MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017 | VOLUME 134 ISSUE 07
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
Pro-campus carry speaker may come to KU this fall CHANDLER BOESE @Chandler_Boese
This fall, some students from the University’s conservative organizations are looking to inject a new voice into the conversation surrounding concealed carry on campus: Antonia Okafor, a pro-campus carry advocate and conservative feminist. College Republicans, Turning Point USA and the Network of Enlightened Women have entered into talks with Okafor to speak on the University’s campus in early October. The organizations are hoping to put down a deposit in the next couple weeks and then pay the rest of Okafor’s speak-
ing fee with Student Senate funding. Okafor, currently a graduate student at the University of Texas, according to her website, helped push for getting concealed carry on campus at Texas colleges, a change that went into effect last August. Okafor also leads a movement called “EmPOWERed,” which focuses on women’s right to carry guns and the way that can increase their safety. With concealed carry on campus having gone into effect in Kansas this summer, Victoria Snitsar, the vice-president of NEW and communications chair for College Republicans, said Okafor’s perspective on campus carry as a black,
millennial conservative is sorely needed. “Bringing somebody with those identities to our school will kind of shed a little bit of a different light on that conversation,” said Snitsar, a junior from Santa Monica, California. The organizations are hoping that Okafor’s speaking fees, which can range from $5,000 to $15,000, according to her website, will be provided through Student Senate funding. “We think it’s good enough to be able to get Senate funding through in the first cycle, hopefully,” Snitsar said. While the organizations were always looking to bring in a speaker who could talk
Contributed photo Antonia Okafor, a pro-campus carry advocate, may visit the University this fall at the invitation of conservative student groups.
about campus carry, Snitsar said she was really pushing for Okafor specifically be-
cause of her unique identities and focus. “For NEW, we’re really
all about empowering women and giving them a way to protect themselves is one
International students may struggle to get jobs under Trump KATHY WONG @KathyW0NG
International students now face new challenges as they seek employment after graduation. The Trump administration’s issuance of the travel ban and recent executive orders have made it more difficult for international students to obtain jobs and work visas in the U.S. According to the Chicago Tribune, the order that puts
international students most at risk is the “Buy American, Hire American” plan, an executive order President Donald Trump signed in April. If the U.S. Congress chooses to put it into action, this plan will limit the number of foreign workers in the U.S, as well as encourage American companies to hire Americans rather than foreigners. However, no actions have been presently made. Recent University grad-
uate Melanie D’Souza, from Oman, has faced significant challenges since the signing of the “Buy American, Hire American” order. This spring, she said she applied to dozens of jobs, but received very few offers. “It’s shocking,” D’Souza said about the difficulty in her job hunt. “After the executive order, many companies changed their eligibility requirements online by offering jobs only to citizens.” According to an article
on foreignpolicy.com, the way that foreigners are able to legally work in the U.S is through applying for a work visa, the most common being the skilled worker H-1B visa. This year, H-1B visas will only be given to 85,000 out of 199,000 applicants through a lottery system, which is purely up to chance. Therefore, companies can run a huge risk when hiring foreigners because of the cost it takes to cover all the legal and application
fees, when the individual may not even be able to receive the visa. Because of these difficulties and costs, many small non-international companies are more hesitant and unwilling to put the time and money into hiring foreigners. “I’ve had employers take back their offers because they learned about how much it would cost to hire a foreign worker,” D’Souza said. “This has not only hap-
pened to me, but to many of my friends as well.” According to the Office of International Programs, as of the spring 2017 semester, for both the Edwards and Lawrence campuses, there were a total of 2,176 graduate and undergraduate international students enrolled. “Changes have been discussed by legislators, the SEE INTERNATIONAL PAGE 2
2 FROM INTERNATIONAL PAGE 1 press, and people, but nothing has really happened,” said Charles Bankart, the associate vice provost for international programs. Bankart also said that the University is doing all it can to assuage and help students with their fears and concerns about finding a job. “There is a perception that it is harder to get a visa, but we are doing everything we can via phone, video chat and emails to tell students that the critical thing is to apply for visas and travel arrangements as early as
possible,” Bankart said. “We also do workshops every semester to advise students on how to find jobs and apply for work authorization forms, and the business school brings in international firms through career fairs.” Through these efforts, Bankart wants to ensure that students understand that the Lawrence and Edward campuses are hospitable and welcoming toward international students and that both are part of the world community. D’Souza said many international students may not know of the challenges they
NEWS
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Build strong intern relations and be strategic when looking for jobs. Go for big international companies because of the job security Melanie D’Souza Recent graduate
have yet to face in the upcoming months and years, and should be prepared. “The biggest takeaway is that if you thought that job
hunting four to five months in advance was safe you should apply a year in advance,” D’Souza said. “Build strong intern relations and be strategic when looking for jobs. Go for big international companies because of the job security.” D’Souza said that international students should go for large international companies. This is because if they don’t receive a visa, the company could be able to transfer them to an international office. However, it is best to keep in mind that not all companies are certified to hire international students.
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Associated Press President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the G20 Summit, July 8, 2017, in Hamburg, Germany.
University attempting to put Title IX cases on hold CHANDLER BOESE @Chandler_Boese
Two pending lawsuits alleging the University mishandled sexual assault could be temporarily stopped as the result of a recent motion. The two federal lawsuits, filed independently by two former female rowers, Daisy Tackett and Sarah McClure, allege that the University mishandled their reports of sexual assault, not offering them sufficient protection, not sufficiently punishing the alleged rapist and allowing
their rowing coach to treat them unfairly. Now, as both cases await a decision on whether or not they will be dismissed, the University wants to halt any further proceedings. At the end of June, the University filed nearly identical motions to stay both cases, saying that the motions to dismiss will likely affect anything that might be done otherwise, which would make anything done before those motions are addressed moot. Both cases are currently waiting for a judge’s verdict
on whether or not they will be dismissed, which the University is pushing for, saying that Kansas’ dismissal of a related state lawsuit should prevent these cases from being tried. Following the decision about the state lawsuit in March, the University filed to dismiss Tackett’s case in April and McClure’s case in June. The state suit had alleged that false advertising about the safety of the University’s Student Housing had misled Tackett’s and McClure’s families.
Because of the pending motion to dismiss, the University says moving forward with the evidencegathering processes would be a waste of time and resources, since the motion could alter those processes. It also says that a stay would minimize the possible harmful effects of making Tackett and McClure relive their sexual assaults. “At the very least, Defendant anticipates that the court’s pending ruling may alter the scope of discovery,” the University wrote in their
motion. “Defendant is concerned that moving forward with discovery and depositions now may result in unnecessary time and expenses.” On Friday, Tackett and McClure’s lawyer, Dan Curry of Kansas City, Missouri, filed a motion to oppose the stay, saying the University and court do not have enough to postpone the case. The nearly identical motions say that stays should only be granted when absolutely necessary, and nothing in this case would warrant that.
Furthermore, both Tackett and McClure are wanting to move forward with their depositions (the part of the evidencegathering process where they will testify), despite the University’s assertion that it would be troubling for them. Tackett is actually studying abroad this fall, according to the motion filed in her case, and this stay could complicate her plans surrounding that. Curry’s office did not respond last week to the Kansan’s request for a comment on this case.
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Trump’s wall could hurt the U.S. economy, expert says ANGIE BALDELOMAR @AngieBaldelomar
President Donald Trump’s effort to build a wall on the United States-Mexico border is not just about the wall, a former Obama staffer said at a University event on Tuesday. Factors like trade and immigration, and the wall’s effect on the economy, should all be carefully examined before such a drastic step is taken. Alan D. Bersin, the former Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, described Mexico as a vital partner to the United States, as part of the “Security, immigration, trade & the border: Will constructing a ‘Big a$$ wall’ solve America’s issue with Mexico?” on Tuesday. The talk was the fifth and final part of the summer discussion series on U.S.-Mexico relations organized by the Dole Institute of Politics. One of President Trump’s campaign promises was to build a wall along U.S.-Mexico border, aiming to keep
criminals and drugs from entering the United States. This has been met with opposition from Congress, which has refused to finance the endeavor. Bersin, who served as assistant secretary and chief diplomatic officer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security during the Obama administration, said that the United States has developed an “integrated production platform” with Mexico. “We’ve got to understand that we’re linked with Mexico now in ways that our children and our grandchildren will benefit from,” he said during the event. Mexico is one of the main countries the U.S. exports to, and as Bersin explained, this relationship is linked to the United States’ economic future. He highlighted that it was farmers in the Midwest who asked the current administration not to scrap the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), as originally proposed by now-President Donald Trump during the election
campaign. Trump, instead, is in the process of renegotiating the agreement. On immigration, Bersin remarked that the number of people crossing the United States-Mexican border illegally is the lowest it’s been in four decades. “Controlling that territory, sealing it, it’s not doable,” he said. “The border has never been totally controllable at any point because of the nature of the terrain, because of the nature of the socio-economics that are there.” He said the majority of people entering the U.S. through the Mexico border, both legally and illegally, are coming from Central America, not Mexico. “This idea that it’s a Mexico problem is actually not the case,” he said. Bersin also highlighted throughout the talk the importance of having Mexico and Canada as U.S. partners. Christina Luhn, Dole fellow and organizer of the summer discussion series, said, after the talk, she hopes attendees have a better un-
derstanding on the importance of border relations with Mexico. “You don’t change people’s mind in one or five conversations, my goal is always been to get people to think about it in a different way, to kind of understand why sitting here in Kansas, we should care about the border,” she said after the event. Echoing Bersin’s idea, Luhn highlighted the importance of Mexico in Kansas’ economy, not only through exports, but also with immigration. She said the state is shrinking in population size, going from five congressional seats when she got started into politics and now at four. “There are communities in western Kansas that rely on this immigrant labor,” she said. After the talk, Erik Scott, assistant professor at the Department of History, said Bersin brought an interesting perspective as someone who has worked on the border for decades on issues touched on. “He made a strong case
Angie Baldelomar/KANSAN Former Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Alan D. Bersin speaks at the Dole Institute of Politics about the complex factors involved in the construction of a border wall, as proposed by President Donald Trump.
for the need to work with Mexico and Canada on border security and on these broader issues such as security, immigration, and cooperation,” Scott said. But he was surprised, above all, by Bersin’s optimism about the current political climate, even though Scott is quick to point out
that he might not share that optimism. “I admire his optimism that the current moment, the current political impasse in this country could be an opportunity for us to rethink these issues and do a better job at addressing them,” he said.
Police looking at a string of vending machine break-ins CHANDLER BOESE @Chandler_Boese
When $2,300 is stolen on campus, one might expect it to be a backpack or computer or textbooks. But some criminals last week chose a different target: vending machines. Over the course of the
last week of June, 17 vending machines (including Coca-Cola, Monster, Dasani and snack machines) were broken into. Between the money that was stolen and the damage done, $2,363 was lost, according to the police reports obtained by the Kansan and the online Crime Reports put out
by the University’s Public Safety Office. Deputy Chief James Anguiano said via email that he could not say very much about the crimes because they are ongoing investigations, but he encouraged anyone who sees anything or knows anything to contact PSO.
The thefts reported to KU PSO: Three vending machines damaged in Wescoe Hall, reported Saturday, June 24. One vending machine pried open in Stauffer-Flint Hall, reported Saturday, June 24. Two vending machines damaged in Wescoe Hall,
reported Sunday, June 25. Five vending machines damaged in Murphy Hall, reported Sunday, June 25. One vending machine damaged in Bailey Hall, reported Monday, June 26. One vending machine damaged in Blake Hall, reported Wednesday, June 28.
Two vending machines damaged in Wescoe Hall, reported Wednesday, June 28. One vending machine emptied in Green Hall, reported Thursday, June 29 One vending machine damaged in Snow Hall, reported Friday, June 30.
OPINION
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Werner: It’s not just shyness, it’s social anxiety LAURA WERNER @laura_werner81
I
t’s more than just being shy. If you’re considered an introvert, people may have told you as a kid, “You’re just shy.” For some, it can be much more than that. It may not be that serious, it could be that you’re a quiet person who takes a while to warm up to people. For several people, including myself, it’s a fear of being judged or humiliated for every little thing we do. It’s a fear of saying the wrong thing and thinking others will think we’re crazy or dumb. It’s being afraid of what I say because I don’t think it sounds right. I’ll think things like, “Does my face look red right now?” or “Can they hear my voice shaking?” It’s extreme self-consciousness.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), 15 million Americans are diagnosed with social anxiety, but how many aren’t seeking help because they’re afraid people will think they’re crazy? ADAA reports that 36 percent of those with social anxiety have symptoms for over 10 years before seeking help. Think of it this way: 36 percent of another 15 million people could be experiencing those symptoms, but they’re too afraid to get help. So, why don’t we just ask for help? The reason we don’t is because we think we’re being melodramatic. But, when we can’t even go out in public because we think every person is staring and judging every little move we make, it’s hard to want to talk to a random stranger about our feelings. Those of us with social
anxiety might start to feel like we’re crazy because not being able to talk to people out of fear drives us insane. The thought of socializing makes me so nervous that I freeze up or stumble over words. I might try to be social, but I have to think about my words so carefully that by the time I’m ready to talk, it’s too late. We feel hopeless and cope with this fear by giving up. We give up on things we want because our anxiety toward anything social gets in the way. We avoid everything we have to speak at. This can impact our will to work, go to school or do something we’ve always desired out of fear that we’ll be humiliated. A big presentation for a class will make someone like me anxious weeks in advance if you’re dealing with social anxiety. Even practicing a speech thousands of
times in front of the mirror won’t help the nerve-wracking few minutes before I’m called up to present. As I speak, I feel the nervousness kicking in, and my voice starts to shake. I start to think people will notice my voice shaking, so I get red. Then, I think people notice the redness, so I start to tear up from embarrassment. The more embarrassed I feel, the more I want to run out of the room and cry. The more this fear occurs, the more isolated I make myself. With social anxiety, I don’t make many friends because people will think I’m rude or weird since I never talk, when really I don’t talk because I’m scared. I also start to feel depressed, which is common with social anxiety. Considering I don’t have many friends because I’m afraid to talk to people, and every-
thing I try, I quit because I’m scared of making a fool out of myself, life can get depressing. Social anxiety doesn’t just come up; it begins in childhood. Parents – if you think your child has social anxiety, Anne Marie Albano, director of the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders, has a great article on what parents can do. So, here’s my point – there are people out there suffering from social anxiety every day, and not many who truly realize how important it is to get help, and how it’s more than being shy. It doesn’t make you crazy or weird — it’s smart. It helps you better yourself. Now, how could a girl who claims to understand all of these things from experience, who probably has social anxiety, be writing about it for anyone to read?
Well, what you don’t know is, I was shaking the whole time I was writing this. However, I have gotten to the point that I can’t take it anymore. I want help because I know that’s what’s right for myself. I know I’m not alone in feeling this, and I want others to come to the same realization I have: Getting help is OK. If you’re experiencing social anxiety or another mental disorder and want help, there are resources. If you just want to talk, Headquarters Counseling Center has great counselors who are there 24/7 at 785-841-2345 or NSPL at 800-273-8255. If you need help finding resources, calling 211 is a great place to start. Laura Werner is a sophomore from Kinsley studying journalism and psychology.
ARTS & CULTURE
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Anthropology professor’s studies suggest Neanderthals used ancient form of dentistry LIBBY FLOOD @libbyflood13
Neanderthals, modern humanity’s prehistoric ancestors, are often thought of as subhuman — archaic, feral versions of ourselves. But a University professor has recently made a discovery that proves that perhaps our prehistoric ancestors weren’t so different from us after all. Through the study of fossils uncovered near the Croatian town of Krapina, professor emeritus of anthropology David Frayer discovered multiple toothpick grooves in the teeth of one Neanderthal, indicating that they had attempted to relieve the pain of a toothache. “It was four teeth on the left side [of the mouth],” Frayer said. One of the teeth was twisted out of place and pushed toward the cheek side, while another was rotated so that the cheek side was in the chewing position. “The four teeth had a total of six toothpick grooves, and the premolar showed signs that the individual had rubbed something hard against it on the chewing surface.” Frayer said the study of these teeth indicates a kind of prehistoric dentistry. “The toothpick grooves, scratches on the P4, and broken lingual edges on all the teeth seems to be some kind of intervention,” he said. The Neanderthal fossils studied by Frayer were among more than 800 human fossils excavated from a cave near Krapina over a
Contributed photo Professor David Frayer’s discovery of grooves in the teeth of a fossil suggests that Neathderthals used an ancient form of dentistry.
century ago. Frayer has been studying these Croatian remains for about 20 years, but recently re-examined the teeth in question with the help of Davorka Radovcic, curator at the Croatian Natural History Museum. Frayer and Radovcic studied the teeth under a light microscope to document scratches on the teeth and fractures in the enamel.
“
These discoveries are fascinating.” David Frayer Professor emeritus of anthropology
The resulting study, published in The Bulletin of the International Association for Paleodontology, was coauthored by Frayer, Radovcic and Janet Monge, adjunct associate professor of an-
thropology at the University of Pennsylvania. However, these academics were not the only ones to contribute to the study. Joseph Gatti, local Lawrence dentist and longtime friend of Frayer, served as a fresh pair of eyes for the project. Frayer and Gatti have known each other for more than 30 years, and Frayer has occasionally asked Gatti for input on his studies of Neanderthal teeth. This time, their collaboration was more substantial. “It started off as dinner conversation,” Gatti said on his involvement in the study. Frayer had asked for his opinion on the cause of the teeth grooves and scratches, wanting to verify that the damages hadn’t occurred after the individual had died. “But these fracture lines are very consistent with what I see in dentistry today, so I was able to help point out how these fracture lines could have occurred.”
Contributed photo A series of grooves, likely self-inflicted by a primitive toothpick, suggests that the Neaderthal whose fossilized remains were found in Croatia used a kind of ancient dentistry to relieve tooth pain.
It all came down to the fracture patterns, Gatti said. By examining these patterns, he was able to provide his clinical perspective that, like Frayer had guessed, the damages were likely a self-inflicted attempt to relieve a common toothache. The significance of this discovery, according to Frayer, lies in the similari-
ties between this prehistoric attempt at dental treatment and what modern humans might do to treat their own toothache. “They had a lot of behavioral qualities we ascribe to us,” Frayer said. In addition to personal dentistry, Frayer and Radovcic also discovered that these Krapina Neanderthals were using eagle
talons to create jewelry. The two studies indicate that, like modern homo sapiens, these prehistoric humans used tools to modify their environment. “The Krapina fossils were discovered over 100 years ago, but nobody paid attention to them,” Frayer said. “These discoveries are fascinating.”
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Emmy nominations 2017: 3 shows the Academy missed COURTNEY BIERMAN @courtbierman
Ours is a golden age of television. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences had hundreds of worthy candidates from which to choose, and it’s an honor to even be nominated blah, blah, blah. The Academy did get quite a few things right this year, like recognizing Carrie Coon for her work on “Fargo” and giving HBO’s “Big Little Lies” a whole lotta love. But what did voters miss? Here are three titles that were left off of the nominees list.
Outstanding Limited Series: “Fleabag” Outstanding Actress in a Limited Series: Phoebe Waller-Bridge Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series: Olivia Colman It’s not surprising that this six-episode Amazon limited series hasn’t gotten much American-awards recognition. I’m still pissed off. Phoebe Waller-Bridge created, wrote and stars in this tiny series about a woman reflecting on the circumstances of her best friend’s suicide, all the while feuding with a high-
Associated Press This year’s Emmy Awards will air Sept. 17 on CBS with host Stephen Colbert.
strung sister (Sian Clifford) and evil stepmother (Olivia Colman). Waller-Bridge’s writing is as hilarious as it is devastating, and her character’s habit of breaking the fourth wall shows a great talent for subtle
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physical comedy. Outstanding Variety Talk Series: “Late Night with Seth Meyers” Meyers’ talk show got off to a slow start after he
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Outstanding Drama Series: “American Gods” Outstanding Guest Actor: Peter Stormare
This Starz series is auteur Bryan Fuller’s return to television after “Hannibal” was canceled in 2015. “American Gods” is a thematically and aesthetically faithful adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s fantastic 2001 novel of the same name. The show follows main character Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) as he’s caught in the midst of a war between ancient deities (Odin, Anansi,etc.) and the “new gods” (Mr. World,
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Outstanding Supporting Actress: Emily Browning Outstanding Guest Actress: Gillian Anderson
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took over for Jimmy Fallon in 2014. But he’s flourished in the current political environment, in which he can apply a Weekend Update”-like format to his comedy. The “A Closer Look” segment has the same purpose as similar bits from comedians Samantha Bee and John Oliver, but Meyers brings his own sly, slightly exasperated take to in-depth current events coverage. No one holds Trump accountable in quite the same way.
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TV Stock: ‘Snowfall,’ ‘Tour de Pharmacy’ and ‘Castlevania’ GUS HUNNINGHAKE @gushunninghake
Time for a weird group of oddball TV shows to watch and (hopefully) enjoy. But before we get there, let’s look at what the good folks on social media have been gossiping about lately:
“Snowfall:” Trending UP For those who have trouble following crime dramas, just move on to the next show. For those who enjoy getting interwoven narratives introduced into one, tightly constructed premiere, then look no further. “Snowfall” is just the show. “Pilot” sets up major players involved in the introduction of cocaine into the Southern California drug ring in the 1980s. Damson Idris plays Franklin Saint, a small-time marijuana dealer who gets caught up with a cocaine dealer who floats him a key of cocaine but requires him to sell it all in one day. CIA operative Teddy McDonald (Carter Hudson) covers up the overdose of a fellow operative after finding out he was selling cocaine to fund foreign insurgents. Shows that set up multiple characters in a single
FROM EMMY’S PAGE 2 Technology Boy, etc.) who were brought into existence by modern America’s obsession with technology and globalization. It errs a little close to the “technology is bad fire is scary
episode tend to check many viewers out due to the intense nature of learning about so many new people in just one hour. But for those who stick around, wonderful cinematography, great acting from Idris and others and a sense of visceral storytelling make “Snowfall” interesting enough to keep up with in the coming weeks.
“Tour de Pharmacy:” Trending UP Coming off of his last mockumentary attempt “Seven Days in Hell,” Andy Samberg has returned to HBO with an ensemble cast that tells an alternate story of the 1982 Tour de France and all the doping and illegal money dealings involved with it. Samberg plays Marty Hass, a Nigerian cyclist who’s hoping to be the first African to ever win the competition. He’s challenged by Austrian cyclist Gustav Ditters (John Cena), Adrian Baton (Freddie Highmore) and many others. Trying to name every person that appears on this show would take up an entire article, but people in Hollywood from JJ Abrams to ex-cyclists like Lance Armstrong make the list. And while people may be turned off by the
and Thomas Edison was a witch” sentiment, but the outstanding performances and stunning production design more than makes up for its faults. I’ve been talking up Gillian Anderson’s prospective Emmy nomination to
Associated Press This image released by FX shows Malcolm Mays as Kevin, from left, Damson Idris as Franklin Saint and Isaiah John as Leon on FX’s new series “Snowfall.” The first season premieres Wednesday, July 5.
show’s excessive silliness, it’s how on-the-nose the show is in its entirety that sets it apart from the many documentaries that have come before. Samberg is sharp as ever, his supporting cast and co-creators are well-cast and fit perfectly in the mess of the story being told and the small aesthetic details make the special feel straight out of 1982, despite all the contemporary faces.
my friends for WEEKS. They can expect me to complain about her snub for just as long. Anderson’s lack of a nomination is probably the only true snub on this list, as she’s a previous Emmy winner (1997 Outstanding Actress
“Castlevania:” Trending UP Get ready for an actual enjoyable adaptation of a video game, folks. When films fail to deliver, look to the small screen for the answers. Netflix has once again delivered an odd, yet unique, show based on well-worn fantasy tales that still seem to be rife with intriguing storylines. “Castlevania” is based on the Konami video games
of the same name, and this season specifically focuses on Dracula’s revenge on a town of people who burned his wife at the stake after believing her to be a witch. The townsfolk face death, and Trevor Belmont (Richard Armitage), a witch hunter disowned by the church and its surrounding lands, is forced to face the evil and prove his worth in the town of Wallachia. The show is brutal, gory,
and the sometimes dry humor comes as a surprise in the first episodes. The premiere, however, is captivating and makes for some enjoyable grown-up animation. The season is short — only four episodes — but another season has already been picked up, and the show’s short overall runtime (about 100 minutes) makes it worth a watch for fantasy and horror fans.
for season four of “The X-Files”), and her performance as the goddess Media is easily one of the show’s biggest highlights. It’s one thing to mimic famous figures like David Bowie and Marilyn Monroe. It’s another to embody
them — which Anderson does. Browning as Laura, the wife of main character Shadow Moon, captures the bored, selfish housewife persona, but she also manages to make Laura sympathetic. Frequent
Coen brothers collaborator Peter Stormare’s single-episode appearance as Czernobog, the Slavic god of darkness is greasy and rich. He undergoes the kind of makeover usually eaten up by the Academy. Not this time, though.
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SPORTS
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Bill Self remains uninterested in reigniting Border War SHAUN GOODWIN @ShaunGoodwinUDK
Preceding the Kansas men’s basketball team’s third practice of the summer on Tuesday afternoon, Kansas coach Bill Self once again dismissed any interest in reinstating the Border War with Missouri. Self stated that it was not in the best interest of Kansas to bring back the old rivalry. “I’m not interested in doing what’s best for Missouri, that doesn’t interest me at all,” Self said. “Just like they’re not interested in doing what’s
best for Kansas — I’m interested in doing what’s best for us.” The questions directed toward Self came after ex-Missouri Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin accused Self of blocking a potential matchup between Kansas and Missouri’s football teams at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. “The problem was a man named Bill Self who made it very clear this wasn’t going to happen,” Loftin said in an interview with AL.com. “I think it’s more likely Texas will bend than Kansas, as long as Self is involved. He
has a big ego.”
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I’m not interested in doing what’s best for Missouri, that doesn’t interest me at all.” Bill Self Kansas coach
Self seemed bemused at the fact that Loftin was blaming him, a basketball coach, for blocking a potential football game. He went as far as to suggest that Loftin may have somehow gotten him mixed
up with Kansas football coach David Beaty. Self went on to explain that it is people such as Kansas Athletics Director Sheahon Zenger, and the chancellor, newlyappointed Douglas Girod, who make the decision on whether Kansas plays Missouri. Kansas last played Missouri on February 25, 2012, at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas won that game 8786. “I’m sure there will be a time when Kansas and Missouri play again,” Self said. “I don’t know when that time will be.”
Sporting KC honors co-owner SHAUN GOODWIN @ShaunGoodwinUDK
At 7:33 p.m. on Tuesday night, Children’s Mercy Park stood in silence. The distance buzz of cars from Interstate 435 filtered into the stadium, as the crowd gazed toward an image of a shield with the name “Neal” in the middle, emblazoned upon the grass. The players of both Sporting Kansas City and FC Dallas stood in a straight line, wearing black armbands on their right arm, on which the name “Neal” was printed in orange. A minute later, The Cauldron burst out into a chant of “Neal Patterson,” accompanied by a large drum on each syllable. After a long battle with cancer, Sporting Kansas City co-owner and Cerner Corporation CEO Neal Patterson died on Sunday, July 9, from cancer-related complications. He was 67.
In 2005, then-owner Lamar Hunt made public his intent to sell the then-Kansas City Wizards, causing rumors of relocation to materialize among the supporters. With the future looking bleak for Kansas City, on August 31, 2006, the company OnGoal purchased the club from Hunt Sports Group. Patterson was one of six members of the ownership group, along with now-CEO Robb Heineman. The group quickly ushered in a new era for the Wizards, making it clear that the club would remain in Kansas City. They quickly hired Curt Onalfo as head coach and Peter Vermes as technical director, who would go on to replace Onalfo as head coach. “If it wasn’t for him and the rest of the owners, obviously him being a huge part of it, in keeping this team here, for a lot of us, who knows if we’d have jobs,” Vermes said following Kansas City’s 3-0
win over FC Dallas. “What I appreciated was that he always told it as it was. He didn’t mince his words, he didn’t mix things up, and he didn’t B.S. you, that’s the way he was. And I like being around people like that,” Vermes continued. “And at the same time, he could leave that off to the side, and later on he could hang out with you and not even talk about those things he talked about with you earlier.” Under the leadership of Patterson, Kansas City went through a rebuild period, signing a plethora of young players, including now-captain Matt Besler, MAC Hermann Trophy winner Teal Bunbury, and the club’s first homegrown player Jon Kempin. It was this forward-thinking from Patterson and the rest of the SEE PATTERSON PAGE 10
Missy Minear/KANSAN Kansas coach Bill Self reacts to a play from the sidelines during the first half of the Champions Classic on Nov. 15 against Duke. Kansas won 77-75.
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Sporting KC fans revolutionize popular tailgate game SHAUN GOODWIN @ShaunGoodwinUDK
Weaving between the maze of cars, grills and groups of people that occupy the parking lots surrounding Children’s Mercy Park before a Sporting Kansas City game, a reoccurring action can be witnessed every couple hundred feet. Fans of all ages set a pair of water bottles several feet apart, then proceed to take turns kicking a soccer ball at the other person’s bottle in order to score points. In April 2015, Kansas City season-ticket holders Roberto Camacho and Max Hasselquist arrived at the Children’s Mercy Park parking lots too early, after mistaking a Sporting Kansas City game to be starting at 5 p.m.; it in fact started at 7 p.m. Deciding to make the most of their time spent waiting outside the stadium, the pair set up their tailgate and began to play the simple game that often frequented the parking lots that wrap around the Kansas Speedway. As more fans began to show up, Camacho and Hasselquist grew frustrated in
FROM PATTERSON PAGE 9 ownership that led Kansas City to its first trophy in eight years, with a U.S. Open Cup victory in 2012, and then the MLS Cup in 2013. Along the path to success, the club underwent a facelift, thanks to major investments
having to always chase down their water bottles, with them often rolling beneath cars or chairs. Taking a break, they let a group of children take over their game, and the two began to formulate their own twist on the game. “We just sat down and had a couple more beers and started talking about ‘let’s fix this,’ it could be so simple,” Camacho said. “We almost knew right away what we needed to do, specifically physics, like a buoy. That was what was in our mind.” It was this discussion that spurred on an idea that would eventually become Wobblrs — soccer’s first official tailgate game. Despite their excitement, it took the pair a month to act upon their idea. Using Camacho’s background in graphic design, he and Hasselquist began sketching the first design for the product and began applying for patents and trademarking as well. “Max and I spent a good time just trying to decide what we were going to name it,” Camacho said. “We wanted to land on something that was not very sport specific, so Wobblrs could at one point be used for hockey target
practice, or something like that.” After enrolling in a ninemonth entrepreneurial course through the Regnier Institute of Entrepreneurship at UMKC, Camacho and Hasselquist created their first prototype of Wobblrs. Created out of a carvedup pool noodle, duct tape and half a metal sphere, the pair successfully created what was essentially an on-land buoy. When knocked over by the soccer ball, instead of rolling away, the Wobblr would automatically right itself with ease. “We were bringing this out here for a while, and playing with it and hoping that not a lot of people would pay attention so much. As soon as a lot of people were, we were like ‘ok let’s put it away,’ but it was for us to test it,” Camacho said with a laugh. Since then, Wobblrs has reached its Kickstarter goal of $30,000, and Camacho and Hasselquist have begun to make more advanced and smoothed-out prototypes. They’re aiming to get the product out to the public by March 2018. Not only does the pair see
from Patterson and Co. This included the opening of the Swope Park training facility in 2006, which brought along the Swope Park Rangers, the rebranding of the club’s name to Sporting Kansas City in 2010, and the building of the $180 million Children’s Mercy Park (then called Livestrong Sporting
Park). Roger Espinoza is one of several players who has been with the club for an extended duration under Patterson’s ownership, having played for Kansas City between 20082012. He rejoined from Wigan Athletic in 2015. “You can see this,” Espinoza said, gesturing around
Contributed photo A Wobblr prototype sits next to a soccer ball, which is used to knock over the Wobblr and earn points in the popular tailgating game outside Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
Wobblrs as a fun tailgating game, but also as a useful tool to help teach children how to play soccer. With his background in coaching soccer, Hasselquist has already been in touch with coaches at Brookside Soccer Club and Kansas City Legends. “It’s fun, and by default, the extra time spent with a soccer ball they’re going to be developing their basic fundamental skills,” Hasselquist
said. “If they can fall in love with the game like we have, and can do it through a product we’ve created, it’s awesome.” Camacho echoed Hasselquist’s hopes. “My two-year-old daughter, she doesn’t even know she’s practicing passing and dribbling, she just likes to do it,” Camacho said. “And for me, it’s 15 minutes of keeping her distracted. And out here,
it’s fun and a pastime kind of game.” For the rest of the 2017 soccer season, fans will have to be content with continuing one of their favorite soccer pastimes with a water bottle. But once next season rolls around in March 2018, the struggle of chasing water bottles underneath parked cars may be no more, thanks to Camacho and Hasselquist’s Wobblrs.
the Kansas City locker room. “This sets the expectations above anything, first-class, above the line. This is the reason we win games like this, because of the expectations that are set up to very high standards. And if you look at it, that’s all for Neal.” The night ended as homegrown player Daniel Salloi
put Kansas City up 3-0 on FC Dallas in the 119th minute to chants of “Neal Patterson, this one’s for you,” erupting from The Cauldron. This was then followed by a chorus of “When the Wiz go marching in,” from both The Cauldron and the players, as they held a flag up with Patterson’s name on it.
Patterson has been credited with fostering a passionate soccer following in Kansas City, earning the city the title of the Soccer Capital of the United States. “The fact that we stuck in there tonight, being a man down,” Vermes said. “I don’t know of a different way we could pay tribute to him.”
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Self still feeling out roster as team approaches Italy trip WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK
After three practices, Kansas coach Bill Self doesn’t know much about his current roster. His team is only returning only five players that played in the 2016-17 season. While Self said the team’s practices will have a relaxed approach as Kansas prepares for its four exhibition games next month in Italy, those practices will serve as an opportunity to work on different aspects. “It’s a good time to kind of get everybody together and maybe put in some meat and potato stuff, but it’s not going to be an intense deal like it would be during the regular season or normal practice,” Self said on Tuesday. However, of his five returning players, Self said he still knows the talent and potential level of those players. “I’ve learned that
[senior guard] Devonte’ [Graham] is still pretty good and [sophomore center] Udoka [Azubuike] is still big and [junior guard] Lagerald [Vick] is still pretty athletic,” Self said. “But I really don’t know much about the team.”
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The leadership is already starting to solidify itself. This is Devonte’s team.” Bill Self Kansas coach
While Self acknowledges that the games in Italy could be a chance for players to begin separating themselves, he said the trip is also a reward trip for his team. “I can’t imagine I’ll be in a good mood the entire time,” Self said. “So I can’t imagine the players not having a good time and enjoying themselves. Even
Missy Minear/KANSAN Coach Bill Self kicks back on the bench during the first half against UAB in 2016.
though we’re going there to play ball, it’s also kind of a reward trip, too. Hopefully we’ll go over there and maybe get a little bit better basketball-wise, but the getting better basketballwise is going to take place here in Lawrence.” Despite a plethora of new faces, as well as the
losses of Frank Mason III, Josh Jackson and Landen Lucas, Self does know one thing: the leadership of the roster. “The leadership is already starting to solidify itself,” Self said. “This is Devonte’s team. We want other guys to be leaders and all those things, but
everybody’s going to look to Devonte’.” Graham has already taken on a leadership role in the offseason, as he spearheaded welcoming junior forward Dedric Lawson and sophomore forward K.J. Lawson. “I feel great here,” Dedric said at Tuesday’s
media availability inside Allen Fieldhouse. “I feel great. Guys have opened arms with us from the first time [K.J. and I] got here. Devonte’ has took us under his wing, and [Kansas sophomore guard] Malik [Newman]. Those guys made it comfortable here for us.” Dedric and his brother K.J. transferred from Memphis to Kansas in April. As the exhibition games in August approach, Self said little game plan preparation will be done for the team’s competition. “I know we’re playing three different teams,” Self said. “One of the teams we’ll play twice, but we won’t do a scouting report, or go watch them play, or study film or anything like that. We’ll just go out and play.” Kansas’ games in Italy are scheduled for Aug. 2 and 3 in Rome, and Aug. 5 and 6 in Milan.
Kansas football’s Dorance Armstrong Jr. chosen for Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK
The Big 12 is expecting another standout year from Kansas junior defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. The conference named Armstrong its Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of
the Year on Wednesday. Armstrong was also the only unanimous selection for defense for the Preseason All-Big 12 First Team. The selection makes Armstrong the first Kansas player to be named a preseason individual award
winner during the school’s time playing in the Big 12 Conference. The 6-foot-4 Armstrong is also the first Kansas player to be voted a unanimous selection for the Preseason All-Big 12 team. A dominant 2016 season
saw Armstrong, a Houston native, record a teamhigh 10 sacks (the most by a Kansas player in a single season since 2001), 20 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in his sophomore campaign.
Rounding out the awards were Oklahoma senior quarterback Baker Mayfield, who was tabbed the conference’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and West Virginia quarterback Will Grier, who was selected as the confer-
ence’s Preseason Newcomer of the Year. Armstrong and the Kansas team will begin the 2017 season on Saturday, September 2 against Southeast Missouri State at Memorial Stadium.
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