WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1896 www.thesunflower.com
Feb. 29, 2024
Volume 128 Issue 22
‘I HATE THAT MAN’ Damian Montañéz, Alec Dulaney, Timber Keller and Greg Chewning pose for a photo during a recording session for their mental health podcast on Sunday, Feb. 25. The four are all clinical mental health counseling students at Wichita State. | Photo courtesy of the group
Student-made podcast aims to offer ‘fresh perspective’ on mental health
BY COURTNEY BROWN newsprojects@thesunflower.com
As clinical mental health counseling students, Greg Chewning and his friends would often discuss mental health while in coffee shops and restaurants — and strangers would join them. “They’re hearing things discussed in a way that I think kind of opens their eyes,” Chewning said. “That was revealing to us, and I thought one day, ‘We’ve really got something going on here, and so why don’t we make this more public?’” Drawing on his past experiences, Chewning suggested starting a podcast, and his friends Alec Dulaney, Damian Montañéz and Timber Keller were on board.
Protest attendees hold a banner with figures representing the number of murdered Palestinians. More than a dozen students and community members gathered outside of Century II on Monday evening to call for a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Palestinians. | Photos by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
“ARE YOU THEORIOUS?” “Are You Theorious?” explores mental health, counseling theories and the group’s experiences as counseling students at Wichita State. Topics have ranged from self-care and body language to the diagnostic manual and Sigmund Freud. Chewning aims for the podcast to “increase people’s wonder at human emotions and relationships” while also providing a “fresh perspective” on mental health discussions. “I knew right away that we had something that was for anyone,” Chewning said. “We’re talking about mental health disorders, or we’re talking about anxiety and depression, spirituality — things that everybody knows about (or) has felt or experienced.” The podcast members incorporate the magnetic energy from their everyday conversations into their weekly episodes. According to the group, these discussions are usually “free-flowing” and natural. The four chat every other Sunday for about two hours, which Chewning later edits and splits into four episodes, which vary in length but are usually around 30 minutes. “Once we all got together and participated in talking about things we cared about around each other … it just turned out to be too much fun to stop,” Dulaney said. Montañéz said the group’s authentic dynamic is apparent to their professors listening to the podcast. “They always say — because they can tell just from listening to it — that we all have a very good connection, and that’s something that they strive for with men (in the counseling program) in general,” Montañéz said. The four graduate students said their podcast has gained traction within their graduate program. When Montañéz and Keller attended orientation for their practicum, several attendees recognized them. “I was talking to Timber, and the guy stops and turns around, he goes, ‘I know your voice,’” Montañéz said. “He’s like, ‘I listen to your podcast, I think it’s great.’ And literally, four people after him came in and said the same thing.”
SEE PODCAST, PAGE 2
A protester displays a sign with a quote by Palestinian author and politician Ghassan Kanafan.
WSU students and community members march outside of Century II. Protesters recited chants like “1-2-3-4, occupation no more, 5-67-8, Israel is a terror state.”
WSU students Kendah Ballout (right) and Sean Wentling (center) recite chants during the ceasefire protest at Century II Convention Center on Monday, Feb. 26.
in 2022. Peterson has received a wide range of support and scorn regarding his antiLGBTQ+, anti-feminist and anti-neoMarxist views. Ballout said these opinions, among others, support reasonings that contribute to oppression and violence. “Jordan Peterson himself is very xenophobic (and) anti-Arab,” Ballout said. “He’s very pro-the-colonial structures that brought about the Gaza genocide … I hate that man with every fiber of my being.” The Sunflower reached out to Peterson for comment on Feb. 28, but has yet to receive a response. Ballout and more than a dozen others congregated outside of Century II to voice their disdain for Peterson’s beliefs and to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. As of Feb. 28, more than 29,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis have been killed as a result of the war on Gaza. In 1948, the creation of Israel led to the displacement of over 700,000 Palestinians and the capture of 78% of the region’s land. After Hamas, a militant political group, launched a surprise attack on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel started a bombing campaign on Gaza.
As attendees headed into Century II, the protesters chanted statements such as “Gaza must have food and water — Israel, stop the slaughter” and “Justice, justice we know how — lift the siege on Gaza now.” After a man attempted to take Ballout’s megaphone, Century II security stood at the perimeters of the protest. The security personnel declined interviews with The Sunflower. Several passersby exchanged words with the protesters. Two shouted derogatory statements about Palestinians. Both declined interviews with The Sunflower. Troy Orpin, who attended Peterson’s lecture, said the vulgarity of the passerby’s statements wasn’t necessary. “I wouldn’t be yelling at people like that,” Orpin said. “(The protesters) have the freedom of speech … and it’s fair to be upset about that (Israel bombing Gaza).” As the line of attendees entering Peterson’s event dwindled, the protesters returned to Douglas Avenue to continue their chants. But according to 11-year-old Ifram, who was protesting with his family, the fight is far from over. “People are dying in Palestine,” Ifram said. “I want to make them stop.”
Students, community members protest Jordan Peterson tour at Century II, call for Gaza ceasefire BY ALLISON CAMPBELL news@thesunflower.com
P
rotesters gathered outside Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center and down Douglas Avenue on Monday night to voice their support for Palestine and to oppose Jordan Peterson’s event, which was hosted at the convention center. Kendah Ballout, a member of Students for Justice in Palestine and protest organizer, said the group disagreed with Peterson’s views and presence at Century II. The organization decided to protest there because Peterson’s event helped increase their message’s visibility. Peterson came to Wichita as part of his “We Who Wrestle with God” tour. According to his website, Peterson is a psychologist, author and online educator. He has published several books, including “Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief,” which examines many themes, including social conflict and genocide. Peterson now produces YouTube and podcast content, occasionally in collaboration with “The Daily Wire,” which signed a content distribution deal with Peterson
Forty-five people gather to call for Gaza ceasefire resolution from Student Government BY COURTNEY BROWN newsprojects@thesunflower.com
Wichita State students, faculty and alums urged the Student Government Association to pass a resolution supporting a ceasefire in Gaza, with at least 45 people in attendance during the Student Senate meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) had previously announced its plan to petition SGA for a ceasefire resolution via Instagram and encouraged others to show their support. Attendees filled three rows of chairs, with others standing or sitting on the floor. A few supporters held up a poster that said, “30,000+ dead, 12,000+ children,” and some wore keffiyehs. One student wore Palestinian buttons, and another
donned a beaded Palestinian flag necklace. In 1948, the creation of Israel caused the displacement of over 700,000 Palestinians and the capture of 78% of the region’s land. After Hamas, a Palestinian political militant group, launched a surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel started a bombing campaign on Gaza. As of Feb. 28, over 29,000 Palestinians and 1,200 Israelis have been killed. Ten speakers went before the Student Senate in support of a resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza. Some reiterated how they hoped WSU’s support would lead to support at other universities, in Wichita and throughout the nation. After the speakers finished, audience members applauded
loudly and some gave fist bumps or hugs.
CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION
Easton Vogt, a student executive for SJP, introduced the organization. He said the Student Government Association should pass a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza because students have contributed to past movements. He also pushed against the argument that a ceasefire cannot happen because Hamas has not released Israeli hostages. “The ironic thing is that a ceasefire inherently implies the release of hostages,” Vogt said. Abdelkarim Jibril, the president of SJP, shared statistics about the “genocide against the Palestinian people,” emphasizing the vast displacement of Palestinians and
the destruction of more health care facilities, places of worship, and residential buildings. Over 90% of Palestinians have been displaced. He also highlighted the numerous children’s deaths. Jibril’s voice caught as he discussed that the United States government has chosen to “fund a genocide” in Israel instead of alleviating poverty, homelessness and other issues within the United States. Student Michael Miller later echoed his points. “If America is going to be a peacemaker in the world, it has to stay true to that, and unfortunately, it has not stayed true to that,” Jibril said.
SEE GAZA CEASEFIRE, PAGE 2