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YEAR OF THE TIGER Lunar New Year event provides cultural education and activities BY JACINDA HALL
T
jahall@shockers.wichita.edu
St. Anthony’s Lion and Dragon dance team performs at the Lunar New Year: Year of the Tiger Celebration on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022. | Photo by Thy Vo / The Sunflower
Event goers hand lion dance performer a red envelope at the Luner New Year Celebration. Inside the red envelopes, there is lucky money. | Photo by Thy Vo / The Sunflower
Asian Student Conference (ASC) members pose for a photo at the Lunar New Year: Year of the Tiger Celebration on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022. | Photo by Thy Vo / The Sunflower
Event goer interacts with St. Anthony’s Lion and Dragon dance team performer. | Photo by Thy Vo / The Sunflower
uesday, Feb. 1 marked the first official day for Lunar New Year celebrations around the world. In honor of the holiday, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted a Lunar New Year Celebration at the Rhatigan Student Center filled with dancing, information and activities. These activities included making paper lanterns, calligraphy, learning about your horoscope from the office of International Services and a selfie booth. According to Amanda Phanivong from ODI, the purpose of the event is to teach more people about Lunar New Year as well as celebrating the New Year as a whole. “We love getting more people involved in different cultures and teaching them about celebrations of different cultures indefinitely,” Phanivong said Information given out at the event included information about cultural foods and gifts that are traditional for the Lunar New Year celebration such as bánh tét, a Vietnamese cake, and mandarin oranges. This year, the celebration was a first for some. Suzin Oh, originally from Korea, said that this was her first year celebrating the Lunar New Year as a whole. “Back home, we only celebrated like January 1st. So this is actually like my first time celebrating,” she said. “My family is not that traditional so this is pretty cool.” The event also included some performances by WSU’s KVersity and the St. Anthony’s Dragon Dance team. KVersity is a dance group at WSU that has been around for three years. The group mainly focuses on K-pop. The group also focuses on other genres such as hip hop. This year was WSU Freshman Sarah Nuse’s first year dancing with KVersity, but this is not the first event she’s danced at. “This year we had an event at Wichita Asian fest where we performed,” Nuse said. “This was our second one this year and then we have one this weekend at K-State so there’s some more coming this semester.”
KVersity dancer Tudsaley Vongsena performs to songs from K-pop groups Shinee and Itzy. | Photo by Thy Vo / The Sunflower
KVersity dancer Jennifer Dang performs at the Lunar New Year: Year of the Tiger Celebration on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022. | Photo by Thy Vo / The Sunflower
THURSDAY Feb. 3, 2022 Volume 126 Issue 20
2 | THURSDAY, FEB. 3, 2022
NEWS
The Deloitte Smart Factory is located on WSU’s innovation campus | Photo by Kaylee Stout / The Sunflower Darren Defrain, Associate Professor and Director of the Writing Program, reads comic in his office during his down time on Feb, 1. | Photo by Jordan Plowman / The Sunflower
App developed to bring comic books to the visually impaired expected to launch in June BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_KSmith
Professor Darren Defrain often gets asked why visually impaired people would want to read comics. His response? Comic books are so engraved in our culture that even if someone hasn’t read every comic, they still know the characters. Defrain starts his graphic novels course by asking everyone what they know about Wonder Woman. Students go around the room sharing facts they know about the superhero, with every student saying at least one thing. When Defrain asks how many people actually read the comic book, very few people raise their hand. “[Comics] are such an important to our culture,” Defrain said. That is why Defrain is in the middle of developing an app to assist visually impaired people in reading comics. Back in August,
he was rewarded $100,000 from the National Endowment for Humanities. Now, five months later, the app is expected to launch in June. “We’re going to be doing a lot of testing between now and June,” Defrain said. “We’re working with two different visually impaired comic book artists, and they’re going to have the first comics up on the site.” Defrain said at the end of the day, what they really want is that the people who use the app feel their advice is being heard. “We’re not trying to prescribe to people who can’t see, like, ‘Oh, this is what’s best for you,’” Defrain said. “But instead we’re getting really strong input in the people we’re testing with [to know] what works for [them].” With the app expected to launch in a number of months, Defrain said that the team has been focusing on marketing and
getting the word out. That’s why graduate student Lara Law got involved. “We drew Lara in so we could have someone to do that,” Defrain said. “We had a website that was not meeting our threshold for accessibility and so forth, and so we took that completely down, and Lara’s kind of helping with the redesign of that.” Law just started this semester and assisted in writing a grant proposal. “We just finished that last weekend and that’s been submitted and now it’s just the waiting game,” Law said. Now, she’s been focusing on ways to get the word out. Law took Defrain’s graphic novel class last semester and was intrigued by the conversations they had in that class. Read the rest at www.thesunflower.com
Deloitte Smart Factory launches design contest design, and the final design will be created on a vinyl wrap that will be placed on the container,” Wilbanks said.
BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_ KSmith
Students can win a $1,500 prize by winning the Deloitte Smart Factory storage container commission design contest. The winner will have their design displayed inside the Smart Factory on innovation campus and be invited to the grand opening. Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 13. Deloitte Marketing Specialist Macy Wilbanks said that the contest is a way for the factory to further their mission of collaboration. “One of the founding principles of The Smart Factory at Wichita is community,” Wilbanks said. “By offering this contest for WSU students, it gives us the opportunity to connect with the WSU community and make a lasting impact on campus while giving students the opportunity to boost their resume and hone their design skills.” Students need to submit three samples from their portfolio and a short vision statement that explains their design. “We will coach the winner through creating the container
SUBMISSION Submission deadline: FEBRUARY 13 Submission info: • three samples from your portfolio • a short statement that explains the design Prize: • $1,500 • design featured in factory •invitation to the factory’s grand opening
Committee hopes to help first generation students combat imposter syndrome BY MITCHELL ADAMSON meadamson@shockers.wichita.edu
Being a first generation student can be intimidating. Walking into an unfamiliar classroom, conversing with students with different backgrounds and adapting to a new engaging environment can be isolating for many students. The First Generation Affinity Committee is a group of WSU employees who relate to these experiences , now mentoring other first generation students. They help make others aware of struggles that are not often talked about. Comittee leader Jessica Walles experienced these same feelings when she started college — which is a major factor why she wanted to be a part of the committee. “As a first generation student you feel that you don’t belong, that everyone else knows a secret
that you aren’t privy to because they know how to navigate these systems because they have been in these systems,” Walles said. The committee was formed in 2019 with the help of Vice President for Strategic Engagement Kaye Monk-Morgan and Bobby Berry, assistant dean for the college of applied studies. Monk-Morgan said that the university must recognize that a lot of the “do’s and dont’s” of college many students know first generation students may n,ot be familiar with. This committee is to help those students get the mentorship they need to flourish. Walles said that the group started out in a small room in the Rhatigan Student Center, serving as a space to hear people’s ideas. Fifty people attended — over half of what they expected to show up. “It was a very raw hour,” Walles said. “People were very
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 © 2022 The Sunflower. This newspaper, its design and its contents are copyrighted.
transparent. People said, ‘This is something we have struggled with our whole careers, not knowing if we should be here’ … It was definitely eye-opening that this was needed on campus.” Although there was already a First Generation Coordinating council in place, these members felt like more could be done. Members of the committee, even as a staff member, said often they felt that they were still going through the process of being the first in their respective areas. “We wanted to create a mentorship program among the first generation professionals and work closely with the first generation coordinating committee,” Walles said. “Be able to reach out to students and mentor them as well.” Walles said that one of the major problems for first generation students and faculty is the novel ‘imposter syndrome.’
“We wanted to create a mentorship program among the first generation professionals and work closely with the first generation coordinating committee ... to be able to reach out to students and mentor them as well.”
- Jessica Walles
“You feel like you don’t belong,” Walles said. “You walk into a room and feel that you aren’t as educated as these other people.” This feeling can often cause anxiety and negatively affect people’s college experience. Monk-Morgan said that there are practical ways for these issues to be addressed. She said that reinforcement of belonging is the
EDITOR IN CHIEF Lindsay Smith editor@thesunflower.com
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NEWS EDITOR Julia Nightengale news@thesunflower.com
PHOTO EDITOR Khanh Nguyen photoeditor@thesunflower.com
SPORTS EDITOR Sean Marty sports@thesunflower.com
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Rachel Rudisill rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu
OPINION EDITOR Emmie Boese opinion@thesunflower.com
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Kyran Crist arts@thesunfower.com
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FACULTY ADVISOR Amy DeVault amy.devault@wichita.edu
way forward. “You belong here, you have done the work, you have put in the work, gotten your degree and position on your own merit,” Monk-Morgan said. Students have also worked hard to get where they are and deserve to be included also, as advocated by Morgan and Walles. The committee argues that informing the student body of these issues will encourage others to appreciate and reinforce a safe and welcoming environment. Not only do students have the opportunity to gain mentorship through the committee, they also have the ability to join the First Generation Student Organization. Students can join using GroupMe through www.wichita.edu or by using ShockerSync. Meetings happen monthly, and give students a space to share thoughts, concerns and ideas
Contact Us 019 Elliott Hall 1845 N. Fairmount Ave. Campus Box 134 Wichita, KS 67260-0134 EDITORIAL
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NEWS
THURSDAY, FEB. 3, 2022 | 3
NO DAY LIKE A SNOW DAY Wichita State’s campus closed on Wednesday, Feb. 2 due to a snow storm that brought 5.5 inches of snow overnight. All classes — even those held over Zoom — were cancelled. Both Newman University and Friends University closed their campuses too, as well as all Wichita, Andover and Derby public schools. The last time WSU canceled school was due to record-breaking low temperatures and city-conducted rolling blackouts to save energy last February.
On Feb. 2, WSU closed for the day due to winter weather. Wichita received about 3 to 5 inches of snow. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
It is snow day at Wichita State. Snow did not keep students hidden inside. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
Snowfall hits Wichita State on Feb. 2. Students were still active at the Steve Clark YMCA. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
The snow left nothing untouched on Feb. 2, covering much of the campus. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
On Feb. 2, WSU closed for the day due to winter weather. Wichita received about 3 to 5 inches of snow. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
The sidewalks were scraped and big piles of snow lined them throughout campus. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
Students are staying inside to avoid the cold after the snow storm on Feb. 2. Eck Stadium was decorated with snow. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
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Sports A
HAVE A STORY IDEA? contact The Sunflower’s sports editor, Sean Marty sports@thesunflower.com
Throwback
A
MENTAL
TOUGHNESS
EXTRA EFFORT
Junior Clarence Jackson gets excited after a big play during the game against Tulsa on Feb. 1 inside Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers defeated TU behind a dominant second half performance. | Photo by Sean Marty / The Sunflower
Men’s Basketball defeats longtime rival Tulsa in MTXE era uniforms BY SEAN MARTY AND EMMIE BOESE
The acronym MTXE, which stands for mental toughness extra effort coined by Gene Smithson, was a mindset that helped transform men’s basketball at Wichita State during the 1978-86 era. This mindset was taken to heart by the current men’s basketball team in a 58-48 win against Tulsa on Tuesday night. The Shockers wore what they called “throwback” jerseys from the MTXE era against Tulsa. “It was a great team win,” Head Coach Issac Brown said. “I talked to the guys about what MTXE means and those guys understand you know… about mental toughness, extra effort and they wanted to win that basketball game for all the players that played here in the past.” The Shockers have led at the half numerous times this season — only to come up short by the end of the game. This was almost the case for Wichita State after trailing Tulsa by one at halftime. However, Brown said his team’s ability to grind offensively had to do with consistent execution on the defensive side of the ball, limiting Tulsa to only 16 points after halftime. “I thought we did a good job at not turning over the basketball
tonight,” Brown said. “Valuing the basketball, taking better shots. I thought we had a couple of guys that stepped up and played some big minutes.” After a career high of 31 points last week against UCF, Council contributed to his team’s “mindset” by putting forth solid effort off the bench. Against Tulsa, Council scored a team-high 11 points in 18 minutes. “Tonight I was just focusing on the scoreboard because I know in the past, like I’d be looking and we’d be up 10 and the next thing we’re down one,” Council said. “One time I told Qua (Grant) just like bring it up slow. We controlled the pace of the game and I think that helped tonight.”
“I talked to the guys about what MTXE means and those guys understand you know... about mental toughness, extra effort and they wanted to win that basketball game.”
- Isaac Brown
Despite having an off night offensively, Dexter Dennis limited Tulsa’s leading scorer Jeriah Horne to two points, while also collecting two steals and two blocks in the
THE MTXE ERA MTXE MEANING Mental Tougness Extra Effort
TIMEFRAME 1978-86
RECORD 155-81
KEY PLAYERS Antoine Carr Cliff Levingston Xavier McDaniel Aubrey Sherrod Tyson Etienne drives toward the basket during the game against Tulsa on Feb. 1 inside Charles Koch Arena. Etienne finished with 10 points, all coming in the first half. | Photo by Sean Marty / The Sunflower
win. Coming into the game, Horne was averaging 16.8 points per game. Dennis has been known for shutting down the best players in the AAC over the last couple years and Tuesday was another example of that. After Tulsa’s Sam Griffin scored 14 points in the first half, WSU put Dennis on him and Griffin was held to three points after halftime. “He’s one of the best on-ball defenders in our conference,” Brown said. “A guy that understands scouting reports. A guy that is always in the right spot. Dexter did a tremendous job on (Horne). Griffin got it going early, and we put Dexter on him some and he
slowed him down.” Dennis’ career has been marked by his energy and toughness, which has transformed him into one the top Shocker defenders in recent years. WSU still has more work to do after their slow start in conference play, but the team views Tuesday’s performance as a start. Dennis realizes how valuable his defense is to the team and will need more performances like Tuesday down the stretch. He finished with 8 points on 2-for-11 shooting in 35 minutes, while helping widen the Shocker advantage late with a key three-pointer. “I can’t have bad days,” Dennis
HEAD COACH Gene Smithson
said. “It’s a big responsibility. I’ve still got to do more.” The Shockers have been struggling to finish out close games, with the last three losses coming by a combined six points. WSU has turned it around in February in years past, with the Shockers owning the third best winning percentage over the past decade in that month. Dennis views Tuesday’s win as a start to getting back on track. “Obviously we’ve been struggling a little bit, but just getting a win at home and try to build on it, for us is pretty good,” Dennis said. “Obviously we’ve got more to do but it’s a start.”
SPORTS
THURSDAY, FEB. 3, 2022 | 5
BY RACHEL RUDISILL
Women’s Tennis wraps up 1-2 roadtrip with victory over South Dakota
rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu
BY SEAN MARTY
Track and Field finishes record breaking weekend
sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty
Shocker Track and Field competed in two meets — the Adidas Classic in Lincoln, NE and the Washburn Open in Topeka, KS — over the weekend. WSU had six top-five finishes across the two meets. Trey Rios, Jackson Caldwell, Clayton Duchatschek, Adam Moore, Yazmine Wright, Paula Garcia, Davis Dubbert and Brady Palen all etched their names into the Shocker record books with their performances over the weekend. WSU set the tone early on Jan. 28 after competing in the mile at the Adidas Classic. Senior Adam Moore’s mile time of 4:01.51 set the new indoor track record — originally set by Alan Walker in 1973. Prior to running his personal best time on Friday, Moore ran a time of 4:06.83, which took him to second place in the Division I Challenge. Redshirt junior Yazmine Wright followed closely in Moore’s footsteps, as she ran a mile time of 4:48.48 and earned fourth in the indoor all-time ranking. While they competed in Topeka, the men’s team had three members excel in the 5,000 meter dash. Senior Clayton Duchatschek finished in third, freshman Trey Rios placed fourth and Jackson Caldwell in eighth. “What makes these efforts even more impressive is not just how much my top three guys improved their personal records, but they did it after putting in weeks of extremely hard training and on their third week in a row of fast racing,” distance coach Kirk Hunter said. The Shockers will continue their indoor season on Feb. 4 as they compete in the Herm Wilson Invitational inside the Heskett Center.
SPORTS IN BRIEFS COUNCIL EARNS SPOT ON WEEKLY HONOR ROLL A career-high 31 points against UCF notched freshman Ricky Council IV a spot on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll. It’s the first weekly award for Council this year. He made the honor roll once last season and earned freshman of the week once. This season Council is averaging 10.8 points — most among AAC players who have started less than half of their teams’ games — along with 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 steal.
MEN’S TENNIS SPLITS PAIR OF MATCHES IN FORT WORTH The Wichita State men’s tennis program split a pair of matches over the weekend. They fell to Tulsa in their first match 4-2. WSU dropped the doubles point and quickly fell behind 3-0 but battled back following wins from Nicolas Acevedo and Kristof Minarak. But Tulsa ulitmately sealed the match. Against Portland on Sunday, the Shockers won the doubles point and rallied to win three singles matches after dropping the No. 1 singles match.
Freshman Faith Turner races during the Shocker Prelude on Jan. 14 inside the Heskett Center. Turner set the third fastest time in the Shocker record books during the KU-KSU-WSU Invitational. | Courtesy of WSU Athletics
With the help of a ritual, Turner makes history BY RACHEL RUDISILL rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu
E
veryone has a ritual. On game day, a fan may wear a certain pair of socks, or a student may only use a specific pencil on the day of an exam day. Faith Turner’s secret to competing well at a track meet includes following a strict ritual. Turner is extremely superstitious and everything she does to prepare for a meet must be the same. Her most important ritual includes calling her parents. “I call my mom and then I call my dad to get in touch with them and get all the nerves out,” Turner said. Turner is a sophomore from Pittsburg, Kansas — a 2 1/2 drive from Wichita. Although her family does not live far, making trips home can be difficult for a student athlete. A family atmosphere is important to Turner, and was one of the main reasons she decided to attend WSU to further a career in elementary education and coaching. The Track and Field family she has developed over the past year has pushed Turner to become the best student-athlete she can be.
“This is a marvelous athlete. This is a special girl and a really wonderful student athlete,” Director of Track and Field Steve Rainbolt said. “We were having a celebration around here when she signed as a senior in high school. Last year she had a good freshman year, but I would not put it in a category of a great freshman year.”
“This is a marvelous athlete. This is a special girl and a really wonderful student athlete. We were having a celebration around here when she signed as a senior in high school.”
- Steve Rainbolt
Turner is a three time academic honor roll recipient and was awarded the academic all conference award in 2021. She is also involved in the student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) as an inclusion officer. Turner finished her freshman season at the American Outdoor Track & Field Championship, where she placed 28th in long jump, 14th in triple jump and fourth in
10x400. She did not make the podium last season — one of her goals — but that pushed her to become better. “This year she’s been a different person, mainly with this leg speed improvement that’s going to translate to long jump and triple jump success,” Rainbolt said. On Jan. 14, Turner finished with a time of 7.51 seconds in the 60 meter dash at the KU-KSU-WSU track and field meet — the third fastest time in the history of WSU track and field. “I have been working hard,” Turner said. “Just how practices have been going, it’s been showing me that my progress is going to keep going and keep building each time, so I was expecting to hit roughly around that time.” Turner continued to make history as she finished the triple jump at the All-Kansas invite with an indoor personal best of 11.76m/38’7”. Turner’s main goal is to make the podium at conference in any of her events — long jump, triple jump, the 60 meter dash and the 4x4. “Step by step, I want to keep improving each meet, each practice and just keep going each time,” Turner said.
Natsumi Kurahashi won a three-set match at No. 1 singles to give the Wichita State women’s team a 4-3 victory over host South Dakota, Monday morning at Huether Family Match Pointe. In addition to Kurahashi’s deciding match, the Shockers (3-2) claimed the doubles point and wins at No. 5 and No. 6 singles. “I’m very proud of the effort today,” head coach Colin Foster said in a statement. “In our third-consecutive road match, with the team battling some injuries and illnesses, we found a way.” The Shockers had just five available players in Saturday’s 4-3 loss at Omaha but got a lift on Monday with the return of Dohee Lee (injury) and Bianca Rademacher (illness), who teamed up for an important 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles that helped clinch the first point of the match. Kurahashi and LingWei Kong added a 6-1 victory at No. 1 doubles, improving their spring record to 3-0. “Doubles was the difference,” Foster noted. “And it was good to have that point and just come out of the blocks with great energy, which is something that was missing at Drake.” Freshman Clara Whitaker continued an outstanding start to her spring with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 5 singles. She’s now 5-0 in spring duals. “Clara really doesn’t seem like a freshman out there,” Foster said. “In the Fall, at times she did, but she also had a great training block here in Wichita in the off-season and is playing smart, physical tennis. I’m excited to watch her continue to develop.” Jacksonville State transfer Harriett Hamilton improved to 12-3 on the season and 4-1 in duals with a comfortable 6-0, 6-3 sweep at No. 6. South Dakota won two-setters on Courts 2, 3 and 4 to even the match at 3-3, leaving the Shockers’ fate in the hands of Kurahashi at No. 1 singles. The redshirt sophomore had won the first set handily, 6-2, but momentum favored the Coyotes after Jana Lazarevic fought back to win the second set by an identical 6-2 score. Kurahashi trailed briefly in the third before battling back for a 7-5 win. “Harriet and Clara played very solid, consistent matches and Natsu was a warrior at the end,” Foster said. “She’s had a brutally-physical weekend but she puts in the hard work in the off-season and earned this win.” Kurahashi improved to 4-1 at No. 1 singles and 12-3 overall. It was an uplifting finish for the Shockers, who had dropped a pair of close road matches on Saturday and Sunday but return home with a victory on which they can build. “Certainly, we’re disappointed in the results at Drake and Omaha,” Foster said. “But if we can learn from those matches, then we’ll be better for it down the road.”
Superfans determined to uplift players with fan interaction BY RACHEL RUDISILL rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu
The spotlight hits Devlin Court and in years past, hundreds of fans roar as they hear the starting line up for the Wichita State men’s basketball team. When the spotlight dims, and the arena lights blast on, there is not an empty seat in the house. That was Charles Koch Arena five years ago. At WSU, basketball is a way of life. Games are a place people can go to have fun and socialize. They get to be free as they scream words of encouragement and yell about the referee’s horrid call. The team feels this support. But this year is different. Ticket sales are the lowest they’ve been in 20 years and the Shockers are getting less support from fans. Despite how other fans may feel, Shocker alumni Heather Marsh and Krista Weaver want
the men’s basketball team to feel supported during their conference season. Going to the games allows for Marsh and Weaver to connect with old classmates.
“They just put on a great time. It’s fun and it’s like a family.”
- Krista Weaver
To help the players feel at ease, Marsh has designed posters for each player. These signs include “You just got Counciled” and “Pohto bomb.” Marsh has also printed out images of basketballs and written a player’s name on each one. When the men are about to make an extraordinary drive down the court or a slam dunk, she gets that poster out to capture the moment.
“We’re here to support our guys,” superfan Marsh said. “They feed off this stuff.” Marsh and Weaver hand out signs to fans in their section, so they can interact with the players as well. Mascot Wu, caught on to the signs during the game against the UCF Knights. He joined Marsh and Weaver with his sign saying “Get Loud.” Weaver attends every game and is never disappointed. As she attends more games, she grows a bond with the players. “We get to know the players and support them,” Marsh said. Whether the Shockers are in The NCAA Tournament or lose every game, Marsh and Weaver intend to attend each home game as long as possible. “They just put on a great time,” said Weaver. “It’s fun and it’s like a family.”
Shocker superfan Heather Marsh holds up her “Pohto bomb” sign after a Kenny Pohto dunk during the game against UCF on Jan. 26 inside Charles Koch Arena. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
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Arts & Entertainment
HAVE A STORY IDEA? contact The Sunflower’s A&E editor, Kyran Crist arts@thesunflower.com
Natural state of mind
William Shropshire dancing to the Harlem Shake during “Cards Against Hypnosis.” Shropshire impressed the crowd when he ran to the front of the stage and did the worm. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
Illusionist David Hall puts a hypnotic spin on the game Cards Against Humanity BY MIA HENNEN mbhennen@shockers.wichita.edu
Imagine you are at a poolside in the Bahamas, sipping out of a coconut — This is where hypnotist David Hall took volunteer students during his Cards Against Hypnosis show last Friday at the CAC theater. “I kind of forgot [what we did] halfway through until [Hall] reminded us that we went to the Bahamas and on the waters, and I was like ‘oh yeah, we did do that,’” volunteer Becca Myer said. “During it, it felt like I was in my true form.” Hall created Cards Against Hypnosis — a spin on the popular Cards Against Humanity game. “I used to do a regular hypnosis show, but I wanted a way to have the audience that doesn’t come up on stage still participate between each routine,” Hall said. “It’s kind of like a choose your own adventure hypnosis show.” The audience was able to choose the fate of their hypnotized peers; Hall showed the audience a card with a space to be filled in by one of two options. “When I first got up there I was really nervous because you’re in front of a bunch of people,” volunteer Gabrielle Matthews said. “Then, you start slowly breathing. Then, all of a sudden, you’re the only person there.” One prompt, in particular,
asked whether a hypnotized student would become Taylor Swift or Beyoncé. William Shropshire took on the role of Beyoncé with Sierra Hunter and Matthews supporting as backup dancers. Together, they danced in time to “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” “I didn’t know that I could dance like that, but it happened and I thought it was pretty cool,” Shropshire said. “When I got back to my seat, everyone was like ‘you could do that?’ and I was like ‘yes?’” Some other prompts included hypnotized students doing the Harlem Shake, meeting Andrew Garfield, and winning a million dollars at a Las Vegas Casino. “It’s just fun to just do whatever,” Hunter said. “I’ve been hypnotized twice before. This is definitely my favorite.” After returning to their normal state of being, students described the experience as incredibly refreshing or exhausting. “I know they say you’re supposed to feel like you got a full night’s rest afterward, but I feel tired,” Shropshire said. “I feel like I could definitely take a nap.” The Student Activities Council planned and coordinated the free event for students to attend. During the fall semester, GA of programming Jordan Urban and Shocker Night Life Chairperson Dylan Bray worked closely
Kristy Mace has her mind blown as she watches magician Becca Meyer complete a magic trick. Mace was hypnotized to believe she was the biggest magician fan in the world. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
together to find a hypnotist to bring to campus. “We found David, and we were so impressed and excited to see what he had to do,” Urban said. “Cards Against Humanity is a huge game among college students, so we thought it’d be fun.” Originally inspired by shows he attended as a college student himself, Hall has performed routines and hypnotized since 2007. In addition to his hypnosis act, he also has a mentalist show with partner Antonina La.
“I used to do a regular hypnosis show, but I wanted a way to have the audience that doesn’t come up on stage still participate between each routine.”
Participants in “Cards Against Hypnosis” fully relax their bodies. Hall compared relaxing to driving a car home from work and forgetting how you got home. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
-David Hall
“We met and decided that we wanted to do a mentalist act together,” Hall said. “Mentalism is kinda like magic tricks with your mind.” More information about Hall’s, as well as Antonina’s, acts can be found on their website, admentalists.com, or Instagram, @ admentalists. “The dude was cool,” Matthews said. “I would recommend going to one of his shows.”
David Hall begins the “Cards Against Hypnosis” by asking the audience to vote between two answers. Hall invented the game in 2018 and has performed at Wichita State University twice. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
Still essential, still struggling - Hulu’s ‘Superstore’ highlights the struggles of store employees in the pandemic with episode ‘Essential’ BY RACHEL LYONS ralyons@shockers.wichita.edu
Going shopping is an activity that hasn’t changed since the beginning of the pandemic. Many thought we would be over the paper product shortage — but we aren’t. On the other side, the life of an employee isn’t generally glamorous or comedic. Still, somehow NBC’s Superstore manages to avoid glorification — but provide comedic relief on the experiences of an essential retail employee. “But for now they want everybody to know that, ‘We value our employees’ dedication, you are essential and the true heroes during this chaotic time.’... The SVP of company communications Sandy Sugarman just called us heroes? It’s about damn time.” (Superstore Season 6, Episode 1) While there are a few other gems within this particular episode, this is one of the few that I think most of us who worked in that position would agree with. Suddenly, those people that you Courtesy of Hulu
yell at for not taking grandma to the bathroom the first time you called or because the price of your dry lentils rang up wrong are heroes seen all across news media.
“We’re still essential, but we’re struggling to find recognition and understanding that the situations we encounter are beyond our control. We can’t make distilled water, fruit snacks, etc., appear out of thin air in the backroom.” Although Superstore’s episode ‘Essential’ is dated by words on the screen and realistic early-pandemic situations or references, there is still applicability to our current situation. It just feels as though the writers walked into a store and spent time with the employees rather than ‘shopping and running.’ In all honesty, some of the scenarios from this episode feel like
they are repeating. We’re facing more significant supply chain and labor shortages, but we still face the same attitudes of people who don’t want to recognize the hard work. We’re still essential, but we’re still struggling to find recognition and an understanding that the situations we encounter are beyond our control. We can’t make distilled water, fruit snacks, etc., appear out of thin air in the backroom. Overall, ‘Essential’ deserves five stars for its genuine, accurate approach that I think even those living this situation can laugh at while watching. Even if one only watches the first and the last episode of season 6, as I did - there is realism, and Garrett’s final announcement (no spoilers) will tug at your heartstrings no matter what you do for a living. NBC’s Superstore is available for streaming on Hulu, and all six seasons are available for purchase on YouTube, Google Play, and iTunes.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
THURSDAY, FEB. 3, 2022 | 7
SAC HOST THEIR FIRST-EVER FORMAL LATER THIS MONTH BY KYRAN CRIST arts@thesunflower.com
Selfie stations, food and dancing will be provided for the WSU community at Student Activities Council’s first formal l later this month. SAC plans to bring a night of dancing and fun for those who may have missed their high school formal due to COVID-19, or students who are just looking for a night to dress up and be with friends. SAC president Maureen Wetta said the council has been excited for the event for the last couple of years — as long as it has been in discussion. “SAC decided to host this event because we noticed that the school was asking for a campus-wide dance,” Wetta said. “It has been talked about for years and it never happened and we wanted to be the organization to hop on it. We hoped to start a new Shocker
tradition that we can continue after this year.” Students can register online at wichita.edu/sac. Just like any other campus event, student tickets are free. Employees can get tickets for $5 and the general public for $8. Tickets must be reserved in advance and formal attire is encouraged. “We want to see everyone in their best dress,” Wetta said. “If everyone is able to come to celebrate, it will make the event ten times better so make sure you bring all of your friends.” Wetta said that since this is the event’s first year, the council can focus on planning it without any pressure or expectations. “Our hope is to also give the experience to the freshman and sophomores who didn’t have their formals/proms in high school due to COVID, so we want this night to make up for that,” Wetta said. “This event is going to be great.” Infographic by Thy Vo / The Sunflower
Illustration by Wren Johnson / The Sunflower
Organ performance major follows his passion for the instrument
Senior Dakota Bennett explaining how each of the keys on the Marcussen organ works. Unlike a piano, when a key is hit with more force, the sound does not change. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
BY RACHEL RUDISILL rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu
Growing up, Wichita State senior Dakota Bennett would run around his house playing William Tell’s Overture as loud as possible on his family violin. He would wake up his two younger brothers – on purpose. To avoid being woken up at the crack of dawn, Bennett’s family decided to upgrade from an easy to grab violin to a grand piano. Music was a part of Bennett’s life at a young age. Although violin was not his passion, Bennett knew he wanted to somehow make music. At the age of 12, he learned how to play the piano. He also developed a passion for playing. When he turned 16, Bennett wanted to learn how to play the organ. “The nearest church to my house was this little Lutheran church [Grace and Trinity Lutheran],” Bennett said. “I walked in one day, and I asked if I could practice and they were like, ‘sure.’ They were delighted to have someone to play organ because that can be a challenge as well. Particularly for smaller churches finding an organist.” Bennett began to play during masses at Grace and Trinity Lutheran.
“Church musicians get the brunt of performing, like all the crazy stuff happens and you just have to keep going,” Bennett said. “I’ve learned I am very jaded to it.” In the summer of 2015 – at the age of 16 – Bennett met his first organ teacher Shirley Weibe while participating in the Pipe Organ Encounter. The Pipe Organ Encounter is put on by the American Guild of Organists. It is a week-long camp where children from all over the country participate in lessons, workshops and recitals. This is what gave Bennett confidence in playing the organ. Bennett worked with Weibe
“Nobody’s brilliant when you start out. You have to realize that and work hard and he did.”
-Lynne Davis
until his junior year of high school. After working with Weibe, he began learning under Lynne Davis at Wichita State University. Bennett said “If you want to study French music, there is no better teacher. She just has so much practical knowledge on the subject,” Davis is the organ performance instructor at WSU, from Michigan.
However, she moved to France for 35 years to study French music. Her professor grew ill and she was forced to stay in France for another year. When she met her husband, she decided to remain in France until gaining her current position at WSU. Since returning, Davis teaches at organ camps. Davis said “He was in high school [when I first heard him play]. It was one of my organ days for kids who weren’t in college who wanted to try this great organ.” “He came up and he played a hymn. He hadn’t had any formal organ lessons, but he was already passionate about the organ.” “He had a lot of work to do. It wasn’t easy. Nobody’s brilliant when you start out. You have to realize that and work hard and he did.” This was the first time Bennett played the Great Marcussen Organ. The organ was the first Marcussen built in America and is the largest organ in the western hemisphere. Since then, Davis and Bennett have built a strong student-teacher relationship. “For me, that should be a regular student teacher relationship,” Davis said. “It’s not all honey and sometimes a teacher has to push a little harder to make them (students) aware of their shortcomings. I have pushed him harder than he
Senior Dakota Bennett playing the Marcussen organ located in the Widedmann Recital hall. Moving throughout the auditorium caused the pipes and echoes to change the way the music sounds. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower
would have perhaps wanted to in his own practice.” Bennett is one of the two organ performance majors at WSU. He was set to graduate in 2021, but will now be graduating in 2022. “Covid threw a wrench in it all,” said Bennett. “If it wasn’t for that, I would have graduated last year.” Even though, Covid-19 paused Bennett’s goals, he was able to learn under Davis for another year. Bennett said “I carry a lot of respect for Professor Davis. I have studied under her for almost five years, longer than anyone, so she has really shifted my style as an organist.” This semester, he will perform his 45 minute senior recital. Bennett said “There is a lot of modern repertoire for the organ, but I will not be playing any of that. I’m a bit of an old soul. There will be some Bach, of course.” Some experiences Bennett has includes meeting three organists from Notre Dame as well as playing music for Glee his freshman year. “The most fun I ever had was my first year. My piano incumbent class with Dr. Justine Sasanfar,” Bennett said. “We got to accompany one of the choirs, women’s glee. It was a good experience. She is a wonderful teacher and there were just three of us, another
organist and a composition major. We had a blast in that class. We had fun, but we learned a lot.” Bennett has learned from others not only at WSU, but from all composers, the guild and his mentors. Bennett also learned how others react to music. “He is very sensitive to other people and their needs,” Davis said. “He is aware of what is going on around him. It’s not just the music. He asks himself ‘how does music affect other people?’ and he sees what it takes to succeed.” Bennett made an impact in the music department as a fine arts ambassador. He was an ambassador for almost five years and is thought highly upon by Davis and her peers. After graduation, Bennett plans to continue playing music in churches. “Making progress doesn’t mean it’s always easy,” Davis said. “It’s not like looking something up on the phone or in a manual trade, which is really what a musician is. It is like being somebody in sports. You have to practice. Dakota has succeeded in that and it’s something other students can learn from.”
8 | THURSDAY, FEB. 3, 2022
WWW.THESUNFLOWER.COM
Opinion Street
WHO DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL?
PRIMAVERA TREVINO SOPHOMORE, FORENSIC SCIENCE
“I’m not going to watch it but I’m going for the Rams.”
PAOLA GODINEZ SOPHOMORE, PRE NURSING
“I’m not going to watch it I never do.”
Kaylee Stout Marketing Manager marketing@thesunflower.com
People that use feminine products are being targeted. Feminine branded products are continuing negative gender stereotypes. The term pink tax refers to the gender-based pricing in which women are usually more likely to pay more than men for the same type of item. According to marielaire.com, women pay more than 30 cents per ounce in deodorant than men do. First of all, I do not like the fact that pink is usually associated with women and blue is usually associated with men. This brings me to believe that if you are a masculine you must like “masculine colors” that society has deemed “boy colors.” The same example goes for women, if you are a girl you better like the femine color that some consider to be pink. I think the color of a product can be an indicator of whether or not it is considered to have a “pink tax.” Colors are not the only thing that is being subconsciously
A&E Editor
“I don’t actually watch any sports... at all. I can understand the skill behind it, I can understand the sheer determination that goes into it. I don’t understand why people watch it.”
Rachel Rudisill Assistant Sports Editor marketing@thesunflower. com
“ The bottom line is, I do not think that humans should be put in these boxes to conform to.” programmed into us at a young age. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, studies show that girls’ toys are associated with physical attractiveness, nurturing, and domestic skills, while boys’ toys are associated with violence, competition, and excitement. If these associations are the ones we are taught at a young age, no wonder toxic masculinity is such a hot topic of discussion in 2022. We are all humans and we all have body hair. Why would you make a certain human pay more to get rid of body hair than the other? Oh right, it is because the patriarchy still continues. In America, a woman that has the same amount of body hair as a man is considered weird or gross. The bottom line is, I do not think that humans should be put in these boxes to conform to. I think everyone has masculine and feminine traits but it does not
Tom Brady should’ve retired last season
Infographic by Kaylee Stout / The Sunflower
matter what category the person falls into for that person to be treated equally. Everyone should treat others how they want to be treated.
The air is now clear. On Tuesday morning, after 22 seasons in the NFL, Tom Brady announced his retirement. I was left shocked, heartbroken, but mostly disappointed. Many claim that Brady is the best quarterback of all time, including myself. He has seven Super Bowl rings – more than any NFL team. He did not make it to the Super Bowl this year, so why end his career now. The only quarterback that has proven to be on the same playing field as Brady is Peyton Manning. Manning ended his career on a high after winning the Super Bowl against the Carolina Panthers. He left the game feeling satisfied about his career. If he retired after the 2021 Super Bowl – against the Kansas City Chiefs – Brady would have obtained the same satisfaction Manning did. Brady would have retired knowing he left everything on the field with a positive result. His last memory could have been proving the NFL franchise wrong. Instead, his last memory is a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round.
Finding the right balance TED talks are not just for your teachers to use between school and work arts@thesunflower.com
FRESHMAN, UNDECIDED
contact The Sunflower’s opinion editor, Emmie Boese opinion@thesunflower.com
Higher prices on feminine branded products is sexist
Kyran Crist
DEVAN HUGHES
HAVE AN OPINION?
There are many tools teachers use in the classroom that students rarely utilize in their free time. The idea of taking work outside of your normal workload can seem unenjoyable for many, but if some of these tools weren’t used in the classroom in the first place, how many people would find them helpful in their everyday lives? For example — TED Talks. TED Talks are informative presentations that speakers from around the world travel to give. Many professors use these in homework assignments or lectures to educate students on specific topics. TED Talks are a great opportunity to learn an opposing side or insight on topics. No matter the talk, they offer a useful lesson. These talks are extremely underrated in Gen Z, maybe because of our short attention spans and the habit to watch other more “enjoyable” videos to decompress. The idea of sitting through
an informational video is something that’s not usually preferred. I think these presenters have a lot to offer — to learn or just spark discussion. Taking some time to listen to one on a topic that interests you is a great way to keep yourself informed and entertained at the same time. There are many great resources that can be used for learning purposes, but these talks are often looked at like homework. They’ve really become more of a meme — a lot of people jokingly say “thank you for coming to my TED Talk” after a long rant. But there are endless topics and different speakers on the same topic with differing views so that there is something for everyone to watch and expand their knowledge with. My suggestion is to scroll through the TED Talks YouTube channel, find a topic or two and watch a couple of videos. They are also great things to incorporate in your mornings or drives when music is too much or not hitting right. Anyway, thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
ANDRUW HOOPES JUNIOR, POLITCAL SCIENCE
“I would have to say the Bengals becuase they beat the Chiefs and I’m a Chiefs fan so I like to see good teams win. They’re closer geographically too and I’ve never been a big LA (Rams) fan.”
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.
Julia Nightengale News Editor news@thesunflower.com
Not all college students are the same. We all have different living situations, goals and amounts of responsibility that we juggle outside of our coursework. College isn’t challenging to complete just because of the schoolwork. It gets difficult when you consider having to juggle school, a job or two, extracurricular activities, a social life as well as self-care that fits in there sometimes. From working almost 60 hours a week between two jobs to earning a salary as a college newspaper editor, I have experienced it all. There are pros and cons to working a lot compared to not working much (or at all), and while many don’t have a choice to not work, it feels like either option means giving up something and also getting something that is more important to you. For me, I am glad that I spent the first two years of my college career working excessively while attending community college. I was living on my own at the time, experiencing independence and taking care of myself, and accomplished so many things in a short amount of time. I had all the money that I needed, and a great sense of fulfillment after a long day. But I was tired. So tired, and cranky after waking up early to work after a night of no studying and partying instead. Frankly, I wasn’t taking care of myself at all. I got extremely sick multiple times that year and no part of my daily
“ In the end, it’s important to consider the pros and cons for your own personal life.” routine was focused on health, only surviving. In a way, sometimes I still feel burnt out from that experience. It’s a lifestyle I could never go back to, but I can’t help to look back on it sometimes and be jealous of the person I used to be. Then, I remember that I live in a society that ties our self-worth to our productivity and I quickly forget that feeling. I won’t pretend there aren’t drawbacks to what I am doing now. Money’s tight, tighter than I would like, but I have drastically improved my spending habits. Also, I was able to save so much money after working that much. Now, I feel like I’m living paycheck to paycheck and am not saving as much for the future. I also developed an insanely good work ethic through working two jobs, and built resilience through the experience. In the end, it’s important to consider the pros and cons for your own personal life. Do what you need to do at this current moment in time. Consider what you are really wanting out of your college experience. There is no right answer and it will help you evaluate what you want to make time for and what you can do without. Don’t try to look at other people’s and envy their workschool balance. You will go through different stages, so try to always look for the positive of the current situation you’re in.
SUNFLOWER HOT TAKES The Sunflower staff gives their one-sentence opinions.
Julia Nightengale: I’m only ok with it being cold outside when there’s snow on the ground. Emmie Boese: Stating in equals productivity. Lindsay Smith: I need a vacation. Rachel Rudisill: The Oscars is the Super Bowl for actors. Kyran Crist: Snow days are a lot more fun as an adult. Jacinda Hall: Workplaces should expect the unexpected.