Racer Report: Feb. 19-23

MURRAY, Ky. – The latest Murray State University Racer Report includes student, faculty, staff and alumni accomplishments, announcements, upcoming campus events and more for the week of Feb. 19-23.

 

 

 

 

 

Murray State University is hosting Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) workshops for students every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 1-4 p.m. through March 15 in the new visitor center, located on the first floor of the Curris Center.  Students are encouraged to attend an upcoming workshop, as the 2024-2025 FAFSA is now open at studentaid.gov.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Murray State University Associate Professor of History Dr. Selina Gao had a recent publication in the International Forum Journal of Cultural Studies 2.

Her article, “Folklore Goes to War: Folksongs, Yangge and Storytelling in Communist Bases during the Second Sino-Japanese War, was published in the journal’s eighth volume in Dec. 2023, pages 47-64.

All across the world, folklore studies are often closely tied to the emergence of modern nation states and were used to (re)build national identities. During China’s War of Resistance against Japan, folklore activities played a valuable role in boosting the national spirit and promoting the idea of China as home to a rich cultural legacy. In communist bases of the North China Plain in particular, a new literature and art movement began with the collection and organization of folk literature and art, which was in turn remolded into effective and highly politicized anti-Japanese and social reform messages to promote mass mobilization.

Gao’s article examines folksongs, yangge and storytelling to reveal how folklore, reshaped by communist intellectuals, was designed to serve political aims and address peasants and soldiers in order to unite the masses against its enemies both foreign and domestic. The Chinese Communist Party used traditional forms of folklore with revised content to launch a mass movement that served its primary political needs: winning support of the masses and spreading revolutionary communist ideology to a broader audience. This wartime revolutionary folklore approach continued into peacetime and greatly affected the People’s Republic China.

Read the full article at bit.ly/Selina_Gao.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Murray State will host the 76th annual Quad State High School Honor Band Festival from Feb. 22-24. This year's guest artist and featured soloist is Indiana University Professor of Horn Jeff Nelson, who is also a performer with the Canadian Brass. The Quad State High School Concert will be held at 11 a.m. on Feb. 24 in Lovett Auditorium.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Department of Music presents “Light Eternal,” the Murray State Wind Ensemble, featuring guest artist and Professor of Horn at Indiana University Jeff Nelson, alongside Ryan George of Full Circle, Frank Ticheli of Lux Perpetua, James Beckel of Glass Bead Game and Omar Thomas of Come Sunday. The event is part of the Quad State High School Honor Band festivities and will take place on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in Lovett Auditorium.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There will be a faculty recital on Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. in the Performing Arts Hall in Old Fine Arts, with Dr. Ashley Cumming on horn and Dr. Stephanie Carlson on oboe. They will be assisted by Dr. Meeyoun Park on piano. Music will be from Herzogenberg, Defaye, Gliere, Van Klompenberg and Gipps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the fifth consecutive year, the Murray State University Horticulture Judging Team won first place overall and earned 11 additional top placings in five categories at the Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science Judging Contest held in Atlanta, Georgia, from Feb. 1-4.

Not only did the team receive high marks in plant knowledge but also for their leadership as a collegiate student organization, earning first place overall for Outstanding Horticulture Club and first place for Presentation of their Club Leadership. As a result, they were rewarded with $250 to go toward club activities of their choice.

Savannah French, Ginni Mikulcik, Payton Baker, Jonathan Barnes and Cade Johnson competed. They were coached by their advisor, Dava Hayden.

French won first place overall individually, first in floriculture crops and first in the woody ornamental crops category. Mikulcik won second place overall individually and first in vegetable crop commodities judging. Baker won third place overall individually. Murray State placed first in the woody, floriculture and vegetable categories as a school team.

A total of 28 contestants competed from Murray State, Texas A&M, University of Georgia, University of Arkansas, Southern Illinois University and Middle Tennessee State University.