MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2018 • VOL. 123, ISS. 28
THESUNFLOWER.COM
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1896.
HIS SHOT
WSU grad takes center stage in cross-country tour of “Hamilton”
J
BY ANDREW LINNABARY
ulius Thomas III was comfortable singing and acting when he auditioned for the title role in the Broadway musical “Hamilton.” But rapping? Like the Louisiana Purchase for the real Alexander Hamilton, that was new territory for Thomas. To develop his MC skills, Thomas tapped into a specialty he developed while getting his fine arts degree at Wichita State — tap dancing. “[Tap dancing] is just another form of music,” Thomas — a 2005 WSU fine arts alumnus — said. “It’s just another form of rhythm.” Thomas translated his tapping skills into rapping skills. “I’ve kind of fallen in love with being able to sort of give life to these really complicated rhythms,” Thomas said. “Actually, I’ve fallen in love with it quite a bit.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a good rapper, but I do well enough.” Well enough to land him the role of Alexander Hamilton in the cross-country Broadway tour of “Hamilton: The Musical,” where he stars alongside “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and others. It wasn’t just rapping Thomas was unfamiliar with when he auditioned for “Hamilton.” He was just as unfamiliar with the source material. “I hadn’t even heard the entire show until I did the audition for it,” he said. Thomas auditioned for nearly every male role. For each role, he had to perform five songs. “There were auditions where I probably did like 15 to 20 songs in one audition setting,” he said. Now he has starred as Alexander Hamilton on the Broadway tour for the last year. SEE THOMAS III PAGE 3
COURTESY
Julius Thomas III played Berry Gordy in “Motown the Musical.”
NOVEMBER 2018 CAMPUS CRIME SUMMARY
Haynes-Jones records first career double-double
BY JENNA FARHAT
BY EVAN PFLUGRADT
Wichita State police made 74 entries to the online daily crime log for November. Here is a summary of some of the entries. Additional information about specific incidents can be found by visiting wichita.edu/ dailycrimelog.
If not for a hit to the mouth, Samajae Haynes-Jones might not have led Wichita State to its second win against the Baylor Bears in two years. Early in the game, HaynesJones took an inadvertent hit to the mouth. The hit drew blood, but Haynes-Jones stayed level-headed and returned the favor with killer offense. Haynes-Jones crossed Baylor defender Makai Mason, and in at least four feet of clear space, knocked down his second consecutive three-pointer and put the Shockers ahead 10-0. Baylor coach Scott Drew had to burn a timeout before the game reached its first media timeout. “I guess it woke him up,” WSU coach Gregg Marshall said of the hit on Haynes-Jones. The Wichita native had five first-half three-pointers. He finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds for his first career double-double. “That kid was unbelievable,” Marshall said. “It’s really gratifying to see that young man play that well in such a big game.” In the span of three minutes of the first half, Haynes-Jones spearheaded a three-point frenzy with freshman guard Erik Stevenson. The duo combined for three-pointers on six consecutive offensive possessions, capping an 18-3 run that pushed the Shockers ahead by 31 points. “When it starts going in, it’s
ARRESTS TOTAL: 3
On-campus: 2 Off-campus: 1
BURGLARIES AND THEFTS TOTAL: 10
Bike thefts: 4
Auto thefts: 1
Other thefts: 3
Car break-in burglaries: 2
ASSAULTS: 1 CRIMINAL TRESPASS: 1 POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY: 1 POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE: 1 SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS: 5 CAR WRECKS: 9 PEDESTRIAN UNDER INFLUENCE: 1 DISORDERLY CONDUCT: 1 DISTURBANCE: 1
JOSEPH BARRINGHAUS/THE SUNFLOWER
Wichita State guard Samajae Haynes-Jones makes a pass during their game against Baylor Saturday at Koch Arena.
kind of contagious,” Marshall said. “Just like when it’s not going in, like we saw in the second half, it’s contagious as well.” If not for Haynes-Jones and Stevenson’s hot shooting streak, Baylor would likely have won the game. The Bears trimmed a 33-point deficit into a two possession game in the final minutes. Drew’s Bears outscored the Shockers 48-27 in the second half. “I’ve got to figure out what he (Drew) said to his team in the second
half and he’s got to figure out what I said to my team before the game,” Marshall said, “Then, we’d have one heck of a team.” Marshall said despite leading by 33 at one point, he continued to coach the game like it was tied at the half. “You’re always told that the game’s not over,” Stevenson said. “You have to step on their neck, keep the gas pedal going.” Stevenson had 18 points — three shy of the career-high 21 he scored a week ago. He and Haynes-Jones
scored 26 of their 39 combined points in the first half. Stevenson said he feeds off energy from Haynes-Jones. “Whenever he puts somebody on skates . . . my shot is going in,” Stevenson said. “You pass me the ball, period.” Senior Markis McDuffie said it was a gratifying win for a young, inexperienced WSU program. “Collectively, as a team, we’re here now,” McDuffie said. “This is primetime.”
INSIDE
B-BALL TAKEAWAYS
SCORING STRUGGLES
BACK ON TRACK
The Sunflower highlights this year’s best tracks released by Wichita artists.
Baylor game showcases WSU’s talent, youth.
Wichita State was held below 50 points for the second straight game.
The Shocker track team got their indoor season underway.
OPINION • PAGE 2
SPORTS • PAGE 4
SPORTS • PAGE 4
SPORTS • PAGE 4
BEST OF WICHITA
OPINION
2 | MONDAY, DEC. 3, 2018
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THE STAFF EDITORIAL
Editor in Chief Matthew Kelly Digital Managing Editor Andrew Linnabary Visual Managing Editor Madeline Deabler News Editor Jenna Farhat Culture Editor John Darr
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Wichita’s best songs of 2018 BY JOHN DARR, PAMELA DOMINGUEZ, AND RYAN CREWS
matter of time before the world falls in step with his rhythm. - JD
Wichita’s music scene is incredibly vibrant, and 2018 has seen the release of many excellent songs from artists across the city. To celebrate the end of the year, we bring you some of our favorite tracks from local artists ranging from pop to hip-hop to rock. COURTESY
CALEB CARNELL & WAITING ROOM – ‘CALL ME’
Sports Editor Evan Pflugradt COURTESY
Photo Editor Selena Favela
WILLIAM BLOOM – ‘THE POETRY’S NOT WORKING’
Sports Photo Editor Joseph Barringhaus
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Advertising Manager Kylie Cameron
ADVISING
Faculty Adviser Amy DeVault
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COURTESY
MARRICE ANTHONY – ‘WORKINONIT’
With his masterful flow and unflinchingly emotional raps, Marrice Anthony is a strong candidate for the most overlooked artist in hiphop. From his excellent “ain’t got time to die,” “workinonit” features just about everything that makes the tape work. The three-part track introduces the overall concept of the record, runs through a relentless verse from Anthony, and ends with a spoken-word biographical crash-course on the artist. The beat rattles and shifts with a hopeful melancholy that perfectly matches the track’s content. By the time Anthony closes the track out with a barrage of confessions — “When I was 25, I discovered that God is not a choice for me” — the listener is drawn in deep enough for each sentence to hit with emotional devastation. It’s only a
A frequent performer, William Bloom’s heartful odes can be heard filling any local coffee shop in Wichita. Bloom comes at his craft as a musician from all angles. Nowhere is this more evident than on his most recent release, “Keys with No Teeth.” Experimenting with synthesizers and different layering techniques, “Keys With No Teeth” shows that Bloom doesn’t rely on replicating his sound for each track that he releases. The only continuous elements present in his music are the efficient piano melodies he utilizes. His piano playing is the strongest aspect of his music, and it often tells his stories as vividly as his lyrics. The piano introduction in “The Poetry’s Not Working” is almost fanciful, but quickly doubles back into a more somber reality. “The Poetry’s Not Working” is an exploration of Bloom’s relationship with not only his art, but those that matter most to him. A painful plea, “The Poetry’s Not Working” is a song for anyone who has tried relentlessly to fix a problem that simply doesn’t have a solution. - PD
Monday, November 26-Saturday, December 8
12 Days of Christmas Sale Hosted by The Shocker Store
Monday, December 3-Saturday, December 8
$1.50/Game of Bowling with Free Shoe Rental $3/Hour Pool Table Rental Hosted by Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes
Monday, December 3-Friday, December 7
Activities in Ablah
Hosted by Ablah Library during all open library hours
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song from their 2018 EP, “The Fool.” With intricate melodies by Cecilia Raheb and duel trumpets by Brenna Beeson and Josué Estrada, the track somehow feels like medieval dance music and New Orleans jazz all at once. It’s sure to put you under its spell. - RC
Monday, December 3
Winter Wonderland 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | RSC 1st Floor Hosted by Student Activities Council
Tuesday, December 4
DIY Spa Kits 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | RSC 1st Floor Hosted by Student Activities Council
Wednesday, December 5
Sensory Exploration 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | RSC 1st Floor Hosted by Student Activities Council
RSC Unplugged: Tom Page Trio 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | RSC Starbucks Lounge Hosted by RSC Marketing
Thursday, December 6
Finals Fuel Station 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | RSC 1st Floor
Hosted by Student Government Association
A core part of Wichita’s DOTWAV collective as a producer and lyricist, Caleb Carnell has released a plethora of tracks this year across the hip-hop spectrum. His collaboration with Californian singer Waiting Room (aka Audrey McNamara), “CALL ME,” stands as the most beautiful song to his name yet. Over a gorgeously groovy flip of Miles Davis’s “Blue in Green,” McNamara delivers a soulful performance that’s both aching and distanced. It’s a match made in heaven and one of the best summer jams of the year. - JD
COURTESY
CRISIS CASANOVA – ‘THE FOOL’S BALLET’
Crisis Casanova lets their freak flag fly high with this haunting folk
COURTESY
FINER SPIRIT – ‘WEDNESDAY NIGHT’ & ‘MILES NORTHWEST’
Finer Spirit’s “Well as You Pretend” EP captures the essence of a blurry memory. Ambient and authentic, this first release is a win for the local newcomers. The tempo begins to build in the opener, “Wednesday Night.” While overall this EP is characterized by slower songs, “Wednesday Night” preserves the intensity and emotion necessary to keep an album with a slower tempo engaging. Finer Spirit is not nailed to a genre. While “Wednesday Night” tiptoes around surf rock, “Miles Northwest” clings to deeply western origins. The noticeable twang in “Miles Northwest” gives this song some definite personality. Together, these two songs are complementary opposites, but Finer Spirit manages to pull it off. - PD
SEE BEST SONGS PAGE 4
CULTURE
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MONDAY, DEC. 3, 2018
|3
Sunflower Archives - Monday, November 30, 1992
Feast to feature sword fight: It’s holiday blast from old era past BY BRIDGET ROGERS
SUNFLOWER FILE PHOTO
THOMAS III
FROM PAGE 1
“Hamilton” is a show where the crowd is already won over and on the edge of their seats, Thomas said. But he still gets nervous each performance the first time he walks out on stage. “I think that’s a good thing, because the moment you get too relaxed and sure of yourself, especially in ‘Hamilton,’ you start
BEST SONGS FROM PAGE 2
MAXXJAMEZ & CALEB CARNELL – ‘VERY TOASTY (TOO HOT)’ & ‘CREW’
Maxxy and Caleb have done it again! On their brief record “Ice Cream Truck,” they came back more cohesive than ever with some of their most gloriously child-like anthems yet. Among their best songs yet are “Crew” (featuring BLACONATOR), a track produced by Carnell that has one of the catchiest, and goofiest, choruses of the year. Following this is the hilarious “Very Toasty (Too Hot)” featuring tight synths by Frank Bravo. Jamez delivers one of his hottest (or coolest?) vocal deliveries while throwing out vocals such as, “Damn, dude. It’s so f***in’ hot outside. I don’t even really wanna go outside. Unless you got that s**t for the low. I’m talkin’ bout the ice cream truck coming down the road.” The tracks take the listener directly back to the school bus. - RC
TOMMY NEWPORT – ‘MY WOMAN’
Tommy Newport, FKA Milmine, has made quite the leap in the last year. His debut LP, “Just to Be Ironic,” is full of summer jams that get their potency from quality songwriting and pristine production. The best of these, “My Woman,” boasts a dark, weird edge in its strange delay effects and timpani fills. Newport’s sensual voice is a perfect match for the instrumental. It’s easy to see why he’s
What began in 1973 as a special dinner for then-Wichita State University president Clark Ahlberg, has grown into a “can’t miss” annual holiday event on campus. The Renaissance Feast, a seven-course extravaganza of food, music and fun, is now for everyone at WSU and the community. The feast is sponsored by the WSU School of Music and the Campus Activities Center. This year’s feast will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, and Friday, Dec. 4, in the CAC Ballroom. According to the CAC reservations office, tickets to the $23-a-person event are sold out for both nights. “I think people really enjoy it because it’s a unique experience,” said Harrison Boughton, professor in chorale studies. “It’s all very heavily decorated, the kids are all in costume, and the Chamber Singers do the serving and they all use a dialect in Old English.” Mike Madecky, CAC program
director, commented that the ballroom looks “phenomenal” during the feast. “You would not believe it’s the same place they hold registration,” he said. “You walk in the place and it’s all lit by candles, you’ve got banners hanging from the ceiling lights, shields on the walls, greenery on the floor, candles on the tables – it’s just gorgeous,” Madecky said. Boughton said the event starts with a bagpipe processional that features singing by the Madrigals and Chamber Singers. The atmosphere of an authentic Renaissance era feast is created, with the “aristocracy” sitting at a head table, plenty of dancing going on around the guests’ tables, and stewardesses who present food to the guests. “The lead stewardess comes in with a big crock of ale, only it’s foaming because we put dry ice in it. It’s blowing out a lot smoke,” Boughton said with a laugh. “We even have a beggar – we put someone in stocks,” said Boughton, adding that this is a
difficult part to play. While the guests are eating the main course, a solo caroler signs, then the bagpipe music plays and a highland fling dancer performs, Boughton said. “Then we have a bash, a sword fight,” Boughton said, noting that all participants except the bagpipe musicians and sword fighters are WSU students. After the traditional figgy pudding, there will be Celtic selections performed and more carols sung by the Madrigals, followed by a recessional. “The students love it,” Boughton said of the feast. “It’s a big thing and it’s fun for them.” Madecky said the feast is one of the premier programs on campus. “It’s two university departments that have different objectives working together to put on a classy program,” Madecky said. Even though both nights are sold out for this year, Madecky pointed out that anyone who enjoys a nice evening out should make plans for it for next year.
to make mistakes,” Thomas said. “There’s so much material — so many words, so many queues — that you really need your wits about you.” Thomas began his theater career in church programs during high school. “It was a blast to get to perform for people and have them applaud,” Thomas said. “I didn’t know at that point that it would turn into a career. “It didn’t really become real
to me before I started going to Wichita State.” He spends most of his time in rehearsals and doing other things for the tour. When he has some free time, he likes to do “nerdy things” — he’s a Magic: The Gathering buff. And he’s always listening to music. He’s big on John Legend, John Mayer, James Taylor. “Anything neo-soul, folk, anything that has sort of
heartstring-tugging lyrics,” Thomas said. His singing voice was formed from years spent listening to early Michael Jackson, he said. “Anything with the Jackson 5 was super huge to me,” Thomas said. “Being from Gary, Indiana, which is also where the Jackson Five is from, they’re huge to me. I can still put on the Jackson 5 stuff and fall in love with it.” Thomas said his love of singing has been a constant in
his life. “I sing to myself in my apartment, I sing to myself walking down the street,” Thomas said. “Even if people aren’t listening, it’s always just been something therapeutic and sort of something that defines my being. I can’t even tell you what it is, but there’s always something about it. “And the fact that people want to hear me sing and want me onstage is sort of icing on the cake.”
taking off as one of Wichita’s most imminently successful artists. - JD
operate both as a diss track and a beautiful farewell as he whispers “bye bye bye bye bye” into our ears and quickly follows it up with a bittersweet, “screw you, dude” as the track fades out. - RC
out from fellow Wichita garage rockers. However, the true gem of the record is its opener, “Everyone’s a Minimalist.” The layered track contains Beau Harris’ signature emo-pop vocals with lyrics that are startlingly direct. There’s a fascinating passion at large in Old News’s moody, millennial math rock. - RC
riffs and dynamic vocals are in full force in her last EP, “Truth Has Legs,” a power pop triumph infused with some gorgeous atmospheric tendencies. Among the many standouts on the record, “I Can Relate” marks its place with the perfect mixture of structural complexity and infectious melodies. Wood’s vocals veer to fulfill a dozen purposes over the course of the track. She tackles call and response sections, beds of gorgeous harmonies, and skyscraping choruses with ease. There’s an amazing amount of emotional and instrumental ground covered in less than six minutes, and yet the track passes far faster than most pop jams half its length. That’s not even mentioning the crazy, cathartic guitar riffing that fills each nook and cranny in the track’s arrangement. If you’re already waiting for the next record from Jenny Wood, well, I can relate. - JD
OLD MAN CREAKY BONES – ‘TALK TO GODS’
While Danny Echo, aka Old Man Creaky Bones, creates recordings that are unabashedly lo-fi, the last track on his “Dive Bar Celebrities” EP is delightfully stripped down. Featuring vocals and acoustic guitar, the track showcases his poetic lyrics and tantalizing vibrato. Echo’s sweet melodies
OLD NEWS – ‘EVERYONE’S A MINIMALIST’
When it comes to Old News’s “Castro” EP, there’s nothing more memorable than “Disappointed but Not Surprised,” whose riffs and video made the band stand
JENNY WOOD – ‘I CAN RELATE’
Wichita musical legend Jenny Wood brings a lot of power into the studio. Her relentless guitar
SPORTS
4 | MONDAY, DEC. 3, 2018
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BIG-12 TAKEDOWN
JOSEPH BARRINGHAUS/THE SUNFLOWER
Top, Wichita State guard Dexter Dennis waits for his name to be called at the start of their game against Baylor Saturday at Koch Arena. Left, Samajae Haynes-Jones and Erik Stevenson celebrate after scoring. Stevenson scored 18 points. Above, Wichita State guard Samajae Haynes-Jones stands his ground on defense against Baylor.
Takeaways from the Shockers’ big-game hunt with the Bears The battle is over, and the dust has settled from Saturday’s marquee matchup with Baylor. There’s much to take away from the game, from a first half that showed Wichita State’s strengths, to a second half that showed the team’s youth. Case in point, WSU beat a Big 12 opponent at home for the first time in a long, long time. “We’re going in the right direction,” senior Markis McDuffie said. “We have our strengths and weaknesses — it’s all about getting better. “We’re going to go a long ways this year — more than people expected.” Let’s get into the specifics. If you need a reminder of this team’s victory, look at the first half of Saturday’s game. Samajae Haynes-Jones had five first-half three-pointers, Erik
MARSHALL SUNNER COLUMNIST
Stevenson proved he may just be the program’s next big-time player, and Dexter Dennis and Jaime Echenique excelled at doing the little things. Dennis had the second-best plus-minus on the team, behind Echenique. When Echenique was on the floor, WSU outscored Baylor by 13 points. He’s been a major factor since being inserted
SHOCKER MULTI KICKS OFF INDOOR TRACK SEASON
into the starting rotation. Scoring came at the rim and beyond the perimeter, but consistency has plagued the Shockers’ offense this year. Haynes-Jones is moving in the right direction, but guys such as Jamarius Burton have disappeared at times. Burton recorded one rebound and no points or assists on Saturday. McDuffie, the NBA hopeful, has scored plenty at times, but has also disappeared late in games. Against Alabama, McDuffie simply couldn’t miss. But when the game clock got to four-minutes, Thanos snapped his fingers and McDuffie disappeared from the game. He took just two shots in the final four minutes with the game still in reach. On Saturday, McDuffie didn’t demand the ball as Baylor closed the gap to a two-possession game.
JOSEPH BARRINGHAUS/THE SUNFLOWER
Wichita State freshman Erik Stevenson slams the ball over Baylor junior Devonte Bandoo during their game on Saturday in Koch Arena.
SHOCKER WOMEN DROP SECOND STRAIGHT, FALL TO 5-3 ON THE SEASON
KHÁNH NGUYỄN/THE SUNFLOWER
SELENA FAVELA/THE SUNFLOWER
Top, Wichita State redshirt freshman Hannah Cole high jumps during the Shocker Multi meet Saturday in the Heskett Center. Above, Wichita State redshirt freshman Maria Romero high jumps during the meet Saturday.
After one of the program’s best starts in nearly a decade, Wichita State has lost two home games in a row. The Shockers lost to Tennessee Tech on Sunday. WSU couldn’t find scoring, failing to reach 50 points for 45-55 second consecutive game and just the third time this season. WSU has not won a game this season when scoring less than 60 points. Left, Wichita State freshman Carla Bremaud goes up for a shot during their game against Tennessee Tech on Dec. 2 at Koch Arena.