Issuu

A&E | 7

NEWS | 2

STUDY SPOTS

SNAPSHOT

The Sunflower’s A&E editor shows readers her top picks for study spots off and on campus.

WSU Photography instructor teaches students remotely from over 1,000 miles away.

SPORTS | 8

SHOCKER CUP The women’s and men’s golf teams weant head-to-head in a three day tournament.

WICHITA STATE’S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1896 MONDAY

Volume 125

www.thesunflower.com

Sept. 21, 2020

Issue 4

Resident Assistants aim to face new challenges with positivity KHANH NGUYEN/THE SUNFLOWER

Junior Wambi Moenga is in her second year as the Resident Assistant at The Flats. Moenga majors in criminal justice and japanese.

BY JULIA NIGHTENGALE copyeditor@thesunflower.com / @julianightengale

While the Wichita community is trying to adjust to life in the pandemic, Wichita State RAs are trying to focus on the positive. “I sometimes do feel disconnected, but I just have to think that even though we can’t connect physically we can connect socially in different ways,” Kiah Nesbitt, a second year RA at the Suites said. The duties of an RA include getting students acclimated to campus, putting on events, helping students with academics, among other things. Because of COVID19, RAs are also responsible for making sure that residents are following the campus-wide guidelines in regards to the pandemic. The current policy states that residents are allowed to have two guests per resident in each room and must wear masks unless they’re in their own rooms.

Wambura Moenga, a second year RA, said that she has been warning and reminding residents of these rules, but because of students violating the rules they are now having to document everything as an incident report. “It’s definitely been hard having to constantly enact these, and with COVID-19 becoming such a political issue even though it shouldn’t be we are scared of how people are going to react sometimes,” Moenga said. “It should be a quick passing conversation, but sometimes people react very disrespectfully and sometimes refuse to comply and it escalates from there.” Moenga said that these policies affect everyone in the resident halls. When she sees someone walking around the halls without a mask, she has to tell them to put one on. “It feels like we are constantly having to get on to residents and a lot of people really don’t like that

“My job means a lot to me. I think my job will take me far in my career, because it’s going to help me with building connections with people from different backgrounds.” KIAH NESBITT Second year RA

part of the RA position,” Moenga said. “We are ensuring their safety and that’s the biggest thing.” If a resident informs an RA that they have tested positive, the RA is in charge of making sure that student stays in their room and they call their supervisors who move that resident to a different, isolated location. “If they ever need anything,

WUSHOCK WARRIOR

they can call a RA on duty and we can get them in contact with the professional staff on duty and they handle the positive COVID-19 cases,” Nesbitt said. RAs are also responsible for delivering meals to the residents with COVID-19 by setting them in front of the door, knocking, and walking a distance away. Nesbitt said that even though her job looks different this year, it still has a special place in her heart. “My job means a lot to me. I think my job will take me far in my career, because it’s going to help me with building connections with people from different backgrounds,” Nesbitt said. “I can build myself as well as grow with others. I really love my residents— they are like my heart.” Nesbitt said that the RAs have been hard at work making sure that even though the circumstances are different, students are

Smart factory coming to WSU hopes to represent the future of manufacturing BY LINDSAY SMITH news@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_KSmith

KHANH NGUYEN/THE SUNFLOWER

The new WuShock statue was unveiled outside the Steve Clark YMCA tuesday. The statue weighs about 1,500 pounds and is a memorial to Steve Clark’s late-wife Judy Broshears Clark. The statue was a collaborative effort between local artists Wade Hampton and Connie Ernatt.

/ The Sunflower

@sunflowernews

@thesunflowernews

still finding ways to build friendships and stay connected. “We have been encouraging students to engage with their roommates, by doing fun things like going on a picnic, going outside, and staying socially distanced and having everyone bring their own meal,” Nesbitt said. “Going on walks, zooming and facetiming friends and playing a game or watching a movie together are ways to stay connected in a safe way.” Moenga said that she loves being able to connect with residents and being able to connect with them on a deeper level. “I really like getting to know people because there are times when you see people every single day at the same time, so it’s like ‘why don’t I know you?’ Taking that step to get to know them is usually really amazing,” Moenga said.

Deloitte and Wichita State have partnered together to launch a smart factory on the innovation campus, according to a news release sent out by strategic communications on Sept. 10. Stephen Laaper, Deloitte principle and digital supply network leader, said in an interview with The Sunflower that the factory will not only be able to help the community, but also the individual students. “Our objective is to demonstrate to organizations how to build a smart factory of the future at scale, that’s really the key,” Laaper said. The smart factory will be hiring a number of students, Laaper said. “If you think about the students, this is going to have an

impact on the student population because now they’ll be able to see, you know … that most advanced leading manufacturing capabilities,” he said. Laaper said that one of the factory’s goals is to expand the vision of manufacturing. “This is really going to represent the future of manufacturing,” he said. “What you’re going to see being built on the innovation campus really is yes, Delloit coming forth with a lot of the different technologies and capabilities, but you’re also going to see an ecosystem of other companies that are joining us in this endeavour. “It’s really gonna highlight the number of capabilities that will be required for companies to really scale this kind of manufacturing improvements.” SEE FACTORY PAGE 4

2 | MONDAY, SEPT. 21, 2020

NEWS

SGA grants RSO status to four student organizations BY LINDSAY SMITH news@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_KSmith

The student senate granted Registered Student Organization status to four student organizations during Wednesday’s meeting.

PHI SIGMA PI

COURTESY OF MATT STAMEY

WSU PHOTOGRAPHY INSTRUCTOR IMPACTING STUDENTS FROM OVER 1,000 MILES AWAY BY HANNAH HOLLIDAY hannah.holliday04@gmail.com

While instructors are having to change the way they teach due to COVID-19, some instructors are having to transition differently than others. This is the case for Matt Stamey, a new Wichita State instructor teaching students from over 1,000 miles away. During the first week of classes this semester, Stamey accepted the job at WSU to teach a photojournalism course virtually from his home in Florida. He began teaching the Monday of the second week of classes. Education is in Stamey’s blood, he said. “My mom was a principal and a teacher for 30-some years, my brother’s a high school teacher now,” Stamey said. “I’ve always wanted to be an educator and follow in my grandpa’s footsteps.” His passion for photography was passed down from his grandfather. “My grandpa gave me his old camera,” Stamey said. “I started taking photography classes in high school and then I started working for my high school newspaper and yearbook.” Stamey quickly found his favorite part of photography. “When I’m behind the lens or behind the camera, everything else disappears. Nothing else matters except for making that image,” Stamey said. “It’s such an incredible escape.”

During his time at Kansas State University he was the photo editor for the newspaper and yearbook, it was there where he found his favorite part of journalism. “I love finding that cool, interesting story about somebody who nobody would ever find, that no one would ever know about unless there was a journalist that told their story,” Stamey said. After graduating from Kansas State University with a communications degree in 2003 and working at a newspaper in Louisiana, Stamey settled in Gainesville, Fla. and worked at the Gainesville Sun where he worked for six years. At WSU, Stamey prides himself on his class being a place for photojournalists to discuss content and learn more than just how to work a camera. “Nobody asks what kind of hammer a carpenter uses, it doesn’t matter,” Stamey said. “The carpenter’s knowledge is in the brain and knew how to use that hammer to build a house. Photography is that same concept where you need to know what the settings of your camera are, use the settings to make the image. You need to have a concept and understanding of how light works and how light from the sun travels and where it bounces, what kind of shadows are created and understand the foundational concept of photography and know that it’s not about ‘do you shoot Canon or Nikon.’ It doesn’t matter.” He also wants his students to

know that because everyone has access to a cell phone, everyone can take photos. Because of that, he wants to prepare his students to be ahead of the game. “I want to give them the tools and the knowledge to be at least one step ahead of everybody else that’s out there taking pictures now,” he said. Teaching during a pandemic has brought Stamey a unique set of problems; however, he considers himself a “forever optimist.” “Yeah, we’re in a pandemic so it’s hard to find photos, great, that’s a challenge. You’re only gonna become a better photographer because you’re having to work harder to find photos,” Stamey said. “What’s so important about photography is that it, especially photojournalism, is documenting history. You’re preserving a moment in time that might not otherwise be remembered.” He requires his students to have at least one person in every one of their photos in an effort to further challenge and teach his students. Stamey is encouraging students to stay patient as they transition towards a new way of education. “This pandemic is something that everybody is going through. Be open minded and patient and just try to make the best of the situation,” he said. To see more of his work, Stamey’s photography Instagram is @stamey.

Charles Koch Arena to be an early voting site BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty

Charles Koch Arena will become an early voting site for the 2020 election, Wichita State announced Friday. The WSU Shockers Vote! Coalition has partnered with the Sedgwick County Elections Office and the Intercollegiate Athletic Association to offer this option to students, faculty, staff and community members who are eligible to vote in Sedgwick County to cast their vote during the General Election. Following some conversations with the Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the coalition decided to utilize Charles Koch Arena

The sorority Phi Sigma Pi was the first student organization recognized at Wednesday’s meeting. “I think [the president] showed a lot of interest and passion about this sorority and I think it would be a good idea to pass it because she was really genuinely passionate about it,” Senator Emily Smith, who is on the ways and means committee and heard the bill’s author speak, said. “[She] showed that it helped her in a lot of ways and I think it could help a lot of other people on campus.” The bill to give it RSO status passed with unanimous consent.

THE YMCA STUDENT ORGANIZATION The YMCA student organization was the second organization to be recognized. The organization’s purpose is to encourage youth development, healthy living and social responsibility among the youth and WSU students. “We’re here to kind of just help the students grow personally and professionally and kind of give them the tools they need to succeed in life,” the organization’s president Denayr Robinson said during after the first read of the bill Sept. 9. The bill passed with 40 in favor, one against, and one abstention.

WSU CAMPUS MINISTRY CONNECTION The organization Campus Ministry Connection was the third to receive RSO status. “Our goal is just to nurture spiritual growth in the academic environment on Wichita State’s campus,” Melissa Hasty, the organization’s advisor, said during the first read Sept. 9. “We accept everyone in because we believe open dialogue is one of the ways to grow your own faith connections and grow your faith.” “We believe that intellectual and spiritual growth go hand in hand.” The bill passed with unanimous consent of the senate.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS Assistive Technology Solutions is an organization that’s main purpose is to give people hands on experience and focus on creating assistive devices to help others, including current projects like building a hand for someone who could not afford to buy a prosthetic one and creating a device that allows someone without a hand to play the cello. The organization’s president Carlos Gatti said they looked into gaining RSO status so they can continue providing their services to students for no cost. “I do this as a charity service, we are working as a non profit basically,” Gatti said. “In the future I hope to get funding in order to give people [our services] for free.” The bill passed with unanimous consent.

WSU updates COVID policy with temperature checks, new face covering mandates BY LINDSAY SMITH news@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_KSmith

Wichita State added a new policy in regards to temperature checks and has updated their mask covering policy, according to the Shocker Blast sent out Friday morning. The new temperature check policy states that any individual who comes to campus should check their temperature and anyone who is higher than 100.4 degrees should not come to campus and should contact their health provider. Generally, the university will not be in charge of issuing temperature checks.

“Work duties, programs, or activities should be modified through other measures such as physical distancing, wearing face masks and/or face coverings, and sanitization, to reduce the need to monitor temperatures whenever possible,” the policy states. The university has also added more specific guidelines in regards to face coverings worn on campus. Bandanas and fleece neck gaiters, non-medical grade masks, masks with filters, and any other face covering not recommended by the CDC may not be worn on campus, according to the release.

FILE PHOTO: JOSEPH BARRINGHAUS

and help to ensure it was a large enough space to encourage social distancing and other protocols from the health department. “As part of the Wichita community, it is important for us to use our resources to support our fellow Wichitans,” Reginald McIntyre, director of marketing and fan

The Sunflower, founded in 1896, is the student-run newspaper covering Wichita State University. The print edition is published Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters and twice over the summer. 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.

engagement said in a release. “Partnering with the Sedgwick County Elections Office gives our local and campus community a safe space to exercise their right and civic duty to vote.” The arena will be open for voting on Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.

EDITOR IN CHIEF editor@thesunflower.com NEWS EDITOR Lindsay Smith news@thesunflower.com OPINION EDITOR Jeromiah Taylor opinion@thesunflower.com SPORTS EDITOR Sean Marty sports@thesunflower.com ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Karen Galindo arts@thesunfower.com COPY EDITOR Julia Nightengale copyeditor@thesunflower.com

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VISUALS DIRECTOR Morgan Anderson visuals @thesunflower.com PHOTO EDITOR Khanh Nguyen photoeditor@thesunflower.com ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Kaylee Stout photos@thesunflower.com PODCAST DIRECTOR Audrey Korte podcast@thesunflower.com ADVERTISING MANAGER Noah Merrell admanager@thesunflower.com FACULTY ADVISOR Amy DeVault amy.devault@wichita.edu

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Corrections

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

3 | MONDAY, SEPT. 21, 2020

NEWS

TAKE THE DESIGNATED DRIVER PLEDGE I pledge that when my friends are drinking, I am the designated sober driver.

Full name: ______________ e-mail: Signature: __________________________________

*Redeem for free 16 oz Coke or CocaCola product at Shocker softball. baseball. and other designated Shocker Athletics Events. Win New Market Square and Rhatigan Student Center Gift Cards and Vouchers. Earn bonus Shocker Maniac Points.

IN KANSAS, YOU DRINK. YOU DRIVE. YOU LOSE. www.ktsro.com/impaired-driving

NEWS

MONDAY, SEPT. 21, 2020 | 4

Community Voices Community members voice their opinions on Wichita State’s decision to not inform students about possible class COVID-19 exposure

FACTORY FROM PAGE 1 Laaper said the journey to bringing the smart factory to Wichita came about after a long research process. “We did a pretty expansive search as to who we’re going to partner with and what product we’re going to make,” he said. “Often as a consulting firm we come into an experience with a client where they make something and we help them improve that or help them in a way to create financial advantages, here, we kind of got to pick the product a bit which was fun.” The smart factory will partner with the STEM education company and will focus on creating education kits for not only the factory’s participants, but also to donate to the community as a whole. “[To create the kits] we’re going to be using a lot of their existing components [and] then

we’re actually going to be custom creating in our manufacturing line additional components,” Laaper said. Laaper said Deloitte partnered with WSU for a number of reasons. “[Wichita State’s] dedication not only to education … but also really a commitment to that broader ecosystem and an understanding that it really takes a lot of different organizations to be able to power these types of, in some cases quite complex solutions,” Laaper said. “That alone was kind of one of the key elements.” Laaper said that even though the factory will include a lot of artificial intelligence, it will still have a big focus on people. “Access to talent in the area, of course, is critically important because this isn’t something that happens absent people,” he said. “While there may be robotics and there may be some advanced solutions, this is going to be a factory that is still going to be about people.”

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5 | MONDAY, SEPT. 21, 2020

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Opinion

HAVE AN OPINION?

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

“Cuties” on Netflix misses the mark Julia Nightengale Copy Editor copyeditor@thesunflower.com

The movie “Cuties” is a failed attempt at raising awareness for the important issue of sexualization among young girls. While the Netflix original brings up several interesting points about the sexualization of women in our society, the movie misses the point. Instead of standing up against the problem, the film does exactly what it’s supposedly standing against. While the streaming platform faced severe backlash after releasing the movie on Sept. 9, the movie has yet to be taken down. The french movie follows an 11 year old Muslim girl named Amy growing up in a poor, conservative family. Amy gets picked on relentlessly by a group of popular girls called “the Cuties.” Amy wants to be liked by these girls and learns that they are participating in a dance competition. She then transforms herself to fit into the “sexy” lifestyle that these girls portray, and soon joins the dance team. Throughout the movie Amy looks for acceptance in the wrong places. And besides the angry and abusive mother who is worried about their family’s reputation, no where in the movie does anyone say straight out that the 11-year-old’s behavior is wrong. Throughout the film, there are many prolonged, uncomfortable scenes of prepubescent girls dancing, involving twerking, gyrating, and looking seductively at the camera. These scenes were disgusting and in my opinion added nothing to the plot. It was very uncomfortable watching these scenes while knowing that pedophiles need only have a Netflix account to get access to what seems

like soft child porn. The director, Maimouna Doucoure, defends the significant backlash aimed at the film by saying, “Our girls see that the more a woman is overly sexualized on social media, the more she is successful. Children just imitate what they see, trying to achieve the same result without understanding the meaning. It is dangerous.” Women being sexualized is a common trend on social media. TikTok challenges where women dance seductively for views, popular songs such as WAP with R-rated lyrics, and OnlyFans accounts for women to get paid to sell their bodies over the screen. If children are not monitored online they have complete access to these videos and can receive encouragement through likes and subscribers. The movie also reminded me of the popular reality show Dance Moms, and I find it interesting how that show was so popular and did not receive near this amount of backlash for many of the same controversial reasons. I do believe that Doucoure set out to make a film that criticized sexualized media and how easy it is for young girls to access this. As a girl myself, I do agree with the message that we grow up in a world with media that encourages us to grow up fast and places emphasis on our bodies before we can even begin to understand what it means. As the girls continuously encourage each other’s dancing through teaching and inappropriate touches, it made me ponder the idea that in today’s society, girls are learning the best way to find approval from people is through their bodies. I am an no means shaming sex workers or say that girls should hide or be ashamed of their sexuality. The real problem comes when young girls base their worth on their bodies and are not taught to find self-worth in other

SCREENSHOT FROM THE MOVIE “CUTIES”

ways. For instance, their intelligence and their kindness. Instead, this movie sets up young women for a lifetime of abusive relationships and looking for love in the wrong places, among other serious things. If anything, I believe that “Cuties” can be a starting point for many muchneeded conversations between parents and their children. On the other hand, a movie that has to defend its message so intensely has obviously missed its mark. If grown adults are not able to understand the movie, one should not expect for young girls to understand the message either. The movie poster itself has misleading advertising, making it look like a fun dance movie for young girls. It is going to draw in young crowds who don’t know any better and who will soon be trying out these dance moves on their own at home. I watched this movie not believing that it could be as bad as everyone said and I came out thinking that it was worse. I cannot fathom how anyone could watch this movie and not feel uncomfortable, sad and angry that Netflix has continued to promote this film on their platform.

Name the pain INTO THE ZEITGEIST Jeromiah Taylor Opinion Editor opinion@thesunflower.com

It is Christmas 2019 and I am laughably unsuspecting. I am preoccupied with the details of a party I am throwing, I have shed the worries of the fall semester, and I am confident that I know what the coming year looks like – I will live in the same place I have lived for the past two years, I will be in the same relationship I have been in for the past six years, my academic and professional life will continue as it has for the past 3 years, and there will certainly not be a global pandemic. By March 2020 I will be single, living in a new apartment, quarantined, working a new job remotely and floundering academically. By April I am deeply depressed. In September, I have found my bearings. I am writing again, in classes, the city is open, I am nearly four months into a new relationship. On a daily basis my mental health is stable. Yet today I am listening to Cynthia Erivo’s poignant recording of the song “I’m Here” from the musical adaptation of “The Color Purple.” As Erivo sings the hopeful lyrics I feel as I often do when I

listen to this song: unconvinced. I understand the wisdom of the lyrics but I don’t relate. I haven’t arrived there yet. I am still young enough to want more than the house, chair, and good days that Erivo’s character gives thanks for in the song. But I am here. That much I can agree with. I exist in this moment. I am walking down the street, the sun is dying in her operatic way, and I am feeling uncomfortably similar to the way I felt earlier this year: deeply forlorn. The emotional sediment has been disturbed. I do not know how I feel. Perhaps attuned. Attuned to the pain that remains. The undone healing. The fact that everything is not okay despite my best efforts to convince myself that it is. The feeling is acute but I know it is crucial. I know I am not the only person feeling this way. The world is undergoing a great trauma. The world has undergone great loss, and more is being taken every day. We have to grieve. I mean really grieve. We have to feel deeply, and state explicitly, that things are not okay. That we are hurting. That the world has not found its balance. That it is reeling. Despite what our western infatuation with anesthetic might tell us, wellness is not the absence

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.

of pain. And healing is the increase of our capacity for pain. To heal we must hurt. We must stick our grubby fingers in the wound. We must be masochists. Only when we learn to live in pain will we have healed. So I walk aimlessly as Cynthia Erivo sings her defiant torch song of tenacious hope. On the bright side I feel particularly cinematic. My romantic sensibilities never take a day off. I feel like Cher in “Moonstruck,” walking home in the early morning, absentmindedly kicking a can down the street as the aria from “La Bohème” plays, the Hudson river behind her. But, in a rare moment of lucidity, I am able to admit to myself that I am not Cher in “Moonstruck.” She doesn’t exist. She is fiction. Even the real Cher is home bound and mask-wearing. God I really do despise reality. Yet it is all we have. And it is ours. We have the power to shape it. Or at least give it meaning. We are in total control of how we react to its arduous happenings. So let us feel the pain. Sit in it. Let us not run from it, deny it. And when we are able, when we have learned its contours like those of a lover’s body, then we shall name it. Once it has been named, articulated, it is subject to language, to understanding, to categorization, it is beneath the thumb of human intelligence. It is no longer supernatural. It is known. After we have labeled this great global hurt, we can put in on a shelf. To be displayed. Remembered. Revisited. But never given dominion. Never allowed to rule as it does in this moment. This pain shall define our age, yet it is up to us to not let it define the next.

By the end of the movie, it seems that Amy has learned from her mistakes and finds a common ground between her family’s values and society’s expectations of her. It’s hard to watch this knowing that this situation could have been prevented through love, support, and proper attention from the people in charge of raising her. As part of the general public, we have the power to not support controversial media that is sending the wrong message to our children. This film portrays young girls acting in very inappropriate and unhealthy ways that can easily be imitated by children who do not know better, even if this was not the intention of the film. If I got anything out of this movie, it was a chance to ponder on the negative effects of social media on the first generation of children growing up with it. The society that we are living in forces our children to grow up too fast. We have the power to let children be children through providing powerful support systems and encouraging their self-confidence in healthy, age-appropriate ways.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg: May her memory be a blessing Olivia Babin Columnist

Feminist icon Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg died of complications from metastatic cancer of the pancreas at age 87, the Supreme Court of the United States announced Friday. It was not unexpected news, but it was devastating nevertheless. The world watched her struggle through cancer for years while serving in the highest court. She was the first female tenured professor at Columbia Law School, she founded the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union and, of course, she was the second woman appointed to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. Ginsberg became a part of American culture. With movies like On the Basis of Sex, documentaries like Notorious RBG, her infamous dissent collar, an operetta — she was a household name synonymous with feminism. The very first scene of On the Basis of Sex is hoards of men walking through the doors of Harvard Law School, and one woman standing out wearing blue. Ginsburg was one of only nine women in her class at Harvard. It was a powerful moment on screen. Many women have felt that moment, been the unmistakable female voice in a room that was overwhelmingly men. The movies, documentaries, books and interviews all make one thing clear: Ruth Bader Ginsburg was not going to live up to the stereotype of a 50s

housewife. She was not going to sit quietly and wait for the men to speak. After she was appointed to the Supreme Court, she received faxes from some of her former law school classmates, calling her a bitch. She responded saying, “rather a bitch, than a mouse.” She was small and shy with a soft voice but loud words. Her dissents have become infamous for their wit and passion. She wasn’t known as a feminist icon for no reason -- her most passionate and scathing dissents came on women’s rights issues. She is why women are protected against discrimination, though maybe not to the degree she or many feminists would like. One of her first decisions as a Supreme Court Justice was a 7-1 decision saying state colleges cannot have all-male admissions policies. It was a landmark case, balanced carefully on years of precedent set by Ginsburg herself and the first woman on the Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor. She was by no means perfect. She was often criticized for her stance on racial issues, her vote allowing the Dakotah Access Pipeline to be built through indigenous land and her decision not to leave the court during Barack Obama’s Presidency. Her death comes with concern over who President Donald Trump will nominate to fill her seat and if Republicans will call a vote for it after vehemently refusing to do so in an election year in 2016. Her life impacted millions, and she was an example of the power, grace and grit women can come to represent. As is tradition in her Jewish faith, may her memory be a blessing.

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Arts & Entertainment

MONDAY, SEPT. 21, 2020 | 6

HAVE A STORY IDEA?

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

COURTESY OF SEAN GATES

Left: Sean Gates at the recording studio. Aside from producing music, Gates works with high school students, making sure they are set on the right path and developing the necessary soft skills for life after high school. Right: “Melanin Sons” album cover art. Sean “IZ316” Gates, a Wichita native, uses music to bring awareness to underprivileged communities and to spread his philosophies to those who need hope.

Wichita native makes moves in the Hip-Hop genre BY WYMAN WHEELER wjwheeler@shockers.wichita.edu

In many ways, music is a universal language that allows people to see eye-to-eye in a way that speech does not allow. Local artist IZ361 uses his sense of humor and passion for hip-hop to inspire like-minded individuals who grew up in rough neighborhoods. Sean “IZ316” Gates uses music to bring awareness to underprivileged communities and to spread his philosophies to those who need hope. Gates has lived in Wichita his whole life. He grew up riding his bike all throughout town, including the campus of Wichita State. As a child he would hang out with his friends in the park and listen to music. In the sixth grade, Gates started freestyling; he was on his way to discovering his passion for music. When he was in the seventh grade, Gates started writing music. “Me and my friend, we had these two boomboxes, and so we took the instrumental from one side and on tape we recorded ourselves rapping into the mic on the other boombox,” Gates said. “So, we made this song and it wasn’t the greatest song ever, but people who knew us wanted a copy of it. For two weeks me and my friend were the most popular kids in school. That was when I knew it was for me.” The neighborhood Gates grew up in was rough and he recalls going down an undesirable

path. At one point, Gates had two children as a sophomore in high school and was in a juvenile detention facility by the time he was a junior. When Gates was in juvie, he was visited by his father who had not been present during his childhood. Gates says he was shocked to hear from him. “I think that society tells us if our fathers or parents are absent that we should be angry at them for not being there. What that doesn’t take into account is that even though they are your parent, they are still human. Initially I was filled with all this anger over my father not being there and I had all these things I was going to say to him about how he was such a horrible person but when he showed up it happened so fast that I didn’t have time to think,” Gates said. “He said that things didn’t work out with my mom and that he was sorry. At that moment I felt all that anger just go, it just released. I’ve been cool with my dad ever since.” Gates let go of the pain and the hurt and put his newfound sense of resilience into his art. He will be releasing a new single in about a month titled ‘Let it go”. Later into his school days, Gates decided that he wasn’t going to let his past determine his future. Growing up in Wichita influenced Gates to attend Wichita State University where he double majored in Political Science and Ethnic Studies. Gates’ field of

study has influenced the content he creates. “I’m a socially conscious rapper. [My field of study] gave me a lot of insight scholastically and a lot of stuff to talk about artistically... It helped because when I’m writing songs, I’m writing from the perspective of someone who’s talking to someone outside of my community. And when I say my community, I mean people who are like-minded,” Gates said. “People who didn’t grow up with a silver spoon. It’s not determined by race, it’s determined by mindset. We had white kids in our neighborhood that had the same socio-economic struggles that I faced as a kid. My field of study helped me understand the things that people outside of my community don’t understand and how to explain it in a way that is digestible.” Aside from hip-hop, Gates works with high school students, making sure they are set on the right path and developing the necessary soft skills for life after high school. He typically works with children who come from disadvantaged walks of life. He helps them plan things out and has one-on-one conversations with them to help them succeed down the line. He also says that he and the students “talk a lot of crap” back and forth about their basketball skills. Gates has also worked on political commentaries and was a member of office for a short period

of time. He says he is currently on the Sedgwick County Mental Health Board, the City of Wichita Civil Rights Board, and the City of Wichita Community Corrections Board. Gates tackles all of this on top of producing hip-hop music independently. Being an independent hip hop artist comes with hardships. Gates says budget is always a factor and name recognition is something that always comes up. Gates joked that he would mention to people that he is a rapper from Kansas and people’s response is typically, ‘There’s black people in Kansas?’ “Initially everyone’s like, ‘A rapper from Kansas? What is he going to talk about?’” Gates said. “Overcoming that can be difficult but then when they hear my music, I think it turns into a bonus, because they didn’t have any expectations, so when they hear the music and they’re like ‘Oh, this guy’s good’ it fares well for me.” Gates’s most recent single, “Top Down (feat. Breanna Marin)” has over 309,000 hits and is still climbing. It has been played on 20 different stations thus far and is the biggest single Gates has released. Listeners can stay up to date on Gates’s music by going to his website, IZ-316.com. His music can be found on all streaming services including Apple Music. His new album featuring “Top Down” and “Let it Go” will be released sometime in early 2021.

BY MORGAN ANDERSON/THE SUNFLOWER

7 | MONDAY, SEPT. 21, 2020

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Sunflower Archives - Sept. 28, 1990

Wichita site for Japanese potato chip commecial BY KYTTRA HESTON

BY KHANH NGUYEN/THE SUNFLOWER

The Wichita State School of Performing Arts Student Council is offering high school students a wide variety of classes, including, but not limited to, acting, musical theatre, basic stage makeup, and dance workshops.

Performing Arts Student Council offering virtual masterclasses to high school theatre students BY KAREN GALINDO arts@thesunflower.com

The Wichita State School of Performing Arts Student Council is offering virtual masterclasses to high school students. Caroline Boesen and Emerson Ross are High School Outreach Co-Chairs for the council. They originally planned to physically teach classes at the high schools, but COVID-19 has forced them to do so virtually. “[Virtual classes have] actually proven to be pretty cool, because there are a lot more opportunities to join our class since it doesn’t take all of the coordinating of ‘Oh, we have to drive there. Oh, what time? Let’s check in with the office.’ It’s much simpler,” Boesen said. They are offering a wide variety of classes, including, but not limited to, acting, musical theatre, basic stage makeup, and dance

workshops. “We are wanting our classes to be reflective of what the students are being taught at the high schools...as well as just working with the curriculum that teachers already have in place and the projects that the students are working on,” Ross said. “...If they want to learn more about theatre as a career or just theatre in college, or WSU even, we are offering that as well.” Offering strictly virtual classes has also made it more accessible for other high schools, specifically when it comes to reaching out to schools who are in minority communities, Ross said. “Minority communities usually aren’t aware of the many opportunities you can get in regards to a career in the arts and also aren’t given a lot of opportunities to learn about them in the first place within high school,” Ross said.

“Performing arts can be notorious for only having opportunities for more privileged people…We just [want to] give [the students] the knowledge that they can pursue arts and that it is something feasible to do regardless of their situation.” Boesen and Ross also hope to bring more attention to WSU performing arts programs to Wichita area high school students. “We are pretty passionate about telling Wichita area kids that if you’re trying to pursue musical theatre or dance, then check out Wichita State because they have a great program and it is possible to pursue what you love,” Boesen said. If you’re a high school theatre teacher who is interested in scheduling a masterclass, contact either Emerson Ross at edross@shockers. wichita.edu or Caroline Boesen at cgboesen@shockers.wichita.edu.

Potato chips have been a favorite munchie in America for years. Now, the crunchy snacks are popular everywhere. Soon, a commercial for Bugle potato chips will air in Japan. The commercial was filmed near Wichita, as a matter of fact, it was cast at Wichita State University. Joyce Cavarozzi, associate professor at the School of Performing Arts, is the casting director for the Kansas Film Commission. “I was contacted by the commission to set up auditions for the commercial,” said Cavarozzi. The auditions were held on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week. The call backs were held that Friday and Saturday. “We auditioned 209 people in every age bracket,” said Cavarozzi. Kris Schindler, an auditioner who was selected to be in the commercial, said she was relaxed during the audition. “As soon as I walked into the room, they handed me a bag of potato chips. They videotaped me eating the chips, to see my potato chip response,” said Schindler. “Then, they asked several questions about my hobbies. It was very conversational.” Julie Beemiller, another of the auditioners cast in the commercial, was surprised by the filmmakers ideas of Kansans. “They asked me questions about horseback riding and square dancing. They thought we were real hicks,” said Beemiller. Five WSU students were selected to be in the commercial: Kris Schindler, Julia Beemiller, Matt Green, Annette Thornton and Heath Norris.

The filming of the commercial was all day Sunday and Monday, and Tuesday morning . “Sunday, we shot at Messerschmidt Farms near Colwich,” said Cavarozzi. “It was wonderful. The weather was beautiful, the yard was gorgeous and full of trees.” Sunday’s shoot was a hoedown at the farm. There was a dance and a barbeque. “It was so much fun,” said Beemiller. “The entire day was like a family reunion. There were people I knew well, some I was acquainted with and others I had never seen in my life.” “The best thing about the shoot was the lunch,” said Green. “We had huge steaks, hamburgers, cole slaw, potato salad, everything.” The commercial was a huge party scene and the potato chips were being passed around the whole farm to everyone. “The theme that runs throughout the whole commercial is that everyone loves Bugle potato chips and eats them,” said Cavarozzi. “Then there is a Japanese man, who is a famous singer in Japan and he tried to get some chips but they’re always gone.” “I think they got some terrific shots and they had very clever ideas,” said Cavarozzi. After the filming was complete everyone went home with $75 in their pocket and potato chips. “I was glad that the producers were pleased with the commercial,” said Cavarozzi. “That is the best thing about being involved with these projects. I know that when the producers are pleased with the results, there will be more projects in the future.”

KHANH NGUYEN/THE SUNFLOWER

Barnes and Nobles is a great study spot because it’s never crowded, it smells good, and it makes you feel like a smart bookworm.

Five study spots to get you (safely) out of your house BY KAREN GALINDO arts@thesunflower.com

Finding a new study spot during this stressful time of COVID-19 is easier said than done. Since I cannot, for the life of everything academia-holy, concentrate at home, I venture out into the public to find a semi-quiet study corner. But, with having to wear a face mask and having to maintain a six-feet distance with everyone I come across, it’s been harder than usual to find that perfect study spot. Below, I compiled a list of possible study spots that can get you (safely) out of your room.

BARNES AND NOBLES Shout out to Morgan Anderson, The Sunflowers Visual Director, for bringing B&N onto my radar. I’m a fan of Barnes and Nobles

for the simple fact that it makes me feel like Rory Gilmore on the hunt for her next classic literature novel, when in reality it takes me three months to read one 500-page fantasy YA book (I’m looking at you “Six of Crows”). Barnes and Nobles is a great study spot because it’s never crowded, it smells good, and it makes you feel like a smart bookworm. What more can you ask for?

THOSE TABLES NEXT TO THE POND-FOUNTAIN THINGY IN THE INNOVATION CAMPUS

I have no idea what this part of campus is called, but it’s where the food trucks sometimes park and it’s right next to the pond with that big fountain in the middle. I personally study there sometimes and it’s so relaxing. Something about being outside when the weather is

just right and hearing the sound of water makes the pain of studying a lot more bearable (dare I say, even peaceful?).

YOUR LOCAL COFFEE SHOPS This is such an obvious recommendation, but I have to represent our local coffee shops! Small coffee shops will not only make you feel like a hipster who’ll be voting for Bernie Sanders despite his failed nomination the instant you walk in, but they’ll also bring you joy the moment the smell of bitter coffee beans hits your face. So take a deep breath and let the caffeine rush through your veins. Here are a few coffee shops in the Wichita area to consider: Fairmount Coffee Co., R Coffeehouse, Leslie Coffee Co, Reverie Coffee Roasters, and the

Little Lion Cafe. Keep in consideration that some of these shops have changed their hours, policies, and may only be offering carry-out, so please call the businesses ahead of time to avoid any misunderstandings. And by no means did I mention every local coffee shop/cafe, so feel free to do your own research to hunt down your personal favorite coffee shop!

RHATIGAN STUDENT CENTER STARBUCKS I know I was just talking about supporting local coffee shops, but what can I say, I’m a basic white girl at heart. You can usually find me catching up on work at the RSC Starbucks, most of the time without a drink since I sadly cannot afford to buy a drink every

week (feel free to venmo me to support my caffeine-efficient cause). They play some nice music at this Starbucks, people there are usually studying as well so there’s no big distractions, and the vibe is mellow. I recommend it to anyone who is looking to study, but not STUDY. The Heskett Center A friend recommended this idea to me and honestly, I wasn’t a fan, but surprisingly, many other people are! When you walk into the building, just walk straight into the lobby area. There you’ll find couches, tables, vending machines, a microwave and have a view of the swimming pool. It’s got an energized feel to it without it being too crowded or too loud. Maybe it wasn’t for me, but it can be for you!

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Sports

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

COURTESY OF MARCUS WRIGHT/WSU ATHLETICS

WSU golf programs return to the course with the Shocker Cup BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty

As uncertainty faces the collegiate sporting world, the men’s and women’s golf program took matters into their own hands to help keep both teams ready for the upcoming season. For the first time in about three years, the programs teamed up for the Shocker Cup. According to men’s golf coach Judd Easterling, there had been too many moving pieces in the past couple of years but feels it was a great experience for both programs to bring it back. “They were all engaged and I think enjoyed the friendly competition and being out and having a good time,” Easterling said. On the men’s side of things, Easterling felt this experience throughout the week helped provide some kind of competition for the first time since the program started back up on August 24.

“It was just great to get the guys back outside, walking with them on the golf course, get them all back together,” Easterling said. “Having a sense of normalcy, a routine, getting back into the working out, going to class, practicing, playing golf together. Just having them back in town, it’s been phenomenal. We haven’t done that since March. It’s been a real blessing so far.” For women’s head coach Tom McCurdy, with the combination of the long break and that the team won’t have a tournament until late February, he was very pleased with the competitive nature of his team given the amount of uncertainty that remains for their upcoming season. “Our coaching staff wanted to get them together and get the juices flowing and be competitive again,” McCurdy said. “I was so impressed with how hard they battled. It really felt like a good

“Our job is to create the best studentathlete experience we can and the coolest thing about it is we finished yesterday and compiled the points and they were already asking when we could do this again” JUDD EASTSTERLING Men’s Golf Coach

college tournament. They were grinding and they were way more competitive than what we thought we would get. It was fantastic.” Given the amount of turnover on the roster, McCurdy was very happy with the performances

WSU Athletic Department forms Shocker Pride Fund to help replace losses in revenue BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty

Through the first four weeks of the school year at Wichita State, both fall sports of cross country and volleyball have been delayed until the spring semester. With the lack of sports, there remain some question marks with the lost revenues because of the postponements of these fall sports. So, the WSU Athletic Department formed a new Shocker Pride Fund on Sept. 11. Given the possible shortcomings in revenue, WSU Director of Athletics Darron Boatright feels that this is starting to become the norm across the country. “Well, I think it’s a common occurrence across the country right now in athletic departments that we’re all facing similar problems of different magnitudes,” Boatright said in a phone interview with The Sunflower. “We know there’s going to be a shortfall of revenues come in this year just due to limiting attendance based on local and state rules and regulations by the CDC.” Boatright said that he already received some interest in giving back so he wanted to give them an opportunity to help the athletic department during these trying times. As part of their donation, the supporters will receive a full tax benefit. Although Boatright is not expecting a lot of individuals to participate, he has already received interest including a gift of $5,000 to the fund. “Any little bit helps,” Boatright said. “I don’t anticipate a windfall of donations but I do think there will be several individuals that are interested. We’ve already had a gift of $5,000 come in. So, we’re excited about that. It’s a good way to get it kicked off and started.”

Throughout the pandemic, the athletic department has been tasked with finding different ways to help save money for the potential shortfall of revenue. The top 11 highest paid individuals in the athletic department were furloughed as well as a 10% cut across the board which effected every sport. So, as the athletic department continues to find ways to save money in various areas, travel has been an important area in saving money given the recruiting dead period that is in place until Jan. 1. “Well, we really have to manage our finances well and really limit expenses,” Boatright said. “Watch how we travel. Every expense has to be signed off on by the sport or department supervisor. Travel for our coaches and staff has basically been eliminated because we’re not in a recruiting period for the foreseeable future. We’re just looking at every line item and monitoring it closely and be able to manage it as well as we can.” Earlier this week, the NCAA announced Nov. 25 as the new start date for the 2020-21 basketball season. Currently, WSU is yet to release any type of schedule for the upcoming season for both the men’s and women’s teams. For Boatright, this announcement didn’t come as a surprise but he still feels that it is important that they continue to find different ways to manage the pandemic and find ways to plan around it. “We’re just hoping that we’re able to manage the pandemic, live along with it,” Boatright said. “It’s not going anywhere any time soon so, we’ll just learn to manage it the best we can. When we have events, we’ll try to do it with safety as the number one priority.”

across the board on his team. McCurdy played with redshirt sophomores Megan Lucas and Chiara Arya and was impressed with their performances and also liked what he heard about other players from the coaching staff. This year’s roster features three newcomers out of the eight players so, McCurdy feels that this experience from of the Shocker Cup will pay dividends down the road in helping to build some team chemistry. “I don’t know how many other college programs have anything like this going on. It certainly helps our team dynamic, our team chemistry. The competitive side is great, far better than I thought it would be. It’’s certainly better than not doing anything but the added benefits of competition and team building especially. I think in comparison to other schools, it will play out way better for us,” McCurdy said.

On Wednesday, men’s golf assistant Matt Walton was able to secure the victory over McCurdy by a score of 13.5 - 9.5 with Meredith Slayton securing the victory with a 30-foot putt. Overall, both programs viewed the tournament as a success with players on both teams already interested in doing it again in the future. “Our job is to create the best student-athlete experience we can and the coolest thing about it is we finished yesterday and compiled the points and they were already asking when we could do this again,” Easterling said. “So, most likely we’re going to be doing this again in October. That can kind of tell you how much of an impact this kind of impact can have on all of the student-athletes.”

NCAA announces start date for 2020-21 basketball season BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty

Nov. 25 will be the new start date for the 2020-21 basketball season, the NCAA announced Wednesday. The original plan was for the season to begin on Nov. 10 but the NCAA pushed that date back three weeks. Originally, WSU was set to have a matchup with Sam Houston State prior to the Nov. 25 start date but this game along with others will be pushed back or rescheduled as needed. WSU had a scrimmage against Kansas State at INTRUST Bank Arena scheduled which will be canceled as the NCAA is not allowing any scrimmages or exhibitions to take place this year. “The new season start date near the Thanksgiving holiday provides the optimal opportunity to successfully launch the basketball season,” NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt said in a release. “It is a grand compromise of sorts and a unified approach that focuses on the health and safety of student-athletes competing towards the 2021 Division I basketball championships.” According to a report from CBS Sports’s Jon Rothstein, the Battle For Atlantis tournament that WSU is slated to take part in will be moving locations. The tournament was supposed to take place on Paradise Island in the Bahamas but will now be moved to the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at a future date. There will also be a small number of fans allowed to attend, according to Rothstein’s report. The Battle For Atlantis also features a stacked field including the likes of Duke, Creighton,

Memphis, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Utah and West Virginia. As part of the NCAA’s decision, the regular season capacity has been reduced by four games, which will cause the maximum number of games to be at 27 and the minimum of 13 games. The recommendation from the NCAA was to have a minimum of four non-conference games for each team as well. Teams will also be allowed to start practicing as much as 12 hours per week starting Sept. 21, with official preseason practice starting Oct. 14. Team will 42 days to conduct 30 practices and players can work out 20 hours a weeks, four hours a day. WSU has not released a schedule yet but could release one in the coming weeks. The American Athletic Conference has yet to announce what its plans are for the upcoming season as well. The Shockers were slated to have some non-conference games against high-major schools such as Missouri, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State and Western Kentucky. It is still undecided as to when and how these games will take place. The NCAA also announced that no Division I student-athletes will part and compete on the first Tuesday after Nov. 1 every year, including this year’s upcoming election on Nov. 3. The AAC had already previously announced that no athletic events would take place within the conference. Although the start date is now official it is not permanent, depending on if COVID19 situations worsen. The date could get pushed back if needed. The Division-I Council will next meet in October when it is closer to the potential start of the season.