky Pregnant Workers Act. The act put into law that employers should accommodate pregnant employees and have designated lactation spaces that are private, comfortable and not a restroom stall.

Murray State’s Women’s Facult y Caucus star ted advocating for a lactation area in 2018.

SG A , led by President Ian Puck et, has been a maj or proponet in pushing for 8 0 %

Associate Professor of Spanish Tanya Romero-Gonzalez was a part of the inception of the Women’s Faculty Caucus in 2016 and was one of the Caucus members who advocated for the on-campus lactation space.

“We started this process in 2018 in one of the committees of the WFC,” Romero-Gonzalez said. “It was started by the Work Life Balance Committee and we presented an evidence based petition to the Insurance and Benefits Committee that listed the benefits of having a lactation room on campus.”

Romero-Gonzalez said some of the benefits of a lactation room named in the petition were an increase in quality research and i n c re a s e d s t u d e n t re t e n t i o n .

Along with these benefits, it was required by law and Murray State was

not meeting that requirement. Romero-Gonzalez said most faculty members would have to express their milk in their offices. Not everyone is comfortable with doing that and not all faculty members have private offices.

“Murray State would have to provide a room and they would have to work with the Institutional Diversity, Equity and Access Office because it was an official accommodation,” Romero-Gonzalez said. “I know people that use a different room than their office, but not every space is equipped with what they need. That is why having an official space is important because we don’t want any obstacles in fulfilling lactation needs.”

In advocating for the lactation room, the Caucus worked with

see Lactation, page 2

Incentives aim to boost campus vaccination rate

Winners will have the choice of a 2021-22 parking pass, a $200 gift certificate to the Unive r si t y S t o re o r $ 2 0 0 i n fl e x Murray S tate students, and dining dollars. 5 students faculty and staff will have the will have the chance to upgrade opportunity to submit their vac- their parking pass to a blue zone.

Student group categories, such cination cards as part of a new incentive program announced as sororities, fraternities, residenby the University on Aug. 23. tial colleges, student government S t u d e n t s , f a c u l t y a n d s t a f f organizations, campus minisc a n u p l o a d t h e i r c o m p l e t - tries and athletic teams, have the ed vaccination c ards through chance to win $1,000 for their myGate for a chance to re, page 3 see ceive one of three prizes.

J i ll S mi t h Contributing Writer j smi th 1 9 4 @murraystate.edu

D ionte B erry/ T h e N ew s v accination rate.

Incentives

2

NEWS

Reserve the Lactation Room

G rapthese h i c C ourtesy of th e C ollege of E duc ati on To reserve a time follow steps: T he Q R code leads to a G oogle Calendar where reserv ations for the lactation room can be made.

1. Use the appointment calendar to select your day and The Caucus also worked with the from(You pagecan1 also reserve time. (QR Code) a time by emailing Women’s Center in establishing the tdarnell@murraystate.edu or checking in at the Dean's Office.) and reached out to several other cam-

Lactation,

P h otos b y J ayden H ayn Photos of the L actation R oom in A lex ander H all.

Photos of the L actation R oom in B lack burn Science B uilding.

Sept. 2, 2021

D i on te B erry/ T h e N ew s

Lactation Room. However the Wompus groups. The Caucus reached out en’s Center has made further strides in 2. Enter your namethe or Beneinitals in the ‘what’ click to school administration, supporting the field goal ofand a more caregivsave. fits Committee, Human Resources er friendly environment on campus. and the ADVANCE Team in order to The Family Room is a multipurpose get the towards fulfill3. wheels Checkturning in at the CoEHS Dean's Office toOakley be let Applied into theScience room in the ing on-campus needs and inclusivity. Building. The room can be used as a room.

For Romero-Gonzalez, establishing child friendly space and lactation space. the lactation room is a part of a bigger Compared to the Blackburn space, the mission of creating an environment that Family Room is first come first serve is more accomodating for caregivers. and does not require any reservations.

“We want to have support for facAcross 16th Street there is anulty who are caregiving because it is other lactation space in Alexander hard right now to do our jobs with Hall that was constructed almost young children in the middle of the overnight, two nights to be exact. pandemic,” Romero-Gonzalez said.

The lactation room was spearAssociate Professor of Sociology headed by Tamela Darnell, the busiDiane Nititham was a part of the ness administrative manager for the advocacy efforts for a lactation room. College of Education and Human As a mother, Nititham has had Services and the building coordinator, her own experiences with need- and Amy Levering, the Administraing to lactate while on campus. tion Assistant to the Dean’s Office and In 2017, she had an experience she de- the Event Coordinator for the College. scribes as “odd” and said many other fac“I was on maternity leave, and when ulty and staff have had similar experiences. I came back, Amy and our previous ad“I was attending a faculty summit in min had come up and talked to me the fall before school began and I had about an idea of doing a lactation room asked if there was a space to pump be- and then it kind of went nowhere,” Darcause I was supposed to be in the Cur- nell said. “The Friday before the semesris Center all day,” Nititham said. “I went ter started I went to Amy and I said, through my department chair who told ‘Let’s go find an office and just look for me to contact the Provost Office and a place,’ and then we found an office then I contacted the IDEA Office.” and then I said, ‘Amy lets just do this.’”

Nititham was told that there would Darnell and Levering moved chairs be an open office for her that would around from empty offices and be private and set up with the ma- made a trip to Dollar Tree to get a terials necessary for her lactation. rug, fake flowers and some snacks However, when she went to the office to and a refrigerator they borrowed set up, she saw that was far from the truth. from the Dean’s office in order to “The person’s office provided me with make it more comfortable and fula clear door and they just happened to filling for those using the room. be home sick so I do not know the plan “We got the room finalized in had the person been there,” Nititham about two days,” Darnell said. “We said. “I went in there and it was not set only did it because we had such up, so they had to move stuff off the ta- wonderful support from Dean Dable so I could put the pump on the table, vid Whaley. He was full on board and they went to the bathroom and said, and we asked him if we could make ‘We are going to improvise.’ And they this a permanent space he said yes.” got paper towel sheets and just taped it Once room 3103 was coverted, up on the door so I could have privacy.” Darnell made a post on Facebook The setting was not at all ideal for about it and received around 20,000 lactating. Her own experiences com- views. It caught such traction that bined with others is a part of the rea- people started making donations. son why Nititham saw advocat“A friend reached out to me ing for a lactation room as necessary. and she was like, ‘how do I do“It is important for our communi- nate?’,” Darnell said. “She donatty to provide lactation spaces for ed some money and we were able those who work here and live here to buy the lactation room sign in spaces that are welcoming instead that switches back and forth to of borrowed space,” Nititham said. show if it is available or in use.”

As a result of the advocacy from Those wanting to donate can Romero-Gonzalez, Nititham and the do so at the Murray State FounCaucus, there is a lactation room in dation website at bit.ly/coehsffe!.

Blackburn Science Building Room To sign up to use the room, there 153. The room can be reserved on a is a Google Calendar that can be acGoogle Calendar linked on the Wom- cessed from a QR code on the Lactaen’s Center page on murraystate.edu. tion Room fliers posted around cam“Blackburn was determined be- pus. Darnell and Levering are hoping cause it was under construction, but to use their experience with their ideally every building would have Lactation Room to advocate for more a lactation room, but we will start of these spaces on Murray State. with one,” Romero-Gonzalez said.

“It would be nice to have one Along with the Blackburn lac- towards the Business Building, tation room, the Women’s Cen- Sparks Hall, so there are good ter made a caregiver centered space spots on campus ever ywhere,” called the Family Room in Oak- L e ver ing said. “ We want stuley Applied Science Building. dents, faculty and staff, if they are The area can serve as a lacta- in a building that does not have tion space and is a child-friend- a space, we have a space for you. l y p l a c e a t M u r r a y S t a t e . You are welcome to use our space.”

NEWS

Sept. 2, 2021

3

P h otos c ourtesy of C h elsea J on es

Students on Springer L awn enj oying R acer J am festiv ities.

Racer Jam, from page 1 performed live music. The members of RCA had cornhole and volleyball games for attendees, and a 20-foot inflatable water slide and 70-foot inflatable obstacle course were available for use. A slime tank was provided by Residential College Leader Aaliyah Harrell and her family. Food was provided, including a vegan option and snow cones provided by Regents College.

Although this event was the first of its kind, Jones said RCA hopes this becomes an annual event for all the residential colleges.

“Planning for Racer Jam first began in the spring of 2020, prior to the pandemic, between the former RCA and SGA presidents,” Jones said. “Unfortunately, because of COVID-19 and the regulations in place in the fall of 2020, RCA, like many other organizations, cancelled our plans for large-scale events. We were excited to bring the idea to life for the first time this year.”

Jones said RCA strives to follow and enforce the University ’s COVID-19 guidelines regarding activities and e vents.

The University’s policy says face masks or coverings are not required outdoors for vaccinated individuals and unvaccinated individuals should wear masks when around others.

I n t h e f a l l , RCA o r g a n i z e s the Homecoming L obby Decoration Contest in which residential colleges can compete.

Jones said last year the theme was Halloween Movies and the 2019 theme was “S tar Wars. ”

Incentives, from page 1 organization to be used for programming needs.

Of the student body, 15.8% are affiliated with Greek life.

Puckett is one of those students, and they are all looking toward having social events again.

“Of course those are permitted this semester, if we’re able to keep that self-responsibil ity in check,” Puckett said.

I want to make sure we have no looming possibility of restrictions.

— Ian Puckett, SGA President

Puckett said his biggest role in helping with the incentive was providing input to the

Hanging of the Green is RCA’s winter program, which is a collaboration between the residential colleges and Murray State staff. D uring this program, each residential college hosts a n e ve n t i n t h e C u r r i s C e n ter that is welcome to staff and their family, as well as students.

“RCA is involved in supporting individual residential colleges in any way that we can, as well as building par tnerships with other organizations on campus and providing opportunities for student leaders to learn more about various facets of the University,” Jones said.

Jones, who is a junior nursing major, began her involvement in RCA in the spring of 2020. She was selected as president through the SGA’s election process and officially given the title on Apr. 30 at the end-of-the-year banquet.

S G A E l e c t i o n Wa y s - A n d Means Chair Konner Kirkwood said all prospective candidates must fill out an application to run for office. The application s c a n be f ound online as well as in the Center for Student Involvement Office on the first floor of the Curris Center.

The first step in the process is to screen the applicants and check that they meet the GPA requirement. Then an informational meeting is held to explain the details of the campaign and election process. This meeting is required for applicants, but a proxy can be appointed in their place.

Elections are held over MyGate.

“Some positions have multiple representatives and senators, while others, like RCA president, are only held by one person during the term,” Kirkwood said.

“After the positions are filled, any vacant positions are filled to the best of the executive board’s abilities. The RCA president is present at weekly Senate meetings in order to give reports about what is discussed and planned at RCA meetings. Furthermore, RCA and SGA presidents both attend the Presidents’ Dinner every week.”

As president, Jones said she is expected to participate as an executive member of SGA and be a liaison between SGA and the residential colleges, oversee RCA business, hold roundtable discussions for the RCC president and represent Murray State at the state, regional and national level.

Before being elected as president, Jones ser ved many roles in the residential colleges.

Jones lived in both Eliz abeth Residential College and Hester before moving off campus. D uring her time at Elizabeth, she became a desk clerk.

“I then applied to be a Resi d e n t A d v i s o r, r e c e i v i n g a n o f f e r f ro m H e s t e r t h a t I e x cited l y accepted, ” Jones said. “ W hen I moved off campus, I wanted to continue to be in volved, so I remained on RCA and bec ame the Desk S uper visor of Richmond College.

Although my class schedule does not allow for me to hold these positions anymore, I continue to work as a desk c lerk in the residential colleges.”

Jones said during her time in Hester, there was an open position for National Communications Leader and Vice President of Leadership and Development on RCA’s executive board.

Jones said she was interested, so she presented herself in

front of the RCA’s general body and was voted onto the board.

“As our previous president was graduating in the spring, I knew it was time to step up and fill her shoes,” Jones said. “I have a great love for the residential side of campus and wanted to do everything I could to make it better for our students, so I decided to run for president! If you s e e a n e e d , I a l w ay s e n c o u r age you to fill it—especially if it ’s in an area you care about!”

Jones said there are many ways to get involved in RCA and in the residential colleges. Involvement with RCA starts with an individual’s RCC. Each RCC has two RCA representatives who attend the RCA meetings. The representatives vote on behalf of their residential college communities and share their events and plans with other leaders.

“S o attend your Residential College Council meetings, talk to your current RCC leadership and feel free to join us on Mondays at 5 p.m. in the Barkley Room of the Curris Center for our weekly RCA meetings,” Jones said.

“They are open to everyone! We would welcome anyone to participate in Racer Jam and our other events throughout the year!”

Jones said the RCA is working on a Hal loween progr am and will collaborate with other student organizations for programs throughout the semester.

The main upcoming event is H om e c om i n g 2 0 2 1 , w h i c h i s scheduled for Oct. 22-24. RCA will be planning its Homecomi n g L o b by D e c o r a t i o n C o n test for residential colleges to participate in. The theme will be announced at a later date.

administration and ensuring that as many student organizations were included as possible.

“I wanted to make sure that as many student organizations were inc luded bec ause diver sit y initiatives were a par t of my campaign,” Puckett said.

Puckett said the Residential College Association needed to be a part of this incentive program along with Greek life and student government organizations bec ause the y have been working the front lines since the beginning of the pandemic.

“They are really on the front lines of this,” Puckett said. “RA’s have an incredibl y s t r e s s f u l j o b, a n d t h e y h a v e to make sure masks are bein g wor n a n d that people are taking care of themselves.”

The incentive will give administrators more insight over how many people are vaccinated on campus.

Robertson said a decision hasn’t been made to his knowledge about running reports to show how many students, faculty and staff have submitted vaccination cards, but he could see a repor t similar to the weekly report of COVID-19 cases. “ We a r e j u s t t r y i n g t o g e t an idea of what our numbers look like f or one t hi ng, ” Robertson said. “More importantly we are doing all this to reall y get more people to get the vaccine, but obviously we’ ll feel more comfortable if our data shows t h a t we ’re a t 7 0 % t h a n i t w i l l b e i f i t ’s s h o w i n g 5 0 % . ”

Executive Director of Mar keting and Communicat i on s S h a w n To u n e y s a i d t h e cost of this incentive is expected to be approximatel y $ 2 5 , 0 0 0 . To u n e y s a i d t h i s i n c e n t i v e i s b e i n g f u n d e d by a one-time university fund.

It is vitally important for our campus community to be vaccinated since this is our best defense against COVID-19.

— Shawn Touney, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications

Students, faculty and staff will have until Monday, Oct. 4 to submit their vaccination cards.

OPINION

4

Sept. 2, 2021

Help the Afghan people The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board Gab e S t ef f en O pinion Editor gstef f en @murraystate.edu On Aug. 14, President Joe Biden announced he intended to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.

The day after, the Taliban successfully took Kabul, causing the entire country to fall under their rule. On Tuesday, Aug. 31, the last American troops stationed in Afghanistan left, officially ending a 20-year war. Despite all of this, innocent people remain in Afghanistan who are under attack. What can we do to help these innocent people attempting to escape?

Was it the right thing for Biden to withdraw the troops from Afghanistan? There are many differing opinions. Some say he shouldn’t have withdrawn troops, as this will put the United States in danger of a terrorist attack. Others say it’s good we withdrew, as we were just using funding and resources to beat a dead horse, the dead horse being the threat of a terrorist attack.

We on the Editorial Board believe that withdrawing the troops was the right thing to do. Not only were we using resources and funding that could be used elsewhere, we were putting soldiers at risk.

Just by withdrawing, we lost thirteen soldiers to a suicide bombing just outside of Kabul Airport. How many more would we have lost if we hadn’t withdrawn?

Who is under attack in Afghanistan right now? With the Taliban having control over the entire country, who is most at risk of being jailed or put to death because of the Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia law? You may be asking, “What is Sharia law?” According

to Laws.com, Sharia law is religious law set by the Quran, the Islamic holy book. Some of the attributes found in Sharia law include the inferiority of women and the harsh punishment for homosexuality, which includes death for a four-time offender. One example of Sharia law is if a woman is sexually assaulted and ends up pregnant, she can be sentenced to death because she conceived a child out of wedlock, while the man who assaulted her usually walks free.

Preliminary reports indicateKentucky is receiving about 775 Afghan refugees. According to the Courier Journal, Louisville is set to get about 350 refugees, Lexington 125, Bowling Green 200 and Owensboro up to 100. These are people who have helped the American soldiers in Afghanistan, whether as translators, guides or as soldiers.These people have done so much to help our country, and the

least we can do is offer them food and shelter in their time of need.

While most refugees have traveled on foot to Pakistan and Iran, those who remain need a place to go. According to the American University in Washington, D.C, the U.S. has only received about 1,600 refugees. We could accept so many more refugees, especially for all the support these people have shown our country. So what can we do to help?

Donating to organizations that help support Afghan families in their time of need is one way you can help. Some organizations that you can donate to include the International Rescue Committee, a non-profit organization that has been assisting people whose lives have been ripped apart by conflict in Third World countries. If you’d prefer to donate to a more local organization, you can donate to the Kentucky Refugee Ministry, an-

other nonprofit that helps refugees resettle and feel welcome in their time of need. If you can’t donate, email the White House and urge President Biden to protect Afghans in need. Even just taking the time to read and learn about the situation in Afghanistan can really help you understand why they are in dire need of help. Educating yourself leads to educating others, and others may be able to help!

The Afghan people need our help to evacuate from the dangerous situation that has taken over the country of Afghanistan.

Whether you can help or not, it’s important to educate yourself and others in order to spread correct information about who needs help and why they need help. What’s happening over in Afghanistan is dangerous, and we need to help the people who have helped the U.S.

single and title track of the album, “Solar Power.” The song is another example of the Lorde we can expect throughout the album, featuring just an acoustic guitar and Lorde’s voice for the first minute. This track discusses a happy beach day with friends, a very different subject matter for O’Connor but a nice change of pace as well.The following three tracks, “California,” “Stoned at the Nail Salon” and “Fallen Fruit,” discuss O’Connor’s feelings towards the stereotypical superstar life. In “California,” she discusses how she doesn’t want the “California love” or the bottles of alcohol or regretful times that come with being a superstar living in California.

“Stoned at the Nail Salon” is all about how she doesn’t want to fit in with the beautiful girls just to win the boy over. “Fallen Fruit” is her finding the guy she wants and how they dance on those fallen fruits lying beneath them on the ground. We also get a booming 808 bass in the background of this song, perhaps calling back to her roots. Maybe she’s getting comfortable with this new guy and letting her old self through for him to see. “Secrets From a Girl” is a slight change of pace with a slightly faster beat. The lyrics are Lorde talking to her teenage self, warning her of the danger ahead. She talks about how she shouldn’t waste the days away and to make the most of everything. The outro of the track

details everything her teenage self can expect and ends with her seeming to say that everything will turn out alright.We take a look back at Lorde’s love interest in the next three tracks: “The Man with the Axe,” “Dominoes” and “Big Star.” “The Man with the Axe” discusses how O’Connor believed she was living the perfect life until she met this boy who changed her path. No matter how much she didn’t want him, she couldn’t help but love him. “Dominoes” is all about how the boy has moved on now, going to festivals with this new girl, no longer doing the hard drugs he did in the past. He’s completely changed, and O’Connor has noticed, saying, “It must feel good to be Mr. Start Again.” Finally, “Big Star” plays as a backstory to the relationship as Lorde calls the relationship a “summer fling” and says all summers must come to an end. The boy has now moved on and has become a big star.The final three songs are all about the future as Lorde looks to move on from this old life. On “New Regime,” she talks about the need for a leader of this new regime as she steps down to live out her dreams. “Mood Ring,” the eleventh track and perhaps most popular album release, discusses Lorde’s new life on her island, the one she’s wanted to escape to for years. Though the song is a happier sounding track with a catchy bridge and chorus, the lyrics

are about how she keeps checking her mood ring to find her feeling as she can’t feel anything now that she’s finally escaped her life of stardom.

The closer for Solar Power comes in the form of “Oceanic Feeling.” This six minute, 39 second epic is a perfect wrap up for the album. In the song, O’Connor looks back at her past as a whole, wondering what could have been done differently. What if she had never dated that one guy? What has life brought me? She then looks at the future, questioning what her daughter will be like and whether she will look like O’Connor. The track comes to an end with Lorde accepting her new life on the island, with the help of some backup vocals from Marlon Williams. Solar Power is all about Lorde attempting to move on from her old life, warning her past self about the troubles to come in her life, then finally moving on and living her dream island life with her friends and family. The record plays out like a high schooler moving on to college, regretting her past and finally moving on to her dream life. It’s a message that many teenagers can relate to right now. The album is an overall enjoyable experience, despite the different tone Lorde takes on the album. I give Solar Power an 8/10 as it is a great album to end your summer with, no matter what issue you may have faced in the summer months.

so many times before.

The News Reviews: The Power in ‘Solar Power’

J ak ob Mi lani Sports Editor j mi li an i @murraystate.edu

In a year full of surprise releases from artists of all kinds, Lorde has added to the already powerful year of music with her newest album, “Solar Power”.

Many people have been awaiting the return of New Zealand native Ella Yelich-O’Connor, better known as Lorde. The last time we heard from the pop-sensation was her critically acclaimed 2017 album, “Melodrama”.

Since then, O’Connor had gone quiet, with very little social media activity in that time.Now, after almost two years of the world being stuck in a pandemic, Lorde has delivered her third studio album, Solar Power. This album, produced by singer/songwriter and producer Jack Antonoff, is a far different record compared to the Lorde people have come to love. Although the sound is different from previous projects, the subject is still something people can relate to, especially the high school demographic.The album kicks off with, “The Path.” Almost immediately, you can hear the difference in production and overall feeling. We no longer hear the 808s and keys of “Royals,” but instead, we get acoustic guitars and some light drums. Lorde’s typical background vocals appear on the track, helping the lyrics feel very impactful. From here, we get the lead

Editorial Board

Dionte Berry News Editor dberry11@murraystate.edu

Emery Wainscott Lifestyles Editor ewainscott@murraystate.edu

Gabe Steffen Opinion Editor gsteffen@murraystate.edu

Pam Goodwin Chief Copy Editor pgoodwin1@murraystate.edu

Kate Manley Ad Sales Manager kmanley2@murraystate.edu

Sam Stewart Photo Editor sstewart26@murraystate.edu

Joey Reynolds Chief Videographer jreynolds38@murraystate.edu

Jakob Milani Sports Editor jmilani@murraystate.ediu

Dr. Carol Terracina-Hartman Faculty Adviser cterracinahartman@murraystate.edu

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Sept. 2, 2021

SPORTS

5

P h oto c ourtesy of J usti n e E rtl, R ac er A th leti c s Senior libero B ecca F ernandez mak es one of her many sav es against N ew H ampshire during the M ercer B ear Classic in M acon, G eorgia, on F riday, A ug. 2 7 .

Volleyball takes two games in first tourney R ac h el E sner Staff Writer resn er1 @murraystate.edu The Murray State volleyball team opened its season with a pair of wins in the Mercer Bear Classic in Macon, Georgia, on Friday, Aug. 27 vs. the University of New Hampshire and Stetson University and Mercer University.

Game One

The Racers took the first match of the season, winning 3-1 against New Hampshire. Murray State opened the set with a 9-2 run with service aces from senior outside hitter Emily Matson and kills from junior outside hitter Alysha Smith, redshirt senior middle blocker Kolby McClelland, freshman outside hitter Brooke Lynne Watts and sophomore outside hitter Morgan Price. The Racers kept their momentum, pulling ahead to 22-10, but traded points until two more kills from Watts brought them out on top at 25-12 The second set saw more scoring from both teams as it tied at 8-8 early on. The Racers were able to pull ahead 17-13 with two kills from Price and one from Smith.

A 7-2 run with kills from McClelland, Smith, Watts and senior libero Becca Fernandez helped the Racers to close out the set 25-20.

The Racers and the Wildcats went back-and-forth during the third set, tying the score a total of 12 times.

With the teams tied at 23, a service error from Matson and a Wildcats service ace put New Hampshire on top, winning the set 25-23. Watts tallied seven kills during the set while Smith added three.

The fourth set was a battle be-

tween the two teams, with both teams fighting for every point.

Both teams went on a 4-0 run to tie the score at 13. The teams traded points to tie the game at 25. With a kill from Watts and a block from Price and freshman setter Bailey DeMier, the Racers took the set 27-25.

Watts led the Racers in kills, collecting 25 while Smith tallied nine, McClelland added seven and Price finished with six. DeMier totaled 31 assists and 17 digs while Fernandez collected 15 digs to grab the Racers’ first win of the season.

The Racers did not let the loss of the previous set affect their game.

After four straight points, Murray State pulled ahead 8-4.

Stetson tried to decrease the gap, coming within four points of the Racers at 17-13, but a 6-2 run from Murray State strengthened their lead to 23-15.

With back-to-back kills from sophomore outside hitter Jayla Holcombe and sophomore middle blocker Darci Metzger, the Racers took the set 25-15 and the match 3-1.

For the second game in a row, Watts led the Racers in kills with 21, followed by McClelland with Game Two eight and Holcombe, Price and Murray State collected thei Smith with seven. DeMier finsecond win of the season vs. ished with 51 assists and 17 digs Stetson immediately after while Fernandez collected 35 digs. their first game, winning 3-1.

Game Three Murray State opened the first set with a 7-3 run against the Hatters On Saturday, Aug. 28, the Racwith kills from Matson, McClel- ers played in their final match land, Watts and DeMier. A 5-0 of the Classic against Mercer run put the Racers ahead 14-7. University, where the Racers Stetson was able to come within saw the first loss of the season. two points of the Racers at 23-21, Murray State took an early but with one kill from McClel- lead in the first set, keeping the land and one from Matson, Mur- leverage until a 4-0 run from ray State closed out the set 25-22. the Bears tied the score at 14.

The Racers carried their moThe teams went back-andmentum into the second set, forth with the Bears, taking opening with a 10-4 run. The the slight advantage and ultiHatters fought back with a 6-2 mately winning the set 25-22. run, but still trailed the RacMurray State fought back in ers 18-15. Murray State scored the second set, jumping out to a three points in a row with a kill quick 14-8 lead over the Bears. from Smith to take the set 25-18.

The Racers never looked back Set three took a turn, with as they closed out the set 25Stetson taking the early lead at 17 with kills from McClel11-7. With a 9-3 run, the Hat- land, DeMier, Watts, Fernanters expanded their lead to 21-14. dez, Holcombe and freshman But, Murray State tried to pull outside hitter Alexa Harris. themselves back into the game, usThe third set was a bating a 7-3 run to make the score 24- tle between the teams with 21 but with a kill from the Hatters, both teams trading points.

Murray State lost the set 25-21.

The Bears used a 4-0 run

to gain the lead at 17-12, but the Racers fought back with a 4-0 run of their own to tie the score at 19. The teams went back-and-forth until tying the score at 25. Mercer, however, was able to score back-to-back points to win the set 27-25.

Murray State bounced back, opening the fourth set by scoring the first four points. The Bears were able to come back and tie the score at 10, but the Racers scored five straight points to regain the lead at 19-13. Four kills from Holcombe secured the set for the Racers, 25-19.

With the teams tied 2-2 in sets, the Bears opened the fifth set with a 5-1 run to take the early lead. The Racers were able to fight back with kills from Harris, Holcombe, Watts and McClelland to tie the score at 11.

However, a 4-1 run from the Bears secured the set, causing the Racers to lose the final set 15-12.

Watts hit the leaderboard again with 23 kills while Holcombe finished with 17. DeMier tallied 54 assists and 12 digs with Fernandez contributing 19 digs.

Murray State brought its overall record to 2-1. Fernandez moved up to third on Murray State’s AllTime Digs list, passing Kim Koehler (1991) with 2,002 career digs.

In addition, Watts was named the OVC Offensive and Newcomer of the Week, leading the OVC and second in the nation with 69 kills after her week with the Racers.

The Racers next will head to Saint Louis, Missouri, on Friday, September 3-4 to compete in the Billiken Invitational against University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Arkansas State University and Saint Louis University, beginning at 3:30 p.m.

Soccer starts season with back-to-back wins

R ac h el E ssner Staff Writer ressn er1 @murraystate.edu The Murray State soccer team travelled to Xavier University on Sunday, Aug. 29, where the Racers suffered their first loss of the 2021 season, falling 2-1.

The Musketeers were the first to make it on the scoreboard with a goal from freshman forward Shelby Sallee in the 25th minute of the first half.

Only three minutes later, the Musketeers doubled their score with a goal from senior forward Sarah Owusu to end the half with Xavier leading 2-0.

The Racers scored their lone goal of the second half in the 17th minute after junior midfielder Lauren Payne found the back of the net on a penalty shot, her second goal of the season.

Murray State was not able to score again, leading the Musketeers

to take the game 2-1 and bringing the Racers’ overall record to 2-1.

The Racers ended the match with nine total shots and five on goal, while the Musketeers had 22 shots with nine on goal.

Junior goalkeeper Jenna Villacres finished the match with seven saves while Xavier’s senior goalkeeper Olivia Jenkins finished with four.

The Racers will travel to Boca Raton, Florida on Friday, Sept. 3, to take on Florida Atlantic University at 7 p.m.

P h oto c ourtesy of R ac er A th leti c s J unior midfielder L auren Payne tak es one of her two shots against X av ier.

Graphic: Pam Goodwin/TheNews Stats courtesy of Racer Athletics

SPORTS

6

Sept. 2, 2021

Johnny Reagan Field readies for renovations

P h oto c ourtesy of R ac er A th leti c s J ohnny R eagan F ield look s to get maj or renov ations in the near future.

J ak ob Mi lani Sports Editor j mi lan i @murraystate.edu The Murray State Athletics Facility Master Plan focuses on the conditions of stadiums student athletes perform in and now attention has turned towards the baseball team.

The Murray State baseball team currently plays at Johnny Reagan Field, located between the CFSB Center and Roy Stewart Stadium.

They relocated to the spot in 1989 after leaving Murray State Field.

Head Coach Dan Skirka said the upcoming improvements will help bring in more recruits, making Murray State a bigger destination for baseball players.

“Everything we’re talking about for Reagan Field just goes to make our already beautiful campus even better and the experience for our players and the fans is raised to a higher level and that’s exciting,” Skirka said.

Johnny Reagan Field is one of the newest and best looking stadiums in the OVC and the Athletics Facility Master Plan is looking to upgrade it even more.

The plan looks to upgrade the grass on the field to a new state-of-the-art artificial playing turf. The reasoning behind this is

to help with the weather issue that Johnny Regan Field has had for many years as many games and practices have been canceled because of inclement weather.

The new surface also will help with hosting youth camps and baseball events to bring in more revenue. The plan also includes a new video board, new bathrooms in the dugouts and around the field and an area for tailgating in right field.

Future plans for the baseball team also include a new indoor hitting and fielding facility with a couple of options.

One option includes building a new facility that would host two-thirds of Murray State athletics on campus, including football, baseball and softball.

Senior infielder Jordan Holly said he’s excited to put in more work in the winter months, when the team normally wouldn’t be able to practice.

“The hours we put in at practice isn’t enough if you want to be the best you can be,”said Holly.“However, getting outside is just not possible at times in the winter and our season begins in late February.

When we get an indoor place to practice, it’s going to be great for the program.”

These new additions look to improve not just the players abilities, but also the overall gameday experience for fans and players. There currently is no time table for when the renovations will take place.

Pam Goodwin/TheNews

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Sept. 2, 2021

LIFESTYLE

7

Interfraternity Council welcomes newcomers

Chapters honor freshmen in fall Bid Night E mery W ai nsc ot t L ifestyle Editor ew ai n sc ott@murraystate.edu Murray State’s Interfraternity Council hosted its twice-yearly Bid Night for newcomers on Saturday, Aug. 28 at Roy Stewart Stadium.

Bid Night is the final event in a week of recruitment. During recruitment, newcomers visit different fraternities as part of Rush Week, usually after Kickoff.

“The two big events that the IFC puts on are Kickoff, which is like a big meet-and-greet, so that everyone can gain information about the events that each fraternity will put on in between Kickoff and Bid Day,” said IFC Recruitment Chair Mason Welden.

At the end of Rush Week, chapters vote on each person interested in their fraternity and extend a bid to those upon whom they agree, so some newcomers can receive multiple bids.

Bid Day is the day when each invitee accepts or declines bid offers.

“We try to get all the new guys to attend Kickoff so that they can get a grasp of each fraternity and determine who they want to learn more about during the recruitment process,” Welden said.

“These events which fraternities put on range from an informational night with alumni speaking to playing kickball, going out on the lake or even going to play paintball.”

When I met the brothers of Alpha Sigma Phi, they felt like home.

— Mason Welden, recruitment chair for the IFC

Potential new members will then attend Bid Night, where they are welcomed by the fraternity they chose. At this year’s Bid Night, Welden said the members arrived and were presented with their bids privately in the Racer Room, where they made their decision. The new members then gathered with

others who accepted a bid from the same fraternity and ran out of the stadium’s tunnel and onto the field. Welden said at this point, yelling and excitement took place as the groups were jumping up and down in celebration.

Welden said his Bid Day took place in the Curris Center Ballroom instead of outdoors.

“We ran from the hall into the ballroom to where the brotherhood could greet us,” said Welden, who is a member of Alpha Sigma Phi. Ian Nation, a freshman wildlife and conservation biology major who joined Sigma Phi Epsilon, said he accepted his bid because he felt welcomed from very early on.

“I would have been crazy not to,” Nation said. “There isn’t a better fraternity on campus or in the state of Kentucky. All of the men in the fraternity are honorable and are intelligent members of society… Bid Night was an absolute blast.”

After Bid Night, new members are enrolled in a member education program. The program teaches the members about the history of the fraternity and their motto, slogan and tenets.

“Programs can range anywhere from a few weeks up to an entire semester,” Welden said. “Now I cannot speak on behalf of everyone’s initiation process because those are things which remain within the walls of the fraternity, but once initiated, these new members will be considered brothers.”

Welden said although sorority recruitment is much different, the process for sorority Bid Night is similar to the IFC’s.

Both sororities and fraternities host mixers where members of both chapters participate in activities such as hayrides and movie nights. They also work together during Homecoming to build a float for the parade.

During all of these mostly outdoor events, Welden said COVID-19 guidelines were followed. The Executive Council of the IFC was assigned a fraternity each night where they checked to ensure that all guidelines were

S am S tew art/ T he N ews T wo students cheer for Pi K appa A lpha members at B id N ight on Saturday, A ug. 2 8 .

being followed, he said.

Welden said he didn’t rush until after he transferred to Murray State. In high school, Welden said he was very involved as a member of Future Farmers of America and played soccer and baseball. When he graduated in 2019, he attended the University of Kentucky where he said he focused strictly on school.

Here at Murray State, Welden is an agronomy major and in his junior year.

“When I transferred to Murray I knew that I needed to get involved,” Welden said. “When I met the brothers of Alpha Sigma Phi they felt like home. They liked me for who I was and were genuine during rush week and the weeks following.”

Since joining the fraternity, Welden has risen to a leadership role and was encouraged to get involved in other student organizations.

Elections for the IFC are in mid-November of each year.

Welden said he ran for recruitment chair by giving a speech and was then elected for a year term.

Part of Welden’s duties as

recruitment chair is planning the formal week of recruitment for fall and spring semesters. Welden does this by attending weekly meetings and informing all 10 fraternities on plans and updates.

As part of the IFC, he helps plan Bid Day and Kickoff. Any other events are the responsibility of each fraternity.

“There are rules that all the fraternities have to follow,” Welden said. “They are addressed in the IFC meeting prior to Rush Week starting. The main ones are no alcohol, tobacco or illegal substances to be partaken during rush events or with these potential new members at any time between Kickoff and Bid Day, and no talking bad about any other fraternities to influence these incoming students.”

If students are interested in joining a fraternity after Bid Night, Welden said they must meet a GPA requirement, which differs for each fraternity and can be found on the IFC’s Instagram, @ifcmurraystate. If a candidate meets all requirements, fraternities can extend snap bids or 365-bids, which are valid for a year.

Journalism students share their off-campus pastimes E ri nn F i nley Contributing Writer ef i n ley1 @murraystate.edu The Murray State journalism department attracts a wide range of students. Junior agricultural communications major Luke Wood and sophomore organizational communications major Ocean Ballard talked with The News about their hobbies outside of class.

Wood said he plans to apprentice with an auctioneer after he earns his bachelor’s degree. Over the summer, he attended the Worldwide College of Auctioneering, an eight-day program that lasted 12 hours each day.

Never be afraid to reach out and make connections because you never know where they can take you and that goes for any field.

— Luke Wood, junior in agricultural communications

Wood says his major helps him improve his communication skills,

which ties into auctioneering. He also said the program helped him develop connections within the world of auctioneering.

“My experience at auctioneer school is one of those things that I will never take for granted,” Wood said. “We made friends that were like family. Those long days and even longer nights will always mean something to me. It was one of the best things I’ve done in my life.”

The process for obtaining an auctioneer license involves applying then apprenticing with a licensed auctioneer for two years and then testing.

Wood chose this career, in part, because of his grandfather.

“My grandfather died of COVID in 2020 and he always wanted me to try the school and look into the field,” Wood said. “I decided to honor his wish and look into it and I can say I truly fell in love with the profession.”

Wood said the most interesting thing he discovered in the industry was that everyone wants to see you be great. He said they want to help you succeed and achieve what is best for you.

Wood said that if someone is

thinking about going to auctioneer school, it isn’t a choice one will regret.

“Never be afraid to reach out and make connections because you never know where they can take you and that goes for any field,” Wood said.

“I know it sounds generic, but you should go find out for yourself.”

Ballard is also making her home at Murray State. She transferred from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, to Murray State because Miami University lacked a rodeo team.

Ballard said she has been riding horseback since before she could walk.

“My family has always rode and competed so I started out very early,” Ballard said.

Barrel racing and pole bending are part of her family’s tradition. Her dad competed in barrel racing and pole bending, as did her cousins.

She is fairly new to the rodeo scene, but says she has been going to barrel races and American Quarter Horse Association shows for many years.

Ballard competes in barrel racing, stake racing and pole bending.

Barrel racing consists of running a horse in a clover-leaf pattern around

three barrels. Pole bending involves running a weaving pattern through a straight line of poles. A stake race involves running around two poles in a figure-eight pattern. All three events are timed events.

She made it to the American Quarter Horse Association Youth World Show in Oklahoma in 2019, getting to the finals in stake racing and pole bending.

Ballard also qualified for finals in the National Barrel Horse Association Youth World Shows.

Ballard owns a six-year-old quarter horse, named Rockin’ H. King, nicknamed “Boujee.” She bought him as a two-year-old and said she trained him herself.

“I would just like to thank the entire team for being so welcoming and friendly,” Ballard said. “I can’t wait for the college rodeo to start up.”

The Murray State rodeo team’s first rodeo will be at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri, from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25.

The rodeo team is selling banners to help with travel expenses. Anyone interested can email oceanballard@ icloud.com.

LIFESTYLE

8

Sept. 2, 2021

‘Minari’ tops Cinema International fall film lineup The organization’s series seeks to promote tolerance Mason Galemore Contributing Writer mgalemore@murraystate.edu Cinema International held its first screening with “Minari” on Thursday, Aug. 26.

The Korean-American film starring Steven Yeun explores the challenges and feats of immigrants through the perspective of the Yi Family. In the film, the family moves to Arkansas in 1983 to farm a Korean vegetable known as minari.

A.O. Scott, film reviewer for The New York Times, said the film is modest and simple.

“There is nothing small about it, though, because it operates at the true scale of life,” Scott said.

Cinema International chose the film because of the praise it received from critics, most notably at the Sundance Film Festival. The film also was chosen because of the common ground it shares with agrarian communities like Murray.

Cinema International not only introduces audiences to different cultures, but the event also shows films that convey deep-seated sociopolitical issues. “Minari” portrays what it means to be an immigrant while breaking down cultural barriers and stereotypes.

Associate Professor of French Thérèse Saint Paul leads Cinema International. She and a group of faculty analyze films and choose them based on critic’s reviews.

Saint Paul said the films shown

by Cinema International are not mainstream films and are largely not shown in theaters. She also said the films carry social impact while delivering an artistic cinematic experience.

“When choosing a movie, we

discuss its artistic form and its fall 2021 content,” Saint Paul said. “We then see how both parts work together to achieve a certain effect. We want the ADMISSION IS FREE! movie to be able to start a conversa- Students, faculty, staff and the community are invited | 7:30 p.m. | Curris Center Theater (Saturdays) & Barkley Room (Thursdays) – 3rd floor Curris Center thurs. aug. 26 (barkley) thurs. oct. 14 (barkley) Minari Retablo sat. aug. 28 (theater) sat. oct. 16 (theater) tion.”

Cinema International will take a break over Labor Day Weekend and will resume on Thursday, Sept. 9 with “Ema,” a 2019 Chilean drama directed by Pablo Larraín. The film stars several well-known Latino acthurs. oct. 21 (barkley) thurs. sept. 9 (barkley) CARAVAGGIO sat. oct. 23 (theater) sat. sept. 11 (theater) tors and actresses including Chilean Ema actress Mariana Di Girolamo and Mexican actor Gael García Bernal.

The movie follows Chilean dancer Ema and her complicated relationship with her husband, Gastón, and their adopted son, Polo. thurs. sept.16 (barkley) thurs. oct. 28 (barkley) More than Honey Bliss sat. sept. 18 (theater) Saint Paul said “Ema” breaks sat. oct. 30 (theater) down a lot of conventions, including bourgeois conventions and the notion of traditional family structures.

“It deals with self discovery and troubleshoots a lot of issues that I think a lot of people are confronted thurs. nov. 4 (barkley) The Secret World of Arrietty Public Trust | The Fight for by whether they live in Chile or thurs. sept. 23 (barkley) sat. nov. 6 (theater) America’s Public Lands sat. sept. 25 (theater) here in the U.S.” Saint Paul said.

Saint Paul said Cinema International will show any movies that are taboo or have provocative topics. This is because taboo topics are more likely to have sustained thurs. sept. 30 (barkley) thurs. nov. 11 (barkley) conversations and are more likely to Gemma Bovery Tangerines sat. oct. 2 (theater) Sat. nov. 13 (theater) incite social change.

However, Cinema International strays away from movies that are off-putting. Saint Paul said the films they show need a good mixture of Follow us on: provocateur and context.

“We spare nothing,” Saint Paul said. “It’s about putting things in the Photo courtesy of www.murraystate.edu.

Cinema International has nine more showings beginning with ‘Emma’ on Sept. 9 and 11. open to promote tolerance and to promote change in a positive way. the Andes Mountains in Peru. So Viewings are being held on ThursWe also have topics that deal with everything is connected and I like to days at 7:30 p.m. in the Barkley the LGBTQ community. For inshow that.”

Lecture Room and Saturdays at stance, one of the upcoming movies Cinema International is open to 7:30 p.m. in the Curris Center we are showing, follows the strugthe public and admissions are free.

Theater. gles of the LGBTQ community in

INEMA INTERNATIONAL

USA/ KOREA 2020

PERU 2017

Dir. Lee Isaac Chung With Steven Yeun,Yeri Han,Alan Kim,Noel Kate Cho, Scott Haze 115 mins. NR. A semi-autobiographical take on Chung’s upbringing during the 1980s. A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a KoreanAmerican family that moves to an Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.

Grand Jury Prize at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.

Dir. Alvaro Delgado Aparicio With Magaly Solier, Junior Béjar Roca, Amiel Cayo In Quechua & Spanish w/ English subtitles.

101 min. NR. The film follows Segundo (Junior Bejar Roca), a young boy in Ayacucho in rural Peru whose father Noé (Amiel Cayo) is training him in the family tradition of designing and building religious retablos, but whose secret homosexuality shatters Segundo’s world.

“Aparicio examines societal notions of masculinity, and how an artistic temperament can be both a vulnerability and a lifeline in a harsh world.” – Chicago Reader

CHILE 2019

UK 1986

Dir. Pablo Larraín.

With Mariana Do Girolamo and Gael Garcia Bernal.

Spanish with English subtitles.

102 minutes. R. From famed director Pablo Larrain (NO, Neruda) comes Ema. A reggaeton dancer sets out on an odyssey of personal liberation, in this incendiary drama about art, desire, and the tearing of the conventions of patriarchy and bourgeois family structures. Ema stands as a harbinger for the 2019 spirit of revolution. Beautifully filmed and powerfully acted, Ema puts a thoroughly distinctive spin on its story of emotional trauma and self-discovery.

Dir. Derek Jarman, With Nigel Terry, Tilda Swinton and Sean Bean In English/Italian. 90 min. R. Stunning movie telling the life of the celebrated 17th-century painter (1571-1610) through his brilliant paintings and his flirtations with the underworld. While his paintings reflected an increasingly profound and original religious awareness, his private life was fraught with brawls, duels, arrests culminating in 1606 in murder. Jarman incorporates the painter’s precise aesthetic for “chiaro-oscuro” (light/darkness) into the movie’s own visuals, and recreates many of Caravaggio’s foremost paintings (cf. Head of the Medusa) in fleeting scenes of the movie! He also intentionally includes several anachronisms in the film that do not fit with life in the 16th century. Caravaggio is perhaps Derek Jarman’s most profound reflection on art, sexuality and identity, touching on all of his major concerns: history, homosexuality, violence and the relationship between painting and film.

TURKEY 2007

SWITZERLAND/GERMANY/AUSTRIA 2013

Dir. Abdullah Oguz Featuring Talat Bulut, Özgü Namal and Murat Han. Turkish w/English subtitles.

105 minutes. NR. Based on the acclaimed novel by Zülfü Livaneli and set amidst Turkey’s natural wonders, Bliss is a riveting tale about love, honor, freedom and redemption. 17-year-old girl, Meryem, has been raped and to uphold the family honor her parents turn to an ancient moral code that condemns Meryem to death. A distant cousin, Cemal, is ordered to carry out the task. Instead, Meryem and Cemal embark on a surprising journey across traditional and modern-day Turkey in this unforgettable film. Winner of 12 Awards in Festivals Worldwide. Critic’s Pick! Gripping and supremely engaging.” - New York Magazine.

Award winning documentary Dir. Markus Imhoof In English and German w/English subtitles.

91 mins. NR. Oscar-nominated director Markus Imhoof tackles the urgent issue of why bees, worldwide, are facing extinction and investigates this global phenomenon, from California to Switzerland, China and Australia. Exquisite macro-photography of the bees (reminiscent of Microcosmos) in flight and in their hives reveals a fascinating, complex world in crisis. Imhoof’ s camera’s magnifying power renders the life of the bees in sci-fi terms, reminiscent of David Cronenberg’s The Fly. (Eric Kohn, Indiewire) This is a strangely moving film that raises questions of species survival in cosmic as well as apiary terms. “If you are expecting some run-ofthe-mill nature doc, think again. This is the Citizen Kane of bee documentaries.” – (Ain’t It Cool News)

USA 2020

JAPAN 2010

Documentary Sponsored by MSU/ BHA in honor of Public Lands Day

Dir. David Byars Produced by Jeremy Rubingh.

Executive Producers Yvon Chouinard and Robert Redford 96 mins. NR. A feature-length documentary about America’s system of public lands and the fight to protect them. Despite support from voters across the political spectrum, our public lands and waters face unprecedented threat s from extractive industries and the politicians in their pockets. Part love letter, part political exposé, Public Trust investigates how we arrived at this precarious moment through three heated conflicts—a national monument in the Utah desert, a mine in the Boundary Waters and oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge—and makes a case for their continued protection. Take action to protect our public lands. Text DEFEND to 71333.

Dir. by Hiromasa Yonebayashi.

In Japanese with English subtitles.

94 mins. NR. This fantasy film tells the story of four-inch-tall people, the Clock family, who lives secretly in the walls and floors of a typical household, borrowing items from humans to survive, trying to avoid being detected. Life changes for the Clocks when their teenage daughter Arrietty, is discovered. Adapted from the 1952 novel The Borrowers by Mary Norton, an English author of children’s books, the film received several awards, with a screenplay by famous Hayao Miyazaki and Keiko Niwa.The soundtrack album won “Best Original Soundtrack Album” at the 2011 Japan Gold Disc Awards. It also became a RIAJ-certified gold record in Japan.

FRANCE 2014

ESTONIA 2014

Dir. Anne Fontaine With Fabrice Luchini, Gemma Arterton, Jason Flemyng In French with English subtitles. 99 mins. R. Anne Fontaine’s film is a vibrant seriocomic re-imagining of Gustave Flaubert’s literary classic Madame Bovary, and a clever adaptation of Posy Simmonds’ graphic novel Gemma Bovery. Life imitates art in uncanny ways when British Gemma Bovery and her husband Charles move to a charming old French farmhouse in the very same Norman village where the novel was written 156 years earlier. Their welcoming neighbor, local baker and Flaubert expert Martin Joubert becomes entranced with Gemma and sets out to be her guide to her new surroundings. As reality sets in on the dream life in rural France, the Boverys’ marriage begins to fray, and Gemma catches the eye of a handsome playboy, which seems to be fulfilling Joubert’ s worst fears that her destiny is replicating that of Flaubert’s doomed heroine. This movie is at once a cheeky literary mash-up, a sensuous romance, a witty feminist commentary and a heady celebration of French provincial life.

Dir. Zaza Urushadze In Estonian, Russian & Georgian w/ English subtitles.

87 minutes. NR. A story of awakening humanity in the midst of violence, told with intimacy and elegance by writer/director Zaza Urushadze, Tangerines is the spare, yet haunting tale of an older Estonian man who cares for two wounded soldiers from opposite sides of the 1990s-era war in Georgia. The film reveals compassion to be the ultimate response to centuries of political, cultural and ethnic conflict, a compelling and relevant message for contemporary audiences. “Director Zaza Urushadze has performed a small miracle by presenting the insanity of war in such a compact form. Tangerines’ insights might not be of the grandiose sort found in Hollywood’s massive battle epics. But they are perhaps even more affecting because of the film’s intimate scale.” RogerEbert.com. Academy Award & Golden Globe Award Nominee for Best Foreign Language Film in 2015.

Thanks to WKMS, The Murray Art Guild, The Department of GLTA, The Department of Art, The Hutson School of Agriculture, CHFA, the Provost, The Curris Center, Stephanie Peck and all the volunteers and guest participants.

Murray State’s webpage: under CHFA/ Global Languages The University calendar: http://www.murraystate.edu/calendar Facebook: facebook.com/cinemainternationalmsu/

Equal education and employment opportunities M/F/D, AA employer Murray State University supports a clean and healthy campus. Please refrain from personal tobacco use.