Racer Guide a Special Publication of the Murray State News
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Racer Guide A special publication of The Murray State News From the president Welcome to Murray State! THE MURRAY STATE M NEWS When I tell people I’m from a small town in Missouri, they usually respond with something like: “Oh yeah man, I graduated with only 120 kids, I know exactly what you mean.” It’s always worth a chuckle to tell people that I graduated high school in a class of 16. Not only did I know all of my classmates by their first names, I was on a first-name basis with everyone in the entire high school. That’s how tiny the town I grew up in is. When I came to Murray State in fall 2019, I couldn’t believe how many people there were. Every- where I looked: people. It seemed like every corner of the world converged on this one spot with every country, creed and people sending someone to represent their way of life at Murray State. The sheer number of people walking to class on that first morning blew me away. Each one of these peo- ple had their whole life ahead of them, and suddenly I realized what a new environment I was in. And yet, as huge as the city seemed to Small Town Simon, Murray quickly took on that “second home” feel. For the first time in my life, I was within walking distance of a grocery store, a dozen restaurants and even my new job as a contributing writer at The Murray State News. While touring colleges in my last year of high school, I didn’t realize how important it was to find a place that would offer hands-on experience in my program. Up until I toured Murray State, every college newspaper had told me I could probably find a job contributing a couple times a week by my junior year. When I met with a representative of the journalism department at Murray State, she told me I could apply on my first day of classes and get started as early as that first week. That was enough to win me over. While the feel of the campus and city seemed like things I could grow to appreciate—I turned out to be right—it was the opportunity to gain hands-on experience that made the decision to attend Murray State an easy one. Here I am, two short years later, welcoming you incoming students to the friendliest small town in the United States. Congratulations on making this decision and taking the next step in advancing your career! If there is anything I can tell you about Murray State, it’s that the entire community, from the citizens to the professors, wants to see you succeed. After a long year of uncertainty, I’m thrilled to be back in the fall to be a part of the great new things that are to come. College life is no walk in the park, so don’t let anyone tell you how easy it is. You’re free to learn, grow, take on new challenges and go on new adventures, but you’re also free to make mistakes that only you can take responsibility for. I encourage you to take every opportunity to challenge yourself and throw energy and enthusiasm into every step you take on this journey. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that with diligence and determination you can become the person you want to be and be a part of the bright future you came here to make your reality. Welcome to the Racer Nation! To learn more about Murray State during your first semester, you can find more online at racer.guide. Best wishes, Simon Elfrink Editor-in-Chief The Murray State News Shoes up Racers! 6 Racer Guide 2021 Edition Murray State traditions Dionte Berry those who have met their love Features Editor at Murray State put a pair of [email protected] shoes on the tree to represent their relationship. The tree is lo- Traditions are a staple of all cated on campus in the Quad colleges and Murray State has its across from Pogue Library. own that sets it apart from other Rumors still stir as to how the schools, hosting some of the lon- tradition started, but it has been gest-running student-engaging an important aspect of the Mur- college traditions in the region. ray State community since 1965. Racer One Mr. MSU Murray State is one of few The Mr. Murray State pag- schools to have a live mascot. eant is a 41-year standing tra- Since 1976, a horse called Rac- dition. The pageant is hosted er One has been the mascot at by Alpha Omicron Pi, and it is Murray State’s home football their biggest philanthropy event. games. Every time the Racers Fraternities nominate their score a touchdown, Racer One candidates for the pageant, and takes a victory lap around the field. there is usually a theme for the Violet Cactus was the first contestants to follow. Most re- horse to fill the role of Racer cently, the pageant was held vir- One until she passed in 1984, tually because of COVID-19. and since then several horses have played the role of Rac- Ms. Murray State er One. The current horse fulfilling the role is Vegas. The Ms. Murray State Pag- eant is an annual competition All Campus Sing that takes place in Lovett Audito- rium, and the competition serves Starting in 1958, All Cam- to celebrate more than pageantry. pus Sing is a music and dance The pageant serves to rec- competition between student ognize students who are in- organizations. It is hosted by fluential and have a positive the sorority Sigma Alpha Iota. impact on Murray State. Traditionally, the competition The winner of the pageant is held on the steps of Lovett receives a scholarship and rep- File photos Auditorium, and crowds resents Murray State in the Ken- Racer One, the Shoe Tree and Mr. MSU are three of the many campus traditions. gather to watch in the Quad. tucky Mountain Laurel Festival. The most recent competition sical in the South. Midnight Breakfast on April 14 was held via lives- Campus Lights The tradition started in tream because of COVID-19. 1938, and was led by the Coinciding with finals, Murray State’s Cam- Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Midnight Breakfast is a tra- The Shoe Tree pus Lights Show is the fraternity. Today it is led dition that offers students longest running stu- both by them and the Sig- a meal as they stay up late It’s a romantic tradition where dent-produced mu- ma Alpha Iota sorority. studying for their finals. 2021 Edition Racer Guide 7 Photo courtesy of Murray State University For more information about programming and the Office of Multicultural Initiatives vist murraystate.edu. Inclusivity and Diversity An inside look at LGBTQ+ life on campus Gabe Steffen search and realizing the students, but from faculty Murray State strives to Opinion Editor project was meant to re- and staff as well. While make this campus as [email protected] duce prejudice and dis- it’s not perfect, it defi- safe as it possibly can. crimination based on sex- nitely exceeded my ex- Much like the As a member of the ual orientation and gender pectations and made me LGBTQ+ program- LGBTQ+ community identity, I knew I had feel welcome and wanted. ming, one search on the myself, one of the fac- found my college cam- On the topic of feel- University’s website will tors that I looked for pus. While diving deeper ing welcome and wanted, point you toward resourc- when choosing a college into what the campus had Murray State also has the es, clubs and activities, was what initiatives dif- to offer, I learned of the Office of Multicultural as well as scholarships! ferent campuses had im- vast amount organiza- Initiatives, an advocate to While I myself am plemented in order to tions and programming encourage a campus en- not a person of color, keep me and other stu- Murray State had to offer. vironment that embraces many of my friends say dents safe and included. With just one quick diversity and allows stu- they feel safe on cam- Murray State had ev- search on the Univer- dents to grow person- pus knowing that they erything that I wanted on sity’s website, you can ally and academically. are wanted and accepted. a college campus. When find information about They strive to address In conclusion, Murray I first came on campus in programming, activi- the achievement gap be- State University has of- 2018 as a junior in high- ties, resources and even tween Black, Hispanic fered nothing but support school, the very first thing alumni who identified on and White Non-His- to me as an LGBTQ+ I noticed was the “Safe the LGBTQ+ spectrum. panic students. In this individual, as well as to Zone” sticker outside of Now, as a student, I have day and age where the the persons of color who Winslow Dining Hall. been blessed with nothing safety of persons of col- have chosen to contin- After doing some re- but support from not only or are compromised, ue their education here. WHERE ARE You? Life is a journey. It is a path of unknown adventures that leads us to our destiny. Some have peace within. Some search for the answers to the unknown. Some hesitate to reach out for help, and some hold out a helping hand. Wherever you are on the path, one of us is there too.