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SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE Your Lawrence favorites, chosen by you MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2017 | VOLUME 133 ISSUE 27
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
Grad students looking for more perks, assistance HAILEY DIXON @_hailey_dixon
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very day you can see graduate students working at every corner on campus. Some may be leading a class discussion in Fraser, helping a faculty member conduct an experiment in Lindley, studying for an exam in the Watson stacks or simply taking a break to unwind and drink a cup of coffee at the Union. At the University, there are 6,158 graduate students, and 16 percent of classes at the University are taught by graduate teaching assistants. However, despite graduate students’, graduate teaching assistants’ and graduate research assistants’ integration and importance to many at the University, graduate teaching assistants are often underappreciated, according to some. “First of all, graduate students don’t have the red carpet experience that freshmen do,” said Brittney Oleniacz, a native of Phil-
Baxter Schanze/KANSAN Brittney Oleniacz is a graduate teaching assistant at the University. She is a native of New Jersey and is also a member of Student Senate.
lipsburg, New Jersey and graduate teaching assistant working toward her a doctorate in geology. “We come for very specific reasons, very different reasons than undergrads. Just overall as KU as a graduate school, I have mixed feelings.” In the recent climate survey, it was reported that 24
percent of graduate students have seriously considered leaving the University at some point. Oleniacz said there are both positives and negatives to being a GTA at the University. “One of the pros is definitely the faculty-in-training,” she said. “You are basically learning teaching styles
and how to convey information, and that’s a big part of just being in academia. I don’t know if I am going to be a professor one day, but what I am learning now is definitely important.” In return for their teaching and all of the schedule balancing that comes with it, some GTAs get assistance with their tuition.
Each graduate teaching assistant has an appointment with their specific department. Their appointments, which translate into their workload, cannot exceed 20 hours per week during the semester, according to guidelines in the policy library. Greater time commitments within their jobs translate to more tui-
tion assistance. An appointment of 40 percent (approximately 16 hours of work per week) or more allows graduate teaching assistants to have their entire tuition paid for. If the appointment is less than 40 percent, the percent of tuition paid goes down to 25 percent, depending on the percentage appointment. Angela Murphy, a Marshfield, Missouri native now working as a fellow (a special research-focused program for graduate students), said she believes GTAs deserve better pay, as many live close to the poverty level. According to the Kansas Lifeline Program, the poverty line for a one-person household in Kansas is $16,281. Oleniacz said each department at the University is different when it comes to pay. She said she feels financially grounded, especially compared to when she was an undergraduate student at Edinboro University, which is located in Edinboro, Pennsylvania. SEE GTA PAGE 2
KU seeks dismissal of federal Title IX suit CHANDLER BOESE
Complaint calling for Womack’s disqualification dismissed
Caitlynn Salazar/KANSAN The Senate Court of Appeals hears arguments from representatives for KUnited, OneKU and the Elections Commission on Saturday evening. Earlier this week, the Elections Commission tied on a decision in this case and caused it to move up to final authority.
CHANDLER BOESE @Chandler_Boese
The Student Senate Court of Appeals unanimously voted Saturday night to dismiss a complaint asking for the disqualification of Mady Womack, the presidential candidate who has been declared the winner of the Student Senate election. The complaint from the KUnited coalition alleged that Womack, as well as members of her coalition, OneKU, had campaigned improperly during the elections on April 13 and 14 by encouraging students to vote on their phones and then “intimidating” them into casting their vote for OneKU. The Elections Commission heard the complaint on April 17 and declared a “symbolic tie” in their decision, which resulted in the complaint being dismissed. Seniors Jake Vance and Michaeli Hennessy as well two law students, Annie
Calvert and Joe Uhlman, represented the Court of Appeals at the Saturday hearing.
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We are happy that the Court made a clear statement validating our victory.” Mady Womack Presidential candidate
In their ruling and in the hearing on Saturday evening, the court decided to approach the case as “the court of first impression,” meaning that it was looking at the evidence and ruling on the violation itself, rather than the procedure and behavior of the lower court. The ruling, as well as statements made by COA justices during the hearing, indicated that the Elections Commission’s symbolic tie necessitated such an approach. “A tie does not decide a
INDEX NEWS............................................2 OPINION........................................4 ARTS & CULTURE..........................................5 SPORTS.........................................8
winner or loser — it is the absence of such a decision,” the ruling said. “So this Court cannot utilize its standard of review, and instead must view this case as the court of first impression.” In approaching the complaint in this way, the COA decided that there was no violation, citing lack of evidence and failure to prove intimidation. It said there is no rule in the Student Senate Rules and Regulations that Womack had actually broken, especially given the common practice of approaching students as she had. Womack was not available to speak to the Kansan after the ruling was issued Saturday night but did send a comment via text. “We are happy that the Court made a clear statement validating our victory,” Womack said. “I look forward to assuming my duties as Student Body President this Wednesday.”
One thing that all of those at the hearing, held Saturday evening, seemed to agree upon was a lack of clarity in SSRR, especially in regards to this incident. “The thing that I would most like to see come from these is a rewrite of the Student Senate Rules and Regulations, to see the defining of many undefined things that have caused us great trouble during the election,” said Nellie Kassebaum, a KUnited member who represented the group at the hearing. However, the final opinion did not give guidance or recommendations for how SSRR could be interpreted or rewritten going forward. Though the opinion did acknowledge that the rules could be clearer while addressing Womack’s behavior, they said her reliance on previous campaigning behavior was reasonable. Pending further appeals, the election results will be certified in 72 hours.
KANSAN.COM GALLERY Check out the gallery from the Kansas Relays on Kansan.com
@Chandler_Boese
The University is trying again to get a federal Title IX lawsuit currently pending against them dismissed, on the grounds that a related suit has already been heard, tried and dismissed at the state level. The federal lawsuit, which was filed by the parents of former Kansas rower Daisy Tackett, alleges that the University created a hostile educational environment for her after her alleged sexual assault in Jayhawker Towers in 2014. According to the lawsuit, the University did not take sufficient action to protect her on campus afterward and even allowed her coaches to take retaliatory action against her. The new motion, which was filed Friday, says that the federal case would give Tackett “two bites at the apple.” Tackett had been involved in a consumer protection lawsuit in the Douglas County Court, which alleged that the University’s advertisements of safe on-campus housing misled her and her parents. The case was dismissed last month because Tackett couldn’t show “continuing injury.” Because the parties and events in both lawsuits are
the same, the University’s new motion says that the federal lawsuit would require both parties and the court to essentially redo a process they’ve already gone through. “All of the issues between Ms. Tackett and the University could have been presented in the state court action, just as they could have been presented in this case,” the lawsuit said. “Instead, for whatever reasons, Ms. Tackett chose to split her claims, and she did so at her own risk.” Dan Curry, the Kansas City, Missouri, lawyer representing Tackett, said via email Saturday that his team had reviewed the motion. “We do not believe it has merit,” Curry said via email. “We will be filing a response asking the Court to deny it in its entirety.” The University has tried on two other occasions to get the suit dismissed, saying that they did adequately respond to Tackett’s report of sexual assault and could not have prevented it from occurring. The Kansan reached out to the University on Saturday afternoon for comment on the motion, but did not receive a response. If the case moves forward, the trial is scheduled for the summer of 2018.
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KANSAN.COM/NEWS | MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2017
Union future unsure after referendum fails DARBY VANHOUTAN @darbyvanhoutan
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ith an evident lack of support from the student body to fund renovations to the Kansas Union, the building’s fate is now in limbo. After a majority of voters rejected the Union referendum that would have added new student fees to pay for renovations like plumbing and bathrooms, as well as expansions on several floors, Union director David Mucci said they are now back to the drawing board. “We’re disappointed,” Mucci said. “It’s a lot of work and effort, but it was also a good endeavor. We learned a lot from the discussion and will take that back and use that for general improvements in the operation or new approaches because it was a good conversation with the campus community.” The referendum, which was posed to students on April 13 and 14 during Student Senate elections, asked if they supported a $50 student fee to fund renovations to the Union. This fee would have been charged to each student, every semester for the next 30 years starting in 2019. The Elections Commission released unofficial re-
GTA FROM PAGE 1 “What I’ve heard is humanities do not get as paid as much as the GTAs in the sciences and the STEM fields,” Oleniacz said. “But maybe I’m really just good at budgeting, but I’m pretty comfortable. I’m still modestly living as a student, obviously. But I’m OK.” Graduate students have the opportunity to purchase a parking permit just like undergraduate students and University staff. They receive no preference or assistance in getting one, according to Oleniacz. For perks, GTAs do not have many, other than insurance offered by the University. “Insurance is definitely important,” she said. “Because most graduate students, we’re over 25 so we’re no longer on our parents’ insurance policies. So to be employed by the University and by extension the state, and then having the insurance subsidy, is really important. A lot of GTAs and graduate students have families, so the insurance is
sults during a hearing for an appeal filed by Redo Your U, which was ultimately dismissed on April 17. According to the commission, 56.68 percent of respondents said no, 32.6 percent answered yes, and 10.71 percent abstained. According to Mucci, the Union has “stressed all its options” for funding the $45 million project and doesn’t know what they will do moving forward. Once the official results are certified by the Elections Commission, Union executives will go back to their Memorial Corporation Board and brainstorm either a new way to approach the student body through referenda or seek other options, he said. Collin Cox, who is the executive outreach director of Redo Your U, the student group that campaigned for and supported the referendum, said supporters are disappointed but not defeated. He said he doesn’t credit the referendum loss to a lack of trying from within, but rather a lack of support from the campus as well as groups like Student Senate not taking positive stances publicly. “It’s unfortunate because we were really looking forward to all the opportunities it would provide to students but in the end it didn’t work
out,” Cox said. “I think the negative portrayal of the project, through many mediums, definitely set us back a lot.” Student group KU Against Rising Tuition (KUART) was one of the groups opposing the referendum. According to KUART co-founder Lev Comolli, the group felt the $45 million being paid by students was unnecessary because only some of the requested money was for necessary renovations. More than this, Comolli said the campaign the Union and Redo Your U led was misleading and not providing voters with all the facts. During elections week, the group counteracted chalking and advertisements from
Redo Your U with bright colored chalking right next to it saying “Vote no!”
important.” Murphy said the insurance at the University is not the best. “The coverage isn’t great,” she said. Health insurance, wages, the employment process and other aspects are negotiated every two years by the GTA Union, said President David Cooper, who is in the PhD department of sociology. “Our role is to be like the negotiating unit for GTAs to the University,” he said. Last May, the union negotiated a new contract for the GTAs, earning returning doctoral students a $1,500 raise. In addition, Murphy said she thinks Dean of Graduate Studies Michael Roberts and the staff work their hardest to help graduate students, but they can’t do much to combat the issues she sees affecting grad students. “Graduate studies, especially since Dean Michael Roberts took over ... they’re trying, but they have a limited amount of resources,” Murphy said. Roberts and graduate
studies policy coordinator Amber Roberts Graham both said GTAs are an important aspect of the University. “They are a part of the overall mission of the University,” Roberts said. Oleniacz said that she thinks the University could provide better training for GTAs, especially when it comes to sexual assault, active shooter training and other social issues within the classroom. Murphy said she thinks in addition to more pay, the University could implement more support and resources for graduate students, such as free printing and self-care tools. “We are under an immense amount of pressure,” she said. In addition to maintaining self-care, juggling socializing and teaching, studying can be difficult, but Marissa Wiley, a GTA in communication studies, said that organization is key. “You have to have a planner that works for you, whether that’s virtual or whether that’s an actual
hard copy, you have to be organized,” Wiley said. Wiley said that setting aside ample amount of time for research, teaching and socializing is also important. Sleep, for Wiley, is important, even though other graduate students may not feel the same. “You have to figure out what works for you,” Wiley said. “If I am not sleeping at night, I am not performing during the day...you have to find what works best for you ... it just depends.” Murphy advises graduate students and GTAs to find others to support them during their time at the University. “It’s not just you,” she said. “We are all dealing with the pressure that you are feeling. We are terrible at talking about it and we are terrible at supporting each other but there are people here for you and you just have to tap into who those people are because once you find them, it completely changes your experience from the inside out.”
Baxter Schanze/KANSAN The Union referendum that was proposing a $50 per semester increase in student fees was voted down early this week.
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I think the negative portrayal of the project, through many mediums, definitely set us back a lot.” Collin Cox Redo Your U Executive outreach director
Comolli said he hopes the Union learned from the loss and hopes KUART can be involved in plans going forward. “We want to try to bring
our different ideas to the table, especially regarding our counter plan, to the Union directors to make a more inclusive and holistic study,” Comolli said. “That way we don’t see another referendum pass next year which will essentially be the same thing.” Mucci said there are no set plans for another referendum in the future. Instead, he said, the Union is focused on managing the building’s ongoing deterioration. This includes things such as elevators breaking and major issues in the building’s plumbing among many others, Mucci said. “Clearly it’s just going to be more problematic going forward,” Mucci said.
opinion FREE-FOR-ALL ›› WE HEAR FROM YOU
KANSAN.COM/NEWS | MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2017
these are my hoe khakis sometimes I only swipe right on people in hopes that if we match I can correct their grammar in their bio. free food is the college student equivalent of the bat signal I think I cockblocked a security guard last night PSA: Don’t do racist shit on May 5. Or ever. But especially May 5. My own father just texted me to say happy 4/20 Getting stuck behind a tour group: bad. Getting stuck behind a tour group in which one of the Tour Dads is openly touching his wife’s butt: worse Frat guys with a putting green in the middle of Wescoe Beach is the most basic white guy thing ever. my suitemates watching tarzan: “jane’s totally a methhead”
Illustration by Erica Gonzales/KANSAN
Liston: Take time to destress while studying
“yeah he’s a peasant” things you hear in the theatre it smells like old woman perfume That sounds like terrible company to be in. It takes me approximately 3.7 seconds to go from responsible, productive adult to immature, useless child do you ever think about the pain and suffering bees are going through and feel the need to save them Whoever mentioned the little mermaid in the last UDK. Just know that I admire you.
RYAN LISTON @rliston235
F
inishing up a semester can be an anxiety-inducing experience that leads to hair pulling, paper ripping and hope-depriving stress. Studying for final exams and working on final projects can take a toll on a student’s sanity.
today i stared into the face of god. she had a bad spray tan and was vaping DON’T TEXT AND DRIVE VINCE MUNOZ @vmunoz_18
READ MORE AT KANSAN.COM @KANSANNEWS /THEKANSAN KANSAN.NEWS @UNIVERSITY DAILYKANSAN
ing. Spending time on activities that lower stress, such as spending time with friends, reading a book (for fun, not necessarily for a class) and taking a walk outside, can all improve a student’s mood and help improve final grades. Another way to avoid this unhelpful stress is to avoid cramming and procrastinating. Admittedly, I am not good at this. When I cram and procrastinate, I usually feel exhausted and burnt out regardless of how I perform on the test. On the occasions that I do review well in advance of my tests, I feel more confident in my knowledge and my ability to perform
well on the exams.
“
On the occasions that I do review well in advance of my tests, I feel more confident in my knowledge and my ability to perform well on the exams.”
Recalling information from class becomes easier, and last-minute studying is mostly just to refine my understanding of the topic. This lengthened studying tactic also affords me more time to
take breaks from studying. Studying is obviously important, but relaxing is equally important to ensure that you do well on your final exams and assignments. You cannot expect your work to be high quality when you feel overly stressed. A sense of urgency can help you progress on your studies and assignments, but when that urgency turns to anxiety, it is important to put down the pen, shut the laptop and relax. Ryan Liston is a sophomore from Lawrence studying journalism and political science.
Munoz: US should reconsider electoral system
Dear Roommate that I hate, I hate you. From, Hateful Roommate
To send in an FFA, text 785-289-8351
Becoming overly stressed can make preparation for and completion of finals worse. It can also have adverse health effects on students. In order to avoid getting overwhelmed, students need to allocate time away from studying. According to the Mayo Clinic, stress can reduce motivation, lead to problems sleeping and cause restlessness. The Mayo Clinic also points out that stress can exacerbate or instigate more severe health issues like depression, drug or alcohol abuse and heart disease. These negative effects of stress can all reduce the quality of studying and test tak-
This Sunday, France held a vote widely viewed as pivotal to the future of the European Union. Unlike American elections, because no candidate secured more than 50 percent of the vote, there will be a second election between the top two candidates, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen. Foreign elections like Sunday’s remind us that, if we as Americans are unsat-
isfied with our politics, there are alternative electoral systems that the U.S. can and should consider. Since the early 1990s, Americans increasingly dislike our two major parties. Not coincidentally, Trump and Clinton were the least popular nominees in the history of American polling. Many believe that there is no way to change this and that they must choose the lesser of two evils each election. But this is not entirely true. Election systems often dictate how many parties form. In our current system a candidate for president or congress typically only has to win more votes than the other candidates, rather than an absolute majority of 50 percent plus one. These are called plurality elections.
“
Foreign elections like Sunday’s remind us that, if we as Americans are unsatisfied with our politics, there are alternative electoral systems that the U.S. can and should consider.”
Pluralities usually result in two party systems, like in the U.S. and U.K., by making it difficult for third parties to win. Pippa Norris, a lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School of Government, explains that, “if the electorate becomes divided between three or four parties competing
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nation-wide, the disproportional of the electoral system becomes far harder to justify. Smaller parties, which consistently come second or third, are harshly penalized.” However, systems like France’s majoritarian system can promote multiple parties. For example, in their 2012 elections, François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy advanced to the runoffs. They headed the Socialist and Republican parties, respectively. This year’s candidates, Macron and Le Pen, represent the “On the Move” and National Front parties even though both the Socialists and Republicans had well known candidates. Given that a candidate almost never wins 50 percent plus one on the first vote, the runoff style allows voters to express their most preferred
CONTACT US Lara Korte Editor-in-chief lkorte@kansan.com
Tucker Paine Business Manager tpaine@kansan.com
candidate without having to worry about inadvertently helping the candidates they don’t like. They can vote for a “compromise” candidate, should their first choice not make it to the second round. This is not to say that changing America’s system would automatically result third and fourth parties winning elections. However, changing how our elections translate to formal governing power could change the party system. Americans should keep this in mind should dysfunction in Washington continue in the future. Vince Munoz is a junior from Topeka studying political science and strategic communications.
THE KANSAN EDITORIAL BOARD Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Lara Korte, Christian Hardy, Tucker Paine and Vince Munoz.
arts & culture HOROSCOPES ›› WHAT’S YOUR SIGN?
KANSAN.COM |MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2017
Review: Is “DAMN.” Kendrick Lamar’s best? MYLAN JONES @thislanismylan
Aries (March 21-April 19) You’re getting stronger, especially today and tomorrow. Something you try doesn’t work. Discover a structural problem. Share practical data. Discuss possible solutions. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Reorganize things through tomorrow. Something doesn’t go as expected. New information emerges. Sort truth from fiction. Create your plan and share it. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Friends teach you the rules. Talk about your enthusiasms and passions with people you respect and admire. Share what you’re learning. Listen to older players. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Professional decisions await. Take charge and manage details over the next few days. Prepare documents. Track results. Ask for more and get it. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Spontaneous adventures call. Expand your horizons over the next two days. Follow a family tradition. Let your heart carry you to a completely different conversation. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Have patience with financial breakdowns. Keep a positive attitude, and collaborate for resolution. Your sense of humor opens locked doors. Profit through communication. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Things may not go as planned... flexibility and partnership are key over the next few days. Split up and coordinate efforts. Jump on an opportunity. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Get your heart pumping. Avoid accidents or breakage. There’s plenty of action through tomorrow, and it could get physical. Your network has support. Invite participation. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Listen to your elders. Interview someone with a great track record. You’re attractive and attracted, especially today and tomorrow. Make fun plans with someone wonderful. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Family comes first over the next few days. Learn from experience. Get support from your community if needed. Journal your thoughts and feelings. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You’re especially articulate and clever through tomorrow. Communications and travels experience delays but ultimately get through. Write, post and broadcast. Get your message out. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) The next two days are good for business and income. Your ideas are drawing attention. A beautiful moment arises through connecting with someone.
F
acing inner demons; contemplating the legitimacy of his religion; battling with these ideas of his position in the world. Kendrick Lamar captures all of these ideas in his most recent album “DAMN.” Kendrick’s album covers so much in such a small window of time, considering this is his shortest album. This album is also somewhat different from what we have seen in his previous projects. But, is “DAMN.” his best album? Kendrick kicks off the album with a very interesting intro. On “BLOOD.” Kendrick sees a blind woman who is trying to find something. As he offers help, he says, “Seems to me that you have lost something.” The woman states that it is Kendrick that has lost something, which turns out to mean his life. He is shot and killed right at the beginning. The circumstances with “BLOOD.” are reversed in the last track “DUCKWORTH.” After the death, we get an outro for the song which includes people on Fox News criticizing his lyrics on “Alright.” Kendrick then counters this idea in the next track “DNA.” In “DNA.” he uses the opinions of those at Fox News (and later that of Geraldo Rivera) — that music like this caused more problems for African Americans than racism — which is nonsense. Kendrick goes in by portraying something that is “harmful” for lis-
Contributed Photo Kendrick Lamar’s new album “DAMN.” (Interscope Records)
teners. He switches to this more aggressive and loud flow and states that these particular subjects within his music are the product of the continued attack on the black community from white America. Though Kendrick analyzes these different issues that the black community continues to face, most of his presentation illustrates his own experience and what he continues to battle. He wonders whether or not his position in the industry and black culture as a whole is worth it. Kendrick is often painted as a savior and a person that will educate his listeners as he pushes the culture forward. In his song “FEEL.” he is
wondering why everyone is expecting him to pray for them, but no one is praying for him. Very little people seem to be truly concerned with his well-being and what he provides for the culture. Kendrick also points faults in himself that might hinder him from being in a better position. Throughout the album, Kendrick seems to have lost his way on the path that God set for him. Since he is not on the right path, it seems that God is punishing him to test his resilience. This idea is very clear in “FEAR.” as you listen to the voicemail left by his cousin Carl. Kendrick does not necessarily know if this
is what he believes in, but he throws it in for listeners to ponder and debate. “DAMN.” is used for listeners to look at themselves and their own faults. Kendrick is here to provide his own experiences, but he wants us to look at ourselves in the bigger picture. He wants everyone to know that there is more to our DNA than “sex, money, murder.” He wants us to look back to our loved ones, our pride while remaining humble and focusing on the positivity in our life that do not require falling victim to greed, lust, wrath, and more. My one gripe with the album is that these different subjects should be connect-
ed a little more. At some points, it seems that things are scattered throughout the album and some parts could have been switched around to create a stronger linear path. For example, I feel like the reference to Carl in “YAH.” could have been placed closer to “FEAR.” But, I believe the scattered ideas within this album illustrate what Kendrick goes through at this point in his own life. He has to juggle all of these ideas as they continue to weigh on his mind, which leads him to present these contemplations and depression throughout the album. So, is “DAMN.” Kendrick’s best album? I, without a doubt, would say that I love this album. But, I cannot see myself stacking it up against his last two albums. I am not saying that it is not as good as the others, but it is different in the way that Kendrick presents it. King Kendrick covers so much with this one album “DAMN.” is Kendrick’s most personal and emotional album yet. The album is short and sweet, with a lot of great production and features combined with a variety of flows and lyrical meaning. Even with all of that, I cannot say that this is his best. I will say this: “DAMN.” reassures the fact that Kung Fu Kenny is one of the greatest rappers of all time. — Edited by Casey Brown
KU World Expo to showcase, celebrate over 44 international communities today in Union LIBBY FLOOD @libbyflood13
The International Student Association (ISA) will be hosting World Expo 2017, an annual event that showcases the University’s global community, on Monday, April 24. The event will feature music from around the world and cultural presentations from more than 44 countries. The purpose of the event is to celebrate international culture, said ISA president Hollie Hall, a master’s student at the University from London. "We [hope the event] demonstrates to the local community the important role international students play in the USA, especially in light of recent negativity we have faced," Hall said. At the World Expo, international students are able to share their country’s culture with the Lawrence community by setting up booths complete with artifacts, food or pictures. The event will also feature educational games and prizes meant to bring interest in cultural diversity, Hall said. Any international student is able to showcase their country, Hall said. The event is open to any Univer-
sity student or member of the Lawrence community interested in learning about the international presence at the University. The event also kicks off International Awareness Week, held each spring now for more than 50 years. The week-long celebration will feature the 65th annual Festival of Nations, a talent show that allows international students to share their country’s music and dancing. ISA provides international students with the opportunity to share their culture with the University, said ISA cultural chair Gita Nadinda, a psychology major from Bali, Indonesia. The group also provides a sense of community among students studying thousands of miles from their home. Nadinda, along with assistant cultural chair Maheen Bangash from Overland Park, has spent months planning the upcoming World Expo to produce a "well-rounded and diverse" event. Hall said that she enjoys the ability to meet other international students through ISA. "We're always learning new things about differ-
Contributed Photo World Expo 2017 will feature booths of over 44 different cultures Monday, April 24
ent people and their home countries," Hall said. "It’s enriching to be able to have this experience on a campus which lacks diversity." Hall, who has been involved with ISA since arriving at the University in
2014, said she hopes the event will highlight the "vital" importance of diversity. World Expo 2017 will take place on Monday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Kansas Memorial Union Ballroom. International
Awareness Week will run through the week, ending with the Festival of Nations on April 27 at 7:30 p.m. in Woodruff Auditorium. — Edited by Casey Brown
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he PA droned on as 2016 Olympic gold medalist in shot put Ryan Crouser waltzed to the ring for his sixth and final attempt. He’d already secured first place and the $4,000 prize, but the former Texas athlete was in Lawrence for his first event on American soil post-Olympics for another reason. To put on a show. “Usually track and field takes a back seat, so to come here and feel like a rockstar is pretty cool,” Crouser said.
“
I’m in great shape right now, so I’m ahead of my schedule and I was pretty confident I could throw a 72-foot throw.” Ryan Crouser 2016 Olympic gold medalist
As Crouser took to the ring, the crowd rose to its
STIGLER FROM PAGE 8 Stigler dominated the field with a statement performance. No one was even close to catching him. Stigler’s time of 49.38 was good enough to be among the top10 fastest times worldwide this year. The second-place
feet. He pinned the shot to his neck then twirled like a top, attempting to balance his power and coordination. The shot traveled over 72 feet on the corner of Massachusetts Street and Eighth Street, a new downtown shot put record. “I’m in great shape right now, so I’m ahead of my schedule and I was pretty confident I could throw a 72foot throw,” Crouser said. His best throw was officially 72 feet, 6.5 inches. Crouser said the decision to attend the seventh-straight iteration of the downtown shot put as his first United States event post-the Rio Olympics was easy. “When you get a great venue in the United States, it’s rare because it’s such a European-dominated sport, so there’s only a couple of meets on American soil that get this much energy,” he said. One bystander remarked the meet was unlike he had ever seen before. High school and college athletes mingled with families and bar crawlers. Free t-shirts were thrown. Food from vendors was being sold. The music
blared through downtown Lawrence. For one night, shot put ruled Lawrence. Crouser said he will be back next year to defend his title, hopefully under better weather conditions. He said the light rain was a concern at times.
“I tend to be a little bit more on balance and not having to rush quite so much... just try not to do anything too crazy,” he said of the cold weather. “It’s a little bit more of a warmer weather sport because you want to be loose and you want to be
relaxed.” The meet also featured current Jayhawk thrower Nicolai Ceban, who was competing as an amateur and therefore ineligible for the cash prize. Crouser doesn’t have that problem. He has to find
something to do with the large novelty check. “It’s my first big check,” he said. “I might end up like ‘Happy Gilmore’ with a few of them stuck in my back seat trying to cash them.”
finisher, Quinton Harley, clocked in at 52.65, a full three seconds slower than Stigler. Wilson placed fifth. As Stigler crossed the finish line, he couldn’t control his emotions. He looked at the scoreboard, saw his time and yelled “I’m back, baby,” to the Jayhawk-filled stands
around him. He waved his arms, pumping up the crowd. Stigler said running at Rock Chalk Park is a feeling he can’t explain. He equates it to running at nationals, NCAAs or the USA Championships. This facility and this place mean that much to him.
“Lawrence is pretty much my home,” Stigler said. “I love it here. I’d love to stay here the rest of my life if I could. It’s great. The fans love me, I love the fans. It’s great.” The fans do love Stigler. Immediately after his race was over, several fans
dressed in crimson and blue shouted congratulations his way. And one young Kansas fan came up to the fence and asked for his autograph. Stigler gave the fan more than just one autographed item. He signed the kid’s sweatshirt, as well as the meet program and Stigler’s
own bib number. When he went to sign the meet program, Stigler asked the child where he wanted him to sign. The kid said he didn’t care. Stigler smiled. “I’mma sign page 47,” Stigler said. “That’s my goal time.”
Andrew Rosenthal/KANSAN 2016 Olympic gold medalist Ryan Crouser throws in his fifth attempt. Crouser won the Downtown Shot Put, surpassing the previous record with a distance of 72-foot-6.5.
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sports KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2017
After injury, Stigler set on proving he’s not a ‘fluke’
Missy Minear/KANSAN
Former Jayhawk Michael Stigler leaps over a hurdle in the men’s 400-meter hurdles on April 22 at the Kansas Relays.
AMIE JUST @Amie_Just
T
he biggest track meet of Michael Stigler’s life was roughly a week away. The former Jayhawk was practicing 400-meter hurdle sets at Rock Chalk Park before the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. As Stigler was two hurdles into his second set, he heard his worst nightmare: a loud pop. As Stigler’s body hit the synthetic track, his dreams of making the 2016 Olympic
team popped along with his right hamstring. “It turned me into a new man, having to start from rock bottom,” Stigler said. “Making the Olympic team is everybody’s goal. And not being able to do that really hurt. But I’m gonna be a fighter and fight back — let everybody know that I’m here to stay. My collegiate season wasn’t a fluke. I am here to stay. The name Stigler will be known by the time my career ends.” At Rock Chalk Park, Stigler’s name is already
known. It’s etched into the Kansas history books along with fellow Jayhawk legends and NCAA champions in Jim Ryun and Cliff Cushman. Stigler spent two months recovering from his injury, with help from a Kansas Athletics athletic trainer in Zack Sanchez and OrthoKansas sports medicine doctor Luis Sanchez before returning to the track. And when Stigler did return, he changed up his training regimen. Instead of solely focusing on his speed and hurdle
“
My collegiate season wasn’t a fluke. I am here to stay. The name Stigler will be known by the time my career ends.”
Michael Stigler Former Jayhawk
work, Stigler worked with coach Stanley Redwine and the distance runners in the fall. Come winter and spring,
Stigler began to work with sprints and hurdles coach Elisha Brewer. “I’m strong from coach Redwine. I’m getting the speed from coach Brewer,” Stigler said. “It’s something we’ve never done. It’s gonna be something special when it all comes together.” Less than a year after his injury, Stigler returned to the track in which he currently trains to run the 400-meter hurdles in the 90th annual Kansas Relays. Stigler wasn’t the only Jayhawk in the race. Current
Kansas senior Alex Wilson was in the next lane over. “I know what to expect,” Wilson said of Stigler, as the two still practice together. “Coming out of the blocks, he likes to get out and really go for it.” That’s just what he did. Stigler blazed past the other competitors soon after the gun went off. He was nearly a hurdle ahead of everyone else on the back curve. SEE STIGLER PAGE 7
KU men dominant as Kansas Relays come to a close SHAUN GOODWIN @ShaunGoodwinUDK
The image of senior Jacob Morgan exerting every fiber of his being into the last 100 meters of his 5,000-meter race to clinch first place exhibited determination and grit. It was that same determination and grit that led the Kansas men to a first place finish in the scored quadrangular of the 90th Kansas Relays. The Jayhawk men swept away their competitors, finishing with 231 points, well ahead of second-placed Southern Illinois. Track athletes greatly aided the effort, having 14 athletes finish in top-three positions, including seven first-place finishes. Their performances earned Kansas an additional 138 points to add onto the 93 earned by the field athletes. Behind an exuberant home-crowd, several Kansas athletes contributed the home-track advantage to their strong performances. In one of the final events of the evening, Morgan raced out to an early lead in the 5,000-meter race and never looked back. Morgan finished the race in 14:19.59, 2.8 seconds ahead of teammate Dylan Hodgson. The pair won 16 points between them. “I can’t believe how loud
people were getting on that backstretch, I was like ‘dang, is that for me?’” Morgan said with a relieved smile on his face. Morgan was also running in his fourth and final Kansas Relays, with the senior having just two words to describe the feeling: “Too soon.” Sophomore Bryce Richards was another athlete who gave his all to earn points for his team. Heading into the final 100 meters of the men’s 1,500-meter race, Richards trailed California’s Thomas Joyce in a head-to-head finish. Richards stole first place from Joyce in by far the closest race of the relays. Coming in at a time of 3:53.57, Richards finished ahead of Joyce by .01 seconds. “The cheering, I loved it. It was awesome,” Richards said, looking toward the large crowd of Kansas fans.
“
I can’t believe how loud people were getting on that backstretch, I was like ‘dang, is that for me?’” Jacob Morgan Senior
The Kansas women’s team also put on a good
Missy MInear/KANSAN Senior Jacob Morgan crosses the finish line to place first in the men’s 5,000-meter run on April 22 at the Kansas Relays.
performance for the home crowd, finishing second in a hotly contested competition with 181.5 points. They trailed Minnesota by 14 points, which ended the night with 195.5 points. Both the men’s and women’s team saw several athletes run multiple events throughout the day, one of whom was sophomore Gabbi Dabney. Dabney, who placed seventh out of a field of seven in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, also competed in the college open 100-meter hur-
dles event earlier in the day. Dabney finished the scored quadrangular race with a time of 14.48 seconds. Dabney felt some pain in her groin area throughout the day, but didn’t feel that performing twice in one day affected her performance. “I really wanted to score some points for my team and finish out the weekend,” Dabney said. Junior Christian Hicks was another athlete to compete twice for the Jayhawks, competing in both the college
open and scored quadrangular men’s 110-meter hurdles. Hicks beat his personal-record in the college open with a time of 14.28 seconds, but unfortunately for the Derby native, the wind was over two meters per second, the limit for an official personal-record. Hicks then followed that performance up in the scored invitational, finishing second behind California’s Ashtyn Davis. Although the wind was under two meters per second, Hicks finished his race in 14.46 sec-
onds, .01 seconds behind his personal-record. “I needed a lot of times under my belt so I can keep lowering it. This definitely really helped me,” Hicks said, looking ahead toward the Outdoor Big 12 Championships. Kansas will return to action next week with the Jayhawks staying in Lawrence for the Rock Chalk Classic on Saturday, April 29, with the hammer throw kicking the meet off at 11 a.m.
TOP HILL of the
Your Lawrence favorites, chosen by you
TOP OF THE HILL
2B
HAILEY DIXON @_hailey _dixon
Allie Melendez would not let a subfreezing temperature of 10 degrees stop her from getting ice cream. Walking from Daisy Hill to Massachusetts Street in winter 2014, Melendez, a senior from Los Angeles, contracted pneumonia, all because she wanted to get a scoop of her favorite flavor of Sylas and Maddy’s ice cream. “It was a freezing cold Tuesday night before finals week in December,” Melendez said. “I had sopping wet hair, but goddamn it I was going to get my Buy One Get One [deal] at Sylas and Maddy’s.” Since 1997, Sylas and Maddy’s — named after the owners’ family dog and their neighbor’s cat — has been a staple of Lawrence that has enticed generations to visit again and again. “You could be going to get yogurt, you could be eating at the restaurant that you ate at, but people choose to come here and we just want people to want to come back,” Sarah England, owner of the Lawrence Sylas and Maddy’s, said. The business, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in June, is family owned and operated at 1014 Massachusetts St. Their other location is in Olathe.
“Since it is a family business ... a lot of our family works there and a lot of our family friends work there,” she said. “We do feel like a pretty close-knit group, some of us.” The restaurant boasts over 150 recipes of various flavors, and always has 40 different flavors at a time of ice cream, sorbet and sherbet in the store. Melendez is a huge fan of Sylas and Maddy’s, and thinks the flavors can brighten anyone’s day. “I like how just basic it is,” she said. “You know exactly what you’re getting. If you’re having a bad day, you get a full pint and take it home,” she said. Melendez said that she loves all the flavors offered, but cake batter is her ultimate favorite. The ambiance in the restaurant also appeals to customers like Melendez. “I just love how cute it is,” she said. Moreover, England says they do try to create a fun atmosphere for customers when they visit the restaurant. “When you come in, we want you to just feel like you had a good time, you had good service, good quality ice cream, good price, we want you to enjoy your time,” England said.
KANSAN.COM
BEST ICE CREA M
SYLAS AND MADDY’S 2nd Place: Cold Stone Creamery
THANK YOU JAYHAWKS! Thank you for voting us THE TOP OF THE HILL!
— Edited by Erin Brock CRUNCHY CHICKEN CHEDDAR WRAP
KU APPAREL
TOP OF THE HILL
KANSAN.COM
3B
Photo illustration by Sarah Wright/KANSAN
COURTNEY BIERMAN
B E S T BA K E RY
@courtbierman
As the rest of the town is just starting to wake up, Munchers Bakery is helping Lawrence start its day with breakfast. It’s not even 7 a.m., and general manager Mike Tennyson Jr. has already gotten in a full day of work. He kneads a slab of dough spread across a huge wooden table covered in flour in the bakery’s back room. In a few hours, the dough will be baked into danishes, ready for purchase at the Munchers counter. But before that, it needs an hour to rise in the proofing oven, and then it needs to be baked. Munchers, a 24-hour bakery located at 9th and Iowa, is known for its cheap, freshly baked doughnuts
MUNCHERS 2nd Place: Wheatfields 3nd Place: Hotbox Cookies
and pastries. The strawberry cream cheese donut, a recent creation of Tennyson’s, is one of their most popular items. Tennyson has worked full time at the bakery for five years. His sister, Sunday Martin, works there full time. Tennyson said his job isn’t all that difficult — aside from the hours, which have
only gotten harder since he had children. “It’s not for everybody,” Tennyson said. “That’s for sure.” Munchers has been in its current location for decades, but it didn’t always have lines out the door on Saturday mornings. Tennyson’s father, Mike Sr., purchased the bakery in 1990
and started a rebrand. He turned it into a family business, a place where college students could go for a latenight study break or where grandparents could take their grandkids for a treat on a lazy afternoon. Business Insider even named Munchers the best bakery in Kansas in 2015. Regulars recommend
the cream cheese donut. Sophomore Grace Mauery said she stops by Munchers at least a couple times a month for the popular treat. The Marching Jayhawks drum majors highly recommended it when she arrived on campus freshman year, and she’s been going ever since. “If you’ve been study-
ing for a long time and it’s late at night and you want a snack and nothing’s open, it’s a good place to go,” she said. Lawrence resident and 1981 University graduate Craig Penzler takes his four grandchildren to Munchers when they visit him in Lawrence. He said when his two daughters were younger, Munchers was a family staple. Now his kids are grown and moved out of state, but he always brings a box of Munchers doughnuts when he goes to see them. He said they have a standing order for the cream cheese doughnut and the strawberry knot. “When the girls got married and moved out of town and all that, it seemed like a fun way to take Lawrence to them,” Penzler said.
TOP OF THE HILL
4B
KANSAN.COM
B E S T S P O R T S BA R
BULLWINKLES 2nd Place: Jefferson’s 3rd Place: The Wheel
Baxter Schanze/KANSAN Bullwinkles is open from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday, and 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. on the weekend.
WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK
Bullwinkles Bar co-owner Pete Sorrentino had a prompt reaction when he learned his bar was voted “best sports bar” in Top of the Hill. “We’re pumped about that, that’s awesome,” Sorrentino said. Located at 1344 Tennessee St., Bullwinkles — or the “Bull,” as it’s affectionately called — is often described by one characteristic that makes the bar a popular option for University students who want to watch games: relaxed. “The fact that it has an overall more relaxed atmosphere compared to the [Jayhawk Cafe], the Cave,
[and others] really creates a place for people to talk and watch games,” said Mackenzie Klaus, a sophomore at the University. Junior Braden Robinson also said he thinks Bullwinkles does an effective job at creating a relaxed atmosphere for sporting events. “I feel like [Lawrence] doesn’t have a quintessential sports bar on Mass Street, there’s not really that culture here,” Robinson said. “But, I could definitely see how the Bull can be up there [as best sports bar]. You drive by and you always see people having conversations and watching games with their jerseys on.” How does Bullwinkles create that relaxed sports atmosphere? Sorrentino
said it helps that he and his brother, co-owner Tommy Sorrentino, are former college athletes. Pete played baseball at Washburn from 2012-14, and Tommy played soccer at Rochester from 2008-11. After an injury ended his playing career, Pete, who was born in Kansas City, Missouri, found a home in Lawrence and began creating the sports atmosphere at the Bull after the brothers took over the bar’s ownership in August 2013. “We like to incorporate the sports environment versus just being a bar,” Pete said. “Sports are a good to reason to get people to gather around and hang out. It’s a big accomplishment for us that our customers think
highly of our sports environment and our culture environment at the bar.” Pete said creating an environment similar to Allen Fieldhouse has been a goal in trying to draw students to the Bull. The Bull features two outdoor TVs and an outdoor roof that was added in the past year. Pete said the outside patio can sometimes imitate the packed environment of Allen Fieldhouse. “It’s impossible to recreate Allen Fieldhouse, but it’s very small, and it’s tight, but there’s just a lot of emotion in there because you are so close to the next person [seated next to you],” Pete said. “It just makes it fun and gets everyone into it.” He also said the outdoor
roof has helped in serving Kansas City Royals fans that frequently attend the bar. “I remember the Royals playoff games [in 2014 and 2015], there was a couple days where it was raining,” Pete said. “It kind of hurts when it’s raining and you have an open patio and everyone’s running inside. It’s been a big help for us during those rainy and seasonal days we get in Kansas, giving people the option to still stay in the bar and not having to run somewhere else to go watch it.” Klaus also said the occasional live music played by the University band at the Bull contributes to the sports atmosphere. “Everyone sings along
and it just feels so special to be there,” Klaus said. “Every night the band is there is a night I never want to forget as part of my college experience.” Pete and Tommy said they are always working on new bar ideas to continue to appeal to students. “We’re always trying to grow and improve,” Pete said. “We’ve been working pretty hard over the past few years to create the product that we have today, and we just always to try to continue to push the envelope to see how much better we can make the experience. That’s why we’re really pumped that we won this, and that we were even nominated for best sports bar. It’s pretty cool.”
BEST DRINK SPECIAL
BEST NIGHTCLUB
MOOSEBOWL
B ES T BA R
THE JAYHAWK CAFE
BULLWINKLES
B u l l w in k l e s
2nd Place: Dollar Night, The Jayhawk Cafe 3rd Place: Schooner Night, Louise’s
2nd Place: Cave 3rd Place: Tonic
2nd Place: The Wheel 3rd Place: Brother’s
TOP OF THE HILL
HANNAH COLEMAN @hecoleman33
Consistently a bustling, lively taste of Lawrence, Free State Brewing Company on Massachusetts Street is known for its local ingredients, famous beers and busy atmosphere. The brewery was first established in 1989, the first legal brewery in Kansas after a 100 year period. The brewery has a 14-barrel brewhouse and has some of the finest equipment available for small breweries, according to the brewery’s website, and even produces bottled beers. Since the opening of the restaurant, Free State has ingrained itself into Lawrence culture, and serves, “everyone under the sun,” manager Alex Hamilton said. “We have a great cross section of people who come here,” Hamilton said. “All demographics, just the way we like it. We’re a very populous restaurant. We’re not trying to satisfy any one group of people; we want our guests to be from everywhere.” Hamilton said people tend to enjoy the brewery’s constant buzz of people throughout the week, making it a great atmosphere for lively conversation. He said that the menu is also diverse and has options for different diets and styles of food. “[The restaurant is] raucous and very brewery like,” Hamilton said. “It’s definitely a brew pub. I think it’s just kind of the
place that people want to get together whether it’s family or friends and a place to have a lively conversation, good food and good beverages.” Customer and Lawrence resident Chris Beightel said the restaurant’s atmosphere suits everyone and every occasion. “Free State is a must-visit restaurant for anyone looking to take in a big helping of Lawrence culture,” Beightel said. “The food is top notch, and the menu has something for just about everyone and every occasion. The atmosphere is great. It’s pretty loud, but somehow the voices bouncing from limestone walls to concrete floor just kind of turn into white noise and let you have private conversations at your table without disturbing your neighbors or being disturbed by them.” The brewery’s most celebrated menu items include their cheddar ale soup, the black bean quesadillas, the fish and chips, the chicken crawfish gumbo and the beer-battered onion rings. Hamilton said these menu items are said to be a staple of the Free State and Lawrence dining experience. University freshman Molly Mong said the unique food options give the restaurant endless options that aren’t typically found in Lawrence. “I think their food really has the roots of good pub food, but adds something more, both with the quality and the originality of the dishes,” Mong said.
“They have burgers and fries, but also chimichurri and gnocchi and all these really interesting dishes that you might not find anywhere else on [Massachusetts Street].” Mong said the combination of the busy and excited environment, and the quality food always make her experiences at the brewery memorable as well. “I think I actually went there for the first time when I was pretty young,” Mong said. “It must have been when my dad took me up to Lawrence for a basketball game. I just remember how busy and excited the environment was. Since it was a game night, everyone seemed to be friends with each other and were in high spirits, and that just made it seem so cool to me.” The long-standing brewery is also rooted in tradition. Free State celebrates March Madness with a March Mustard Madness event that features over 65 different types of mustard and food specials. The restaurant also offers Monday night deals on beers, offering $2 selected beers. “Since it is a brewery, it almost gives it this pub feel that feels so cool, since in reality you are actually in a really nice restaurant,” Mong said. “It makes the setting more casual in the best way. I think the crowded and bustling atmosphere along with the food quality is something that is hard to find sometimes, and that is what a lot of students thrive on.”
5B
B E S T DAT E S P OT
FREE STATE BREWING COMPANY 2nd Place: Sylas and Maddy’s 3rd Place: 715
Th
KANSAN.COM
y k o n a u
...for voting us one of the top 3 liquor stores in Lawrence!!!
2000 W 23rd St Lawrence, KS 66046 785.331.4242
901 Mississippi St Lawrence, KS 66044 785.842.4450
TOP OF THE HILL
6B
KANSAN.COM
B E S T L AT E - N I G H T D RU N K F O O D
PIZZA
The Wheel 2nd Place: Fuzzy’s 3rd Place: Pizza Shuttle
EMILY WELLBORN @EmWellborn
“Megan is 21. You go girl,” the bright marker on the side of the booth says. It is in a sea of birthday wishes and Greek letters that cover the Wheel’s walls and furniture. Loud music plays over the speakers as Betty Jury sits with her family for lunch. She went to the University in the 50s, was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and graduated with a degree in home economics. Her family was visiting her from Seattle, for a tour of the University that has changed a lot since she was a student. The Wheel, she said, hasn’t changed at all. “It was the place to eat. The place to eat,” Jury said. Jury said, “the camaraderie and the friendly atmosphere” made the Wheel special and what makes The Wheel Pizza Company so special for current students. “I think it’s great for the new generation,” Jury said.
“My generation, we didn’t even know what pizza was.” Camaraderie is also something that Rich Brown, who is as much a Lawrence icon as the bar, makes the Wheel Pizza special for students. “We’re underneath The Wheel, and we’re across the street from The Hawk and the Bull,” Brown said. “The people get along together.” Brown is known to latenight customers as “Pizza Pete,” and has been serving the braided-crust pizza since 1999. He said that The Wheel has never been a boring place to work. “You see a lot of funny things, hear a lot of funny things,” Brown said. He said the customers are the most interesting part of his job. The “not sober” patrons can be very funny, he said. “People have tried to put money into the ATM to get out more money,” Brown said. “It’s like it’s a slot machine.” Rob Farha, the current
owner of The Wheel, said Brown does a good job of handling drunk patrons. “It’s positive and fun, but there are some negative things. Sometimes the alcohol gets in the way,” Farha said. “People can be disrespectful sometimes. He does a good job of tailing that.” Farha said that he wants to keep the tradition of the Wheel going in the future and that the late-night, noisy patrons are worth it. “The positive is kids are walking around not driving,” Farha said. “To have that, you’re going to have a little noise and stuff, but it’s better than the alternative. I think and it gives them something to munch on late night.” — Edited by Frank Weirich
Savanna Smith/KANSAN
B ES T L I Q U O R S TO RE
JAYHAWK LIQUOR 2nd Place: Cork and Barrel 3rd Place: On the Rocks
B ES T WAY TO E XPERI EN CE N AT U RE
HIKING
Clin t o n L a ke 2nd Place: Throwing a field goalpost into Potter’s lake 3rd Place: Walking on the River trails
KANSAN.COM
13B
BEST SALON/BARBER
DOWNTOWN BARBER SHOP
You have
arrived.
2nd Place: Amyx Barber 3rd Place: Beauty Brands
TANNER HASSELL @thassell17
A cheap haircut or trim can be found at nearly every shopping plaza in Lawrence, but if you’d like a little conversation and a friendly atmosphere during your sit under the scissors, Downtown Barber Shop on Massachusetts Street has kept townies and students clean and neat for 30 years. While the barbershop opened in 1987, barber Jay Amyx said the trade has been a part of his family’s legacy for almost 100 years. “Downtown Barber Shop was opened in 1987 by Jon Amyx,” he said. “He has been cutting hair since 1975 in Lawrence. He’s third generation, and I’m a fourth-generation barber here in town. Grand total, our family’s been doing it for 93 years.” Amyx said he wasn’t initially keen on taking up the family trade, but came to love it through interacting with customers from the Lawrence and University communities. “The fact that I get to
deal with people on a dayto-day basis and learn a lot about them and be a part of their lives, it’s nice, I like it,” he said. “It’s one of the most enjoyable parts of my job, being a part of so many people’s lives. The hairstyles are what they are, but being part of those people and what they do on a dayto-day basis is great.” Fynn Simister, a junior from Australia studying psychology, said he’s gone to the shop since his first haircut in Lawrence. “It’s always busy, so you know it must be good and the job that they do has been excellent every time, so I haven’t had to look anywhere else,” he said. “I first came down with a few friends, and I haven’t looked back since.” While the shop serves community members and beyond, Amyx said students keep the business, and the hairstyles, lively and fresh. “The kids from the University are great, and we see new faces every year,” he said. “They keep the styles lively, they stay with the trends. It keeps our busi-
ness flowing.” Junior Navy ROTC student William McNichols said he’s had his hair cut at the shop since his first week at the University, and doesn’t trust anyone else with it. “Within the first two days, I came here with the rest of my freshman class,” he said. “They started us off with the skin-tight cut, and I’ve been coming here ever since.” For McNichols and other military students, the barber shop is now more than their preferred stop for a trim. After his friend Nicholas Herren died in an accident on K-10 last semester, McNichols said the shop donated money for a scholarship fund in memory of Herren. “This entire barbershop came together to make donations for a scholarship,” he said. “They know all the military guys real closely, they know us all by name.” — Edited by Frank Weirich
Now Leasing 785.294.6400 www.HereKansas.com 935 Massachusetts St.
KANSAN.COM
TOP OF THE HILL
Miranda Clark Ulrich/KANSAN 715, winner of best Italian food, took up residence in one of Massachusetts Street’s historic stone buildings in 2009. The restaurant has kept the building’s original stone walls, but has developed an eclectic feel by adding sleek wooden chairs, shiny black tables and a fully equipped bar.
9B
TOP OF THE HILL
B E S T I TA L I A N F O O D
715 2nd Place: Genovese 3rd Place: Paisano’s
LIBBY FLOOD @libbyflood13
L
awrence’s 715 Italian restaurant hangs its hat on innovation. Located at 715 Massachusetts Street, 715 took up residence in one of downtown Lawrence’s historic stone buildings in 2009. The restaurant has kept the building’s original stone walls, but has developed an eclectic feel by adding sleek wooden chairs, shiny black tables and a fully equipped bar. Despite its modern atmosphere, however, 715 is void of one contemporary restaurant staple: TVs. And for a reason. “The original idea was a restaurant that would be a gathering place that didn’t revolve around sports,” co-owner and restaurant manager Matt Hyde said. “That’s not something you come across often.” Though the menu has evolved since it first opened its doors eight years ago, the restaurant has maintained its culinary theme, which Hyde described as “handmade with an Italian influence.” The restaurant also uses as many local products as possible, fostering a sense of community with the Lawrence area. The Tuscan-inspired restaurant
was built upon the principle of inclusion, Hyde said. It’s an objective met in part by its development of diverse menu items, suitable for all budgets. “You don’t have to spend a lot of money to hang out here,” Hyde said. “You have options if you do, but we wanted our restaurant to be very broad, very open.” 715 also cultivates its sense of openness by providing gender-neutral bathrooms, said assistant general manager Carson Levine. Having worked at the restaurant since 2010, Levine feels this sense of camaraderie is what makes it special. “Matt [Hyde] wants it to feel like this is a place for everybody,” Levine said. “It doesn’t matter what you wear, it doesn’t matter what you look like, it doesn’t matter who you are, you can come here.” To Hyde, his restaurant is successful because it never stops evolving. 715 maintains a “wonderful, diverse” staff of more than 60 employees. “That’s why the restaurant works so well,” he said. “We have so many remarkable people that we hired from different countries, from different socioeconomic standpoints and from different walks of life, so we have a very
open-minded management team. We truly want input from our staff about how to make things better.” Hyde hopes this diversity will encourage broader viewpoints. “We want our guests to be excited about coming here and trying some new things,” he said. “But to also have some [food] options to fall back on, like lasagna. Or like spaghetti and meatballs.” Junior University student and 715 fan Moriyah Ramberg feels the restaurant has an “upscale city vibe,” similar to those in Chicago or San Francisco. “It has a different feel from a lot of the restaurants on Mass,” Ramberg said. For Levine, the best part of the restaurant is the people. The upbeat, fast-paced environment — especially on weekends — is an exciting experience for staff and guests alike. “It’s just so fun,” Levine said. “I think people know that they’re going to have a good time when they come here. It’s got good energy. It’s something you can’t really pinpoint.” — Edited by Paola Alor
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B E S T CO FFE E
KANSAN.COM
B ES T BU RG ER
THE BURGER STAND 2nd Place: Dempsey’s 3rd Place: Jefferson’s
JAVA BREAK
B ES T FR I ES
2 Place: Alchemy 3rd Place: The Underground nd
THE BURGER STAND 2nd Place: Five Guys 3rd Place: Dempsey’s
NOLAN BREY @NolanBrey
The success of Java Break, the coffee shop voted best coffee for the second year in a row, is due to one thing, says owner Derek Hogan: its loyal customers. “Seriously, the coffee business is based on the loyalty of your customers, and Java Break has been blessed with always having lots of great regulars that support us and have our back,” Hogan said. Hogan, 50, opened the Java Break in 1994. Hogan said, at the time, he didn’t have the finances to open an entire restaurant, so he decided to open a coffee shop instead. “Coffee shops were getting pretty huge at the time, and Lawrence only really had La Prima Tazza,” Hogan said. “I love coffee, and it was a way to get into baking and serving some tasty sandwiches and just kind of get my foot in the door to do more of what I wanted to do in the future.” Java Break was originally supposed to be the Java Beat, a coffee shop with an emphasis on music, at a location on 23rd Street and Louisiana. However, Hogan said
the location fell through, so he was forced to change his business model and open his coffee shop in a 200-square feet location off of Massachusetts Street. Thus, Java Break was born. Hogan said, while college students make up about half of his customers, Java Break is a coffee shop for anyone to study, play board games and go on coffee dates. “I bet you five times a month I hear from someone where they had their first date here, and now they’re married with three kids,” Hogan said. In addition to a unique menu that includes, among other things, a cereal bar and homemade chai, vanilla and chocolate syrups and almond milk, Java Break also boasts an eclectic atmosphere. Kyle Ta, a freshman from Wichita studying biology and philosophy, visits Java Break several times a month due to its one-of-a-kind aesthetics. “As for the coffee shops itself, the culture is really nice. I will mainly go to Java Break for atmosphere,” Ta said. “Compared to other coffee shops, it tends to be a little bit more casual and less harsh.” Java Break includes many
unique rooms, but its most notable room is the free speech room, where anyone can write anything. “The free speech zone was kind of a compromise, because we had problems with people drawing in the bathrooms, so I kind of set this room aside and said, ‘go crazy,’ and it actually stopped the graffiti in the rest of the store. It kind of became a tourist attraction on its own,” Hogan said. Hogan said Java Break’s unique appearance is a result of the way the shop has been expanded over the years. “Java Break is never static,” Hogan said. “The chance of a booth room being the same two years from now is slim to none. It’s definitely a unique atmosphere. It kind of evolved that way.” Though dozens of coffee shops have opened up since Java Break broke ground, Hogan’s coffee shop still stands out to customers. “Even talking to KU grads, who are like 30 or so, who know about Java Break, it’s always been a staple,” Ta said. “Before even going to KU, I was
always told to go to Java Break.” Hogan said he plans to continue to run Java Break until his inevitable retirement, but he is thankful for all whom have supported him over the years.
B ES T G RO CERY S TO R E
DILLON’S 2nd Place: Hy-vee 3rd Place: The Merc
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B E S T S P E C I A LT Y S H O P
MASS STREET SODA 2nd Place: Wonderfair 3rd Place: Love Garden Sounds
DARBY VANHOUTAN @darbyvanhoutan
“We get to introduce people to things they haven’t tried before. People are generally open to trying new things.” These are the words of Mass Street Soda manager Maren Ludwig. The things she’s
referring to? Soda — over 1,300 kinds of soda when the shop is at maximum capacity. This includes root beers, colas, Harry Potter-inspired butterbeer, fruity sodas, tart sodas and hundreds more. “It’s a lot of fun because it’s an environment that entire generations can enjoy, like young kids obviously like seeing all the
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different varieties and trying something different,” Ludwig said. “We also have grandparents that bring their grandsons or granddaughters in once a week and introduce them to the soda that they drank as a child, which is cool.” One generation that enjoys soda from the three-year-old Mass Street Soda shop are those who attend the University, including employee CJ Stuever, a senior from Lawrence. “My job is fun because I’m required to try everything and I get paid to drink soda, so that’s not a terrible thing either,” Stuever said. Stuever, who will celebrate one year of employment at the shop in May, said one of the best parts of Mass Street Soda, in his opinion, is the alternative space it provides students. “Not everybody is necessarily attracted to the bar scene,” Stuever said. “So having a place for people who want to come and sit down at a ‘bar’ and watch a game or something and not necessarily be in a place
where music is blaring and you can’t hear the person next to you, I think makes it a fun place.” The shop offers a special on Wednesday to college students who present a student ID. This special allows them to upgrade any very un-boring soda to something even better by adding ice cream for no additional cost and making it a float. Ice cream upgrades and a “chiller” that will cool any soda in under a minute are only a few of the surprises waiting behind the doors of the 1103 Mass St. location. “The most surprising part, it’s either a person seeing a soda they haven’t seen in years,” Ludwig said. “Or maybe just the sheer number of sodas we have.” — Edited by Mara Kubicki
Thank you, KU Students! We’re proud to be your neighbor at the Top of the Hill!
www.meadowbrookapartments.net
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KANSAN.COM
B E S T C A M P US BUILDING
ALLEN FIELDHOUSE 2nd Place: Watson Library 3rd Place: DeBruce Center
BRENDAN DZWIERZYNSKI @BrendanDzw
On Feb. 13, 2017 16,300 rabid Kansas basketball fans packed themselves into Allen Fieldhouse for the Jayhawks’ game against the West Virginia Mountaineers. This wasn’t a typical Kansas game, however, as the crowd opened the evening by setting the world record for the loudest indoor sports event. That’s not to say the venue isn’t electrifying on its own, of course. This just happened to be a night when both players and their adoring supporters, stuffing themselves into college basketball’s most notable monolith, got to be a part of something special. As for the game itself, the Allen Fieldhouse magic was on full display as the final minutes of the game wound down, as it often does on Naismith Drive during college basketball season.
After trailing by double digits late in regulation, the Jayhawks mounted a furious rally and eventually overcame the Mountaineers. Filled with exciting, fast-paced basketball and a deafening roar from the Kansas faithful, that night exemplified why Allen Fieldhouse is such a special place to a countless number of people. For those reasons, and more, is why Allen Fieldhouse won “Best Campus Building” for the Kansan’s Top of the Hill awards. Brian Hanni, the director of broadcasting for Kansas Athletics and radio voice of the Jayhawks, has experienced Allen Fieldhouse from the perspective of a fan, a fill-in broadcaster, a member of an opponent’s commentary team and as the Kansas play-by-play voice. To him, every “first” broadcast inside what some call “the mecca of college basketball” was special.
“One of the first games I ever had a chance to see at Allen Fieldhouse was Jacque Vaughn’s famous game-winner vs. Indiana in 1993,” Hanni said in an email. “I was in middle school at the time and thought that shot — and the deafening crowd roar that followed — was about the coolest thing I’d ever witnessed.” The advantage Kansas has when it plays in Allen Fieldhouse is attributable to the rabid fan base that fills the building throughout the season. Hanni, a 2002 University graduate, said the team has an inherent confidence when it has that raucous crowd behind it. “When a Jayhawk run begins and the crowd starts frothing at the mouth, you can just see the demoralizing effect it has on the faces of the opposing players,” Hanni said. The West Virginia game
epitomizes the aura and special nature of Allen Fieldhouse. Hanni said that game was a perfect example of the effect Allen Fieldhouse has on Kansas opponents, a sentiment which is shared by Chris Lilly, the sports director for WIBWTV in Topeka. “The craziest game I’ve ever covered [in Allen Fieldhouse] was the West Virginia game this year,” Lilly said. “They were down late, the crowd rallied and all of a sudden KU comes back.” Lilly called the atmosphere in the building “mind-numbing,” especially when it comes to opponents facing it. “It’s incredible how loud it gets and how it throws off other teams,” Lilly said. “Everything plays into it to make it the perfect homecourt advantage.” On the University campus and throughout the legions of Jayhawks fans
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which blanket the world, Kansas basketball is treated like religion, with its epicenter located in a state somewhat fanatical about religion. This faith truly brings people together from countless backgrounds and cultures, and its church is beloved by generations worth of students and fans. For Hanni, whose experiences in broadcasting have led him to notable venues all over the country, nothing compares to “The Phog.” “Where else can you drive up to an arena that’s located on a street named for the game’s creator (Naismith), walk into a building named after the ‘Father of Basketball Coaching’ (Phog Allen), see Naismith’s original rules of the game and look at the immortalized jersey number of the single individual whose impact caused more rules changes than any other (Wilt)?” Hanni asked. “It’s all right there at 1651 Naismith Drive.” — Edited by Casey Brown
Missy Minear/KANSAN Students hold their hands up as junior guard Devonte’ Graham attempts a free throw. Kansas defeated Texas 79-67 on Jan. 21.
B ES T O N - C A M P US F O O D
CRUNCHY CHICKEN CHEDDAR WRAP B re l l a’s 2nd Place: Chicken Tenders, Mrs. E’s 3rd Place: Smoothie, Freshen
B ES T C A M P US L A N D M A RK
THE CAMPANILE 2nd Place: Chi Omega Fountain 3rd Place: Potter Lake
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B E S T B R E A K FA S T
THE ROOST 2nd Place: Milton’s 3rd Place: First Watch
JOSH MCQUADE
@L0neW0lfMcQuade
The line is usually out the door as Lawrence residents flock to The Roost on Sunday mornings. The Roost, a restaurant on Massachusetts Street that specializes in breakfast foods, is located in the space previously occupied by Milton’s, a breakfast spot now located on New Hampshire Street. The husband-and-wife partnership of Sean and Manda Jolly brought The Roost to life. They both worked at Milton’s before discovering that the restaurant was planning to close. “When we found out [the space] was opening up, we reached out to the landlords and they wanted to work with us,” Sean, who is also
The Roost’s head chef, said. Officially opened in the summer of 2013, the restaurant is nearing its fourth summer in business, serving around 1,500 customers each weekend. The restaurant also won “Best Breakfast Spot” in the 2015 Best of Lawrence awards. Sean said The Roost is successful not only because of its location, but because of the food they serve. “I like to think that we offer a good product,” Sean said. “Good food, good service.” Sean said The Roost tries to be different from other chains around Lawrence by cooking all of their menu items from scratch. Whether it’s baking their own biscuits or making their own sauces and gravy, the recipes are all created by Sean
and the rest of the kitchen staff. The Roost also offers a variety for breakfast, listing dishes from “Breakfast Sammys” (sandwiches) to a wide range of omelets. “We offer something a little more unique,” Sean said. “Be it the chorizo and eggs or the campfire breakfast.” The most popular item The Roost has to offer is the Rooster, Sean said. The Rooster is a breakfast plate with the choice of French toast, pancakes or potato pancakes; two eggs; and the choice of bacon, sausage, ham or fruit. Sean said that is the biggest breakfast plate that The Roost offers. What also makes The Roost unique is its love for anything and everything eggs Benedict. Sean said it offers him a creative outlet
in cooking and is excited for the restaurant’s love of the dish. “On Fridays, we do an eggs Benedict special,” he said. “I kind of look around and see what we’ve got, or maybe take inspiration from wherever else.” Students who do not have morning classes also take to The Roost for a big breakfast or a light snack. Steven Davis, a diner at the restaurant and sophomore at the University, said he likes to go to The Roost occasionally on Friday mornings. “I love the variety [the Roost] has to offer, especially with a new [dish] to try every Friday,” Davis said. — Edited by Casey Brown
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KANSAN.COM
B ES T F O O D D IS H
CREAM CHEESE PIZZA Piz z a S h u t t l e
2nd Place: Chips and queso, Fuzzy’s Tacos 3rd Place: The Bill Self, 23rd Street Brewery
Once in a lifetime.
B ES T BA R B ECU E
Be part of the tradition: Walk down the Hill and into the stadium to celebrate Commencement.
BIGG’S 2nd Place: Hog Wild 3rd Place: Biemers
BEST MEXICAN FOOD
FUZZY’S TACO SHOP 2nd Place: Cielito Lindo 3rd Place: El Potro
B ES T AS I A N F O O D
ENCORE 2nd Place: Zen Zero 3rd Place: Ramen Bowls
On May 14, pass through the Campanile and meet the world on the other side.
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KANSAN.COM
BEST E N T E R TA I N M E N T VENUE
THE GRANADA 2nd Place: Liberty Hall 3rd Place: The Bottleneck
Madeline Crume/KANSAN
OMAR SANCHEZ @OhMySanchez
For the few, The Granada on Massachusetts Street can be just another flashy sign they pass on the way to start their Friday nights. A vestige of the past with towering white letters across a star-clad backdrop — a vintage movie display board to boot. But, for many, the building has character and life; a living pantheon of the up and coming in the music industry. Names like The Killers, John Mayer, Carly Rae Jepsen and Rae Sremmurd have walked across the stage as mid-level starlets and left as A-list to-be’s.
That’s why, after over 80 years since the building opened, those behind The Granada’s success don’t want it to settle to be just another voiceless venue. Its history demands otherwise. “We didn’t want to have that corporate promoter vibe,” Mary Costello, current manager at The Granada, said. “A voiceless venue, like, ‘Here’s the show, here’s the doors.’ We try to have a personality.” The Granada, formally The Granada Theater, a name established during its day as a silent movie theater in the early 30s, is home to what many may now call the best in live music in Lawrence. Starting in
1993, the location has made its focus to serve a variety of local and nationally-recognized talent to the University community. Its key to remain at the top has been an emphasis in its concert production and, most importantly, a lively social media presence. It’s a recipe that keeps audiences wanting to come back and stay up-to-date. According to Costello, The Granada saw record fall numbers in attendance in 2016. “A lot of the college kids continue to go to shows. We also have a really hardworking staff and we have a pretty full calendar,” she said. Robert Bohm, an Au-
BEST APARTMENT COMPLEX
HERE 2nd Place: The Connection 3rd Place: 888 Lofts
burn native, is a Granada regular. A senior in information systems and technology, Bohm said he has been attending shows at The Granada since high school, and he hasn’t gotten tired of being in the intimate venue. “I would say The Granada is my home away from home,” he said. “Some of my best memories have been made here and it gives me an escape from the pressure of school and working several jobs.” Eli Mitchell is the promotions manager at The Granada. When he started in August 2015, it was important to effectively communicate with their audi-
ence, so they could come to them on social media for more than just the next show time. “It’s a lot of sharing funny articles and memes,” he said. “You want to maintain this casual relationship with your audience and kind of play around with them in the comments, that sort of thing.” Being successful as a concert venue in a college town also means prepping for the inevitable: rowdy, raucous crowds looking to have a good time. The Granada has between 2025 production staff members on hand to prep for, and work during and after the concert. Each members’
weekly schedules vary, but what never changes is the daylong gauntlet to make each concert experience unforgettable. Looking to the future, Costello said The Granada is going to start collaborating with other locations around Mass Street, like next-door neighbor Lucia Beer Garden, for more outdoor events in the summer. The Granada is also ready to give Lawrence music festivals that are coming through the Midwest. “I would attribute [The Granada’s success] to Lawrence continuing to support live music,” Costello said.
B ES T CLOT H I N G S TO RE
FRANCESCA’S 2nd Place: KU Bookstore 3rd Place: Jock’s Nitch