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Shockers’ baseball team wins against the Cougars.

Editor in Chief Lindsay Smith shares how student journalism changed her life.

Wichita State student finds joy in filmmaking.

WICHITA STATE’S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1896 MONDAY

Volume 125

www.thesunflower.com

March 1, 2021

Issue 17

ISAAC BROWN PROMOTED TO HEAD BASKETBALL COACH BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @Theseanmarty

Interim coach no more. Isaac Brown will be dropping his interim title and will be taking over as full-time head men’s basketball coach, the program announced in a release on Friday. Brown— who will become the program’s 26th full-time head coach— has agreed to a five-year deal.The deal is worth $6 million, according to ESPN’s Rece Davis. Brown will become the first African American head coach in program history and the first to ever lead a Division-I program in Kansas. Brown took over in the interim role on Nov. 18 following Gregg

Marshall’s resignation and has led the Shockers 13-4 start. WSU currently sits in first place in the American Athletic Conference. “I’m just so proud of these guys,” Isaac Brown said following the win over No. 6 Houston. “You know, when everything when I first got this job, we told these kids, just trust us and we’re going to give them 110% every day, and all those guys trust the process. And they just basically stepped up and just doing tremendous on the court, off the court, and in the classroom.” Director of Athletics Darron Boatright said earlier this month that given the team’s early season success under Brown on an interim basis, he would have the opportunity to earn the full-time position.

“He’s doing a fantastic job and will get every consideration for the opportunity to lead this program on a permanent basis,” he said. Throughout the season, players have been open about their support for Brown, even saying that he’s brought new swagger and confidence to the program. On Thursday, Brown led the Shockers to the first home victory over a top-six team in the country since 1967 with a 68-63 victory over No. 6 Houston. “We also had energetic moments in the locker room too but this team is a lot more of a family,” sophomore guard Tyson Etienne said. “I think all of us are

PHOTO BY KAYLEE STOUT / THE SUNFLOWER

Isaac Brown stands on the sidelines during Wichita State’s matchup against Oral Roberts University at Charles Koch Arena on Dec. 2, 2020.

SEE COACH PAGE 4

MONEY TRANSFER Student Government Association transfers $507.2k from Student Health Services to Rhatigan Student Center Debt Service BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_KSmith

he Student Government Association passed a bill that transfers $507,284 from Student Health Services to the Rhatigan Student Center Debt Service. The bill was originally just referred to the committee but was deemed timely and voted on during its first read Wednesday. “Because of low interest rates, the University refinanced the RSC renovation debt, which affected the timing of the debt schedule and lowered the overall amount of interest the University will pay,” the bill stated. “However, the refinance required an increased payment for FY21, the current fiscal year, in the amount of $507,284.” The money was initially given to Student Health Services by SGA before they received money through

the CARES act. Using the money to cover the debt will prevent having to come up with the balance through student fees. “After they got the CARES act money, they used that money first so the money that we gave them is basically unused, and is still being unused right now,” SGA Treasurer Zachary James said. James said after realizing that that money would remain unused for the foreseeable future, he began to have conversations regarding where that money would be useful the most. “We all came to the agreement that basically transferring this money to cover RSC debt would be great in the long run,” James said. “This is something that student health services knows about and are okay about. “This is money that SGA did approve, so it’s essentially our money we’re just taking it back and

editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_ KSmith

Roughly six months after former President Jay Golden unexpectedly resigned in September, the presidential search committee is in the process of collecting resumes before they begin the interview process for the next president. “We’re just collecting resumes, we’ve placed ads all around the country in higher ed publications and we’re getting quite a bit of interest,” Peare said. Applications for the position are due March 8 and the committee members will meet on March

16 to go through the resumes together. Ten to 12 applicants will then be selected for Zoom job interviews. From there, three to five candidates’ names will be sent to the Kansas Board of Regents who will ultimately make the final decision in May. Campus community members gathered last month in three different presidential forums to share with the committee what they hope to see in a future president. Diversity was given special attention in those forums. Search Committee Chair Dan Peare said that the committee has a dedication to keeping diversity in the conversation. “We are very intentional about

SEE PRESIDENT PAGE 2

SEE SAS PAGE 2

ZACHARY JAMES SGA Treasurer

putting it somewhere else.” Speaker of the Senate Olivia Babin clarified that the money transfer would not affect the Student Health Center’s overall budget. “This is not a cut to student health services, it’s only taking unused money that is sitting in reserves and putting it towards the RSC debt service,” Babin said. The bill passed with 37 in favor and 0 against.

/ The Sunflower

@sunflowernews

DAN PEARE Search Committee Chair

putting the committee together to include everyone, and I think we have a very, very well represented committee that is going to make sure that diversity is in every conversation, every selection, and make sure it is given its proper

@thesunflowernews

copyeditor@thesunflower.com / @JuliaNightengale

due,” Peare said. Peare said that the committee is dedicated to finding a president who fits in with the attributes put in the president profile. “If you go through and look at those eight attributes, you’ll have a pretty clear picture of what we’re looking for,” Peare said. The attributes in the committee’s presidential profile are: strong character, proven leader, visionary, fundraiser, communicator, economic driver, visible presence, and passion for higher education. The last presidential profile that led to Golden’s hiring had 43

“This is money that SGA did approve, sp it’s essentially our money, we’re just taking it back and putting it somewhere else.”

“I think we have a very, very well represented committee that is going to make sure that diversity is in every conversation.”

BY JULIA NIGHTENGALE

Becoming a college student is a daunting task—figuring out everything you need to be prepared and finding someone who can help you is a daunting task. The Student Ambassador Society at WSU aims to be that resource and help for new and incoming students. “Initially, the reason why I joined was because ... the work that they do is really helpful to people moving into the college process,” Ivan Castillo, president of SAS said. “Being a first generation student, being a student of color, that’s really hard and if you do have people around you, they are still kinda navigating and at the same time you don’t really have the resources … being able to provide my insight, tips and tricks to help someone so they don’t have to make the same mistakes I did.” Depending on what position a member holds, their day to day work for the position looks a little different. All positions are volunteer, and there are about 100 students involved with the organization at different levels. Castillo said he starts his week off communicating with executive members and his advisor, to see what they are working on and that everything is in order. Every other Tuesday evening, they hold virtual meetings for general counsel members to keep them updated on events and info and give them the resources and training that they need. “For me, being a Student Ambassador at WSU means not only sharing your Shocker story but making people excited about higher education,” Castillo said. “I don’t expect members to sell a perfect image of WSU ... At the end of the day, we want to touch the lives of students and show them that higher education is an option for them, regardless if they come here.” Vice President of Marketing Kaelyn Hannah said she dedicated about 10-15 hours a week to her position. In her day to day, she

Peare: Diversity will be given ‘particular attention’ in search for next president BY LINDSAY SMITH

Student Ambassador Society sticks to its mission of inspiring incoming students amidst COVID-19

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NEWS

Student Ambassadors Society and Admissions raise money for access to academic resources BY EMMIE BOESE @EmmieBoese

The Student Ambassadors Society and the Wichita State admissions office are teaming up to support the United Way of the Plains Fight4Literacy campaign— a campaign that will raise funds for students to access books, tutoring, and other academic resources. Student Ambassadors Society President Ivan Castillo said the importance of this campaign is to give back to students in the Wichita area, and to make sure they are equipped with a quality education for the future. “The main motivation behind it is that literacy really opens up the door for a lot of students, and so really starting them early with reading, and making sure they are at level really helps them be successful later on,” Castillo said. This campaign first started when Assistant Vice President

and Director of undergraduate admissions Bobby Gandu reached out to the Student Ambassadors Society about having members participate individually. However, Castillo said that they decided as a group to help with the campaign. Castillo also mentioned that due to the COVID -19 pandemic, this cause makes it to where both groups can do a service project safely. “We just started doing service projects in our organization,” Castillo said. “The office of admissions which we are under was going to be a part of the Fight4Literacy campaign. Bobby Gandu,which [who] is the director of admissions came to our group and said “hey if you guys want to participate individually you can.” “Then we just made a big call to the executive team team to SAS [Student Ambassadors Association] to raise funds.” Castillo said that he can

relate to a personal academic experience when it comes to the importance of this campaign to him. “To me it’s important because I personally went to a school here in Wichita that predominantly caters to minority students, so I know how important literacy is,” Castillo said. “I went to a bilingual K-8 so reading was something that was very pushed on us so I know the tremendous work that literacy can do for students. “I know like first - hand if you do not have those resources, it’s going to be hard to catch up. That is something that is really important to me. Providing resources for students so they can be successful.” The Student Ambassadors Society will be taking donations for this campaign until March 5th.

This week’s weather in brief

SCREENSHOT

Student Government Association passed a resolution in support of higher education funding.

SGA passes resolution in support of higher ed funding BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_ KSmith

In light of the Kansas governor’s proposed $42 million cut from KBOR universities, Wichita State Student Government Association passed a resolution Wednesday in support of higher education funding. “Upon review of the Governor’s proposed budget, we firmly believe the proposed … cut to higher education funding from the prior fiscal year further places an unfair economic burden onto the students of Kansas Board of Regents institutions, worsening

the already detrimental economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the resolution reads. The proposed budget would cut $4.5 million from WSU specifically, Senator Ella Perkins said. The resolution encourages the state legislature to restore higher education funding to the same budget it had in the previous fiscal year, urging representatives to “commit to the lowering of tuition and related costs to attend KBOR institutions.” Every KBOR university SGA passed the same resolution. The resolution passed with 38 in favor and 0 against.

WWW.THESUNFLOWER.COM FROM PRESIDENT PAGE 1

ILLUSTRATION BY THY VO

Source: iPhone weather app

FROM SAS PAGE 1

checks on events through an app to see what positions need to be filled, plans out what content will be posted and when, works on graphics, and works with her advisor on feature ideas for social media campaigns. “I feel like I am giving a voice to people who haven’t found their voice yet,” she said. “I was super shy and reserved in high school, and looking back on everything that i’ve accomplished, if I was still in high school I never would have dreamed that I would be so outspoken, taking on leadership roles and all that ... Lean into that discomfort and be brave and take those first steps.” Lucy Schneider serves as the outreach chair, and is in charge of promoting SAS to outside resources. One of the main things she is in charge of is wichita.edu/askashocker, a resource given to prospective students where they can chat with ambassadors about any questions they may have. Six ambassadors are selected every month, from a variety of majors and backgrounds to help answer questions. “Honestly, the student ambassadors are the reason I joined Wichita State, just seeing the leadership opportunities that I could have, and the opportunities to network and then provide that same experience that I got as an incoming student,” Schneider said. “It’s a great way to give

The Sunflower, founded in 1896, is the student-run newspaper covering Wichita State University. The print edition is published Monday during the fall and spring semesters. The staff publishes daily online at www.thesunflower.com.

MISSION The Sunflower — both in print and online — will be a timely resource of information about the Wichita State University community. It will report on news, issues, activities, academics and athletics, in addition to offering a forum for discussion, reviews and commentary. It will also be an effective learning experience for students, who will have the final authority over what is published.

LEGAL One free copy of The Sunflower is available to members of the WSU community. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 in the newsroom, Elliott Hall 019. The Sunflower is private property and unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable. The Sunflower is funded by a combination of print and online advertisment sales and student fees allocated by the Student Government Association. The Sunflower is a member of Kansas Collegiate Media, the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association. Copyright © 2021 The Sunflower. This newspaper, its design and its contents are copyrighted.

attributes, 35 more than the current one. Peare said that change was intentional. “There were so many attributes, there were so many characteristics that you almost got lost in it, you didn’t know what was most important,” Peare said. “So we thought, that’s almost impossible to find someone who will fulfill 43 attributes. What we need to do is concentrate on what is most important.”

back to the college I have grown to love.” SAS works under the Office of Admissions, and due to COVID-19, have had to move many of their events to a virtual format. Some of the events that SAS is a part of include Black and Yellow Day, helping to pick nominees for the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational, and hosting the annual Universal Leadership conference for high school students to learn leadership skills. “I think we’ve had more events during COVID19 virtually, of course, then we had in person and I think it’s great because it allows people who weren’t able to travel to see WSU, they can still get the atmosphere and vibes from their home, it allows more people to see what we have to offer,” Hannah said. Many of the in-person events that SAS hosts have been impacted by COVID-19. Castillo said that they haven’t been able to do Discover WSU events where they travel to another city to recruit students. They also haven’t been able to do a senior send-off for seniors that are graduating. “We have had to kinda thrust ourselves into the digital world and see how we are going to engage with student’s virtually,” Castillo said. “A lot of people don’t want to do zoom calls, because people experience zoom fatigue, so how do you connect with students? It’s been really hard to keep making those genuine connections with people because that is really the basis of the work

that we do.” As the Office of Admissions begins to host small in-person events in the spring semester, SAS ambassadors will have the choice to participate in events virtually or in-person. Applications to join SAS will open on March 1st and close April 1st. Students can be nominated by a professor, peer, or other SAS member and find the application at wichita.edu/sasapply. “We like those students who are the first to raise their hand and aren’t afraid to volunteer,” Schneider said. “This isn’t a paid role, so you are volunteering your time and love to the university ... We have to work as a team for the common good for helping prospective students.” Castillo said that any kind of student can join SAS, in order to provide resources to students with different backgrounds. Student Ambassadors should also be willing to share their experience and be a helpful aid and mentor for students. “The main thing we want to focus on is storytelling,” Castillo said. “Any student that’s ambitious, any student who wants to share their story. Be an advocate and a support system for students. We like to say that our group is one of the first faces that students see at WSU. “We want to inspire people to think about college and higher education.”

EDITOR IN CHIEF Lindsay Smith editor@thesunflower.com

COPY EDITOR Julia Nightengale copyeditor@thesunflower.com

OPINION EDITOR Audrey Korte opinion@thesunflower.com

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SPORTS EDITOR Sean Marty sports@thesunflower.com

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Corrections

The Sunflower is committed to accuracy in its publications. If you find an error in any of its publications, please email the editor at editor@thesunflower.com immediately.

MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 | 3

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Sports

HAVE A STORY IDEA? contact The Sunflower’s sports editor, Sean Marty sports@thesunflower.com

How the Shockers are dealing with a week without games BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com/@TheSeanMarty

Ever since WSU’s historic victory against Houston last Thursday, they haven’t played a game. This week, the Shockers had both games against Southern Methodist postponed due to the Mustangs’ continued pause from COVID-19. With the games both postponed the Shockers have now had nine games postponed since the start of conference play. Even with that high number of postponements, none have stemmed from WSU. The Shockers’ season started with COVID-19 issues which resulted in them not being able to participate in the Crossover Classic. Since then, WSU has been diligent in their precautions and as a result, haven’t been affected by it since. Head Coach Isaac Brown said that he’s just trying to keep the team focused even with the lack of games. “You know, it’s something you can’t control,” Brown said. “I feel sorry for all the teams that had to cancel for COVID. We went through the same situation. So when things like this happen, it’s out of our control. All we can do is just not take a setback, continue to get better and just control what we can control. We’ve got to stay sharp. We’ve got to stay in tip-top shape and just got to keep getting better.” WSU currently sits on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament and those two games against SMU were crucial in improving their resume. Throughout the week, Brown was hopeful to schedule a non conference game with those postponements to replace those games against the Mustangs. Brown said he called around to other schools but the sides could never come together on an agreement. “We called a couple of Big East schools, a school in the SEC, trying to get games, a team in the Mountain West,” Brown said. “We weren’t able to do that. So we’ll continue to look for a game for Saturday. I don’t think it’ll happen,

PHOTO BY KHANH NGUYEN/ THE SUNFLOWER

Wichita State sophomore Tyson Etienne talks to a staff member during the game against Houston at Charles Koch Arena on Feb. 18.

but we’ll continue to practice and try to get better and just keep these guys focused for the next two or three games of the season.” Even with the urgency for WSU to find a game this week, nothing worked out for WSU to secure games this week. Brown said that it was necessary for WSU to secure a game this week especially with the team being fully healthy heading into this crucial part of the season. “They’ll say they need a game and then it comes down to who wants to travel,” Brown said. “Some of the teams want to play, but they feel like they may need to play a team with a higher NET ranking. Some teams want to play, but they may not get the game on a date that we want. I’m just trying to find games. We need a game this week. That would be great. I don’t want these guys to get rusty or have to sit out an entire week before we play our next game.” With the postponements, Brown has regularly used scrimmages to help replicate games that WSU is missing. But more recently, Brown said that he is trying to cut the practice times down to help keep the team sharp. “I’ve been trying to do a better job of cutting our practices, making them really short, an hour to an hour and 15 minutes, where we get a lot of scrimmage and then

we get a lot of up and down in,” Brown said, “But I think it hurts you at times, but we don’t want to have any setbacks. We have a lot to lose. So I told the guys, no matter what the situation is, we’ve got to continue to be sharp. We’ve got to continue to get better. And we’ve got to continue to take care of ourselves off the court.” Brown said that he has started to use the talk of championships in hopes of keeping his team motivated despite the lack of games. “I’m starting to mention championships a lot more because I know what is at stake now,” Brown said. “And I just want to make sure these guys are prepared and ready to come to practice with a lot of energy. Because we’ve got two games left in the season. And again, we just have to stay sharp because we have a lot on the line.” Pending more postponements, the Shockers will next be in action against Tulane on Wednesday. By the time WSU next takes the court it will be after a 13-day layoff. The Shockers regular season finale looks to be in jeopardy now as well, with Temple going on pause as recently as Saturday. This could prove costly for WSU’s hopes in winning the conference title as if WSU plays no games next week and Houston wins both games, the Cougars would end up winning the conference by winning percentage. GRAPHIC BY KAYLEE STOUT/ THE SUNFLOWER

FROM COACH PAGE 1

truly there for each other, want to see each other win on and off the court. It doesn’t just come down to if you’re scoring or not. I think everybody’s there for each other in all aspects of life.” Even after Marshall’s resignation, no players transferred out of the program. Throughout the process, the team has backed Brown which has been key to the team’s success. Sophomore Tyson Etienne has been vocal in his support for Brown throughout the season and was firm in his committment to WSU during the offseason. “I never doubted it, I said that from day one,” Etienne said. “When everyone was transferring and it seemed like the world was falling, I stayed solid in my decision and it’s for reasons like this. I knew what we had even though we lost Coach Marshall, I knew what we still could do. Just because Coach Marshall left doesn’t mean the talent left with him.” Throughout 15 games, Brown was tied for the second best start by a Shocker head coach in his first season since 1945. Even with the adversity the program has faced this season, Brown has WSU poised to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018. Brown will be formally announced as the team’s next head coach on Monday.

Why WSU made the right decision to hire Isaac Brown Sean Marty Sports Editor sports@thesunflower.com

When Isaac Brown was hired on as the team’s interim head coach, he could’ve really taken the chance to prove himself as the best option. Instead of that, Brown was focused on making sure the players were prepared for the upcoming season. On Friday, WSU announced that they would be removing the interim tag off of Brown and that both sides had agreed to a five-year deal. “I’ve just been trying to focus on practice and making sure we’re going hard and making sure we’re organized, making sure we’re prepared, watching film,” Brown said after he was announced as Interim Head Coach. “Meeting with the players, making sure everyone’s good in the classroom and the basketball court. So, it really hasn’t hit me yet. I’ve just been so tied up with the entire staff on just making sure these guys are good on the practice court and off the court.”

Throughout this season, Brown has put an emphasis on the players and making sure they were doing well on and off the court. By putting the players first throughout the season, it shows how Brown truly does care about each and every player on the roster. As a result, the players have returned the favor and shown their support for him. Players like sophomore Tyson Etienne have noticed how much of an impact Brown has had on the team’s success and that was reflected on Friday. “I think he’s done a great job of, you know, staying true to us and believing in us, even when stuff might not be going the best way during the game, he never gives up on us and he continues to give us positive reinforcement,” Etienne said. “I think that’s something that’s huge, especially that we got so many young guys and new guys, you know, we need to know that our coach is rocking with us. And he’s done a great job at that.” Even directly after the announcement, Brown was quick to recognize the players in allowing him to receive the promotion. This once again truly shows how unselfish Brown and how all he

wants is for the players to succeed on and off the court. “No of this would’ve been possible without you guy,” Brown said in a video posted to social media. “It’s not about the wins and the losses, it’s more about you guys being good people and doing what you’re supposed to on and off the court, the way you carry yourselves.” So although Brown might not have been the flashy hire the athletic department was hoping for after that resignation of Gregg Marshall but Brown deserves it. He’s treated these players with respect and care throughout this season which should mean something. Brown has instilled a new culture that’s allowed these players to come together as a family. Even though Brown doesn’t have the experience that some head coaches have, the team’s performance under him is important. The way the players have rallied around their coach and shown support for him in this crazy season is why Brown deserves to be the next coach to lead this program.

AAC STANDINGS 1. Wichita State 13-4 (9-2) 2. Houston 19-3 (12-3) 3. Memphis 13-6 (9-3) 4. SMU 11-4 (7-4) 5. Cincinnati 9-8 (7-5) 6. Tulsa 10-10 (7-8) 7. Central Florida 8-11 (6-10) 8. South Florida 8-9 (4-7) 9. Temple 5-10 (4-10) 10. Tulane 9-11 (4-11) 11. East Carolina 8-8 (2-8)

SPORTS

MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 | 5

On Wednesdays they wear

PINK

PHOTO BY KHANH NGUYEN/ THE SUNFLOWER

Wichita State sophomore Kayce Litzau sets the ball during the game against SMU at Charles Koch Arena on Feb. 27.

Volleyball splits a pair of matches against SMU BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com

PHOTO BY SEAN MARTY/ THE SUNFLOWER

Senior Mariah McCully attempts a layup during WSU’s game against Houston on Feb. 24 inside Charles Koch Arena.

Shockers drop fifth straight game BY JOE BAKER joebakerwsu@gmail.com/@JoeBakerWSU

The Houston Cougars complete the season sweep over the Shocker women’s basketball team on Wednesday night, defeating Wichita State 77-65. Houston last beat Wichita State on Dec. 30 at the Fertitta Center 79-65. Wichita State led 60-57 with 5:28 remaining in the contest, however the Cougars would go on a 22-5 run in the final minutes to seal their 11th victory in American Athletic Conference play. The game featured 11 lead changes. Houston had five scorers with double figures for the contest. Redshirt sophomore guard Miya Crump led the way for the Cougars with 16 points and five rebounds. Senior guard Mariah McCully scored 19 points and shot a perfect nine-of-nine from the free throw

line. Asia Strong and DJ McCarty both nearly had double-double performances in the loss. Strong finished the night with 15 points and eight rebounds, McCarty finished with 12 points and nine boards. The Shockers shot 34.4% from the floor in the loss against Houston. Wichita State shot a dismal two-of-17 (11.8%) from threepoint land. The game was also WSU’s annual Play4Kay game in which they wear pink uniforms to honor female cancer victims. Wichita State is currently on a five-game losing streak. The Shockers have a 4-11 overall record and a 1-9 record in American Athletic Conference play. Next up for the Shockers is their regular season finale against Tulsa on Tuesday at 6 p.m on ESPN+.

For the first time all season, the Wichita State volleyball team hosted a pair of conference matches. This weekend, they hosted a pair of matches against division-favorite Southern Methodist and split the two matchups. On Friday, the Shockers defeated the Mustangs in four sets, which extended their winning streak to eight games. The set scores were 22-25, 25-18, 25-19 and 25-19. The match was also WSU’s annual Pink Match for Breast Cancer awareness and wore pink bows throughout the game. Megan Taflinger led the way offensively in the victory as she posted a double-double with 12 kills and 11 digs. Brooke Smith also contributed a career-high nine block assists in the win. Sophomore Sina Uluave led the way on the defensive end with a match-high 21 digs. Senior McKayla Wuensch also contributed 25 assists. For the match, the Shockers outhit the Mustangs in the match, .224 to .107. WSU also bested SMU in kills (50-46), assists (50-38), aces (8-6), digs (67-62) and blocks (14-10).

After taking an early twoset advantage against SMU on Saturday, WSU struggled to close out the match as SMU ultimately forced a fifth set. The Mustangs completed the comeback, winning the pivotal set by a score of 16-14. This loss for the Shockers marked their first of the season and snapped an eight-game winning streak. From an offensive standpoint, Sophia Rohling led the way with a team-high 18 kills along with a hitting percentage of .417. Taflinger also tallied her second double-double of the weekend with 13 kills and 14 digs. Wuensch also collected a double-double with 21 assists and 16 digs. Uluave once again led the way on the defensive, picking up a team-high 23 digs. Kayce Litzau also led the Shockers with 28 assists. Head Coach Chris Lamb said despite the disappointing loss on Saturday, that he was pleased with the performance this weekend. “Everybody we’ve played outside of Oral Roberts, I thought it was a match that could go either way so we were able to do a lot with that first match or so. I don’t think I’m surprised that we are where we are.”

Lamb said that the team can still find ways to learn from the loss and improve moving forward. “It’s not like we folded up the tent, we battled. A couple balls go a different way, we’re in here cheering. We’ve got a lot to be proud of, obviously some things to work on but it’s always that way. The Shockers need to get better in some places, some of them were known, some of them were exposed. This is what I expect, to have issues figure it out, solve it and have our athletes work hard to get better.” Lamb said that as the team prepares for next week’s matches, he sees the lineups becoming more solidified. “This might be a week of us really defining some things and seeing who’s separating themselves from the pack in terms of lineups and adjustments because prior to this weekend, we were a little more in and out with bodies. This weekend had more of a secured look to it and we may be there. If so, that group may spend more time together as we train.” WSU will next be in action on Friday as they host Memphis for at 7 p.m. inside Charles Koch Arena.

Shockers win first series of the year BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com/@TheSeanMarty

PHOTOS BY KAYLEE STOUT/ THE SUNFLOWER

Top: Wichita State senior, Preston Snavely throws a pitch during a game at Eck Stadium on Feb. 28. Bottom: Wichita State sophomore, Jack Sigrist catches the ball during a game at Eck stadium on Feb. 28.

Wichita State picked up its first series win of the season this weekend, winning two out of the three games against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. The Shockers defeated the Cougars 10-4 in game one of the series on Friday. Junior Paxton Wallace led the way in a historic performance, where he became the first Shocker to drive in seven runs since Johnny Coy in 2012. Sophomore David VanVooren also had a career day at the plate, collecting a career-high three hits in four plate appearances. WSU dropped its lone game of the series on Saturday, falling to SIUE by a score of 9-7. The Cougars used a late ninth-inning rally to take a two-run lead but WSU was unable to counter with a response of their own. Garrett Kocis led the team offensively in the loss, collecting two home runs and three RBIs. In the rubber match of the series, the Shockers picked up the series victory by a score of 7-5. Three different Shockers tallied two RBIs in the victory, with Wallace, Kocis and VanVooren all reaching that benchmark. Tommy Barnhouse inherited two runners in the ninth inning but he was able to pick up the final two outs to secure the victory. Head Coach Eric Wedge said

“We just wanted to set the tone early and I think we did that with the bats, scoring in the first three innings. We set the tone early.” PAXTON WALLACE Junior

that after the disappointing loss on Saturday he was pleased with the response on Sunday. “Especially after coming off a tough loss last night, for the guys to come out and play the way that they did,” Wedge said.” We’ve just got to do a better job of making plays, we’re not making plays like we need to. We’ve got to do a better job of pitching from two strikes from a pitching standpoint and just putting hitters away.” The Shockers’ pitching staff struggled throughout the weekend, allowing 15 earned runs across the three games, which was good enough for a 5.00 ERA in the series. Early on in the season, the starting pitching hasn’t gotten too deep into the games, which has made WSU rely more on its bullpen. Liam Eddy had the longest start of the series, in which he went six innings while also allowing four

runs. Spencer Hynes also had a solid start, as he went five innings while only allowing two earned runs. Wallace said setting the tone with the bats was a focus following Saturday’s loss. “We just wanted to set the tone early and I think we did that with the bats, scoring in the first three innings,” Wallace said. ”We set the tone early and they had a little comeback in the middle but Tommy closed the door for us in the end.” Last season, Wallace was out due to a back injury and was unable to suit up in the abbreviated season. This weekend, Wallace went 8-13 (.615 batting average) at the plate while also driving in 11 runs. “I was unable to play from the start of the season around January and I could’ve played in the summer but I just kept working out and staying healthy for the fall. It was a lot of work to get back to here but here we are now. Wallace said that he’s feeling the best he has in his career after recovering from his injury. “Being out for so long, now I’m feeling what it’s like to be back on the field with the guys, competing as a team, it doesn’t get any better.” The Shockers will be back in action Tuesday as they travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma to take on Oral Roberts. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at L.J. Johnson Stadium.

6 | MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021

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Opinion

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contact The Sunflower’s opinion editor, Audrey Korte opinion@thesunflower.com

FILE PHOTO BY MORGAN ANDERSON / THE SUNFLOWER

Editor in Chief for The Sunflower, Lindsay Smith, conducts an interview with the Governor of Kansas, Laura Kelly, on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020 inside the John Bardo Center.

Student journalism changed me. Lindsay Smith Editor-in-chief editor@thesunflower.com

Friday was Student Press Freedom Day, also known as the day us student journalists get to share stories and lessons they have learned through working at a student newspaper. As a sophomore, I’ve only been a student journalist for a little while now. Even though it’s been short, it’s been the most challenging, rewarding, and overall exceptional experience of my life— and it was pretty much forced upon me. Allow me to explain. At my WSU freshman orientation, I did not plan on applying for any jobs. I decided I was going to do all the required orientation activities, then go to the shift I had later that day at work. But in the last hour, my dad sent me a

text telling me I had to apply at the student newspaper. I didn’t want to. I wanted my freshman year to be solely focused on academics. Maybe next year, I thought. But my dad kept telling and telling me to, so I did. And that was the best decision of my life so far. Freshman year I spent a lot of my time on the newsroom couch in the corner of the room, not saying a word, and typing away at my computer. To this day, my fellow Sunflowers like to remind me of the shy little Lindsay who had very little to say. Now, a year later, that has drastically changed. As Sports Editor Sean Marty likes to say, I am now the girl who “never shuts up.” But I like to think my co-workers wouldn’t want it any other way. From covering a new university president, the resignation of that same president, a worldwide pandemic shutting down universities nationwide, and more, my two years as a journalist have been the

most rewarding years of my life. And I’m not even halfway done. I have stepped out of my comfort zone, came out of my shell, and have never been more excited to go to work every day. I have cried a lot of tears, lost a lot of sleep, and procrastinated on a lot of homework, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have built professional connections with many people in my field, been able to connect with fellow student journalists, and have gained my own newsroom family. At The Sunflower, not only do we work to inform the community about the stories that matter, but we also work to train and develop well-rounded journalists so that they’re prepared to go on to bigger and better things when they graduate. Support student newsrooms. Not only has it changed my life, but also the lives of countless individuals across the nation. Student journalism is important for the future.

No spring break? That’s okay. Plan your own. screen. This has led to a consuming feeling that we Audrey don’t have people. We don’t Korte get to know each other the Opinion editor same through ZOOM that opinion@thesunflower.com we would in a standard class and meeting environment. The Usually, this time of year is community and kindred spirit that chock full of vacation planning. naturally develops through in-perMarch break is a tradition; for son communications and regular some, it’s even a rite of passage. It’s visits are definitely lacking. a chance to go on a road trip to the So before you lose it, before mountains of Colorado, visit the you break under the pressure and beaches of South Texas or simply monotony of an entire semescatch up on some sleep and, dare I ter on ZOOM, why not plan a say, overdue schoolwork. mini-break? This year everything has been Now before you bust out your different. Because the semester credit card and start perusing didn’t begin until February 1, Airbnb’s, there are a few things to Wichita State is skipping the keep in mind. March break. The idea is that #1. The point of this mini-break having students stay around is rest, recovery and recuperation. campus instead of using the It is not to attend the party of the mid-semester break to travel will century. Those are fun but defeat decrease cases of COVID-19 on the purpose of us staying together campus. all semester to keep down the It’s smart and sensible to keep spread of COVID-19. students around and move those #2. Get yourself a COVID-19 test vacation days to the end of our winter break. I agree with the deci- through student health services before you hit the road. Do it a few sion and the thinking behind it. days before travel, so you actually However, that doesn’t mean I have the results before you leave don’t long for a March break. For many of us, this next month will be town. Make sure everyone you’re traveling with also gets tested! long and grey without the sun#3. Stay away from large gathershiney promise of some time off. ings of people. One or two “break Most of us are more isolated than ever -- with long days and eve- buddies” should give you a muchneeded connection to human nings spent in front of a computer

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.

beings and a feeling of freedom as you hit the road. Don’t go too big, however. #4. Plan ahead. Don’t just pick the cheapest place possible. Think about how to travel safely. AAA or your local travel agent can help you navigate how to travel safely in a pandemic. Use the experts -that’s what they are there for. #5. Stay on budget. This is especially important in the era through which we are living. You never know when you will lose a job or a family member will. If you get COVID-19, you don’t know how long you will be sick or how much time off you will need. Please don’t blow your life savings on one weekend just because you are stressed out #6. Remember there are lots of great places to visit that aren’t too far away. Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, St. Louis, Denver are all within driving distance. If you leave Thursday night or Friday morning and come back Sunday, you can easily enjoy a couple days at these locations. #7. While I support our airlines and the aviation industry, I would avoid airline travel unless you are actually willing to quarantine for 10 days afterward. Having been through quarantine and lengthy isolation, I wouldn’t recommend it. #8. Don’t forget state parks.

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State and national parks are super amazing, but they will probably be pretty chilly this time of year. If you’ve never been winter camping, I would suggest you spend a good chunk of time planning this kind of adventure. Ensure you have adequate gear and be flexible -- you don’t want to end up in the middle of nowhere in a blizzard if you can help it. #9. Everyone should pool their money at the beginning and split the costs of everything. I can’t tell you how many times the whole “I’ll pay you back” thing hasn’t worked out for me. It can ruin friendships, so have your crew

front the money or tell them they can sit this trip out. It will save you many arguments and much angst in the future. #10. Don’t forget that merely going on an adventure, driving around for a day with a camera, a cooler, a couple of blankets and a tent can lead you down many ‘roads less traveled.’ You don’t need a spreadsheet and itinerary to have fun. Hit the road at dawn and see where you end up. Just make sure you have a map and your GPS in case you get a little more lost than you bargained for.

SUNFLOWER HOT TAKES The Sunflower editorial board gives their one-sentence opinions.

Lindsay Smith: Jimmy John’s sandwiches are hard to eat. Kaylee Stout:: Cleaning out your car has a big effect on your mental health. Sean Marty: Mac keyboards suck. Tabitha Barr: Clothes with less amount of fabric should not be so expensive.

OPINION

MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021 | 7

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY AUDREY KORTE / THE SUNFLOWER

Keeping your face mask clean is an important part of self-care in 2021.

WASH YOUR NASTY FACE MASK. Audrey Korte Opinion editor opinion@thesunflower.com

Face masks have become a part of life in the past year. Love them or hate them, they’re here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future. There are lots of things to think about when picking out a mask. If you work with kids, you probably want something fun and colorful. If you’re trying to represent your school or state, then a mask with a mascot or state flag on it is perfect. Or maybe you want your mask to match your outfit. Regardless of what your mask looks like, it needs to be clean, and I’m guessing most people aren’t washing them as much as they should. I certainly don’t. But I’m trying

to make some changes now to keep those masks in good condition and prevent the spread of disease. Mostly, I’m on keeping them clean. I’m assuming most of you have more than one mask. If not, it might be time to buy another 1 or 2, depending on how often you’re leaving the house. There’s certainly no shortage of designs out there to choose from. When it comes to cleaning your masks, there are a few things to know. First, you should wash your mask after every time you go out in public. That means after every trip to the grocery store or pharmacy, after a day of classes, or after you’ve been in a meeting. The more people you come into contact with, the more critical it is. Lisa Maragakis, senior director of infection prevention at John Hopkins Medicine, recommends washing your mask after every

wear to prevent spreading COVID-19 or other diseases. HOW TO WASH YOUR FACE MASK Fabric masks can be washed with your other laundry. It’s probably best to use warm or hot water. If you’re washing by hand, make sure you use warm soapy water or a bleach solution to clean, and don’t forget to give them a good scrub for 20 to 30 seconds. Tumble dry your mask using high heat. This will help kill any germs that have accumulated on them. If you don’t have a dryer, then lay the mask out in a windowsill or on a clothesline where it will get some sun. This will help it dry faster. Remember, disposable or paper masks can’t be washed. Don’t re-use them if you can help it. As soon as they appear dirty or the straps get loose or break, it’s time to toss

them in the garbage. That’s why cloth masks are preferable -- reusable masks cause less damage to the environment. After you wash the mask, make sure you have clean hands when you go to fold it or store it. I keep my clean masks in a sealed freezer bag. Just make sure you only put freshly laundered masks in the bag to prevent cross-contamination. When it’s time to put your mask on, make sure your hands are clean. Stop by a sink and use soap and water or use a good hand sanitizer before picking up your mask and putting it on your face. We don’t know precisely how long viruses and bacteria can live on fabrics, but some experts feel it may be up to 8-12 hours on a cloth mask. The point is that you don’t want to carry a petri dish around on your face, so do yourself and the world a favor and wash your nasty mask.

ILLUSTRATION BY KAYLEE STOUT / THE SUNFLOWER

Kansas bill on trans athletes will lead to increased bullying in schools Julia Nightengale Copy editor copyeditor@thesunflower.com

A new bill called the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act" was proposed to the Kansas Senate this week. This bill would prevent transgender girls in K-12 and higher education from participating in girl's and women's sports. Supporters of the bill claim that it would keep competition and scholarships fair. No matter what your personal opinion is on the bill, no matter how it turns out, this will lead to increased bullying and harassment for trans students. Being a trans kid in Kansas is hard enough; identifying as trans will bring a lot of attention that is not always positive. Whether it's from a lack of understanding or from a place of anger, many people in our society are openly discriminatory toward trans people. Purposely excluding trans girls from participating in an extracurricular activity when they are already struggling to find their place in the school system and be accepted can have nothing but a negative impact. This bill not only supports discrimination but enforces it. If this bill is passed, we would be taking a step back as a society. If you are a supporter of this bill, I ask you to take a step back and step into the shoes of these young trans girls. Imagine all of the hardships they are already

facing in their lives; do you really want to add on another? Kansas is not alone in this: we are one of over 20 states considering legislation to ban trans students from participating in sports. This is not a battle that trans youth should have to face throughout their academic careers. It sends the message that there is something wrong with them, and that is just not true. Kids should not be forced to fight for their right to participate in extracurriculars. The fact that we are even having this conversation right now is disheartening to say the least. It is time that we stand up for trans youth. They deserve to have people standing in their corner, supporting them through a journey that is often quite isolating. They do not have to be alone in this fight. Many trans youth are not open about their identity yet, with anyone. This situation will be especially hard on them if they hear the people in their life supporting this bill. Who will they have to turn to? This bill will not only increase bullying but, unfortunately, may lead to increased self-harm. This is a complex situation that our society is just now facing. I urge that we do not repeat history and instead face reality and a new future of supporting LGBTQ+ youth. If you have any trans youth in your life, take the time to talk to them and ask how they are doing. Be there for them in this challenging time and make sure they feel supported and loved.

8 | MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021

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Arts & Entertainment

HAVE A STORY IDEA? contact The Sunflower’s A&E editor, Tabitha Barr arts@thesunflower.com

Student takes ‘big leap’ into filmmaking BY TABITHA BARR arts@thesunflower.com

Lights, camera, action! Media Arts students at Wichita State University create concepts and make them into a reality. Ciara Duarte is a senior majoring in media arts with a concentration in filmmaking. Her passion didn’t start until her last semester at Butler Community College when a teacher mentioned WSU’s new media program. When she joined, she didn’t exactly know where she was going, but she found something that she enjoys. Now that she is in her final semester of college, she has figured out what her passion is. “I love pre-production. I know the end goal of what I want to do . . . I love organizing and getting everything ready before shoots happen,” Duarte said. Planning the process of production isn’t a simple task. If pre-production isn’t planned correctly, the actual production can fall short. This is Duarte’s last semester in college, then she will take steps to make film her full-time career. “I think my goal is to stay in Wichita for a little bit . . get a little bit more experience,” she said. “Then go to Kansas City, get experience there.” Duarte said that one of the reasons she believes she will be successful in the career is because of her ability to take risks. “I know with filmmaking, with any kind of creative degree, you kinda just have to make a big leap,” she said. Duarte said she is open to failing, and will use those failures to shape her. “You just have to fail,” she said. “Because when you fail, it’s a big learning opportunity. I want to stick to my safety net, but there’s also a part of me that just wants to make a big leap to a big city and just fail

COURTESY OF CIARA DUARTE

Ciara Duarte adjusts levels on the board behind the scenes of a production.

and learn and just get better.” COVID-19 impacts the media and film industry drastically. Duarte herself has had to postpone a shoot because a crew member was still getting over COVID. “Not everything is going to be perfect, and I think that’s something huge that people need to know,” she said. “Even if the pandemic wasn’t going on, there are still going to be things that don’t go as planned.” Going forward, Duarte wants her cast and crew to know that she is taking care of their health. “There will be PPE supplies, there will be hand sanitizer, there will be snacks, but that are in bags,” she said. Change is inevitable, and Duarte is going with it. “I think the biggest reason for staying motivated on this project is knowing that it is my senior project,” she said. “I want to make it something I want to remember. And it’s something that my crew mates want to remember too . . . We can finally make something and be creative.” Duarte is in the process of production on a short film she wrote called “Dead Harvest”. “I’m a huge zombie lover,” she said. “It’s kind of ironic that I’m making this during the pandemic and it sort of relates.”

She described it as being similar to “Black Summer”, but has more of a “Walking Dead” approach. She is utilizing lack of sound in her short to make it seem more suspenseful like “Black Summer” does. During an apocalypse, two women, one which is pregnant, are trying to go further East where it is supposedly safer and out of zombie territory. “ Some interesting things happen. I won’t say what, you’ll have to watch the film,” Duarte hints at. It was originally an hour length film, but she took about 50 pages out and made a short. “I had help from my professors and some students,” she said. “We did maybe 10 rewrites.” For art students who are struggling during this time, Duarte says that the best piece of advice she has is to “start as early as you can” on your projects. “Get to know your classmates, work with your classmates as much as you can . . Find out who you enjoy working with,” she said. Overall, Duarte said she is making the most of the situation. “It’s been fun,” she said. “This semester, I’ve really enjoyed the process of it. It’s a lot and covid really sucks but it’s definitely a learning experience. I think a lot of people can learn during this time on how to get creative.”

COURTESY OF CIARA DUARTE

Ciara Duarte adjusts levels on the board behind the scenes of a production.

Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide: College edition BY JULIA NIGHTENGALE copyeditor@thesunflower.com

Being a college student doesn’t come with a handbook; Students can find themselves with lots of problems and no one to turn to. In “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide”, a Nickelodeon show popular in the early 2000’s, Ned gives tips on navigating the life of a middle schooler. Many of those tips can still be applied to college students and the challenges they face, years after people first watched the show. Here are five of Ned’s tips that can be found most helpful and relevant.

1) DON’T BE AFRAID TO RAISE YOUR HAND.

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If people are taking their classes on Zoom or in-person, they know the feeling of not speaking up and answering questions in class. Whether it’s out of fear of getting it wrong or not wanting to interrupt someone during a Zoom call, it’s hard to work up the courage sometimes. Most often, the question someone is wanting to ask is something that other students want to know too. Also, most teachers appreciate students who speak up and interact during class because it shows that you are engaged. Don’t leave class feeling like you don’t understand everything or feeling like you could have participated more.

2) OVER-SCHEDULED? SCHEDULE SOME GOOF OFF TIME. The hectic cycle of a college student’s schedule can get a bit exhausting, and it can leave many feeling burnt-out and exhausted. It’s important to schedule time in the week to spend doing whatever the heart wants, like watching TV, hanging out with friends, or practicing a hobby. Having these things to look forward to can make a more motivated and

productive day for the rest of the week. By taking breaks when needed, various responsibilities won’t feel so stressful anymore.

3) DON’T BEAT YOURSELF UP. IF YOU HAVE A TUTOR, IT DOESN’T MEAN YOU’RE DUMB. In college classes, the amount of homework can be time-consuming, especially when having a hard time understanding college material. In college, success is up to the individual, and some classes may have people struggling to get the grade that they want. Instead of giving up, utilize the free tutoring services that a college provides. Tutors can help explain material and make sure that it’s understood, helping to get the most out of classes.

4) MAKE A PLANNER AND SEE IF YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING FOR SCHOOL OR GET SOMETHING DONE. Keeping a planner is essential for a college student. From going to work or class, to keeping track of deadlines, a planner will help a person to never miss anything. It can be used as an old-fashioned paper planner or a calendar on a phone, depending on what best fits a person’s needs. Planning out time to do homework will prevent it from being left until the last minute and rushing to get it done on time. Filling out a planner at the beginning of the week can help to know what to expect instead of stressing out about not having time to do everything.

5) REPLACE BAD HABITS WITH HEALTHIER HABITS. Making healthy lifestyle choices is not easy in college; Finding the time to cook healthy food or exercise is almost impossible. Even though a person might not always find the time to do these things, making them a priority will have them feeling both physically and mentally better throughout the week. Leave bad habits, such as eating too much fast food or staying up to late, as a special occasion instead of every day. It’s surprising how much easier it is to make it through the day without crashing.