9.10.13

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Got the breakup blues?

How to move on and up

Page 4 Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013 | Volume 107, Issue 4 | the-standard.org

Briefs

Missouri State Way Campaign and United Way Campaign

The Missouri State Way Campaign and United Way Campaign, the two official fundraising campaigns supported by the university, will be accepting donations from faculty and staff through Oct. 18.

Citizen Scholar nominations open

The Missouri State University Board of Governors is asking for nominations from faculty and staff for the Citizen Scholar award. Nominees should excel in academics and exemplify the university’s public affairs mission. Nominations must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs by 5 p.m. on Sept. 19. A nomination packet and more information can be found at http://studentaffairs.missouristate.edu/citizenscholaraward.htm.

Former bookstore director sentenced in federal court Mark Brixey to serve five years, three months in federal prison By Taylor Burns The Standard

The former director of MSU’s bookstore was sentenced in federal court on Aug. 29 after stealing more than $1.16 million from the university’s book buyback program.

U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner sentenced Mark Brixey, 48, of Ozark, to five years and three months in federal prison. Brixey pleaded guilty to wire fraud, money laundering and filing a false tax return. According to court documents,

Brixey’s scheme lasted almost a decade. In 2010 alone, more than $194,000 was stolen. Paul Kincaid, chief of staff for MSU President Clif Smart, released a prepared comment from Smart. “The justice system has worked,” Smart said in the statement. “This was an important step in helping the Missouri State campus community get some degree of closure on this terrible episode.” As director, Brixey handled all

contacts and transactions related to the university’s book buyback programs, which allow students to sell their used textbooks back to MSU at the end of each semester. Brixey received checks from textbook wholesalers. The cash was to be used to buy textbooks from students. Three companies — Follett Educational Services, MBS Textbook

u See BRIXEY, page 2

Changes for same-sex couples

The Standard nominated for six ACP awards

Three staff members of The Standard are finalists in six categories of the Associated College Press awards. Brent Rinehart, advertising designer, is a finalist for best Display Ad, best Brochure/Rate Card, and best Newsmagazine/Special Section Cover. Megan Gates, former editor-in-chief, was nominated for Print Story of the Year. Steph Anderson, former photo editor, was nominated for best Photo Slideshow. The winners will be announced on October 26 at the ACP/CMA National College Media Convention in New Orleans.

Student organization leadership development

Come to the PSU, Room 308 A&B on Sept. 11 to network with other student organization leaders and make connections from 1-2 p.m.

Calendar Tuesday, Sept. 10

Student Activities Council Meeting, 4-5 p.m., Plaster Student Union Room 313

Evan Henningsen/THE STANDARD

Same-sex couples can often be faced with distorted and confusing laws.

Major changes to legal rights force recognition of same-sex unions By Rose Marthis The Standard

In the past two weeks, there have been three major changes in the recognition of same-sex couples by the United States government and the benefits they can receive. Some same-sex couples may file amended tax

returns to be recognized as married for tax years 2010, 2011 and 2012, under the statute of limitations. This change will impact couples in our state, even though gay and lesbian marriage is illegal here. Stephanie Perkins is the deputy director of PROMO, the organization that advocates for LGBT equality

throughout Missouri. She is also a Missouri State University alumna. Perkins said that people often don’t think about what extends past the marriage, such as tax and social security benefits, and how these are only given to couples that are married legally in a state that allows it. “The IRS benefits being given to couples in all 50 states show that the federal government is 100 percent recognizing all families, and that is a huge game changer,” she said. On Aug. 27, Walmart

announced that changes to the 2014 health insurance policies include the ability for full-time employees to extend their benefits to cover same-sex spouses and domestic partners, regardless of how the employee’s state defines legal marriage. According to multiple reports of a leaked internal memo among Walmart officials, the decision was a business one, not a moral or political one. Having a single definition for all associates across the United States creates consistency in a time when each state is trying to

Red-tie gala celebrates Brick City

Enactus Open House, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Glass Hall 005

CNAS Fall 2013 Public Lecture Series - Ethical Dilemmas of Global Disease Eradication Programs, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Temple Hall Room 002 Blackboard Learn 9.1: Enhancing Communication, 2-4 p.m., Meyer Library Room 205 Entertainment Management Association Meeting, 5-6 p.m., Glass Hall Room 101

Thursday, Sept. 12

Faculty Senate Meeting, 3:30-5 p.m., Plaster Student Union Room 313 Hispanic Heritage Month Opening Ceremony, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Plaster Student Union Theater

Friday, Sept. 13

Carbon Nanotube Research Seminar, 4-5 p.m., Temple Hall Room 003 Prepare for the Fair Workshops, 10-11 a.m., Glass Hall Room 108

Sunday, Sept. 15

FREE Women & Girls Lead Screening - Chahinaz: What Rights for Women?, 6-7 p.m., The Moxie Cinema 431 S. Jefferson Ave.

Monday, Sept. 16

Voter Registration Drive, 10 a.m.4 p.m., booths outside Meyer Library, Siceluff Hall and Craig Hall

u See CHANGES, page 2

MSU’s secret department revealed By Andrew Shields The Standard

Wednesday, Sept. 11

Saturday, Sept. 14

develop its own definition of marriage after the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act. Despite Walmart being the largest private employer in the United States, it is not the first company to include same-sex partners in its health benefits offers. According to the Human Rights Campaign, 62 percent of Fortune 500 companies already offer this. On Sept. 4, the U.S. Department of Justice sent out a press release announc-

Madeline Carter/THE STANDARD

Faculty, staff and friends attend the red-tie gala at Brick City on Friday afternoon.

Galleries open as work nears completion

By Trevor Mitchell The Standard

“But wait...there’s more!” This was the mantra of Carolyn Cárdenas, head of Missouri State’s art and

design department, as she gave a tour of Brick City’s renovated facilities last week. And indeed there was more — more darkrooms, more classrooms, more computers — more of

everything. Along with that came many new additions. A new supply store, a ceramics room twice the size of the old one, a new display area where students can critique art created by their peers and even a motion capture studio. Cárdenas said this was the first time many of the

staff has ever had private offices. From a printmaking facility that Cárdenas said was “the best in the United States,” to a boiler building that was converted to a fully-functioning lighting studio in just one year, the new Brick City is an impressive feat to

u See GALA, page 10

With the rush of classes and a campus community that never sleeps, details like how computer labs never run out of paper or where old desks go to die probably aren’t a main concern for most students. But for the men and women at Property Control, it’s just another day on the job. Property Control and Central Receiving, or Property Control for short, is a campus service that manages inventory for all of the academic buildings and transports and redistributes surplus. Property Control is run by a small, tight-knit group of fulltime staff and part-time student employees, led by Coordinator Laura Pavlick, who work closely together to keep the system running. For students like Terry Gholson, a junior communications major, Property Control is exactly where he didn’t know he wanted to be. “My friend, who is also named Terry, was working for Property Control,” said Gholson. “He left to go into the military, and I asked him if I could take over his position. I just had to talk with Laura, and right away she said, ‘you can

u See PROPERTY, page 2


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