Roundabout Murray


	MSU Today \| Calendar \| Racer Alumni	Sept. 16, 2011 - Vol. 6, No. 6. If you cannot view this newsletter, it is also available on the web.

MSU President
Randy Dunn

Greetings for this week. Are ya ready for some football?!

It’s hard to believe that fall is finally coming upon us—and the home opener for MSU “Racers Ready” Football is just around the corner! With the new season’s welcome change in the weather and wardrobe, football also brings us a new array of weekend activities.

And speaking of weekends: MSU Family Weekend begins today with a number of special events and activities offered to welcome MSU parents and families back to campus, and support them in reconnecting with their students. Highlights include Mr. MSU tonight at 7:00, a number of receptions and open houses, the football game against Tennessee State tomorrow evening at 6:00, and the presentation of the Outstanding Parents Awards during halftime. See a full schedule of activities at http://www.murraystate.edu/familyweekend

As those of you who have been here for a few years and followed Racer Football know, many of us—both on campus and off—have worked to reinvigorate tailgating as a strong and lasting tradition at Murray State. Each year we seem to get a little more size to our pre-game crowd…have a little more going on…and generate a little more excitement…but I’d really like to see that take off this year across the five home contests we’ll host in Murray. It makes for a great fall afternoon if you come out to Stewart Stadium early, socialize with other members of the University Community and region, and support the Racers.

Each year, any number of our staff works hard to review plans and facilitate as fun a tailgating experience as possible, and once again this year we’ve made a number of accommodations for your pre-game festivities:

Racer Club members may reserve a tailgating space on the hillside northeast of the stadium, park an RV on the west side of Stewart Stadium, and enjoy the Racer Grill—also on the west side of the stadium. You may contact Paul Bubb at 809-3369 or pbubb@murraystate.edu for more information or to make a reservation.
A limited number of RV parking spots in the Stewart Stadium lot are available for the general public and may be reserved by contacting the athletic department. For those who would like to park overnight, an overnight pass is required from Public Safety.
Smaller groups can gather on the east side of the Stewart Stadium wall areas on a first-come, first-served basis. Group spaces are set out at about 20 X 20 feet there.
Larger group gatherings can be set up on the former football practice field on the west side of Stewart Stadium (in the grassy space between the stadium and Bauernfeind Wellness Center). Arrangements can be made to meet the needs of any large corporate or private group (including catering by Racer Hospitality if desired). Limited space is also available for groups inside Stewart Stadium on certain game dates. Again, contact Paul Bubb for details.

Family Weekend
Mr. MSU Pageant, Fall Fanfare Concert and Family Weekend football game return along with new family favorites including campus and city tours, theater performances, live comedy and more.

Johnson plays pivotal role in Korean International Wind Band Festival
MSU Director of Bands and Orchestra, Dennis L. Johnson, recently returned from Seoul, Korea after having spent eight days participating in the 2nd Annual Korean International Wind Band Festival.

Kentucky ranked no. 1 in nation for higher ed improvements
Over the past decade, Kentucky has improved faster than any state in the nation on key higher education performance measures, according to a report issued by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems of Boulder, Colorado.

Discussion and reception with Dr. Marisa Richmond
Dr. Marisa Richmond, President of the Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, will be on campus for a discussion and reception Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 3 p.m. in the Curris Center Stables.

Agriculture takes center stage at Fall on the Farm
The Ag Leadership Council, in cooperation with the Murray State University Hutson School of Agriculture, is hosting the eighth annual Fall on the Farm Sept. 21-24. The farm will be open to the public on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Book reading is Sept. 22 at Eagle Gallery
Judith Shearer, Constance Alexander and Pamela Johnson Parker will read from their recent published works at 7 p.m. in the Clara M. Eagle Main Gallery, 604 Doyle Fine Arts. Following the reading the book store will have books available for purchase and the authors, along with Art Educator Camille Serre, will be on hand to sign their publications.

Murray State ranked again as a “Military Friendly School”
On the heels of top rankings by U.S.News & World Report, Murray State University finds itself ranked again as a “2012 Military Friendly School” by G.I. Jobs magazine.

Pre-health fair blood draw for employees is Wednesday, Sept. 21
PA Pre-Health Fair Blood Draw is scheduled from 6:00 am – 10:00 am in Carr Health room 100, Wednesday, September 21. Blood lipid and glucose screenings will be provided. Please remember to fast for 12 hours prior to the screening. In addition, the Fall Health Fair is scheduled for Tuesday, October 4, from 7:30 am – 12:30 p.m. in the North Gym of the Carr Health Building.

Fall Employee Health Fair scheduled for Tuesday, October 4
The Fall Health Fair for MSU employees and spouses will be Tuesday, October 4, from 7:30 am – 12:30 p.m. in the North Gym of the Carr Health Building. Please plan to attend this free, convenient health event featuring numerous health screenings including lipid panel (12 hour fast required), diabetes, and blood pressure. Murray Calloway County Hospital, MSU’s Human Resources and the College of Health Sciences and Human Services sponsor the fall health fair. For more information contact Marci Clark at 809-2237 or Amelia Dodd at 809-6463.

National Posters-on-the-Hill announcement
Students that participate in undergraduate research and scholarly activity (URSA) have an opportunity through the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) to present their work on Capitol Hill. The Posters-on-the-Hill program helps members of Congress understand the importance of undergraduate research.

Islam: The Climate for Believers On Campus
Muslim students can face certain challenges and hardships in adhering to their beliefs on college campuses. Sometimes these students report feeling apprehension when performing the public acts associated with their beliefs such as those relating to their attire and fasting. This often leads to broader conversations about Islam and the need for better education efforts for the community at-large. What are the challenges facing Muslim students in the United States, Kentucky, and here at Murray State?

"Rape as a Weapon of War" program is Sept. 20
We invite to join us for an informative, challenging program that will examine violence against women in the context of war. Rape as a Weapon of War will take place in the Curris Center Theatre on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Calling all lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender-supportive faculty and staff
Alliance, MSU's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and ally student organization, is currently updating its campus-wide ally directory. If you're not currently an Alliance Ally and you care about LGBT students and their campus experience, please email our associate adviser, Dr. Josh Adair, at jadair1@murraystate.edu. We appreciate the dedication of our allies in helping make MSU an inclusive, diversity-friendly place!

Guatemalan filmmaker to show work on campus
El regreso de Lencho (Lencho's Return) (2011) by Guatemalan director Mario Rosales which will premiere on Murray State’s campus on Monday, September 26th at 7:00 in the Curris Center Theater.

UNC author and professor to speak at Hammack Scholarship Banquet
The Murray State University department of history is sponsoring the 10th annual Dr. James W. Hammack Jr. Scholarship Banquet on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. in the Curris Center Ballroom on campus.

Staff Excellence Awards
Staff Excellence Awards were presented at the August 9, 2011 Staff Recognition Luncheon. Facilities Management/General Category: J.W. Foster and Dwaine Willoughby; Secretarial/Clerical Category: Geraldine Harris and Debbie Nesbitt; Executive/Managerial Category: Karol Hardison and Phil Schooley; At-Large Representatives: Chuck Plummer and Jody Cofer.

Share your Reading Experience
The MSU Reading Experience committee wants to hear about a good book you’ve read because we’re currently reviewing nominees for the 2013-14 academic year. We’re open to all genres and subject matter and you can help us make this university-wide program a significant part of our community by nominating a book that has entertained, troubled, or enlightened you. Please submit all nominations to the program coordinator, Dr. Josh Adair (jadair1@murraystate.edu) by September 30.

Taichi for employees
Tai Chi for MSU Faculty/Staff will continue through the fall semester on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11:30 am -12:15 p.m. in the Dance Studio of the Carr Health Building. Beginners are welcome. The art of Taichichuan (Taichi) is practiced daily by millions of people around the world. Practitioners of this art experience both health improvement and stress relief. The Taichi class is taught by Wayne Harper who has 43 years of experience in Oriental Martial Arts. For more information, please contact Amelia Dodd at amelia.dodd@murraystate.edu or 809-6463.

Walgreens expected to leave pharmacy provider network
On January 1, 2012, Walgreens may stop providing prescription drugs for Murray State’s medical plan as an in-network provider. Benefits staff learned this week that Walgreens and Anthem’s prescription drug network provider (Express Scripts) have not yet agreed to terms for a new contract to be effective January 1. If they agree to terms before January 1, then Walgreens will remain in the network with possibly no change in service.


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