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WICHITA STATE’S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1896
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THURSDAY March 31, 2022 Volume 126 Issue 27
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‘It’s very electric’
Dynasty performs during the 12th annual drag show in the WSU Metroplex. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
Priscilla Chambers performs as the Queen of the Possums at the WSU Metroplex on March 25. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
Deadnettle performs in their second performance of the night, showcasing the costume they made. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
Artists dazzle audience at 12th annual drag show BY MIA HENNEN mbhennen@shockers.wichita.edu
A normal day at WSU, students don’t usually get to see performers with names like “Boxx Cheez” or “IRox Da Panties.” The 12th Annual Drag Show sponsored by the Student Activities Council, Spectrum and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, allowed students and other community members the opportunity to see a one-of-a-kind show. The show featured a variety of artists, some wearing traditional drag makeup and others with other themes. Audience members had the ability to tip the performers virtually or physically. “It was very much different than what I had experienced [with another drag show] because I’ve never seen alternative drag so it was really cool to see other forms of drag,” political science major Tyler Dorsch said.
“They’re up there doing their thing, and we’re cheering for everything they do.”
- May Gonzalez
The show featured artists like Priscilla Chambers from “Boulet Brothers Dragula” and Chy’enne Valentino from “RuPaul’s Queen of the Universe,” as well as other local performers. “I really loved vocals, so I enjoyed Valentino, and Priscilla’s energy was absolutely crazy—loved it,” business major Kayla Young said. Last year the show was held in an online format to accommodate for the pandemic. The in-person event allowed for a more lively, intimate atmosphere. “It’s very electric,” elementary education major August Fite said. “There’s kind of a chaos here that I love; it’s so supportive and energetic.”
Clashing with the positive overtones, audience members described a common feeling of “comfortable discomfort,” coinciding with the sexual and colorful language which are common in drag shows. “You kind of get comfortable being uncomfortable, and there’s lots of seating if you don’t want to be upfront and interact with anybody you can sit more towards the back,” Fite said The performers, all members and/or advocates for the LGBTQ+ community, widely communicated a message of love, hope and acceptance within their performances. “They’re up there doing their thing, and we’re cheering for everything they do,” music education major May Gonzalez said. “I took videos because you wouldn’t believe it if you weren’t here,” Young said. “The amount of activism here—I was shocked by—and the liveliness of every single performance was absolutely crazy.”
Turning Point USA has history trying to influence WSU SGA elections BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com
A 2019 Kansas State Collegian article cites a Turning Point USA handout that lays out plans to “commandeer the top office of student body president” at the most influential American universities. In a handout called the “Campus Victory Project,” which is now a few years old, the organization lays out plans to fill the student body president position at the most recognizable American universities with conservative, republican students who could further the organization’s mission. WSU’s Turning Point USA President Olivia Gallegos, who is currently running for SGA president, told The Sunflower she had not heard of the project. At Wichita State, Turning Point USA has been faced with controversy. The organization was initially denied registered student organization status by the student government association, despite a letter from FIRE telling SGA that denying a group would be against freedom of speech. The supreme court ultimately overturned the senate’s decision and Turning
Point USA received RSO status. Gallegos faced criticism early on when she chose to highlight Turning Point USA contributor Morgan Zegers in a social media post for women’s history month. A group of students on social media called for her resignation. Gallegos did not resign and was a senator the following year. The handout lists Wichita State as a prime target in phase 2 of their plan. It also cites former SGA REESE President Paige (Hungate) Reese as a “win” for the organization along with other right-wing SGA presidents. Reese was president 2017-2018. She said that while the organization did reach out to her about her campaign, she was not aware it was affiliated with Turning Point USA. She also said she was not aware she was listed as a “win.” “I was never under the impression or never had an understanding that they were even associated with Turning Point USA, otherwise I would not have done anything with them, I wouldn’t have communicated with them because I
wasn’t interested in Turning Point USA’s mission,” Reese said. Reese said the organization found out about her through one of her friends. “He sent my information to an individual with that organization and just said, ‘Hey, these people are hoping to just, you know, sponsor student leaders and help good leaders get in positions,’” Reese said. “That was really all that was indicated to me, that it was just this organization that kind of gave scholarships in a sense to students to just help them win.” However, when Reese found out more about the project, she donated all the money she received to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wichita. “Truly they did nothing as far as our campaign, or my time as student body president,” Reese said. “I cut all ties once I understood who they were and what their true goal was. I feel like it was a facade.” The handout claims that SGA have been “controlled by the left for decades, institutionalizing campus messaging and earmarking hundreds of millions of dollars of student fees to intentionally push a coordinated [a] radical
progressive agenda.” The mission of the project is to make the “largest strategic impact for taking back and fighting the intrenched institution that has hijacked billions of public dollars to promote anti-capitalist, anti-American, anti-semitic and pro-globalist themes.” Chair of Political Science Department Neal Allen said that one political organization should not have the power to ALLEN control student governments. “I find it troubling that an organization is talking about commandeering student governments across the country,” Allen said. “Student government is not something that you should take back or think has been taken from you. Student government should not be understood as property or anything like property of one given group of people.” According to its LinkedIn, the project focuses on “activating, recruiting, supporting and training a new generation of common sense, representative, and
well-equipped leaders on the biggest college campuses in the United States.” Vice President for WSU’s Turning Point chapter HOOPES Andruw Hoopes also said he didn’t know about the project. He said that individual chapters are not required to support everything the national organization is associated with. “If that’s something they’re trying to do that is certainly something that I do not know of as a member,” Hoopes said. “As a general member of the chapter I try to just stick to our chapter-level things. I don’t try to get as much involved with the national organization as possible as they are a controversial organization.” Hoopes is also an SGA senator. He said that he believes the students need to spend less time speaking about national, political issues and more time speaking about campus-specific problems. “You shouldn’t be focused on these big national issues, we need to focus on what the students want and what the students want us to do,” Hoopes said.
2 | THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022
NEWS
A write-in candidate has never won SGA president, VP. Two write-in tickets are wanting to change that.
Hunter Minette (left) and Annie Wasinger (right) are running for student body president and Vice President | Courtesy of Minette and Wasinger
William Shropshire (right) and Zane Berry (left) are running for SGA president, Vice President | Courtesy of Shropshire and Berry
Minette, Wasinger write-in campaign focused on accessibility, connecting students to resources
Shropshire, Berry write-in campaign focused on furthering WSU’s legacy, creating internships
BY LINDSAY SMITH
BY LINDSAY SMITH
email@shockers.wichita.edu
Only one ticket declared their candidacy for SGA president and vice president for this year’s SGA elections. But two write-in campaigns are wanting to fill those top positions. Hunter Minette and Annie Wasinger, both members of Student Government Association, are one of those write-in tickets. Minette, who’s running for president, has two years of experience with SGA. He previously served as a senator and now he’s serving as SGA’s director of legislative affairs on the president’s cabinet. “I think it’s important [to have another option], regardless of the platform,” Minette said. “I think it’s a good thing to be able to get other students’ input and have students who represent all these different areas of campus and [have] the option to choose.” Minette said there are advantages to writing in names. “That’s a positive overall, it means there’s more students who understand what’s going on on campus, with the initiative of writing the name correctly, they know exactly what they’re getting and what we represent,” Minette said.
Wasinger, who’s running for vice president, is currently a freshman senator with the association. She said while a write-in campaign may seem like a last-minute decision, her and Minette have had the idea since they met in September. Wasinger has used her platform as a senator to advocate for students with disabilities. “There’s this accessibility cycle and this ableist cycle, what happens is you have a campus and location that isn’t ADA compliant like our campus,” Wasinger said. “It sends this message to students with disabilities and incoming students of, you know what, you’re not welcome here because you can’t access certain buildings. “This is long overdue for us to be in full compliance.” Wasinger said one of their first actions would be to create a task force made up of students with disabilities so SGA can hear about them and their experience. Minette said that it’s important to have leaders who are flexible and capable of leading during unprecedented times. All candidates are participating in a debate tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the Rhatigan Student Center’s Santa Fe room.
email@shockers.wichita.edu
This year has seen the biggest write-in election push in recent years of the Student Government Association. William Shropshire and Zane Berry are one of the two write-in tickets for SGA president and vice president. Shropshire, an aerospace engineering major and member of the rowing crew, is running for SGA president. He said that even though he’s never been involved in the association he sees that as an opportunity to relate to students. “I’m not in SGA, so I don’t know all the intricacies of it,” Shropshire said. “But I can learn, and I will learn. And I will learn for those who are like me now.” “My biggest thing is giving the opportunity for others to vote for who should represent them because that’s what this is at the end of the day ... I think I can do a pretty good job.” Berry, a current SGA engineering senator, is running for vice president. He said that he does not see running as a write-in as a disadvantage. “Just being treated like regular candidates, even though unfortunately we’ve had to go this write-in
route, I think that we really got a good chance,” Berry said. “It’s kind of crazy … But we’re working as hard as we can to get the votes.” Shropshire said his goal as president is to research the ins and outs of WSU and furthering the university’s legacy. “Looking at the past and upholding our traditions, our legacy that we have here at WSU, realizing what makes the campus the campus and what makes the students the students and then looking towards the present,” Shropshire said. Berry said he wants his administration to push more for internships for students and connecting students to administration. As an engineering student, Berry said he sees a lack of internships for students outside of that field. “We have a lot more programs than I believe other colleges do,” Berry said. “So we understand as engineers how much of an advantage we had being engineers and we want to expand those opportunities to other students in other colleges.” All candidates are participating in a debate tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the Rhatigan Student Center’s Santa Fe room.
Community Service Board encourages students to give back BYJULIA NIGHTENGALE news@thesunflower.com
Michaela Lecki, junior and vice president of marketing for the community service board, said that she has been volunteering from a young age and finds it to be a relaxing break from academics and being a college student. “You can bring your friends, it can be fun,” Lecki said. “You’re still doing something to give back to the community. It’s a good feeling overall to do something that doesn’t benefit yourself.” The community service board is the largest resource organization on campus. They find volunteer opportunities within the Wichita areas for students on campus. Students may need volunteer hours for their resume, a class they are attending or to find something to do in their free time. Member meetings, which happen every Thursday 3:30 to 5 p.m. and are open to everyone, include playing games, such as a
poverty and homelessness simulation, and eating snacks. They also make members aware of the different issues in the community and how to help. “I feel like we are a really welcoming group, we allow anyone to come in, you don’t have to be a member … I feel like there are a lot of events that can connect to different people,” Katie Dunlop, president, said. The organization includes the executive board, made up of a vice president of membership, vice president of marketing and the president. They also have five different chairs, including a sustainability, food and hunger, health, youth and education and a poverty and homelessness chair. Every chair is responsible for coming up with a service project. “Whatever an organization needs, we try to provide that to them as best as we can,” Lecki said. “We can’t really go out, and if they need all these donations we don’t just go to the store and buy them,
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we try to figure out how to get them low-cost.” Previous service projects have included tie blankets for the Salvation Army, making dog toys out of t-shirts for the Kansas Humane Society and care packages for churches in the area. “It can help [students] get involved in the Wichita community, get out there and see the need that is out in the community. It’s very educational and you learn a lot of things you didn’t really realize,” Dunlop said. They also have guest speakers from non-profit organizations in Wichita, and ask them if their agency needs anything such as donations or volunteers. Lecki’s favorite event is Wu’s Big Event, an annual event that includes 200-300 volunteers, including faculty, students, and people from the community volunteering for a nonprofit for three hours. Each chair is responsible for creating a series event, and as a previous poverty and
Volunteers from the Community Service Board at United Way for Wu’s Big Event.| Courtesy Michaela Lecki
homelessness chair, she enjoys volunteering at the Lord’s Diner every other Wednesday to serve food. “I’m someone who likes to see the impact right in front of me, and it’s just a good feeling that people who need a meal in the community can come in there and you see that you are providing them with something that they need,” Lecki said. Lecki said that qualities people should have to volunteer is compassion and patience. “You just have to have a good
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heart and you just have to be motivated,” Lecki said. “We want someone who is willing to go out and volunteer in whatever area they feel comfortable. “It’s important for the community to see that there are students, especially in our generation, that are willing to do something not for themselves … It’s just showing [people that] they are not alone in the community.” Read the rest at thesunflower.com
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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022 | 3
Sports
HAVE A STORY IDEA? contact The Sunflower’s sports editor, Sean Marty sports@thesunflower.com
GOING STREAKING LONGEST HITTING STREAKS IN WSU BASEBALL HISTORY 1. PHIL STEPHENSON - 47 GAMES 2. DEREK SCHERMERHORN - 34 GAMES 3. CHRIS WIMMER - 32 GAMES 4. ANDY DIRKS - 30 GAMES 5. CHRIS O’BRIEN - 29 GAMES 6. LOREN HIBBS - 26 GAMES 7. ERIC WEDGE - 26 GAMES 8. JEFF RYAN - 23 GAMES 9. MIKE JONES - 22 GAMES 10. THREE PLAYERS TIED - 21 GAMES 11. FIVE PLAYERS TIED - 20 GAMES 12. SAWYRE THORNHILL - 19 GAMES
Junior Sawyre Thornhill looks to swing during WSU’s game against Kansas on March 23 inside Eck Stadium. Thornhill’s 19-game hitting streak came to a close last weekend against Creighton, the longest such streak since 2014. | Photo by Sean Marty / The Sunflower
After three years at the junior college level, Thornhill brings instant offense to the Shocker lineup BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com
A
fter his first season with Angelina College, Sawyre Thornhill had just committed to South Carolina, one of the top college baseball programs in the country. It was a dream fit for Thornhill, but it soon turned into a nightmare situation. With the canceled spring season in 2020 due to COVID-19, South Carolina had more players slated to come back than anticipated. That left Thornhill without a spot on the roster and out of options. With most Division-I programs in a similar roster situation, Thornhill decided to return to the junior college level but this time at a new school. Thornhill transferred to Northeast Texas Community College where he led the team in batting average (.375) and slugging percentage (.647). Now, for the second time in three years Thornhill had to find the next Division-I program to take a chance on him. One phone call with Wichita State Assistant Coach Mike Sirianni sealed the deal for Thornhill to commit to the Shockers. “That’s why I’m here,” Thornhill said. In his debut season with the Shockers, Thronhill has made an instant impact at the plate, reaching base in all 21 games he’s played in. Thornhill also had a 19-game hitting streak — the longest hitting streak at WSU since 2004 — which was snapped last Friday against Creighton. Thornhill said that the experience that he gained while playing at two junior colleges has allowed him to make this smooth transition
at WSU. “To be around some guys that are going through the same stuff that you’re going through is a big deal,” Thornhill said. “It makes you mature as a man and having the experience coming into a D1 is a lot better than a high school kid coming to a D1.” Thornhill has settled into the No. 3 spot in the Shocker lineup and currently possesses the second-best batting average (.301) and on-base percentage (.379) on the team. The Huntington, Texas native also leads the Shockers with five doubles.
“Well he’s been our best hitter offensively and you know he really gives himself a chance with every at bat. He’s a versatile player. He can play second. He can play third. He can play the oufield.”
- Eric Wedge
On top of the offensive production he’s provided, Thornhill has played at three of the four infield spots, along with both corner outfield positions. “Well he’s been our best hitter offensively and you know he really gives himself a chance with every at bat,” Head Coach Eric Wedge said. “He’s a versatile player. He can play second. He can play third. He can play the outfield. So he’s a guy that we can really rely on in the middle of our lineup.” Even with the offensive success he’s had throughout his collegiate career, Thornhill said he’s focused on contributing in any way possible. Thronhill has played in and
started in 21 of WSU’s 22 games, the second most by any Shocker this season. “I just go up there and try to help the team in any way possible,” Thornhill said. “If it’s hitting a fastball, if it’s getting a bunt down, if it’s getting a sac fly in. I’ll do anything to help my team.” Thornhill said that he’s been able to learn from WSU’s experienced coaching staff throughout this season, which has made the transition to WSU even smoother. “They’re a great coaching staff,” Thornhill said. “Wedge, he’s been through everything so he’s real strict but has that laid back type of mentality. [Sirianni]’s a real good infield coach. [Mike] Pelfrey played in the big leagues, [Loren] Hibbs has been here. It’s all a big family so it’s a pretty good atmosphere and I love to be here.” Thornhill has been a catalyst in WSU’s midseason resurgence following an 0-6 start to the season. The Shockers have weathered the storm, going 6-4 including a Frisco Classic Championship in large part due to Thornhill’s production. Since the six-game losing skid to open up the season, Thornhill is hitting .280 at the plate with three multi-hit games over that stretch. Thornhill said that once everything clicks up and down the roster, they can still reach their preseason goal of making an NCAA Regional. “I think that we’ve just got to get our hitters going again,” Thornhill said. “We kind of slowed there, our pitching still needs to come up and we have some guys that have been struggling but they come out and compete every day. If we can string together the hitting, pitching and defense then we’ll be pretty good.”
Junior Sawyre Thornhill bats at home plate on March 27 in Eck Stadium. Thornhill has a .307 batting average through 22 games, the second highest on the team. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
Junior third basemen Sawyer Thornhill attempts to catch a fly ball on the foul line on March 26 in Eck Stadium. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
4 | THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022
SPORTS
SOONER STRUGGLES
Addison Barnard follows up record breaking season BY RACHEL RUDISILL rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu
Junior Lauren Mills goes to bat inside the OU Softball Complex on March 29. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
Senior Caitlin Bingham throws a pitch on March 29 at OU. The Sooners upset the Shockers, 10-1.. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
Sophomore Lauren Lucas sprints from second to third base on March 29 inside the OU Softball Complex. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
Softball falls to No. 1 Oklahoma to wrap up non-conference play BY EMMIE BOESE opinion@thesuflower.com
Shocker softball was left empty after a chance at redemption against the Sooners at Marita Hynes Field. The Wichita State softball program lost 1-10 to No.1 University of Oklahoma on Tuesday, March 29. Last season, the Shockers ended their record breaking year with two devastating losses to OU in the Norman NCAA Regional. Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner said at the beginning of the season the Shockers always play the toughest schedule that they can to get ready for conference play and post-season play. With losses to several nationally ranked teams this season, Bredbenner has a positive outlook on what it can only do for her team. “You know, it definitely exposes our weaknesses and the things we need to work on and, you know, that’s what the season is about,” Bredbenner said. The Shockers scored their lone run in
the top of the first, after Sydney McKinney came around to score on an error. The Sooners answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second and added to their advantage in the bottom of the third with six runs scored.
“You know it definitely exposes our weaknesses and the things we need to work on and you know that’s what the season is about.”
- Kristi Bredbenner
Caitlin Bingham got the start in the circle and allowed seven runs on seven hits and five walks in 2.2 innings. Erin McDonald threw the final 1.2 innings, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks. The Sooners walked it off in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run. “You know, you look back and see we had three walks instead of eight. What’s
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FRIDAY, APRIL 1 WSU vs Tulsa 6 p.m.
Wilkins Stadium
the score of that ball game because that’s a pretty big impact,” Bredbenner said. “I thought we got behind in the count a little too much in that particular inning.” Bredbenner also pointed out that a struggle that Shockers are currently facing in their lineup are several season-ending injuries. Sophomore Bailey Urban and senior Arielle James were expected to be regular contenders in the lineup, but both are out for the remainder of the season. James, a graduate transfer from Houston, only played in one game for the Shockers before being sidelined. Urban, a sophomore outfielder, started 13 games and had a .333 batting average before her 2022 season came to a close. “Those are big bats, they’re good defensive players,” Bredbenner said.
Heading into the 2022 season, sophomore Addison Barnard had a target on her back. In her first season with the Shockers, Barnard started all 45 games hitting .315 and collected 53 RBIs, the current school record and BARNARD fourth highest nationally. As a freshman, she also ranked 14th nationally in total bases and was one of seven Division-I players in the country to hit over 20 homers. During that record breaking season, Barnard held an advantage over her opponents. Nobody had film of her, so she was seen as a wild card. “Going into this season, I knew the scouting report was out and I’m not a freshman,” Barnard said. “People know what to throw, so I learned how to hit every pitch, so I won’t have as many weaknesses.” Head coach Kristi Bredbenner was impressed with Barnard, as a freshman, the moment she took the field in the 2020 fall season. “Her bat speed is tremendous and that was something that she came in with that I don’t think we necessarily recognized until she got here,” Bredbenner said earlier last season. The Shockers struggled to find their footing early in the 2022 season due to injuries but the team has weathered the storm with a 17-10 record entering conference play this weekend. “I think we showed a lot of adversity,” Barnard said. “We had a lot of injuries and it’s been a little rough to get in the groove. When we find that groove, we can do and achieve whatever we want.” With 22 homers, Barnard holds the school record of most home runs hit in a single season. This season is no different for the sophomore. She currently holds the most homers on the team after hitting her 12th of the season during their matchup against Kansas City. While Barnard is excited for her achievements this season, she is most excited to play her first home game of the season. “Playing home just has a different feel to it,” said Barnard. “Fans give you more adrenaline and make you play your best.”
SPORTS
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022 | 5
Tennis picks up two wins in first outdoor doubleheader BY RACHEL RUDISILL rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu
After suffering back-toback losses during the ASU Tournament, Wichita State men’s tennis team bounced back, picking up a pair of wins in their first doubleheader of the outdoor season against Cowley College and Northwest Missouri State Saturday at the Coleman Tennis Complex. “Overall, it was a good day,” Head Coach Danny Bryan said in a statement for GoShockers. “We were expecting two tough teams, and that’s what we got.” Going 6-1 versus Cowley, freshman Kristof Minarik and redshirt sophomore Alex Richards gave the Shockers a quick lead in doubles, pulling off a 6-3 victory at court one. Cowley responded with 6-3 victory at court two resulting in a tiebreaker match from sophomore
Luka Mrsic and redshirt junior Orel Ovil. The two fought to clinch the Shockers a 1-0 lead finishing with a 7-6 finish. The Shockers continued to pick up five of the six single matches. In the first set, Ovil, at court three, and redshirt sophomore Ray Lo, at court five, picked up two wins, followed by redshirt junior Nicolas Acevedo 6-2 and 6-3 victories. Mrsic and Richards completed the final two victories for the Shockers at courts four and six. “We got challenged a lot,” Bryan said. “Cowley is the No. 1 junior college team in the country. They have a lot of really good players, and we had to work for that win.” The Shockers continued their streak as they picked up a 7-0 sweep against Northwest Missouri State. Freshman Jackie Lin joined Lo in the doubles where they
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picked up a 6-3 victory against the Bearcats. In court two, Ovil and Mrsic clinched the Shockers the doubles victory going 6-1. The men continued their sweep winning all six singles matches. Richards and Lo both battled their way to victory with 10-point tiebreakers, finishing 10-8 and 10-7 in the third-set. “In the second match, they were also tough,” Bryan said. “Already playing a match that day, I think some of our guys got tired, but I think it’s great that we had to work through it, and Alex and Ray ended up still finding a way to win.”
Freshman Kristoff Minarik celebrates after winning the singles match against Northwest Missouri State. Minarik competed in two undefeated rounds on March 26 in the Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
Former Shocker assistant lands coaching job with New Mexico State BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com
Sophomore Cameron Bye pitches during the game against the Creighton Bluejays on March 27. The Shockers won, 6-3. Bye is the lone Shocker pitcher that hasn’t allowed a run this season. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
Bye shines as baseball salvages series finale against Creighton BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com
Cameron Bye struggled to find a role for the Shocker pitching staff last season, tallying a 4.97 ERA in 10 appearances out of the bullpen. But something has clicked this season for the sophomore pitcher. After coming out of the bullpen in WSU’s first seven games to start the season, Bye has carved out a role in the weekend rotation, starting the past three Sundays. Bye has yet to allow a run this season in 21.2 innings pitched and struck out 22 hitters, 14 more than he recorded a season ago. Bye’s latest solid performance on the mound came when the Shockers needed it the most. WSU’s bullpen was taxed after dropping the first two games of the series to Creighton and Bye delivered six scoreless innings on Sunday, tallying a career-high six strikeouts in the 6-3 victory. “This time, I just tried to trust my defense more and last week I was walking a bunch of people, I was just trying to do too much,” Bye said. “This
week, I just trusted my defense and threw the ball over the plate.” Senior Ross Cadena caught Bye in each of his last three starts and said that the cutting action on his fastball makes it tough for hitters to make contact. Bye has regularly been sitting from 94-96 mph this season and has only thrown one wild pitch this season, while consistently finding the strike zone. “He located both sides of the plate with his fastball and then behind in the count he was able to throw his off-speed pitches for strikes which allowed him to throw those hitters off balance,” Cadena said. “I think he was very successful because he could go in and out, up and down.” After playing this summer with the Upper Valley Nighthawks in the New England League, Bye started to see results on the mound which has translated into this season. Bye pitched to the tune of a 2.51 ERA in Vermont over the summer and he hasn’t looked back since. Opponents are only hitting .122 against Bye during the
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2022 season and he is the only remaining Shocker pitcher that hasn’t allowed a run. “He did a great job out of the bullpen early so we gave him a shot in the rotation,” Head Coach Eric Wedge said. “He’s really just stepping up. He’s built up almost where he can be so he can go deeper into ball games.” Bye now finds himself gaining more and more confidence after each start, which all started after his first appearance this season against Louisiana Tech. Bye struck out three batters in two innings out of the bullpen against the Bulldogs and his confidence has only grown since his season debut. “That first outing I had against Louisiana Tech, it gave me a lot of comfort and confidence and it kept rolling over and over and over,” Bye said. “So, I just kept doing the same thing.”
Ricky Council declares for 2022 NBA Draft BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com
Freshman guard Ricky Council IV has declared for the 2022 NBA Draft, while maintaining his collegiate eligibility, he announced in an Instagram post on Monday. If Council requests an evaluation from the NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee, he will be allowed to hire a certified agent under the NCAA’s new rules. The agent is allowed to pay for meals, transportation and lodging for Council and his family to meet with NBA teams. “Ever since the ball was placed in my hands as a kid I have been
in love with the game in every aspect, playing at Wichita State the past two years has helped me realize that I’m one step closer to achieving my ultimate goal,” Council said in the social media post. Council blossomed in his second season with the Shockers, averaging 12.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while coming off the bench in 21 of WSU’s 28 games. Council became the Shockers’ first Sixth-Man of the Year in The American and just the third overall, alongside Ben Smith (2011 MVC) and Aaron Hogg (2003 MVC). Council will have until June
Former Wichita State assistant coach Gear Heiar has been tabbed as the next head coach for New Mexico State, the team announced on Sunday. The head coaching job became open earlier this week following the departure of Chris Jans, also a former WSU assistant coach, to Mississippi State. “I am grateful to Chancellor Arvizu and Mario Moccia for entrusting me as the leader of one of the most respected college basketball programs in the nation,” Heiar said in a statement. “NM State has a rich tradition of basketball success dating back over a century and I am humbled by the opportunity to continue that success. I have known Chris Jans for almost 30 years and hope to build upon what he achieved at NM State over the last half-decade. My family and I can’t wait to call Las Cruces home.” Heiar most recently served
as the head coach at Northwest Florida State College, where he lead them to the NJCAA Division I National Championship in Hutchinson, Kansas. The national title was Northwest Florida State College’s third all-time. Heiar spent six seasons as an assistant at WSU under former head coach Gregg Marshall. During Heiar’s tenure with the Shockers, WSU won 179 games, five Missouri HEIAR Valley Conference regular season championships and made six straight trips to the NCAA Tournament, including the program’s second-ever Final Four appearance in 2013. Heiar will look to build off NMSU’s run in this year’s NCAA Tournament. Under Heiar, the Aggies knocked off No. 5 seed Connecticut behind the contributions of former Shocker Teddy Allen.
1 to withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to college for his sophomore season. The last player from WSU to enter the NBA Draft early and keep his name in was COUNCIL Landry Shamet in 2018. Shamet was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round. The Durham, North Carolina native is the third Shocker to declare for the NBA Draft in the past three seasons, joining Tyson Etienne and Dexter Dennis, who both returned to WSU.
Freshman Chidera Okoro lands during the triple jump competiton at the Shocker Spring Invitational on March 27 at Cessna Stadium. | Photo by Kaylee Stout / The Sunflower
Track and Field wraps up home outdoor opener at Cessna Stadium BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com
The Wichita State track and field team wrapped up day two of the Shocker Spring Invitational Saturday at Cessna Stadium with 16 event titles. Michael Bryan picked up the first win of the event for the Shockers, throwing 67.79m/222-5 on his fifth attempt in the hammer throw. Samantha Marx followed that up with a javelin win, throwing 40.04m/131-4. The distance runners capped off day one, snagging the final two wins of the meet. Britte Magnuson opened up his outdoor season with a 9:32.01 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, almost 20 seconds faster than his season-opener last spring. Trey Rios claimed victory in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:27.90 with Ben Flowers following closely with an 8:28.67 to take third. Abeba Sullivan, Lubna Aldulaimi and Miranda Dick placed second, third and fourth, respectively, in the 3,000 meters. On day two, Semaj McGhee secured a personal-best 12.84m/421.5 in the triple jump to jump up to third all-time in WSU history. Margaux Thompson also found success in the jumps, claiming her
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second straight win in the pole vault after clearing 3.47m/11-4.5. The Shockers swept the 100meter titles with Faith Turner sprinting to an 11.76 finish, and Jaleel Montgomery crossing the line in first place with a time of 10.98. Sydney Johnson added to the sprint victories, winning the 200 meters in 25.36. In the 400meter hurdles, Kylie Meier picked up her first win of the season with a time of 1:06.09. The Shocker men swept the day-two throwing events with Dae’Trell Gordon winning the shot put with a personal-best throw of 16.49m/54-1.25 and Matt Everett picking up the discus win with a toss of 51.58m/169-3. Tanner Brown and Brianna Utecht translated their day one decathlon and heptathlon leads into day two victories, recording top marks in six of the eight events between the two of them. Utecht finished the event with 4,983 points, and Brown’s 7,178 points ranks eighth all-time in Shocker history.
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Arts & Entertainment
HAVE A STORY IDEA? contact The Sunflower’s A&E editor, Kyran Crist arts@thesunflower.com
Cole Bellamy as Governor Bellingham, publicly shaming Hester Prynne during the opening scene of “The Scarlet Letter.” This was the first full run through of the opera on Mar. 28. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
Chorus member, Madison Roths, prays with the villagers that Hester’s sins will not bring evil into the community. Roths and the villagers bombarded Minister Arthur Dimmesdale to reveal Hester’s punishment. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
Amira Coleman, as Mistress Hibbons, torments Dimmesdale after he drinks an secret poison from Dr. Chillingworth. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
Ashley Ruckman as Hester Prynne protecting her daughter Pearl, played by Taylor Lewis, from Governor Bellingham. After he examined Pearl, Bellingham believed she was possessed by the Devil. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
Opera students prepare for their performance ‘The Scarlet Letter’ BY RACHEL RUDISILL rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu
American composer Lori Laitman brought Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel “The Scarlet Letter” to life through her opera production. Written in 2008 and revised in 2016, the production has only been performed about four times. On April 8 and 9 Wichita State University will perform Laitman’s piece with two groups of students. “Yes, we do Mozarc, we do all of the classic composers, but to get to do [a production by a] living composer is pretty exciting,” Director of Opera Studies Alan Held said. “It’s
fun because the music has different harmonies, different sounds than we’re used to, but it’s still put to such a relatable story that most people have read in high school.” The plots are the same in the novel and the opera. After two years of no contact from her presumed dead husband, Hester Prynne has relations with another man and becomes pregnant out of wedlock. She is condemned by her community, and chooses to take the punishment alone after refusing to reveal the identity of her lover. Hester also is forced to wear a scarlet A on her chest representing adultery. After she gives birth to her daughter Pearl, it is revealed that
her husband, Roger Chillingworth is alive and well. The production revolves around Pearl’s life and the audience watches her grow up. Early in the opera, the identity of Pearl’s father is revealed to be Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale, but only Chillingworth knows identity and uses that information to torture him. “In some ways, it’s an allegory for our times as well,” Held said. Auditions for “The Scarlet Letter” occurred last October, but rehearsals did not occur until the middle of February. “Everyday, the students are being thrown a little something
new, but as a whole they have taken the challenge and done extremely well,” Held said. For many WSU students, including first year master student Cole McIlquham, the production will be their first major opera piece. “I am really excited,” McIlquham said. “The music is modern, but it still kind of harks back to some old traditions of nice thematic material and tuneful melodies. Everything is working nicely and it feels really good to be back on the stage.” McIlquham performs as Dimmesdale on April 8. To prepare for his role, he studied character analysis.
Ashley Ruckman, seen in previous WSU operas including Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera, returns to the stage as Hester Prynne on April 9. “I have done so much practicing, diction and character work,” Ruckman said. “I’ve read a lot of books about Hester specifically, and obviously ‘The Scarlet Letter’ and just trying to figure out what Lori Laitman wants from the character has been the focus of my preparation.” Tickets are available at the College of Fine Arts Box Office or by calling 316-978-3233. WSU students receive one free ticket with their Shocker ID.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2022 | 7
A closer look at the bulletin boards on campus Piper Pinnetti Reporter
piperpinnetti12@gmail. com
Courtesy of Pixar
How Disney Pixar’s “Turning Red” is hilarious yet relatable despite recent controversy Jacinda Hall Reporter
jacinda.hall@live.com
Disney released its latest Pixar animated film, “Turning Red.” Since then it has sparked controversy after talking about “taboo” topics. “Turning Red” is an animated movie that takes place in Toronto, Canada in 2002, and that focuses on the protagonist, 13-year-old Meilin Lee, who goes by Mei throughout the film. Throughout the movie, Mei deals with the pains of growing up and a genetic quirk that comes along with it. This movie is heartwarming and hilarious yet relatable to a targeted audience. “Turning Red” focuses on Toronto’s Chinatown, representing culture and director Domee Shi’s hometown. “Turning Red” does a great job with representing each culture and talking about women’s health in a humorous way and like any other Pixar movie, it hits you in the feels. When the movie was released, it ran into some controversy regarding the topics it covers. The title of the movie is a metaphor for the menstrual cycle that many people go through during puberty. “Turning Red” highlights the importance of puberty and women’s health and how important it is for young people to be educated and know about periods, whether they go through them or not. Since its release, many people took to social media and called the movie “inappropriate” for kids in a younger audience. However, as someone who has periods I have never related to a movie so well, let alone an animated movie. As someone who started physically growing up so young, I wish I had movies like “Turning Red” to help me laugh about the ups and downs of growing up. This movie is one of the best movies Pixar has released yet. After reading this review, please give “Turning Red” a chance, who knows, maybe you’ll find some things in the movie that you can relate to as well.
All around campus Wichita State has news boards with flyers pinned on them. The purpose of these boards is to keep students informed, increase student participants at events and to advertise career options. In the first semester the boards in each building were overflowing with content. Posters and flyers were stapled on top of each other. There were parties hosted by the school, club meetings, job applications and more. Before the first semester finished did the campus forget about the news boards. Events from August were still hanging on the bulletin by a single staple in Nov. Job opportunities on campus were still on the wall but no longer available. Now we are beginning April. In the past few weeks the news boards were cleared of first semester’s content and some new flyers were pinned up. There are a few random posters with sorority and fraternity events that passed a week ago. In the Geology Building are job opportunities for geology majors. Stuck on every board
Many bulletin boards on campus have kept out of date flyers for the majority of the semester, leaving students unaware of the upcoming events. | Photo by Kyran Crist / The Sunflower
found were flyers seeking event planners for campus. A couple bright yellow Esports posters. Hidden behind an expired announcement was an Italy Travel Seminar flyer. There is so much occurring on campus and yet it seems no one is bothering to update these boards fast enough. The amount of events students may not have heard of because they are not advertised is unfortunate. Outside the dining hall is the smallest news board seen on campus, yet so far the best updated. The flyers are stacked on top of eachother and it looks like someone vomited colorful ink on it with the amount of different events shown off on the board. Props to whomever is updating that wall. When entering the hallway of D Building from the Dining
Hall in Shocker Hall, there is a giant announcement board. In the beginning of the year, this board was overwhelmingly filled with events. So much so that there would be flyers on the floor that fell off. Now, about ten can be found. A few of the posters are no longer relevant because the events or deadlines have passed. The other few are WSU posters. If anyone on campus needs an updated announcement board, it is Shocker Hall’s freshman. Freshman are living on campus, but so new to the environment that everything is confusing. The news board is a great tool used by Shocker Hall residents in efforts to get active, get a job or experience or to even stay updated on what is going on around campus.
Where the best vending machines are on campus Piper Pinnetti Reporter
piperpinnetti12@gmail. com
Between being a full-time college student, working at least one job, attempting to prepare ourselves for our adult careers on top of having a social life, university students are typically hustling to get from one point to another. With our backpacks shuffling on our backs and our brains racing, we do not always find the time to pause and enjoy a meal. However, scattered around campus are plenty of vending machines. In Jabara Hall outside of the elevators are multiple gigantic vending machines. Two have Dasani water, Minute Maid pink lemonade, Powerade, milk, juice and more. On the other side are the snack options. From salty to sweet, the options range from Flaming Hot Cheetos and Doritos to Pop Tarts and Skittles. For the healthiest option, the Rhatigan Student Center has a salad machine. It works similar to a vending machine. Inside are bright red tomatoes, leafy greens
as well as other fresh ingredients that are switched out daily. The machine accepts debit cards as a form of payment. Being in the center of a majority of WSU’s buildings, it is a smart and quick option to stop by and get a healthier meal option. The best vending machines found on campus are the ones in Shocker Hall. Of course, there are multiple available throughout the building that are all decently filled. The single machine for snacks is not always 100% full but offers the same snacks as any other vending machines on campus. There are two machines specifically for drinks. One offers Coke products while the other offers Dasani products. This location offers three different kinds of Monster energy drinks for those who need a quick pick-me-up before their next item on their to-do list. The final vending machine offers supplies that many university students find useful. The trick to this machine is getting to it on time because the goodies in this machine run out fast. It offers one subject notebooks, shampoo and conditioner, Plan B that is twenty dollars cheaper than at Walmart and other essential items.
Vending machines on campus help students grab a meal, drink, tide pod or notebook on the go. For students constantly on the go, these options can be helpful and conveniently located around campus. | Photo by Kyran Crist / The Sunflower
For college students, this vending machine is perfect. If a student runs out of detergent at a time they cannot go to the store, Tide’s Clean and Fresh laundry detergent holds six washes inside the small bottle. Unfortunately, the trick to this wonderful machine is that the prices of the products are a mystery until you go to purchase them with your card. Just about every building on campus has a vending machine for students to stop by and get a snack between classes. The few machines described offer unique products or are constantly restocked to keep us hustling university students energized and smiling.
Courtesy of Hulu
“Fresh” gives a new take on the cannibal horror genre Julia Nightingale News editor
news@thesunflower.com
Nowadays, it is hard to find a horror movie that isn’t exactly like the hundreds of horror movies you have already seen. Familiar tropes and plot lines are used over and over again. “Fresh”, starring Daisy Edgar Jones as main-character Noa, dives into the horrors of the online-dating world and one of the many potential dangers: matching with a cannibal. The movie opens with Noa on a date with yet another loser, who reminds her to bring cash beforehand to pay and says all of the worst things that can come up on a first date. He makes comments about how she does not meet the femininity of his parents’ generation, takes all of the leftovers, and even calls her a nasty name after she refuses to kiss him. When Steve, played by Sebastian Stan, meets Noa in the grocery store, it is almost easy to understand why she so easily agrees to have a weekend away with this mysterious stranger who has no social media accounts due to his charming personality. What could go wrong? Noa’s best friend, Mollie who is played by Jonica T. Gibbs, is suspicious of Steve as soon as she learns that he doesn’t have social media. She grows more and more concerned for her friend the longer that she is away and ends up being captured by Steve herself in her attempts to find her friend. Soon, Noa realizes that she made the worst decision of her life when she wakes up chained in a room. The horror only grows when she learns that Steve is a cannibal, who attracts girls to his house only to collect their “processed female meat” for his rich clientele with similar tastes. Noa is different from the other girls though, because she slept with Steve on their first date. Noa uses Steve’s interest in her to stay alive and take his guard down to escape. The movie manages to portray the horror of the cannibalism in the meals that Steve and Noa eat without showing the process of “cutting off” the meat, providing just enough horror without being too horrifying. While this movie includes dark material that definitely grossed me out more than a few times, the movie has a lighthearted tone that allows for laughter throughout the movie. The movie kept my attention, and managed to keep me on the edge of my seat worrying about the fate of Noa, her friend Mollie, and the other female prisoner that talks to Noa through the vents. Daisy Edgar Jones’ acting makes it hard to tell if her character is pretending to like Steve and cannibalism in order to escape, or if she is actually becoming interested in the diet. She eats the “meat” right along with Steve, until she gains her moment to attack and bites off one of his most precious body parts, a very satisfying scene after he takes away her butt. All-in-all, “Fresh” is an enjoyable movie for those who can stomach the subject matter. It doesn’t take itself too seriously and provides a new take on the horrors of online dating. The movie creates its own plot unlike many in the genre, while still including classic horror movie tropes that we all love.
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Opinion Street
ARE YOU VOTING IN THE UPCOMING SGA ELECTIONS?
NAVNEET JASWAL
Sophomore, pre-med “I was not aware that there was voting in the SGA. I am not really involved in the Wichita State student government. Which is probably why I did not know the things they do or do not do.”
ANIKET BHAKTA
Sophomore, marketing
“Yes, I will be voting for the upcoming election because I feel like there can be a change that can probably make this campus even better than it was before. I think that is one of the main reasons why I will be voting.”
MARISSA WINE GARNER Freshman, biology
“I think I will try to vote, once I know about who is running. It has something to do with the school and I would like to have my voice so I am not clueless about who is running what in the school. ”
HAVE AN OPINION?
contact The Sunflower’s opinion editor, Emmie Boese opinion@thesunflower.com
Now’s the time. Vote The time is here. SGA elections are next week. And it’s important for you to vote. While there will be only one ticket on the ballot for president and vice president, two other tickets have declared themselves write-in candidates. With three tickets running for these positions, it’s even more important for students to pay attention and vote. Last year, 5.9% of students voted. The year before — which was the last election with more than one declared candidate for president and vice president — 8.4% of students voted, that is only 1,079 of the 12,837 eligible voters. Olivia Gallegos and Mitchell Adamson are the only declared candidates for the 65th session. The write-in tickets are Hunter Minette and Annie Wasinger, and
STAFF
EDITORIAL William Shropshire and Zane Berry. The ballot also includes college-specific, at-large, and special constituency senator spots. You might think that it doesn’t matter who holds offices in the Student Government Association. We would disagree with you. Every student has to pay student fees money to the university and SGA is responsible for allocating this money to WSU’s different organizations, departments and student scholarships. They decide where your money goes. The SGA president and other SGA members have the job of sharing students’
concerns with the people who can make the real changes. It’s not just important to vote. It is also important to research candidates’ platforms and what they stand for. What are they going to be advocating for during their time as president and vice-president? Before you decide who to vote for, be able to answer that question. These are people who are supposed to be fighting for you. It’s your job to vote for the candidates you best believe would represent the entire student body. SGA officials don’t get to choose who the next president and vice president is. You do. Don’t take that opportunity for granted. Don’t vote? Then don’t complain. Make your voice heard and submit your ballot on April 4-6.
Participating in activites outside of your normal hobbies can be beneficial Emmie Boese Opinion editor
opinion@thesunflower. com
Hobbies are a great way to relax and kick back from the stress of everyday life. It can help improve your mental health or even help give you a creative boost when it comes time to work on your homework or at your job. This is especially true for me during my time as a student journalist. Hobbies sometimes start from personal interest. Some of my personal interests include music, sports, writing and coloring. This has led me to start hobbies like journaling, collecting records, watching sports for fun and coloring in complex coloring books. However, recently I have discovered that trying a hobby outside of your comfort zone can be beneficial to your overall
wellbeing. Coloring between the lines is something that is not very challenging for many. However, anything more difficult in the realm of art is challenging for me. Drawing is difficult, painting is difficult and crafting is difficult. I’ve always found it challenging to look at artwork and sculptures because, to be honest, I never really understood the concept behind it or the meaning. However, allowing myself to appreciate art and having a new hobby in appreciating artwork at museums and through others personal drawings, my mind has made my creativity blossom. It has helped me learn where others come from, their personal passions and why they think the way they do. At the Wichita Art Museum, there is a collection of paintings that show a simplistic lifestyle. The artist seemed to make it known that life can be enjoyed living simplistically. This collection helped me continue to shape
Illustration by Wren Johnson / The Sunflower
my personal perception that life does need to be materialistic. Materialistic items and money can be beneficial, but what really matters is my spiritual life, love for my family and friends and kindness. That is really all that matters in life. Next time you find yourself getting bored with your current hobbies or just bored with your life in general, push yourself out
of your comfort zone. You can always go back to practicing your normal hobbies. Push yourself to pick up a book and start reading, even if you do enjoy watching movies more. Push yourself to go to that yoga class when you would rather spend your nights partying it up with friends. Gaining knowledge and practicing self growth can be enjoyable.
Black representation in our courts matter TIM HENRIQUES
Freshman, engineering “I will be voting in the SGA election because I have had a couple of speakers come by the frat house that I am involved in. They gave their speeches about why they are running and it has gotten me interested to vote for them.”
LUIS RAMIREZ
Senior, pre-nursing “If I knew what it was about, then I probably would vote, but I will probably not because I do not know what is going on.”
Allison Campbell Columnist
campbellnallison@gmail. com
After hours of intense questioning, plenty of racial tension and deliberation over her character, the final round of confirmation hearings are complete for Supreme Court Justice nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. Brown Jackson will make history not only as the 116th justice to be confirmed but also as the first Black woman to hold a position in America’s highest court. Brown Jackson, a democrat nominated by President Joe Biden, will serve as a symbol and role model to Black women across the nation. Jackson also received a bi-partisan vote in the senate. But what will her confirmation mean for us and what makes her
Opinion LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and must be fewer than 400 words. Letters may be edited for accuracy, clarity and length. Please include your name, WSU affiliation and a phone number for verification purposes. To submit letters, email opinion@thesunflower.com or submit at www.thesunflower.com. The opinions expressed in The Sunflower editorials, columns, guest columns, reviews, advertisements, letters and editorial cartoons are not necessarily those of the staff, publications board, student body or the university. The Sunflower reserves the right to edit or reject any submission. We also reserve the right to edit or reject any advertisement.
nomination so important?
“Brown Jackson’s background, experience and fresh perspective will bring a welcoming and much needed change to the mostly white Supreme Court. Her perspective will bring representation that will act in the benefit of those struggling most in our nation.” Brown Jackson is one of the most qualified justices to be confirmed in recent American history. Out of the nine current Supreme Court Justices, Brown Jackson is the only to have attended an Ivy League Law School, serve as a Supreme Court clerk, serve on a
sentencing commission, serve as a district and Court of Appeals judge and is the only of the nine justices to have served as a public defender according to the Washington Post. Her numerous years of experience in serving the people makes her an ideal candidate and a fair interpreter of the law. Compared to her soon-to-be peers, Brown Jackson is one of two other justices to have attended public high school. Growing up in the public school system gives her a broad perspective of how a majority of our nation has grown up. She is also the mother of two young women who are now in high school and college, respectively, giving her insight and insider information on what it’s like to be a struggling young adult in America. Aside from being the first Black woman to be nominated for a position, Brown Jackson is only the third African American
to be nominated to the Supreme Court. After the election of Kamala Harris as the first ever Black vice president, the United States has made great strides in ending the gatekeeping that once — and still — surrounds positions of power. Brown Jackson’s background, experience and fresh perspective will bring a welcoming and much needed change to the mostly white Supreme Court. Her perspective will bring representation that will act in the benefit of those struggling most in our nation. She will not only advocate for minorities but also provide “independence and neutrality”, as well as decisions made without “fear or favor” as stated on the first day of her hearing, according to NPR. I have no doubt that her impartiality, respectful yet firm nature and extensive experience will make Brown Jackson a fantastic addition to the Supreme Court.
STUDENT OPINION OF THE WEEK SARAH TOMTSCHIK SENIOR, FORENSIC SCIENCE Q: How effective is WSU’s academic advising? A: “I think it is a good option to have because I tend to overschedule myself. Sometimes I feel like I should go to advising but I don’t because I hate making appointments. I feel like it is useful especially when you want someone else’s opinion when going into a certain career path. They can probably help a lot with that since they have a lot of experience.”