WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1896
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Oct. 12, 2023
Volume 128 Issue 8
Basketball shifts into high gear for Shocker Madness BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ sports@thesunflower.com
Shocker Madness provides the men’s and women’s basketball teams the opportunity to showcase their personality on the court before the beginning of their season. The event also featured a performance from the American rapper Tech N9ne, who performed a 40-minute set. Paul Mills, head coach for men’s basketball, said it is good to show fans what a real game would actually look like. “It’s a chance for fans to get to know these players, you can kind of see some of their personality on the court,” Mills said. “They’re a fun group to be around.” Shocker Madness commenced with performances from the Shocker Sound Machine, Spirit Squad, followed by a presentation of all the varsity sports from Wichita State. A 12-minute scrimmage of the women’s basketball team followed, with the team split into two: the “Black Team” and “Yellow Team.” The Black Team consisted of Sophia Goncalves, Daniela Abies,
Tre’Zure Jobe, Ornella Niankan and Sierra Morrow. The Yellow Team played with Aniya Bell, Salese Blow, Ella Anciaux, Jeniah Thompson and Ambah Kowcun. The Yellow Team won, 21-14. After a five-minute break, it was the men’s turn to take the court. The Black Team had Xavier Bell, Isaac Abidde, Kenny Pohto, Trevor McBride, Quincy Ballard and Harlond Beverly. The Yellow Team had Ronnie DeGray III, Colby Rogers, Henry Thengvall, Bijan Cortes, Dalen Ridgnal and Jacob Germany. The Black Team won, 35-31. “We really just wanted to have fun out there and I think to some degree, you saw some of the explosiveness out of some of the players,” Mills said. Mills said he likes the group he has. “They’ve approached it the right way. They’ve done everything right,” Mills said. “Today was kind of more something for the fans than it was for us to get anything out of it from a basketball perspective.” More information about Wichita State basketball can be found on goshockers.com.
Rapper Tech N9ne performs at the end of the Shocker Madness event in Charles Koch Arena on Oct. 7. Tech N9ne performed an hour long set including hit songs “Red Kingdom,” “Hood Go Crazy,” and “Face Off.” | Photos by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
Junior Quincy Ballard prepares to dunk the ball during warmups for the Shocker Madness scrimmage game.
Tech N9ne performed to end the Shocker Madness. Tech N9ne’s music discography spans since the late 1990s up to this year.
Colby Rogers, a redshirt junior, enters the arena as part of the Shocker Madness team presentation
Sierra Morrow high-fives the crowd as the men’s and women’s team lap the arena during Shocker Madness on Oct. 7.
Former WPD officer involved in fatal shooting of Wichitan invited to speak at Forensic Science Week BY ALLISON CAMPBELL news@thesunflower.com
A former Wichita police officer who fatally shot an unarmed man in the back while he was running away from an Old Town club in 2012 spoke on campus last month as part of National Forensic Science Week. Aaron Chaffee, now a special agent and fire investigator with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, was one of two officers who shot 23-year-old Marquez Smart. Two shots were fired as Smart ran, and Chaffee hit him three more times after he collapsed on the ground. The City of Wichita ultimately paid Smart’s family $900,000 in a 2021 settlement. The two officers did not face criminal charges over Smart’s killing. The School of Criminal Justice and the Forensic Science Club invited Chaffee and one of his colleagues to speak to Wichita State students during a guest lecture about ATF’s Fire and Explosive Investigative Program. In an official statement, Wichita State stood by the decision to invite Chaffee to speak on campus. Chaffee and Andra Bannister, director of the School of Criminal Justice, did not respond to requests for interviews. Forensic Science Program coordinator David Klamm declined an interview via email with The
Sunflower, saying that he would “not have the time to meet to discuss a decade-old civil case,” and that the topic of Chaffee’s presentation was unrelated to his past. Sadie Frye, a freshman forensic science student who attended the talk, said this move did not seem appropriate. “I am disheartened to hear someone minimized a human life like that,” Frye said. “Even if they don’t want to speak on the subject, they should decline respectfully and consider the nature of this case.” While the subject matter of Chaffee’s speech was unrelated to his Wichita Police Department history, Frye said he shouldn’t have been invited to campus in the first place. “Initially, I thought he was a great speaker, but I don’t think we should allow charisma to dilute the seriousness of a situation like this,” Frye said. “I remember (in his presentation) he said he is in this line of work solely to protect and help victims, yet he created a victim.” On behalf of Wichita State University, Lainie Mazzullo-Hart, director of news and media relations, said that WSU “is committed to freedom of speech and expression and supports the exchange of ideas and perspectives by those among our campus community who may support or object to this event.”
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I am disheartened to hear someone minimized a human life like that. SADIE FRYE Freshman forensic science student
“It is inevitable that viewpoints will conflict, however Wichita State strives to maintain an environment that is a marketplace of ideas to the benefit of all individuals, where freely exchanging ideas is not compromised because the ideas or the entity presenting those ideas are considered offensive, unwise, disagreeable, too conservative, too liberal, too traditional or radical. Mr. Chaffee is not an employee of WSU,” Mazzullo-Hart said in an email.
THE INCIDENT According to the Associated Press in 2020, while Wichita police officers were monitoring hip-hop performances in Old Town in March 2012, a gunshot was fired into a crowd by an unknown individual. No injuries as a result of the shot were reported. The suspect was described as a male in a yellow t-shirt. Chaffee, one of the officers on the scene, along with Wichita police officer Lee Froese, pursued Smart, who was in a yellow shirt and was fleeing the scene with other panicked civilians.
Evidence later cited in a lawsuit made by the Smart family found that Smart did not have a gun on him when Chaffee fired the final three shots, as Smart was lying face down, unarmed in a parking lot. An empty .45 caliber handgun was later found by police, several feet away from Smart’s body, along with a magazine and bullet casings. There was no evidence connecting the gun or gunshots to Smart, and several witnesses claimed that Smart did not have any kind of firearm on him the morning of the incident.
constitutional law that protects law enforcement officers and other government officials from individual liability unless a clearly established constitutional right was violated, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. In 2020, a three-judge U.S. Court of Appeals panel reversed the decision and left the choice in the hands of a jury. Before it went to trial, the Wichita City Council approved a $900,000 settlement to the Smart family. The two officers did not face criminal charges over Smart’s killing.
THE CIVIL SUIT
FREE SPEECH ON CAMPUS
In the civil lawsuit filed by the Smart family, Judge Carolyn McHugh said Chaffee used “excessive force” and “violated clearly established law if he shot Mr. Smart after it would have been clear to a reasonable officer that the perceived threat had passed,” according to AP News. In 2018, the Smart family filed an excessive force lawsuit against the City of Wichita and officers Froese and Chaffee, according to Estate of Smart v. City of Wichita. The motion was denied due to the court finding “no clear error in, or manifest injustice arising from, its summary-judgment decision.” Ultimately, the officers were found to be protected by qualified immunity, an element of federal
Chaffee is not the first campus presenter with a complicated background. WSU Tech invited Ivanka Trump as a keynote speaker at the spring 2020 virtual graduation, before former Wichita State President Jay Golden canceled the speech after backlash from students and faculty. “I feel like it’s the age-old debate of ‘can you separate the work from the artist … can you separate the identity and reputation of a presenter from the presentation he gave?’” Frye said. “And I don’t think the answer to that is black and white. The information he talked about was valuable and unrelated to this incident, but it does make me feel uneasy to now know what he’s done.”
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‘I don’t ever want anybody to be in that place’: DUI victim and offender speak at impact panel “
BY SHELBY DUVALL
shelbyd306@gmail.com
In hopes of presenting the impact driving under the influence can have, the Wichita State University Police Department hosted the DUI Victims Center of Kansas. The event showcased the stories of Kansans affected by driving under the influence. The DUI Victims Center of Kansas operates out of Wichita. The Oct. 10 panel featured three guest speakers: Heather Plaza, executive director of the DUI Victims Center, Cheyenne Waller, DUI Victims Center’s engagement director, and Bob Recchio, a survivor of a DUI accident. Plaza began with discussing the numbers and statistics behind drunk driving crashes in 2021, including accident statistics and the costs behind paying for the property damage caused by crashes. “(In 2021), 2,158 impaired driving crashes happened in Kansas … so this number is significant,” Plaza said. “I mean we’re talking about just with the crash, people having to go through major, major challenges, and then we start to look at some of these numbers: 856 Kansans were injured in drunk driving crashes (in 2021).” Plaza also said that out of those 2,158 crashes, there were 77 fatalities in 2021, with many happening locally. On a nationwide scale,
The only thing that I had control over in that moment was myself, my decisions and what I did moving forward.” CHEYENNE WALLER DUI Victims Center, engagement director
Sedgwick County has a leading spot in the number of fatalities involving drivers under the influence, according to data from the DUI Victims Center of Kansas. Part of Plaza’s presentation also offered tips on how students can take the initiative to stay safe and take care of each other in potential DUI situations. Strategies include designating a driver, utilizing the buddy system, ridesharing, sleeping over at someone’s house to avoid driving drunk and using your resources to get help if you have a substance issue. Waller shared her experience being involved in a DUI accident. “Once I realized I was in the hospital, I knew something had happened, something bad,” Waller said. “And so I asked what happened, and they told me I hit someone, and in that moment, it’s like someone punched me, (I) couldn’t breathe.” Waller vowed to change for the better after hearing what had happened.
Heather Plaza, executive director for the DUI Victims Center of Kansas was a panelist for the DUI Victim Impact Panel in the RSC on Oct. 10. | Photo by Shelby DuVall / The Sunflower
“Life keeps going after a mistake has been made. I learned very quickly, it doesn’t stop for anything,” Waller said. “Once I came to terms with the fact that I almost took the father of three little girls, I knew the only thing I could do, the only thing that I had control over in that moment, was myself, my decisions and what I did moving forward.” In Kansas, a DUI is classified as a felony. Waller shared how a felony charge can also impact getting a job. The panel also offered the
opportunity to hear the story of a victim, Recchio, who survived being hit by a drunk driver. Recchio lost his wife Yvonne in that same crash that changed his life forever. “I don’t ever want anybody to be in that place because it was, it still is, awful when I talk about it and when I think about it … and it’s also preventable,” Recchio said. Despite the costs of using some rideshare services, Recchio urges individuals to make the splurge. “When you do (ridesharing),
not only do you potentially save yourself … but it saved that other person, that other family from that anguish,” he said. The DUI Victims Center provides resources for those in need. If you or someone you know needs help, contact the SAMHSA National Healthline at 1-800-6624357. If you or someone is in an emergency, dial 911. If you wish to support the victims of DUIs through the DUI Victims Center of Kansas, you can do so using the website or by calling their number at 316-768-2096.
Refika Sarıönder Kreinath, a Wichita State lecturer in German, smiles while speaking with community members Christa Wallin (left) and Christa Nelson (right). Kreinath organized the Oktoberfest gathering on Oct. 6. | Photo by Courtney Brown / The Sunflower
German language department breaks out the apple juice in celebration of Oktoberfest BY COURTNEY BROWN Guest speaker Ustadha Fatima Lette gives “Women in Islam” speech at Oct. 5 event. Lette spoke in Woolsey Hall. | Photo by Monique Bever / The Sunflower
‘Women in Islam’ speech aims to offer Muslim students source of empowerment, solace through religion BY MONIQUE BEVER monibever@gmail.com
“There’s always some kind of Islamophobic type of situation. And the first person to feel the brunt of that is your Muslim woman or Muslim sisters,” Ustadha Fatima Lette, instructor at the Qalam Institute, said. Lette was featured as a guest speaker at the Women in Islam event run by the Muslim Student Association on Oct. 5, geared to enlighten students on the role and importance of women in Islam. Four topics were discussed: Exploring the Lives of Inspiring Women, Understanding Women’s Rights in Islam, The Vital Role of Women’s Education Today and Modern Feminism vs Islamic Teachings followed by a Q&A segment.
Ruqia Ariba, a management sciences and supply chain management masters student, spoke on the first topic. Ariba discussed the stories of four influential women in Islam: Khadijah, Maryam, Asiyah and Fatima. “My speech will not do justice to the reality of their tremendous contributions in Islam,” Ariba said. “But my core self is still choosing to speak about them, in hopes that their greatness will be known and emulated by many.” Lette spoke on the second topic, “Understanding Women’s Rights in Islam.” She said that women in Islam have a “plethora” of rights, but that the topic is common because many times in the Quran, it can be difficult to tell whether the content talked just to men or if it included women as
well. “The language of the Quran is the Arabic language,” Lette said. “And what we know of the Arabic language is that it’s actually an inclusive language when you use the masculine form.” Lette, who also teaches and serves her community at the Roswell Community Masjid in Atlanta, Georgia, delivered the speech for the third topic, “The Vital Role of Women’s Education Today.” She said that there are misconceptions about Islam that women’s education is not prioritized or encouraged. “What we see from our own tradition and our own scripture is the complete opposite,” Lette said. “That there is a level of emphasis and importance on one seeking knowledge and one being educated.”
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Students, faculty and community members spoke in English and German alike as they tried traditional sausages, soft pretzels and other snacks at the Oktoberfest gathering. The German language department hosted its first Oktoberfest on Oct. 6, inviting guests to celebrate the German festival and eat different snacks. Refika Sarıönder Kreinath, a Wichita State lecturer in German who organized the event, said that Oktoberfest is a regional festival in Munich, Germany, and started in celebration of a prince’s marriage in 1810. It later became a traditional festival and now features food, music and beer tents. Oktoberfest is now celebrated at various dates in September and October; this year, it lasted from Sept. 6 to Oct. 3. Kreinath hoped the event would enable German language students to explore the culture. She gave a brief overview of Oktoberfest and invited other
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German community members to share their experiences. Christa Wallin, a Wichita community member originally from Nuremberg, Germany, said while Oktoberfest is local, each town celebrates on a smaller scale on their own day, featuring music and entertainment. “It also depends on the area. The more north you go, you have like wine fests, and in the south, you have the beer fests,” Wallin said. Instead of beer, the Wichita State event provided Apfelschorle, a German soft drink that mixes apple juice and carbonated water. Holger Meyer, a Wichita State physics professor, said because he was from northern Germany, he doesn’t really celebrate Oktoberfest, but while in high school, his class visited Munich to join the festivities. “I can’t imagine how my teachers decided to take a bunch of adolescents to Munich during Oktoberfest. But that’s what they did, and we had a blast, of course,” Meyer said.
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Oct. 12, 2023 | 3
Students from Coleman Middle School hold signs sharing specific stories and red flags during the moment of silence. The students are a part of the World Changers club at their school, where they advocate for many social issues including domestic violence. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
Wichita community bands together to raise awareness for domestic violence at Purple Mile BY MALEAH EVANS
maleah.evans04@gmail.com
Regardless of age, race, sex, or class, anyone can experience domestic violence, and many in the Wichita area do. In Wichita alone, there were 22,593 domestic violence incidents, with only 11,097 arrests made in 2021. In the United States, one in four women and one in nine men experience intimate partner domestic violence, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Purple Mile is an event held by the Wichita/Sedgwick County Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Coalition at Wichita State to recognize and honor those who have survived or lost their lives to domestic violence in the Wichita area and beyond. Local companies dedicated to helping domestic violence survivors and their families, like
Stepstone and Hope Medical Forensic Services, showed their support at the Purple Mile event, held on Oct. 7. “I provide medical care to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence … working with advocates, prosecutors and therapists,” Tina Peck, a nurse practitioner with Hope Medical, said. “I also make and sell shirts (and the) proceeds help pay for medical care for survivors. I have not sent a bill to a survivor for two and a half years.” Sargeant Brad Elmore with the Domestic Intervention of Violence Reduction Team department at the Wichita Police Department discussed what his team does for domestic violence perpetrators and survivors. “Our mission is to identify and arrest domestic violence offenders and place them in the Sedgwick County Jail to hold them
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I learned that domestic violence doesn’t discriminate … survivors in our lives and community deserve spaces where they won’t be judged. MARY STOLES Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center
accountable for their actions and give survivors space to develop a plan,” Elmore said. “When we first started, there were over 200 offenders with warrants in our community for domestic violence that had not yet been arrested … now there’s about 20, and that’s 20 too many.” Mary Stoles with the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center shared her unfortunate experience with domestic violence. Her close co-worker and friend, Perla Rodriguez, was killed by her
boyfriend Travis Becker. “I learned that domestic violence doesn’t discriminate … survivors in our lives and community deserve spaces where they won’t be judged,” Stoles said. “To everyone here who has survived domestic violence, keep shining.” “To everyone here who’s working to bring accountability to people who perpetrated these crimes, keep shining. To everyone here who is creating safe spaces for victim-survivors and their facility, keep shining. And to the families here today because you lost someone recently, keep shining.” The walk itself was led by the World Changers Club from Coleman Middle School, chaperoned by Laura Parks. “They want to help others and make a positive change in the world,” Parks said. “The important part (of being here) is for my
students to learn about domestic and dating violence and red flags … so that they hopefully don’t find themselves in a situation where there’s violence in a relationship.” During the walk, there were some community members who had experienced domestic violence themselves or knew someone who had experienced it and lost their life. Leslie Powell lost her daughter Haley in 2022 to a murder-suicide by her boyfriend at the time. In her unfortunate death, Haley left behind a 15-month-old baby boy that Leslie adopted and is raising herself. “I’m just trying to keep her memory alive,” Powell said. “If this cause can save one person, then her death wasn’t in vain.” If help is needed for a domestic violence incident, the national hotline is (800)-799-7233. For emergencies, dial 911.
New committee in town: Chairperson discusses role of new government oversight committee in SGA BY MIA HENNEN editor@thesunflower.com
Jay Thompson said he’s probably tallied over 700 hours working over the four years he’s served on Wichita State’s Student Government Association – he’s now in his fifth year. Over the years, Thompson has worked in different capacities in SGA. Last year, he served as the policy director under John Kirk’s administration. Now, he’s chairing a committee that didn’t exist until this year: the Government Oversight Committee.
“Essentially, this role oversees policies related to SGA’s finance procedures, the civic engagement directory agencies, and essentially pretty much all policies of the bylaws that aren't already covered by the other committees, so it's a big umbrella,” Thompson said. Thompson said his interests are mostly in policy work, and his work as policy director last year gave him plenty of ideas on how to improve and change things in the association. “I've put a lot of thought into student government and its processes, and it is more complicated
than even the surface level shows (that) it’s complicated, for good and bad,” Thompson said. According to Thompson, the new committee has three main “pillars:” bylaw reform, legitimizing SGA accountability and civic engagement. Thompson dove into what these pillars look like for the committee:
“BYLAW REFORM” As far as bylaw reform, Thompson said there are a lot of smaller items to be done, but
one thing he focused on in the summer was a recommendation from the Ethics and Accountability Taskforce. “Essentially, (the recommendation) just gets rid of confusion in our membership review board processes and the chapter in our bylaws about our ethics,” he said. Thompson also discussed the “whole conflict of interest discussions” within SGA. In August, former senators from SGA shared concerns they had about the application process for positions in the executive branch. This followed initial concerns about cabinet
appointments. “We feel like all cabinet positions should be confirmed by Senate,” Thompson said. “But based on concerns that students have, I'm sure we'll also look into requiring that every candidate gets an interview because that's not currently how it is per the Supreme Court's opinion recently.” Thompson said clarifying rules would help prevent issues in the future. Read the rest on thesunflower.com
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HAVE A STORY IDEA? Contact the Sports editor, Melanie Rivera-Cortez sports@thesunflower.com
Colby Rogers smiles as he runs back across the court after scoring two points for his team in the scrimmage. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
Men’s basketball repeats as preseason eighth in coaches’ poll BY TRINITY RAMM
managing@thesunflower.com
For the second year in the row, the men’s basketball team was selected by conference coaches to finish eighth in the American Athletic Conference. Wichita State finished sixth in the American last season with a 9-9 record in conference play and a 17-15 record overall. Both Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and Memphis received first place finish votes, with FAU receiving 11 votes to Memphis’s three. No Shockers were selected for the preseason All-Conference First and Second Teams. Both teams, along with preseason Player of the Year honors, were dominated by conference newcomers: FAU, the University of Alabama-Birmingham and Rice University. FAU guards Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin, both members of FAU’s Final Four squad from last season, were named Co-Preseason Player of Year. Wichita State will play an exhibition game on Oct. 29 against Rogers State at Charles Koch Arena and begin their season at home on Nov. 6 against Lipscomb.
Morgan Weber watches as Morgan Stout hits the ball past an opposing player in the Oct. 6 game in Charles Koch Arena. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
WSU volleyball sweeps South Florida BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ sports@thesunflower.com
Wichita State volleyball kept their winning streak alive by defeating South Florida in three sets (25-21), (25-16), (25-21). Head Coach Chris Lamb said that they have gone back to last season’s philosophy, where they were less aggressive but still had great service numbers. “Two sweeps this weekend; sweeps are hard,” Lamb said. He said he sees improvement in their serve and pass game because if his team still struggled with this, the sweeps would not have been possible. Sophomore libero Gabi Mass said that the team was mentally prepared to get back on their feet
and lock in on passing. In the first set, the Shockers kept the Bulls at arm’s length, but a 5-2 burst in the middle of the set allowed the Shockers to move the game to 16-11, eventually claiming the first set. South Florida opened the set with two aces, but Wichita State came back, scoring the next three. Another 5-0 run allowed the Shockers to a comfortable 20-12 lead. The third set saw a 18-18 deadlock, but a few service errors from South Florida allowed the Shockers to win the game. Senior opposite Sophia Rohling led the Shockers with nine kills with four blocks. Redshirt senior Brylee Kelly and junior
middle-block Natalie Foster both contributed seven kills. Senior setter Izzi Strand had 29 assists and matched Maas with 10 digs each. Maas said that they tried to focus on the next point the whole game. “We tried to be very confident in our abilities,” Maas said. “We are such great passers and really keeping it together on the passing line is really important … It can be a very mental game back there in the passing lane.” Sophomore libero Katie Galligan kept up her serving game to give Wichita State two aces in the second set. “She’s on a roll and she’s found something. It’s working for her; it’s working for us,” Lamb said. “Her
Before the game against South Dakota State on Oct. 8, Wichita State softball players stand in the Pledge of Allegiance. | Photo by Bryan Chavez / The Sunflower
Guard Jeniah Thompson prepares to pass the ball to a teammate during the Shocker Madness scrimmage. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
Women’s basketball sinks to 11th in coaches poll BY TRINITY RAMM
managing@thesunflower.com
In a new-look American Athletic Conference, the Wichita State women’s basketball team was voted to finish 11th out of 14 teams in the preseason coaches’ poll. No Shockers made the Preseason All-Conference First or Second teams. Last season, Wichita State finished eighth in the AAC with a 6-10 conference record and 18-15 record overall. The University of South Florida and East Carolina University, the current American Athletic Conference champions, both received votes to finish first in the league. South Florida won out with 10 first-place votes to East Carolina’s four. The Shockers upset South Florida in the AAC Championship Tournament last spring in the quarter final round. East Carolina graduate guard Danae McNeal was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year and as a unanimous preseason First Team All-Conference. Women’s basketball will play an exhibition game against Missouri Southern State on Nov. 1 and officially begin their season at Oklahoma on Nov. 6.
results are surpassing the serving. She has made us better because she’s raised her game.” Galligan said when she started playing volleyball, she started on the wrong foot, literally. “I was sort of starting with the wrong foot, and I just kind of continued to step with the wrong foot, I guess,” Galligan said. Galligan said that after coming to WSU, the team taught her an easier way to jump into her serve. Up next, Wichita State volleyball will travel to New Orleans to play two matches against Tulane on Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. and Oct. 14 at 12:30 p.m. More information on Wichita State volleyball can be found on goshockers.com.
Softball to compete in Puerto Vallarta College Challenge BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ Sami Hood gets an out during the second inning of the first game against South Dakota. Hood got named All-Rookie Team last season. | Photo by Bryan Chavez / The Sunflower
‘We have a lot of improvement’: Softball concludes fall schedule BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ sports@thesunflower.com
Wichita State softball concluded their fall schedule with a doubleheader against the University of South Dakota. The Shockers lost both games against South Dakota in a doubleheader on Sunday, (10-1), (6-3). During the first game, South Dakota’s attack came in the first inning with four runs. Wichita State could not find their footing during the match. In the fourth inning, sophomore Taylor Sedlacek scored a home run, giving the Shockers their only point for the match. The fourth and fifth innings saw the Jackrabbits add six more runs to the score. South Dakota ended the game with 11 hits, while Wichita State finished with four. The Jackrabbits started off the second game with a run in the first inning and went on to score three more runs in the third inning. Wichita State did not score until the sixth inning, making the score (5-3). By the last
inning, Wichita State had the bases stacked before getting the third out. Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner said they needed to play as many Division I games this fall as possible. “It’s because we have a lot of improvement that we have to make in order to continue to create that success that’s expected of us, and the only way we can really find out what that improvement is by playing good teams,” Bredbenner said. She said there were a lot of good takeaways from the whole fall schedule, but especially the doubleheader against the University of Kansas, Oklahoma State University and South Dakota because they had the potential to win the games. “We had some very inexperienced kids up in there, learning in those moments,” Bredbenner said. “I think that’s a good experience for them that they can take that into next season, but we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
During the doubleheader against South Dakota, Bredbenner noted that some players did not play their strongest game. Bredbenner said that the team plans to work in and out of the bullpen; one thing they hope to tackle is dealing with pressure from the sport. “I think some people are going to need some work with Miss Malley, our sports psychologist, about pressure; there’s an innate pressure here,” Bredbenner said. “We’re getting all these bomb new facilities. We’ve been to three regionals in a row. We get rings every year.” Bredbenner said the team will shift focus, preparing for their spring season. “We’ve got a very young team that we’re gonna count on,” Bredbenner said. “They’ve got to develop, and we’ve just got to give them the time to do it.” More information on Wichita State softball can be found on goshockers.com.
sports@thesunflower.com
Wichita State softball will travel to Mexico in February to participate in the premiere Puerto Vallarta College Challenge. They will play four games against; South Carolina (Feb. 15), Auburn (Feb. 16) and UC Davis (Feb. 17). Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner said the challenge will provide softball a first-class experience and is excited to see the Shockers compete at a high level with some great teams. Softball will return this season with six returners and their entire pitching staff but need to develop the talent to replace All-American Sydney McKinney. The Puerto Vallarta College Challenge began in 2015 and was the first Division I softball event held outside the United States. More information on Wichita State softball can be found at goshockers.com.
CHALLENGE GAMES vs. Clemson, Feb. 14 vs. South Carolina, Feb. 15 vs. Auburn, Feb. 16 vs. UC Davis. Feb. 17
HAVE A STORY IDEA? Contact the Opinion editor, Sascha Harvey opinion@thesunflower.com
OPINION
Palestine has the right to defend itself, even if you can’t stomach it Salsabila Attaria
arts@thesunflower.com
OPINION
I want you to imagine yourself as a young Palestinian boy, born in the early 2000s in Gaza. You grow up in what is essentially a concentration camp, a city under land, sea and air blockade by Israel since 2007. In 2008, you were spared from being one of the 313 children killed in Operation Cast Lead. In 2012, you understood a bit more about the world, and Israeli bombs rain down around you for eight days during Operation Pillar of Defense. In 2014, you are entering your preteen years and hear the story of four boys between the ages of 9 to 11, struck dead by Israeli missiles while playing soccer on the beach in Gaza. As a teenager, you hear the stories of Razan Al-Najjar and Eyad Al-Hallaq, and your anger grows. In 2021, Palestine catches the world’s attention as Gaza is targeted once again, entire families wiped out – but Israel continues its crimes without consequence. It’s 2023 now, and you’re an adult. You spent your childhood watching the genocide of your people as Israeli settlers frolic on Tel Aviv beaches and set Palestinian olive groves on fire. You are old enough to have heard your grandparents and parents’ stories of more of the same. Naturally, inevitably, the anger and the pain of living under occupation leads you to take action. Civil rights organizer and pan-Africanist Kwame Ture once wrote, “in order for nonviolence to work, your opponent must have a conscience,” as a criticism of the peaceful approach taken by other African-American leaders in the face of deadly anti-Blackness. To me, his words also address a fundamental failure in the western understanding of the Palestinian people and their cause: the white-hot spotlight on their self-defense after 75 years of indifference to violent colonization by Israel. You cannot sit comfortably in America, which is also stolen land, and pass moral judgment on an indigenous group struggling for liberation from an occupying force your country funds (especially when said natives actually have tried peaceful measures). If you believe that the solution to 75 years of occupation lies in peace talks and “sharing the land,” I strongly
suggest you pick up a book and refresh your memory on how Haiti, Algeria and Vietnam achieved independence from their colonizers. Liberation isn’t pretty squares on an Instagram story or GoFundMes retweeted a thousand times. It’s painful, ugly and the product of long-endured systemic oppression. And never the fault of the colonized. The outrage at Palestinians in Gaza, whether they are affiliated with Hamas or not, resorting to violence against their colonizer is selective and hypocritical. Where were your condemnations of civilian death in the indiscriminate bombings of Gaza in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2021? Why weren’t you moved to call for peace every time Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers raided various cities in the West Bank and shot young Palestinian men for throwing rocks at fully armed tanks? What was your response every time a Palestinian was shot dead at a checkpoint for moving a hand too quickly, or when a Palestinian family was kicked out of its generational home to make room for some racist New Yorkers? Palestinians who have lived under the thumb of Israeli violence their entire lives are labeled as terrorists. Yet it is Israel that routinely aims its missiles and bullets at residential buildings, medics and journalists. Somehow, Palestinians are the threat that needs to be neutralized when IDF is funded and stocked with cutting-edge technology by the most powerful country in the world. Our world has lost the plot so completely that it defends Israeli colonizers with stateof-the-art bomb shelters and Western countries of origin to comfortably cower in, but never the Palestinians with nothing but smuggled weaponry and rocks from the land they so proudly defend as theirs to protect themselves with. To me, it seems that Israeli “civilians” got a taste, 75 years later, of the lived experience of those they stole the land from – and I find it incredibly difficult to find sympathy for them. I urge you to take a step back from your fear of being falsely accused of antisemitism or supporting terrorism, and, instead, take the time to understand the Palestinian plight without the barrage of Western media constantly demonizing us – and choose to be on the correct side of history.
THE ORIGINS OF THE ISRAELPALESTINE CONFLICT BY SASCHA HARVEY
opinion@thesunflower.com
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has dominated news publications lately, but the roots of the conflict lie in the past.
Oct. 12, 2023 | 5 www.thesunflower.com
Letter to the Editor: ‘Greatest sorrow and agony’ to Israelites
ESTABLISHING A JEWISH STATE On Nov. 2, 1917, Britain’s foreign secretary, Arthur Balfour, wrote a letter to a large figure in the British Jewish community, Lionel Walter Rothschild. The letter stated the British government dedication to establishing “a national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. The Jews consider the Palestinian land the home because Zechariah 2:16 refers to Israel as the “Holy Land.” Israel’s founding father, David Ben-Guiron, established the state in 1948. The state served as a safe haven for Jews fleeing religious persecution on a land with deep generational ties.
MASS MIGRATION TO PALESTINE The British government helped facilitate Jewish immigration to Palestine starting in 1923, where the native Palestinians protested and striked against British mandates to hand over their land to the Jewish settlers. Before the Jewish migration, Palestinian Arab natives composed more than 90% of the population. Tensions rose throughout the 1930s. The Palestinians revolted, and the British enforced mass killings. By 1947, Jews composed 33% of Palestine, but owned 6% of the land. Palestinians composed 67% of the population and owned 94% of the land. The United Nations adopted Resolution 181, rejected by Palestine, which called to dissolve Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. Resolution 181 gave 56% of Palestine, 50% more from the original 6% owned, to the Jewish state, including most of the fertile coastal region.
ETHNIC CLEANSING From 1947 to 1949, more than 500 Palestinian villages were destroyed in the ethnic cleansing of Palestine, known as the Nakba, which means “catastrophe” in Arabic. War has continued, with the Israelis gaining more and more control of the land. The Gaza Strip has been a hotspot for many military assaults, spanning from 2008 to 2021. Thousands of Palestinians, including children, have been killed. The 2008 assault used banned weaponry such as phosphorus gas. In 2014, Operation Protective Edge, as it was called by the Israeli army, killed more than 2,100 Palestinians.
THE HAMAS ATTACK The Hamas militia group, who hold political control over Palestine, launched an attack onto Israeli territory on Oct. 7. Americans are taking staunch stances as Zionists (pro-Israel) or anti-Zionists (pro-Palestine). President Joe Biden has pledged full support for Israel, citing Hamas as an antisemitic terrorist group. The Israel-Palestine conflict has multiple nuances and perspectives. More information can be found at Al Jazeera and Reuters.
It is with the greatest sorrow and agony that the Jewish Student Alliance must write this letter. On October 7th, during the holiday of Simchat Torah, residents of Israel were awoken by the sounds of sirens and explosions as the Hamas terrorist group launched an invasion of the State of Israel. At the time of writing, over 900 Israelis have been killed and 2,600 more wounded by this vulgar coordinated terrorist attack. Over 150 more have been kidnapped and are being held hostage in Gaza. Last week our president, Kian Williams, wrote a Letter calling on the University community to condemn antisemitism and support our Jewish students. Imagine our horror when we saw the response of members of our University to the attacks around Gaza. We found numerous student leaders and former friends openly supporting the terrorist organization Hamas and celebrating the rape, torture, and deaths of innocent Jews and Israeli citizens. The JSA has friends in Israel. Friends who did not choose to be born there. Seeing members of our community call for their deaths is what drove us to pen this narrative. Let us be clear from the start. The Jewish Student Alliance unequivocally supports the notion of a recognized and independent State of Palestine. We also believe that Israel has the right to defend itself from ostentatious terrorist attacks that have been characterized by war crimes. If you support Palestine, you are not also required to support literal terrorism. Even if you disagree with the decisions of the Israeli government or believe them to be settler-colonialists, what moral
WHAT IS THE “HOLY LAND”? BY SASCHA HARVEY
opinion@thesunflower.com
The 1948-established State of Israel is known as the Jewish Holy Land. Israel is also known as Canaan, Eretz Yisrael, Zion or simply ha-aretz (“the land”). In the Torah, the land of Israel has been destined for the Jews since God’s creation.
justification does that provide you to support the murder of hundreds of innocent civilians not making those decisions? Even though less than 25% of the population voted for this government all men, women, and children should be subjected to death? What sort of sick and twisted justice is that? How is this anything but disingenuous? How does this make you and your “side” any better than the “occupiers” you so vehemently attack? The Jewish Student Alliance strongly disagrees with recent laws and decisions made by the Israeli government, but under no circumstances do we believe this should condemn the entire Israeli population to torture and death. We would also like to be clear that Israel must ensure to defend itself from war from Hamas and terrorist groups, not from Palestine. All Palestinians are not Hamas. Even though our detractors like to equate all Jews and Israelis to murdering colonizers, we refuse to do the same to Palestinians. No Palestinian should be harmed solely because of their proximity to the war. Hamas and Iran’s goal is clear. A breakdown of growing peace between Israel and Arab states. They are calling for Israel’s destruction. They call for genocide. Not since the Holocaust has this many Jews been killed in one day. We must resist these calls. We must support peace. We must choose love. There is no easy solution to this grave conflict, but no person or organization is doing anything positive by actively condoning terrorism and the execution of innocent civilians merely attempting to live, work, and love. Please join us in mourning the loss of innocent lives in this conflict. May their memories be a blessing. Am Yisrael Chai. The People of Israel Live. SUBMITTED BY THE JEWISH STUDENT ALLIANCE JewsAtWSU@gmail.com
In Genesis 17:8, God tells Abraham “I will give to you, and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojourning, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession.” The Torah says that God also formed a covenant with Ishmael, believed to be the father of the Arab people, but Rabbinic commentary believes that the covenant was for nationhood and not physical land.
Sufjan Stevens releases heartwarming album with heart-wrenching backstory Sascha Harvey
opinion@thesunflower.com
REVIEW
Accompanied by a heart-wrenching Instagram post, Sufjan Stevens released a 10-track album, “Javelin,” on Oct. 6. “Javelin,” his 13th studio album and 10th solo studio project, is his first solo album release since 2020’s “The Ascension.” I’ve always been a really casual Stevens listener, but if all of his albums are as good as “Javelin,” then I’m missing out. On Instagram, Stevens posted a tribute to his late partner Evans Richardson, dedicating the album to him. “This album is dedicated to the light of my life, my beloved partner and best friend Evans Richardson, who passed away in April,” Stevens said on the day of the album’s release. “He was an absolute gem of a person, full of life, love, laughter, curiosity, integrity, and joy. He was one of those rare and beautiful ones you find only once in a lifetime—precious, impeccable,
and absolutely exceptional in every way.” The album starts with “Goodbye Evergreen,” a slow and soothing melody that turns choppy and erratic – in the best way possible. “Goodbye Evergreen” features some Sufjan-like choir vocals in the background. The song feels highly polished with simplistic yet powerful lyrics that, to me, represent saying goodbye to someone that you thought you’d never have to say goodbye to. “Live every day as if it is your last, with fullness and grace, with reverence and love, with gratitude and joy,” Stevens said on Instagram. I can see these themes in “Goodbye Evergreen.” Beginning on Sept. 20, Stevens began to document his health struggles on Instagram – he had been diagnosed with a serious auto-immune disease, GuillainBarre syndrome, and has been undergoing treatment for it. The singer had been in rehab since Sept. 8 and is undergoing the process of learning how to walk again. With this in mind, “Javelin” is even more heartfelt and devastating.
“A Running Start” is probably my favorite from the album (subject to change). It feels like a warm hug from a childhood friend that you’re about to fall in love with. The gentle picking of the guitar accompanied by a slow and purposeful orchestral backing near the end round out the song wonderfully. “So You Are Tired” immediately stuck out to me because of its resemblance to E. E. Cummings’s poem, “You Are Tired (I Think).” The poem and the song carry a similar emotional weight and feel. “So You Are Tired” has a lot of the sweet romanticism that I like in other Sufjan Stevens songs. The choral background makes it enchanting and just warms your heart. Throughout the album, his trembling and almost weak vocals paired with thematic backings and experimental sound effects really round out each and every track. Every song is distinctly different while also being very cohesive and balanced, not feeling out of place at all. I’m willing to bet that my favorite song from this album
Photo courtesy of Asthmatic Kitty Records
will change upon further listens. “Javelin” is just that kind of album. It’s a love letter to love, growth, pain and change. “You can do it. I can do it. We all can do it,” Stevens said
on a post celebrating National Rehabilitation Awareness Week. “Let’s heal and move and improve together. Pray for peace and joy and strength.”
6 | Oct. 12, 2023 www.thesunflower.com
ARTS & CULTURE
HAVE A STORY IDEA? Contact the Arts editor, Salsabila Attaria arts@thesunflower.com
Reed paints electrical boxes around the Innovation Campus. Reed was hosted by WSU’s ShiftSpace as a part of the campus’s placemaking project, meant to help create a better sense of comfort and connectivity throughout campus.
Born and raised in Wichita, artist Delilah Reed paints often includes elements of Kansan nature in her work. This electrical box, located on the innovation campus, features a monarch butterfly. Reed wishes to highlight conservation of native plants and pollinators. | Photos by Maegan Vincent / The Sunflower
Reed is a self-taught artist whose murals can be found in various locations along Douglas Avenue.
‘Draw what you know’: Local artist Delilah Reed centers art on home state BY SALSABILA ATTARIA arts@thesunflower.com
L
ocal artist Delilah Reed has left her mark on various locations in Wichita and surrounding cities – including Wichita State’s campus. Reed’s brightly colored, nature-themed murals can be found along Douglas and on multiple electrical boxes around the Innovation Campus at WSU. Located in Revolutsia, Reed titled her storefront “The Loud Cicada” to reflect the wildlife often featured in her art. She typically centers the flora and fauna native to Kansas, a nod to her passion for conserving the local ecosystem, in her artwork. Reed describes her art as bright, vibrant and joyful. “It’s so much fun to try and
capture these kind(s) of simple images,” Reed said. “A Kansas landscape can be so subtle, and it’s really fun to highlight and bring out the vastness of a field and the sky together.” Being a muralist allows Reed to stay connected to her community, and contributing to the city’s personality with eye-catching pieces is a source of pride for the artist. According to Reed, many artists strive to have their work clearly displayed. “I get to put a touch of my own on the city,” Reed said. “I think all of us artists envision a world where my art is everywhere, making everything beautiful, or imagine a world where everything’s more colorful and floral.” A self-taught artist, Reed did
not receive a scholastic education in fine arts. She says that this made Wichita State’s request for the electrical box murals more special to her. Without formal art classes, Reed stated that her journey to becoming an established artist was slow – but fulfilling and introspective nonetheless. “It took me a long time to get to the point that I am at now,” Reed said. “Artists love problem solving. And so that’s all making art is … and that exploration is a large part of my growth.” A Wichita native, Reed says that she has found a strong sense of community among local artists and art lovers. “There’s such a love and care from one artist to another here in town,” Reed said. “We really are
Envision Arts exhibition offers glimpse into work of a blind artist
always cheering each other on and watching each other grow. I feel like we all try to get out and support one another and, you know, encourage and we’re constantly wowed (by each other).” According to Reed, having a community to fall back on as a creator is vital to her creativity. “There’s definitely this collaboration space in which ideas kind of grow and they foster and then they really take off,” Reed said “So if I’m by myself, I’m limited to only my thoughts and my input, but when I’m around other artists who have different style (who) can think in different ways, it really opens us up to new ideas and solutions and growth.” Reed also offers general advice for current fine arts students that
REVIEW: Insomnia Cookies offers midnight snacking done right Taliyah Winn
tmwinn03@gmail.com
REVIEW
George Mendoza’s “Colors of the Wind” exhibit at the Envision Art Museum in downtown Wichita on Oct. 6. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
BY AVERY GATHRIGHT
averygathright@outlook.com
George Mendoza lost his vision when he was 15-years-old, but that hasn’t stopped him from taking his artistic career to its full potential. Mendoza began painting full-time in 1993, taking inspiration from his disability. Although Mendoza has no formal art training, he has created over 500 paintings. Seven pieces from his 40-piece abstract collection “Colors of the Wind” are currently on display at the Envision Arts Gallery and Community Engagement Center in downtown Wichita. According to Envision Arts program manager Sarah Kephart, “Colors of the Wind” is on permanent display at Ellen Noël Art Museum in Odessa, Texas, and many pieces of the collection have been on display at the Smithsonian Institute. “These are seven very colorful, textured, abstract paintings that really kind of embody this energy of George,” Kephart said. “(The art also shows Mendoza’s) journey of losing his vision and working through some of the challenges he
was facing. He found that art was a great release.” Kephart’s favorite of Mendoza’s pieces the gallery has on display is the colorful “Window Eyes,” a bright painting with lots of orange and blue hues. “One of the most powerful things about (the painting) is that if someone did have vision loss, but was not totally blind, there’s a lot of contrast in this particular piece that (they) would be able to navigate this composition.” According to the gallery’s website, Envision’s mission is “to improve the quality of life and provide inspiration and opportunity for people who are blind or visually impaired through employment, outreach, rehabilitation, education and research.” Envision Arts gallery coordinator Dale Small explained that, like other works displayed by Envision, the Mendoza Exhibition helps people see blind artists as more than their disability. “I like shows that are that just kind of provoke people to think differently about art and what
people are capable of,” Small said. “I think that’s something that’s really special about the Envision Arts Gallery is because all of our artists do have a disability. They’re able to challenge our conceptions about what people are capable of doing as artists, but also just as people.” Kephart explained that the current Mendoza exhibition will be expanded upon next summer, when the full “Colors of the Wind” collection will be on display for three months, starting in July 2024. “George actually learned of our museum online, and he reached out to us to exhibit his work,” Kephart said. “We had already had the gallery booked for this entire year, so we just kind of created space for him, but next year, we are going to have the full 40 pieces of the wind, and he will be here next year.” Kephart said Mendoza has written three books and will be doing readings and signings in the future as well. “Colors of the Wind” will be on display to the public for free until Oct. 27.
aided in her development as a professional creator. She stresses the importance of being a “good person” and forging connections through strong social media presence. “You can make the best art, but nobody’s gonna want it if you don’t leave a good impression on people and treat people well,” Reed said. “You don’t want to make anybody feel like they’re not good enough for your work, especially as you battle your ego. You want everyone to feel welcome.” Reed can be found on social media at @theloudcicada and at her website. Those interested in her work can find her art on various items at her storefront in Revolutsia.
Insomnia Cookies opened last Friday, satisfying late night cravings with delicious cookies. The bakery is located inside Union Station in the heart of downtown near Douglas and Mead. The exterior has an industrial look with a slanted roof and purple decorations that fits right into the vibe of downtown. The shop itself is pretty small with some indoor seating and an outdoor patio facing the large plaza outside of Union Station. Unlike Crumbl cookies, Insomnia Cookies doesn’t have a completely rotating menu. Most of its menu is available year-round, with a few rotating cookies based on the months. During October, its limited edition cookies include chocolate caramel pretzel, candy apple, french toast, vegan cold brew and more. The classic cookies are $2.65 and the deluxe cookies are $4.15. They have a large menu with a lot of variety that would satisfy many people’s pallets. The only problem is if you are indecisive like me, but there are so many good options that you’ve just got to try. The prices are pretty good if you are shopping for a few cookies, but honestly it’s a little pricey if you get more than 6 cookies, especially if you get deluxe cookies. If you’re sharing, it’s much easier on the wallet. The cookies are delicious, with a crispy edge and a warm gooey center. I tried the chocolate chunk and snickerdoodle cookies. Both hit the spot, but the chocolate chunk is a must have if you go. I also tried a “cookie-wich,” or ice cream between two cookies, so I
could get a taste of their ice cream. My cookie-wich featured chocolate chunk and double chocolate chunk cookies and the Caramellionaire ice cream. It’s definitely one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. I love sweets, but I have sensitive teeth, so I’m very particular about balance, but neither the cookie nor ice cream were overpowering. The crispy chocolate chunk cookies with the melty salted caramel ice cream interior made for an enjoyable experience. Insomnia Cookies also offers gluten free cookies, which a few of my coworkers tried, and they said they enjoy them. One thing to consider if you are gluten-free or gluten sensitive is that all of their ice cream, except chocolate and vanilla, includes chunks of cookies, so make sure and check with your cashier! Insomnia Cookies also states that its “Gluten-free products are prepared in an environment where there is a risk of gluten exposure. Therefore, Insomnia Cookies DOES NOT recommend these items for guests with Celiac disease.” One of the best things about Insomnia Cookies is its hours. They offer delivery until 3 a.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through their website and app. They also deliver through UberEats and DoorDash. With so many colleges in and around Wichita, I’m constantly surprised by the lack of businesses catering to students, as most places (besides bars) don’t stay open past 11. It’s nice to have somewhere to satisfy a late night sweet tooth without having to leave your house, especially on weekends. My budget and poor impulse control will not be able to handle the introduction of a new treat to my list of cravings. If you find yourself downtown, or up late looking for a snack, Insomnia Cookies is a must-have.
ARTS & CULTURE
www.thesunflower.com
Oct. 12, 2023 | 7
FLAVORS OF LATIN AMERICA
Students and staff enjoy Hispanic music, food and dance at campus Echo Circle
Raices De Mi Tierra Ballet Folklórico dancers performed baile folklórico or “folkloric dance” in Echo Circle at the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s Flavors of Latin America event on Oct. 9. | Photos by Monique Bever / The Sunflower
Jazciel Zapata and Caesar Cedillo-Silva sell duros de harina at Office of Diversity and Inclusion Flavors of Latin America event. The event was held by HALO, ODI, SPHE and multiple fraternities.
Alondra Galicia, Lorena Favela and Cara Meraz sell food during the Flavors of Latin America event on Oct. 9.
The cultural dance group, Raices de Mi Tierra Ballet Folklorico, performed in the Echo Circle on campus for the Flavors of Latin America event on Oct. 9.
‘SIX’ refashions the tragic tale of Henry VIII’s six wives Makenzie Miller
makenzieleighart@gmail.com
REVIEW
The musical “SIX” tells the dark-sided stories of one of history’s most famous groups of women – the wives of Henry VIII. I had the opportunity to see it myself in September at the Century II theater, where my ticket cost $120. While it was expensive, I would argue it was completely worth it. The visual elements, especially costume design, were eye-catching and the show itself was enjoyable. If you are someone who does not particularly like musicals but still wants to try entertainment of that caliber, “SIX” is the perfect musical for you – especially if you consider yourself a history buff or a feminist..
It is a modern re-telling of Henry VIII’s six wives: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr, and more specifically, their competition for who was the “best.” It is set in more of a concert style, with lots of flashy and colorful lighting, audience participation, and a live band that performs behind the cast. Each wife sings their own song that tells the story of their life, and each one has their own charm that not only allows the viewer to pick their favorite, but also has a modern vibe that is fun to listen to. My favorite was Katherine Howard’s song. Hers is an upbeat, carefree song that slowly unveils disturbing, sad undertones of her life. It seems bright and fun until you listen to what she’s saying, and the live performance sent shivers down my spine.
Illustration by Makenzie Miller / The Sunflower.
Howard begins to break down on stage before she arrives at her last moments, and the tension was palpable; you could tell the room was absolutely stunned. We all had every right to be because not only was the music hard hitting, but the performance was so perfectly done.
Actually, the performances from each of the girls were fantastic; their vocals were absolutely beautiful. There was also a fun ending song that remixed each of the women’s solos, during this, the audience is invited to stand up and join in with beautiful lighting and confetti.
If I had the opportunity to go see “SIX” again, I would 1000%. I suggest anyone who’s looking for their next show, or just trying to dip their toes into musical theater, to see “SIX” immediately. It was an absolutely amazing experience, and I cannot stop listening to the soundtrack now.
8 | Oct. 12, 2023
NEWS
www.thesunflower.com
SHOCKS GO MARCHING ON Initiated at the John Bardo Center and ending at Braeburn Square, the Shocktoberfest Parade gave way to a patio party celebration.
UPCOMING EVENTS ENGINEERING & I.T. CAREER FAIR THURSDAY, OCT. 12 2 - 5 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center
WICHITA CLEAN STREAMS SATURDAY, OCT. 14 10 a.m. - Noon. | Off-campus
FALL BREAK
SATURDAY, OCT. 14 - TUESDAY, OCT. 17 Wichita State University
SHOCKER FIT : F45 CLASS WHERE MOVEMENT BECOMES FUN MONDAY, OCT. 16 6:15 - 7 a.m. | Heskett Center
SCHOOL OF MUSIC MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND DAY
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center
SENIOR WEDNESDAY: MEMOIR TELLING YOUR STORY WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18 10 - 11:30 a.m. | Ulrich Museum Wu waves to the audience enjoying the Shocktoberfest Parade on Oct. 6. The parade wrapped up in Braeburn Square, where a patio party was also hosted. | Photos by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
MAYORAL DEBATE
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18 Noon - 1 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center
SHOCKERS VOTE COALITION MEETING
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18 Noon - 1 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center
COMMUNITY SERVICE BOARD GENERAL MEETINGS Representatives from WSU Tech participate in the Shocktoberfest Parade on Oct. 6. Members of WSU Tech marched with banners, a model airplane, and a car.
A young boy rides his scooter as he joins the women’s tennis team during the Shocktoberfest Parade. The tennis team played an active game of tennis as they moved throughout the route.
THURSDAY, OCT. 19 3:30 - 5 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center
ONE SMALL STEP LISTENING EVENT AND RECEPTION THURSDAY, OCT. 19 5:30 - 7 p.m. | Ulrich Museum
ONE SMALL STEP LISTENING EVENT AND RECEPTION THURSDAY, OCT. 19 5:30 - 7 p.m. | Ulrich Museum
KARAOKE
THURSDAY, OCT. 19 7 - 9 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center
WSU Tech representative hands out beaded necklaces to spectators of the Shocktoberfest Parade.
Beckham Fouse and Kennedy Harsh have a sword fight with the inflatable props handed out during the Shocktoberfest Parade. Harsh is an employee for WSU Tech, and Fouse is the son of another employee.
WSU SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA - DR. MARK LAYCOCK, CONDUCTOR THURSDAY, OCT. 19 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. | Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center
SCHOOL OF MUSIC MIDDLE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL
FRIDAY, OCT. 20 8 - 5 p.m. | Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center
2023 COLLEGE OF APPLIED STUDIES HALL OF FAME CELEBRATION EVENT
FRIDAY, OCT. 20 6 - 8 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center
GLOBAL VILLAGE ASSEMBLY
Members of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority hold letters as they march in the parade on Friday. Gamma Phi Beta was one of several student organizations to participate in the Shocktoberfest Parade on Oct. 6.
The Asian Student Conference President, Emaan Syed, talks to a friend at the end of the Shocktoberfest Parade. ASC was one of several student organizations to be represented in this year’s parade.
FRIDAY, OCT. 20 7 - 8:30 p.m. | Hubbard Hall
CARS AND COFFEE
SATURDAY, OCT. 21 8 - 11 a.m. | Braeburn Square
SHOCKER NEIGHBORHOOD COALITION CLEAN-UP SATURDAY, OCT. 21 8 - 11 a.m. | Fairmount Park
PUMPKIN RUN
SATURDAY, OCT. 21 9 a.m. | Fairmount Park
HAVE AN EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED? A young boy picks up candy that was passed out by various floats during the Shocktoberfest Parade. Besides candy, spectators could pick up foam seals and party beads.
Baylee Vieyra smiles as her son brings back the candy he caught during the Shocktoberfest Parade. The family tailgated near Braeburn Square to watch the parade.
CONTACT THE ARTS EDITOR: arts@thesunflower.com CONTACT THE NEWS EDITOR: news@thesunflower.com