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THE MUR R AY STATE

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@MurrayStateNews Nov. 18, 2021 | Vol. 96, No. 12

@TheMurrayStateNews

NEWS

OPINION

SPORTS

LIFESTYLE

Timely Warning foll up

We need ‘giant leap’ to fight climate change

Defense holds up in close hoops victory

Art Department hosts auction

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Photo Courtesy of Gage Barnes Barnes photo won first place in the 2021 Images of Research Competition.

ORCA announces winners of Images of Research Competition Ava Chuppe Staff Writer achuppe@murraystate.edu

Timely Warning criteria remain unchanged Photo Courtesy of Hunter Willis

A team of faculty jurors announced the five winners of this year’s Images of Research Competition.

Biolog y major Gage Barnes earned first place and a $100 gift card to the University Bookstore with his entry, “An Osprey Successfully Catching Breakfast.”

The competition, an interdisciplinary contest organized by the Office of Research and Creative Activity (ORCA) for Fall Scholars Week, took place on Nov. 9.

Each participant submitted up to three photos and a brief explanation of how each image related to the student’s overall research.

Barnes explained in the description that, unlike most other bird species, the osprey’s diet consists almost entirely of fish.

see IOR, page 3

Campus officials assure that the rules regarding Timley Warnings are being followed.

This is part two of The News reporting on the the adherence to the Timely Warning policy

Dionte Berry News Editor dberry11@murraystate.edu

The lac k of T imel y War nings regarding campus crime brought into question the Murray State Police’s job of adhering to the rules of the CLERY Act, but the police reassured campus that guidelines are being followed.

The News raised the concern over the timely warnings when it was seen that there were three rapes reported in September and campus was left unnotified. Murray State Police Jeff Gentry said the rules regarding Timely Warnings were

being abided by, that they only applied to cases that pose an ongoing threat, such as those where the perpetrator has not been identified.

Campus groups such as the College Democrats and the Student Government Association also looked into the issue.

The College Democrats made a statement via Instagram concerning the incidents and the adherence to the CLERY Act. “There were three incidents of sexual assault reported on campus in the month of September, yet the University claims these incidents did not warrant for a timely warning to be issued,” the caption said. “Students should not have

to rely on the crime log to be informed about what is happening on campus.”

Senior political science major, Daniel la Tebib, the media manager for College Democrats said the university should do more to keep students informed.

“We are not asking for any compromising details, but if University administration feels comfortable enough putting it on the public fire and crime log, then I don’t see why they can’t alert the study body as well,” Tebib said.

Even though the rape incidents reported in September did not fulfill the standards for the timely warnings, Tebib said because it was a reoccurring incident over the course of a month, there should have been some sort of alert.

see Timely Warning, page 2

Music Department offers new major Mason Galemore Contributing Writer mgalemore@murraystate.edu

Photo Courtesty of murraystate.edu The past three commencement ceremonies have been altered because of COVID-19 restrictions and CDC guidelines.

Masked, in-person graduation set for Fall ceremonies. The Registrar’s office is led by Registrar Tracy Roberts Staff Writer and Assistant Registrars Ashely rhightower@murraystate.edu Rogers and Wendy Longworth.

The Fall 2020 graduation cerAf ter two years of graduaemony consisted of a virtual-ontion ceremonies modified by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Reg- ly celebration. During the spring istrar’s office staff say they are s e m e s t e r o f 2 0 2 1 , t h e c om pleased to finally be hosting a more mencement ceremony returned traditional graduation ceremony. in person under strict guidelines.

“We spent countless hours and The Registrar’s office has been meetings with Facilities Manresponsible for the planning of the Fall 2021 commencement agement, [the] CFSB Center and the previous commencement and administrators to create an Raleigh Hightower

event that was safe and followed all guidelines,” said Longworth. “ We hosted four ceremonies, limited guests and required advanced registration and tickets.”

In addition to the planning challenges of previous graduation ceremonies, many students found themselves a n x ious about the continued effects the pandemic might have on their own graduation.

see Graduation, page 2

Announcing a new major in musical theatre, the Murray State Music Department says it will blend elements of theatre, music and dance.

A bachelor of music in musical theatre will require students to audition in order to be accepted into the program. The new major was created to meet the needs of the fast evolving market in theatre, says Associate Professor of Voice and Opera Maribeth Crawford, who will head the program.

The music and theatre departments joined forces and were approved to make this new major a reality.

Crawford taught a Musical Theatre Study Abroad program with Assistant Professor of Theatre Heidi Ortega. Crawford said they already had most of the requirements for a bachelor of music in musical theatre built into the existing curriculum.

see New Major, page 3

News

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Nov. 18, 2021

Timely Warning, from page 1 “We understand that this is a decision in the hands of the administration and it is a lengthy process,” Tebib said. “We also know how important it is to be conscious of the safety of victims and privacy of ongoing investigations, but our campus community deserves to know about sexual assaults, especially when three rapes are reported in one month.”

...Our campus community deserves to know about sexual assaults, especially when three rapes are reported in one month.

—College Democrats Media Coordinator Daniella Tebib

Members of SGA also expressed concern over the lack of timely warnings, and raised questions that were clarified by SGA Chief Justice, senior Ty Allen.

As Chief Justice, Allen presides over the Judicial Board, which serves as jurisdiction over cases on campus concerning a wide range of issues that concern campus law.

At the Nov. 3 SGA meeting, Allen announced, after having a talk with Gentry, the criteria for timely warnings would not be changing.

Even though the concern for petty theft was raised, Allen said the criteria would not budge in order to make sure the campus body is not bombarded with alerts about small crimes.

“I know a lot of people do not like this criteria, but it is one of the best when it comes to crisis management because you do not want to be bombarded with alerts about petty theft,” Allen said.

Fo r t h o s e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t cr i me, Al le n sa i d t h e y c ould check the campus fire and crime log. The log is updated every day Monday through Friday.

“Timely warning will only be for crimes they were not able to make an arrest for and anything that is of critical importance,

Photo Courtesy of Hunter Willis The CLERY Act creates the guidelines for Timely Warnings, but the University has a say in how the warnings are implemented.

like a serial crime, is committed over and over again,” Allen said.

The CLERY Act outlines what is considered timely, but their guidelines are not concrete. Allen said, in the past, timely warnings were far more expansive to include a wider range of crimes.

“Students were bombarded with notifications of every single crime happening on campus, including those as minor as petty theft or even someone reporting that something was missing from their dorm,” Allen said. “We have updated the criteria for these Timely Warning notices to best serve our student body, and now students will only be notified about an issue if it is an immediate threat.”

After not receiving a Timely Warning since February 2020, the campus body received a Crime Alert on Nov. 5 after a student reported a man in a black mask, hat and shirt was seen fondling himself outside of a window of the New Fine Arts building.

A follow up alert said a suspect was identified and an arrest was made.

Unlike this crime, the September rape incidents have clear vicitms, and according to Gentry, a timely warning would most likely not be appropriate for those crimes because of the sensitive nature of them and how it may affect the investigation process.

“These crimes deeply affect the survivors, and it is our mission to protect them from further harm,” Gentry said. “For each crime that was mentioned, our officers identified and took steps to safeguard the survivors and campus body from further threats. A Timely Warning in those cases would not have been necessary.”

Gentry said the suspect in all of those rape reports were identified as well, further disqualifying them for a timely warning.

If there is a crime trend, h o w e v e r, t h a t c o u l d w a r rant a timely warning.

“An example would be bicycle thefts that keep occurring over several nights,” Gentry said. “If we received information that demonstrated a trend, or possible ongoing issue, we would send out a crime alert that provides safety tips and a general synopsis of what is occurring.”

At the end of the day, if a report does not have an ongoing threat, a trend or an unidentified suspect then it will most likely not qualify for a timely warning.

These crimes deeply affect the survivors, and it is our mission to protect them from further harm...

—Murray State Police Chief Jeff Gentry

Timely Warnings serve to inform those on campus if there is a possibility that they may be affected by a crime; it does not serve to inform them for the sake of having an informed campus.

Graduation, from page 1 “I feel like the pandemic has really taken away a lot of opportunities students could have had in their academic careers, so I think that being able to walk at an in-person ceremony means a lot,” said Lainie Jones, a graduating criminal justice major.

The Fall 2021 commencement ceremony will consist of one ceremony that will not require advanced registration or tickets.

Although the Fall 2021 graduation will have less guidelines than other post-COVID ceremonies, there will still be numerous safety precautions in place. Face coverings will be required for both graduates and visitors, hand sanitizer stations have been placed throughout the CFSB center, seating has been limited and socially distanced and President Bob Jackson will not be shaking hands.

Murray State encourages all who plan to attend the commencement ceremony in person to screen themselves for any COVID-19 symptoms prior to arriving.

With loosening restrictions, there will be many traditional elements of gr aduation returning for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

“We are reinstituting our collegiate banner and residential college shield bearers to start the ceremony,” said Longworth.

“Our outstanding graduates will be delivering their remarks live instead of by pre-recorded video and Dr. Jackson will hand the commemorative scroll to each graduate as they cross the stage.”

Photo Courtesy of the Murray State Instagram This semester’s graduation will be held on Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. The ceremony will be in person, but COVID-19 guidelines will be enforced.

T h e Fa l l 2 0 2 1 c o m m e n c e ment ceremony also marks the first graduation ceremony containing musicians from the orchestra and choir since the beginning of the pandemic.

Graduating political science/ pre-law major Mercedes Rutledge is one of many graduating students that has found relief

in the normalization of the Fall 2021 commencement ceremony.

“When I found out graduation was going to be basically normal, I was so relieved,” said Rutledge.

“I wanted to be able to walk across a stage because graduating college is a big accomplishment that should be celebrated. I would have been very disappointed if I just

had a powerpoint slide dedicated to my name and major, or even a completely virtual graduation where my family couldn’t come.”

This semester’s commencement ceremony will take place on Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. CST. The commencement ceremony will also be streamed live a t h t t p s : / / w w w. m u r r a y state.edu/about/streaming.aspx.

Nov. 18, 2021

News

Photo Courtesy of Michelle Weaver Weaver placed second for the 2021 IOR competition with their piece “Hidden Shell-Ter.”

IOR, from page 1 “This male osprey (Pandion haliaetus) successfully caught a Freshwater Drum (Aplodinotus grunniens) for breakfast,” Barnes said in the description. “As food provisioning is a necessary requirement for successfully rearing offspring, one component of my research looked at the amount of food delivered to the nest during behavioral observations.”

Wildlife and conservation biology major Michelle Weaver won second place and a $75 gift card with her entry, “Hidden Shell-Ter.” The title is a play on words, as the image features a turtle.

“While tracking the turtles that we are studying, sometimes it’s harder to spot them,” Weaver said. “We are

studying the eastern box turtle and the effects relocation has on them. We use radio telemetry to track them.”

Agronomy major Reagan Newell took third place and a $50 gift card with “Surprising Soil 1.”

Newell said while some do not recognize the importance of soil, this does not negate its value.

“Soil provides the crops we eat with the nutrients to grow, and the very foundation for our way of life,” Newell said.

“Numerous times in class, we have measured the pH of many soil sites to determine nutrient values and how they affect the growth and yield of our crops.”

Design engineering technology major Matthew Smith and wildlife and conservation biology major

Graphic Courtesy of the Department of Music Instagram The new major offers a more centered focus on music in theatre.

New Major, from page 1 “After looking at the accreditation requirements through the National Association of Schools of Music, and our own values of what we feel is a quality program, we decided to work with our Curriculum Committee on putting together a musical theatre degree,” Crawford said.

Professor of Music Tana Field said the new major will give students competence across three fields in one fouryear degree. Many of Field’s courses will be taught under the new major.

“This new major will give the students a ‘triple threat’ of skills to use in the changing market of theatre,” Field said.

The new degree will be the only bachelor of music in musical theatre in the region. Crawford said the degree will offer students a special learning opportunity that is not given in any other school in Western Kentucky.

Crawford said the music and theatre departments first collaborated together to create a musical theatre minor. Eventually, the voice unit noticed an increased interest among vocal students in theatre.

“Musical theatre is gaining popularity through frequency of performances and visibility,” Crawford said. “We, as a faculty, have worked to examine how we can grow and evolve as teachers to better meet the needs and interests of our students.”

Crawford said students can find many job opportunities with this degree such as performing, directing, choreographing, stage managing, artistic administration and educational outreach coordination. Freshman music education major Devante Alexander said the new major would allow students to finally get an edge in theatre production. Alexander is interested in theatre and thinks the new degree will benefit music students.

“It would be interesting to see how the new major will work out,” Alexander said. “If everything goes to plan, it will open so many doors for music and theatre students.”

For more information about the degree visit the Murray State Department of Music’s website at murraystate.edu/music. To apply for the degree, contact Dr. Crawford at mcrawford8@murraystate.edu.

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Photo Courtesy of Reagan Newell Newell placed third for the 2021 IOR competition with their piece “Surprising Soil.”

Emily Haner were awarded honorable mentions and won $25 gift cards with their respective entries, “First Flight” and “Tawny-edged Skipper.”

The entries came from a range of disciplines, including agricultural education, agronomy, biology, design engineering technology, fisheries/aquatic biology, occupational safety and health and wildlife conservation biology.

The var iet y of submissions made the contest unique, Dana T h om p s on , a s s i s t a n t p ro f e s sor of University Libraries, said.

“Thank you again for submitting your work for consideration,”Thompson said.

“You’ve made an impact on the judges, and we look forward to seeing future submissions for the competition.”

Thompson commended participants for their work.

“Overall, the submitted work was engaging, visually stimulating and a good representation of the research going on at Murray State University,” Thompson said.

The award winners will have their work featured in this fall’s edition of “Steeplechase,” an ORCA student journal. The journal will be published in late November or early December as part of the Murray State Institutional Repository.

The winning photographs are on display in Steeplechase an ORCA student journal at https://digitalcommons. murraystate.edu/steeplechase/.

November Specials

Opinion Nov. 18, 2021 Our View: Need a giant leap to fight climate change, not baby steps

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W

hile the United Nations is pushing toward action in order to combat climate change, their efforts seem to far exceed that of the nations who have power to change how we see the future.

The U.N. Climate Conference, COP26, concluded on Friday, Nov. 12, in Glasgow, Scotland.

This is the 26th annual conference the U.N. has held over the climate crisis.

As the U.N. pushes for progress and change, we at The News believe that a majority of nations are not ready to make the drastic changes that are required to alter the damage already done to the environment and make a big positive impact.

According to a BBC article from Nov. 15, national leaders want to phase down the use of coal power.

We are at a point where we need to see serious action, and it seems as though nation’s governments want to take baby steps towards progress, but we do not have the time for that.

In his statement to the conference, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed how crucial it is that progress is made.

“We are in the fight of our lives.

Never give up. Never retreat.

Keep pushing forward. I will be with you all the way,” Guterres said.

Having the goal of phasing down coal usage is like a drop in the bucket of a solution. To further the disappointment according to another article from BBC, on Oct. 21, stating that nations were lobbying to downplay the climate reports.

The article says nations such as Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia were among those lobbying to play down the impact of fossil fuels and how imperative it is for nations to start phasing it down.

Before the start of the conference, nations were already attempting to avoid making even minimal steps.

Since the United Nations is not an authoritative body, it leaves us almost hopeless that there could be real progress made before climate change creates more drastic irreversible damage.

The solutions in front of us are as they always have been, and it’s alternative power sources such as wind and solar power.

But it seems to revolve around

Cade Utterback/The News

money. An article from the MIT Technology Review shares that solar power generates more electricity than what is required, which can drive down prices.

The sun is always available, and therefore it can’t be monopolized and made scarce. Overall, it is less profitable than fossil fuels, which causes companies to disregard it in favor of making another dollar.

The effects of climate change

have to reach rich neighborhoods onto politician’s porches to where they can’t escape it for baby steps to turn into leaps.

There are multiple solutions, and now the future rests in the hands of our leaders, some who would rather downplay the crisis rather than tackle it. Seeing the way our leaders are choosing to handle this crisis does not create an optimistic future.

The News Reviews: ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’

Pam Goodwin Chief Copy Editor

pgoodwin1@murraystate.edu

W

hen I was a kid, I inherited this old boombox from my great-grandparents. It took up all of the space on top of my dresser, and if I turned it up enough, I could hear my favorite album, Taylor Swift’s “RED,” from the trees in our front yard.

On Friday, Nov. 12, Swift released “RED, Taylor’s Version,” a remastered version of her 2012 Grammy-nominated album “RED.” “RED” is an album predominately about breakups and the pain that comes from them even long after they’re over. In the original album, Swift gave us 16 songs, but the new release holds a whopping 30 songs, making it one of Swift’s longest albums ever. I’m not going to drone on and on about each and every title, so I’m going to focus on the highlights.

Of the songs from the original album, Swift gives us several that really hit.

The second song of the album, “Red,” Swift gives us the story of trying to get over a breakup, but moving on is difficult when all one can think about is the other person. This song uses a lot of creative metaphors and color associations, which makes the English major in me very, very happy.

“I Knew You Were Trouble” has always been a top-tier song, and this new version goes even harder than the original. Swift has added a lot of variation into this song, especially with her filler words, and it really helps round out the song with a more mature vibe.

“All Too Well” is my favorite song on this album. In this song, Swift remembers a relationship in which the parties both thought they were never going to break up, and that

Editorial Board

made their breakup even more painful. With lyrics like, “You call me up again just to break me like a promise,” Swift delivers a powerful message about how no one really knows what the future holds, and sometimes all we have is the memories of someone.

“22” is one of those songs that makes one want to get up and dance no matter the situation. Swift didn’t make many changes to this song, but the more mature quality of the vocals gives this song a different kind of tone, as if the characters are much older than 22. I think this song is one of the best recreations on the album because the new sound adds to the nuance of this song.

Some of the remastered songs fall a little flat, in my opinion. For example, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” mixes the tight vowel sounds that characterize Swift’s early work and the more open sounds of the rerelease in an inconsistent way, which makes some parts of the song almost grind in one’s ears. Once one gets past that, though, the song is really good.

Swift also used this album to release songs that haven’t been officially released or were released in exclusive deluxe versions of the original album.

“The Moment I Knew” is about Swift’s 21st birthday party and how her boyfriend at the time, Jake Gyllenhal, missed the party and called to apologize, and how this was the moment Swift knew their relationship was doomed. Anyone who has gone through a relationship that ended badly can relate to this song.

According to Country Music Television, “Ronan” is about Ronan Thompson, a three-year-old boy who died of neuroblastoma in 2011. His mother, Maya Thompson, blogged about her experience, which caught Swift’s eye. According to Newsweek, Swift used quotes from Thompson’s

Album cover courtesy of Spotify ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ was released on Nov. 12.

blog in the song, which makes the song all that much more raw and heartbreaking.

Swift also released several songs “From the Vault,” which is the name she gives to songs that have not previously been performed or released.

“Nothing New” is about having doubts in a relationship and wondering if someone will still be in love after the relationship has lost the “new” feeling. This song hit me hard, and I loved how Swift portrayed the anxiety that comes with being in a new relationship.

The 10-minute version of “All Too Well” is an amazing closer to this album. In this song, Swift adds verses into the original song, adding

more context to the relationship she’s singing about. She also adds to the chorus in some parts, which takes away from any repetitiveness the song may have had. This song is getting a lot of attention, and I think it’s well-deserved.

Overall, Swift’s recreations of these songs reflect a more mature, more open sound that characterizes Swift’s newer work. The rich vowels and open tones throughout all of the songs reflect a more mature version of Swift, and help counteract the social idea that her work is just the feelings of a teenage girl. This new version reflects Swift’s growth as a person and an artist. I give this album a solid nine out of 10.

Dionte Berry News Editor dberry11@murraystate.edu

Emery Wainscott Lifestyle Editor ewainscott@murraystate.edu

Sam Stewart Photo Editor sstewart26@murraystate.edu

Pam Goodwin Chief Copy Editor pgoodwin1@murraystate.edu

Joey Reynolds Chief Videographer jreynolds38@murraystate.edu

Kate Manley Ad Sales Manager kmanley2@murraystate.edu

Jakob Milani Sports Editor jmilani@murraystate.edu

2609 University Station Dr. Carol Terracina-Hartman Murray State University Faculty Adviser

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Nov. 18, 2021

Sports

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Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics

Junior guard Tevin Brown made big plays on both sides of the ball and finished with 19 points in the Racers 11-point win over Illinois State.

Defense holds up in close basketball victory Jakob Milani Sports Editor jmilani@murraystate.edu The Murray State men’s basketball rolled through Normal, Illinois, on Tuesday, Nov. 16, where they defeated the Illinois State Redbirds 77-63.

Four different Racers finished with double-digit points in the game with junior guard Tevin Brown leading the way with 19 points.

The Racers got the game started with a 7-0 run that included layups from junior forward KJ Williams and senior guard Carter Collins, as well as a three-pointer from Tevin Brown. Junior forward Sy Chatman ended the run with a pair of free throws, making the score 7-2.

Illinois State pulled to within one point with a 6-0 run that included layups from Chatman and junior guard Justin Reeves but senior forward Jordan Skipper-Brown made a basket to end the run and keep the Racers ahead by a score of 11-8.

Freshman forward Nicholas McMullen got a 10-0 run started for the Racers with a hookshot from a few feet out. Sophomore guard Justice Hill Drained a three-pointer and a layup during the run, while Skipper-Brown closed it out with a dunk to put the Racers up 21-10.

Williams made a three-pointer that was quickly followed by a layup from Reeves to keep the

game close. Brown then made a mid-range jump shot, but Reeves again made a layup. Hill managed to break the streak

by Reeves with a three-pointer to put the Racers up 29-18.

The teams then went scoreless for three minutes before junior guard Mark Freeman made a three-pointer to end the drought.

Reeves followed it up with another layup to make the score 29-23.

The Racers again tried to pull away with a 6-0 run that included four points from sophomore guard Trae Hannibal. Chatman ended the run with a pair of free throws but the Racers went on to end the half with about 6-0 run that included one more bucket from Hannibal. At halftime, the Racers were up 41-25.

Hill led the Racers in scoring in the first half with eight points, while Collins led in rebounds with six. Collins and Hannibal were tied in assists with two each.

Senior guard Josiah Strong started the second half with a layup for the Redbirds, but Williams answered with his own layup followed by a three-pointer from Brown. This put the Racers further ahead with a score of 46-28.

The Redbirds then went on a 10-0 run that started with back-to-back three-pointers from Reeves and ended with back-to-back layups from Freeman. The run brought the Redbirds within eight before

Hill ended the run with a midrange jump shot to make it 48-38.

Strong then made a three-pointer before Brown answered with a three-pointer of his own. Hill followed it up with a jump shot that was quickly answered by a hookshot from Chatman to keep the deficit at 10 points.

The teams continued to trade baskets for the next few minutes, with the Redbirds coming as close as five points behind the Racers. The Racers then managed to extend the lead back to 11 with buckets from McMullen and Hill to make the score 64-53.

Illinois State then started to pull back into reach with another 6-0 run, but the Racers managed to shut it down with a layup from Brown. Before the Redbirds could try another run, the Racers shut them down to end the game with a 6-0 run of their own. The Racers defeated the Redbirds by a score of 77-65.

Brown led the Racers with 19 points on 7-12 shooting from the field and 3-7 shooting from three-point range. Hill followed close behind with 17 points while Williams finished with 13 points. Hannibal finished with 10 points and eight rebounds while also leading in assists with three.

Reeves led the Redbirds with 19 points on 8-18 shooting from the field.

Freeman followed

with 15 points while Chatman finished with 14 points.

Head Coach Matt McMahon spoke about the teams overall performance against Illinois State. He said he was happy with how the team never let the Redbirds get too close and how they managed to close out the game.

“I loved the way our team finished the first half,” McMahon said. “We had made a few mistakes, they had cut the lead to six but we finished the half on a 12-2 run. Then I loved the way we finished the second half. We were down to six points again, then we didn’t allow a point for the last two and a half minutes.”

McMahon also spoke about the teams rebounding in the game, something he stressed before the game. He said he was proud with how aggressive the team was on the boards as they outrebounded the Redbirds 42-29.

“I was excited about our defensive rebounding,” McMahon said.

“It was a big concern going in with them averaging 15 offensive rebounds a game. Then on the offensive end, to get 16 offensive rebounds was easily a season high for us.”

Murray State will travel for their next set of games as they head to Naples, Florida, for the 2021 Naples Invitational. Their first game is set for Monday, Nov. 22, when the Racers take on the Eastern Tennessee State Bucs at 4:30 p.m.

Offense proves key in Racers 38 point win Jakob Milani Sports Editor jmilani@murraystate.edu The Murray State women’s basketball team continued their season on Monday, Nov. 15, with a win over the University at the Cumberlands Patriots by a score of 94-56.

Senior guard Macey Turley and sophomore forward Katelyn Young combined for 53 points in the game, with Turley scoring 30 points and Young scoring 23.

Head Coach Rochelle Turner spoke about the duo of Turley and Young after the game. She said she had the two be paired as roommates last season in order to get their chemistry up.

“From day one, when Katelyn got on campus, she roomed with Macey because we wanted that dynamic,” Turner said. “I don’t think people realize how important it is for you to have that connection on the court as well as off the court… it’s like they’ve played together for a long time.”

The Racers quickly got out to a 5-0 lead with a three-pointer from Turley and a pair of free throws from Young.

Young then scored six straight points to start what became a 9-0 run. Turley finished the run with a three-pointer to make it 14-2 in favor of the Racers.

After freshman guard Destiny Haworth made a layup for the Patriots,

Turley made another three-pointer to put the Racers up 17-4.

The Racers ended the first quarter with a 10-0 run, which included six points from Turley and a layup from freshman guard Cayson Conner, who made her first career collegiate start in the game. At the end of the first quarter, the Racers were up 33-9.

Sophomore guard Abbi Douglas got the first points of the second quarter with a layup for the Patriots.

The Racers answered with an 11-0 run that started with five points from Young. Conner contributed with a jumpshot and sophomore forward Hannah McKay helped with a layup.

Freshman gourd Kassie Monday stopped the run with a pair of free throws, but following a layup from freshman forward Jaidah Black, the Racers were up 48-15.

The teams continued to trade baskets throughout the quarter ,with Haworth making two three-pointers and Turley making a three-pointer as well. Young got the last bucket of the half as she made a layup as time expired. As the two teams headed to the locker rooms for halftime, The Racers led the Patriots 58-27.

Young led the Racers into halftime with 23 points on 7-8 shooting from the field and perfect shooting from the free throw-line. Turley had 18 points on 6-9 shooting from the field and

Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics Senior guard Macey Turley led the Racers with 30 points in their win over the Patriots.

4-6 shooting from three-point range.

Senior forward Alexis Burpo led in rebounds with eight and assists with three.

The Patriots started the second half on a 6-0 run including a three-pointer from Monday. Turley answered with back-to-back three-pointers to put the Racers up 64-34.

The teams went back and forth throughout the quarter with the Patriots trying to make it a closer game.

The Racers started to pull further away as Turley made a three-pointer and closed out the quarter with an and-one play. At the end of the third quarter, the Racers were ahead 76-41.

Freshman guard Lillie Hall scored a layup to start the quarter but the Racers quickly answered with a 6-0 run, including buckets from freshman guard Claira McGowen, junior forward Isabell West and sophomore forward Charlee Settle.

Hall put a stop to the run with a layup but Settle put up a layup of her own to make it 84-45 in favor of the Racers.

West and Settle began another 6-0

run with some help from Conner as well. After a three-pointer from Hall, the Racers closed out the game with a free throw from freshman guard Demia Bess and a layup from sophomore center Lucia Operto. The Racers defeated the Patriots 94-56.

Head Coach Rochelle Turner spoke postgame about the team’s performance against the Patriots. She said she was impressed with the team being able to bounce back after a close loss to Missouri.

“You always worry about a game like this being a so-called ‘trap game’ after a loss like that,” Turner said. “But we came out firing on cylinders… It was a very physical game. There were a lot of fouls and it was hard to get into a rhythm, but there were some really good things we saw tonight.”

Murray State improves to 2-1 on the year with their win over the Patriots. The Racers will travel to Chattanooga, Tennessee on Friday, Nov. 19, when they take on the University of Chattanooga Mocs at 6 p.m.

Sports

6

Nov. 18, 2021

Football gets all-around win over SEMO Jakob Milani Sports Editor jmilani@murraystate.edu In its final home game of the season, the Murray State football team defeated the SEMO Redhawks on senior night by a score of 28-10.

After five touchdowns from the teams in the first half, there was not a single score in the second half. The two teams combined for 11 punts in the second half as well as three turnovers.

Senior offensive lineman Jacob Vance spoke about playing the Redhawks for the second time this season.He said seeing them the first time really helped the Racers plan for the second time around.

“They ran the same defense against us the first time,” Vance said. “I mean, Witherspoon ran hard, DJ ran hard. I think we knew what we were going to see and it allowed for a better plan of attack.”

The Redhawks started with the ball but were unable to get anywhere and were forced to punt it away. Freshman quarterback DJ Williams opened up the Racers’ offense early with a 32-yard pass to junior wide receiver LaMartez Brook.

Three plays later, the Racers finished off their drive with a trick play that had freshman running back Demonta Witherspoon toss a 25-yard touchdown pass to freshman tight end Jake Saathoff. This put the Racers ahead 7-0 with 10:40 to go in the first quarter.

After forcing another punt,the Racers’ offense went right back to work, completing a three-minute drive in 1:02.The drive started with a two-yard rush from sophomore wide receiver Jacob Bell.

Williams then completed a 23-yard pass to Bell before rushing for a 58yard touchdown. Junior kicker Aaron Baum’s point-after attempt was up and good -nd the Racers were up

14-0 with 7:11 left in the first quarter.

The Redhawks started their next drive with a 55-pass from junior quarterback CJ Ogbonna to senior wide receiver Johnny King. The Racers’ defense held the Redhawks out of the end zone though and forced SEMO to kick a field goal for their first points, making the score 14-3.

The teams traded punts following the field goal. Once the Racers got the ball back, they quickly made their way up the field with two rushes from Witherspoon that totaled 46 yards before the quarter ended. At the end of the first quarter, the Racers were on top 14-3.

The Racers ended their drive at the start of the second quarter with a one-yard rushing touchdown from Williams. The extra point from Baum was good and the Racers’ lead was up to 18 with the score being 21-3.

The Redhawks were able to answer on their following drive as the offense was able to get moving. Ogbonna picked up a first down with a pass to senior wide receiver Aaron Alston, then senior running back Geno Hess broke free with a 56-yard-rushing touchdown. That kept the Redhawks in the game with a score of 21-10.

On their next drive, the Racers slowly made their way up the field with a 10-play drive that lasted about five minutes. The drive was capped off with a seven-yard touchdown rush from Witherspoon to put the Racers up 28-10 with 6:39 left in the first half.

After bringing the Redhawks next punt up to the SEMO 30 yard line, the Racers weren’t able to score on the drive.

They made their way up to the SEMO five yard line, but a pass from Witherspoon was intercepted in the end zone by senior defensive back Trai Hodges.

Following the interception, the Redhawks began to make their way

Photo courtesy of Racer Athletics Freshman quarterback DJ Williams rushed for 121 yards and passed for 175 yards agaisnt SEMO.

down the field with a 43-yard pass from Ogbonna to junior wide receiver Rashaan Palmer. Despite the big gain, the Redhawks were forced to settle for a field goal attempt. The attempt flew to the left of the goal post, leaving the Redhawks with no points on the drive.

The Racers ran the remaining clock out and the teams went into the locker rooms with the Racers up 28-10.

The second half lacked scoring from either team. Every drive in the third quarter ended in a punt, with neither team making it past the 50 yard line till the Redhawks final drive of the quarter.

The fourth quarter began with another interception thrown by Williams into the end zone. The Racers’ defense held strong though and forced another punt by the Redhawks.

The Racers’ next drive also ended in a turnover when senior running back Rodney Castille fumbled on a rush. The fumble was recovered by the Redhawks, setting them at the Murray State 36 yard line.

That drive for the Redhawks went completely backward as the Racers recorded back-to-back sacks and a tackle-for-loss that moved the ball back to the SEMO 42 yard line. That forced another punt from the Redhawks.

Later on in the fourth quarter, the Racers sealed the game away with an interception by junior cornerback Quinazz Turner. The Racers defeated the Redhawks by a score of 28-10.

Williams finished the game with 175 passing yards, 121 rushing yards and two rushing yards. Witherspoon ended the game with 113 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown and one passing touchdown.

Senior defensive tackle Maurice Greene spoke postgame about the Racers’ potential to finish with a three-game win streak. He said the last few games have really shown what the Racers are made of.

“I think it just really shows the true character of this team,” Greene said. “Coach Hood has really driven us to be resilient when challenges come our way. I think it’s just a credit to our team as a whole.”

Head Coach Dean Hood spoke about the team’s overall performance against SEMO the second time around. He gave credit to the defense for holding the Redhawks off in the second half while the offense worked hard in the first half.

“Our defense really rose up,” Hood said. “I was really proud of that. Our offense really came out to a fast start.

We made a lot of big plays. DJ was playing great, Witherspoon ran well, the line blocked well. We had some big plays by our receivers…

It really was a good day all around.”

Murray State improved to 5-5 overall and 2-3 in the OVC. The Racers will finish their season at Eastern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 20.

Financial Aid Professional Judgment Have you and/or your family member experienced a job loss or significant reduction in income, and you have already filed the 2021-2022 FAFSA? If so, you can submit a 2021-2022 Professional Judgment Form located under the "Forms" section of the "FinancialAid/Scholarship" tab of myGate.

After filing the FAFSA, some families realize that their EFC may not adequately reflect the family's current financial situation due to extenuating circumstances. The Federal Government allows schools to review the family's unique circumstances to determine if the situation warrants special consideration. Please note that a request for a Professional Judgment of a special/unusual circumstance does not guarantee approval. In addition, even if approved, a recalculation of FAFSA does not always result in increased eligibility for the student.

If you have any questions, or would like to speak with a financial aid counselor, you can contact Student Financial Services at 270-809-2546 from 8 am to 4:30 pm or email msu.sfa@murraystate.edu

Lifestyle

Nov. 18, 2021

7

Art and Design Department hosts online auction Art auction held to fund student scholarships Erinn Finley Staff Writer efinley@murraystate.edu Jill Smith Staff Writer jsmith194@murraystate.edu

T

he Department of Art and Design hosted its annual art auction, raising nearly $7,200 toward its goal of $10,000 to fund scholarships for art and design students.

The art auction, which was held online from Oct. 25 through Nov. 15, features art from faculty, alumni, students and community members.

The auction highlighted several art disciplines including woodworking, drawing, painting and ceramics. $7,197 was raised to fund scholarships. Department of Art and Design Chair Chris Lavery said the goal was determined based on past events. “[That goal is] based on what we normally raise each year,” Lavery said. “We are lower this year, it’s all based on who buys things and who doesn’t.”

Lavery said the art auction is organized by the art department and run by department faculty.

“The faculty typically run that part of [the auction], although it runs through our office and now we are partnering a little with [the Office of ] Development to do the online portion of the auction,” Lavery said.

The auction typically is held in-person, but with COVID-19 restrictions, the auction had to be held online.

“It’s usually a live event, and it’s one night,” Lavery said. “With COVID restrictions, how many people would fit in the gallery, it’s not doable under these standards.”

This is an unusual auction, Lavery said, because it showcases art from numerous artists but remains affordable for those who want to buy new pieces.

“We try to have faculty, students, alumni and community members donate works and then the prices are really good deals,” Lavery said.

“It’s more about the quantity that we end up with—it covers the cost and the fundraising aspect of it.”

Junior Kerrie Pullen, a double major in fine arts and art education, was this year’s featured student artist.

She said it feels great knowing the proceeds from her artwork will benefit scholarships.

I’m more than happy to be participating in something that allows others to have more access and support to attend college.

Everyone has the right to, and I’m always excited about helping.

—Junior Kerrie Pullen

“I always am an advocate for universities and all schooling to be completely free. Since that isn’t the case here at MSU or most colleges around the country, I’m more than happy to be participating in something that allows others to have more access and support to attend college,” Pullen said. “Everyone has the right to, and I’m always excited about helping.”

Pullen said her art reflects her

about climate change, believing it cannot be fixed or that we should not bother to fix it.

“The color scheme I chose to remain very limited so that it would almost look like you were looking through a filter when viewing the fire and really drive the feeling of emotional dissonance between the fire and its surrounding environment,” Roman said. “The horses in the piece are inspired by America’s obsession with the supernatural, western themes and the untamable.”

This auction consists of donated artwork from faculty, alumni and students. None of the pieces were commissioned for the auction.

“The pieces I donated were all done at different points of my college career,” Pullen said. “The drawings I made around early 2020 while my book box and my etching were made this year.”

It’s a great honor to be chosen by my professors and seeing people bid on my work.

It’s validating as an artist and a student.

Photo courtesy of the 2021 Art Auction’s website “Untitled” (top) by Kerrie Pullen and “Ricky” (above) by Todd Herzberg were featured pieces.

identity and life experiences.

“My work is about understanding and discovering my Filipino American culture,” Pullen said. “I do a lot of historical research, interviews with family members and getting information pulled from memories, traditions, photographs and more.”

Pullen’s artwork features several uncommon elements. She has experimented with using various layers in her drawing by using hair, sewing, food and other 3D elements.

“I do a lot of large-scale installation-based work using cut paper, found objects, textiles, and even real foods,” Pullen said.

Murray State Art and Design alumna Bailey Roman said her featured piece, “Has Hell Frozen Over?” looks at the historical patterns of natural hazards and disasters within the last century in the United States.

“This piece specifically discusses environmental apathy. The idea stemmed from watching reactions to the pandemic as lockdown became more relaxed,” Roman said. “I started comparing the two and how there seems to be a common thread with not only the pandemic but climate change as well.”

Environmental apathy refers to a reaction caused by extreme anxiety

—Junior Kerrie Pullen

Lavery said this year’s auction showcased approximately 140 pieces of donated art..

“We typically see maybe a few more items donated when it’s a live auction, but we were not lacking for sure,” Lavery said.

Pullen said it was rewarding to be selected as a featured student artist.

“It’s a great honor to be chosen by my professors and seeing people bid on my work,” Pullen said. “It’s validating as an artist and a student.”

This was the first year the auction was held online; however, Lavery said that in the future the department may consider combining an in-person and online auction in order to reach a wider audience.

Lifestyle

8

Nov. 18, 2021

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