The student voice of Hutchinson Community College
September 11, 2020
www.hutchcollegian.com
O - Accepting anxiety
Vol. 62 Issue 2
C - Exercise your right
Staff writer Laci Sutton writes about having anxiety, and if you have it too, it’s OK. Page 2
S - Kickball Tournament
It’s not too late to register to vote for students. Page 3
The softball team got their kicks in last week. Page 4
There’s a new bird in town By Kyran Crist Online Editor
Plans seem to never go as intended. Early this year when the COVID-19 pandemic and shut down hit, Hutchinson lost a popular local business when Bluebird Books announced it’s closing. Until a new bird flew into town. Crow and Co. is a new bookstore that has taken up residence in the old Bluebirds Books location. We spoke with one of the owners, Sara Crow, to hear about how it came to be. Sara Crow and her husband Larry Crow had a retirement plan of owning a bookstore/art gallery off of Lake Superior, but that was a plan far off into the future. Their dream was closer than they could have ever imagined. Larry came home from work Photo by Emily Branson/ one day after hearing a disPhoto Editor cussion about the unexpected Owners of Crow and Co. pose for a closing of Bluebird Books on picture with their dog. 2 South Main Street and how Hutchinson had lost a community staple piece. This opened up a need for a new bookstore in town. He went to Sara and discussed their dream of a bookstore. “Well, maybe we do it now,” Larry said at the time. Just like that the plans for Crow and Co took flight. The community wanted this store, Sara said, and was willing to help in the ways they could to make this bird soar. She also said that the bank was prepared to help with the finances, a fellow local store helped with finding tables, Metropolitan Coffee partnered with them to provide tea and coffee for the cafe, and Sara’s father came from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to help build the bookshelves. Sara stated that everyone came together and helped.
Sara stated that a good and loving community is something that she values, and she said she feels Hutchinson has a great one. The familiarity of that community philosophy is what Sara and Larry want their store to embody. Sara said that after COVID-19 passes they would like to have more seating and more community-engaging events. While the store opened on Aug. 15, the cafe opened on Sept. 1. Partnering with The Metro, Crow and Co. offer a variety of tea, drip coffee, and Aeropress pore over. They do have some creations of their own such as a masala chai that Sara had passed down to her by a friend from India that is made in house. Crow and Co. also makes its own pastries, such as Earl Grey bread and gluten-free specialties. Among the books, they also sell and showcase art from local artists. Sara said there is so much talent that she feels needs to be showcased. Currently, they have various artists in shop, like Shawn Mackey and Blair Star. Sara said starting a business during a pandemic was challenging but also, “helped slow us down, and almost forced us to think more thoroughly about our community engagement,” Sara said. The store has implemented and taken its sanitation and safety precautions very seriously. Masks are required and the bookshelves are spaced out with plenty of space to make a safe distance for customers to have their space and enjoy the store safely.
Photo by Emily Branson/Photo Editor
The curtain opens again
COVID comfort food
By Brooke Greene Staff Writer
Photos by Kenneth Ryan/Photo Editor State Fair food vendors can’t be stopped by a pandemic. Every weekend through September they will be serving food at the fairgrouds for fair food enthusiasts.
Upcoming events Sept. 11-13 — Food and merchandise vendors are at the Sate Fair grounds 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. (open until 2 p.m. Sept. 13) Sept. 15 — Candidate Forums at Stringer Fine Arts Center Sept. 24-26 — The Pandemic Plays on live stream
The happenings around campus
Lights, camera, action is finally being taken to reopen in Hutchinson. After several months of waiting, society is surely reopening step by step, with hopes to eventually achieve some new sense of normality. Now that the hair salons, restaurants, schools, gyms and more are open, the time has come for the local movie theater to open as well. On March 18, Hutchinson 8 Mall’s B&B Theatres closed down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the whole industry came to a halt. However, the wait is over. As of Sept. 1, Hutchinson’s B&B Theatre reopened. Even the smallest
College Student Weather Report Friday High: 71; Low 56 Winter in September Saturday High: 83; Low 55 Average like your college GPA Sunday High: 81; Low 54 Control V Saturday
Weather source: The Weather Channel
things like seeing a movie in a theater can increase the happiness in people’s lives, especially students as that was one of the most relaxing ways to take a break from schooling. Satellite student Matthew Miller, Mount Hope, usually attended the theater at least three times a month before the outbreak. “I feel like it’s probably OK with some precautions, like spreading people out and masks being worn,” Miller said. While the environment may feel more spacious See Theater, Page 3
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Opinion
Page 2
Mask up, HutchCC Our view If only we would have known what this year was going to look like, right? Everyone can agree that this year has been full of troubles and tribulations that no one could see coming. Many times, you’ve probably thought about how many things you would have done differently if only you’d known. Regardless of how this year has flipped everything upside down, there are some things that we can still do to, hopefully, bring this year to a close. One of the most important, and most repeated, statements of this year is to wear a mask. Please, just wear a mask. Since schools reopened, there have been many outbreaks at colleges and universities across the country, including one cluster at Hutchinson Community College. While we know that wearing a mask is not pleasant, it is something that must be done to help ensure that we can all remain as healthy as possible. In the spring, the world came to a screeching halt and ruined many (if not all) long-awaited summer plans. Our only hope for the rest of this year is that everyone can do their part to take care of each other and leave the world of COVID-19 behind us. That can only happen if we all work together. Remember: “my mask protects you and your mask protects me.” So please, wear your masks (correctly) on campus and around other people. Social distance. Stay safe.
The Hutchinson Collegian Friday, September 11, 2020
If you feel anxiety, you’re not alone I have anxiety. While there are so many stereotypes associated with that word, it’s probably not what you think. I panic when I walk into a classroom, because it feels like the entire class is staring at me and judging every detail about me. I feel like I’m going to puke the second a professor mentions speaking in front of the class, in fear of messing up or saying something stupid. I rehearse exactly what I’m going to say at least 20 times before it’s my turn to talk. My heart stops when I make the slightest mistake in fear that the people in my life will be disappointed in me, and eventually leave. I have this intense, aggressive voice in my head constantly telling me that I can do better. While it gives me great motivation at times, it also makes me feel as if none of my work is ever good enough. My mind jumps from zero to 100 in less than a second over anything even slightly stressful, regardless of how big or how small it may be. When I was told I was writing a column this week, my heart raced. Many of my fellow staff members would love the opportunity to write a column every week.
Columnist
Laci Sutton I do love writing columns. They’re personal and a chance for me to share my thoughts with many people who would otherwise never hear my voice. But it also terrifies me to let you into my head. That being said, why pick such a personal topic? You essentially have the freedom to write anything and everything in a column. I easily could have quit, started the article over, and wrote about something completely different. I could have chosen not to expose myself to who knows how many strangers. So why did I choose to continue with this? I could brush it off and tell you I’m only writing this because my best friend told me to keep going, or because the Collegian adviser told me to share my story.
While that wouldn’t be a total lie, it’s not the full truth. If I’m being honest, I’m writing this for you. The struggling college student who stumbled upon the Collegian one afternoon. The stressed faculty member who’s still navigating the uncharted waters of teaching during a pandemic. I’m writing this to reach out to you and let you know that you’re not alone. Some days, it feels like nobody understands my mindset. Like I’m overreacting and it’s pathetic. It’s not pathetic. Read that again. It’s not pathetic. Your feelings are valid, no matter how “crazy” or “pointless” they might seem. I guarantee you there is someone else out there who has had the same feelings at least once. You are not alone. Your feelings are valid. Whatever you have going on in your life, whatever negative thoughts your mind is trying to feed you, you are stronger. You will get through this.
Laci Sutton is a Nickerson junior studying Nursing
A-a-ron’s done messed up
Aaron Coleman, 19, is a controversial winner of a Kansas primary election. Coleman for Kansas via Facebook
Kansas never makes national headlines for a good reason. However, the primary defeat of a seven-term incumbent by a 19-year old who admitted to revenge porn is certainly one of the strangest. By 14 votes, Aaron Coleman beat his Kansas City Democratic primary opponent. Along with the revenge porn, Coleman is accused of harassment, assault, blackmail for nude images, physical abuse and driving a girl to attempt suicide. Giving some indication that he had changed as a person, Coleman wrote, “I denounce these actions and they are the actions of a sick and troubled 14-yo boy.” How much he actually changed in the past five years, however, remains in question.
During the campaign, Coleman apologized after he said he would be amused if non-mask-wearing Republicans died of the coronavirus. “While it is true I was abusive to my ex-girlfriend,” Coleman wrote in the first sentence of a shockingly tone-deaf release, “I do not agree with the characterization” of an incident wherein he allegedly choked his girlfriend. “I also don’t think she is intentionally lying ... large quantities of alcohol could be affecting both of our memories. The last two months I dated,” he continued, while noting it was not a justification for his actions, “were mutually abusive.” “I believe with some counseling, my ex and I would have … treated each other better,” Coleman wrote, shifting some blame for the incident onto the lack of mental health support and early childhood education on healthy relationships in the U.S. Coleman told a relative of the girl who attempted suicide that he had “moved on” and that “they call the past the past for a reason because that’s where you are supposed to leave things. At this point you shouldn’t move on for me, you should move on for yourself.” The personal weaponization of progressive politics is offensive to anyone who supports them, and his
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lack of apology or resignation hurts victims. Disregarding his lack of a grasp on the situation, a few national progressive media figures I used to have respect for jumped to his defense. Coleman was pressured into dropping out of the race, but as soon as he gained their attention, he decided to continue to the General Election. “Wait, he did all this stuff when he was 12? And we’re just done with him forever?” journalist Ryan Grim asked. Yes, we are “done with him” as long as he keeps back peddling, making excuses for his behavior and issuing nonapologies. He is not a victim of the corporate establishment, he is instead responsible for victimizing others. Kansas progressives denounced him from the get-go; and attempts by Grim and others to whitewash him is self-aggrandizement at best and enabling of abusers at worst, destroying potential political change in the process. Coleman appears to have had a rough childhood, living in an impoverished broken home. Any sympathy the public may have had for him as a result was buried in the backfill of the industrial excavator he’s using to dig himself into a Grand Canyon-sized hole.
Collegian Staff Editor In Chief Sam Bailey Campus editor Caleb Spencer Opinion page editor Aaron Strain Sports editors Adam Kolb, Bailey Pennycuff Photo Editors Emily Branson, KJ Ryan
Online Edtior Kyran Crist Staff members Sophia Carter, Brooke Greene, Leslie Grajeda, Felix Johnson, Jolene Moore, Zariah Perilla-Best, Laci Sutton, Izzy Wheeler, Collegian Adviser Brad Hallier
www.HutchCollegian.com
If all that happened was just the resurfacing of old, bad tweets, the “just kids being kids” excuse may be applicable. However, what Coleman is accused of directly hurt individuals and was extremely abnormal behavior for a child, and some occurred within the past few years. I do hope he finds some reckoning in his life, attempts to reconcile with the people he hurt and reconsiders his political aims; including, of course, re-dropping out.
Columnist
Aaron Strain
Aaron Strain is Hutchinson student studying Journalism. He is the Collegian’s Opinion Page Editor
Letters to the editor The Hutchinson Collegian welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must include the author’s signature, address and phone number. The Collegian reserves the right to edit letters for style, legality and length. Letters may not exceed 300 words. Send letters to hallierb@hutchcc.edu.
Non-discrimination statement Hutchinson Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, military status, sexual orientation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law, or by college policy. For inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies contact: Jake Gunden, Coordinator of Equity & Compliance 1300 N. Plum Hutchinson, KS 67501 (620) 665-3500 equity@hutchcc.edu (www.hutchcc.edu/equity)
The Hutchinson Collegian Friday, September 11, 2020
Campus
Students still have time to register to vote By Leslie Grajeda Staff Writer
If younger college students want their voices heard in their government, it is not too late for them to register to vote. Kansas State Rep. Jason Probst, D-Hutchinson and Hutchinson Community College alumnus, said if students want their voices heard, they can tip the scale through voting. “We don’t get the policies we want because we don’t vote,” Probst said, noting that if Generations Y and Z turn out, they would make up a larger voting block than Baby Boomers. HutchCC political science instructor Jason Knapp also encouraged younger students to vote, because they have the ability to create political change. “The youth do have an impact on society, you need to make that change,” Knapp said. “There’s nothing more American than dissent.” Knapp said that those who are afraid of voting, or registering to vote because of potential backlash, should know that
Kickball
• Continued from Page 4
said. “It went so deep into right field, and it also scored (sophomore Alexis
Page 3
Puzzles
the only person who knows how they vote is the voter themselves. The presidential election, which is Nov. 3, isn’t the only important election that is happening this cycle. Oftentimes, races at the local level are close. Students should vote in these local elections because “things done in Topeka affect you more than the presidential election,” Probst said. Students can register to vote in less than five minutes at KSVotes.org by Oct. 13, the cut-off date for Kansas. Early voting begins Oct. 15, and registered voters can request absentee ballots from the same site, if they choose to do so. If students are worried about the postal service not delivering their vote, Probst said that they can drop it off at their county clerk’s office. That way, they can ensure their vote is counted. More information about elections can be found on the Kansas Secretary of State’s website at VoteKS.org. Way). It was my first kick of the day, too.” Overall, the teams shared many laughs and created not only some fun memories, but also motivation for another possible challenge in the future.
Theater
• Continued from Page 1
with social distancing as a mandate, it is still a relief to most to have this available again. “I think it’ll boost morale in the community, especially among the under-30crowd. When I go to the theater I can sit back and forget my problems for a few hours and become part of the story. I feel like I enjoy the movies even more as an adult,” Miller said. The whole idea of enjoying the magic of the movie can be uplifting for those who have been stuck at home since the pandemic, especially
those who tend to the more introverted side of things. Cade McLean, Hutchinson sophomore, enjoys attending the theaters and taking the satisfaction of enjoying one of the most favorite movie theater snacks - popcorn. “I am optimistic about it,” McLean said. “I think it’s time, people need to be smart about whether they go or not, but I am happy it’s open. I’m not huge on the magic of the movies. I just like interesting stories, characters and actors. People go to movies to escape reality, myself included.” Visit www.bbtheatres.com for listings, showtimes and to learn about restrictions at the theater.
Upcoming Candidate Forums Photo courtesy HutchCC Sports Information Hutchinson Community College softball player, Cheyenne Collins, kicks the ball during a kickball tournament at Fun Valley Sports Complex
Tuesday, September 15 Stringer Fine Arts Center 34th Sentate Dist. @ 5:30 p.m. Shanna Henry and Mark Steffen House Dist. 102 and 104 @ 6:15 p.m. Rep. Jason Probst and John Whitesal Garth Strand and Rep. Paul Waggoner
Happy Eating
Photo by Sophia Carter/Collegian Hutchinson Community College volleyball players take on the women’s basketball team at Fun Valley Sports Complex
Photo by Kenneth Ryan/Collegian Paisley Jaye, left, Joradan Arheart show off the food that they bought at the Kansas State Fairgrounds
Sports
Page 4
The Hutchinson Collegian Friday, September 11, 2020
The great kickball war
Photos courtesy by HutchCC Sports Information The teams celebrating after a day of kickball at Fun Valley. The softball team played the volleyball team and women’s basketball team in a kickball tournament.
Volleyball, softball, women’s basketball engage at Fun Valley By Bailey Pennycuff Co- Sports Editor
Softball player Haley Miller throwing a ball in the kickball game between the softball team and basketball teams.
Downing was the first to come up with the competitive idea, and her purpose A few Hutchinson was to have fun and try to Community College sports make the teams closer. teams had some compet“It was a super fun itive fun Sept. 3 at Fun activity for us to do and Valley Sports Complex. The made us all work together volleyball team challenged in ways we haven’t. I think the softball and women’s our team got a little closer basketball teams to a game to the other teams, but I of kickball, and the chalthink we should play more lenge was accepted. active games like that to reThe first game was the ally get closer,” sophomore softball team vs the volley- volleyball player Chloe ball team. Then the softball Price said. and basketball teams faced In typical COVID-19 off. Lastly, the volleyball fashion, masks were team faced the basketball enforced for the friendly team. games. Softball went 2-0, basket“I mean, (wearing a ball went 1-1 and volleyball mask) sucked, but it was went 0-2 for the day. a small price to pay to get “When coach told us some dubs,” Bevan said. about the kickball games, The rules of kickball are I was so excited. The first similar to the rules of softthing I thought was ‘we are ball. Thus, the softball team totally going to kick their had an advantage by simply butts,’” sophomore softball understanding the dynamics player Natalie Bevan said. of the game. Certain players Volleyball coach Delice of the other teams did not
always understand the rules, or even know other rules existed. “The softball vs. basketball game got a little chippy at times,” Bevan said. “Some of the basketball girls didn’t really know some of the rules, and we just assumed they did. I mean, those rules come pretty natural to us, but I could see why basketball players may struggle with some.” Getting to spend time with teammates outside of formal practices can be a fun experience. “My favorite part was being with my teammates and cheering them on,” Price said. Other memorable moments might be unforgettable for some people. “The best part about the kickball game was when I kicked a home run,” Bevan See Kickball, Page 4
Athlete of the week
(Aug. 30-Sept. 5) Louise Cocking, Cross country The week: Cocking had a good college debut at the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic at Fun Cocking Valley Sport Complex. She was the highest-placing freshman in the meet, coming in fourth overall on the three-mile course with a time of 19 minutes, 6.1 seconds. Cocking was one of eight runners to finish in under 20 minutes. The season: A native of Derbyshire, England, Cocking is one of four freshmen on the six-person roster. She will race again on Sept. 19 in North Newton.
Blue Dragon golfers see start delayed By The Collegian staff
The Hutchinson Community College men’s golf team will open its fall schedule on Oct. 5-6 in Pueblo, Colorado. The Blue Dragons had two September meets that have been removed from the schedule. One of those, in Amarillo, Texas, was moved to late October.
Cross country teams run well in first meet By Adam Kolb Co-Sports Editor
The Hutchinson Community College cross country teams competed in its first event of the 2020 season at the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic on Friday night. One of those runners competing was freshman Louise Cocking, who had an impressive debut. She posted the second highest finish and second best time by a Blue Dragon women’s cross country runner in the history of the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic. Cocking helped her team to a third-place finish, and finished fourth overall to lead Hutchinson. “It was exciting to start racing again,” Cocking said. The Derbyshire, Englad, native also posted the 15th overall fastest time in Masterson Twilight history, a three-time race. Hutchinson had two runners finish in the top 10 and four in the top 20. Sophomore Sheila Too ended with a seventh-place finish, beating
her freshman time by almost 57 seconds. She was also one of eight racers to break the 20-minute mark, finishing in 19:55.8. Megan Miller also beat her freshman time by 1 minute, 26 seconds with a 17th-place finish in 20:17.2. Another Blue Dragon in the top 20 was Izzy Wheeler, who ended the day in 17th-place with a time of 20:43.1 in her Blue Dragon debut. With all of the success that the Blue Dragon cross country team had on Friday, it was no surprise that the absence of fans didn’t have any affect on them. “We didn’t really notice the fans not being there,” said sophomore Teagan Flanagan. The Blue Dragons will compete in their next event on Sept. 19 at the Muhama-Rogers Invitational at Bethel College in North Newton, the second of six meets on the schedule this season.
Photo courtesy by HutchCC Sports Information Hutchinson Community College’s Matt Schrag (209), Andrew Holt (207), Cameron Delaney (204) compete at the Terry Masterson Twilight Classic at Fun Valley.
Blue Dragon sports schedules, results. All home games, events in caps. Cross country
Sept. 4, TERRY MASTERSON TWILIGHT CLASSIC, at Fun Valley, women third, men third. Sept. 19, at Bethel College, 10:45 a.m. Oct. 3, at Allen County, TBA
Oct. 10, at Fort Hays State, 9 a.m. Oct. 31, Region 6 Championships, at El Dorado, 10 a.m. Nov. 14, at NJCAA Division 1 Championships, Fort Dodge, Iowa, TBA
Golf
Sept. 14-15, at Ryan Palmer Classic, Amarillo, Texas Sept. 28-29, at Missouri Southern Invitational Oct. 5-6, at CSU-Pueblo Fall Classic, Pueblo,
Colorado Oct. 12-13, at Midwestern State Fall Classic, Wichita Falls, Texas Oct. 19-20, at NJCAA National Preview, Lubbock, Texas