Issuu

NEWS | 3

OPINION | 5

SPORTS | 6

DEFENDING FEMINISM

“OUR FOLKS”

BLACK VICTORY

Philosophy chair Noell Birondo’s classes break feminism stereotypes.

Opinion editor discusses why some people don’t vote in today’s society.

Volleyball concludes successful fall campaign with final scrimmage.

WICHITA STATE’S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1896 MONDAY

www.thesunflower.com

Oct. 19, 2020

Volume 125 Issue 8

Rick Muma named Wichita State’s interim president BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_KSmith

urrent University Provost Rick Muma was named interim president during Wednesday’s Kansas Board of Regents meeting. Muma has a long history at Wichita State.

“Dr. Muma possesses a wealth of experience and a deep knowledge of Wichita State. His leadership as acting president on two separate occasions has been invaluable to the university.” BILL FEUERBORN Kansas Board of Regents Chair

He began at the university in 1994 as a PA program professor. In 2011, he was selected to serve as associate vice president for academic affairs. In 2016 he was promoted to senior associate vice president for strategic enrollment management. Muma became provost in 2018 and soon filled the role as acting president when former President John Bardo fell ill, but did not serve as interim president. He took on the acting position once again when Jay Golden resigned unexpectedly in September. “Dr. Muma possesses a wealth of experience and a deep knowledge of Wichita State,” said Chair Bill Feuerborn in a KBOR statement. “His leadership as acting president on two separate

occasions has been invaluable to the university. The Regents are grateful he is willing to continue to serve as interim president.” Many faculty members and students have been pushing for him to be interim president due to concerns of appointing someone that doesn’t understand the university. “Getting a person who is not accountable because they have not been here and won’t be here afterwards enables them to make decisions that are not necessarily in our long term best interest,” Director of the Elliott School of Communication Jeff Jarman said during the Sept. 28 faculty senate meeting. The Student Government Association, Faculty Senate, Unclassified Professional Senate, and University Support Staff Senate wrote a letter to KBOR earlier this week requesting the board to promote Muma to the position. The letter echoed the same sentiment as many that appointing an interim president with no history at WSU could have a negative impact on the university. “With the numerous challenges facing Wichita State (a pandemic, budgetary crisis, equity and inclusion), we are concerned an interim president, with little knowledge of our campus and its community, will struggle with the critical decisions that will need to be made over the next year,” the letter states. “We strongly believe it is in the best interest of our community to have Dr. Muma in this role to lead our university and make decisions to impact and affect our future.” In the Sept. 28 faculty senate meeting, Muma said that he is not a candidate for permanent presidency.

MORGAN ANDERSON/THE SUNFLOWER

Acting President Rick Muma speaks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the student athlete center on Sept. 30.

Campus senate presidents encouraged by Muma’s appointment BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_KSmith

Last week, presidents of campus senates banded together to write a letter to Kansas Board of Regents recommending University Provost Rick Muma for the position of Interim President. After the appointment of Muma to the position Wednesday, campus leaders are hopeful in what that means for the future of the board’s relationship with the campus community. “We saw that they actually listened to us, they recognized our voices and took time to read the statement,” Student Government President Rija Khan said. “Knowing that Rick is going to be the interim president, we feel happy and excited that we get to work with someone that we already had been working with.” Faculty Senate President Aleks Sternfeld-Dunn said that KBOR choosing Muma for interim shows that WSU community voices mattered to the board. “If the Board of Regents picked someone else, I don’t think that would’ve been the end of the world as long as they had sort of listened to the qualities that we wanted in this interim president,” Sternfeld-Dunn said. “So clearly, you know, there was a group advocating strongly for Rick and they heard that but more importantly they heard what we

/ The Sunflower

needed in the university and they saw that in Rick. “I’m really pleased with the decision that the board made because it felt like they were listening to our community.” University Support Staff Senate President Randy Sessions said that the reason why campus leaders wanted Muma as interim was to provide continuity. “I think they made a good decision, that’s what we asked for,” Sessions said. “The reason why we asked for that is because we’re in a critical situation with COVID, budget, and everything else and Rick knows our campus and community and we wanted that continuity.” Sessions said that he hopes KBOR being open becomes a common trend. “KBOR needs to be open but I also understand personnel decisions,” Sessions said. “They can’t say things in certain cases and I completely understand that … I don’t know how the presidential search is going to go, but as long as they’re open about how it’s going to be done I think we’ll be good.” Unclassified Professional Senate President Trush Gandu said that she thinks KBOR appointing Muma will lead to more open communication. “I do think this is a step in the right direction,” Gandu said. “I think the lines of SEE MUMA PAGE 2 @sunflowernews

Wichita to be NCAA Tournament host site in 2025 BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty

Wichita will be hosting the first and second rounds of the Men’s NCAA Tournament for the third time, the NCAA announced on Wednesday. The NCAA announced its future sites from 2023-2026 on Wednesday and Wichita was selected as a site for the 2025 tournament. Wichita more recently hosted the tournament back in 2018, and according to Wichita State Senior Associate Athletic Director, that experience made a long-lasting impression on the NCAA.

“On open practice day, you could see the look on their faces like, ‘We’ve never seen anything like this before.’ It was something that reverberated across the NCAA community.” BRAD PITTMAN Senior Associate Athletic Director

“Every time we’ve had the chance to host an event from the NCAA, fans in this city have shown up and represented Wichita very well,” Pittman said. “These events are prestigious and to be one of the 32 first and second-round sites from ‘23 through ‘26 is a huge accomplishment and something this city should be proud of.”

@thesunflowernews

Pittman said that being able to make that impression on the NCAA community was a key reason why they chose to return to Wichita. “On open practice day, you could see the look on their faces like, ‘We’ve never seen anything like this before,’ Pittman said. “It was something that reverberated across the NCAA community.” Wichita will join Cleveland, Ohio; Denver, Colorado; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Providence, Rhode Island; Raleigh, North Carolina; Lexington, Kentucky and Seattle, Washington as first and second round host sites. Pittman recalled some conversations with NCAA representatives back in 2018 and remembers them being thankful for how successful the event was. “(The NCAA Representatives) were thankful for everything that we did and they said that they were going to be back,” Pittman said. “Wichita did a great job and they were happy to be here. They said that they wished everybody would take the pride that we did in what we did.” Wichita and INTRUST Bank Arena are still planning to host the 2021 NCAA Tournament as well, but questions still remain for the tournament. Despite the uncertainty, they are still making plans to host the tournament in March 2021. “I think the biggest unknown is we don’t know what it’s going to look like,” Pittman said. “Predicting what March would be is impossible because we don’t know what SEE NCAA TOURNAMENT PAGE 6

2 | MONDAY, OCT. 19, 2020

NEWS

New economics virtual talk series aims to teach students how to critically think BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_KSmith

Critical thinking is a skill that is valuable and hard to come by, according to economics professor Siyu Wang. That is why she is beginning the virtual talk series ‘Economic Bites on the Go’. “That’s why we want to build this series to help students,” Wang said. “Students who can think well get an advantage and students who do it poorly pay later in their life.” Wang said that the idea of the talk series began when she came to the realization that college students lacked the thinking skills they needed to be successful. “In my experience as a professor I find what is very challenging to teach students is how to think,” she said. “I think there is no skill more valuable or hard to come by than the ability to critically think.”

Wang said that the series will engage working professionals with the student body. “The basic idea is that we want to engage economists and top thinkers in wide ranging explorations of their work, the world, and everything in between,” she said. “We want our WSU students to ask questions and engage with them.” The talk series is not just aimed at economic students, Wang said. The series is planning on breaking the information down into easily understandable pieces. “We don’t want to make it too hard to understand, it’s not only for economic students, it’s for everybody,” Wang said. “Everybody can listen to it and grab the bite size information from those talks.” The series is scheduled to take place over Zoom during the lunch hour. Wang said the reason they chose the lunch hour is so all students can

have the time to listen in. “If students are driving, or on a lunch break from their job, they can click a lick and listen to some very thoughtful conversations,” Wang said. The talks are planned to be held one Friday a month. The date varies every month depending on the speaker’s schedule. The first episode is scheduled for Oct. 30 at 12p.m. The speaker for that episode is Dr. Jason Aimone, a neuroeconomist and behavioral economist. Wang said while she is also a behavioral economist, his work astounds her. “He studies how economic behavior can shape our understanding of the brain, and how neuroscientific discoveries can constrain and guide models of economics,” Wang said. Wang said they are planning on sending the Zoom link out through Strategic Communications.

MUMA

FROM PAGE 1 communication have been opened between KBOR and campus.” Gandu said she hopes Muma’s appointment brings much-needed consistency to the university. “I really felt like we needed some consistency and stability on campus within the administration and I really think that is what he brings to campus,” she said. Khan said she hopes the positive changes Golden made when it came to student voices carries through to the long term future. “We saw that previously the students weren’t heard, then we got a president who changed that narrative,” Khan said. “Seeing that particular change where we were valuing the voices of students and other people who were directly affected by those decisions really makes us feel optimistic and become more ambitious about the goals that we have.” Khan said that she will continue to advocate for open communication. “We continue to demand that change be instilled into the future,” she said.

SCREENSHOT FROM THE LIVE STREAM OF THE EVENT

County Commission candidates discuss mental health, local economy, and other topics during student led town hall BY WYMAN WHEELER wjwheeler@shockers.wichita.edu

County Commission candidates discussed topics like mental health and local economy during the student led town hall held at Newman University on Oct. 13. The event was held virtually with a selective group of college students from all three colleges to ask questions regarding the candidate’s policies and priorities. Current seat-holders Michael O’Donnell and David Dennis were in attendance, as well as candidates Sarah Lopez and Mike Yuen. Due to time restraints, the candidates were limited to a three-minute answer with no rebuttal from the other three candidates. Midway through the debate, the time limit was reduced to two minutes. Throughout the night,

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 © 2020 The Sunflower. This newspaper, its design and its contents are copyrighted.

“We need to fully invest in healthcare services and substance abuse treatment programs in Sedgwick County. Talking about it is just not acceptable anymore. We need to see action.” SARAH LOPEZ County Commission Candidate

many significant points were brought up regarding the future of Sedgwick County during the pandemic. In his opening statement, O’Donnell illustrated his goals for the county moving forward.

“[The goal for Sedgwick County] is to maintain our high quality of life… We have accomplished a lot,” he said. “Up until the pandemic, things were going really, really well. I think I have a track record of results. We got a lot done and we’re going to get a lot more done.” Sarah Lopez made it a priority to emphasize the importance of mental health in her addresses. “We need to fully invest in healthcare services and substance abuse treatment programs in Sedgwick County,” Lopez said. “Talking about it is just not acceptable anymore. We need to see action.” Bethany Collingsworth, a freshman from Wichita State, asked the candidates which area of county government would receive the most attention if they were elected. “The one thing that we need to work the hardest on right now is behavioral

EDITOR IN CHIEF Lindsay Smith news@thesunflower.com

COPY EDITOR Julia Nightengale copyeditor@thesunflower.com

MANAGING EDITOR Morgan Anderson visuals@thesunflower.com

PHOTO EDITOR Khanh Nguyen photoeditor@thesunflower.com

OPINION EDITOR Jeromiah Taylor opinion@thesunflower.com

ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Kaylee Stout photos@thesunflower.com

SPORTS EDITOR Sean Marty sports@thesunflower.com

PODCAST DIRECTOR Audrey Korte podcast@thesunflower.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Karen Galindo arts@thesunfower.com

ADVERTISING MANAGER Noah Merrell admanager@thesunflower.com

FACULTY ADVISOR Amy DeVault amy.devault@wichita.edu

health,” Dennis said. “The problem is over the past 6-8 months, all of our attention has been diverted to COVID-19.” COVID-19 has caused a decline of focus towards behavioral health, which would be Dennis’s top priority. He maintained that behavioral health initiatives would help treat unwell individuals rather than incarcerating them. While the rest of the panel agreed that mental and behavioral health should be the county’s top priority, Mike Yuen gave a different response. “Mental health is a very important issue, but the fact that we have a build-up [of mental health issues] because of the pandemic, tells me that the pandemic is our number one issue… We have to get control of COVID-19,” he said. The full panel is available at the NU Student Life Facebook page.

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.

NEWS

MONDAY, OCT. 19, 2020 | 3

KAYLEE STOUT/THE SUNFLOWER

Philosophy Chair Noell Birondo answers questions during an interview with The Sunflower on Wednesday, Oct. 14 behind Elliott Hall. Birondo teaches a Philosophy of Feminism class at Wichita State.

Male philosophy chair breaks feminism stereotypes BY JULIA NIGHTENGALE copyeditor@thesunflower.com / @Julianightengale

eminism isn’t just for females. Department of Philosophy Chair Noell Birondo started thinking about feminism at a very young age. “I’ve been thinking about gender my whole life because before I was a man I was a boy, who was sometimes mistaken for a girl,” Birondo said. “That’s the kind of reaction I’ve been getting my whole life, so I’ve always thought about what is gender, and the relationship between gender and biological sex and sexuality.” Birondo said he often reflects on the social structures that impact the way that men and women are supposed to move, dress, talk, and ultimately act. He also questions why women are greater targets of violence compared to men and why women have to walk around in fear. These are the main topics that drive his philosophy practice and teaching. “Feminism, as I tend to think of it, is kinda like anti-misogyny,” Birondo said. “Thinking of it like that, it’s always been a little bit of mystery to me why anyone would be against feminism. It’s against

the subordination of women, and it seems like something everyone would be on board with.” Birondo said feminism and anti-racism movements have similar goals. He said that feminism is important in today’s society because women face disproportionately difficult challenges in the workplace, childcare, reproductive access, and health insurance. “The system creates problems that some people don’t have to worry about that are prominent in women’s lives,” Birondo said. “We don’t have enough quality, affordable healthcare for women, which any woman would tell you is an important issue, but the people who write up laws and craft HR policies tend not to be women.” Birondo said when young women are able to see themselves represented at a high level, they know that they can reach for that too in their own lives. Birondo said that this is why it is important for women to be put in positions of power— such as lawyers, university presidents, business leaders, and Supreme Court justices. The skill of critical thinking, a sense of self-understanding of their own lives, and empathy to be able to understand the point

“They are stepping up and saying that it’s important that we all live in a society where everyone is equal. That’s how I think about feminism … it should be a concern to everybody and the hardest part is that it’s not.” NOELL BIRONDO Department of Philosophy Chair

of view of others are the three main points he wants students to take away from his cwlasses. He engages his students by creating a conversation instead of a lecture, having his students turn in questions which they then talk about in class as a group. “I don’t hide from students that of course I want them to learn as much as they possibly can, but I am also learning from them,” Birondo said. “They have something to say and contribute to the topic and their experience

is relevant to other classmates … I only have one perspective so we are going to learn from each other.” Birondo said that even though he didn’t grow up as a girl and does not face the same problems that women face, he has learned from feminism philosophy how important it is to learn from the perspective of others. “I think it’s quite wrong if people assume that as a man I shouldn’t be teaching a feminism class,” Birondo said. “I’ve worked really really hard over the past five years to get up to speed on the current work being done in the philosophy of feminism, like going to national conferences and interacting with prominent feminists all over the country.” Birondo said that one of the most encouraging things to him in the Black Lives Matter movement is seeing people support the movement who are not the target of racist sentiment and systemic racist policies. “They are stepping up and saying that it’s important that we all live in a society where everyone is equal,” Birondo said. “That’s how I think about feminism … it should be a concern to everybody

and the hardest part is that it’s not.” Outside of teaching, Birondo said that he does a lot of research on the philosophy of virtue, or virtue ethics, which focuses on ethics from a point of view of what qualities people have and what qualities they desire in their own children. He has been busy the past two years writing a book about hate for a collection of books about emotions. The collection of chapters are written by authors all around the world. He is also interested in Latin-America philosophy from his travels there and is writing a book on that as well. Birondo said that he has enjoyed teaching at WSU for the past seven years. Some of his best students he has worked with have been here at WSU, even compared to some of the very selective private institutions he has worked at across the country. “WSU is the highest quality, most affordable university in the state of Kansas,” Birondo said. “We have the best faculty and best programs at the lowest cost, hands down. The price of education is really affordable so we get lots of really great students.”

Nutritionist dedicated to help students gain healthy eating habits BY TABITHA BARR tjbarr@shockers.wichita.edu

Junk food or healthy food — that’s the decision that plagues many college students. But Wichita State is doing their part by trying to make the decision easier for students by providing nutritionists at the Student Wellness Center. Nicole Delimont has been at WSU since 2019. She has a PhD in human nutrition and noticed in her DELIMONT years how important nutrition is for college students. College students are usually known for quick and easy eating, which can lead to unhealthy eating habits. Delimont wants to help students gain healthier habits and begin to understand their body and mind. “Food is ultimately one of those weird relationships that we have that nourishes our body,” she said. “Eating healthy can make us feel better, helps our brains grow, gives us energy, and can lead to better focus on life goals.” During the current time of huge amounts of stress, Delimont

wants to remind students to be kind to themselves. “This is not a time where beating up on ourselves about food … it’s never helpful,” Delimont said. For students who are looking for tips on nutrition, Delimont says to start small. Delimont’s advice is to slowly incorporate more good things into their diet, and give themselves time to recognise how they feel. Students can take note of where they’re at, and be mindful of what their goals are for health. The typical format for a meeting is to start off by talking about the person. These topics can range from their eating history, their typical food intake, their needs and the psychosocial background of their eating habits. It truly depends on the student for how many sessions, and what exactly a meeting looks like. “We work on that together,” Delimont said. To schedule a consultation with Delimont, students can call the Student Health Center and ask for an appointment. She sees many patients including athletes who want to improve their performance, those who want to shift their nutrition habits, those who have eating disorders, and those with chronic disease.

THE SUNFLOWER NEWS PODCAST

4 | MONDAY, OCT. 19, 2020

NEWS

Hours before resignation, Golden promoted his upcoming installation ceremony to donors

FILE PHOTO: EASTON THOMPSON/THE SUNFLOWER

Jay Golden, the new president of Wichita State University, answers questions from members of the press on Thursday, Oct. 31 in the Rhatigan Student Center.

A look at the former president’s calendar and the interactions he had with faculty and staff suggests the days leading up to his resignation were ordinary. BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_KSmith

Hours before Jay Golden resigned as president of the university on Sept. 25, he attended the Foundation’s National Advisory Council meeting, where he teased his installation ceremony scheduled for October. “I’m going to pull the curtain back a little bit but not fully, I’m being selfish,” Golden said in his presentation. “October 26th is the installation, basically to the one year date of my announcement we had to push it back, so I want to keep a few things behind the curtain if you will, so I can roll them out at the installation.” Golden resigned Sept. 25, just shy of nine months on the job. His resignation came roughly three months after donors threatened to pull funding if the Board of Regents didn’t fire him over his decision to move Ivanka Trump’s WSU Tech commencement speech from keynote to optional. The board gave no explanation for his resignation. Through open records requests, The Sunflower has obtained and reviewed Golden’s calendar and his email exchanges for the weeks leading up to his resignation. Of the 849 pages of emails, the university fully redacted six of them. Several calendar items were redacted as well. In town halls, meetings and other communication during the week of his resignation, Golden consistently talked about plans and initiatives for the university — right up through the morning on the day he resigned.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 18 — ONE WEEK BEFORE RESIGNATION Golden held a town hall over Zoom for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, where he discussed grant proposals, an upcoming meeting with Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, and an op-ed he had written, plus plans for more in the future. He also had a town hall for the honors college faculty and staff, and three Zoom meetings with various individuals, according to his calendar.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 20 — FIVE DAYS BEFORE RESIGNATION From 12:30-1:30 Golden attended his dog Rudy’s dog training.

MONDAY, SEPT. 21 — FOUR DAYS BEFORE RESIGNATION From 10 -11:30a.m. Golden set aside time to prepare for a Chamber of Commerce speech, which was scheduled for Sept. 29, four days after Golden’s resignation. From 11:30-1p.m. Golden attended the REAP conference over Zoom, where he served as the keynote speaker. He also had a financials briefing, and a dinner set aside to discuss digital transformations.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 24 — ONE DAY BEFORE RESIGNATION Golden began his day at a WSU Board of Trustees meeting, and then moved on to the Wichita State Innovation Alliance board meeting. He then attended a tour of the Kansas Health Science Center with

Rick Muma, provost. Golden also had an interview with KSN about the new smart factory coming to WSU.

editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_KSmith

The Student Senate passed a resolution Wednesday that encourages young people to work the polls for the upcoming election. To be a poll worker, individuals must be registered to vote in Sedgwick County. The compensation is $9.50 an hour. “Poll workers are critical to our democracy and I thought it was critical to bring this to the senate,” Government Relations Chair Ella

Perkins, who authored the resolution, said. Perkins said that getting young people to fill this role is even more important in 2020 because of the harsh realities of the COVID-19 pandemic and what that could mean for older poll workers. “Historically this role has primarily been filled by an older population of people in the United States … that is not possible with the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Perkins said. “I think it is important that

SEPTEMBER 25

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25 — THE DAY OF RESIGNATION Golden attended the National Advisory Council meeting, a board set up through the WSU Foundation made up of WSU alumni and donors in Wichita and across the country, where he discussed the university’s growth, goals for the future, and more. During the questioning period, Golden was asked about his relationship with donors after the Ivanka Trump situation in June. “The donors we know were upset ... for a number of reasons, we’ve reached out collectively,” Golden said. “Without naming names, I’ve had dinners recently with some ... at the end, they’re making overtures trying to help the university on a couple of projects. “I think time does heal. I think having conversations heals.” The last question asked of Golden was about rumors concerning head basketball coach Gregg Marshall and problems with former players. That was two weeks before stories in The Athletic and Stadium made public an investigation of Marshall for misconduct. Golden said that he couldn’t answer that question due to personnel reasons. After the meeting, Golden met with Kansas Board of Regents President Blake Flanders in Golden’s office at 11:45a.m. to 12:45p.m. At 2:18p.m., KBOR announced Golden’s resignation.

Student Senate passes resolution encouraging students to work polls BY LINDSAY SMITH

THE LAST GOLDEN DAY

young people are aware of this need and are aware that they can fill this need.” Senator Aaron Mounts spoke in favor of the resolution. “I am actually going to be a poll worker in this election,” Mounts said. “I think it’s really important that everyone does their part and especially I assume most people vote early … so you’ll be free election day to help run the polls. I highly encourage everyone to do that.” The bill passed with unanimous consent.

Nac Business Meeting (Marriott Hotel)

8:00 - 8:30 AM

Drive to office

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM

KBOR announced Golden’s resignation

7:45 - 11:45 AM

Notes

11:15 - 11:30 AM

Blake Flanders and Jay Golden (President’s office)

2:18 PM

Eighteen faculty members approved for faculty buyout program BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_KSmith

Eighteen eligible faculty members were approved for the The Voluntary Separation Incentive Program for Retirement (VSIP), a program that offers a retirement benefit equal to their 2021 budgeted annual base salary. The program was announced Sept. 4 via an email sent to faculty. The program was created to “manage the ongoing fiscal health” of the university and to cut costs in the future. Faculty

members who were approved will separate employment from WSU on Dec. 26. The program was eligible for faculty members 62 and older who had completed at least 10 years of service in a benefits-eligible position prior to applying for the program. “This voluntary program is an effort to provide employees an opportunity to fast track their retirement while providing university leaders budget flexibility,” the university’s website states.

MONDAY, OCT. 19, 2020 | 5

WWW.THESUNFLOWER.COM

Opinion

HAVE AN OPINION?

contact The Sunflower’s opinion editor, Jeromiah Taylor opinion@thesunflower.com

t e e tr S Why “our folks” may not vote Jeromiah Taylor Opinion Editor opinion@thesunflower.com

I grew up in a world of outdated duplexes, summer latchkey, frozen food and used cars. A world I have often smugly described as “working class.” A world which for many years afforded me the intoxicating superiority of having a chip on my shoulder. Of having deluded myself into thinking that I was “self-made.” The world I grew up in was characterized by delayed gratification, thwarted ambitions, meager pleasure and frequent suffering. A world that felt precarious - where debt was managed, insurance companies fought with, and where the needs of children amounted to serious hardship for their parents. It was also a world where one begins working at 16 not 14. Where at one’s first job, one makes an amount of money meaningfully smaller than that made by their parents. Where with that meaningfully smaller amount of money one buys things which one wants for oneself, not which one needs for one’s family. A world where one goes to the dentist every six months. A world where books are bought, not borrowed. It is a world recognizable to many as the beleaguered middle class of the

21st century. There is another world. One that I did not know existed until I fell in love with someone who lives in it. This is a world where toothaches are endured and not treated. Where graduating highschool is not a nominal rite of passage but a real feat in the face of odds. Where narcotics are as hard to avoid as jail time. A world where work is something that precludes living. Where work is constant and grueling. A world where the goings on of making a living, and in the spare moments having fun, are the chief concerns. Where life happens to you, often unfairly, and with little advance warning. This is a world that is indisputably real, concerned with the obvious, the tangible, the immediate where anything that is necessary cannot be presumed upon, where there is no vantage point, no basis for speculation. The world I am describing is not an exotic place. It is the world of many Americans today. A group of people who despite facing rapidly increasing housing and healthcare costs have not, according to the Pew Research Center, seen an increase in wealth in two decades and whose wages have the same purchasing power as they did 40 years ago. A group of people, the large minority of whom, do not vote. A group of people who in certain

spheres of the public imagination do not vote “enough.” The pattern of low voter turnout is frequently discussed. Often pundits attempt to identify a class of people, rarely their own, who are to blame for the latest lost election. Sometimes it is black people, sometimes poor people, it is very often young people. One can scarcely imagine what might be said about young, poor, black people if they were mentioned at all. An example of this type of discourse is this rather indulgent lament from Michelle Obama: “The people who didn’t vote at all, the women, the young people... after all that work, they just couldn’t be bothered to vote at all. Every time Barack didn’t get the Congress he needed, that was because our folks didn’t show up. That’s my trauma.” I wonder what “all that work” Obama alludes to is. Considering that in 90% of elections, the campaign with the most money wins I suspect she means fundraising. “That’s my trauma” is an incredibly revealing phrase. And I think one which the engineers of those expensive losses, those disappointing investments failed political campaigns - can relate to. A certain political class is increasingly appalled at the momentum which populism, particularly right-wing populism, has accrued. It is as if their own

irrelevance is beginning to dawn on them. This does not seem to inspire self-reflection but rather a resentment towards the swaths of the population they perceive to be crucial to winning elections and to whose vote they feel entitled to: “our folks.” This resentment is the projection of a fear. A fear that as it turns out is rational. The fear that the experiment of Western Liberal Democracy has failed. That the inevitable cancer of postmodernity - alienation - has metastasized to the lymph nodes of the body politic: “our folks.” The person I fell in love with, the one I mentioned earlier who lives in the world that is not mine, is my boyfriend. I’m not fond of that label. He is older than me, closer to 30 than 20, and it seems patronizing to call him “boy.” But that is the label we use, partially to avoid the intimidating connotations of commitment which cling to “partner,” and the saccharine naivete of “lover.” “Husband” would be inaccurate as we are not married. So we are “boyfriends.” My boyfriend is ignorant. For instance, he had not, upon her death, ever heard of Ruth Bader Ginsberg. This initially shocked me. Gave me doubts. I thought to myself that it was “unattractive.” *Read the rest at thesunflower.com*

ARE YOU VOTING?

MICHAELA ENSOR

Music Performance and Education

“Yes, everyone’s vote matters and so if not everyone is voting then we will not get the majority. Even if you feel like this one vote is insignificant think about if 40,000 people do not vote that had that same mindset. It is important to vote because even if you do not feel strongly about something; think about your neighbor or friend because your vote could affect them.”

ANDREW HOOPES Political Science

It’s 2020, normalize women covering men’s sports A WOMAN’S WORLD Morgan Anderson Managing Editor visuals@thesunflower.com

Imagine this: you’re on your way to your first major college sporting event. Five years of hard work and practice has prepared you for this moment — you are finally at the top. Men’s basketball awaits. Computer on your back and camera bag on your shoulder, you walk through the darkened media tunnel and step into the arena. You’re surrounded – the lights, the thousands of fans, the players warming up. You take it all in. You’ve officially made it. Retrieving your camera, you scan the floor for your spot and you notice the blue tape and the sharpie-written words that read, “The Sunflower”. The feeling of excitement is an understatement. You begin to capture pre-game photos and test the lighting. Everything must be perfect. As a freshman, you have one chance to prove yourself that you can cover something as important as men’s basketball, and you don’t want to ruin your chances of covering it ever again. Finally, the buzzer sounds and it’s time for the game to start. You sit down on your space on the floor next to nine other photographers — strangers, who all work for different media outlets. You hear the first whistle and the game is in play. Snapping away like your life depends on it, you capture every move, every play, and every shot. It’s exhilarating and it feels like a dream. That is until you notice your surroundings once more. This

time, in more detail.You’re the only woman. . You glance across the floor to the other media spaces on the other side and it’s the same. All men. You are alone. Now, let me ask you a question. How do you feel about women covering men’s sports? I’ve been given two different responses every time I’ve asked this. I get the “Sure, why not? Women are just as capable.” But, more often than I should, I get a hesitant shrug and the occasional comment saying, “Well, I don’t know. Men know more about sports anyway.” This common misconception that women are unable to understand the inner workings of sports, especially men’s sports, has undermined women like myself who are passionate about covering such events. Sports broadcasting has always been a heavily male dominated field. According to a recent study done in 2017, men make up around 90% of editors, broadcasters, and commentators while women make up the other 10%. This statistic, though shocking to some, didn’t surprise me in the least. This leaves me with questions. Is this discrimination? Or perhaps do women feel as though they don’t have a chance? When the norm has always been men, it’s difficult to change the minds of those who are used to being comfortable. As a woman who works in the media field, I understand the difficulties that women face when working in the sports industry. I am one of them. I feel as though I must work harder to show that I am capable of covering men’s sports just as well as my male colleagues. We have this stereotype that we view sports as a joke,

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.

“I am voting in this election as a way to make it seem that my voice is important. This is a privilege that many do not enjoy outside of the United States so that is where I am coming from during this election.”

BRANDON LAM

Aerospace Engineering FILE PHOTO: DYLAN HARMON/THE SUNFLOWER

Sunflower photographers Easton Thompson and Morgan Anderson shoot photos of the men’s basketball team during media day on Oct. 18, 2019.

so we almost have to work twice as hard in order to be taken seriously. If you take a look at the women covering and broadcasting sports in the 21st century, you will also notice that they are all good-looking. And this is not my personal opinion. Tina Cervasio, a Fox’s New York affiliate reporter, said in an interview, “They’re worried about color of hair and how a woman looks… if I was as fat and bald as [some male sportscasters], I would not have that job.” You could have years of experience and a stunning resume, but if you aren’t “pretty” enough, you’ve already lost your chance. This is yet another way men, knowingly or not, discriminate against women who try to step into their “boys-only club”. Take Debbie Antonelli’s story as another example. Antonelli became the first woman since 1995 to be an NCAA men’s tournament analyst in 2017. Prior to getting the job, she spent 29 years as a sideline reporter, worked for the WNBA, ESPN, and broadcasted the ACC men’s tournament. She had years of experience, and was, as it seems,

over qualified. So why did it take so long for her to get noticed? Women simply have more rules and expectations than men when it comes to covering sports. This isn’t to say that men don’t have to work just as hard to be successful in the sports media industry, but there are less hoops to jump through. If women aren’t given the chance to show their abilities, there isn’t room for change. So what’s the solution? It’s easier than you think. Have an open mind. Allow that opportunity for women to show that they are able to be play-by-play reporters, analysts, and broadcasters. This will delete the stereotype that has been in place for far too long. Men, I urge you to speak out and be a part of breaking down the barriers that prevent women from having the same opportunities. Encourage them to work towards their goals instead of demoralizing them into thinking that they should try a different career path. Sports coverage isn’t just a man’s world, it’s also a woman’s. It’s time to level the playing field.

“I am registered to vote but the two main candidates are not in my interest and the third party also has some ups and downsides. Right now I feel like there is a lot of misinformation and I am not sure of who to vote for. After the debate, it is not worth it to me right now and I am unsure if I am voting this year. I have two main candidates in my mind but clearly not Trump.”

JOSUE URIARTE-ESPARZA Biomedical Engineering

“This year I am not actually voting which is unfortunate. I tried to register to vote but I did not make the deadline in time and I was not aware of how the registration process went for my first time voting. As far as the elections are going, I am not really proud of how the elections are turning out this year because there is a lot of controversies and childish behavior.”

SUNFLOWER HOT TAKES Sunflower staff members give their one-sentence takes.

Lindsay Smith: No matter your political party, it’s not okay to steal someone’s campaign signs. Morgan Anderson: Fishing is just lying to fish. Sean Marty: Halloween is the most overrated holliday. Julia Nightengale: This is the longest semester of my life. Khanh Nguyen: It’s not Christmas yet. Elena Kuckelman: In Kansas, we go through three different seasons in 24 hours.

6 | MONDAY, OCT. 19, 2020

WWW.THESUNFLOWER.COM

Sports

HAVE A STORY IDEA?

contact The Sunflower’s sports editor, Sean Marty sports@thesunflower.com

FALL FINALE

MORGAN ANDERSON/THE SUNFLOWER

The black team celebrates after scoring against the yellow team in the fifth set during the Black and Yellow Scrimmage on Friday, Oct. 16 inside Charles Koch Arena. The black team won in five sets, 3-2.

‘We held this thing together’: Volleyball completes successful fall campaign after postponed season BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty

Volleyball finished off their fall season on Friday, as the black team rallied to win the final three sets of the last Black and Yellow Scrimmage. Shockers head coach Chris Lamb was happy with the team’s performance, especially for some of the areas of focus in practice. “We spent a lot of time on team defense and I noticed great improvements there,” Lamb said. “Really excited to see what we’ve worked on since the last scrimmage, see it develop. That was fantastic.” Since the American Athletic Conference postponed the volleyball season until the spring, the program has performed under a bubble while

continuing in their 20-hour practice segments as scheduled. Lamb said that he was happy with his group’s commitment throughout this process. “Our team committed to wearing masks, not going out, eight straight tests,” Lamb said. “We held this thing together, had great practices. I just don’t know how many coaches could be able to pull it off as we did. Hats off to everyone involved, trainers, coaching staff, everybody in our bubble. “I know a lot of people are talking a good game and you can do a lot of things right and still get a positive test. We held this thing together.” Lamb said that many of the upperclassmen were crucial in making this journey a successful

one. “I want to give special thanks to Megan Taflinger, Emma Wright, McKayla Wunesch, some of the older girls that wanted better than what they got last year,” Lamb said. “They walked the walk and they were great and they’re going to keep being great.” As the volleyball program wrapped up their final scrimmage, they will now start shifting down to eight hours a week until the start of the season in January. To this point, the team has used up all of their 20-hour segments to have enough left for the spring season. Lamb said it will be more difficult to stay competitive during this time as they won’t be together as much. “So, we took it as far as we could take it, we got through it without a

Offense takes a step up at Shocker Softball scrimmage BY WYMAN WHEELER wjwheeler@shockers.wichita.edu

In the sixth Black and Yellow Scrimmage of the season, the black team took the victory, 11-9, on Saturday. Two weeks ago, the takeaway from the scrimmage was that the pitchers and defense played their hearts out. The black team was victorious in the seventh inning after a homerun, courtesy of Lauren Mills, who secured the win at 2-1. It was a competitive game throughout, until the final inning. In the first inning, the black team hit two homeruns, courtesy of Lauren Mills and Hailey Martinez. Those hits and a few outfielding errors brought the score to 6-0 at the half inning. Going into the fourth inning, the yellow team was trailing by five runs, but a three-run homerun from Madison Perrigan helped to close the gap. Inning by inning the yellow team chipped away at the black team’s lead, until it was a tie ballgame at 8-8 by the fifth inning. The black team kept the offense rolling though, and they came out on top by two runs.

Head coach Kristi Bredbenner said that she liked what she saw from her team, although she believes there is still room to improve. “Today wasn’t the pitcher’s day, it was definitely the hitter’s day, especially with the way the wind was blowing out,” Bredbenner said. “But you know, we’re going to have days like that. We’ve got to figure out how to keep the ball in the ballpark.” Bredbenner also said that the eleven walks were a concern but was pleased with the competitive nature of the scrimmage. “So, obviously you’re going to get yourself in a little bit of trouble when you’re walking that many throughout the game,” Bredbenner said. “But the biggest takeaway for me is just seeing our kids out there competing, learning what we need to keep getting better at and hopefully getting those competitive juices flowing for whenever our season starts.” Overall, Bredbenner said she has been pleased with the progress of the team since the start of these scrimmages. “All around we’re improving,”

KHANH NGUYEN/THE SUNFLOWER

Wichita State senior Bailey Lange pitches during the scrimmage at Wilkins Stadium on Oct. 17, 2020.

Bredbenner said. “We’ve got a couple of areas we need to see some steep improvement in and I think defense is one of them. We make some mistakes that we shouldn’t be making on routine plays so we’ve got to clean that up a little bit, but I think that’ll be something we do in time, but I definitely think our offense has been the biggest improvement.”

hitch barring a couple of injuries,” Lamb said. “We’re going to back off as we have to by rule and we will do small group training and strength and conditioning. We’ll come back in January and get this thing fired up again.” Unlike some schools that are currently in the season, it has been easier for WSU to weather the storm with the postponement of their season. Lamb said that this was an advantage for WSU throughout this fall. “For some people, they’ll tell you that they can’t get any traction because they have three kids today, kids next week,” Lamb said. “It’s just kids coming and going and it doesn’t feel like a team. We were able to keep it close and tight and together. You can imagine how disruptive it

NCAA TOURNAMENT

FROM PAGE 1 tomorrow’s going to look like. From our seat, we’re pushing forward. We’re planning on being here, we’re excited to host them knowing it’s going to be different.” INTRUST Bank Arena is still hoping to host some events prior to the NCAA Tournament in March. To this point, the arena is working with the Sedgwick County health department to devise plans, which primarily include social distancing in the venue. “Obviously, we’re going to be hand in hand with Sedgwick County and the health department there that we are putting

would be not to have that.” Currently, Lamb has been pleased with the competitive environment that has developed with the team as a whole. “Shockers pulled it off so we were able to have a complete session,” Lamb said. “Young Shockers are learning fast and pushing old Shockers. It’s fun right now, it’s competitive right now. Really good feeling about the team.” The volleyball program is yet to release a schedule for the upcoming season starting in January. The program’s first game would be around Jan. 22, according to Lamb. He also noted that there’s still a possibility that the team hosts another Black and Yellow Scrimmage sometime before their season starts up. everything that needs to be in place so that everybody is safe,” INTRUST Bank Arena general manager AJ Boleski said. “Obviously, that’s the priority in bringing back events.” Wichita is also scheduled to host the regional rounds of the women’s NCAA Tournament along with Newman University hosting the 2024 Division II wrestling championships as well. Visit Wichita’s Josh Howell projects that these events will be able to generate millions into the local economy. “I think it’s going to bring in national recognition, put us on a national stage and it will also allow local Wichitans and even regional fans the chance to come watch some incredible athletic competition,” Howell said.

WWW.THESUNFLOWER.COM

SPORTS

MONDAY, OCT. 19, 2020 | 7

Baseball program wraps up fall season with scrimmage KAYLEE STOUT/THE SUNFLOWER

Left: Wichita State junior, Paxton Wallace gets ready to bat during a scrimmage at Eck Stadium on Oct 17. Top: Wichita State freshman, Konnor Lewis gets ready to pitch the ball during The Black and Yellow scrimmage at Eck Stadium.

Black team dominates Fall World Series, 4-1 BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty

Just like the Wichita State baseball program normally does, they concluded their fall season with the Fall Series this past week. The Black Team was victorious in the five-game series winning four of those games. In those four games, the Black Team outscored the Yellow Team 34-28. Although the Fall World Series is the typical way for the program to end its fall season, this fall season has been anything but that. During much of that time, they weren’t allowed in the locker but head coach Eric Wedge said that improved leadership has been a key factor in making this fall a successful one. “I feel like they’re comfortable yet they’re even more hungry too, Wedge said. “Not being able to utilize that locker room was tough for us because that’s where you build a lot of camaraderie. I think they’ve done a great job whether it be in the dugout, outside the field, particularly on the field, doing a much better job of holding each other accountable as well.” This offseason, the Shockers were able to bring in 18 newcomers with 14 of those being high school recruits. Wedge said that he has been pleased with the

group’s focus on improvement which will be key down the road. “Everybody got better for the most part,” Wedge said. “The guys that are coming back have been here before, have pretty much lead the way on and off the field and the younger kids have learned a great deal in a short period of time. We’re going to have options both from the older kids, we’re also going to have options from the freshmen kids coming in.” Prior to the cancellation of the 2020 baseball season, the Shockers had a 13-2 record along with a 13-game winning streak. As one of the returners from the team last year, infielder Jack Sigrist said that everyone’s improved which will only help them get better as a team. “We’re in a really good place, right where we want to be,” Sigrist said. “So, just continue to build off and grow off that and continue to become closer friends even though we’re already super close. And just continue to roll like we were doing last season is only going to make us better in the spring.” Unlike many over baseball programs in the American Athletic Conference, WSU has been active throughout the fall season which Sigrist sees as a big advantage for this upcoming season. “They were saying that we’re one of the only teams in the conference that

Men’s basketball to open the season with Crossover Classic BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty

Wichita State will open its 202021 season with The Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic played in Sioux Falls, South Dakota from Nov. 25-27. On Wednesday, the tournament announced that the Shockers will face off against Dayton in the first round and a possible matchup with either Creighton or Utah in the next round. The tournament was originally the Battle For Atlantis, which was canceled last month. Seven of the eight teams originally signed on for that tournament, with only Duke opting out of the relocated event. The field will consist of Memphis, Ohio State, Texas A&M and West Virginia with Dayton rounding out the field as a replacement for Duke. The Shockers opening round matchup will take place on Nov. 25 at approximately 8:30 p.m. CT inside of the Sanford Pentagon and on the opening day of this year’s basketball season. Last year, Dayton finished the season with a 29-2 record and were ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press behind the play of Obi Toppin. The Flyers will be without Toppin this

season, as he declared for the NBA Draft and is projected as a top pick. “Since opening in 2013, the Sanford Pentagon has earned the reputation of being a premier place to host Division I basketball games,” Jesse Smith, Vice President of Operations for the Sanford Sports Complex said. “We are privileged to welcome these eight teams to Sioux Falls and will provide them a safe and memorable experience to start their season.” All members of each team’s traveling party will be tested regularly for COVID-19 once they arrive for the tournament. All traveling members will remain in a controlled environment during their entire stay. Fans will be allowed to attend with a limited amount of tickets available for each game. Masks will be required for all who attend and there will be free masks at the door. In total, WSU will play three games throughout the duration of the Crossover Classic to open the season. According to Athletic Director Darron Boatright, the program is also looking to secure four more non-conference opponents prior to the start of the 20-game conference schedule.

have been doing much and we just wrapped up practicing for six weeks pretty much every day,” Sigrist said. “I think that’s a huge advantage when it comes to the uncertainty we’re facing every day. It’s definitely going to help us in the long run that we’ve been able to do all this.” From the perspective of junior starting pitcher Liam Eddy, he said that the Fall World Series will be a key for newcomers especially to see if they will be able to handle the pressures of the big moments. “I think it’s got a lot to do with the smack talk that we talk to one another,” Eddy said. “You’re going to get that in big stadiums and it’s good to get a taste of that now because if you’re not going to be able to handle it here, you’re not going to be able to handle it with fans and in a big conference series.” Overall, Wedge said he was pleased with performance of the program and feels it can make an impact moving forward. “It always makes an impact,” Wedge siad. “It’s how we finish off the fall. It’s very competitive, they’re into it, both teams want to win which is the way it should be. It’s nothing like playing someone with a different uniform on. It always finishes off well if they do it right and they did it right.”

BLACK YELLOW GAME 1 -

10 3

GAME 2 -

GAME 3 -

GAME 4 -

GAME 5 -

8 4 34 - 28

NCAA gives winter sport athletes an extra year of eligibility BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty

The NCAA Division I Council has voted to give winter sport athletes another year of eligibility. Athletes will now have the opportunity to play in five seasons within a six-year span instead of the typical four. Winter sports are set to begin in the upcoming months but are facing great uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the virus still spreading across the country, some athletes might want to opt out of the season given the circumstances. “The pandemic will continue to impact winter sport seasons in ways we can’t predict. Council members opted to provide for winter sport student-athletes the same flexibility given spring and fall sports previously,” Council chair M. Grace Calhoun said. “The actions today ensure the continuation of local decision-making in the best interest of each institution and its student-athletes.” For WSU, the only sports that will be impacted are men’s and women’s basketball. The basketball season was also postponed two weeks with the season now beginning Nov. 25. Previously, the council had also given

spring and fall sport athletes eligibility relief after their seasons were impacted. Some schools and conferences are still playing fall sports but it will not count against the athlete’s eligibility. Some winter sport athletes also had their seasons impacted last year as the season ended prematurely, but they were not given eligibility relief at that point. The main WSU athletes that will be impacted through this decision will be Alterique Gilbert and Trey Wade for men’s basketball and Mariah McCully for women’s basketball. All three of these student-athletes are currently seniors for their programs and will now have another chance to return for the 2021-22 season. During meetings last week, the council also discussed allowing athletes to transfer and be immediately eligible. Currently, student-athletes must sit out a year before being eligible unless they receive a waiver. The proposal also involves the council requiring athletes to notify their schools of their intent to transfer by a specific deadline. For fall and winter sports, that deadline would be May 1 and June 1 for spring sports. The council will vote on this proposal in January.

8 | MONDAY, OCT. 19, 2020

WWW.THESUNFLOWER.COM

Arts & Entertainment

HAVE A STORY IDEA?

contact The Sunflower’s A&E editor, Karen Galindo arts@thesunflower.com

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’ is a love story disguised as a ghost story TV CRITIC

COURTESY OF CLUB NOVA

Members of Wichita State’s only astronomy club, Club Nova, pose together in front of the Cadman Art Gallery. (Pictured from left to right) treasurer Jaidyn Spoon, president Ayshea Banes, social media director Kaitlyn Cowen, and vice president Amanda Perez.

‘It just feels like home to me’ Club Nova members share their fascination with outer space BY KAREN GALINDO arts@thesunflower.com

Is Pluto still considered a planet? What are neutron stars and how fast do they move? Ayshea Banes, president of Wichita State’s Club Nova, knows the answers to those questions and is eager to share her knowledge with others. Banes, a freshman majoring in physics, hopes to inform members about the fascinating aspects of space. “The club is fairly new relatively to all the other clubs on campus … Right now, the meetings are every other Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and they are just informational,” Banes said. “... I hope in the near future to have everybody present something they’re interested in about space. Obviously, mine’s gonna be about neutron stars. It’s just to show how crazy space is. Anybody can be interested in space.” Banes and treasurer Jaidyn Spoon both plan to attend graduate school after earning their bachelors degrees. They also hope to get a

PhD in astrophysics. What interests them both about space is the theoretical aspect of it, Spoon said. “I love the idea of time/space continuum, exploring space on a new plane,” Spoon said. “When we look at space we can’t really look at it as a whole, you have to understand that the idea of space and time works separately … so the idea of understanding how stuff works is kinda cool, especially since we don’t really know anything about space.” Banes current obsession is with neutron stars, which can spin as fast as 43,000 times within a minute. “I’m really interested in neutron stars. It’s insane how fast they move in a single second,” Banes said. “I just like knowing that there is more than what’s on Earth. Just looking at the possibility of life outside of Earth is interesting and it just feels like home to me when I look at space … If I had to choose a way to die, it’d be in a black hole.” Besides just learning about space, Club Nova also organizes

fun space-themed events for members to enjoy. Members recently went stargazing at Lake Afton and are planning to host a Halloween movie night on the 31st, and encourage costumes. “We don’t want to force professionality on people. This club is not professional at all,” Spoon said. “... Our biggest goal this year is to outreach to different students on campus. To keep [the club] laid back so people aren’t scared like, ‘Oh my gosh, what if I have to know about space and they’ll question me about it?’’’ If interested in learning more about Club Nova, email them at wsuclubnova@gmail.com or find them on Shockersync. “It’s a super laid back organization,” Spoons said. “The point of this organization is to promote what astronomy is, baseline stuff, to understand what it is about. You don’t have to have any prior knowledge of what space, physics, or math is. It’s just to get people out there and explore.”

Wyman Wheeler Columnist wjwheeler@shockers.wichita.edu

Mike Flanagan and Netflix terrified everybody in 2018 with the release of “The Haunting of Hill House”. Upon its release, “Hill House” was praised for its atmosphere, performances, and storytelling. Last week, Flanagan’s follow-up series “The Haunting of Bly Manor” debuted, featuring the actors from “Hill House” in different roles and a story that is unrelated to the aforementioned show. Nevertheless, “Bly Manor” captures the creepy atmosphere of “Hill House” while delivering top notch performances and an unexpected romantic aspect that will leave the viewer distraught. At the center of “Bly Manor”, is a chilling atmosphere that completely overtakes the viewer. The production design for the show is top notch. The titular manor is a hauntingly beautiful building. Mike Flanagan, although he only directed the pilot episode, uses the manor in a way that highlights the natural beauty of the massive estate but also captures the unworldly nature that strikes fear into the heart of the characters. Actors from “Hill House” have been recast in “Bly Manor” and they once again deliver star-studded performances.

Victoria Pedretti had a recurring role as Eleanor Crain in “Hill House”, but this time around she is front and center as Danielle Clayton, the au pair to disturbed orphans, Miles and Flora Wingrave. Other returning actors are Henry Thomas and Oliver Jackson-Cohen who play Henry Wingrave and Peter Quint, respectively. The show itself is rather misleading. When you hear the title, you expect the main takeaway to be the ghost story, but that is not the case with this show. At its core, the show is about romance. Four different love stories are told throughout the show and while these tales of love are all compelling, none of them end particularly well in the sense that they leave the audience incredibly depressed. The story as a whole is solid, although it does not flow as well as its predecessor. The show’s climax builds up through the end of episode seven and then comes to a grinding halt in episode eight in order to provide backstory to the ghost that haunts the halls of Bly. Other than that hiccup, the story flows well and is addicting to watch. Flanagan has proven to be the leading innovator of the horror genre, and “The Haunting of Bly Manor” does nothing but solidify that claim. While not as outright horrifying as its predecessor, “Bly Manor” is still a frightening yet surprisingly romantic series.

HOROSCOPES BY KAREN GALINDO/THE SUNFLOWER