Provost Announces Resignation for June
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Baseball club lines up for second season, 4B The Murray State News September 21, 2012 TheNews.org Vol. 88, No. 6 City Council decides on liquor sales Edward Marlowe || Staff writer [email protected] Though deliberations continue within Mur- ray City Council regarding alcohol sales, several key ordinances have either been ratified or cre- to smoke. ated in recent sessions, further clearing up is- sues surrounding expanded licensing in Murray. City Council members accepted amendments to the annual budget on Sept. 13, restating cer- tain revenues and expenditures made available through the sale and distribution of alcohol in the city. This comes in compliance with the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, whose regulations state all funds ac- quired through liquor tax should provide for the prevention and control of alcoholic substances for the legalized area. The tax on liquor, which, according to Ken- tucky tax law, can be set between 6 and 8 per- cent, sparked debate among council members deciding what would be the best fit for the area. After a second reading of the ordinance, the Photo illustration by Kylie Townsend/The News Council voted 8-3 in favor of an 8 percent liquor A smoke-free campus has been a smoldering topic across the University for several years, sparked by larger sister universities ditching the ash trays for clearer air. tax, the highest available in the Commonwealth, making Murray’s one of the most expensive taxes in the state. Councilman Dan Miller said the original in- Students, University ignite tobacco-free tent was to keep the tax as low at 6 percent, so as to nurture local business and stimulate pur- chasing power, and then perhaps graduate into a higher tax rate as sales were gauged properly. discussions, weigh health with freedom “We want to entice good businesses to come in,” Miller said. “I think this is a rip-off and is Edward Marlowe || Staff writer used cigarettes within 30 days of the survey. The gouging the tax payers. We can do enough with [email protected] analysis included 638 randomly selected stu- 6 percent – we can always take it up, but I don’t dents, roughly 6 percent of the total campus think we will ever lower it.” On Nov. 19, 2009, the University of Kentucky population. Councilman Pete Lancaster also chimed in on chose to become a smoke-free campus, and just While the University continues to allow the issue, stating the Council could make one year later the University of Louisville fol- smokers the general freedom to smoke in most amendments on policy further down the road. lowed suit. outdoor locations, Lyle believes there are stu- “We could rescind the 8 percent and bring Though discussions are preliminary, the pos- dents and faculty who want a tobacco-free campus. back the 6 percent originally recommended,” sibility remains for Murray State to be next in “I certainly get comments and complaints Lancaster said. “There is no reason to try and line for a smoke-free campus. from people who come into contact with unde- overcharge the citizens with the highest per- Judy Lyle, interim associate director of Health sired second-hand smoke and from those who centage tax in the Commonwealth. We are Services, said the topic has been on and off the are offended by the butt trash generated by those abusing our power as council members, goug- table for a few years now, but said little to no who smoke,” she said. “There is surprise, more ing the pockets of our citizens.” headway had been made in order to enact any like shock, from those who come from smoke- Councilwoman Linda Cherry did point out smoke-free policies for the University. free communities to our community which is the ordinances must be addressed every year, “We have done some informal surveys and not smoke-free.” so if needed the council could raise or lower the even had a small grant at one point to help with Keely Netz Doctorman, a Murray State tax percentage from year to year should this be policy development,” Lyle said. “Dr. Ellen Hahn alumna working for the Breathitt Veterinary necessary. visited our campus two years ago to discuss how Center in Hopkinsville, Ky., said one of the most Jay Morgan, who serves as a City Council University of Kentucky moved to their tobacco- difficult parts of enforcing a smoke- free policy member and is the University’s associate free campus.” resides not in the overall health of people, but in provost, said it could be as long as December or A long-time advocate of non-smoking and co- asking people to forgo their personal rights for January before the first packaged liquor is sold Erin Amos/Contributing photographer chair of the UK Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative the safety of others. in Murray, as regulations regarding zoning and Cigarette receptacles like this one are placed across Task Force in 2009, Hahn shared with Lyle and “We have not yet worked out how to allow a construction of new establishments have not other Murray State faculty the struggles and pro- smoker to fulfill their personal desire to smoke Murray State for students and employees to use. been completed. cedures involving the transformation of cam- without inflicting second- and third-hand smoke “I think people have a right to smoke if they Murray Chief of Police Jeff Liles acknowl- pus policy. on others,” Doctorman said. “An individual’s want to,” said Ryan Thornton, senior from edged the future of at least three packaged “A policy change such as the one at UK is not personal rights only exist so far as they don’t in- Benton, Ky. liquor stores in city, while one 70/30 dining es- something that happens overnight,” Lyle said. “It fringe on the individual rights of another person.” Robbie Parsons, a freshman smoker from tablishment is planning to apply for a tavern li- took a couple of years with much planning and It appears that many students on campus, Mayfield, Ky., said smoking represents the free- cense. Businesses and potential owners can involvement by many stakeholders.” however, do not mind mingling with smokers. dom he enjoys being away from home. begin the application process today. Conducted in the spring of 2012, the last Na- From randomly selected students on campus on “College was a place for me to get my free- Though it is unconfirmed, businesses includ- tional College Health Assessment for Murray two separate days, not a single student voiced dom,” he said. “If smoking were banned, it would ing Walgreen’s, Kroger, Wal-Mart, Huck’s and State indicated 65 percent of the campus had major concerns with Murray’s current smok- never used cigarettes, and 82 percent had not ing status. see SMOKE, 3A see ALCOHOL, 3A Campus unsure Provost announces about suicide- awareness posters resignation for June Staff Report Chris Wilcox || News Editor Higginson said she has spoken [email protected] with President Randy Dunn and As a result of three student suicides in the last academic they discussed a fourth year, but year, Murray State’s Counseling Center has been restructured. Bonnie Higginson, provost and her final decision was to bow out The center now hosts an increased staff, a new director, the vice president of Academic Af- of the position before begin- capacity to see 80 clients in a week, on-call counselors, long- fairs, has announced her resigna- ning that year. term therapy options and a directory for off-campus resources. tion at the end of her term in June A national search committee Angie Trzepacz, director of the Counseling Center, said the 2013. will be selected or hired within office was transformed and has been geared to push suicide Under her original contract the next few weeks, in order to prevention as a direct result of the student suicides last year. from two years ago, Higginson seek a candidate to fill the posi- “We want to bring awareness about suicide prevention,” was to serve three years, with an tion Higginson will vacate. While she said. “There are so many other options. optional fourth. She has decided a national search will be con- “Given the chance, this office can talk to the person, or she will end the contract at the ducted, the opportunity within friend of a person, thinking of suicide and we can get them File Photo end of the three years in order to that search is present for an in- Bonnie Higginson has announced her resignation after three years as return to the classroom, where see POSTERS, 3A Murray State’s provost and vice president of Academic Affairs. she said her heart is. see HIGGINSON, 3A WHAT’S GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAMPUS VOICE HALL OF FAME CD REVIEW Budget includes 6.4 percent Students weighs radicalism Father joins daughter in Murray Tyler Hilton new album leaves INSIDE higher education cuts, 7A of LGBT movements, 4A State athletic hall of fame, 1B listeners wanting more, 7B The News 2A News September 21, 2012 News Editor: Chris Wilcox Assistant Editor: Meghann Anderson This week Phone: 809-4468 Twitter: MurrayStateNews Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Weekend Weather • 3 p.m. College Republicans; Curris • 9 a.m. Festival of Champions; Roy • 9:30 a.m. Sunday School; Winslow • 4:30 p.m. Reading Experience Friday Center, 2nd floor, open to all Stewart Stadium, $10 for adults, $5 Cafeteria, open to all View and Voice; Faculty Hall, Room • 4 p.m. Planetarium Show; Golden with Racercard • 2 p.m. Fr ee Movie Afternoon; 208, open to all Pond Planetarium, Land Between the • 2 p.m.