SUN FLOWER
the
INSIDE:
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016
VOLUME 120, ISSUE 50
Flip to page 5 to find the regular edition of The Sunflower as a pull-out section.
THESUNFLOWER.COM
With a 24-win record, Wichita State is on the bubble of national brackets. The Shockers’ hopes of one of the 36 elusive at-large berths is at the center of debate. Their fate will be determined on Selection Sunday.
Bubble watch résumés: Shockers’ hope of making who’s in, who’s out? field of 68 may rely on eye test EVAN PFLUGRADT
SPORTS EDITOR
@evpflu
In December, Gregg Marshall, gleaming with excitement from a 17-point win over then No. 25 Utah, addressed the media with strong statements of a resurgent group, a team already proven tournament-ready. “Maybe having people write you off for the NCAA Tournament inspired us,” he said, directed to a reporter from Bleacher Report. WSU handily defeated the Utes, shooting more than 40 percent from the field. Conner Frankamp recorded his first basket as a Shocker, and Zach Brown was showing signs of steady improvement, all positives in the Shocker locker room. After a gut-wrenching November, when the team was 2-4 against Division I opponents, the Shockers desperately needed positives to draw from. The result was winning three straight marquee wins, and on Dec. 12 there was bass-thumping music, celebratory dances and chants and cheers of pure positivity filling the locker room. On Saturday everything changed. WSU fell to a high-fire Northern Iowa team in overtime. On Sunday, UNI guard Wes Washpun sent the Panthers dancing into March on a game-winner in overtime of the Missouri Valley Championship. As the Panthers danced in the Scottrade Center, Gregg Marshall did the one thing he could do to determine his NCAA Tournament selections — he watched television. “I’ll watch, I love college basketball,” Marshall said. “I’ll watch a lot of games, and try and learn and try to get better. A lot of so-called bubble teams’ bubbles burst today and may throughout the week, I’ll watch.” In fact, it’s all he could do. With 24 wins to
his résumé, Marshall has the task of seeing his future played out on courts across America. In the next few days, the final 36 at-large spots will be factored out and decided by a selection committee, announced Sunday night. As with all of the Shocker-faithful, Gregg Marshall will be clinging to the screen, waiting for a chance to lead his team into March. Days, hours and minutes, all in which players and coaches won’t sleep easy. “It’s going to be a long, tough week, a lot of things going through my mind, whether I’m in, whether I’m not, nothing more I can do now to persuade [the committee],” senior forward Anton Grady said. Last season, WSU fell to Illinois State in the semifinals of the MVC Tournament, they were secured into the field of 36 selected at-large teams with a 28-4 record. Two years prior, they locked up an at-large after falling to Creighton, a record of 26-7 put them in the field. The record Marshall may not want to revisit, a 24-8 record in 2011. WSU fell short of an NCAA Tournament bid after falling in the semifinals to Indiana State. They went on to rally five more wins, and end the season victors of the NIT. Players and coaches don’t want to revisit that record, but they have to because it’s where they stand now, a record of 24-8 with feet firmly stuck in the bubble. “Let the chips fall where they may, all we can do is wait and see,” sophomore Zach Brown said. The Shockers want in, and frankly, so does America. But the selection committee is far from a popularity contest.
SEE BUBBLE • PAGE 4
As the NCAA selection show approaches COLUMN BY this NICK BEACH Sunday Wichita State is still a mystery. Many think they’ll be in, many think they’ll be out. It should be noted that ESPN’s Joe Lunardi still has the Shockers firmly in the field as an No. 8 seed. Lunardi is widely regarded as the most trusted “bracketologist,” he has been more accurate than CBS and USA Today in recent years. The Shockers are up against it with quite a few other bubble teams in question. Wichita State The Shockers are currently No. 11 in the KenPom rating and no team in the top 15 has ever missed the NCAA tournament. Monmouth’s loss to Iona Monday night didn’t help but the Shockers have 24 wins. Most other bubble teams do not. The Utah win is still very strong and with an RPI of 50 they should be able to squeeze their way in. The committee will likely take name recognition and VanVleet’s injury into account even if they say they will not.
Verdict: In Monmouth The Monmouth Hawks lost in the final of the MAAC tournament Monday which got Shockers fans worried once again. Monmouth finished 27-7 with two big quality wins against Notre Dame and USC. The MAAC now looks like a two bid league. Monmouth has a better résumé than plenty of bubble teams and although UCLA and Georgetown finished with sub-par seasons, Monmouth’s true road wins over the Bruins and the Hoyas are still impressive. Verdict: In Oregon State: The Beavers are currently 18-11 and finished with just a 9-9 conference record entering a very difficult Pac 12 tournament in Las Vegas this weekend. Assuming the Beavers defeat Arizona State in the opening round they’ll meet California in the quarterfinal which will be no easy task. The Beavers have quality wins against California, Oregon, USC, Colorado and Utah. However, 9-9 in conference is not strong and USC has 20 wins while also being 9-9 in league play.
SEE RESUME • PAGE 2
PAGE 2 | BUBBLE WATCH
THURSDAY, MARCH 10
www.thesunflower.com
File Photo by Manny De Los Santos
The 2016 seniors pose for pictures Feb. 24 at Charles Koch Arena as the Shockers defeat Illinois State on Senior Day.
So long, seniors
Five seniors are leaving Wichita State this year, four of them add a collective list of national merit and conference selections.
Ron Baker
Missouri Valley All-Defensive Team, 2016 Lute Olson Award Watch List, 2015-16 Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference, 2015-16 Jerry West Award Watch List, 2015-16 Team USA- Pan American Games Bronze Medalist, 2015 Missouri Valley All-Conference Team, 2014, 2015, 2016 Wooden Award All-American, 2015 USA Today Second Team All-American, 2015 Honorable Mention AP All-American, 2015
Anton Grady
1
2
Missouri Valley All-Bench Team Captain, 2016 Missouri Valley All-Bench Team, 2016 Missouri Valley All-Newcomer Team, 2016 Karl Malone Watch List, 2015-16 First Team All-Horizon League, 2015 Horizon All-Defensive Team, 2015 Second Team NABC All-District 12, 2015 Second Team All-Horizon Team, 2014 Preseason All-Horizon Second Team, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Horizon All-Newcomer Team, 2012
Fred VanVleet
3
4
Wichita State’s all-time assist leader Missouri Valley Player of the Year, 2014, 2016 Preseason Missouri Valley Player of the Year, 2015 Missouri Valley All-Conference Team, 2014, 2015, 2016 Missouri Valley All-Defensive Team, 2014,2015, 2016 Bob Cousy Award Finalist, 2015 Lute Olson Award Finalist, 2015 Diamond Head Classic All-Tournament Team, 2015 Naismith Award Watch List, 2015 First Team Preseason All-American (AP, Bleacher Report, CBSSports.com, Sports Illustrated and USA Today), 2015 Missouri Valley Most Improved Team, 2014 Missouri Valley All-Tournament Team, 2014
Evan Wessel Winningest college senior in the last two decades by percentage 95-13 career record (88 percent career-winning percentage) MVC Most Improved Team, 2015 All-MVC Scholar Athlete Second Team, 2014 MVC Scholar-Athlete Team, 2016
5
File Photos 1. Wichita State guard Fred VanVleet attempts a free throw. 2. Senior Anton Grady blocks a play during the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament win against Loyola on Friday. 3. Ron Baker
holds up his jersey at the end of a win against Missouri State as the Shockers wrapped up a perfect 31-0 regular season. 4. Senior Tom “Bush” Wamukota celebrates a victory over Kansas during Round of 32 in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. 5. The five seniors hold up their framed jerseys Feb. 27 at Charles Koch Arena on Senior Day.
RESUME
FROM PAGE 1
The committee should value USC over Oregon State as they played a tougher schedule out of conference. It’ll be tough for the Beavers to get in without a Pac 12 tourney run. Verdict: Out Syracuse Syracuse is another case of 9-9 in league play that isn’t quite good enough. At 19-13 overall, a true road win over Duke is huge and the Texas A&M victory is also quite impressive. With one more conference win they would have been safe. Joe Lunardi has stated that the loser of Wednesday’s game between Syracuse and Pittsburg in the second round of the ACC tournament is out. Syracuse lost by one point Wednesday afternoon, failing to
reach 20 wins. Verdict: Out St. Bonaventure The Bonnies are 22-7 entering the Atlantic 10 tournament with two great wins over St. Joseph’s and a win at Dayton. They have their fair share of bad losses against Ohio Siena and Duquesne but overall their résumé is pretty strong. It’s hard to see them getting snubbed with their quality wins and an RPI of 28. Verdict: In Connecticut UCONN is a talented squad and Kevin Ollie is a proven coach. The enter the Aamerican Athletic Conference tournament at 21-10 overall with some solid wins over SMU and Texas. A No. 55 RPI isn’t the best but the Huskies have no bad loss. While the committee has shown in recent years that they value good wins over bad losses, someone
from the AAC has to get in aside from the tournament champion, and possibly two or three more. Verdict: In Tulsa Tulsa seems to be the odd man out in the AAC. They are 20-10. They have the quality win against Wichita State and a road win at Southern Methodist was a huge résumé booster. The problem is their résumé is too similar to other teams in the AAC but they have less name recognition. Frank Haith has done a great job with this program but it’s tough to see them get in with likely 11 losses by the end of the American conference tournament. Verdict: Out Florida The Florida Gators have arguably the best win of any team on the bubble with a demolishing victory over West Virginia in Gainesville during the Big
12-SEC challenge. However, they failed to capitalize on any further opportunities to gain quality wins. They lost in nearly every matchup against the top tier in the SEC and finished with an 18-13 (9-9 conference) record overall. Florida needed a few more wins. They’ll have to make a serious run in the SEC tournament. Verdict: Out St. Mary’s With the Gaels loss to Gonzaga Tuesday night they give the committee an extremely tough decision. St Mary’s only has five losses and two wins over now tourney bound Gonzaga. They pass the eye test and have a respectable RPI. The Gaels have what it takes to win games in the tourney. Ultimately, St. Mary’s deserves it much more than the likes of a Florida, Michigan or Ohio State.
Verdict: In Pittsburgh: With the Panthers huge win over Syracuse they are now 21-10 and have defeated Syracuse three times. Pitt has their share of quality wins over Duke and others in the ACC. One more win will assure the Panthers are dancing but they are on the inside of the bubble with their win Wednesday. Verdict: In Other notes Ohio State and Michigan have played their way out of the tournament in the Big Ten. They need to do some serious work in the conference tournament. Other teams in strong conferences such as George Washington, Florida, and Oregon State could likely end up taking bids from teams like Wichita State, Monmouth, and St. Mary’s with good showings in their respective conference tournaments.
www.thesunflower.com
THURSDAY, MARCH 10
PAGE 3 | BUBBLE WATCH
Landry Shamet applies for medical hardship, gears up for strong comeback
File Photo by Manny De Los Santos
Redshirt freshman Brett Barney cuts down the nets Feb. 27. Barney, a Wichita native, should see significant playing time by his sophomore season.
Redshirts look to contribute for Shockers next season Conversations about the Wichita State basketball team have been about the program’s future as the Baker-VanVleet era COLUMN BY comes to an end. NICK BEACH Even with a huge contract extension and raise last offseason, Gregg Marshall’s future in Wichita is uncertain as he is likely to be courted by programs in bigger conferences in the next couple of months. The Shockers have Markis McDuffie, Shaq Morris, Zach Brown and even a recently blooming Rashard Kelly in place for the next couple years. Conner Frankamp also has some promise looking forward. The men no one is talking about are the redshirts. Brett Barney is a lengthy fresh-
man from Wichita. Peyton Allen is a 6-foot-5-inch sophomore guard who came to Wichita from College Station after a brief career at Texas A&M. Landry Shamet rounds out the redshirts after solid playing time at the beginning of the season after Fred VanVleet’s injury. Shamet undoubtedly has the rawest talent of any of these three players. He will begin the 2016-17 season as a redshirt freshman and looks to contribute in many ways for WSU in the coming years. He is steady for a young player. He also has the ability to shoot the ball from deep to go with his explosiveness off the dribble. Shamet has a great chance to become a double-digit per-game scorer in his redshirt freshman season. He is likely to be a future star.
SEE REDSHIRTS • PAGE 11
File Photo by Manny De Los Santos
Freshman Landry Shamet sits on the bench Dec. 12 at Intrust Bank Arena. Shamet was out early in the season with an injury and applied for a medical hardship to redshirt this season.
Freshman guard Landry Shamet was set for a big season in his first year at Wichita State. An early-season injury changed these COLUMN BY plans, and him. CONNER “I’ve never been CLAPHAM faced with anything like this before,” Shamet said. “That two weeks after surgery was probably the lowest I’ve been.” Shamet played 59 minutes through three games in November, one of those as a starter, but suffered a stress fracture on his left foot in a Nov. 21 home game against Emporia State. After his injury, while the Shockers traveled to Florida to compete in the AdvoCare Invitational Tournament, Shamet stayed home to have surgery on his fifth metatarsal in his left foot. Given the Shockers make the NCAA Tournament, he will not play due to his medical redshirt taken from his season-ending injury. With this medical redshirt, Shamet will still have his four years of eligibility. In early January, head coach Gregg Marshall told CBS Sports he expected Shamet to return early-to mid-February, but that timetable is looking very different now. It came down to Shamet’s choice, whether he wanted to suit up for games late in the season or choose to save a redshirt season. Shamet, hailing from Kansas City, Missouri, could’ve been a vital asset to the
Shockers’ squad this season. Even though there would be minutes available for him, Shamet said his decision to not return was based on two reasons: he was not physically ready to help the Shockers, and was not necessarily needed to make the most out of senior guards Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet’s seasons. He made a wise decision because he would likely be swapping a whole season for roughly six or seven regular season games and the MVC Tournament. Even though Shamet has been out of his walking boot since mid-January, he said he didn’t feel he should come back unless he was 100 percent ready for practice and games. The word “patience” has been Shamet’s chosen word for the backbone of this season. The word “patience” is his word to drive his goals. “Patience” comes from California rapper Big Sean’s song of the same name. Shamet says it was very fitting. “[Big Sean] talks about patience and how it’s not just the ability to wait, but how you act while you’re waiting.” Shamet can be seen tweeting lyrics from Big Sean’s song on his Twitter account. As he surrounds himself in this mindset that even though it’s tough to watch a team not able to compete at full strength, it will be worth it next year. Shocker fans can get excited as they expect to see Shamet come back for his redshirt freshman season next fall as he battles adversity, and prepares to compete at the highest level he can.
2 01 6
campus-wide scavenger hunt
WIN PRIZES !
FRIDAY APRIL 1 4:00 - 5:00 PM
N LEAR E kmuw.org/stubblefield MOR
THURSDAY, MARCH 10
PAGE 4 | BUBBLE WATCH
www.thesunflower.com
Watching courtside
Serif headline
File Photo
Ron Baker talks to Mike Kennedy, left, after a game last season against the University of Indiana. Kennedy has been the play-by-play broadcaster for Wichita State for 40 years.
Mike Kennedy’s 40 years on WSU radio brings a unique lifetime experience GRANT COHEN
REPORTER
@gforce4preach
Entering his 40th year as the play-by-play broadcaster for WSU, Kennedy has called some remarkable games. His favorites are the 1989 College World Series and the win over Ohio State that resulted in men’s basketball Final Four appearance in 2013. A 1971 graduate of Wichita State, Kennedy started out his broadcasting career by calling athletic games as a student for KMUW Wichita Public Radio. He joined the Shocker broadcast team in 1976 while working for KAKE TV-Radio. “My focus coming out of college was to maybe do Major
BUBBLE FROM PAGE 1
Here’s how the committee picks out the field (Per NCAA): 1. Select the 36 best at-large teams 2. Seed the field of 68 teams 3. Place the teams into a championship bracket The field is made of 68 teams. The committee gives automatic entries to 32 teams, each winners of their conference tournament. After this has been completed the committee pulls and ranks 36 other non-automatic qualifiers. These are called at-large teams. This is where Wichita State stands a chance. According to NCAA.com, at-large teams are “the best teams not otherwise automatic qualifiers for their conference will fill the at-large berths.” Best is very subjective, so how does a committee who votes by secret ballot determine who is actually the top-tier? “Committee members have a wide-range of observation, consultation and data resources available to them throughout the season and during selection week,” NCAA.com writes. “These resources provide the foundation for a thorough and educated process that is reinforced by the committee member’s discussion and deliberation. Each of the 10 committee members uses these various resources uses these various resources to form their own opinions, resulting in the committee’s consensus position on teams’ selection and seeding.” There’s a lot to be discussed amongst the 10 selection committee members, and when the conversation switches to Wichita State, one is guaranteed to speak up. Former Wichita State athletic director Jim Schaus is one of the 10 members of the committee. Schaus left WSU in 2008, and hired Marshall before leaving. The committee has regulations on members discussing schools they’re
League Baseball,” Kennedy said. “Wichita State was kind of a secondary role, although [the job] was in the back of my mind.” In 1980, Kennedy became the full-time voice for the Shockers for KAKZ radio. While he stopped broadcasting football for WSU when the program was discontinued in 1987, Kennedy continued to be the play-by-play broadcaster for baseball, men’s basketball and volleyball. Kennedy became the “Voice of the Shockers” after his play call for Greg Brummett’s final pitch in the Shockers’ victory over Texas in the 1989 College World Series and Mike Jones’ “shot” in the 1981 Battle of New Orleans over Kansas.
He recently received the 2014 Kansas Sportscaster of the Year award. Thirty-six years ago, Kennedy found a partner to go alongside him for men’s basketball games. When Kennedy had invited former WSU football player, Dave Dahl, to a men’s basketball scrimmage, the two called the game with a tape recorder. The chemistry between the two fit so well that Kennedy made Dahl his color commentator for home basketball games. Kennedy would later add Bob Hull for away basketball games and Shane Dennis as a color commentator for baseball games. “It has been great fun, and an honor to broadcast alongside
Mike for these past 35 years,” Dahl said. “He is the consummate professional. Mike is extremely intelligent and has a photographic memory.” The 1995 Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame inductee had many offers from professional organizations to become their play-by-play announcer, including an offer from the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. Kennedy politely declined those callings because of his job with the Shockers and how the community treated him. “I reached a point in my life and my career where you have to balance things,” Kennedy said. “[Calling professional sports] requires a lot of travel and grind. The more games I’ve been
around, the more I have fallen in love with this job. You develop so many great relationships.” “He makes our job in media relations a lot easier,” said Larry Rankin, assistant athletic director. “He’s always prepared and his description of the game is the best I’ve ever heard. Shocker fans love him.” Dahl said broadcasters appreciate what Kennedy brings to the table and the knowledge he gives to the listeners at home. “No one can describe a sporting event like Mike does,” Dahl said. “In my opinion, which is shared by many people more knowledgeable than I am, Mike is absolutely the best broadcaster in college sports.”
currently affiliated with, but with no current affiliation to WSU, Schaus, the now athletic director for the University of Ohio, said plans on being a voice in the discussions about Wichita State. “With no current association, I fully plan on participating in any conversations regarding Wichita State,” Schaus told the Wichita Eagle. Schaus isn’t the only one who wants to discuss Wichita State, with the basketball-filled weeks of March spinning at full-speed, the Shockers have become the center of national attention. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi said the Shockers are a “lock” for the NCAA Tournament, and in his bracketology analysis, he has WSU as a No. 8 seed playing Butler in Des Moines, down one spot from a seven-seed he had listed WSU a few days earlier. Michael Beller of Sports Illustrated leaves WSU out of his mock bracket. Jerry Palm of CBSSports. com has WSU as one of his first four teams out. Bracketmatrix.com, a site that compiles 94 bracket projections, ranks the Shockers a No. 10 seed. It’s a debate fueled almost entirely by statistics. By the numbers, the Shockers argue strongly for inclusion. Wichita State has a No. 11 ranking by Ken Pomeroy, other tests including the Sagarin have them listed as No. 25 in addition to their No. 50 RPI and No. 22 non-conference strength of schedule. The committee is reported to be taking additional consideration to Ken Pomeroy and other statistical measures, but there’s no set in stone formula for consideration. The biggest test could be one where no numbers are present. “I think the eye test in No. 1,” Marshall said. “Some people have a better eye for basketball talent from a team perspective, others go by strictly breaking down computer numbers and others use high-end numbers like analytics. I say, you have to watch us, then you can really
see what we’re about.” The eye test could do the Shockers the most justice. During the season the committee converses on conference-calls getting updates from schools and conferences, they follow the top 75 teams particularly closely. Duke athletic director Kevin White and North Carolina Asheville athletic director Janet Cone follow the Missouri Valley more exclusively. In selection week, committee members may binge-watch an entire season of games. Any litmus test WSU hasn’t passed already, the committee can speed through a game in the course of about 45 minutes, after breaks have been removed. “The eye test is the biggest test for people,” Creighton athletic director Bruce Rasmussen told the Wichita Eagle. Rasmussen is a member of the selection committee. “Watching games and watching the way a team plays, their toughness, they play together, that’s what
you look for,” he said. The eye test could help settle the debate. While the numbers speak a voice of their own, the eye test shows two teams, one hindered by injury, another shows highlight reel dunks and a team handedly defeating opponents by 30-plus points. It also shows three losses in which VanVleet and Conner Frankamp sat on the bench, marginal three and four-point losses in Orlando. Two losses with Anton Grady hospitalized and the spirit of the team left deteriorating; injuries are something the committee consistently reiterates they take into account throughout the season, another helpful boost from of the eye test. If Wichita State wanted to make one last and final push for the committee, they’ve done it, and they’ve done it by being themselves. “People are familiar with Wichita, people are familiar with Fred VanVleet, Evan Wessel and Ron Baker and a lot of those kids,” Rasmussen said.
A Final Four in 2013, a 35-1 season in 2014 and a Sweet 16 victory over state-rival Kansas, led by the four and five-year seniors is a story the country wants to see finish. And Marshall wants his seniors to play again, hoping their journey ends somewhere in the NCAA Tournament. “They’re ready to play in either tournament, they don’t want it to be an NIT bid,” Marshall said. “In the end, if you see teams that are better and had to deal with what we had to deal with, maybe they select them. I think at the end of the day, we’re a team that not only can be in the NCAA Tournament, but also win games in the NCAA Tournament.” Time is ticking down for the selection committee, and the Shocker faithful are closely sweating this one out, awaiting an opponent, a destination, a tournament to settle their season. The field of 68 will be announced in a special two-hour broadcast at 4:30 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
SUN FLOWER
the
Visit thesunflower. com to find a gallery of photos from a “Core of Temptation” dress rehearsal Wednesday.
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016
VOLUME 120, ISSUE 50
THESUNFLOWER.COM
SGA sends recommended student fees budget back to drawing board ANDREW LINNABARY
REPORTER
@linnabary
If proposed student fees budget cuts are approved, Mikrokosmos, Wichita State’s literary journal, may soon be printing its last publication. “This is one of the oldest creative writing programs in the nation,” said Kayla Haas, editor of Mikrokosmos. “We’re 12th oldest; it’s over 60 years old. You’re letting history and part of the literary community die,” Haas said. Wednesday night, Student
Government Association debated the proposed 2017 student fees budget, which was presented by the student fees committee at the last meeting, March 2. Decisions on the budget were debated amongst the senators, and SGA ultimately voted against the recommended budget, sending it back to the committee to reconsider. The student fees budget for fiscal year 2017 totals more than $9.3 million, which is about $380,000 less than last year’s budget.
Mikrokosmos is one of the organizations suggested to receive zero or significantly reduced funding. “I understand being completely cut is difficult, but at the same time, cuts have to be made in some places,” SGA Senator Paige Huntgate said during Wednesday’s meeting. Mikrokosmos received $2,700 for their budget last fiscal year, and this year requested $6,000. “We need more time,” Haas said Wednesday. “So if we can deny this budget and go back to the drawing board … that’s what
I’d like to propose.” Mariah Smith, SGA treasurer and member of the student fees committee, said the cuts are necessary because of an extreme reduction in credit hours. “We weren’t so much discussing the merit of the organizations as discussing whether or not we believe, ‘Is this the correct budget area that this organization should fall into to sustain funding for the future?” Smith said. “All the decisions were made as a team. It was very difficult to be the spokesperson for the team, but most of them
were group decisions and we felt very united at the end.” Senator Paul Brink proposed Wednesday to take $10,000 from SGA’s budget — the student fees committee recommended allocating more than $280,000 to SGA — to keep afloat the completely defunded organizations. Brink’s proposal was shot down by the Senate. “I know that puts us in a little bit of tightness but that will help alleviate the pressure on some other organizations,” Brink said.
SEE FUNDING • PAGE 10
‘Core of Temptation’
Photo by Jessica Green
Sophomore Christian James, who plays the role of Adam, is tempted with an apple by sophomore Mariah Clements, who plays Eve, during rehearsal of “Core of Temptation” on Tuesday. The play is a Second Stage theater production about the creation story.
Theater students work with award-winning playwright to produce play ALEX BULLOCK
REPORTER
@alexbullock_wsu
W
hen Wichita State music theater major Jennie Hughes applied to be a student director for an upcoming theater production, she wasn’t expecting to have the opportunity to craft an original work with the playwright. For a year now, Hughes and fellow students have been bringing the work of Danielle Hartman to life in “Core of Temptation.” Wichita State’s School of Performing Art’s Second Stage Theatre will present “Core of Temptation” this weekend. As a new take on the creation story, “Core of Temptation” is
from the perspective of God and his angles. In the play, God and his angel, Lucy, fight about humanity and creation. Performances started Wednesday and will continue at 7:30 p.m. Thursday though Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Welsbacher Theatre at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex. The production is part of the theatre program’s student-produced Second Stage series. Hartman is a graduate of Christopher Newport University. She is now completing her M.F.A. from Virginia Commonwealth University in Theatre Pedagogy. Her script for “Core of Temptation” won
last year’s National Playwriting Competition, which is sponsored by WSU’s theatre program. Undergraduate and graduate students from around the country submit their scripts and a committee made up of faculty and students from WSU’s School of Performing Arts chooses a winner. The winning script is turned into a production at WSU, and the students of Second Stage are responsible for its production. “It gives students the opportunity to do original work, in its whole process,” said Bret Jones, theatre program director.
SEE PLAY • PAGE 9
« IF YOU GO:
‘Core of Temptation’ When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Where: Welsbacher Theatre
WSU engineering students activate prototype business, ProtoBench C. CONNER CLAPHAM
REPORTER
@clapdaddy1
A group of WSU students have recently assembled a “dream team” to kick start their business idea. Junior computer science major Andrew Trefethen, junior aerospace engineering major Zane Woltz, and sophomore business major Austin Slater created a prototyping business they call ProtoBench. ProtoBench, according to their Facebook page, is a company that provides prototyping and 3D modeling services for entrepreneurs. They specialize in 3D printing and strive to empower
innovators in small companies to take on larger competition. Last December, Trefethen said he pitched his business idea to his boss at Electronic Sensors Incorporated (ESI). “It stemmed from seeing the problem that ESI had trying to make a prototype of my own for a different type of level sensor, and not being able to find the parts I needed. So I pitched it to them and they liked it a lot and they wanted to help me get it started,” he said. Trefethen’s boss provided an empty space for the students to use right next door to ESI, which got ProtoBench moving. Trefethen said he sat down with Woltz and
Slater and just said, “We’re going to make this happen.” And they did. “From there it’s just been networking and talking with people, getting connections and letting people know that we’re here and finding ways of getting people involved,” Trefethen said. Trefethen said he sees ProtoBench becoming an influential company in Wichita and, someday, expand into a place where national and global companies and innovators bring ideas in order to get out on the market.
Photo by Jessica Green
SEE BUSINESS • PAGE 7
Junior Andrew Trefethen works on a modeling program Wednesday night. Trefethen helped create a new Wichita company called ProtoBench.
THURSDAY, MARCH 10
PAGE 6 | ENTERTAINMENT THE STAFF:
EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief Shelby Reynolds Managing Editor Danielle Prewitt Multimedia Editor Jessica Green Sports Editor Evan Pflugradt Opinion Editor Alex Perry Special Sections Editor Chandler Ochoa Production Editor Jillian Clough Social Media Manager Chelsea Moore
ADVERTISING
Advertising Manager Jordan Becker Advertising Representatives Emily Maslow Landen Swearingen
BUSINESS / ADVISING Business Manager Robbie Norton Faculty Adviser Jessica Bertapelle
The Sunflower is published by student-employees on Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. During the summer session, the paper is printed once a month, with exceptions for holidays and finals. The Sunflower (published for use by WSU students, faculty and staff) is private property and unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable. One copy may be taken for free. Additional copies must be purchased for $1 each. The Sunflower is also partially funded by the Student Government Association at WSU. The opinions expressed in The Sunflower editorials, columns, guest columns, reviews, advertisements, letters, Yik Yak posts and editorial cartoons are not necessarily those of the staff, publications board, student body or university. The Sunflower reserves the right to edit or reject any submission. We also reserve the right to edit or reject any advertisement.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Send letters to the editor to editor@ thesunflower.com. Please keep letters to 250 words or less. All letters are edited for clarity and length. Please include your name, WSU affiliation and a phone number or email address for verification purposes.
CONTACT THE SUNFLOWER: 019 Elliott Hall 1845 N. Fairmount Ave. Campus Box 134 Wichita, KS 67260-0134 ---------SUNFLOWER OFFICES Front Desk: 316-978-3640 Fax: 316-978-3778 ADVERTISING Jordan Becker: 316-978-6906 sunfloweradsales@gmail.com EDITORIAL Shelby Reynolds: 316-978-6905 editor@thesunflower.com BUSINESS Robbie Norton: 316-978-6900 robbie.norton@wichita.edu ADVISER Jessica Bertapelle: 316-978-6129 jessica.bertapelle@wichita.edu ---------ONLINE www.thesunflower.com FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/sunflowerwsu www.facebook.com/sunflowerads TWITTER @sunflowernews @sunflowersports @Sunflower_SGA INSTAGRAM @thesunflowernews CORRECTIONS This space is normally reserved for corrections. Spot an error? Contact us at 316-978-6905.
CLASSIFIEDS The Sunflower will not knowingly publish advertising that is false or misleading. If you have a question about an ad or a classified, call the Wichita Better Business Bureau at 316-263-3146.
Thinking Abortion? Alternatives: Free Testing 265-0134
More classifieds can be found online at www.thesunflower.com/classifieds. Be see in the classifieds by calling 316-978-6906.
@sunflowernews
www.thesunflower.com
‘London Has Fallen,’ do not pick it up In these trying times, as we bicker over who should be the next leader of COLUMN BY the free world, ALEX PERRY we should all take a moment to consider which of the remaining candidates would be able to mess some dudes up if necessary. I think Donald Trump is all talk, and even though Marco Rubio is relatively young and fit, he’s the least threatening person on Earth. Ted Cruz’s experience as the Zodiac Killer gives him some points here, but I still don’t think he could fight off roving gangs of dirt bike terrorists if need be. Bernie Sanders was much more rhetorically intense in his younger years, but he was also a pacifist, so that’s a no-go. I don’t really know what to make of Hillary Clinton’s chances in an action movie scenario, but I wouldn’t underestimate her. The presidential fan-fiction in the previous three paragraphs is several orders of magnitudes more carefully considered and fun than “London Has Fallen.” The highly-anticipated-by-nobody sequel to 2013’s “Olympus Has Fallen” is jaw-droppingly stupid, and not in a recommendable way. Gerard Butler is back as Mike Banning, a bourbon-soaked secret service agent who barks out embarrassing one-liners in Butler’s idea of an American accent. As in the previous film, he’s a close friend and personal bodyguard to Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart), a president with an astonishingly powerful name. As you may have guessed, the
Courtesy Photo
action has shifted to London this time around, as a state funeral attended by every prominent western world leader is a trap for some particularly enterprising terrorists. The United Kingdom has a fairly robust surveillance infrastructure, but apparently they couldn’t detect that every single guard and police officer at this funeral was actually a terrorist. The heads of state of countries like France and Japan are all introduced as appropriate cultural stereotypes only to be assassinated moments later in a coordinated attack. Because American exceptionalism extends to action movie heroics, our president and his bodyguard survive the initial flurry and spend the rest of the film trying to escape London. I haven’t looked into the backgrounds of the writing staff
SEE IT SKIP IT ‘10 Cloverfield Lane’ SEE IT
This surprise spiritual successor to “Cloverfield” has John Goodman in it, so according to all known natural laws, it can’t be worse than its predecessor.
of “London Has Fallen,” but I’m pretty sure it was co-written by a 12-year-old “Call of Duty” fan who just discovered cursing and a hacky conservative comedian. At one point, Butler tells one of the film’s generically Middle Eastern villains to “go back to F*ckheadistan.” Let’s also talk about a British security meeting near the beginning of the film, where some lecherous old guys around the table jokingly ask if the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders or the Kardashians will be at the funeral. The UK has vast cultural reach around the globe, but sure, I’ll believe they just sit around making stale references to American pop culture. I don’t know why that joke bothered me so much. Seriously, it takes five seconds to Google
“female British celebrities.” The joke is conceptually bad, but if it has to be in there, put in some effort. When the actors aren’t reading aloud from a historically wretched script, they’re shooting bad guys and it just all sucks. We’re theoretically supposed to root against the villain, even though he just wants revenge for his family being collateral damage in a drone strike in Pakistan. The film ends with him being killed in a drone strike in a public place, and it’s presented like a typical action movie punch line. I wish I could do the “Men in Black” memory wipe thing on myself after seeing “London Has Fallen.”
‘The Brothers Grimsby’ SKIP IT Sacha Baron Cohen and Mark Strong star in a secret agent goofball comedy that looks as British as it does bland.
Marissa’s Melodies
Tonight Alive explores pop vibe in latest release New music is a must as spring break rapidly approaches. From the COLUMN BY highly MARISSA anticipated CAMPBELL album by Kendrick Lamar, to singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne and the pop-punk band Tonight Alive, there are plenty of options for everyone to jam out to during their spring break trips. “untitled unmastered.” by Kendrick Lamar Released: March 4 Genre: Hip-hop
Kendrick Lamar’s hit album “To Pimp a Butterfly” was such a large hit across a broad spectrum of music fans and genres alike. From Paramore’s Hayley Williams to Jay-Z, a mix of musicians found appreciation in Lamar’s album. After the award-winning record, fans were excited to see what Lamar would do next. “untitled 01| 08.19.2014.” starts with talking and an intense slow jam breakdown and it flows right into “untitled 02 | 06.23.2014.” The entire album feels like one continuous song with short intermission periods. From smooth jazz saxophones to ‘70s funk bass lines, the Lamar album is a bit unusual compared to the last one. Even though his entire vibe tends to be a bit different than the usual rap music heard today, “untitled unmastered.” brings an intense, low grinding jazz-rap sound that builds off his last album. The problem is that the building was unnecessary. Lamar may have taken everything a bit too far on this album, which created an over-done affect. Download: “untitled 02 | 06.23.2014.” “Ouroboros” by Ray LaMontagne
Released: March 4 Genre: Singer-songwriter, folk
With his scratchy, wailing vocals to the dredging instrumentals, Ray LaMontagne has created a unique folk music experience. “Part One — While it Still Beats,” starts with intense, heavy chords from the bass and guitar, which fall into Montagne’s echoing vocals. The vocals hint toward the dreamlike instrumentals that come in during “Part Two – A Murmuration of Starlings,” which features relaxing, grooving guitar riffs and a hint of keyboard playing that aid toward the dreamy, sleepy quality. The entirely instrumental song helps break up the monotony of the otherwise dreary album. Although LaMontagne has a few songs that make the album, there are too many dull ones that can surely be passed. Download: “Part Two — A Murmuration of Starlings” “Limitless” by Tonight Alive Released: March 4 Genre: Pop-punk
In the pop-punk industry, a majority of bands are fronted by a male singer. This is not the case with Tonight Alive. Jenna McDougall provides powerful vocals that helped the band became a hit after their cover of Mumford & Sons’ “Little Lion Man.” Although that song was definitely more punk, the latest album “Limitless” features an extremely pop vibe. From songs “Drive” to “Waves,” the band seems less strong and grinding as they did in the past. McDougall’s vocals are more reminiscent of Katy Perry than fellow punk singers — which she used to live up to. Although the songs are still figuratively good, the sound of the band has changed so much that fans may not appreciate it. Download: “Waves”
Courtesy Photo
www.thesunflower.com
THURSDAY, MARCH 10
Woman’s Association collecting scholarship donations MADELINE DEABLER
REPORTER
@sunflowernews
Originally a professors’ wives club, the WSU Women’s Association has come a long way since it began in 1928. Now, the organization raises funds to provide scholarships to non-traditional, female students in need, and hosts a variety of social activities throughout the year. In March, the Woman’s Association collects donations toward the Dames Endowed Scholarship. “Back when it started, professors just brought their wives together as sort of a meeting place that gave them something to do because at that time women didn’t really work,” said Corinne Nilsen, head of the scholarship committee. “Now, women work as professors, doctors and are in a variety of jobs all over the world.” Sometime after the organization started, they decided to change their identity to the University of Wichita Dames Club, and their new objective is starting a student loan fund. Their name and objective changed again in the ‘70s, providing scholarship money for women in need. “Typically, today you don’t call someone a ‘dame’ because it can be offensive, but as sort of a nod to our past, our scholarship’s name is called the ‘Dames Endowed Scholarship,’ and I really think that’s neat,” Nilsen said. The association puts on a fundraiser once a month, but members continue to meet to come up with better ideas. “We used to have a program based around the fundraiser where we would just receive all of the money at once, but now we have a mail-raiser where people can just send in their donations that way,” said Martha
BUSINESS FROM PAGE 5
“It won’t take half a million dollars to launch a product. It’ll take $30,000 to launch that product — or it won’t take $30,000 to launch a product, it’ll take $700. We’re dropping the cost and on top of that, the time required,” Trefethen said. On campus, mechanical engineering professors have given them pointers on the processes they have in place, as well as contributing some ideas. From the community, ProtoBench is closely tied with MakeICT — Wichita’s MakerSpace, which helps them to spread the word about their business. ProtoBench hosted a workshop a few weeks ago over Fusion360, which is a
Lewis, president of the association. Any female student on campus can apply for the scholarship, but Nilsen said they must meet certain qualifications first. “We give preference to females who have a good GPA,” she said. “There’s also a difference between a brand new freshman at WSU whose parents are paying for them to go there versus a mother of two who’s also going to school and also has a full-time job. We would have to pick the one who is in more need.” About $3,000 is raised four to five times a year for scholarship winners to split amongst themselves. However, the Women’s Association recently collected $7,000 for the Dames Endowed Scholarship, which was later split among eight women. Although creating and giving away scholarships is one of its main missions, the Women’s Association organizes new events and creates new clubs for members to attend. “We put on programs throughout the year, some of which where we invite speakers,” Lewis said. “For instance, our basketball coach came a while ago to speak and that was a lot of fun. We also have luncheons where we all go out to a restaurant and relax and have lunch together.” The WSU Women’s Association also has a bridge group, a book club, a friends and foods group, a stitch and chatter group and a theater group. “Anybody who is female on campus or is the wife of a staff member can join the organization,” Nilsen said. “We always welcome new members.” To apply for a scholarship or learn more about the club, visit http://webs.wichita. edu/?u=wsuwomen. cloud-based 3D tool used for product development, and not offered by MakeICT. ProtoBench also hosts other various events at their facility such as Maker Mondays, which allows others to look at their newest products, as well as networking events they call “ProtoConnect.” The name “ProtoBench” is unique. When asked how he came up with the name, Trefethen said that he based it off Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, who also built the first computer on a bench in their garage. “We’re a prototyping company and, historically, prototypes were built on a bench in a garage and it kind of just grew from that. ProtoBench,” he said as he joked that ProtoBench sounded better than ProtoGarage.
SHOW THIS:
GET THIS: 15% OFF YOUR PURCHASE
PAGE 7 | NEWS
SGA passes resolution recommending removal of plus/minus grading TJ RIGG
REPORTER
@tj_rigg
Like other Wichita State students, sophomore Katie Wiggins said she has mixed feelings about the university’s plus/ minus grading system. “If we’re going to do a plus/minus system, we need to make sure it’s fair across all of our studies and it’s not affected by an individual professor who says, ‘I don’t feel like giving you an A,’” Wiggins said. During Wednesday’s Student Government Association meeting, SGA read and passed a resolution that recommends removing the plus/minus system. It passed unanimously. In part, the resolution states, “the plus/ minus system puts Wichita State University at a disadvantage to other Board of Regents schools in the state which do not use the
same grading method.” While the resolution does not explicitly remove the plus/minus system — only the Faculty Senate has that authority — it does start dialogue about the system, said Dalton Glasscock, SGA’s academics committee chairman. “It just shows that we have a united front as a student body moving forward that we oppose that system and just encourage the Faculty Senate to respect our recommendations — at least start that dialogue to be able to get it removed,” he said. Glasscock said the academics committee did heavy research into the system in the fall after students voiced their concerns. Among the findings, the committee found that when Faculty Senate approved the plus/ minus system in 2008, it passed by one vote.
SEE SGA • PAGE 8
THURSDAY, MARCH 10
PAGE 8 | SPORTS
www.thesunflower.com
Softball falls to Oklahoma State 4-3 GRANT COHEN
REPORTER
@gforce4preach
Wichita State got on the bus to Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Wednesday morning in hopes of getting back to their winning ways. The trip back home became more difficult to sink in as the Shockers fell short Wednesday night to Oklahoma State, 4-3. While the Shockers hit .266, seven of their hits only came up as singles. Brittany Fortner was the only batter in the Wichita State lineup to reach extra bases. Randee O’Donnell gave the Cowgirls a more than comfortable cushion in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Her grand slam homerun
SGA
FROM PAGE 7 “That one vote determined the entire academic experience of students at Wichita State,” Glasscock said. In addition, Glasscock said the academics committee took a poll
scored the first four runs of the game and would put the Shockers in a 4-0 deficit entering the top of the third inning. A Cacy Williams single scored Wichita State’s first run in the third inning, cutting the Oklahoma State lead 4-1. Mackenzie Wright’s groundout to shortstop would score the Shocker’s second run of the game during the top of the fifth inning. Fortner’s double cut the Oklahoma State lead 4-3 in the sixth inning, but the Shockers did not capitalize off of their eight hits on the night. Williams finished getting two hits in her three at bats while Ashley Johnson managed to get hits
in both of her at bats to go along with scoring a run. Brandi Needham gave Oklahoma State five productive innings, striking out five batters while only coming up with two earned runs. Going in for Jenni Brooks in the middle of the second inning, Katie Malone did not give up a run while she was on the mound for Wichita State. Allowing one hit during her 4.1 innings, Malone struck out three batters while facing 16. Wichita State (9-9) comes home for a three game home-opening series against Northern Colorado on Saturday. A doubleheader will take place at Wilkens Stadium at noon Saturday and first pitch will be at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Freshman Laurie Anne Derrico slides into second base to avoid being tagged out Oct. 27 against Seminole.
of SGA senators and their grade point averages as part of the research. Glasscock said that of the 30 or so SGA senators, two would see a decrease in GPA, two would have the same, while all other senators would see a GPA increase if the plus/minus system was removed. Glasscock said he was ecstatic to see the resolution pass.
“I think the students are going to be very appreciative of these decisions,” he said. “I think we sent a very clear message about the will of the student body.” Glasscock said he plans to present the resolution to Faculty Senate at its next meeting, held on the second and fourth Monday of each month in 126 Clinton Hall from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
Student Body President Joseph Shepard said the plus/minus system has affected several students’ standing in organizations. With scholarships and voicing opposition, the resolution is the right thing to do, he said. “I’m really glad to see that Student Senate is in support of it,” Shepard said. “I’m really looking forward to Faculty Senate and
File Photo by Jessica Green
seeing what they have to say.” Wiggins said removal of the plus/minus system could give her more incentive to work for an A, rather than being happy with a B+. “It would give me less excuses to say, ‘Oh, I just got a B minus it’s OK,’” she said. “It might motivate me a little harder to get my A instead of just being OK with just B pluses.”
10% OFF
WITH VALID WSU ID
East: 3101 N Rock Rd. No. 110 | 316-260-9999 West: 756 N. Tyler | 316-351-7777
show your game day pride with fabulous finds from Goodwill goodwillks.org
10% OFF!
Bring in this ad for 10% off your entire purchase at any Goodwill Industries of Kansas Store (excludes KC area). Find a store near you at goodwillks.org/locations. May be combined with Preferred Customer Card except on Double Discount Wednesdays. Cannot combine with any other offer. Expires 3/31/16
THURSDAY, MARCH 10
PAGE 9 | BUBBLE WATCH
www.thesunflower.com
Marshall recruits impressive 2016 class After an offseason of sold recruiting in the 20152016 season, Shocker fans COLUMN BY are beginning NICK BEACH to think great recruiting is becoming the norm for Wichita State men’s basketball. Of course, Marshall has several great recruits to his name with the likes of Fred VanVleet. The 2015 class was one of Marshall’s strongest, landing a huge east coast recruit in Markis McDuffie. With McDuffie and Landry Shamet both ranked in the top 100 recruits in separate databases, the future looks bright for WSU even with the departure of Baker and VanVleet. Marshall set out on the 2016 recruiting trail looking to fill some positions the seniors leave. CJ Keyser is currently the top recruit for the Shockers sitting at three stars on ESPN. He is a 6-foot-3-inch shooting guard from Brewster Academy in Maryland. Brewster almost always produces a full squad of Division I bound players, with several making it to the NBA including Will Barton of the Denver Nuggets, and TJ Warren of the Phoenix Suns. Keyser will likely remain the top recruit as the high school season comes to a close. Most seniors have signed their letters of intent, and Keyser, with his athleticism and ability to shoot and put the ball on the floor was a major gain for WSU. He has a stellar leaping ability and matches the raw talent of a young Ron Baker. Who’s to say he will have the same type of career as Baker, but with VanVleet, Baker, and Evan Wessel leaving he will likely share duties running the 1 and 2 alongside Shamet and Conner Frankamp. Austin Reaves is the most interesting recruit for the Shockers. He doesn’t have a grade on ESPN, but has been recognized as one of the nation’s best scorers after scoring 73 points during in Arkansas. Reaves is a 6-foot-5inch point guard, but he only
“
Marshall recruits players that stay three or four years and develop as they move through their college careers. The 2016 class will have some key contributors early in the season.”
weighs 170 pounds. His stature is deceiving to defenders, giving him the ability to get in the lane, and is great at finishing around the rim. He may not see much court time next year with Shamet, Keyser, Frankamp, Peyton Allen, and Zach Brown likely seeing the majority of time at the guard spots, but he could sneak into the rotation and make an impact early in the season. Marshall will likely use a rotation of about ten guys next season, which means Darryln Willis could find some good playing time. It all depends on the development of Eric Hamilton. Rashard Kelly appears to be the go to guy next season, but Willis could end up being the guy next season. He’s a 6-foot-7-inch junior college transfer from Madison, Wisconsin who could fill the void left by senior Anton Grady. He is not quite big enough to play the five, but Willis, Hamilton and Kelly will likely have to work as a committee down low when Shaq Morris needs a rest or is in foul trouble. Daishon Smith rounds out the 2016 recruiting class for WSU as a 6-foot point guard transferring from Tallahassee Community College in Florida, and seems to be the odd man out in next season’s rotation. Behind Shamet, Keyser, Reaves, and Ty Taylor II, it isn’t likely Smith plays many freshman minutes and could end up redshirting. Smith has a lot of skill, however, Marshall didn’t recruit this class to be all-conference right off the bat. Marshall recruits players that stay three to four year and develop as they move through their college careers. The 2016 class will have some key contributors early in the season.
File Photo by Manny De Los Santos
Master’s student Ashley Binder cheers for the Shockers on Friday while the men’s team plays against Loyolya in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Binder has spent four years on the dance team.
Four years and counting
Dancer has ‘time of her life’ cheering for Shockers ALEX BULLOCK
@alexbullock_wsu
If you have been to a Shocker basketball game at Charles Koch Arena in the last four years, you might have seen Ashley Binder on the court at half time doing what she loves most — dance. Binder, who graduated in the spring of 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in performance arts and dance, is currently pursuing a master’s in sports management and is about to finish her final year as a Shocker dancer. “I love the rush of performing and being in front of the crowd,” Binder said. Born in Oklahoma City, Binder started figure skating as a young child. When she was about 8 years old, her family moved to Wichita and she enrolled in dance classes at Wichita’s Encore Dance studio. It was in that studio that
Who will be next in the rafters?
Photo by Manny De Los Santos
Five former Shocker players have their numbers retired in Charles Koch Arena. Who will join them? JOSHUA DUNCAN
REPORTER
@joshduncan316
In the final days of February, on a day marked senior day, seniors Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet raised framed jerseys high in front of a crowd of more than 10,000 people. High above them in the rafters hang five banners honoring WSU greats, numbers retired in the Hall of Fame. As the two seniors held their own jerseys, fans wondered whether or not the iconic duo would have the chance to raise their jerseys in Koch Arena once more, high in the rafters, joining the five greats. Comparing the five greats, should No. 23 and 31 be forever epitomized in Koch Arena? Cleophus “Cleo” Littleton (1951-55): No. 13, retired • 4-time All-MVC • 4-time MVC First Team • MVC Hall of Fame • 2-time AP Honorable Mention • Appears 63 times in the Wichita State Individual Record Book Dave “The Rave” Stallworth (1961-65): No. 42, retired • 3-time All-MVC • 3-time MVC First Team • 3-time All-American (‘63, ‘64, ‘65) • MVC Hall of Fame • 2-time NCAA Tournament (Final 4 & Elite 8) • 2-time MVC regular season champions • Appears 88 times in the Wichita State Individual Record Book Antoine Carr (1979-83): No. 35, retired • 4-time All-MVC
REPORTER
• 2-time MVC First Team • 2-time MVC Regular Season Champion (1981, 1983) • All-American Third Team (‘83) • MVC Hall of Fame • 1983 MVC Player of the Year • 1983 MVC Tournament Championship • NCAA Tournament Appearance (Elite 8) • Appears 66 times in the Wichita State Individual Record Book
Binder discovered her passion for dance. During her freshman year at Wichita State, Binder was able to travel to Italy with the Mid-America Dance Theatre, WSU’s student organization for dance. “That experience left the biggest mark on me,” she said. From that moment on, she knew she wanted a career in dance and attributes a lot of her dance creativity to her college professors. “They really encourage you to think outside the box and push yourself,” Binder said. Binder said what she loves most about dance is the way to express herself and have an outlet. Binder also loves being a part of the dance team and performing with the whole spirit squad — the cheerleaders, the band and the entire dance team. “Every year we get more and
PLAY
FROM PAGE 5 Hughes, who is directing “Core of Temptation,” said she has been able to work closely with Hartman throughout preparation for the production using Skype and email. “Having the experience working one on one with a playwright and creating something original is incredible,” she said. Hartman and the cast and crew have worked together and made improvements as needed. “It helps the playwright to learn the process of producing an original play, and it helps the actors a lot by being able to work on original content,” said Allison Claye, junior theater major and production crew member. Danette Baker, publicity coordinator and professor at the School of Performing Arts, said this opportunity is unique because students are able to work with the ideas and stories of their own
more involved with each other and the energy when we perform as one in Koch Arena is unlike anything else,” she said. Competing at the national level is another great memory Binder has from being a part of the dance team. The Universal Dance Association hosts a national college competition every year that the dance team attends. “My teammates make it the most enjoyable experience,” she said. Binder works as the merchandise manager for the Wichita Wingnuts. “Someday I’d like to dance for a modern dance company in a big city or own my own dance studio,” she said. Being a part of the Shocker dance team has made her college experience the most memorable. “This has been the time of my life,” she said.
generation. “It is good for students to work with material that is still developing,” she said. Jessica Curtiss, who plays the role of Lucy, said she has enjoyed seeing her character grow and change. It’s also rewarding to see everything she learns in class come to life, she said. “I was able to talk to [Hartman] about why Lucy is the way she is and get more insight on how to portray her,” Curtiss said. Although it has been a challenge, Hughes said this experience sets her apart from others in her field. “We get the chance to create something totally authentic, and she gets the chance to see her work come to life,” she said. “It’s a really cool experience.”
“Having the experience working one-on-one with a playwright and creating something original is incredible.” JENNIE HUGHES
Director, music theater major
Cliff “Good News” Levingston (1979-82): No. 54, retired • 3-time All-MVC • 2-time MVC First Team • 1981 MVC Regular Season Champion • NCAA Tournament Appearance (Elite 8) • Appears 42 times in the Wichita State Individual Record Book
* Excludes Holidays. $10 for 3D. Does not include Directors Suite.
Xavier “X-Man” McDaniel (1981-85): No. 34, retired • 3-time All-MVC • 3-time MVC First Team • Consensus All-American First Team • MVC Hall of Fame • 2-time MVC Player of the Year • 1985 MVC Tournament Championship • NCAA Tournament Appearance (First Round) • Appears 121 times in the Wichita State Individual Record Book Ron Baker (2012-current), No. 31 • 2-time All-MVC • 2-time MVC First Team • 3-time MVC Regular Season Champion (2014, 2015, 2016) 353 North Mead Street • WarrenOldTown.com
SEE RAFTERS • PAGE 11
** $8 for 3D. Does not include Directors Suite.
THURSDAY, MARCH 10
www.thesunflower.com
PAGE 10 | BUBBLE WATCH
Being a super fan: WSU students explain O P I N I O N how to be ardent Shocker supporters Understanding Septembe
w w w. t h e s u n f l o w e r. c o m
rforming with Wichita State’s South Asian nce troupe breaks down social barriers
After games, Stroud said he supports the team. She said she listens to Mike Kennedy on the doesn’t check her telephone during Shocker Postgame Show, which games, unless it is important. provides game stats and what the Students can be more supportive Wichita State senior Joe Stroud Shockers can do better, Stroud of the Shockers by getting out of said he has been a Shockers fan said.Caucasian their seats more, cheering loudly since he was a day old. formed at a 9/11 unity dance. Pakistani and Outside of games, getting to and having fun, she said. Column byState played VCU, “Wichita and gathering hosted by Global Forget what religion they descent. know the players is the biggest Cyntila Nixon, a junior and Ragini I was born in Fredericksburg, Faith In Action, a local were—they just wanted to At the “Aloha!” luau enkatasubban support students can give, Stroud sports management major, is Virginia. My biological dad couldn’t organization that promotes dance. hosted by International In the said. “E said. last week, another super fan and is friends go, so my stepdad took me, and bringing all religions Dance crosses all Student Union Column by decade the Mid “We tend to think of them as with Stroud. I’ve been a Shocker fan since,” said n my cousin Anjana together. religions, races, cultures the featured Polynesian austin since To m superstars,” he said. “But if they’re “A super fan to me is someone Stroud, an anthropology major. ounded Shocker The hour-long show and boundaries. dancers were multi-racial. Colbert in your class, don’t be afraid to say who is passionate about a school’s 9/11, we ultimat Stroud said he doesn’t take i, Wichita State’s included Jewish prayer, Even though I’m What brought them ‘Hi, Ron,’ or ‘Hi, Fred.’ They athletics and thatall attends allunderst games have telephone during games. He uth Asiancalls dance devotional Christian songs, Indian, I’ve done ballet together? Dance. appreciate being talked to. And if inundated and events that they can. It’s also to wears the same outfit every game been with time n the fall of 2008, Islamic expression and since age 3, a dance that At the luau, played they the needDJ notes or anything, information don’t someone who has great knowledge — either his No. 31 or No. 23 about the you are y motivation was a Hindu chanting. originated in France. I’ve bhangra, a be type of Indian afraid to give them notes.”Middle of the team’s roster, statistics anda t jersey, camouflage pants and red East. and o bring Indian Our dance team, which taken zumba, hip hop, music so upbeat you can’t Stroud said “trash talk” should records,”constantly Nixon said. and black Nikes. The media deeper dance to the is made up of many tap, jazz, African dance, help but dance. The dance not be allowed, whether it is foul Nixon said she wishes more “If it’s a loss, I change my outfit throws out terms like our eve Photo by Manny Defloor Los Santos st. cultures, chose belly dance, modern exploded withor rushing the court. language students attended WSU games and immediately, no doubt aboutdifferent it,” Sunni, Shia and Ramaworld. pared other Senior Joerepresent Stroud sings the Wichita before a game Feb. 27 at three songs that danceState andalma so mater many others. international and domestic “Our university is known for athletic events, especially for other Stroudto said. dan. By now, most of us Wich ities onifthe Charles struggle Koch Arena. Stroud attends everybreaks home Shocker game. remembrance, and Dance down students alike who came being classy. That’s one of theunderstand sports,the suchdictionas women’s basketball. And it’s aeast win,and that outfit stays city of asts, hope—the three themes of barriers because it’s only together just for dance. reasons we don’t rush the court. Nixon said the biggest thing on, hewhich said. freary definitions of these a truly warm, they’re not a band wagoner. practice. Once admission begins he host Indian dance thefan, event. achieved by lowering your “There isEveryone a bit ofwants to, especially after students can do to support the Stroud calls himself a super terms and peoples. nity to They’re there whether the Shockers runs to his when seat. itions and inhibitions—and insanity ina dancing that huge victory, but injuries can Shockers is to go to games, cheer one that hasshows, been to 77 WSU After our performance, But do we truly world, lose, or if they get defeated in the To get pumped up during games, idn’t much of many people congratulated happen aif great you rush the court. That loud and proud, and don’t leave that happens, any predoes everybody gameshave as a student. He aand other NCAA Tournament. They’re understand what it Eastern Stroud said he participates in the e.super Wefans wanted to how allus for showing them a was evident early. conceived notions about deal of good,” said in the KU-K-State explained completely loyal.” school chants. means to follow Islam? going t that. “Koch Arena, until you actually of our culture. Shocker supporters cheer onsnippet the religion and race autoAmerican game,” danceStroud criticsaid. Stroud said he shows up every “Usually right before the visiting Have we really reached a your co Krista Whittemore, a senior experience it, is mystical,” Stroud eteam, started performing if they make it to the NCAA What really struck us, matically team get lowered as we do Edwin Denby. game day seven to eight hours gets introduced, the proper acceptance and Toamun studying psychology and sports said. “It’s like, ‘Where the heck Wichita, however, Tournament. however, before were the Muslim that’s what admission and waitswell. outside chants, ‘Who’s that? Big deal!And Whomaybe understanding of someon management and another super I?’ That’s how fun of an environ“A super fan is someone who is purpose came into gentleman, Catholic of which he’sTake Shakthi—we’ve brings together in in Marshallville, a cares!’ and then during free throwspeople Muslimment culture? fan, saidour a super fan is someone it is. You just have to faith experi-an completelythe loyal to the team,” bringing world woman and countless had dancers of Indian, dance—putting huge supporter. Sometimes he’s we do ‘Shockers Up,’ where do we If your answer is yes, import that goes to all the games and ence it to believe it.” said.dance. “They’re not lukerStroud through others who asked if we African, Vietnamese, brains to rest and acting invited inside to watch the teams the Shockers sign,” he said. those who adhere to the boo ANDREW LINNABARY
REPORTER
@linnabary
ay, Shakthi per-
could teach them how to
Chinese, Cambodian,
requires person connections, no just study
from the heart.
Islam might disagree. televisi “I claim to be Arabwith su budget of $22,000 last fiscal year. They Shepard said the recommended budget American more than It is t requested $33,000 this year, and the has been accepted the past two years, Muslim-American, just really c but that it was a good idea to shoot it because of discriminaculture FROM PAGE 5 student fees committee proposed that Baja’s funding be reduced to zero. down this year. tion reasons,” said Dima deeper Mo Khan, captain of the Baja team “Had we voted in favor of this “No matter how you look at it, this is Hammouri, a junior in “Just and a mechanical engineering senior, budget, the fine arts department would a year of sacrifices,” Senator Tyler Bird political science at tions w said Baja gets 95 percent of its funding have been cut drastically. Mikrokossaid. “We are an Innovation Campus, Wichita State. “I don’t are diff through SGA. mos, a 60-year organization, would and as SGA senators we should be want people to judge me people “It would be very hard to recover,” have been cut fully. Baja, which does innovative. If that means taking cuts based on my religion or culture Khan said. “We’re running out of so much to recruit and retain students ourselves, that’s fine. We’ll make do. even my nationality.” helps a external toofstep ourbillion. for the engineering college,and would have every detail was givensponsors to … up $449 dramatically numerous We’re here to make choices. So let’s Hammouri was born said. “W Column by efforts.” cut, as other well. Itprograms also allowswill us to sit to make the right choices.” the press. Oh, and this wouldbeen all be have Newand Donors: raised in the U.S., that pe Khan attended the meeting Wednesdown with the Athletic Department At one point, the meeting strayed Derek His plan is ambitious. paid for without adding to be cut. Donate plasma today and but her family is origition wi day and said he was happy with the and ask if they are willing to fund off-topic to a previous diversity blair Nearly $250 billion in tax the deficit. That isn’t so bad on the * nally from Palestine, a establis Shocker Sound,” Shepard said. conference, prompting Smith to more jobsturnout. cuts, for teachers, How can this be done? face of it, until you remem- earn up to $400 per month! region the Middle “Imassive think we can say That it’s good that student budget interrupt and Obama call the board. Who knew I couldof earn money and save lives. and rel dent Barack firemen and cops, is an amazinglyThe good berfees how long process it took will East centered primarily people they rejected the budget,” he said. “We repeat until it is approved by SGA. “I session don’t feelofthis pertainsamounts to how of money spent to oint question, because it remains Congress to come to a 1515 EAST CENTRAL AVE • WICHITA, KS 6721 • PH 316-264-6973 around the countries of made our point this week and last week When approved, the budget will be we’re spending our money here, and I ss on Thursday to rebuild roads and bridges, unanswered by the Obama decision to cut a few billion *Applicable for eligible, qualified new donors. Fees vary by weight and location.become Israel and Jordan. comfor as to why Baja should not be cut.” presented to WSU President don’t want to see senators talk toward New donors must bring photo ID, proof of address and Social Security number. is plan to fix spending in a new super fast administration, who say it dollars from theJohn budget. She is a practicing Another proposed cut is to the Bardo. Ther each other in such a way,” she said. Redeem at your nearest donation center for details. a. His plan was very rail system, and investments will be answered “soon.” You know, nearly six College of Fine Arts programming, “I think it was a long process, but I Muslim, meaning she 1,000 i “It’s making me very uncomfortable. e until the day of in green energy. The only plausible answer is months of intense partisan dropping from $78,000 to $35,000. think ultimately the senators had their fasts and prays as Clearly this is a discussion that needs student ech, when almost All for the low, price alsothat taxes will be raised for each Thelow committee recommended voice,” Brinkfighting said. “We’re going party’s to go to happen in private between two required by Islam. many a priorities. Center staff scan to enter payment comment. cutting about 30 percent of Shocker back and find something that works.” people.” And despite the interna Why the Obama Sound’s budget, a $28,000 reduction. — Contributing: Shelbydid Reynolds of The Baja, an engineering car-building progress made since organiz administration decide to CSLPlasma.com Student Body President Joseph Sunflower program since the early ‘90s, had a 9/11, Hammouri stills events go with this plan? finds herself ridiculed ly arou Well, because they need for her faith. majorit to do something to deal “We get a lot of open to with this economic crisis, right-wing people, So us and putting more money right-wing Christians isolatio who don’t really accept the wor Please see Obama on the Muslim faith,” she excuse page 4 culture Learn differen just abo A great haircut will underst !"#$%#&'"#(%)*# differen never go out of style. !"#$!%&'()*$+',-./$01'(.! helps in underst +'"%,#!"#$%&'()*+,-(./'(0(1(2345(+-6-( one’s se # +'),(788(9:;<:,%(),%,*(9"6*###( “I wo student +'-&,#="6*$:%#(>:?*@(ABC,"#'(?%8B%D8*(( their w WICHITA WICHITA !"#$%&$"&'$()"*+&,)-./,&!++0)+1&2$$3&43!5)+1&( someon BelPointe Plaza Tallgrass Shopping Center E:F,(D%EC'(C#%;GC'(HB:,(C6"G:#E(G:,C(( 6254 E 37th St N • (North of Dillons) 2240 N Rock Rd • (Next to Dillons) who is 316-684-5252 316-558-5996 Hamm +'.,#I"(<*8+(&"B(8:?*(%(8"#E'(<%++&(J(( M-F 9-9 • Sat 8-7 • Sun 9-6 think t D*%B,:FB8(8:F*( great th +'"/",#ABE<*C(!*,@"+"8:,%#(( do if th ="6+8*K'(L5ML(N(.2,<(),(O! about o Not valid with any other offers. Limit one coupon per customer. would m Valid at BelPointe Plaza & Tallgrass Shopping Center. well-ro OFFER EXPIRES: 3/6/15 individ
FUNDING
bama’s jobs speech strong in elivery, but weak in content
CONGRATULATIONS SHOCKERS ON ANOTHER GREAT SEASON!
— Best Bicycle shop —
7
$
ANY HAIRCUT
99
greatclips.com | salonjobs.greatclips.com | greatclipsfranchise.com
Find us at
BASKETBALL
HO_5.0417x5_Wichita_70086.indd 1
10/27/14 9:18 AM
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS AND MARCH MANIA SHIRTS IN-STOCK NOW!
2011-20
positions availa
SGA Standing Senate Commi
Campus issues/organization ove
&
FAN-Tastic Sports Apparel & More!
ORIGINAL ROUND CARRY OUT PLUS TAX
SGA Faculty Senate Committ
PEPPERONI OR CHEESE
HOT-N-READY® ALL DAY, EVERYDAY!
ITALIAN SAUSAGE
HOT-N-READY® 4-8PM OR ORDER ANYTIME!
#%.42!, 7//$,!7. s Available for a limited time at participating locations. Prices may vary. ©2011 LCE, Inc. 32521
I Got It At Tad’s
Great opportunity to netwo with faculty and staff!
East at 21st & Webb
316-977-9332
To apply: www.TadsLockerRoom.com
the SGA office in RSC 20 West at-Stop 21st & by Ridge 316-440-4610
PAGE 11 | BUBBLE WATCH
THURSDAY, MARCH 10
www.thesunflower.com
WHERE TO WATCH THE GAME CHELSEA MOORE
REPORTER
@chelslalamoore
Where you choose to watch the games can make all the difference in your level of merriment. In the Wichita area, there are several locations to choose from. If you live on campus and don’t
have family in town, Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes might be the right place for you. If you live off campus, sports bars are scattered across the Wichita area. Regardless of where you choose to watch the game from, you’re can be sure to find a fellow Shocker sitting beside you.
File photo by Kevin Brown
Marshallville campers grab pizza and hot chocolate outside of Koch Arena Feb. 26, 2015.
Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes 9 a.m to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to midnight Friday; 11 a.m. to midnight Satuday; 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday
Lower level of the Rhatigan Student Center Specials 20 percent off starter menu items, $1 any size fountain drinks, $2 Bud Light draws, $6.50 Bud Light pitchers
Marshallville legacy continues; founder and president graduates DANIELLE PREWITT
MANAGING EDITOR @danimal902
The Field House
6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday through Thursday; 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday 3825 E. 17th St. N., Wichita, KS 67208 Specials $3.25 with Budweiser or Bud Lite souvenir glass ($2.25 refill), $6 Budweiser or Bud Light personal pitcher
Little Busters
11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday through Saturday; 11 a.m. today 9 p.m. Sunday 457 N. Baltimore Ave., Derby, KS 67037 Specials Buckets of five domestic beers for $13
Emerson Biggins Sports Bar and Grill
10 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday through Saturday 2330 N. Maize Rd #100, Wichita, KS 67205 Specials Half priced drinks Friday $5.75 big beers Saturday $8 domestic pitchers Sunday
Three years. Three years since senior Max Runyon founded Marshallville, an area that sits just outside Charles Koch Area where Shocker fans gather and celebrate Shocker nation. In the summer before his sophomore year, Runyon had an idea — Wichita State needed a place to celebrate Shocker nation and those who bleed black and yellow. And in 2013, Marshallville was created. Three years as founder and president and what Runyon will miss the most, he said, is the people. “You meet so many people when you run the campouts and it’s a great opportunity to make connections,” he said. “There are so many Wichita State students you may not have met if you weren’t in that opportunity.” When he graduates in May, he hopes for an internship in marketing, promotions or public relations and credits Marshallville for the skills he has garnered. “Marshallville has been a great experience for those industries, so hopefully I can do something along those lines after college,” he said. As he completes his final semester at Wichita State, Runyon hands off the direction of Marshallville to his vice president, Sam Belsan. “Sam’s phenomenal, he’s been there since the first few months it started,” he said. “He’s one of the most experienced people I know, dealing with the logistics and the day to day aspects of Marshallville.” Belsan, a junior majoring in human resource management and
RAFTERS FROM PAGE 9
• 3-time NCAA Tournament Appearance (Third Round, Sweet 16, Final Four) • 2014 AP Honorable Mention • 2014 MVC Tournament Championship • 2015 USA Pan American Team • Appears 38 times in the Wichita State Individual Record Book
REDSHIRT
FROM PAGE 3
Barney is a player who surprisingly wasn’t recruited more heavily out of high school. The Wichita native played with a great court sense in his minimal time in exhibition play earlier this season. Barney has a solid ability to shoot the jumper. He should see a lot of playing time by his sophomore season and could contribute significantly if he isn’t already as a freshman. Barney has great length
File Photo by Manny De Los Santos
Coach Gregg Marshall visits and signs a Marshallville banner outside Koch Arena Aug. 20, 2014.
secondary education in social studies and government, said he plans to expand Marshallville by building awareness of what it is. “We want to highlight our athletic events, in not only men’s basketball games, but (women’s) basketball games, baseball games … and really personify the essence of being a student at Wichita State.” he said. Belsan has been involved with Marshallville since the beginning and said a Marshallville without Runyon will be a dynamic shift. “I’m definitely rethinking my role in it and making sure I can fill the shoes he has set in place and really meet the needs of our
group, as he has met them,” he said. Runyon does not have plans to be involved after he leaves Marshallville, but said he and Belsan have discussed the possibility of him becoming a mentor to the group. “I am really trying to leave it open to them and give them the opportunity to let it grow on its own,” he said. “I have had three amazing years with Marshallville, but it’s time,” he said. “It was a great run and I wouldn’t take back a minute of it. You kind of know when your time has come — and I think my has come.”
Fred VanVleet (2012-current), No. 23 • 2-time All-MVC • 2-time MVC First Team • 2-time AP Honorable Mention (2014, 2015) • 3-time MVC Regular Season Champion (2014, 2015, 2016) • 3-time NCAA Tournament Appearance (Third Round, Sweet 16, Final Four) • 2014 MVC Tournament Championship • 2014 All-American Third
Team (NABC,TSN) • 2014 MVC Player of the Year • Appears 40 times in the Wichita State Individual Record Book Representatives from the athletic department did not state a specific grading criteria for how players are voted in, nor who votes them in. Based solely on facts it would suggest VanVleet and Baker have a earned a right to have a banner of their own hanging inside Charles Koch Arena.
as he has already displayed nice versatility, which Marshall loves in his players. Allen averaged just more than five points per game as a freshman at Texas A&M. He didn’t fit in great with the program, so he looked to Wichita State which has developed several transfers from JUCO and Division I schools into great players in the past. The Shockers will benefit greatly from Allen’s presence next season. He may not be a high scorer right off the bat, but he has a great ability to shoot from long range. Allen’s shooting should
take some pressure off Frankamp to make big shots. Allen and Frankamp should be a nice tandem on the outside — as Allen most likely playing on the second unit, but seeing solid minutes. Wichita State looks strong at guard in the years to come and these redshirts should be a key contributor to that. Baker was a redshirt four years ago for the Shockers. While no one is necessarily expecting Shamet, Allen or Barney to be the next Baker, Shocker fans should have hope looking forward.
www.thesunflower.com
THURSDAY, MARCH 10
PAGE 12 | BUBBLE WATCH