Issuu

NEWS | 2

SPORTS | 2

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT | 6

ANNIVERSARY

CROSS COUNTRY

MUSIC CONCERT

The Shocker Support Locker celebrates five years of operation.

Winny Koskei leads the Shockers to a second place finish.

Beautiful sounds filled Weidemann Hall during Sunday’s concert.

WICHITA STATE’S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1896 MONDAY

Volume 125

www.thesunflower.com

Feb. 8, 2021

Issue 14

ILLUSTRATION BY THY VO / THE SUNFLOWER

Student’s COVID vaccination experience provides her with confidence for the future BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_KSmith

s the world is still finding ways to continue fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccinations are being administered to more and more people every day. Even though it has yet to be open to the general public, some college students have already qualified. Kari Coster, a junior majoring in health management, is one of the college students who qualified for the vaccine in its early phases. Coster, who currently works at a hospital, decided to get it because of the people she is constantly in contact with. “The main reason I got it is because I have older parents and also the main population at my hospital is the at risk older generation and it would hurt my soul so much if I was the one who caught it and passed it to someone who was way more vulnerable to the virus than I was,” Coster said. While a large amount of the population is able to get vaccinated if they choose to do so, Coster said that while she understands why some people may be hesitant, the vaccine is a safe way to help control the spread. “I’m very confident in the scientists and the research that was done for the vaccine,” she said. “I know a lot of

people are worried about how fast it came out, but my reasoning is they wouldn’t put it out if it wasn’t safe for people to get it.” As more and more information is coming out about the vaccine, many worry about the side effects that may come with it. Coster said that she experienced COVID-similar symptoms for a few days after the second needle administered, but she said that having symptoms was worth the end result. “Thirty six hours after having the vaccine basically all the symptoms were gone,” Coster said. “I think 36 hours of moderate symptoms is worth it for some kind of immunity.” Coster said once the vaccine is open to the general public, she hopes people will decide to take advantage of the opportunity to help safely re-open the university. “The more people who are vaccinated the less likely it is for it to spread as quickly … I think once we slow the spread the easier it will be to get it under control and that way we can start reopening things more safely,” Coster said. The county is currently in phase two of the vaccine distribution plan — which includes persons aged 65+, people who work in congregate settings, and high contact critical workers. The county has not announced when it will enter into the next phase — which includes

VACCINE PHASES PHASE ONE Healthcare workers, residents or patients in longterm care

PHASE TWO Persons aged 65+, workers in congregate settings, high-contact critical workers

PHASE THREE Aged 16-64 with severe medical conditions, other critical workers

PHASE FOUR Persons aged 16-64 with medical risks

PHASE FIVE rest of population 16+

individuals aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions. The general population will be able to receive the vaccine when phase 5 begins. For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine in Sedwick County, see page two.

Presidential search forums discuss diversity, leadership qualities BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_KSmith

Wichita State community members gathered virtually Wednesday at the first two presidential search forums to share concerns, questions, and thoughts about the presidential search with AGB search representatives Sally Mason and Garry Owens. Leadership qualities, diversity, and pandemic complications were some of the topics brought up by community members.

AN ‘IN THE MIDDLE’ PRESIDENT Search committee member and Faculty Senate President Aleks Sternfeld-Dunn chimed in with his thoughts, adding that the committee needed to find a president that was in the middle ground. “I notice there are two types of broad brush presidents,” he said. “One who sees themselves as completely sort of outward facing, and delegating everything to their

/ The Sunflower

“[We need a president] who is the public face of the university and is going out there and moving the mission and the vision and trusting his or her team to do that work.” ALEKS STERNFELD-DUNN Faculty Senate President

executive team and their role is really just to be the public face of the university. And then there’s another kind of president who I think sort of sees themselves as an inward president and is just in the weeds of the work. “And I think we need a president who’s sort of in the middle.” Sternfeld-Dunn said that the university needs a president who not only does the inward work, but also goes outside of the @sunflowernews

@thesunflowernews

university to spread the word about the university’s mission and goals. “[We need a president] who is the public face of the university and is going out there and moving the mission and the vision and trusting his or her team to do that work,” he said. “But at the same time isn’t disengaged to what’s happening on campus that they’re not involved in sort of the day to day, kind of movement.”

‘A COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY’ Owens said that the firm is reaching out to candidates from diverse backgrounds to make sure the committee has a diverse group of individuals to select from. “We take [diversity] into account in every search we do and we certainly are doing that in this particular one,” Owens said. “[We have been] reaching out to candidates we know about, we have a number of colleagues who can help us with that at AGB search. “We’ll do our very best on that to get a

good selection.”

A DESIRE TO STRENGTHEN When asked if the search firm has seen less applicants from different areas due to the pandemic, Mason said it has been the opposite. “I was a little worried during the pandemic and during the lockdown that people would be reluctant to want to move,” Mason said. “And, quite the contrary, I think people are really now looking hard at opportunities in places where they would like to be and feel that they could have an impact.” Mason said that the COVID-19 pandemic has given applicants a higher motivation to come to the university in hopes to make it stronger and push through the uncertainty. “[There’s a] real desire ... to see an institution not only whether through the crisis but can come out of the other side stronger through it,” Mason said. SEE PRESIDENT PAGE 2

2 | MONDAY, FEB. 8, 2021

NEWS

What we know about the COVID vaccine be used for the public health response to COVID-19. The agreement specifies that data may not be used for civil or criminal prosecution or immigration enforcement.

BY MATTHEW KELLY WIchita Journalism Collaborative

WHO CAN GET A COVID-19 VACCINE IN SEDGWICK COUNTY RIGHT NOW? The Sedgwick County Health Department is currently offering COVID-19 vaccinations to health care associated workers and anyone 80 or older. Only Sedgwick County residents are eligible to receive the vaccine through the health department.

WHEN WILL I BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A VACCINE? Kansas recently entered Phase 2 of its vaccine rollout, which includes people 65 and older, high-contact critical workers and people living in congregate settings. However, individual counties can, as Sedgwick County has done, prioritize different groups for vaccination as they wait for more doses to become available. Phase 3, which officials expect to enter in March, will include other critical workers and people aged 16-64 with severe medical issues. People aged 16-64 with other medical risks will be prioritized in Phase 4 before the rest of the general population.

HOW DO I SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET VACCINATED? You can schedule a vaccination appointment in English or Spanish by calling (316) 660-1029 or by visitinghttps://www.sedgwickcounty.org/covid-19/vaccine/schedule/. Caretakers or adult children can schedule appointments on behalf of residents 80 or older.

CAN I GET THE VACCINE IF I’M UNDOCUMENTED? Many undocumented immigrants work essential jobs that are considered high-priority for vaccination. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention require states to submit COVID-19 vaccination data, including some personally identifiable data about vaccine recipients, the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services have agreed that such information may only

WHERE WILL I RECEIVE MY VACCINE? Vaccines are being administered at INTRUST Bank Arena. The county has also partnered with Wichita Transit to open a drive-through vaccine clinic exclusively for people with mobility issues. The drivethrough clinic is located at the Transit Operation Center at 777 E. Waterman.

WHAT FORM OF IDENTIFICATION DO I NEED TO PROVIDE TO RECEIVE MY VACCINE? Residents 80 or older must provide an identification card, driver’s license or birth certificate to verify their age. Health care workers must provide either their medical license/certification, an ID badge or wallet card, a statement of current employment or a current pay stub.

DO I NEED MEDICAL INSURANCE TO GET THE VACCINE? Vaccine costs are covered for people with private insurance, but uninsured adults can also get vaccinated for free during the pandemic. Providers that administer COVID-19 vaccines to the uninsured at no cost will be reimbursed through government funds.

CAN I TRUST THE COVID-19 VACCINE? Yes. There are many misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine, but it is safe. The vaccine does not contain a microchip, will not alter your DNA or cause infertility, and it does not make you contract the virus.

WICHITA JOURNALISM COLLABORATIVE

Moderna’s. Both vaccines are administered in two shots, a priming dose and a booster shot, over the course of several weeks. Pfizer’s doses are spaced 21 days apart while the interval for Moderna shots is 28 days.

CAN CHILDREN AND PREGNANT WOMEN GET THE VACCINE?

WHAT ARE THE KNOWN SIDE EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE?

Pfizer’s vaccine has been authorized for ages 16 and up while Moderna’s has been authorized for ages 18 and up. Pregnant women were excluded from clinical trials for the vaccines, and experts have reached no consensus on whether or not expecting mothers should be vaccinated. The CDC urges pregnant women to consult with their doctors before receiving the vaccine.

The most common side effects experienced after being vaccinated are pain or swelling at the injection site, fever, chills, tiredness or a headache. None of these side effects mean the vaccine is unsafe. U.S. health officials say roughly 1 in 100,000 people may have a serious allergic reaction to the vaccine, but it is reversible and treatable.

WHAT SHOULD I DO AFTER I GET THE VACCINE?

CAN MY EMPLOYER FORCE ME TO GET THE VACCINE?

Even after vaccination, you should continue practicing social distancing and wearing a face mask when you’re around others. Experts say it can take over a week for your body to start developing antibodies after you receive the vaccine. Continued caution will also benefit others This story was produced by the Wichita Journalism Collaborative, a partnership of seven media companies, including The Sunflower, working together to bring timely and accurate news and information to Kansans. The effort is supported by the Solutions Journalism Network and funded by The Knight Foundation.

Employers can mandate the COVID-19 vaccine for their employees, but exceptions may be granted for medical or religious reasons.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE PFIZER AND MODERNA VACCINES?

HOW DOES THE VACCINE INTERACT WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND MEDICATIONS?

Both vaccines are highly effective at preventing COVID-19. Pfizer’s vaccine protects 95% of recipients while Moderna’s protects 94%. Vaccine trials ran from July to November, with 43,661 volunteers enrolling in Pfizer’s trial and 30,420 participating in

People with underlying medical conditions may be more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. The CDCsay people with underlying medical conditions can receive the vaccine as long as they have not had a

The Shocker Support Locker commemorates 5 years of operation with a month long celebration

PRESIDENT FROM PAGE 1

A PRESIDENT WHO UNDERSTANDS Sternfeld-Dunn said that he believes it’s important to have a president who pushes the university forward, but understands the ins and outs of the university’s capacities. “We desperately want a president who looks past the branding of the university to really understand who we are and what we’re not and not try to make us what we’re not,

BY ELENA KUCKLEMAN elena@email.com

Growing from simply a food pantry to a place where people can access food, toiletries, clothing, and even baby products, the Shocker Support Locker has helped combat food insecurity within the Wichita State community. The Locker is open to all WSU students, faculty, and staff. Gabriel Fonseca, Assistant Director of Student Involvement and Student Government Advisor, has provided his service and general oversight for the Shocker Support Locker for three years. Fonseca said one of the biggest changes the locker has undergone is changes with how the service is provided. “When it first started it was on the honor’s system. You would come in, grab what you need, and leave,” Fonseca said. “We recognized that we had to figure out a way to organize it differently, so three years ago we brought on staff to provide more of a connection with the person.” As the Shocker Support Locker has progressed over the past 5 years, it has had to switch locations multiple times.

severe or immediate allergic reaction to any of its ingredients. Experts say the COVID-19 vaccine is very unlikely to interact negatively with existing medications in a person’s body.

but still knows how to move forward and progress,” he said. “We’re not saying we want to remain the same we’ve always been . . . we’re into innovation, we’re into transforming higher education, but within the scope of what we can do and what we can’t do.” The search firm is holding one more virtual forum on Monday at 4 p.m. Individuals can join through a Zoom link and password posted on the Student Government Association’s social media.

FILE PHOTO BY SELENA FAVELA / THE SUNFLOWER

Cans of green beans line the shelves of the Shocker Support Locker.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have the support of amazing partners and donors and sponsors who have helped.” GABRIEL FONSECA Assisant Director of Student Involvement

“When [the Locker] first was founded, it was in the Heskett Center and then it moved to the student government office,” Fonseca said. “Then 3 years ago it was moved to its current location, which

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.

is in Grace Wilkie Hall.” Fonseca said that support has grown since the locker’s inception. “We’ve been very fortunate to have the support of amazing partners and donors and sponsors who have helped fill the gap,” Fonseca said. “We rely on fundraising; we rely on people donating items. We’ve been grateful for our partnership with places like the Kansas food bank and Dillons to help us fill the needs that we experience during high peaks of the year.” They launched a fundraising campaign asking people to donate $5 to honor their five years of service.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Lindsay Smith news@thesunflower.com

COPY EDITOR Julia Nightengale copyeditor@thesunflower.com

OPINION EDITOR Audrey Korte opinion@thesunflower.com

DIGITAL PHOTO EDITOR Khanh Nguyen photoeditor@thesunflower.com

SPORTS EDITOR Sean Marty sports@thesunflower.com

PRINT PHOTO EDITOR Kaylee Stout photos@thesunflower.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Tabitha Barr arts@thesunfower.com

PODCAST DIRECTOR Blake Kenneson podcast@thesunflower.com

FACULTY ADVISOR Amy DeVault amy.devault@wichita.edu

ADVERTISING MANAGER Noah Merrell admanager@thesunflower.com

Lindsay Smith: 316-978-6905 editor@thesunflower.com ADVERTISING

Noah Merrell: 316-978-6906 admanager@thesunflower.com

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.

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MONDAY, FEB. 8, 2021 | 3

Sports

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

67 70

PHOTO BY KHANH NGUYEN/ THE SUNFLOWER

Interim Head Coach Isaac Brown talks to sophomore Clarence Jackson during the game against Tulane at Charles Koch Arena on Feb. 3.

Boatright discusses head coach search BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com

PHOTO BY KHANH NGUYEN/ THE SUNFLOWER

Wichita State sophomore Tyson Etienne takes a two-pointer during the game against Temple at Charles Koch Arena on Feb. 7.

Etienne leads WSU to close victory over Temple BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com/ @TheSean Marty

Wichita State narrowly escaped with a victory on Sunday, defeating Temple 70-67. The Shockers improve to 11-4 on the season and 7-2 in conference play with the win. With 1:08 left in the game, Temple controlled a one-point advantage but just as he’s done all season, sophomore Tyson Etienne delivered when WSU needed him the most. Etienne was fought through a foul and connected on a critical layup to regain the Shockers’ lead. Etienne nailed the ensuing free throw to give WSU a two-point advantage in the final minute. Etienne went on to close out the game with a pair at the line, pushing his point total to a team-high 20 points. Etienne collected his eighth 20-point outing of the season in the victory. “I just had to find a way to get a bucket,” Etienne said. “I saw the baseline empty on that side, everybody was loaded up on the other side, so I knew at least I could draw a foul. I put a lot of time in the weight room and was able to get it up in time. My teammates did a great job of moving without the ball and giving me the lane.” Sophomore Clarence Jackson also made a crucial play in the final minute, drawing a charge on Temple’s J.P. Moorman with 26 seconds left. The Owls were then forced to foul and Alterique Gilbert’s free throws pushed WSU’s advantage to four points. Interim Head Coach Isaac Brown said that Jackson’s charge was his best defensive play of his Shocker career. “He’s always in there battling, he competes, he plays hard,” he said. “He may make mistakes but the one thing about it, he’s going to give you 110% every time he’s out on the floor. That’s what we want, somebody giving 110% and it’s just about winning with him.” The game was back-and-forth, with 20 lead changes. The20 lead changes in the game, which was the sixth-most for the Shockers since a Dec. 2014 game against Hawaii. Temple kept the game close as they collected 17 offensive rebounds in the loss but their 39% shooting in the game was too much to overcome.

“I put a lot of time in the weight room and was able to get it up in time. My teammates did a great job of moving without the ball and giving me the lane.” TYSON ETIENNE Sophomore

“They got a lot of offensive rebounds, something we definitely have to clean up,” Etienne said. “We can’t allow a team to come into our building and get that many offensive rebounds. In terms of the rhythm, nobody really found the flow. It all came down to who made the hustle plays, who made shots at the end of the game. Sometimes basketball games come down to that.” Over the years, WSU has become one of the best at “winning ugly” and winning even when they struggle offensively. Coming into this year, WSU recorded the most wins when shooting under 40% in the country over the past two seasons. Junior Dexter Dennis said that the team’s experience has been crucial in winning close games this season. “We’ve been battling a lot of adversity this year so the message in the locker room is always, stay in the moment and control what we can control,” Dennis said. I think in those moments it’s not panicking anymore. We’re a bit older so everybody just relaxes, takes a deep breath and just do what we can do to try to get a win.” The Shockers won all three of its games on this homestand, following a road loss to Memphis by 20 minutes. “I’m getting more excited about the fact that these guys can battle for 40 minutes and still pull the game out,” Brown said. “Again, the other team is trying to win, they’re going to battle, Temple didn’t give up just like Tulane and Central Florida. I think it gives our guys a lot of confidence. just knowing they can win.”

It’s no secret that the men’s basketball team’s search for its next head coach will be a pivotal one in the future of the program. Wichita State Director of Athletics Darron Boatright discussed the looming coaching search. WSU’s winningest head coach Gregg Marshall resign from his position following a three-month investigation. With the team looking towards the future, they are looking for the next coach to take over. Boatright said that even though they are still early in the search process, he wants to make sure everyone is doing their due diligence. “With these things you try to be as thorough as you can and watch and read and try to evaluate as many coaches as you can that you think might possibly fit your situation,” he said. “I think we have a coach here on an interim basis that’s doing a good job and he deserves every evaluation as well.” Boatright said that he doesn’t have a target date for naming the next head coach. “I don’t like to put timelines on this,” Boatright said. “That creates anticipation and expectation and I don’t think that’s healthy for a search process. I don’t necessarily have a timeline but when we find the right candidate and that individual’s ready to lead us then that’s when we’ll wrap it up.” With just over a week until the start of the season, Isaac Brown was inserted into the Interim Head Coach position and the team has thrived since. Brown’s transition has been successful as the Shockers are 10-4 on the season and sit in second place for the AAC. Brown has also reached the ten-win benchmark in ten fewer games than in Marshall’s debut season at WSU. Boatright said that given the team’s early season success under Brown on an interim basis, he will 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. The players have been open in their support of Brown, even saying that he’s brought “new energy and confidence” into the locker room. Boatright said that the players’ voices will have an impact on the final decision. “You have to evaluate the belief that young men have in whoever you bring in or you just stay with the coach that’s already here,”

he said. “Obviously, it’s good to see that these young guys are believing in their coach, accepting his leadership and you can see it in their play. All those things are considered.” Given the amount of uncertainty that the team has faced this season from COVID-19 delays to the resignation of Marshall, Boatright said that the program’s success has taken him by surprise. “With as many new young men as we have on this roster, it was going to be an incredibly difficult year if there were no distractions,” Boatright said. “I’m not surprised with Isaac’s performance necessarily, I’m surprised that this appears to be such a cohesive unit of young men that are playing together and for the most part new to the program. That’s surprising, it really is.” Marshall’s resignation also came with a hefty separation agreement where he will receive $7.75 million over the next six years. Boatright said that Marshall’s separation agreement won’t hinder WSU’s finances in the search process. Marshall was making $3.5 million per year at the time of his resignation, which was the 15th-highest in the country. According to Boatright, he anticipates this next coach’s salary being different because of the experience and success Marshall possessed. “That was a special situation,” Boatright said. “Coach (Marshall) was in his 14th year here so I don’t really want to get into the specifics because it’s going to be based upon experience and based upon the value that individual brings that they deserve. Every coaching situation is different.” Boatright said that keeping emotions out of this process is key, which can be troublesome for fans at times. “You have to evaluate the way this person may fit into the community or be able to associate, communicate with your fan base and your donor base,” he said. “It definitely matters but you can’t let your emotions play into it.” Boatright said that there are some specific qualities that he is looking for in the team’s next head coach. “You look for someone to lead young men, overcome adversity, be the best they can be on and off the court, represent the university that we all want to see it represented, someone who knows the game, someone who has good recruiting ties, someone that can sell the university and sell themselves,” Boatright said.

4 | MONDAY, FEB. 8, 2021

SPORTS

XC AAC CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS WOMEN’S Individual Results * Winny Koskei - 1st 20:29.24 * Yazmine Wright - 5th 21:12.30 * McKenna Pantlin - 13th 22:03.57 Danielle Rinn - 16th 22:06.07 Hope Saunders - 27th 22:32.02 Sharon Kiprop - 41st 22:56.49 Destini Steuver (Eskridge) - 66th 24:08.99 Sarah Schaar - 73rd 22:03.57 PHOTO BY KHANH NGUYEN/ THE SUNFLOWER

Senior Winny Koskei competes in the American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships. The event was held at 4 Mile Creek Resort, on Feb 6.

Winny Koskei wins third straight Cross Country AAC individual title BY SEAN MARTY

sports@thesunflower.com/@TheSeanMarty

enior Winny Koskei became the most decorated cross country athlete in the history of the American Athletic Conference on Saturday, becoming the first runner to win three AAC individual titles. Koskei finished the six-kilometer course in 20:29.24, holding off Tulsa’s Caitlin Kopfler (20:53.89) by just over 24 seconds. Koskei also became the first Shocker to win three individual titles and qualified for the NCAA Championships on March 15 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Cross Country Head Coach Kirk Hunter said that they discussed the chance for Koskei to make history in the week leading up to the race. “It’s history,” Hunter said. “We’ve been talking about it all week, just Winny and I, nobody else really. Just talking about, ‘hey you got this opportunity’ and now she actually has a chance to win four times in a row next year. So to get three is something else.” Wichita State hosted the championship in Augusta at their home course of 4 Mile Creek Resort. The meet featured frigid temperatures and snowfall which started just after the men’s race began. The team competed in the JK Gold Classic on Jan. 23 at the same course where Koskei also took home first place. With the season’s postponement it made it difficult to scout the rest of the field. Koskei said because of that, she didn’t have a strategy headed into the race, unlike normal meets. “I didn’t have any strategy going in,” she said. “I was just going to go and try to stick with the group and see what happens at the end. I was going for three in a row, for sure.” Hunter said that Koskei’s experience with the course played

a factor in deciding when to make a final push. “I said, ‘if it doesn’t feel right wait’ and it didn’t feel right, obviously, so she waited. But there’s very few people that are going to be beating Winny up the hills on our course. There’s very few people that can do that. ” The Kenya native helped lead the women’s team to a second-place finish in the event. Yazmine Wright finished in fifth (21:12.30) and McKenna Pantin finished in 13th (22:03.57) with both earning all-conference honors. “That was just amazing,” Hunter said. “This team had to basically come back and deal with a lot of doubters and prove, including myself a little. I didn’t know if we could get in this conference with that group and they decided to do it and put it upon themselves to get it done.” The athletes also gained an extra year of eligibility because of the season’s postponement. Koskei is still leaving the door open for the possibility of winning four straight next year. “Why not,” Koskei said. Only Jed Helker received all-conference for the men’s program, finishing in 14th place with a time of 24:58.30. Helker, who is also a distance runner for the Track and Field program, improved on his 31st place finish a year. He is only the second Shocker to earn all-conference since joining the AAC. Ben Flowers became the first athlete to earn all-conference last year but was absent this year due to an injury. “I don’t consider myself a cross country guy until really right now,” Helker said. “I had a good meet a couple weeks ago and that instilled some confidence in me. I really wanted to get all-conference or top-ten or something. I took that milestone and really went for it.”

Erin Topham - 76th 25:24.34

Team Results 1. Tulsa - 40 points 2. Wichita State - 61 points 3. Cincinnati - 70 points 4. Temple - 104 points 5. Central Florida - 143 points 6. East Carolina - 153 points 7. SMU - 164 points 8. Houston - 220 points 9. Memphis -263 points 10. South Florida - 273 points

Freshman of the Year Valerie Lastra, Central Florida

MEN’S Individual Results * Jed Helker - 14th 24:58.30 Clayton Duchatschek - 22nd 25:07.69 Adam Moore - 24th 25:08.33 Ethan Kossover -28th 25:27.81 Bryce Merriman - 31st 25:33.04 Trey Rios - 37th 25:55.13 Britte Magnuson - 40th 26:03.79 Shardrack Chumba - 43rd 26:17.10

Team Results 1. Tulsa - 20 points 2. Cincinnati - 54 points 3. Temple - 93 points 4. Wichita State - 112 points 5. Memphis - 131 points 6. East Carolina - 146 points 7. Houston - 202 points 8. South Florida -227 points

Freshman of the Year Shay McEvoy, Tulsa

Men’s and Women’s PHOTOS BY KHANH NGUYEN/ THE SUNFLOWER

Top: Senior Ethan Kossover competes in the American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships. The event was held at 4 Mile Creek Resort, on Feb 6. Bottom: Senior Hope Saunders placed 27th at the American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships. The event was held at 4 Mile Creek Resort, on Feb 6.

Coaching Staff of the Year Steve Gulley, Tulsa * - Denotes all-conference

Women’s Basketball falls to Temple BY JOE BAKER sports@thesunflower.com/ @JoeBakerWSU

The Shocker women’s basketball team lost to the Temple Owls 65-57 on Saturday afternoon. With Temple’s victory over Wichita State, the Owls sweep the season series over the Shockers. Wichita State falls to 4-8 overall and 1-6 in American Athletic Conference play. With the victory, Temple moves to a 7-7 overall record and 7-4 in conference play. Mariah McCully scored a season-high 18 points along with three rebounds in the loss. The senior guard went 7-14 from the floor and 2-3 from three-point range. McCully scored the team’s first seven points of the contest. Head Coach Keitha Adams hopes that McCully can continue to handle the scoring load and give the team a better chance to win. “Hopefully that is a good sign

for us,” Adams said. “When she’s really good and in good shape that’s going to improve and help our chances.” Junior guard Asia Strong recorded her second double-double of the season in the loss. Strong had 12 points and ten rebounds. Seraphine Bastin scored 12 points on 6-12 shooting to go along with seven rebounds. Temple guard Asonah Alexander scored 17 points on 6-13 shooting from the floor with six rebounds. Senior forward Mia Davis scored 17 points with seven rebounds in the Owls victory. Temple dominated the first half, leading at halftime 34-23. Wichita State shot 36% from the floor making nine shots out of 25 attempts. Wichita State played much better in the second half, outscoring the Owls 34-31, but the Shockers comeback attempt would

fall just short, losing by eight points. The Shockers shot better in the second half, shooting 48.4% on 15-31 from field. The Shockers struggled at the free throw line and beyond the three-point arc against Temple. Wichita State shot 7-14 from the free throw line and 2-9 from deep. “We left seven free throws at the line, we lose today by eight,” Adams said. “We have got to knock down more free throws, we need to shoot more free throws than our opponent.” Wichita State has a tough stretch of basketball coming up against UCF and Memphis this upcoming week. Both teams are near the top of the American Athletic Conference standings. The Shockers are scheduled to play against UCF in the next game at Charles Koch Arena on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

PHOTO BY KHANH NGUYEN/ THE SUNFLOWER

Wichita State sophomore DJ McCarty takes a shot during the game against Temple on Feb. 5 at Charles Koch Arena.

THURSDAY, FEB. 8, 2021 | 5

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Opinion

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

HOW TO THRIVE THIS SEMESTER: TIPS FROM A PERPETUAL STUDENT Audrey Korte Opinion editor opinion@thesunflower.com

Wichita State is the fourth university I have attended. From Ivy League to State schools, I’ve done a little bit of everything. Mostly I just muddled through until something went wrong, and then if the Gods of academia were on my side, I’d learn to do it better next time. Here’s what I’ve found useful over the years:

DO SOME HOUSEKEEPING. Last semester I taught and attended virtual classes from our family room or from my bedroom. I had a kid’s desk in my bedroom -- something grabbed from the garage in a pinch -- and a broken desk chair. Sitting on my bed all day or typing at the children’s desk with that broken chair caused recurring back and shoulder problems, so I tried something else. When I’d teach classes, my family would vacate the TV room, much to their dismay. Because three of us have jobs that involve working with people confidentially, we were all moving in and out of that one room day and night based on our careers’ needs. For me, the result was moving my laptop and books from bedroom to living room to kitchen in a constant circle. Every room became infected with my mess.

When my brother moved out of the house over break, I claimed his bedroom as my office. The first thing I did was some cleaning. Then I bought a new desk chair. It was a significant investment, but my body is rejoicing. I added a bookshelf and three tables for my overflowing graduate school work. I placed my work table by the window, so natural light illuminates my face on ZOOM calls. I also hung up some photos and artwork. I then added another chair, which will probably act as more of a catch-all than a place to sit, but it’s there in case I get fancy. It’s been a game-changer. Having a dedicated workspace, large or small, is crucial to your success. So take the time to set up whatever space you have so that it is as functional as possible, knowing that you will spend a lot more time there than usual this spring. Even if it’s a tiny desk and your bed, you can make sure you’re well-equipped by getting a standing desk, a decent chair, and a desk organizer.

POST YOUR SCHEDULE In my opinion, nothing replaces a hard copy calendar -- even the best app or phone calendar can’t compare to a cheap planner you take with you. Writing it down feels like making a commitment. There’s something about a day planner and wall calendar that makes life so much easier. I suggest you get both

-- one you carry with you and one you keep on your wall or fridge. Write your schedule down and set aside time every Sunday to make a new one for the week or to update old ones. Now, the pièce de résistance. Use different color pens or highlighters to block out your time. Get some stickers; go junior high on it and make it pretty. I use different color pens for teaching, coursework, meetings, and work. I have a five subject notebook for classes and a stack of legal pads for reporting. These small steps help me keep track of everything.

DON’T SAY YES TO EVERYTHING. It’s easy to feel pressured to be available 24/7 with this weird virtual world we’re living in. I have my student’s needs to consider, my own graduate work, The Sunflower’s publishing, applications for jobs and scholarships, and the family to think of. It’s a lot. Additionally, I regularly work with groups in Sierra Leone and on both U.S. coasts. The time differences mean I’m often working when I’d prefer to be relaxing or asleep. That can be frustrating. But the biggest issue isn’t other groups or the time changes. It’s me. I say “yes” to everything. In fact, I volunteer for stuff I don’t have time to do, especially when I get excited about something. If you’re a “yes” person like I am -- continually pushing yourself to do more, than consider this my personal

invitation to say “no.” It can be a difficult skill, and I have by no means mastered the whole “no, not right now” thing. But for your health and sanity, work on this. At the very least, don’t say “yes” to something without consulting your fantastic schedule (both the pocket and wall version in case they’re not the same).

BUILD HEALTHIER PARTY HABITS There’s a reason why you feel like crap after a night of partying. Part of it is because you are likely dehydrated. Part of it is because you are likely imbibing massive amounts of carbs and sugars, depending on what you’ve been eating or drinking. Even if you’ve made some bad calls throughout the evening, you can make good calls before bed. It’s much easier to do so with friends, so get them on board. When I used to go out with friends regularly, we had a ritual of coming home from parties or clubs and making each other drink 32 ozs of water. It’s a game-changer. While you’re probably not hitting the bars much these days, I have no doubt that partying ensues. Make pacts with your friends to take care of yourselves and each other, especially at the end of the night -- make a “recovery” plan and stick to it. Read the rest of Korte’s tips at thesunflower.com

It’s time to embrace your inner activist Audrey Korte Opinion editor opinion@thesunflower.com

Imagine you are a WSU student in the year 2065. You just turned 20 years old. The pandemic is long over. Your parents and their friends talk about it sometimes but you rarely pay attention. It’s old news after all. But now you need their memories and keepsakes. Your grade depends on it. You are taking a class called “Living History”. It covers recent historical events -- recent enough that there remain some people alive who still remember them. You decide to write your final paper on the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only do you need to write a paper but you must do a presentation on the pandemic using artifacts — objects of historical interest that people who lived through the pandemic have saved. This could include photos, newspapers, audio and video files, diaries and more. You go to your parents and grandparents to see what they have stored in the attic from 2020 and 2021. What will you find? What would be helpful? What will fascinate or infuriate you in their box of memories? Now, imagine this scenario from a different perspective. A 20 year old child, grandchild or great-grandchild approaches you in 2065 asking you to recall the great pandemic. What would you want to explain? What information would be the most difficult to impart? What would still hurt your heart or make you feel grateful? One thing I’ve learned in my relatively short life is that we all become experts on our experiences. Sometimes people look to you for knowledge and wisdom simply because you were there; you survived when others did not.

You don’t need to ask for the job. It’s often thrust upon you. You may not consider your pandemic experience to be very special right now. If you have not had COVID-19 or have not lost anyone to the disease you may not feel as active a participant in the pandemic as those who have suffered these fates. But the fact is this pandemic is happening to all of us, globally. Whether you’re a taxi driver, a medical doctor, a teacher, a student or a stay-at-home parent all of us across the world are connected by this moment in time. These eras of global catastrophe are relatively rare in history. We should embrace our experiences and recognize that we’re all going to be a part of this living history in future years. We will be walking encyclopedias, historians, journalists and archivists in our own right. Someday soon you will begin to forget how this time feels, how it looks, and your current worries and concerns. One day your faded memories will be soft at the edges — you will remember the big events but not the details. Eventually someone will ask you to recount this insanity, probably multiple times. Sometimes I feel like the difficult and painful stuff doesn’t want to be remembered. We can’t carry all the anger or angst with us every day until the end of time without going mad. So our brains compartmentalize. But it’s been my experience that keeping what I call “memory-jolters” around is a good thing. It can be cathartic. If nothing else it will fascinate future generations the way Pearl Harbor memorabilia or Polio photos do now. So do yourself, and your future ancestors a favor and start gathering your “memories” together. Put it all in a box that’s clearly labeled: Pandemic 2020/2021. Embrace your inner archivist. What have you got to lose? Put photos in a real photo album, make a collage, file newspapers or printed articles

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.

ILLUSTRATION BY KAYLEE STOUT / THE SUNFLOWER

away. Put a mask in there, announcements from the health department, an empty bottle of hand sanitizer, an “I voted” sticker. In my box I’d add the funeral bulletins or obituaries of fallen friends and family, a lot of newspaper articles, the letter Trump sent with stimulus checks last year, photos from the George Floyd protest I covered last summer. But you can and should make it your own. Write down a few things about the year. What’s school been like? Where are you living and with whom? What are your current goals? What keeps you up at night? Now, do yourself a huge favor and date everything. If you have photos write the names and ages of everyone in the pictures

on the back or underneath. I guarantee you are now working with people that you will only vaguely remember in a few decades (if at all.) So save yourself future troubles by labeling the things you don’t think you’ll forget. Someday you’ll find this box in the garage or basement after you’ve moved a half dozen times. You will open it up and remember instantly the things that you never thought possible to forget. It may be a little sad. It may be hard but I promise you won’t regret it. Neither will that 20 year old kid in 2065 who gives the greatest presentation on living history that the university has ever seen.

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

Lindsay Smith: I love yogurt. Sean Marty: Snow is only enjoyable when you don’t have to drive. Thy Vo: Jalapeno chips are the best chips.

6 | MONDAY, FEB. 8, 2021

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Arts & Entertainment

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

PHOTO BY LENA ALHALLAQ / THE SUNFLOWER

Assistant Professor Phillip C Black speaking at the performance held Sunday at Wiedemann Recital Hall.

Asistant music professor takes center stage during Sunday performance BY EMMIE BOESE @EmmieBoese

The College of Fine Arts presented a performance from their Faculty Art Series on Sunday, Feb. 7 at Wiedemann Recital Hall. The main performer was Assistant Professor of Tuba Phillip C. Black who played the tuba. Black played four separate pieces, and a small horn and big horn for the tubas. The tuba he played during his performance he has had since college as an undergraduate student when his roommate sold it to him. Black got started playing the tuba in 1968 and has been playing the tuba for 53 years. “I still remember to this day, I pulled the sousaphone out into the hallway outside the band room,” Black said. “I played a note, I heard it echo up and down the hall, and I

published in 1970. Both performers played the tuba for the last performance of the afternoon. Black said that being able to play modern songs that can be performed anywhere is something that is important to him. The pieces “Tubaisms” and “Un Dia en la Vida” were both published in 2020. “I liked the piece I started with “Tubaisms” just because it presented so many different aspects of Tuba playing,” Black said. “It was modern without being crazy. For the small horn I really loved [“Un Dia en la Vida”] because I’ve done a lot of works with pre recorded sound tracks, and those two are the kind of pieces I could take on tour just with me, and my car, and my tubas.”

was sold.” The first piece he played was called “Tubaisms.” This music composition had three separate movements. He then played along with a recorded track to a piece called “Un Dia en la Vida.” This title means “A Day in the Life.” This piece was focused around mariachi music. Black then played in a duet with Dr. Carmen Lemoine. Lemoine played the flute. Together, they performed the composition called “Sketches.” “Sketches” was published in 2010. This piece originally had seven movements but they only played five. To end his performance, he played with graduate student Eitan Spiegel. They performed “Rock of Aces.” This composition was the oldest piece performed due to it being

A top five ranking of Wichita State’s statue collection BY TABITHA BARR arts@thesunflower.com / @Tabbyjanelle

1. THE SHOCKERS “The Shockers” by Tom Otterness represent WSU students who earned a living from working hard harvesting and farming. While WSU has grown into many areas of education, the history of how things started is important to remember. It is my favorite statue on campus because it’s one that you always remember. ILLUSTRATION BY THY VO / THE SUNFLOWER

Valentine’s Day 2021: Ways to express your love from six feet away BY LINDSAY SMITH AND JULIA NIGHTENGALE editor@thesunflower.com / copyeditor@thesunflower.com

2020 was a hard year. But if it has taught us anything, it’s that it’s so important to remind your loved ones that you care for them. So for Valentine’s Day 2021, let’s not let the present circumstances get in the way of reminding others that we are grateful for them. Here are a few ideas to make your Valentine feel special — whether they’re a significant other, family member or friend.

A CARE PACKAGE FOR YOUR QUARANTINED LOVED ONES Let’s be real here: We’re still in the middle of a pandemic. People are having to quarantine left and right because of either positive tests or known contact to the virus. But just because they’re quarantined doesn’t mean you can’t express your love and appreciation for them on this special day. So grab a box, your

loved one’s favorite candy, a stuffed animal, and some other goodies to keep them entertained during their quarantine. Add a hand written note, maybe a couple face masks and bath bombs, then you’re good to go.Remind them that even though you can’t be together in person, you’re always together in the heart.

A SOCIAL DISTANCED PICNIC IN THE FRIGID COLD While the weather right now isn’t exactly perfect for a relaxing picnic, make the best of it and invite some of your loved ones to enjoy nature for a little while. Build a bonfire, bring some yummy sweets, and organize some fun games to play centered around expressing your love for each other (socially distanced of course). If it gets too cold, bring a large selection of comfortable blankets for you and your loved one to snuggle up into and stay warm. It’ll be an afternoon you won’t forget, and not just because of the cold weather.

2. NUDE WOMAN One of the most beautiful works of art is a woman’s body. Not only does it get through day to day tasks, but it has the ability to create a whole other life. It’s a miracle in itself, and I hope women understand the power they hold. A body’s curves, lines, shapes, and the imperfections, make it special. A statue like this helps me know that I can feel good in my body, no matter what it looks like.

A SPOTIFY PLAYLISTS OF SONGS THAT REMIND YOU OF THEM Music speaks in an entirely different language then words can. In its own way, music speaks to the soul. So if you’re at a loss for words on how much someone means to you— send them some songs that make you feel the way you feel around them. Make a playlist with a cute title (and a couple of heart emojis, of course), some of your favorite tunes, and I promise you they’ll feel special.

3. TWO LINES, OBLIQUE DOWN, VARIATION III This piece is placed in an obvious spot on campus where most students pass it on their way to class. It’s something that keeps your brain in a trance as it moves in a smooth yet captivating way. For me it represents the movement in life and how it just flows into the next thing.

4. MILLIE THE MILLIPEDE One of the coolest art statues we have on campus is “Millie” the Millipede is one of those pieces that you see and immediately go, “I love it!” What makes it so cool is that one half is wearing feminine heels and the other half is wearing masculine boots. I think it shows the differences between humans but also the teamwork between everyone.

A HANDWRITTEN LETTER EXPRESSING YOUR LOVE If you’re looking to not break the bank but still give your loved ones something sentimental, take the time to sit and write down all the reasons you love them in a heartfelt letter. No matter who you are giving it to, it’s a gift they will treasure forever. Buy some special stationary and center in to how grateful you are for the people in your life.

5. LOVE The LOVE sculpture is a staple piece of art on WSU’s campus. It’s cute, aesthetically pleasing, and just all around fun to take pictures with. It’s one of those art pieces that leave you smiling afterwards.

PHOTOS BY LINDSAY SMITH / THE SUNFLOWER