THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
The University Daily Kansan
vol. 135 // iss. 1 Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017
BACK TO SCHOOL
what to know
INSIDE Student Senate decides against bringing Uber to campus p. 2
Incoming seniors give incoming freshmen their best advice p. 8
Students have chances to get involved in local government this fall p. 10
New deans discuss their biggest goals for this year p. 14
news
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
staff NEWS MANAGEMENT
Editor-in-chief Conner Mitchell Managing editor Omar Sanchez Digital operations editor Brady Maguire Social media editor Emily Juszczyk Associate social media editor Nathan Mize ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT
Business manager Mitch Tamblyn SALES MANAGER Baylee Parsons SECTION EDITORS
News editor Darby VanHoutan Associate news editor Emily Wellborn Sports editor Wes Dotson Associate sports editor Sean Collins Arts & culture editor Courtney Bierman Associate arts & culture editor Josh McQuade Opinion editor Ryan Liston Visuals editor & design chief Roxy Townsend Photo editor Missy Minear Copy chiefs Chandler Boese Erin Brock ADVISERS
Chief financial officer Jon Schlitt Editorial adviser Gerri Berendzen The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of The Kansan are 50 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Kansan business office, 2051A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS., 66045. The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4967) is published on Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year except fall break, spring break and exams. It is published weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Annual subscriptions by mail are $250 plus tax. Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 2051A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue.
KANSAN MEDIA PARTNERS Check out KUJH-TV on Wow! of Kansas Channel 31 in Lawrence for more on what you’ve read in today’s Kansan and other news. Also see KUJH’s website at tv.ku.edu. KJHK is the student voice in radio. Whether it’s rock ‘n’ roll or reggae, sports or special events, KJHK 90.7 is for you.
2000 Dole Human Development Center 1000 Sunnyside Avenue Lawrence, Kan., 66045 editor@kansan.com www.kansan.com Newsroom: (785) 864-4552 Advertising: (785) 864-4358
K A N S A N .C O M / N E W S
Getting to know Chancellor Girod New chancellor is genuine and down-to-earth, say former colleagues REBEKAH LODOS EMILY WELLBORN @RebekahLodos @EmWellborn Before starting as the University’s top administrator last July, Chancellor Douglas Girod served as executive vice chancellor of the University’s Medical Center. Girod said he is excited to start collaborating with others in the University community and, according to his former colleagues, Girod is a down-to-earth, genuine and approachable kind of leader. “Dr. Girod is a people person,” said Tom Field, who worked under Girod as associate vice chancellor for Organizational Improvement at the Medical Center. “He enjoys and excels at building and nurturing genuine, meaningful relationships with others.” The motorcycle-riding surgeon, originally from Seattle, was announced as the new chancellor on May 25 by the Kansas Board of Regents. He took office on July 1, after previous Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little stepped down. Girod also said he is excited to start building those relationships with students, faculty, staff and alumni at the University in his new position. “That’s going to be really a lot of fun to get to know everybody, but obviously I just got to get out and meet with a lot of people and as many groups as possible,” he said. “Not just on the campus, actual-
Sarah Wright / KANSAN Chancellor Douglas Girod discussed his plans for the University as he begins his first semester in office.
ly, but really across the region, across the state and really across the country. We have terrific supporters actually around the world. It’s an opportunity to go out meet all of them and hear what they have to say and hearing their vision for KU as well is going to be important going forward.” Field also said the newly appointed chancellor regularly co-sponsored the Medical Center’s Tuesday coffee breaks, aimed at collaboration and networking, to connect with students and pour coffee for attendees. Girod will be using his previous coffee experience by serving coffee at the chancellor’s
“We will continue our work to ensure KU is welcoming and inclusive and that every Jayhawk feels valued.” Douglas Girod Chancellor
residence on Aug. 22, the second day of classes. “During these events, it’s fun to watch the way he energizes our students, faculty and staff, and to see how he is energized by them,” Field said. “He is just a good guy.” Chari Young, who worked closely with Girod in her role as associate vice chancellor of Human Re-
sources, said she enjoyed her time working directly with him. “Once he meets a person, he rarely ever forgets a name, and he always remembers personal details about people,” Young said. Girod has already begun to meet with some student groups and has scheduled some events to meet students, including the coffee event. He looks forward to meeting more and learning what difficulties they face. “I’ve already met with student leadership, Student Senate leadership, and look forward to meeting with more student groups as we go forward to really hear what challenges they’re dealing with and
how to address those,” he said. One way that Girod plans on working with those around them, is by collaborating with the interim vice chancellor of public affairs to review the position, before looking to fill it permanently. Tim Caboni, the former vice chancellor left the office on July 1 to become the president of Western Kentucky University. Reggie Robinson, the director of the School of Public Affairs and Administration, has been named as his temporary replacement. “We want to make sure we can tell people what it SEE GIROD • PAGE 4
Senate opts for SafeRide app over Uber MONA AHMED @MonaAhmed Although it was a campaign promise in the spring election, Student Senate leadership has decided not to implement a partnership with Transportation Network Companies such as Uber, instead focusing on creating an application for the already existing SafeRide service. Senate leaders declined two bid proposals: one from Uber and the other a joint bid from Lyft and MV Transportation — the current company used by the University for SafeRide and buses. Zachary Kelsay, a student transportation coordinator who goes between the Senate and the Parking and Transit Department, said the Uber proposal was rejected due to the estimated high cost of running the program. “We felt for what we were getting, we didn’t think it was worth the money,” Kelsay said. “Because it is so expensive to run a high frequency system like that in Lawrence, we felt it would be more appropriate to improve the
File Photo / KANSAN MV Transportation has worked with a Dallas based company on an application to make SafeRide much similar to Uber. The application is expected to become available to students this January, if not this fall.
SafeRide program that we have now.’’ Last spring, Student Body President Mady Womack and Student Body Vice President Mattie Carter’s campaign promised to bring free Uber to the University, modeling the program after Wichita State University’s “Shocker Ride” partnership with Uber. However, as of July 13, 2017, WSU terminated its contract with Uber. The
Kansan reached out to WSU to comment on its reason for termination, but did not receive a response by the time of publication. The University still has a contract with MV Transportation through December 2018, Kelsay said. In the meantime, Student Senate will work on expanding SafeRide services. “We’re working on an app platform for the current SafeRide program where we’re removing re-
strictions and working on ways to increase efficiency, like adding cars,” Kelsay said. According to Carter, an application-based SafeRide program would be more efficient for students instead of the current system, where students contact the service by calling. “An application-based SafeRide program would provide the efficiency and peace of mind that a phone call-based, 45-minute wait
time program does not,” Carter said in an email. More than that, Kelsay said, the application’s main goal is to reduce wait time to 15 minutes. “We’re working on new technology to improve pick-up times,” Kelsay said. “We’re looking to increase the amount of drivers on the road, and with the data from the app we can better estimate and better plan.” Students tested a prototype of the app this summer, Kelsay added. No specifics were given on which students were able to try it or how it performed. In all, Carter said, Student Senate executives saw it more feasible to improve the current system than to implement a new one. “Despite the current setback, we will continue to work to do everything we can to ensure students have an opportunity to benefit from the more efficient features offered in an application-based program in the future,” Carter said. Kelsay said the new SafeRide app will go into effect when classes start on Aug. 21.
HEALTHCARE JUST FOR JAYHAWKS • • • • • • •
SERVICES
24/7 Nurse Helpline Allergy Injection Clinic General Medicine Gynecology Health Education Immunizations Laboratory
• • • • • •
Massage Therapy Pharmacy Physical Therapy Radiology Travel Health Clinic Walk-in Clinic
WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL As you head into the fall semester, REMEMBER THAT MOST JAYHAWKS: have 4 OR FEWER drinks when they go out (60%) KEEP TRACK of how many drinks they consume (69%) EAT before and or during drinking (83%) use a DESIGNATED DRIVER when they drink (87%) stay with the SAME GROUP while they drink (93%) Source: National College Health Assessment, Spring 2017
THE WATKINS DIFFERENCE
• • • • •
Board Certified Medical Providers Appointments Available Online Mobile Friendly Website No Charge for Office Visits Will Bill Most Insurance Companies
785-864-9500 @Beak_Healthy studenthealth.ku.edu
JAYHAWKS ACT. BUDDY UP. A Agree to stay with your buddy C Check in with your buddy regularly T Take charge to return home together
FOLLOW @KUJBS
WHAT TO KNOW A4
K ANSAN.COM
Construction improves campus access
PEYTON KRAUS @peytonkraus12 As school starts, construction season comes to an end on-campus and roads are now open as students return to the University. This summer, road construction closed intersections at 19th Street and Naismith Drive, as well as Crescent Road and Naismith Drive. Memorial Drive, just off Jayhawk Boulevard, was also closed due to reconfiguring of sidewalks and parking stalls. The busy roads on campus are open and each have some new additions to make driving, walking and bicycling better and safer. The entire intersection on the south edge of campus at 19th Street and Naismith Drive was completely redone. “We did a full reconstruction, so that included new concrete pavement, curbing gutter, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, water
FROM GIROD • PAGE 2 is we want them to do exactly,” Girod said. “Tim was really the third person in that role, and we’ve kind of restructured it each time as we’ve gotten better at it and a better understanding of its workings.” Girod said one aspect of the University that he wants to work on is outreach, and the vice chancellor’s office will play an important role in this goal. “KU should be and could be the destination institution of the Midwest,” Girod said. “We just got to tell our story a little bit better, I think.” In his first public message to the University on July 12, Girod expressed his desire to make the University an accepting place. “We will continue our work to ensure KU is welcoming and inclusive and that every Jayhawk feels valued,” Girod said in the message. One of those challenges faced by many is diversity on campus. Girod said that working to change campus culture will ultimately come from working with faculty, staff and students. “It’s an issue that we’re all dealing with obviously and it’s not a new issue,” he said. “While we’ve made, I
line and traffic signal,” city engineer David Cronin said. Bicycle lanes have been added to 19th Street, as well as a sidewalk on the north side, down to Alabama Street in order to fill the gap for pedestrians. The intersection at Crescent Road and Naismith Drive also underwent a major renovation this summer. A raised island was added in the middle, prohibiting drivers from going west on Crescent Road or north on Naismith Drive. The University Heights neighborhood to the west of Jayhawk Boulevard was involved in the addition and will continue to give feedback on it, Cronin said. “The plan we implemented this summer was their preferred choice, so after we get it open I’m sure we’ll see feedback from the neighbors once we get the street open and see how it works,” Cronin said. A new sidewalk was also added to the south side of think, a lot of headway, we clearly have a lot of work left to do, and it’s also clear that diversity is so important for the life of our campus, really for the life of our state, for the life of our economy, that we really, ultimately, have to get this figured out.”
“He cares, plain and simple. He genuinely cares about KU’s success.” Tom Field Former Girod employee
Girod took leadership of the Medical Center’s Inclusion and Diversity Cabinet, which Field said was an indication of the importance he places on ensuring an accepting culture on campus. Student feedback on diversity issues was also welcomed by Girod, Field said. “He has included student representatives in all of the inclusion initiatives on campus, and he always takes time to hear student concerns and provide thoughtful response,” said Chari Young, who served on the cabinet with Girod. “I have no doubt this will continue in his role as chancellor.”
Hannah Edelman / KANSAN A new median at the intersection of Naismith Road and Crescent Road is changing traffic patterns.
Crescent Road in order to allow Daisy Hill residents cutting through the neighborhood for class to not have to walk in the street. There is also a opening on Crescent Road to allow bi-
cyclists to still ride westbound. Next summer, there will be more construction on campus, including phase three of the Memorial Drive project, in which the
sidewalk will be extended and the Victory Eagle will move from in front of Dyche Hall to along Memorial Drive to join the other war memorials. Depending on funding, there could still be
construction on the road in the summer of 2019 for a fourth and final phase.
Russ Waitman, associate vice chancellor for Enterprise Analytics, echoed the opinion that Girod was an inclusive leader for the Medical Center. Waitman did not work with Girod daily, but reported to him quarterly. “I think Dr. Girod’s foci were on consensus, transparency and deliberative efforts for alignment,” Waitman said. Waitman also said that this approach would be appreciated in future talks with the legislature concerning funding for the University. “My sense is his attention to consensus and transparency may be appreciated by the [Board of] Regents, legislature, governor’s office and other campus stakeholders,” Waitman said. Girod also said his goal this semester is to improve the student experience. He said he wants to meet with students, faculty and staff to understand what improvements can be made. “The students are really the reason we are here. We are first and foremost an educational institution. We have lots of missions, but that is really our core mission,”
Girod said. “It’s the student that should be at the center of every conversation and thinking about what’s best for the students to really help drive our decision making as we think about how we move the institution forward.” David Antonacci, chief information officer at the Medical Center, said he ad-
mired Girod for his ability to grasp subjects outside his area of expertise. Field also said he admired the chancellor’s intellect, as well as for his inclusive leadership. “He cares, plain and simple. He genuinely cares about KU’s success,” Field said. Field also said that the
people working closely with him will help his leadership and decision-making. “He’s a smart guy who is surrounded by smart faculty, students and staff,” Field said. “As a great listener, he pulls together his knowledge and ideas with those of others to make well-informed, smart decisions.”
Your future awaits in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Variety
We have more majors, minors and certificates than any other school at KU. Flexibility You can choose multiple majors and minors, and graduate on time, thanks to flexible requirements.
Explore your opportunities at college.ku.edu
Career ready Employers value broad, liberal arts & sciences education for career training.
The heart of KU.
Lawrence's Premier Department Store Since 1857
901 Massachusetts
(785) 843-6360
COME GEAR UP FOR COLLEGE! Favorite Brands for Him and Her:
We Have the Best Brands:
opinion
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
free-for-all
Text your FFA submissions to 785-289-8351 or in the Free For All section on Kansan.com
K A N S A N .C O M /O P I N I O N
Werner: Don’t glorify mental illness
Columnist Laura Werner argues that flaunting mental health issues on social media is harmful to others and society in general.
Oh that familiar scent of coffee creamer and print If you’re wondering how sorority recruitment is going: “I forgot I had estrogen until a few days ago.” Low key HYPED for KU football to start back up! Anyone else just watch Netflix all summer? I am gonna pig out on Mrs. E’s breakfast this semester I can already hear the Wescoe preachers Am I on campus or in a construction site? Leaving California to come back to Kansas is ROUGH You know you’re a college student when you are signed up for all of the restaurants’ rewards programs Time to start my college diet again... Pizza and beer I’ll have my summer body just in time for winter this year My calves are not prepared for the hills Why is Wescoe Hall still here? I am so excited for the Kansas sunsets! How many lost freshmen are gonna get in my way while I walk to class? My friend’s summer: camping in the Rocky Mountains, white water rafting in the Grand Tetons, Scuba Diving in the Bahamas... My summer: re-watching Parks and Rec for the fifth time I ate an entire 16 inch pizza and four breadsticks by myself. How was your summer? My greatest achievement is watching every comedy special on Netflix Someone buy my textbooks please and thank you During the summer: I am so ready for classes! During the semester: When is the next break?
Illustration by Roxy Townsend
LAURA WERNER @laura_werner81 In this day and age, social media is a typical place for people to vent. There’s nothing wrong with that, but sometimes it can be viewed in a different light. Not every person is familiar with mental disorders, and they do not understand the feelings of those who are “venting.” Social media can also cause low self-esteem. According to Amanda MacMillan from TIME Magazine, a survey states that Instagram is connected to high levels of anxiety, depression, bullying and the “fear of missing out.” After all, Instagram is just a place to show off what you have, make yourself look better or post about where you’re vacationing for the summer. This should be something people in your life would want to see, but because of people’s natural
selfish nature, no one cares. In fact, if anything, it just makes people feel bad about their own selves for not having or doing those things. Just like David Foster Wallace, the late author of “This is Water,” would say regarding selfcenteredness: “It is our default-setting, hard-wired into our boards at birth.” Because of that selfish nature, people will do anything to get a few more likes. But you don’t need to get likes by bragging about having a mental disorder. It’s not a new shirt or car. It’s a disorder. It’s something that should be taken seriously because there are some people out there who don’t think it’s funny or cute. There are some people out there who are truly struggling. Yes, the purpose of social media is to express yourself. However, there are some lines that shouldn’t be crossed. If people are tweeting or posting on Instagram about
how depressed they are or talking about how they feel anxious, more than likely they aren’t actually dealing with that. If someone is depressed, they sleep all the time and don’t want to talk to people, let alone tweet about it. If someone truly has anxiety, they would be far too nervous to post about their feelings for everyone to see. Feeling a little depressed or anxious or moody does not mean you have a mental disorder. If you have been experiencing those feelings for weeks or months at a time and it interferes with your ability to function, then that’s a problem. See the difference? People need to vent, but venting to all of your Twitter followers is not going to help you get better. More than likely, all you are going to get is backlash for it, making your problems worse. Social media does not equal therapy.
Instead of talking about your own problems on social media, make a difference. Yes, people with mental disorders need to know there are others out there like them. But, when everyone is talking about mental disorders like they’re this “cool” new thing, it makes it seem less important. It makes others not want to get help because what’s the point if everyone feels like this? So, by emphasizing the importance of getting help or providing resources for people to try, it puts that idea in their head. This doesn’t mean to just tweet the suicide hotline every time a celebrity commits suicide. Don’t do it after something bad happens to a famous person because it’s happening every day to people everywhere. Tweet it now, post about it now, because according to the World Health Organization, someone commits suicide
every 40 seconds. If you are wanting to help people through social media, the National Alliance on Mental Illnesses has some great ideas for posts you could use. If you are struggling with a mental disorder, there are sources that will give you attention, the right kind of attention. Headquarters Counseling Center has great counselors that are there to listen 24/7 at 785-841-2345 or NSPL at 800-273-8255. If you go to the University, Counseling and Psychological Services provides supportive counselors or psychologists to help. You can also call 211 and they will help connect you with a service that is right for you.
Laura Werner is a sophomore from Kinsley studying journalism and psychology.
Swan: School and dating require balance KATY SWAN @catladykaty You’ve just entered a new relationship. Everything seems easy. You think your life couldn’t get better. You emerge from your blissful state momentarily and log in to Blackboard. You realize you were dead wrong. Your grades have plummeted. Could it be due to all the classes you skipped to spend more time with your new partner? All the papers and assignments you half-assed for the same reason? I am a prime example of this problem. In late September of this past year, I started dating my
current boyfriend and subsequently had the worst academic semester of my college career. I am by no means blaming my boyfriend for this — I exclusively accuse myself of my negligence. I noticed my grades slipping in almost every class around fall break. I procrastinated catching up, and come finals, I was drowning. Being in a romantic relationship is a very important part of the process of growing up. It helps in the development of the ability to maintain committed relationships later on in life and can be just plain fun. Research done at the University of the Philippines in Cebu shows the bene-
fits of romantic relationships include happiness, self-growth and self-understanding. But there are obviously negative counterparts, like stress about the relationship, increased dependence on the partner, possible reduced self-esteem and, of course, increased time spent with the partner. While I acknowledge that neglecting studies and other responsibilities because of dating can be situational, and some people can successfully balance the two, I think this dilemma affects a large portion of the college population. My boyfriend noticed his grades slipping as well, and we vowed to spend
more time studying, which meant we had to study together, which may not have been the most beneficial environment. The aforementioned study conducted at the University of the Philippines shows that romantic relationships while in college lead to anxiety and poor grades. This study was done on a small percentage of the student body at the University of the Philippines (just the computer science majors), but I believe the effects of dating on grades ring true across the board. While I feel as though I, for the most part, found equilibrium in my life in my next semester, I still
noticed the stress caused by dating while trying to excel in school. However, being in a relationship also reduced my stress, oddly. Having someone to support me and my college endeavors is extremely helpful. I say writing off relationships altogether is unwise; just try to find time for yourself and your studies somewhere amidst all the fun.
Katy Swan is a junior from El Dorado studying community health and psychology.
WHAT TO KNOW
A8
K ANSAN.COM
KU seniors offer advice for new students
Where are my classes? How do I get involved? Do I really need a roommate? These are questions everyone has asked as a college freshman. They’re answered over time for most students, but the Kansan spoke with a couple of the University’s seniors to answer them for you now.
KATIE BERNARD @KatieJ_Bernard
Mady Womack is the student body president here at the University. She is from Overland Park and majoring in economics. Womack has been involved in the Dole Institute of Politics Student Advisory Board and Alpha Chi Omega. Paige Willis grew up as an army kid, but is most recently from Leavenworth. She is majoring in psychology and women’s studies with a minor in history. Willis is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta and the University’s Quidditch club. Nick Vescio-Franz is a member of the KU Cheer Squad. He is majoring in English with a minor in business and is from State College, Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the cheer squad, Vescio-Franz was part of an African drum ensemble at the University. WHAT SHOULD BE ON MY KU BUCKET LIST? Womack: A game in Allen Fieldhouse. Willis: Visit the nest on the top of the Oread. Vescio-Franz: Spend a night camping at Clinton Lake, and get ice cream at Sylas and Maddy’s. IS THE FRESHMAN 15 REAL?
Willis: The freshman 15 is very real. Work out at the Ambler [Student Recreation Center] and do a lot of walking. The buses look very enticing, but the hills will help you burn off those calories. With Crunchy Chicken Cheddar Wraps, the freshman 15 is very real. Vescio-Franz: When you’re up late studying, it’s tempting to just order pizza and Chinese food, and you always see takeout food coming in the doors... [The freshman 15] is a serious possibility but it just depends, and is easy to avoid if you make use of the rec and don’t go too overboard in the dining hall. HOW AND WHEN DO I NEED TO BUY TEXTBOOKS? Willis: Wait until after classes start. Your teachers may tell you don’t need them. Vescio-Franz: Rent your textbooks off sites like Amazon and Chegg. I didn’t do that my first couple years and would pay several hundred dollars. MY CLASSES ARE ALL OVER CAMPUS. HOW DO I LEARN THE ROPES?
Willis: You’re definitely going to be very confused as to where all your classes are. I took a screenshot of my schedule and saved it as my phone background, so those first few weeks you get an idea. Vescio-Franz: I just sort of went before school started and biked around campus and got the layout of campus beforehand. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M STRESSED? Womack: Freshmen should make themselves aware of the resources we have on campus to support them, whether that’s Legal Services for Students or Watkins Health Center. Your first semester at college can be stressful, and if you ever are worrying about how you are doing, we have student services to support you in that time. Vescio-Franz: Be realistic with your assumptions and be realistic with yourself in the sense that not everything is going to be perfect from the get-go. Nothing is set in stone. If you’re not comfortable, try something new. I’VE NEVER HAD A ROOMMATE BEFORE, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Hannah Edelman / KANSAN Student Body President Mady Womack, a senior, suggests freshmen get the most of their college experience by getting involved on campus.
“Your first semester at college can be stressful, and if you ever are worrying about how you are doing, we have student services to support you in that time.” Mady Womack student body president
Willis: Lay down some ground rules of how the room will run; everyone has pet peeves. Vescio-Franz: If you’re a non-confrontational person, force yourself to talk to your roommate face-to-face if you have [a] problem ... Don’t start doing passive-aggressive stuff. WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT THE NEW CONCEALED CARRY POLICY? Willis: Everyone has a lot of mixed opinions. Learn
about it on your own and listen to the people in the legislature. WHAT ADVICE DOES EVERY FRESHMAN NEED TO HEAR? Womack: Get involved. There are many opportunities for KU students on our campus. Willis: Get involved with the clubs. I had no idea how to play Quidditch, but I was able to connect with people of different majors and backgrounds… Be involved during Hawk
Week.
Vescio-Franz: Make an effort to join clubs and push yourself to do things that you wouldn’t normally see yourself. Doing that can open doors to a lot of opportunities... a lot of the best experiences that I’ve had at KU have been getting involved in things I never thought I would do originally.
Unique organizations provide students new skills
where meetings are, it is best to join the club’s Facebook page or message the club on Rock Chalk Central and ask to be added to its weekly email list.
PEYTON KRAUS @peytonkraus12 New Year’s may be a time to create “a new you,” but for college students, it’s a new school year that brings the drive to try new things. Whether you’re new to the University or you’re back for another school year, the variety of clubs on campus are a great way to dive into a new hobby.
CONCRETE CANOE TEAM
JEEVA-BOLLYWOOD FUSION DANCE TEAM
The Jeeva-Bollywood Fusion Dance Team has combined Bhangra, hip-hop, Bharatnatyam, modern and Bollywood dance styles for 10 years to create original dances. For four years now, the team has competed nationwide as the only competitive Bollywood dance team in the state. “We have our own pride, and at the same time it’s kind of scary because you don’t know anyone else,” co-captain Srishti Sharma said of going to competitions like the ones in Boston, Wisconsin and Texas that the team competed in last year. “You’re solely representing Kansas.” This year, the team has 10 returning dancers. Although the minimum number to compete is only 12, the captains hope to have 16-20 competitors. Tryouts for the 2017-2018 season are Aug. 29 to 31 to kick off the school year. The coed team welcomes new competitors to attend a workshop on Aug. 29 to learn a dance, an extra help session on Aug. 30 and the actual tryout on Aug. 31. The team is looking for experienced dancers, but they hope to find a lot more in
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The University’s Concrete Canoe team members compete in a meet.
each of their new members. “In Jeeva, it’s always been important that personality is over dancing ability; an encouraging, positive attitude fits in better,” Sharma said. The team practices three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 6 to 9 p.m., and it costs $75 each semester to fund travel expenses, but the team hosts fundraisers throughout the year. For students who may not want to compete but would like to be part of the team, Jeeva is also looking for managers to help with behind-the-scenes work and team-building activities.
MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION CLUB Two years ago, the Mindfulness and Meditation Club was formed for people who wanted to meditate together and discuss their processes. Now, the club has become an outreach effort to introduce students to meditation. “The goal of meditation is to better yourself,” group founder Danny Theisen said. “It often causes you to become more compassionate, more open, and then when you have a bunch of people striving for that same goal, they naturally want to be friends or start to understand each other
more or want to have that deeper relationship.” Along with learning to meditate, the club has grown into a way for students to get to know one another and feel comfortable in a group on campus, with about 30 to 40 people attending each meeting. This year, the group will be led by co-captains Matthew Farrahi and Mike Thibodeau and will alternate days each week, allowing students to attend even if they have a conflict on one of the days. The sessions will usually be held at the Malott Room in the Kansas Union on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. one week and Thursdays at 7 p.m. the next. To find our exactly when and
Concrete Canoe allows engineers to compete using their own original projects. This conference meet held in the spring includes teams from across the Midwest, but the University’s team is the reigning conference champion, which led it to the national competition last year in Golden, Colorado. Around 20 students helped to create the design’s final form, but any engineering student is welcome to help build the boat. From there, the best paddlers and most dedicated builders on the team are chosen to compete in the race. A major in engineering is required to be in the club, but past paddling experience is not. Co-captain Joe Roubinek said he fell out of the boat and into the water the first time he tried paddling for the club, but, eventually, Roubinek was one of the competitors taking the team to nationals. “It was a learning experience to find out things I really like to do,” Roubinek said of his experience with Concrete Canoe. The Concrete Canoe team is based on voluntary work and allows students to help build whenever works best with their schedule. To get involved, there are monthly informational meetings to learn more about the club. They respond to messages on Rock Chalk Central and on the group Facebook page.
WHAT TO KNOW
A10
K ANSAN.COM
November election gives students chance to engage in local government
Miranda Anaya/KANSAN Leslie Soden is the mayor of Lawrence. Soden became involved in politics 10 years ago when she joined the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association.
KATIE BERNARD @KatieJ_Bernard
For many, Lawrence is just the town that happens to surround the University of Kansas. Students come and go, but the local residents and the city government are there throughout it all. As far as students are concerned, the city has jurisdiction over things such as basic city and sidewalk maintenance and downtown parking, but it maintains a close relationship with the University. According to Tom Markus, Lawrence city manager, the city’s relationship with both Haskell and KU is incredibly important. “This past year the city and universities had mul-
tiple conversations, events and social media connections to work to improve relationships with the city, KU and Haskell,” Markus said. This has included creating a city liaison intern position to facilitate conversation between the city, the University and Haskell, specifically focusing on student organizations. Additionally, the city has to be involved in the approval and regulation of campus construction projects such as road closures connected to construction of dorms on 19th Street and the new Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences building. Because the University is such a major part of Lawrence, a solid relationship
between the two entities is important. Looking forward, Mayor Leslie Soden said she expects changes, specifically from an administrative standpoint. “This past year, the city and universities had multiple conversations, events and social media connections to work to improve relationships with the city, KU and Haskell,” Tom Markus Lawrence city manager
“It’s going to be interesting to develop our relationship with the new chancellor,” Soden said. An event that will impact students in the future
is the city commission elections that happen every two years. On Aug. 1, the field was narrowed down from eight candidates to six, knocking out Christian Lyche, a University sophomore who ran for the office. Although there are no major issues in this year’s election on Nov. 7, voters will be able to decide if they are content with the current commissioners running for re-election or if it’s time for new faces. Of the six other candidates, the two candidates with the most votes will earn four-year terms as city commissioners while the candidate with the third most votes will earn a twoyear term. Mayor Leslie Soden said that while students can
only vote in the elections if they are permanent residents of Lawrence, there are still ways to get involved. “The voter education coalition will have a candidate forum,” Soden said. “Students should submit their questions.” In addition to city commission, Markus pointed out that a sales tax renewal question will arrive on the ballot in November. The initiative will most directly impact students, as it allows voters to decide whether to keep or dump the additional .55 percent sales tax paid in Lawrence businesses, Markus said. For students looking to get involved in Lawrence government in ways besides voting, there are multiple opportunities.
According to Markus, students can apply for seasonal jobs with the city, as well as volunteer for advisory boards and commissions concerning everything from housing to technology to hospitals. Students are also free to attend public meetings. All city commission meetings, which take place every Tuesday at 5:45 p.m., are open to the public and allow public comment. On the other hand, Soden said, the best way to get involved might just be to get to know the community. “Appreciate everyone’s differences and try to pay it forward,” Soden said.
Campus carry worries remain for students, faculty
KATHY WONG & TANNER HASSELL @KathyW0NG @thassell17 Faculty and students voiced concerns leading up to July 1, the day that brought concealed carry to the University. As the fall semester begins, those concerns are still present. History department chair Eve Levin’s concerns echoed those of other faculty members regarding self-censoring and intimidation in the classroom, while senior Jackson Leibach said he fears for the safety of his professors. There is a fear, Levin said, that the presence of firearms in the classroom will hinder the free expression of ideas. “From what I’ve heard from some other faculty, there’s a lot of concern that faculty and students both will self-censor — that they will not enunciate opinions that could make
people angry, that could be controversial, because they’re afraid what form an outburst might take when there are people who are carrying weapons,” she said. “I think that’s a legitimate reason for people to self-censor: They don’t want people to get hurt.” In addition to Levin, other professors voiced concerns about the effects of campus carry in the classroom. Maryemma Graham, professor of English, has decided to not teach this semester. “I won’t be teaching in the fall, and the passage of this legislation cannot help but affect lots of things,” Graham said via email. Graham said that she has decided not to teach because of the controversial nature of her field. Also, she said, during discussions students will be more hesitant to “express dissenting points of view from their classmates.”
Without discussions, she said, students will not be able to challenge themselves and open up new ways of seeing and thinking. According to Graham, her office will be “off limits” to students with concealed weapons. “That’s my choice, and the one I will stick to. I will not meet with people in my office who are carrying, and since I don’t know who is or isn’t and, there is no registration requirement, my contact with students is going to be very limited to those I already know or those who are don’t have guns.” Graham said. Graham said she will mostly meet in her office with students who are international students or under 21 years old. According to the National Rifle Association website, only United States citizens over 21 years old can buy weapons in Kansas. Aerospace engineering professor Ron Barrett-Gon-
zalez said via email that he and other faculty members are transitioning their classes to a hybrid format, catering to students who have concerns about campus carry. “Because the students didn’t sign up for being in a gun warehouse, and some of them are extremely apprehensive about being in a class with armed untrained individuals sitting right next to them, I see it as only proper that they have the option to take the class online to avoid that dynamic,” Barrett-Gonzalez said via email. More than that, Barrett-Gonzalez said, the grading structure and feedback for his classes will change. “One of the major reasons why students in our program have won more international awards from our professional society than any other aerospace engineering department in the world is that we were quite
demanding.” Barrett-Gonzalez said via email. “While the program will continue to be good, the level of rigor demanded of students is bound to flag.” Leibach said he’s concerned campus carry will add another element of fear to being on campus throughout a school day, and will be damaging to those with mental illnesses. “It’s going to bring a lot of anxiety for people. For people with depression or anxiety issues, I think it’s going to be a huge issue, myself included,” he said. “It’s just one more thing to worry about on campus.” Campus carry, Leibach believes, will be particularly troubling for those who are teaching. “The biggest fear I have is for my professors. They are required to do their job without bias, and, if they are being subliminally threatened by students who are carrying, they still have to give those students
the grade they deserve... I fear for my professors more than I worry about myself.” “For people with depression or anxiety issues, I think it’s going to be a huge issue, myself included,” Jackson Leibach senior
Leibach’s hope, he said, is that campus carry won’t have detrimental effects on campus, but ultimately he believes it will. “I hope things go flawlessly. I hope this decision doesn’t impact anything, I hope it doesn’t increase crime rates, suicide rates. I hope life can just continue on without anyone having to worry about it,” Leibach said. “But I don’t think that will be the case.”
WHAT TO KNOW A11
K ANSAN.COM
Advocacy groups work to enact change
EMILY BECKMAN @emilybeckman7
Among the University’s boasted 600-plus student groups on campus are a number of groups who are prepared to advocate — and are already advocating — for students. Groups such as the Hispanic American Leadership Organization, Spectrum, Students United for Reproductive and Gender Equity, and many others are accepting new members this fall.
HALO HALO is a group that advocates for Latinx students on campus. The group hosts events in order to provide education on Latinx affairs and strives to shed light on issues within the Latinx community, according to President Jonathan Ruiz Cervantes, a junior from Kansas City, Kansas. The group is working to change its name to Latin American Student Union, as it feels the new name will be more inclusive to Latinx students, Ruiz Cervantes said. This year, Ruiz Cervantes’ goal is to bring people together. “What I’m trying to do more for this year is kind of work with other minority groups [and] other student groups,” he said. “Because we’re all Jayhawks and we’re all in this together.” The group is always welcoming new members. Any-
File photo / KANSAN
Student
one is able to take part in HALO’s meetings and serve on the executive board, according to Ruiz Cervantes. “We’re very inclusive,” he said. HALO will be deciding on meeting dates soon, and will share information through its Facebook page. SURGE Another group carrying out advocacy work, primarily for reproductive justice, is SURGE. Members, such as previous president, Alicia Whitson, a senior from Shawnee, consider it the “feminist voice” on campus.
“We’re focused on all the aspects of reproductive justice,” they said. “The right to parent, the right to not parent, access to safe and affordable birth control [and] abortion care.” The group also works to provide resources to parents. “People who are parents need access to child care and resources that are hard to come by,” Whitson said. While the group doesn’t have an official membership, it has weekly meetings and is always welcoming newcomers. “We understand that
GENDER MATTERS Presentations, Workshops, Lectures and More!
Get Informed. Get Involved. Get Empowered. EMILY TAYLOR CENTER FOR WOMEN AND GENDER EQUITY 1445 Jayhawk Blvd 4024 Wescoe Hall
Twitter: @emilytaylorctr Facebook: ETWRC emilytaylorcenter.ku.edu A Program of the Office of Diversity and Equity
not every single person can make it to every single meeting, but we encourage people to come as often as they can, because we’re always doing different stuff and giving different information at each meeting,” said Skyler Lucas, a senior from Lenexa. To learn more, students can email surgeku@gmail. com or find the group’s Facebook page. Spectrum Student group Spectrum strives to bring together LGBTQ students and allies on campus. The group pro-
vides education on LGBTQ history and current events, according to Spectrum’s Student Senate Chair Emma Piazza, a junior from Iola. “The right to parent, the right to not parent, access to safe and affordable birth control [and] abortion care.” Alicia Whitson senior
Since the group has not yet had its first meeting of
the academic year, Piazza doesn’t know what the group will focus on this year specifically, but said she believes they will continue advocating and informing. New members, Piazza said, are always welcome to join Spectrum. To learn more, students can find the group on Facebook or Twitter. “I think people have been doing a really good job, at least since I’ve been at KU, for trying to just spread words of equality and inclusion and equity and acceptance around campus,” Piazza said. “Especially with the political climate right now, there’s been some division for sure on campus, and so I like to think that what Spectrum and what the other advocacy groups are doing on campus is really important for minorities.”
Others These are only a few of the advocacy groups on campus. Other groups include the Muslim Student Association, Black Student Union and Multicultural Student Government. While MSG is not solely an advocacy group per se, it does advocate for students. “Our goal is for MSG is to be an open, accessible place where people can come speak their own truth and then we can support or advocate on their behalf,” said previous MSG chair Trinity Carpenter, a graduate student from Richmond, Kan.
WHAT TO KNOW
A12
K ANSAN.COM
A Hidden Gem: KU Libraries offer valuable, but underused, resources
Anschutz Library is one of the many branches of the KU Libraries system, which include special research facilities, study spaces and online resources.
NOLAN BREY @NolanBrey The University’s library system employs over 100 full-time employees and provides a number of services at no cost to the student body, yet many of those services go unused by students, said Undergraduate Engagement Librarian Callie Wiygul Branstiter. However, for new and returning students, learning how to take advantage of library resources is as easy as approaching a reference desk, Wiygul Branstiter said. “Really, it’s just an information desk. You can approach anyone at any of those desks, and ask a question,” Wiygul Branstiter said. Whether the question involves checking out a book or research consultations, Wiygul Branstiter said library staff are eager to help. Alternatively, if students are unable to make it to a reference desk, the University’s libraries provide free, online consultations through the ‘Ask a Librarian’ function at lib.ku.edu/ ask-librarian. “If you click on that button, you can chat with a librarian, you can email a librarian, you can give us a call. That’s really nice, especially if you’re in, say Anschutz Library and you don’t want to give up your table,” Wiygul Branstiter said. “You can just chat with someone right there, wherever you’re sitting, and you don’t have to worry about leaving your stuff or losing your table.” The libraries also provide many online resources, like electronic books and databases. Wiygul Bransti-
ter encourages students to explore the many resources that can be found online at lib.ku.edu. “I think a lot of students don’t realize that you have access, by virtue of being an enrolled KU student, to just thousands of databases, and the libraries pay a lot of money to be subscribed to these databases, and once you graduate, unfortunately, you don’t have access to many of them,” Wiygul Branstiter said. “I encourage students to really take advantage to see what we have, see what’s out there while they’re here.” Wiygul Branstiter also encourages students to utilize interlibrary loans. “If we don’t physically have a copy of something you need, or we don’t have it available through KU libraries’ online system, we can retrieve it for you from another library, and it’s free,” Wiygul Branstiter said. The libraries provide many other resources, including research consultations with field-specific librarians, an online library catalog, a retrieve-fromshelf book-pickup service, group study rooms by reservation, up to $8 of free printing a semester, a quick-record studio named Studio K as well as devices available for checkout, which include: iPads, laptops, headphones, mice, calculators, chargers, voice recorders and dry-erase markers. More than this, the University’s libraries pride themselves on their diverse study spaces. “We are an open, inclusive environment. We’re all about KU libraries being a place for everyone,” Wiygul Branstiter said. “Wheth-
er it’s you prefer a quiet study space, so maybe you want to come to Watson and go up to the fifth floor, or maybe you’re a little bit more social and you like to go to Anschutz, we have a lot of space over there. It doesn’t matter what’s going on, what you need, KU libraries has a space for you.” “It doesn’t matter what’s going on, what you need, KU libraries has a space for you.” Callie Wiygul Branstiter undergraduate engagement librarian
While Watson and Anschutz libraries provide diverse services, the Kenneth Spencer Research Library is unique among University libraries as it houses the University’s archives as well as ancient, medieval and con-
temporary works, including books, manuscripts, films, postcards and videos. The library, which is used by hundreds of undergraduate students each year, is located directly behind Strong Hall. Its stacks are closed, but any student may enter the library to access its historic collections. Some of the collections may also be viewed online. Additionally, anyone can now view the Spencer’s newly renovated North Gallery, which houses a permanent and interactive exhibit that represents the Spencer’s diverse holdings. Beth Whittaker, director of the Spencer Research Library, said the gallery can appeal to anyone. “Even if someone is not interested in doing research, if they just want to come in and look at one of our exhibits or sort of check out our antique furniture
Students study in Anschutz Library.
we have on display, all the time that we’re open... students are welcome to come in anytime,” Whittaker said. Moreover, starting this month, the Spencer will display a new exhibit, entitled “To Make the World Safe for Democracy: Kansas and the Great War,” which will run until December. “[Students] are always welcome to come in when we have exhibits. We have two to three large exhibits a year, and they vary on all sorts of topics,” Whittaker said. “If you’re on Jayhawk Boulevard, and you have 10 or 15 minutes and you don’t know what to do, pop in and check out an exhibit and have an experience with some original materials, some archives, some photographs and then get on your way.” On Aug. 21, the University’s libraries are hosting an
File photo / KANSAN
open house from 10:00 a.m. to noon on the third floor of Anschutz Library. Refreshments will be served and students can meet librarians and learn more about the libraries. Additionally, the same space will hold a first-generation college student meetup on Aug. 24 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., where students can interact with librarians, too. “As a librarian, I view my kind of relationship with the student as a collaboration. We’re research partners. We’re here to help you. No question is too small. We’re more than just kind of books in the library,” Wiygul Branstiter said. “We really want to help you be successful in kind of tackling your research, whether that’s a research paper or it’s a capstone project maybe you’re working on later in your program.”
File photo/ KANSAN
WHAT TO KNOW A13
K ANSAN.COM
MSG still finding identity in first year
ANGIE BALDELOMAR @AngieBaldelomar With its first official year about to start, the recently funded Multicultural Student Government is planning to focus on community outreach. Chiquita Jackson, MSG president, said being an active presence on campus is the group’s main focus. “Our goal is just to be more present, create more events for marginalized identities, create a comfortable environment, create a student body where the marginalized identities can trust with their issues to make sure that their voices are heard,� she said. After two years of battling, MSG’s funding was approved in June 2017, making this the first official year it will operate with a budget. The first event they have planned is a welcome event on Aug. 19, a part of Hawk Week. The event, titled “MSG Presents: We Out Here,� will have over 25 different multicultural organizations,
like Black Student Union and the Hispanic American Leadership Organization, as well as a tie-dye station and free food. Andrew Davis, MSG chief of staff, said the event is aimed at helping incoming and current students get to know the resources and organizations at the University. Trinity Carpenter, last year’s MSG president, said she has spent the summer helping to make sure that new leadership has the ability to uphold the goals for MSG established by the founders, not to forget where it stemmed from. “That’s why I have full faith in for the leadership I’ve chosen,� Carpenter said. This is even more important because MSG is one of the first one of its kind, Carpenter said. Davis acknowledges this fact, and is aware of the challenge it represents. “This is a huge thing,� he said. “A lot of this is very new for us, so we’re learning how to govern in a way that is mindful of particularly
File photo/KANSAN Members of the multicultural student government discuss their agenda in a meeting on April 27 in the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
marginalized students on campus.� MSG will have the opportunity to be a “trailblazer� for others, Carpenter said. “There’s is no model for MSG and I need people to understand that, no other MSG exists [like it] and that’s why our success is so important,� she said.
Besides community outreach, some of MSG’s main areas of focus will include working on creating a consistent idea of what MSG wants to be, programming by bringing speakers to talk on issues affecting the multicultural communities, and helping marginalized students get involved in local and
national elections. Jackson said she hopes the relationship MSG has with Student Senate will continue. “We’ve been doing really well working together, I don’t feel like the Student Senate and MSG will clash as they’ve been in the past due to the fact that there has been a common
understanding between the two organizations,� she said. Davis agreed and said within both MSG and Student Senate, people have “a desire to make a difference and care about issues that are happening to all the community.� However, outreach and building relationships with the community is the top priority, Jackson said. “What we’re wanting to do is we’re wanting to fill out some seats, so we’re wanting to get more participation into MSG and have our body grow,� she said. “That’s our main focus, reaching out to people and let them know that we have open availability for them.� Davis said the welcome event will hopefully be a catalyst for the organization. “We’re really counting on this to be the kind of platform that jumpstarts MSG for the semester, so students can come out and get involved,� he said.
Senate executives look to revamp operations, image ANGIE BALDELOMAR @AngieBaldelomar Now that summer is winding down, Student
Senate executive staff members say they are ready for Senate to be back in full session. Student Body President Mady Womack
said she is looking forward to working with senators again. “I’m looking forward to having the Senate back, so that we can work on revising the rules and regulations and multiple other things, getting to work with student groups, making sure their events happen,� she said. Mattie Carter, student body vice president, agreed with Womack. She said they want to “revitalize and restructure� Senate committees. For that purpose, Carter has been working on making some changes to the charges of the committees that appear on the appendices section of the Student Senate Rules and Regulations.
“My goal is make them even more purposeful, kind of like University Senate committees, a lot of them actually do stuff,� she said. This would help with their other goal, she said, of making senators more accountable. In the first few weeks, Womack expects to finish the interview process to find the two directors for the Jayhawk First Program, a sophomore peer mentorship program that is carrying over from last year’s administration. Although some of their plans are on pause, mostly because July and August seem to be popular vacation months, Carter and Womack said they have been steadily working
340 Fraser | 864-4121 www.psychCLINIC KU EDU COUNSELING SERVICES FOR LAWRENCE & KU
on some of their campaign platforms over the summer, but “couldn’t give specific details.� “A lot of them right now are kind of paused, not because we’re done, but because a lot of them are out for bid, and we can’t talk about them,� Carter said. Another goal for Womack and Carter is making Student Senate a more inclusive and open environment. “I think we have a huge opportunity to make Senate more inclusive, more open, more accessible, and to achieve some of the things we set out to do in regards to student safety,� Womack said. On the challenges for Students and Non-Students Welcome Confidential
this year, Womack said being able to effectively communicate with the student body about Senate will be a hurdle. “I think one of the problems with Student Senate is that we have an important influence on campus, but we don’t really have the presence that we should,� she said. “So we’re going to be working very hard to make sure that students know that we have resources for them and that we are there to support them and to accomplish things that they want to see happen at the University.� After being funded in April 2017, this year will be the first official year of the Multicultural Student Government, and Carter said she is excited to see how the relationship with MSG develops. “I’m really excited to be able to collaborate with them,� Carter said.
WHAT TO KNOW
A14
K ANSAN.COM
Business, social welfare deans begin tenures
HAILEY DIXON @_hailey_dixon
Not only will new students be joining the hill this month for the 2017-18 academic year, but two new faces in University administration will be working on campus for the first time as well. L. Paige Fields and Michelle Carney are the two new deans of the School of Business and the School of Social Welfare, respectively.
School of Social Welfare Dean Michelle Carney Carney, who is a native of Georgia, came to Kansas to return to the Midwest and further her endeavors within social welfare. “When this opportunity came available, I thought it would be a good chance to get back in the Midwest,” Carney said. Carney, who attended Ohio State University for her bachelor’s and doctorate degrees, said she is glad to be a little bit closer to Ohio. “My goals are really to get to know folks and begin to live this new vision and support student groups as I can” Michelle Carney Social Welfare Dean
In addition to Ohio State University, she has had past teaching and leadership positions at the University of Georgia, University of South Carolina and Arizona State University. Carney was most recently the director of the School of Social Work at Arizona State University. Carney said she hopes to
Missy Minear/KANSAN In her first year as the dean of the School of Social Welfare, Michelle Mohr Carney will work to build relationships with students, faculty and staff.
continue the success that has been seen at the School of Social Welfare up to this point. According to U.S. News and World Report, the University’s School of Social Welfare is ranked 22nd in the nation for its graduate program. Carney said she hopes to interact with both students and staff throughout the academic year, with time to meet with students. “My goals are really to get to know folks and begin to live this new vision and support student groups as I can,” she said. Carney said she wants to be active within the Jayhawk community and focus particularly on western Kan-
sas. “There’s a great interest in having social welfare in west Kansas,” she said. School of Business Dean L. Paige Fields Fields comes to the University from San Antonio, where she was the dean and professor at the School of Business at Trinity University. She started her role as School of Business dean on July 1. Fields has previously worked at Texas A&M University, the University of Arizona and the University of Kentucky. Along with that, Fields spent time furthering her own education at both the University of South Car-
olina and Louisiana State University. “One of the things about the job that was very attractive is the momentum that has been built by having [now-Provost] Neeli [Bendapudi] in the dean position here and she was able to raise the funds for this wonderful facility that we have,” Fields said. Fields said she would like to expand off the facility success from Capitol Federal Hall by working on a strategic plan for the School of Business. “We have opportunities now that we did not have before, but there are a lot of different directions you could go,” she said. “You
can expand on existing programs, you can increase enrollment, you can decrease some programs, you can start entirely new programs.” The business school has not worked on a strategic plan for a while, Fields said, because of the new building. However, she said the school is now on the right track to begin developing that plan. “So, what I want to do is come in, make sure that I know the people here, the faculty, staff, the different directors and leaders in the different areas inside the school,” she said. “Also, get input from other deans and the upper leadership, the
upper levels of administration here, in terms of where they see the School of Business fitting into the whole.” Currently, Fields added, the biggest challenge is having so many people to meet and things she wants to accomplish in a short period of time. “During the strategic plan, I’m not foreseeing any difficulty in terms of participation or buy-in. I don’t think that’s going to be difficult. There’s only one me to go out and do all of this,” she said. “Just being able to be in so many places will be a challenge.”
Teaching assistants in the field seek institutional support and training to address safety concerns HAILEY DIXON @_hailey_dixon
When University graduate teaching assistant Brittney Oleniacz packed for her geology class trip to Colorado, she had to worry about the traveling basics, like not forgetting to pack a toothbrush and grabbing the right clothes. However, one concern that stood apart from the rest was her and her students’ safety. “Sometimes it’s not safe,” Oleniacz said. “Sometimes it’s not safe walking near cliffs.” W Safety and health for both students and field teaching assistants is something that Oleniacz is urging the University to recognize in the academic year as she continues to advocate for her constituents, like graduate teaching assistants. “I love my department and I think they support me,” Oleniacz said. “I don’t think the institution supports me.” Currently at the University, Oleniacz said, no health insurance or health subsidies are being offered for field teaching assistants like her. “We need the University to watch out for us,” she said.
Contributed photo Brittney Oleniacz, University graduate teaching assistant and field TA, instructs one of her students Morgan Johannessen, a junior studying geology and chemistry, during a geology trip this summer.
Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, Director for News and Media Relations for the University, said a federal ruling last year inhibited how KU and other institutions offer health insurance to graduate students. In a letter sent last fall on behalf of Michael Roberts, dean of Graduate Studies, and Mike Rounds,
associate vice provost for Human Resource Management, a subsidy for health plans to eligible graduate student employees was no longer offered after Aug. 1, 2017. According to the University, a graduate student has to hold at least a 50 percent appointment for a minimum of eight consecutive
semesters to qualify under the University’s plan for health insurance. Graduate students can still enroll in the Kansas Board of Regents health insurance plan, but no longer receive a health insurance premium subsidy from the University, according to the letter. While on the trips as a
field TA, Oleniacz said she has to rely on herself to protect her students and work through problems. “I think we should be trained in multicultural competency,” she said. “Things are said, and we have to be able to manage these things.” Going forward, Oleniacz wants to bring field TAs to-
gether to develop a training course for these types of trips, like the recent one Oleniacz took her geology students on. According to Oleniacz, this could include intervention training or sexual assault training. A good start, she said, would be to sit down with the deans and talk about approving a potential course like this for field teaching assistants. In addition to increasing the support for field teaching assistants, both Oleniacz and Student Senate Graduate Affairs Director Katherine Merriweather hope to accomplish other goals for graduate students, graduate teaching assistants and field teaching assistants. Merriweather said that she would like to reach out to her constituents and see what their concerns are. Aspects that she would like to set into motion are day care for graduate students’ children, a graduate student orientation and a bridge program for first-generation graduate students. “I have three degrees, and I still face that deficiency that comes from being a first generation college student,” Oleniacz said.
WHAT TO KNOW A15
K ANSAN.COM
What to know about campus transportation
File photo/KANSAN
The 43 Red bus continues onto its next stop at Snow Hall while the 42 Orange bus stops at Bailey Hall.
TANNER HASSELL @thassell17 For students on and off campus, the buses, SafeBus and SafeRide provide a free and safe method of transportation. Here’s a few things to know about public transportation at the University explained by KU on Wheels and a student who utilizes the free transportation. Jaden Nussbaum, a sophomore from Rose Hill majoring in behavioral neuroscience and education, said the bus system was a bit strange to him initially. “It was weird because I’d never ridden a public bus before; I came from a small town. It wasn’t really an adventure for me, I just Googled what bus to take and I was good,” he said. “I
wouldn’t say it was intimidating using the buses, more just weird — using buses for the first time.” Transportation Coordinator at KU on Wheels, Zachary Kelsay, a junior from Independence, Missouri, said the most important thing to remember is all buses on campus and in Lawrence are free to students. “Your KU ID is essentially a bus pass, and I think that’s important for students to remember,” Kelsay said. “Additionally, virtually every major location in town can be reached through the bus system. A lot of students use the bus system to get groceries, to go to Walmart, to go to work and to get to class.” For students who have difficulties navigating the
routes and times, Kelsay said, all times and routes are available through Google Maps.
“Your KU ID is essentially a bus pass, and I think that’s important for students to remember,” Zachary Kelsay Transportation coordinator
“If you go to the route planning on Maps, and you click the transit option,” Kelsay said. “So if you have any location in the city of Lawrence, you can type in the starting and ending location and Maps will calculate the best routes available.” Nussbaum said students
should reference the website when confused about routes or times. “Always trust the website. The times are scheduled,” Nussbaum said. “When you need to stop, pull the string. Some people don’t know that at first and just ride wherever.” For students trying to navigate campus after the day routes end, Kelsay said the new Route 44 will be available from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For getting around town at night, SafeBus and SafeRide are two more free options available to students, according to Kelsay. “SafeBus is really important because it allows students downtown to have a reliable way home. I think it’s important, not only for preventing students from
drunk driving, but also for protecting them from drunk drivers,” he said. “Even if you’re walking, you’re still at risk. Especially on wild nights in a college town. I think it’s a very reliable and important service for students to have.” Kelsay said the SafeRide system is undergoing improvements to address issues with pickups and safety concerns. “We’re experimenting with new ways to improve efficiency of pickups. So basically reducing the wait time,” he said. “All of the drivers have over 40 hours of training, all the cars have cameras and they’re all in radio contact with the dispatcher. It’s a lot safer than an Uber ride or a Lyft ride, and it’s a little bit more monitored to make sure
students are taken care of.” For students with a longterm or short-term disability, Kelsay said J-lift is a door-to-door service transportation service available. “The idea is, if you have a disability that prevents you from making it to class, they will come and pick you up and make sure you get there on time. You just have to set it up in advance with the AAAC (Academic Achievement and Access Center).” Nussbaum said the buses are a service all students should utilize, particularly because they are paying for it. “I would encourage everyone to use the buses; the service is coming out of your tuition,” he said.
CAPS offers mental health support to students
EMILY BECKMAN @emilybeckman7
Emma Brandt, University alumna from Kearney, Nebraska, is preparing to become an audiologist — and she’s been taking care of her mental health along the way. During her time at the University, Brandt recalls utilizing Counseling and Psychological Services to help with her anxiety. First, as a freshman, when she was referred to CAPS after a visit to Watkins Health Services — where she was diagnosed with chronic migraines — then again as a senior. “Having to deal with chronic migraines and your first semester of college and being what felt like eight million light-years away from home is pretty
anxiety-inducing,” Brandt said. She recalls visiting CAPS biweekly throughout the majority of her freshman year. This was not her first experience with therapy, as she saw a therapist throughout high school. But without the referral from a doctor at Watkins, she said, she might not have known CAPS was available to students. “I had a really awesome experience [at CAPS] that first year of college,” Brandt said. CAPS offers individual counseling, individual therapy, group therapy and psychiatric therapy. Groups include a Mindfulness Group, Grief and Loss Group, and more, according to Christian Vargas, staff psychologist and outreach coordinator for CAPS.
Fees start at $15 per visit for current students who have paid the required CAPS campus fee. This includes individual and group therapy sessions. Psychiatric evaluations and extended psychiatric visits are $70; brief follow-up psychiatric visits are $30 per session. “I got really great care,” Brandt said. “And for that kind of price I’d say it should definitely be a student’s first line of defense.” While her experiences were positive overall, Brandt said her only frustration with the service was the amount of time she had to wait when scheduling an appointment her senior year, after she had “dropped off the radar from CAPS for a couple of years.” She recalls having to wait around six weeks
for an appointment, something she found frustrating as a former patient. “As someone that had to wait six weeks for an appointment it kind of felt like, ‘OK, you say each student’s mental health is important,’ but when I’m actually calling you for help, you’re pushing me to the backburner,” Brandt said. According to Vargas, students will be given an appointment date and time on the day they inquire about scheduling their first appointment. The wait time for an appointment depends on the time of year along with the student’s availability and flexibility.This might take a week or two, she said, but shouldn’t be much longer. However, if a student expresses that they cannot wait that long, CAPS will
“make that work.” “In order to do what students are here to do, which is to accomplish their academic goals and grow socially and personally and be successful in that way ... you have to be taking care of your whole self,” Vargas said. “That includes your physical health and your mental health.” “You have to be taking care of your whole self, that includes your physical health and your mental health.” Emma Brandt University alumna
Brandt believes that “mental health is everything.” “I would say that taking care of your mental health
is the key to succeeding or failing in college, quite honestly,” she said. “And that sounds really drastic, but if you’re constantly feeling like you’re drowning, there’s no way you’re going to perform well on objective things like tests and papers and classes and assignments.” Brandt, who graduated from the University in May, is starting graduate school this month at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to pursue her doctorate in audiology. She plans to ask about graduate mental health services there. “I’m not ashamed to say that therapy is something that I enjoy and that has made my quality of life tremendously higher,” Brandt said.
BACK TO SCHOOL
what to watch
INSIDE Previewing the Kansas football team’s season p. 2
Tough schedules await volleyball, women’s basketball p. 7
Why it’s time to believe in Kansas football again
Student tickets for Allen Fieldhouse reallocated p. 9
p. 13
WHAT TO WATCH
B2
KANSAN.COM
Kansas football offensive preview: Potential for growth at every position WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK Despite taking a small step forward offensively in 2016, Kansas football still has plenty of room to grow at every position this upcoming season. The Jayhawks averaged 359.5 yards per game last year. They are hoping to improve on their offensive output with the addition of former TCU offensive coordinator Doug Meacham to the coaching staff. Meacham led the Horned Frogs to a top-three total offense ranking in the Big 12 in two of the past three seasons. “He’s one of the best offensive minds in college football,” Kansas coach David Beaty said during the annual Big 12 Football Media Days. “Bringing him to Lawrence was an incredible addition to an already amazing group of coaches and men that we have at our place.”
ley
Quarterback Key returner: Carter Stan-
Key addition: Peyton Bender Key losses: Montell Cozart, Ryan Willis, Deondre Ford For the second straight season, Beaty has yet to
Missy Minear/KANSAN Then-freshman quarterback Carter Stanley finds a receiver against Iowa State on Nov. 12, 2016. name a starter at quarterback prior to the season opener. However, it figures that either sophomore Carter Stanley, or his roommate, junior newcomer Peyton Bender, will do the job in the Sept. 2 game against Southeast Missouri State. Stanley started the last three games of the season and helped Kansas to a 2421 overtime win over Texas. He finished with 959 passing yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions in nine games of action last season. As for Bender, he will be joining the Jayhawks after starting his career at Washington State for coach
Mike Leach, then playing at Itawamba Community College in 2016. In nine games, Bender completed 65 percent of his passes and threw for 2,733 yards and 21 touchdowns. Kansas ranked ninth in the Big 12 last season in pass offense with 240.4 yards per game. Running Back Key returners: Khalil Herbert, Denzell Evans, Taylor Martin Key additions: Dom Williams, Octavius Matthews Key loss: Ke’aun Kinner Like at quarterback, Kansas will enter the season
without a solidified primary running back. The team should receive more depth from the position with a bevy of returners and additions. Sophomore Khalil Herbert figures to receive more carries this season with the loss of Ke’aun Kinner. Herbert ran for 189 yards and three touchdowns on a mere 44 carries in eight games last season. Junior Taylor Martin will also return to the Jayhawks. He was a red zone force for Kansas last season with his four touchdowns on 91 carries. Freshman Dom Williams and junior transfer Octavius
Matthews are expected to help contribute to a Kansas backfield that ranked ninth in the conference in 2016. Matthews, a teammate of Bender’s last season at Itawamba Community College, ran a team-best 808 yards as a freshman and 645 yards as a sophomore. He also recorded nine touchdowns in his two seasons at the school. Williams is a four-star recruit according to Rivals. He finished his high school career ranked 10th all-time on the state of Texas’ rushing list, according to KU Athletics. Receiving Corps Key returners: WR Steven Sims Jr., WR Daylon Charlot (sat out 2016 due to NCAA transfer rules), WR Bobby Hartzog Jr. Key additions: TE Kenyon Tabor, WR Takulve Williams Key losses: WR LaQuvionte Gonzalez, WR Keegan Brewer Although the dismissal of senior LaQuvionte Gonzalez potentially weakens the Kansas offense, it will still return its No. 1 receiver from last season: junior Steven Sims Jr. Sims was added to the 2017 Preseason Biletnikoff Award watch list during the
offseason. The list recognizes outstanding receivers in college football. Sims caught 72 passes for 859 yards and hauled in seven touchdowns last season. The Jayhawks will also see their first glimpse of sophomore Daylon Charlot, who transferred from Alabama in 2016. Charlot was a consensus four-star recruit and was ranked No. 59 in the ESPN300 coming out of high school. Charlot caught two passes for nine yards in five games of limited action for the Crimson Tide in 2015. His role is expected to grow exponentially for the Jayhawks in 2017. Returning senior Bobby Hartzog Jr. will provide experience to an unit that includes freshmen Takulve Williams and Kenyon Tabor. Tabor, a consensus threestar recruit from Derby, was rated the fifth-best player in the state of Kansas by Rivals. Williams, a New Orleans native and three-star recruit according to 247sports, was recognized to the NOLA All-Metro team as a return specialist. He returned two kickoffs and two punts for touchdowns and averaged 25.8 return yards on punts in his high school career.
Veteran defensive core, new talent offer promise RAELEY YOUNGS @raeleyy With a lone Big 12 win over Texas to stand on last season, the Kansas defense is putting its hopes into the hands of a skillful returning core as well as a handful of talented new players. While every season thus far with coach David Beaty has brought improvement, this year brings more optimism for success than ever before in his previous two seasons. Six defensive starters departed, but a pack of six starters will be returning, leaving the Jayhawks with ample experience on the defensive side. Defensive Line Key Returners: Dorance Armstrong Jr., Daniel Wise, Josh Ehambe, Deelsaac Davis Key Losses: Damani Mosby Transfers: Willie McCaleb, JJ Holmes Junior defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. and junior defensive tackle Daniel Wise are expected to be the duo that will not only make the biggest impact on the defensive side of the field this season, but also provide strong leadership for newcomers. Wise, a 2016 All Big 12 second-team honoree, started in 11 games last year, making 10 tackles for loss, along with three sacks and two blocked kicks. The majority of the hype, however, has surrounded Armstrong, the newly-named unanimous Big 12 Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Armstrong is regarded as one of the best
pass rushers in the conference and is predicted to be a first-round pick in many NFL mock drafts. “My main [goal] is to basically beat all the numbers that I put up last season,” Armstrong told the Lawrence Journal-World in July. With 10 sacks in 2016, Armstrong is the only returner who totaled more than four sacks. This stat will be crucial for the Jayhawks to improve upon in order to keep opponent scoring down after allowing over 30 points in eight games throughout last season. Defensive end Josh Ehambe is someone to look out for to increase the overall sack total. The junior recorded four sacks in the Jayhawks’ spring game and is expected to compete for a starting position on the defensive line this fall. 2016 senior Damani Mosby is the most notable departure, but his thirdbest seven tackles for loss shouldn’t be too difficult to make up for this season. Transfer defensive end Willie McCaleb collected 42 total tackles, leading his team with 16.5 tacklesfor-loss and 10 sacks in his 2016 season at Northwest Mississippi Community College. He was also selected to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges first team last year. Hutchinson Community College junior transfer J.J. Holmes was touted as a three-star defensive tackle by Rivals and should also be in the mix for playing time. Though these junior college transfers come in with
experience and stats to back it up, it may take some time to adjust to their heavyweight Big 12 opponents. But Wise feels the defense is prepared. “Overall, as a whole, I think the defense is ready,” Wise said in a Kansas Athletics release. “It is starting to click even more. Things were clicking before but they are starting to click with us finally getting a chance to put on the pads and run around and hit each other, communicate back and forth from the safeties to the corners and the linebackers. Everyone is looking good.” Linebackers Key Returners: Joe Dineen Jr., Keith Loneker Jr. Key Losses: Courtney Arnick Lawrence native Joe Dineen Jr.’s return may be the most anticipated of any Kansas player this year. The redshirt junior started in three games before suffering a hamstring injury at Memphis last September. Though Dineen’s previous season was cut short, he was still able to make a sizable impact on the field. He totaled 16 tackles, and while his talent wasn’t able to be displayed in full last year, he will be a key to this team’s defensive success. The departure of Courtney Arnick will likely leave a gap in the Jayhawks’ tackle production. He recorded 67 tackles in his senior season last year and tallied a teamhigh seven tackles for loss. Junior Keith Loneker Jr. had 28 solo tackles last
File Photo/KANSAN Oklahoma receiver Dede Westbrook outruns Kansas defensive tackle Daniel Wise. year and will be expected to help fill the void of Arnick. Loneker is confident in what his role will be. “That instinct has got to come from my dad — growing up around football forever and watching football. Some of it is maybe God given, but a lot of it comes from my dad and being able to feed off of his knowledge of the game,” Loneker said at the Big 12 media day in July. This group of linebackers, though not overflowing with depth, has the potential to build off of Dineen and last season’s improvements. Secondary Key Returners: Mike Lee Key Losses: Tevin Shaw, Fish Smithson, Marnez Ogletree, Brandon Stewart Transfers: Hasan Defense, Shakial Taylor
Kansas’ biggest loss came with safety Fish Smithson, who was signed by the Washington Redskins as a free agent following the 2017 NFL Draft. He started in all 12 games and led the defense in tackles. His departure emphasizes just how little experience the secondary has, leaving the Jayhawks to largely rely on transfers and underclassmen to step up. The lone top defensive back returning is sophomore safety Mike Lee, who was selected to the 2016 All-Big 12 Honorable Mention. He had 70 solo tackles on the year and should replace Smithson as a leader in tackles. Tevin Shaw is another player whose absence the Jayhawk defense will feel. He had 56 tackles last season and a played a crucial part in a surprise victory over Texas with a ca-
reer-high 11 tackles. Cornerbacks Marnez Ogletree and Brandon Stewart, who accrued a combined 59 tackles, have graduated, but the position should be filled with some ease. Sophomore cornerback transfer Hasan Defense, a native of Kilgore College, Texas, has drawn much attention and earned a threestar rating from Rivals, ESPN and 247sports. Another player that may fill the position is junior cornerback Shakial Taylor, a transfer from Mesa Community College. He racked up 42 tackles, the third most among secondary players on his team in 2016. The secondary is by far the most inexperienced portion of the defense, but if underclassmen and transfers can take on their respective duties, improvement should be feasible.
WHAT TO WATCH B4
KANSAN.COM
Soccer falls in preseason opener
File Photo/KANSAN Then-freshman forward Mandi Duggan drives the ball to the net during a 2016 playoff game against Missouri. SHAUN GOODWIN @ShaunGoodwinUDK Just three days removed from being voted to finish second in the Big 12 preseason coaches’ poll, Iowa defeated Kansas soccer 1-0 on Saturday in a friendly match. Iowa, who finished second-to-last in the Big 10 in 2016 with a conference record of 2-9-0, traveled to Rock Chalk Park with no other intentions but to win. From the first whistle, Iowa had Kansas on its back foot, spending a majority of the first half in Kansas’ final third. “My biggest beef with them at halftime was the fact that we were getting
beat to the ball all over the field,” said Kansas coach Mark Francis. “In the air, on the ground, in every line of the field – the back line, midfield and upfront.”
“I think all of the freshmen in the second half worked a lot better … All the freshmen that came in looked night and day from the first half.” Mark Francis Kansas Coach
Although Iowa managed to score the only goal of
the game through a closerange header from senior Karly Stuenkel in the 28th minute, it was the injury of Kansas sophomore forward Mandi Duggan that cast a shadow over the game in the first half. Just seconds after coming on as a substitute, Duggan challenged for a ball and immediately went down injured as the ball ricocheted away. After several minutes, Duggan was helped off the field and Iowa went on to score the only goal of the game moments later. Although Duggan joins a growing list of injured players who can play on the wing, such as junior Anna Courtney, Francis is not worried about the situation
going forward. “We have a couple of others that’ll be able to fill that spot. Today there were a couple of spots where we were a little bit thin, but we’ve also kids that are coming back,” Francis said, singling out freshman forward Kailey Lane, who he expects to be back in action next week. Kansas came out stronger in the second half, attempting four shots in the first 15 minutes of the half – as many as they managed in the entire first half. They also limited Iowa to just a single shot the entirety of the second half. Despite golden opportunities to score for sophomore forward Katie McClure
and senior forward Lois Heuchan, as well as a close range volley over the bar from sophomore defender Addisyn Merrick, Kansas could not draw level. In the final minute of the game, sophomore midfielder Sophie Maierhofer had a shot deflect off an Iowa defender and onto the outside of the post. The chance summed up a frustrating afternoon for Kansas. Despite the loss, Francis was pleased with the showing in the second half. “We had a lot of young kids out there. A lot of them were just scared, first college game; 45 minutes, get that out of your system,” Francis said. “I think
all of the freshmen in the second half worked a lot better – Ceri [Holland], Izzy [Cavalcante], Kat [Castro], Avery [Hall] when she came in. All the freshmen that came in looked night and day from the first half.” Francis will look to rest his players in the coming days before preparing for Kansas’ next two games at Rock Chalk Park in the Rock Chalk Invitational in the coming week. Kansas will play former Big 12 rival Nebraska on Friday at 7 p.m. before facing off against Central Michigan on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Kelsie Payne headlines Kansas’ preseason awards TIFFANY LITTLER @TiffanyLittler Senior right side hitter Kelsie Payne is starting her final season at Kansas with big honors. The conference announced Wednesday that the All-American is the Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year for the second straight season. After leading the Jayhawks to the program’s first-ever Big 12 championship last season, she earned the postseason Big 12 Player of the Year award. The All-Big 12 First Team member boasts Kansas records for career hitting percentage and is within reach of owning the program’s career kills record. Fellow seniors, setter Ainise Havili and outside hitter Madison Rigdon, were also named to the Preseason AllBig 12 Team. Havili, the back-to-back Big 12 Setter of the Year, is a
three-time AVCA All-American. Last season, she recorded a total of 16 assist-dig double-doubles. Rigdon earned AVCA All-American Honorable Mention and All-Big 12 First Team honors after her 2016 performance. She led the Big 12 and ranked 12th in the nation in aces per set with 0.47. “These awards are [a] great sign of the respect that Kelsie, Ainise and Madison have earned around the league,” Kansas coach Ray Bechard said in a Kansas Athletics news release. “At the same time, we are not going to be complacent because we are a veteran team. We have had some great moments in the last couple years, but we want the best moments to be still ahead of them.” Kansas will open the 2017 season on Aug. 25 in Raleigh, North Carolina at the Wolfpack Invitational.
File Photo/KANSAN Then-junior right side hitter Kelsie Payne puts the ball over the net during a loss to Creighton in the 2016 NCAA Tournament.
Aug. 17 - 27 Build your schedule at
hawkweek.ku.edu Kick off your KU career in a big way. Learn about campus life, traditions, and important resources.
WHAT TO WATCH B6
K ANSAN.COM
Big 12 picks Dorance Armstrong Jr. as 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 unanimously selected for the Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team.
A dominant 2016 season saw Armstrong, a Houston native, record a team-high 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 conference’s Preseason Newcomer of the Year. Armstrong and the Kansas team will begin the 2017 season on Saturday, Sept. 2 against Southeast Missouri State at Memorial Stadium.
File Photo/KANSAN Then-sophomore defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. blocks a TCU player on Oct. 8 at Memorial Stadium.
Missy Minear/KANSAN Kansas coach David Beaty high fives players as they come off the field.
Beaty excited to add ‘energetic’ coach in Meacham Doug Meacham ‘one of the best offensive minds in college football,’ Beaty says
WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK When Kansas football coach David Beaty joined the program in 2015, he knew he ultimately wanted his longtime friend Doug Meacham as his offensive coordinator. “I called him 10 times and offered him so much. I told him, ‘Look, you can have all the money. I’ll hire everyone else for a dollar,’” Beaty said during the Big 12 Football Media Days in Frisco, Texas. “’You can have it all, what’s it going to take to get you here?’ Because I just think that much of him.” Beaty and Meacham’s football relationship together dates back to Beaty’s high school
coaching days in Texas. The two first met while Meacham was recruiting from Beaty’s schools. Beaty served as head coach of North Dallas in 2001 and Irving MacArthur from 2002-05.
“Bringing him to Lawrence was an incredible addition to an already amazing group of coaches and men that we have at our place.” David Beaty Kansas coach
“[Meacham] taught me a lot of ball, spent a lot of time with him,” Beaty said. “Always wanted to
work with the guy. So, that relationship started a long time ago.” This past offseason, Beaty made that aspiration a reality when he hired Meacham to join the Kansas coaching staff in January after three successful seasons at TCU. “He’s one of the best offensive minds in college football,” Beaty said. “Bringing him to Lawrence was an incredible addition to an already amazing group of coaches and men that we have at our place.” Beaty said the addition of Meacham to the roster has also provided an extra amount of energy during practices. “This game of football, it’s tough on these guys,” Beaty said. “A day-to-day
grind for these guys is a lot more than what a lot of people know. It’s very difficult. Doug has done such a great job of making sure that we have fun every day. He’s a guy that is infectious and you just want to be around him. He’s one of those people.” Meacham will be tasked with turning around a Kansas offense that has ranked last in the Big 12 in total offense in each of the past three seasons. Under Meacham, TCU ranked second in 2014 (533 yards per game), third in 2015 (562.8 yards per game) and seventh in 2016 (463.2 yards per game). Beaty said he is eager to see the Kansas offense formulate into Meacham’s air raid style.
“It’s going to be fun watching him put his personality into it,” Beaty said. “The concepts are all very similar, but like all the guys that kind of live in this offense, everyone has their own little personality and twist on it. It’s really interesting watching him instill that.” Kansas has already had one position change on offense this offseason with junior Ryan Schadler moving to wide receiver. “I don’t know [if] I would have thought to do that,” Beaty said. “We really think that he might be a really nice answer for us at that wide out spot. He’s done nothing but great things for us.” Prior to making what Beaty called an
“instantaneous” impact at TCU, Meacham served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Houston. Beaty is hoping Meacham can have an impact at Kansas similar to the impact he had for the TCU offense as the season approaches. “[The players] love being around Doug Meacham because he is so much fun and he’s really good at what he’s done,” Beaty said. “His leadership over the last three years and what he was able to do with coach [Gary] Patterson and those guys at TCU … really excited about Doug.”
WHAT TO WATCH B7
KANSAN.COM
Sporting KC, MLS introduce video referee SHAUN GOODWIN @ShaunGoodwinUDK There was a notable difference Aug. 6 as Sporting Kansas City’s and Atlanta United’s players filed onto the field before kickoff. As is customary before any sporting event, the PA announcer listed off the names of all the referees officiating the game. But tagged onto the end was a new position – the video assistant referee. Sitting in a room looking over Children’s Mercy Park, VAR Juan Guzman Jr. sat in front of a collection of screens, with the ability to view every single replay seconds after it happened. The VAR is a creation collaborated between MLS and The International Football Association, the organization that oversees the rules of soccer worldwide, to aid in the decision making of head referees during competitive fixtures. While the VAR may seem a little overpowered, it can only be used, in which the head referee has made a clear and obvious error. There are four instances in which VAR can be used: If there is an error in the awarding, or lack of, a goal, the awarding or lack thereof a penalty, if a player is undeservedly given a red card, or a clear red card was missed, and the mistaken identity of a player by the referee when handing out cards.
“I think having instant replay is tremendous, it’s great for the growth of the league,” Kansas City coach Peter Vermes said. “It was about time for FIFA to make this decision. You’ve got to get up with the today. We’ve got all this technology, and we should be using it.” VAR was first seriously called into question in Kansas City’s 1-1 tie with Atlanta United. In the 30th minute of the game, Kansas City forward Gerso Fernandes cut inside and took a shot from the edge of the box that struck Atlanta defender Mikey Ambrose’s hand, with the ball eventually trickling through to goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
“It was about time for FIFA to make this decision, you’ve got to get up with the today.” Peter Vermes Sporting KC coach
With the instant replay on the two large video boards showing a handball, thousands of people around the stadium started shouting in uproar, with members of The Cauldron chanting “V-A-R”. But referee Chris Penso refused to make the VAR motion — a large square box — with his hands, and let play
File Photo/KANSAN Defender Graham Zusi fights with a Real Salt Lake defender for the ball. Sporting Kansas City defeated Real Salt Lake 3-0 on April 29 at Children’s Mercy Park. continue. “I’m sure they did, they check every play,” Vermes said on the handball. “So I’m assuming they felt that wasn’t a clear and obvious type of thing.” The general feel of the game was that of a Sunday afternoon pub league game in England, with sloppy play and brash tackles throughout the game. It was the perfect game to bring VAR into action, with Atlanta committing 20 fouls and Kansas City an additional 10.
Kansas City finally took the lead in the 58th minute, when forward Latif Blessing was brought down in the box trying to skip past Atlanta defender Leandro González Pírez. As Blessing ran past, Pírez brought up a high arm and shoved Blessing down, causing Atlanta fans to call for the VAR to disallow the penalty. Kansas City midfielder Benny Feilhaber, who replaced midfielder Cristian Lobato at halftime, dispatched the penalty coolly.
Later in the match, the answer to Atlanta’s troubles in front of goal on Sunday night came through its player labeled “The Answer.” After playing five seasons with Kansas City, Jacob Peterson earned the nickname “The Answer” due to his ability to play in multiple positions. But on the night, he was a problem for Kansas City. Coming on as a substitute in the 68th minute, Peterson grabbed the equalizing goal in
the 92nd minute of play to silence the group of supporters in The Cauldron who had just begun chanting “I believe that we will win.” Despite scoring the tying goal, Peterson refused to celebrate in front of his former club. With little time to respond, Kansas City dropped two late points to finish the game at a 1-1 deadlock. In the draw, Sporting KC extended its home unbeaten streak to 21 games.
WHAT TO WATCH B8
KANSAN.COM
File Photo/KANSAN Senior wide receiver LaQuvionte Gonzalez makes a catch and is taken down by three defenders during the spring game.
Team bonds at lake after Gonzalez dismissal
SHAUN GOODWIN @ShaunGoodwinUDK Despite the dismissal of would-be senior wide receiver LaQuvionte Gonzalez from the Kansas football program on July 30, coach David Beaty insisted during a media availability that there is a great bond between his team heading into the season. “You guys know how much I love and care for Quiv. But, I love this team just as much as I love him, if not more,” Beaty said following Tuesday morning’s practice, the
first of the fall camp. “So in the long run, the decision for him to part ways with us is going to be the best decision for both us and him.” Gonzalez was dismissed less than a year after completing a personalbest year for the Jayhawks, recording 729 receiving yards on 62 receptions with three receiving touchdowns. “We have standards that we expect our players to follow, and if they fail to do that, at some point, there will be including and up to dismissal and removal from
our program,” Beaty said. Although he didn’t give a specific reason for Gonzalez’s dismissal, Beaty said Gonzalez had some characteristics that were difficult to fix. “He is not a bad person, he is not a bad kid, and anybody who gets him is going to be getting a special kid,” Beaty said. Beaty also shed light on a recent team building exercise at Clinton Lake on Monday: surfing. For some of the players, it was the first time they’d stepped foot in a lake. “I think most impressive
was Octavius Matthews – that kid I don’t think has even swam in his life before, and he got up the first time,” Beaty said. “It’s amazing how athletic he is.” For the more experienced players, the chemistry formed in preseason camp already exists — like it does for Lawrence-based brothers Joe and Jay Dineen. Joe is a redshirt-junior linebacker expected to make a big impact on the Jayhawk defense after missing most of last season with an injury. Jay will be entering his freshman
season at Kansas, also playing linebacker. Defensive coordinator Clint Bowen, who played alongside his brother Charley Bowen for Kansas from 1991 to 1994, is excited to see the chemistry between the pair. “I do know when Charley and I are together, it was always kind of neat to look over and see your brother there and have that feeling,” Bowen said. “So I’m sure at some point and time they’ll get on the field together and have a little laugh in the huddle.” The Dineen brothers,
junior linebacker Keith Loneker Jr. and sophomore safety Bryce Torneden bring a hometown flair to the defensive line — as all graduated from Lawrencearea high schools. The Jayhawks will continue practicing throughout the month of August until the season kicks off on Sep. 2 in Memorial Stadium against Southeast Missouri State.
Wait nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK Former Kansas libero Cassie Wait can add another accolade to her successful career with the volleyball program. Wait was nominated by Kansas Athletics for the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year award on Tuesday. In 2016, Wait, a threeyear starter at libero, led the Jayhawks to their firstever Big 12 Conference title. She also earned Big 12 Libero of the Year and Kansas City Sports Commission Sportswoman of the Year honors. According to the NCAA’s official website, the NCAA Woman of the Year award honors graduating female college athletes who no longer have eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership through their collegiate careers. Wait graduated with a business degree in three years in May 2016 with a 3.90 GPA before enrolling in law school, according to Kansas Athletics. She is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree and a member of the University’s Honors Program. The Gardner-native just
Missy Minear/KANSAN Then-senior libero Cassie Wait celebrates after a point against West Virginia. Kansas won in three sets. finished her first academic year at the University’s School of Law. Wait was a key player in leading the Jayhawks to their first-ever Final Four appearance in 2015. She also finished her career with 104 wins and holds the program’s best fouryear winning percentage (.819). During her senior season, Wait led the Big 12
in digs per set (5.10) and finished second in career digs at Kansas (1,958). Wait is one of seven Big 12 athletes nominated by her school for the award. Others include Kansas State’s Katie Brand (volleyball), West Virginia’s Kadeisha Buchanan (soccer), Oklahoma’s Jennifer Carmichael (outdoor track and
field), Oklahoma State’s Courtney Dike (soccer), Texas’ Gia Doonan (rowing) and Baylor’s Blair Shankle (tennis). In the next step of the selection process, NCAA conferences will select up to two conference nominees from each of the school nominees. The committee will then choose the top
30 honorees — with 10 coming from each division. From the top 30, the selection committee will determine the top three honorees from each division and announce the nine finalists in September. The NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics then chooses the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year
from those nine. The top 30 honorees will be recognized and the 2017 NCAA Woman of the Year will be announced at the annual award ceremony on Oct. 22 in Indianapolis.
WHAT TO WATCH B9
KANSAN.COM
Reallocation of Allen Fieldhouse seats will lower student ticket prices in 2017 Wesley Dotson @WesDotsonUDK
A new agreement reached last month between the University’s Student Senate and Kansas Athletics will reallocate a part of the student section in Allen Fieldhouse to donors, as well as lower the price of student ticket prices next season. Section 19 — which is located behind Kansas’ bench in the middle and upper sections — will be reallocated to boosters, which will directly lower the student all-sports combo pack from $179 to $159. The section has about 400 seats, according to Associate Athletic
“I don’t think this arrangement will have any effect on the student experience; the students will continue to make game day at Allen Fieldhouse the awe-inspiring home-court advantage that it has always been.” Jim Marchiony associate athletic director
Director Jim Marchiony. One of the main
File Photo/KANSAN The Kansas student section cheers at the end of the alma mater. driving forces behind the agreement was the decline in student attendance. “The key fact, and the fact that made this all work so well for students and [Kansas] Athletics, is that students were not using nearly the number of seats that were allotted to them,” Marchiony said. “That means that Athletics isn’t ‘taking away’ seats from students, and students aren’t ‘losing seats.’”
According to the Kansas City Star, Kansas Athletics has typically reserved around 4,000 seats for students for home games, but student attendance has declined recently. Students will now be strictly assigned to the end zone sections behind each basket, as well as corner sections 20 and 21. Marchiony said the agreement will benefit students, as it will lower
the cost of football and men’s basketball game tickets. “We give a lot of credit to KU student leadership, which was purposeful in its desire to lower the price of student season tickets and saw this as a way to gain something for students without sacrificing anything,” Marchiony said. The agreement will also have another benefiter: Pell Grant-eligible, low-income
and first-generation students. Kansas Athletics will reserve 20 season tickets for these students, and those seats will be given away for free through a lottery on a game-by-game basis. “We also credit student leadership for caring enough about their fellow students to ask Athletics to provide 20 free tickets every game for Pell
Grant-eligible students,” Marchiony said. “That displayed to us a genuine concern for students who otherwise would not be able to attend the games, and we were very happy to make that part of this arrangement.” This is the second time in the past three years Kansas Athletics has relocated student seating, according to the Kansas City Star. In 2014, Kansas Athletics switched 120 seats in Section U — located directly in front of Section 19 — to a donor location as a response to the University’s student government voting to eliminate a student fee that provided Kansas Athletics with more than $1 million annually. However, Marchiony said he doesn’t believe this newest change will impact the student experience at Allen Fieldhouse. “I don’t think this arrangement will have any effect on the student experience; the students will continue to make game day at Allen Fieldhouse the awe-inspiring homecourt advantage that it has always been,” Marchiony said.
WHAT TO WATCH
B10
KANSAN.COM
Miranda Anaya/KANSAN Kansas Athletics is planning to raise $300 million to renovate Memorial Stadium, a facility originally opened in 1921.
Memorial Stadium to undergo $300 million renovation, add indoor facility WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK Kansas Athletics has a plan in place to upgrade Memorial Stadium with $300 million worth of renovation. Athletic director Sheahon Zenger announced the renovation plan on Wednesday at the “Football in June” event
hosted by Kansas football coach David Beaty at the Well Bar in Kansas City. The project will include an indoor practice facility, and Zenger is expecting to receive renderings in the next three weeks. Kansas currently does not have an indoor practice facility. Instead, the team has two outdoor
practice fields and uses Anschutz Sports Pavilion when the weather forces practices inside. “It will be something that will be just that next step in transcending our program to the next level,” Beaty said at the event, according to the Star. “We really do have to keep up with the facility war that goes on out
there.” Zenger, who recently had his contract extended through 2021 in May, has put a focus on improving the football program. His new contract also includes perks, including a $40,000 bonus if the football team has a winning record. “It’s exciting for me
because it’s a great time to be at KU,” Beaty said, according to the Lawrence Journal-World. “I mean [Zenger] has done so much here. For him to clear the deck and kind of make room for football right now, and he’s a football guy at heart, knowing our fans deserve a really nice stadium.” Beaty continued, “It’s
a fan experience nowadays, and we want these people to be comfortable and really enjoy their time there.” The final version of the plan is expected to be sent out to the public in September.
Quick facts on Royals’ first-round pick Nick Pratto WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK The Kansas City Royals might have found their first baseman of the future. In the 2017 MLB Draft,
the Royals selected high schooler Nick Pratto with the No. 14 pick on June 12. Pratto, a native of Huntington Beach, California, entered the season as a two-way talent.
The lefty still pitches for his Huntington Beach High School team, but his bat is what made him a first-round selection. After hearing his name called at the draft, the moment still wasn’t the
first time Pratto had been on the national stage. Pratto was a Little League World Series hero in 2011 when he delivered a game-winning single for his Ocean View team in the champion-
ship game against Hamamatsu Minami of Japan. Pratto has committed to USC, but he is likely to sign with the Roy-
als. Kansas City’s firstround pick has a value of $3,727,600.
WHAT TO WATCH B11
KANSAN.COM
8th-ranked Kansas volleyball program set to face tough nonconference opponents
WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK Kansas volleyball coach Ray Bechard released a nonconference schedule on Monday that features several stout opponents for the Jayhawks in the 2017 season. “We have the most competitive home nonconference schedule that we have ever had, paired with challenging lineup of matches away from home,” Bechard said in a Kansas Athletics news release. “That jumps out at me initially — the opportunity we have to entertain some really good teams and to make a large footprint on the national stage.” The complete 2017 volleyball schedule is now available: Three of the Jayhawks’ four home nonconference matches will be against Kentucky, Purdue and Creighton — all participants in the 2016 NCAA tournament. Before hosting these teams, Kansas will host UMKC in an exhibition game on Aug. 19 at Horejsi Family Athletics Center. This season will mark the first time the NCAA is allowing exhibition matches between institutions in volleyball. The match will be replacing the team’s annual Crimson & Blue Scrimmage.
The regular season will open on the road against NC State on Aug. 25. The teams will face each other twice at the Wolfpack Invitational in Raleigh, North Carolina. Kansas will also play Missouri State during that weekend. “The fact that we are playing NC State twice on its home floor will be a great challenge for our team opening up,” Bechard said in the release. “Then you sandwich those matches with a Missouri State team most likely favored to win a competitive Missouri Valley
“This is shaping up to be one of the most competitive home nonconference schedules in the nation.” Ray Bechard Kansas coach
File Photo/KANSAN Coach Ray Bechard cheers on the team in the final game of a match.
Conference — it shapes up to be a challenging opening weekend.” Kansas will then make a stop in Utah for the Wolfpack Invitational. The Jayhawks will face Utah Valley on Aug. 31, followed by Long Beach State on Sept. 1 and Montana on Sept. 2. The Jayhawks will return to Lawrence for a four-game homestand that will start with Kentucky in the Kansas Invitational. The Jay-
hawks will play the Wildcats on Sept. 4. Kansas, the reigning Big 12 champion, is 28-2 at home in the last two seasons. Later in the Kansas Invitational, the team will play Belmont and Purdue on Sept. 8 and conclude with Creighton on Sept. 9. “This is shaping up to be one of the most competitive home nonconference schedules in the nation,”
Bechard said in the release. “We are excited that we can play three teams that feel like they can be top 10 in the country and a Belmont team that will certainly be one of the favorites to win its league. Our fans will be treated to some great volleyball.” Kansas’ final weekend of the nonconference schedule will take place in the Bay Area at the Santa Clara / San Jose State Tourna-
ment. The Jayhawks will matchup against the two joint hosts of the event on Sept. 15. The team will face San Jose State that afternoon, followed by a match against Santa Clara. Kansas will conclude the nonconference slate against Idaho on Sept. 16. “The good thing about this is when you look at the overall depth of our schedule, it gives us an opportu-
nity to put a national footprint in a lot of different places if we can have some success,” Bechard said in the release. Kansas will be attempting to capture a second-straight Big 12 championship and a trip to the Final Four for the second time in the last three years in 2017. The team finished 27-3 last season.
Women’s basketball faces daunting schedule WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK
Associated Press Kansas coach Brandon Schneider gestures to his team during the first quarter of an NCAA college basketball game against TCU in the Big 12 women’s tournament in Oklahoma City, Friday, March 4, 2016. Kansas won 81-64.
After a disappointing 8-22 record in coach Brandon Schneider’s second season with the program, the Kansas women’s basketball team will aim to improve upon its nonconference play when the team plays two power-five conference opponents in the 2017-18 season. The team’s nonconference schedule was released on June 13, and nine of the 11 games will be played inside Allen Fieldhouse. The schedule also includes four opponents that appeared in the 2017 postseason, including Women’s Basketball Invitational champion Rice, and four teams that reached the 20-
win mark. Kansas will open the season with an 11-game homestand that will include two exhibitions against Emporia State on Oct. 29 and Pittsburg State on Nov. 5. The Jayhawks’ first regular-season game will be against Campbell on Nov. 12. The matchup will mark the first time in history the teams play each other. Eight more nonconference games will follow, with the homestand concluding against Southeast Missouri on Dec. 10. Kansas closes out its nonconference lineup with a pair of road games against St. John’s on Dec. 18 and Iona on Dec. 20 before beginning Big 12 Conference play. Last season, St. John’s posted a 22-12 record and
a trip to the round of 16 in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament. Other teams the Jayhawks will face who will be coming off a 20-plus win season include Texas Southern, Rice and Campbell. Kansas returns three starters in 2017-18, including senior guard Jessica Washington, who was the 2017 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. Washington averaged 17.1 points, 2.8 assists and 4.1 rebounds last season. The Jayhawks finished 2-16 in the Big 12 and 6-6 in nonconference play in 2016-17.
Two-way player Gabby Simpson to transfer to Kansas volleyball from University of Colorado WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK
A versatile force is set to join the Kansas volleyball team next season. Senior Gabby Simpson announced on Tuesday she will be joining the Jayhawks after her release from Colorado. She will have one year of eligibility left when she arrives to the program. “After Gabby got her
release and reached out to us, we were thrilled,” coach Ray Bechard said in a Kansas Athletics news release. “We feel Kansas is a great fit for her. She has one year of eligibility left at this point, and there is an opportunity for her to impact our team from both a physical and a skill-level perspective immediately.” Although she is left-handed, the 6-foot-3
Simpson played as both a right-side hitter and setter during her three-year ten-
“After Gabby got her release and reached out to us, we were thrilled. We feel Kansas is a great fit for her.” Ray Bechard Kansas coach
ure at Colorado. She totaled 818 kills (2.4 kills per set) and 1,216 assists (3.6 assists per set) as both a right-side hitter and a setter in two seasons. Simpson was also a twotime All-Pac 12 honorable mention selection, and she recorded 16 double-doubles and a Colorado-record seven triple-doubles in 2016. Simpson, a Colorado
Springs, Colorado, native, played in only 22 matches last season due to injury. However, she helped the team to upsets of No. 13 Penn State, No. 17 Illinois, No. 13 Washington State and No. 12 UCLA. Her 215 kills in 2016 ranked third on the team, and her 477 assists ranked second. Simpson will join Kansas senior middle blocker
Taylor Alexander, freshman setter Annika Carlson, sophomore middle blocker Mmachi Nwoke as 2017 newcomers for the reigning Big 12-champion Jayhawks. Kansas finished 27-3 and 15-1 in Big 12 play last season.
WHAT TO WATCH B12
KANSAN.COM
Kansas golf’s Spencer pushes the limits against former teammate Chase Hanna WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK One person stood in Kansas sophomore golfer Andy Spencer’s path to a title at the 2017 Watson Challenge this past June: former Kansas teammate Chase Hanna. Spencer went on to win the annual challenge in Overland Park, but Hanna served as stiff competition
the entire weekend. Both Hanna and Spencer are graduates of Shawnee Mission East High School and have spent time together dating back to their high school days. Hanna said the event, which was played at Milburn Country Club, was one of the best efforts he has seen from Spencer. “We’re close friends
and I was really happy for him, he played great,” Hanna said. “He played just about flawless golf for the 36 holes that I played with him. And if it couldn’t be me that won, I’m sure happy that he got it done.” Hanna led the pack after the first round on Friday with a 3-under 69. But over the final two rounds, Spencer pulled away from
Hanna when he posted two-straight 5-under 67 outings to earn a victory. However, Hanna, a former standout at Kansas, is no stranger to this event. He won the Watson Challenge in 2015 and said he relished every moment while battling with legendary Kansas City golfer Tom Watson for the title that year.
“It was special,” Hanna said. “Going down the line, I was kind of neck-andneck with Tom Watson the entire back nine. So it was pretty special to come away with the victory in that situation. It’s certainly a good memory I’ll have forever.” Hanna said Watson, who has won 39 PGA Tour events, 14 PGA Tour
Champion events and the Watson Challenge five times, has given him advice on how to take the next step as Hanna prepares to enter professional golf. “He’s definitely served as a role model and a person for inspiration,” Hanna said. “Just the way he conducts himself on the
SEE SPENCER • PAGE B12
WHAT TO WATCH B13
KANSAN.COM
Hannah Edelman/KANSAN Led by sophomore Taylor Martin, the Jayhawks run out to take on the Texas Longhorns in November.
Dzwierzynski: After years of struggle, it’s time to believe in KU football again
BRENDAN DZWIERZYNSKI @BrendanDzw
It’s been years since there was any real hype around Kansas football. Now, with the season approaching, players being named to watch lists and even a semblance of hope for the future surrounding the program, fans are finally getting a chance to be excited for the Jayhawks. Frankly, it’s about time. It’s been a long time since Kansas had a roster as talented as its current one. Junior defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. is the headliner for the new era of Kansas standouts, entering 2017 as the Preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. But, unlike in past years when Kansas might have one standout player from a roster filled with mediocrity (or worse), there are multiple Jayhawks receiving attention heading into the season.
Receiver Steven Sims Jr. in on award watch lists to start the season, a phenomenal sign for an offense that has ranged from bad to unwatchable dreck over the past several seasons, dating back to the Turner Gill disaster and Charlie Weis reign of destruction. Even at quarterback, where there’s not a definitive starter at this point, there’s more to look forward to behind center than there’s been since at least the days before Michael Cummings’ knee was shredded by one of the dumbest spring game plays of all-time. Whether it’s redshirt sophomore Carter Stanley or junior transfer Peyton Bender, it feels as though coach David Beaty’s modified Air Raid offense is in good (or at least better) hands. Neither passer has much in-game experience, but they have enough to be an asset to the offense. Bender started his college
Photo Courtesy of Kansas Athletics Sophomore golfer Andy Spencer won the 2017 Watson Challenge this weekend at Milburn Country Club, beating out former teammate Chase Hanna.
career in Mike Leach’s true air raid system at Washington State, so he knows the gist of the Kansas offense well enough. People forget that Stanley was the quarterback for Kansas when the Jayhawks beat the Texas Longhorns last season, a massive win for the program. Up and down the roster, there’s reason to be excited. Two former fourstar recruits from Alabama, sophomore wide receiver Daylon Charlot and junior offensive lineman Charles Baldwin, are eligible this season. Junior defensive tackle Daniel Wise leads a defensive interior that has the girth and strength to impose on opposing offensive lines. And, of course, sophomore safety Mike Lee is quickly ascending to the ranks of the best safeties in college football. It’s been a slow process, but the drawn-out turnaround for Kansas
football all goes back to hiring Beaty. It hasn’t been a smooth run by any means for Beaty, with the winless season in 2015 and painful play calling marring his first two seasons in Lawrence. But, the key is improvement, something he’s shown since arriving. Winning games at all is an important part of a coach’s job, so that was a clear step up last season. And, by hiring Doug Meacham to take over as offensive coordinator, the program is clearly dedicated to improving the on-field product. (Defensive coordinator Clint Bowen deserves a shout out as well due to the defense’s vast improvement over the course of 2016). Beaty was known as a great recruiter while at Texas A&M, where he was the Aggies’ recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach. He’s carried that over with him to Kansas, where, as of July 20, the Jayhawks have the
33rd-best 2018 recruiting class per 247Sports, despite only a handful of wins in his tenure. The recruits are improving every year and so is the team in general. Success breeds success. It may feel like grasping at straws to put so much stock in potential and hope. But although the plight of Kansas football is well known across the map, it doesn’t really sink in how dreadful the team has been until it’s verbalized or written in plain sight. The most recent crop of four-year graduates from the University saw eight wins over the course of four seasons. That group was in the first weeks of their freshman year of high school when Kansas last won on the road. They were eighth-graders when Kansas last won a conference game on the road. Games like Homecoming 2015, a four-hour, 55-point blowout to Okla-
homa, were more snuff film than football game. There has been a lot of bad football under the Kansas Jayhawks banner in recent memory. That’s the past, though. Being skeptical is an understandable approach considering the program’s futility. But, it wasn’t that long ago that Kansas went to back-toback bowl games and was at least competing with conference foes. It won’t be long until we see that again, either. Kansas may not be a bowl team this season, but it will certainly be a better team than it has been over the past several years. The program is distancing itself from bad players, bad hires and the unending negativity (or worse, apathy) of the past more and more every day. There’s reason to finally have faith in the Jayhawks.
FROM SPENCER • PAGE B12
and he’s a pretty good ball striker. I think as he continues to progress and he continues to get better he can achieve some great things.” Hanna also said one of Spencer’s greatest strengths — which could also continue to grow — is his putting. Fittingly, Spencer tallied an eventhigh 16 birdies to secure a seven-stroke victory over Hanna. Over the final round on Sunday, Spencer tallied birdies on holes No. 3, No. 5 and No. 8 over the front nine, while adding two more on the back at holes No. 14 and No. 16. He never scored above par on the day. But for Hanna, he left
his mark on the men’s golf program and became a star golfer after four seasons with the team.
record with a 10-under 61 at the Ka’anapali Collegiate Classic in November 2016. Both Hanna and Spencer are competing in the Southwestern Golf Amateur this week from June 14-17 in Scottsdale, Arizona. However, while Hanna will attempt to enter the realm of professional golf in the coming months, Spencer will return for his second season at Kansas in the fall. Hanna will be expecting nothing but growth from his friend. “I’m so excited to follow him these next three years,” Hanna said.
golf course. He’s just given me a little bit of advice about what it takes to get to the next level and what to expect at the next level.” This past weekend’s event marked the fourth time that Hanna has played in the challenge with Watson. “I just [enjoy] to see how he goes about his business … really to see what he does to make him good,” Hanna said. As for Spencer, Hanna marveled about the potential he believes he has at Kansas. “I think the sky’s the limit for Andy,” Hanna said. “He’s got tall length
“I think the sky’s the limit for Andy. He’s got tall length and he’s a pretty good ball striker. I think as he continues to progress and he continues to get better he can achieve some great things.” Chase Hanna former Kansas player
Hanna set a school record and was one stroke from tying the NCAA
NOW LEASING FOR FALL 2017
1 1 1 1 Ind iana St re e t | 78 5 . 2 9 4. 6 400 | he reka ns a s . com
WHAT TO WATCH B15
K ANSAN.COM
Kansas coach Bill Self says Sacramento Kings ‘a great place’ for Frank Mason III
Missy Minear / KANSAN
Former guard Frank Mason III looks to make a pass inside against Purdue on March 23.
WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK
Early in the draft scouting process, the Sacramento Kings took a liking to former Kansas guard Frank Mason III. On June 22, the Kings made Mason the newest member of their organization. Sacramento drafted Mason in the second round (34th overall) of the 2017 NBA Draft. After he was selected, Kansas coach Bill Self said the Kings have been intrigued by Mason for several months.
“They talked to us about Frank for months about how much they loved him,” Self said. “They brought him out there twice to work him out.” However, doubt of the Kings drafting Mason crept into Self’s mind after the team drafted Kentucky guard De’Aaron Fox with the No. 5 overall pick. “We thought that [No. 34 overall] would be a good backstop for [Mason], just because we didn’t think he’d fall past that,” Self said. “But when they took Fox with their first pick, now all of a sudden, there’s
another point guard. Is [Mason] as big a priority?” Despite the Kings selecting Fox, Mason still heard his name called from the team that has shown the most interest in him ever since the draft process started. “That tells me right there how much they like Frank if they want him on the roster so much after they took Fox,” Self said. “I think it’s a great place for him. I think he’ll have an opportunity to not only make the team but play a lot.” Mason will join a struggling Kings team that has
seen turnover in both the head coaching position and front office over the past several years. Sacramento has had nine different coaches since 2006 and has won less than 40 games each of those past 11 seasons. Self said he thinks Mason’s mentality will contribute to creating a positive culture the Kings have been searching for. “His value will be even more so than what he does on the court,” Self said. “He’ll bring a toughness to their culture that will be very positive. I think he and
De’Aaron Fox both will be great for their franchise together.” “He’ll bring a toughness to their culture that will be very positive. I think he and De’Aaron Fox both will be great for their franchise together.” Bill Self Kansas coach
After winning national player of the year honors from 10 different media outlets, Mason also became
the first player in Kansas and Big 12 history to average more than 20 points (20.9) and five assists (5.2) in a single season in 201617. His 20.9 points per game average ranked first in the conference. His stellar season also helped propel Mason to a top six ranking in both points (1,885) and assists (576) in Kansas history. Mason is the first Jayhawk in the history of the Kansas program to rank sixth or higher in both categories.
JUCO softball star Brynn Minor transfers to Kansas WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK
The Kansas softball team will be adding a significant piece to its roster for next season. Butler Community College star Brynn Minor announced in a tweet on Saturday that she will be transferring to Kansas to continue her collegiate career. Minor, a Wichita native, was named the 2017 Dudley NJCAA Softball Player of the Year on June 15. She helped the Grizzlies to a 58-1 record and a second-straight NJCAA national championship this past season. Minor led Butler to an overall record of 111-5 over the past two seasons. Minor is also regarded
as a two-way talent. She led Butler in numerous offensive categories this season, including setting single-season records in batting average (.497) and home runs (30). She also posted a 12-0 record with a 1.07 ERA and five saves in 34 appearances on the mound. Minor ends her Butler career as the Grizzlies’ all-time leader in batting average (.478), hits (174), doubles (41) and ERA (1.03). She also finished second all-time in RBIs (144) and third in both home runs (36) and runs scored (132). The Jayhawks finished 24-28 and 3-14 in Big 12 Conference play this past season. The Jayhawks huddle after scoring a run against Oklahoma on April 14.
Missy Minear / KANSAN
BACK TO SCHOOL
what to do
INSIDE An interview with Comedy Central star Nikki Glaser p. 2
Head downtown to survey Y2K or protect the rules of basketball p. 5
Gluten-free bakery opens on Massachusetts Street p. 9
Previewing the biggest movies of the fall season p. 11
arts & culture Wednesday, August 16, 2017
K A N S A N .C O M /A R T S A N D C U LT U R E
An interview with KU grad Nikki Glaser
COURTNEY BIERMAN @courtbierman Nikki Glaser has had an intense year. Glaser, a Comedy Central star and 2006 University graduate, experienced unemployment, a breakup and a presidential election all in the same week. Comedy Central publicly announced the cancellation of Glaser’s television show “Not Safe with Nikki Glaser”within days of Donald Trump’s win. “Not Safe,” which ran for 20 episodes, branded itself as a raunchy sex comedy, highlighted by video segments in which Glaser attends foot fetish parties or asks her parents about their sex lives. Losing her show doesn’t mean Glaser hasn’t been busy. She’s writing a lot, and she wants to do more acting. Her hour-long comedy special “Perfect” debuted on Comedy Central last year, and she’s one of six comedians featured in Netflix’s “The Standups,” released last month. Glaser also had a few choice words for Ann Coulter during the “Roast of Rob Lowe” last September. The Free State Festival welcomed Glaser as a headliner over the summer. It was a homecoming for Glaser, who hadn’t been to Lawrence since 2008 (she thinks). The Kansan caught up with Glaser to talk about her post-“Not Safe” downtime and the role of comedians during the Trump administration. UDK: I know it’s been a tough year, but you really seem like you’ve been thriving. Was losing “Not Safe” kind of bittersweet?
I really want to do a scripted show in which I can act a little bit more because that’s something that I’ve been really into doing. I’m just kind of trying to throw myself into acting a little bit more, and I’m going to be filming a small role in Amy Schumer’s new movie that she’s shooting right now. Things like that. I’m developing my own scripted series that is
raw and so angry about that it’s hard to make it funny. I find that when I talk about Trump onstage at all, it kind of takes away from the fun of the show because there’s this like unbridled rage that bubbles to the surface that nobody wants at a comedy show. I can tell that anyone who doesn’t laugh, they probably voted for him, and then
“I just want so badly for [women] to understand that first of all they can’t be perfect, and they shouldn’t want to be.” Nikki Glaser Comedienne, University alumna
in very, very pre-development of which I can’t speak of anything. That’s the bummer about losing a TV show; it takes like two years for it to even get on TV, and then when it’s done you have to start that process all over again. UDK: The week “Not Safe” was canceled was a really, really bad week for you. Did it feel like the end of the world? NG: I knew the show was ending before it was announced, but it got announced the same week that Trump won, and then my boyfriend and I broke up. We’re back together, which is great, but at the time it felt like it was a huge life-change. Like everything was kind of changing. That week was a bummer for many reasons – the least of which was honestly my personal and professional life.
I end up hating that part of the crowd. It’s not worth it for myself to alienate those people. On Twitter and Instagram I’m very outspoken about my political views and my hatred for this presidency. And people always go “You’re alienating half of your fan base!” and my answer is always, “Good. I don’t want you as my fan base. I hate you and your decision to vote for him so much that I don’t want anything to do with you, and I would rather you spend your money on guns or whatever the f--- you buy.” UDK: You’ve talked about being aware of the fact that young girls follow you on social media. At the same time, your comedy probably isn’t something that really young girls should be watching – or maybe they should?
Contributed Photo 2006 University alumna Nikki Glaser is keeping busy with a variety of projects.
UDK: Comedians are probably disadvantaged if they didn’t grow up on the coast. Did you feel like you were a couple steps behind when you first went to L.A.?
want to partake in it!” I think it’s natural for kids to try to lift that veil and see what’s going on on the adult side of things, and a big part of my comedy is trying to making women and young girls feel better about who they are. And I just want so badly for them to understand that first of all they can’t be perfect, and they shouldn’t want to be. Body image stuff is really important to me because I grew up with an eating disorder well into my twenties, and it’s just such a pain in the ass and it’s avoidable if we just have more honest conversations about what should really be expected of us women, and what being happy as a women is all about. I want to do whatever I can to prevent another girl from feeling that way ever. Because it’s such a waste of time.
UDK: How has your everyday life changed since ‘Not Safe?’ NG: The best part about it is that I can afford to eat wherever I want and have dogs and like donate money whenever I want to as often as I want. And get to buy the shirt that I want. I guess the main thing is that I’m not rich by any means, but just being financially stable and being able to survive in a city like L.A. or New York and have my own place feels really good. I always grew up thinking I wanted to be Helen Hunt’s character in ”What Women Want,” where she wears simple, cute little pencil skirts with blazers, and she has her own apartment, and she’s a working woman, independent, single. I’ve kind of achieved that in my own way without having to put together PowerPoint presentations, and it feels pretty good.
NG: I think it’s best for comedians to not start on the coasts. That seems counterintuitive. It’s nice to get really good in your small town and become one of the best comics on the Kansas City scene, because then when you go to L.A., you start at the bottom, but at least you have this kind of confidence from coming from a smaller town where you were the top dog. I think it’s harder for comedians who start in L.A. or New York because everyone knows them on the scene as this like new comedian. Whereas if you come in pretty seasoned already, at least you’ll be remembered as someone who has the chops as opposed to a brand-new beginner.
NG: It kind of is because I’m aware and as angry as any other intelligent person is right now – and I mean that very passive aggressively. I’m just as mad as I should be and talk about it amongst my friends and my loved ones a ton, but it’s also something that I’m so
NG: I grapple with that at times because there are things where I’ll have someone be like, “My daughter wants to come see you!’”And I’m like, “Why are you letting your daughter look at what I have to say?” But then I also think about how I grew up watching things that I shouldn’t have been watching for my age. Because I was a halfway intelligent child, I knew that they were adult concepts that maybe I couldn’t put into practice myself, but at least I was aware that these conversations were happening, and I wasn’t like, “I
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) Compulsive desires cause problems. Revelations can rock a romance. Communication builds bridges today and tomorrow.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20 You’re more assertive for the next two days. Try not to run over anyone. Protect your own interests without infringing on anyone else’s.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) Friends and loved ones pester you. Breakdowns require consideration. Focus on group activities over the next few days. Confer with allies. .
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) It’s not a good time to travel or advance an idea. Avoid conflict with authority. Relax and study the situation. Love lurks behind the scenes.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) Listen for when it’s time to be firm and when to be flexible. Compromise is required today and tomorrow.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) Romance could seem tangled up or distant. Take extra care of yourself. Resist the desire to run. Recharge your batteries.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) Avoid shopping or risk overspending. Temptation abounds. Pay bills before getting treats. Generate a positive balance sheet over the next few days.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) You’re more assertive for the next two days. Try not to run over anyone. Protect your own interests without infringing on anyone else’s.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) Anticipate changes at work. Navigate a professional conflict of interests. Consider options before taking action. Consequences could be long lasting.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) Invest in the highest quality. Opposites attract even more so now. Get your shared affairs in order together over the next few days.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) The workload increases for the next two days. Go slow around the tricky parts. Watch for hidden dangers. Balance moments of intensity with peace.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) A domestic whirlwind spins you. Maintain objectivity despite conflicting sensibilities. Make your home more comfortable over the next few days.
NIKKI GLASER: It’s something I had so much fun doing, but I’ve always done stand-up. The nice thing about this business for me is that when projects fall by the wayside, I always have stand-up that I can just kind of throw myself into. UDK: And it sounds like a lot of really interesting things have been coming your way. Can you give us any preview of what’s to come? Or is it all under wraps? NG: Everything’s kind of in development right now, but
UDK: Since the election it doesn’t really seem like your comedy has changed in the way that a lot of other comedians have been more political in their stand-up. Was that a conscious decision?
horoscopes
K ANSAN.COM
WHAT TO DO
D3
Everything to know about the solar eclipse
BRITTANIE SMITH @britters__smith
Can you think of a better way to celebrate the first day of classes than with a solar eclipse? On Aug. 21, a total solar eclipse will be visible within the United States. According to a NASA press release, this is the first time in 99 years that the sun has been totally covered. Barbara AnthonyTwarog, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University, said that the next solar eclipse visible in the United States won’t happen until the year 2024. In Lawrence, the sun will be about 99 percent covered at 1:07 p.m. according to AnthonyTwarog. Observers will be able to see the moon begin moving toward the sun around 11:30 a.m. and it will end around 2:30 p.m. To celebrate the eclipse, there will be many watch parties hosted throughout the Lawrence community. There will be watch parties at Shenk Fields Complex, Clinton Lake, and outside of Marvin Hall on Jayhawk
Associated Press Photo The annular solar eclipse is seen as the sun sets behind the Rocky Mountains from downtown Denver on May 20, 2012.
Boulevard, to name a few. Over a three-hour period, onlookers will be able to see the moon align itself with the Earth and sun. Anthony-Twarog said that when the moon is covering 99 percent of the sun, it will gradually darken outside, and features in the
sky will be more prominent. If we were in the path of totality, we would be able to see the corona. Typically the moon gives off too much light, making it hard to see a lot of stars at night, but during totality, stars will be more visible to the naked eye.
It is crucial to remember that looking at the sun without proper eye protection is extremely dangerous — even looking through a phone or using a camera can be potentially damaging to the eyes. “Even here, when there is less than 1 percent of
the bright part of the sun visible, it would not be safe to look at the it without eclipse glasses,” AnthonyTwarog said. She also said that there will be a limited number of eclipse glasses available to the public at the Shenk Fields Complex, but the
University will pass out glasses outside various campus locations that day, including GSP, Oliver Hall, Mrs. E’s, Strong Hall, Dyche Hall, Wescoe Beach and other locations that will be subsequently promoted on University social media. Jen Humphrey, the director of external affairs at the KU Biodiversity Institute and Natural History Museum, said that the eclipse watch party at Shenk Fields is open to the public and is free of cost, though there will be vendors such as food trucks, to grab a bite to eat during the lunch hour. Humphrey said that the institute wanted to host a come-and-go event for Lawrence residents who can’t make it to an area of totality due to circumstances such as work or school that day. Bus 29 on the KU bus route has many stops near the Shenk Fields Complex such as Crestline Drive and Clinton Parkway or Lawrence Avenue and Clinton Parkway.
— Edited by Erin Brock
The Granada aims for memorable concert experiences MYLAN JONES | @thislanismylan
The atmosphere at The Granada is electric. The music is loud, the artist is interacting with the crowd, and everyone seems to be having a great time. You sing along to each song, and leave knowing that money and time were well spent. Located on Massachusetts Street, The Granada Theater is an iconic hub of local and national music. As one of the many venues in Lawrence, it holds up quite a bit when it comes to ensuring the amusement of its guests. “A lot of people coming here already know about the venue. We have a pretty large following on our social media,” promotions manager Eli Mitchell said. “We do a lot of shows, mostly country but occasionally metal and hip-hop, which target people that live outside of Lawrence.” Seeing as how Lawrence is a music hub, the staff at The Granada is very willing to work within the scene and grow along with the community, according to Mary Costello, current manager of The Granada. “We love working with local artists and we try to as much as possible,” she said. “A lot of tours carry support, but we’re always allowed to put in requests whenever there is an opening. We’re also involved in local events like the Field Day Fest and Assjamz. And the first Live on Mass event we did showcase all local artists.” The staff work along with Student Union Activities and the KJHK student radio station for certain shows. Two shows in particular are coming up that SUA and KJHK are sponsoring: Princess Nokia on Sept. 28 and GoldLink on Oct. 4. “SUA and KJHK are always great to work with,” Costello said. “They’re always on top of it. Every show we have done with them has been a success.” Whether it’s genres or artists that The Granada books, it definitely wants to have something for everyone, Costello said. “We always try to find ways to improve and stay connected with concert goers through our social platforms,” she said. It is not only the kind of music that is presented at these concerts that entice many concert goers. The size of the venue also plays to The Granada’s advantage. “We’re kind of that perfect size for artists that would play between that smaller club level like Replay or Jackpot before bigger venues like Uptown or Sprint Center,” Costello said. “We also have tiered levels. Our capacity is 1,000, but if the show is more intimate, 500 or less people, then we have curtains that we can draw to make the room smaller.” The Granada and its staff always look to make concerts great experiences and to add to the legacy of Lawrence being a great place for artists all over. “We have a hard working and attentive staff that wants to make sure that everyone is enjoying the show and staying safe,” Costello said. “This is where some of the most talented artists will come and play as they are blowing up. The next time they would tour through the Midwest, you would not be able to see them in as intimate of a space.” Costello said that the shows within the next few months seem to be very diverse and there is something for everyone to enjoy. “I’m interested to see Emo Nite, which is this pop punk dance party that really took off in L.A.,” he said. “We’ve got Molotov, which is always great, and then Angel Olsen, Thundercat.”
Sarah Wright/KANSAN The Granada Theater is one of the many homes to Lawrence’s bustling live music scene, hosting many concerts and parties throughout the year.
“This is where some of the most talented artists will come and play as they are blowing up. The next time they would tour through the Midwest, you would not be able to see them in as intimate of a space.” Mary Costello Granada manager
“I’m excited for the Lords of Acid show, which is right up my alley, it’s like industrial techno,” Mitchell said. After hearing what the staff members are looking forward to, maybe you are able to find something that appeals to your musical interests. There are quite a few shows lined up for the next couple of months, with genres that will appeal to everyone. For more information on the venue and upcoming shows, check out The Granada website.
WHAT TO DO
D4
K ANSAN.COM
A guide to Lawrence coffee shops COURTNEY BIERMAN @courtbierman
What’s a college town without coffee shops? Lawrence has plenty of quiet spaces that happen to sell caffeinated beverages. If you’re looking for something within walking distance of campus, check these out on your next date night or when the thought of another night of studying at the library becomes unbearable.
LA PRIMA TAZZA 638 Massachusetts St.
HOURS: Monday through Friday: 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
This small but lively spot is in attached to Liberty Hall (although the entrance is one door down) this makes it a perfect spot to grab an evening cuppa, maybe before heading next door for a movie or concert. WI-FI? Free and unlimited FOOD OPTIONS? Cookies and muffins
Missy Minear/KANSAN
ALCHEMY COFFEE AND BAKE HOUSE 1901 Massachusetts St. (moving to 816 Massachusetts St. this fall)
HOURS: Monday through Saturday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
A lack of a menu means Alchemy is probably more suited for coffee enthusiasts than novices. If you’re willing to give it a shot, ask the barista what they recommend—or, you can never go wrong with a black coffee. Seating is extremely limited (which is probably why it’s moving locations), so it might not be your best bet during busy hours. WI-FI? Free and unlimited FOOD OPTIONS? Muffins, cookies, cakes, pies, granola bars and sweet bread — make sure to try a breakfast sandwich on a biscuit baked in-house
File photo/KANSAN
Miranda Anaya/KANSAN
THE JAVA BREAK 17 E 7th St
HOURS: Monday: until midnight Tuesday: 7 a.m. to midnight Wednesday: 7 a.m. to 24 hours Thursday through Sunday: 24 hours
File photo/KANSAN
Java Break is practically a Lawrence staple. Featuring plenty of seating, an expansive and eclectic menu, and a quirky atmosphere, this coffee shop has a lot of customer loyalty – especially during finals week, when students take advantage of its 24hour schedule.
WI-FI? Purchase of food or beverage gets you three hours
SIGNS OF LIFE
FOOD OPTIONS? Pastries, sandwiches, and a full cereal bar next to the barista counter
This coffee shop features friendly baristas and plenty of open space. It’s attached to an art gallery and Christian bookstore (disclaimer: the owners prefer to say the store “reflects a Christian worldview”), so the seating area might feature a different kind of customer base than other shops in town.
722 Massachusetts St HOURS: Monday through Saturday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
WI-FI? Free and unlimited
AIMEE’S COFFEE HOUSE 1025 Massachusetts St.
HOURS: Monday through Saturday: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. WI-FI? Free and unlimited FOOD OPTIONS? A delicious array of pastries and breakfast foods
K ANSAN.COM
WHAT TO DO
D5
Striped Cow brings eclectic products to Lawrence
RACHEL GAYLOR @raegay218 Striped Cow in downtown Lawrence has provided residents with new options for art, jewelry, candles and miscellaneous items for the last two months. The eclectic shop, which includes a small barbershop in back, is the sister store of Third Planet across the street in the 800 block of Massachusetts Street, which is owned and operated by the same people. Nicole Manriquez, a California native who’s called Lawrence home for 12 years, is a former buyer for Third Planet and the current manager and buyer for the Striped Cow. “We had been wanting to expand for some time now,” Manriquez said. “And it all started coming together around Thanksgiving. We wanted to bring something that was sort of unique.” The art comes from all over. Art is acquired from smaller companies or artisans that Manriquez found through trade shows. “I’ve been doing a lot of research,” she said. “I’ve been trying to find a lot of new and upcoming artisans as far as jewelry goes. That is something we definitely want to support.” Manriquez said that her favorite pieces come from an artist who specializes in stained glass and jewelry,
but she also wants input from customers. “I want to try to figure out and cater to what our clientele are looking for,” she said. “We are always asking people if there is anything in particular that they are looking for or “I’ve been trying to find a lot of new and upcoming artisans as far as jewelry goes.” Nicole Manriquez Striped Cow owner
how can we accommodate them.” Manriquez would also love to see the number of shops increase, whether that be more shops in Lawrence or locations around Kansas City. Cheyenne Coopman, an Emporia native, works at the shop and was introduced to Manriquez through a mutual friend since she has previous retail experience, especially with new stores. “My co-workers are so friendly,” Coopman said. “Nicole is like a dream come true. Working here has been as well. Working here, it’s so relaxed, the energy is really good; they just really take care of you and each other.” Striped Cow’s eclectic collection and unique style is what Coopman would like it to be known for, as well as a place where peo-
Missy Minear/KANSAN The Striped Cow is a recent addition to downtown Lawrence. The store is located at 835 Massachusetts St..
ple can feel comfortable and safe for each individual. “I want people to remember our individuality,” she said. “We carry super unique and special pieces that you really couldn’t find any other places, but that can bring so much happiness to somebody.” Striped Cow is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. More information can be found on the shop’s Facebook page.
Missy Minear/KANSAN The Striped Cow offers shoppers jewelry, art and many other items.
Breakout Lawrence tests puzzle-solving abilities
BRIANNA CHILDERS @breeanuhh3
Breakout Lawrence opened in March of last year with only room. Since then, the organization has boomed in popularity, enough to add three more escape rooms. Paul Hefferon, general manager at Breakout Lawrence, said that it’s an enclosed environment where players are put in a locked room and each room, which holds two to eight players, has its own theme and storyline. “Rather than in a movie watching a hero act out a story, you become the hero of your own story,” Hefferon said. “We give you a mission to accomplish, and we give you 60 minutes to do that.” Breakout Lawrence has a wide variety of rooms. Its room themes are Y2K, Rules of Basketball, Mass Street Stock Exchange, and Civil War. Hefferon said that the process of putting together a room takes around six months from concept to completion. The Y2K room, the most popular among customers, follows a post apocalyptic storyline, set on Dec. 31, 1999 at 11 p.m. “In real life people were nervous about what would happen when 2000 hit because they didn’t know how computer systems would react,” Hefferon said. “We are putting them in that tension, and your host is a secret computer hacker
bug but he gets arrested and you have to finish the job for him.” Hefferon said that in Mass Street Stock Exchange the players are a team of detectives who encounter a trader in the organization who has decided to bring down the market. The players’ goal is to identify the trader and override the code. “I personally love Stock Exchange, but it’s the most difficult,” he said. “I think people think they need to know about finances, and the fact it’s our lowest escape rate scares people off.” Kelsey Schenk, a junior at the University, has played Y2K with friends and Rules of Basketball with her dad at Breakout Lawrence. Schenk said she was surprised by how well she and her friends worked together. “When I was with my friends, there was a lot of excited screams when we would figure out one of the clues,” she said. “It’s definitely easier when there’s more than two people.” Schenk and her dad did Rules of Basketball by themselves and didn’t solve the room, but she said that they still had a great time trying to do it and it was a fun way to spend time with him. Breakout Lawrence was Schenk’s first escape room experience . After that, she started looking for other escape rooms closer to her hometown of Jackson,
the near future, Breakout Lawrence will rebrand Mass Street Stock Exchange to make it a little more appealing for first-timers. While the rooms aren’t exactly the same as they were when they first opened, Hefferon said the goal is to improve the games and make them cleaner and less difficult. “It’s a little strange to have a business where twothirds of the people that come through here fail,” he said. “But even if you fail, you accomplish a lot.” With Breakout Lawrence being on Mass Street, Hefferon said there isn’t much room to build another room. Instead they’ll have to replace an old room with a new one. “My guess is that Y2K will be the one that we end up replacing because most people have played it,” he said. “We still get a lot of first timers and it takes a while for people to try them all and we have very few people who have tried all four, but they are generally the most enthusiastic and loyal customers.” Hefferon said his favorite part about working at Breakout Lawrence is people watching and that people are really interesting. “Everyone approaches it a different way and everyone has different hang ups,” he said. “I think what makes us fun is that we are emotionally invested in all groups. We get super excited and I may be more excited than them.”
WHAT TO DO
D6
KANSAN.COM
From bars, to ice cream, to burgers: Here’s where to find the best discounts in LFK
BRITTANIE SMITH @britters__smith You may have heard a rumor that college students are always broke and hungry — fortunately for you, there are a lot of ways to save money in Lawrence. Your KU ID card does more than just swipe you into your dorm room or help you print at the library. Presenting this
card at specific restaurants can help you get a student discount – although some of these deals are open to the public and not just to students. Here’s a compilation of some of the best discounts in town. This doesn’t include every shop in Lawrence, so it is always a good idea to ask if they offer a student discount.
The Sandbar
The Burger Stand
Louise’s Bar
Papa Keno’s
$2 drinks on Tuesdays.
$5 chicken sandwich on Tuesdays.
Schooner Night, which includes $3.50, 32 ounce beers.
$2 cheese pizza slice Monday through Thursday with a student ID.
Quinton’s Deli
Bar
and
$1 tacos on Tuesdays. Sylas and Maddy’s Buy one get one scoop with student ID on Tuesdays.
$5 burger and fries meal after 10 p.m. The Jayhawk Cafe Dollar Night on Wednesday, which includes shots, singles and beers.
The Eldridge Hotel Martini Night on Thursday, get half priced martinis.
Dempsey’s Pub
Burger
Half priced burgers with a student ID on Tuesdays.
Free Beer Friday starting at 3 p.m.
Christian Hardy/KANSAN The rotating menu posted behind the bar at Mass Street Fish House and Raw Bar, which was opened in December 2016 by Ayrick Madeira.
Oysters in Kansas? Mass Street Fish House provides fresh fish, despite being 800 miles from saltwater CHRISTIAN S. HARDY @ByHardy
Ayrick Madeira is fully aware why you might question this place before you step inside. Mass Street Fish House and Raw Bar is, quite literally, a fish out of water — a fish house and raw bar in the middle of Lawrence, Kansas, where the closest body of saltwater is over 800 miles away. There is, without a doubt, a stigma that comes with seafood in the Midwest. Part of it is valid: Most everyone has heard horror stories about a friend eating clam chowder and smelled the foul scent that can linger in grocery stores. Seafood is not always seen in the best light in this part
of the country. But that stigma is exactly what Madeira, along with his staff, is trying to shake. During an hour at the Fish House, something along the lines of, “It doesn’t smell like fish in here,” was uttered a half-dozen times, a testament to the freshness of the seafood Madeira is selling. “My personal mantra, since I order all the seafood, is I only order it if it’s fresh,” Madeira, 29, said. “Good products, good ingredients, they speak for themselves.” The restaurant is a culmination of Madeira’s prior experience paired with the influence of his Lawrence friends and his executive chef – Kealan O’Boyle — he’s met along the way. Three years in at
the University, he dropped out, realizing his real passion was in the kitchen. He’s worked with Teller’s, helped open Merchants, then started selling seafood around Kansas City for Northeast Seafood Products. Madeira, as well as O’Boyle and most others at the raw bar, can tell any given customer where the fish or oyster came from, when it was in the water, what time it came out, how it is farmed — he knows it all. Before he opened the Fish House, he toured clam and oyster farms looking for the right ones to put on his rotating menu of oysters that come from the East and West Coasts, fresh and salt water. He went to
one farm in the Olympic Mountains in Washington, farmed oysters himself, and stayed in a log cabin, a la Bon Iver, except seafood. “In my opinion, in the Midwest, it’s meat and potatoes, so how do you get people to try other things?” Madeira said. “They don’t trust seafood in the last 30 years... but we’re wide open with what we’re doing.” O’Boyle is keen on sharing his knowledge, too. Both Madeira and O’Boyle aim to share the knowledge they have of seafood with their staff, knowing that is maybe the best way that information can be conveyed to the public. “Knowledge is the biggest thing,” said O’Boyle, who is in his first executive chef position at age 25.
“Teaching the public in seafood — we are in the Midwest, but it’s really easy to get straight-from-theocean seafood nowadays.” For as much of the Fish House’s products that are imported, the restaurant is still finding ways to connect to the community, too. Much of the produce O’Boyle uses is vended by local farms, and he occasionally uses products from the Lawrence Farmers Market to craft something special, which is where O’Boyle said he finds his passion and inspiration — in locally sourcing products to mix with imported seafood. Flowers that occasionally appear on the patio or on tables in the restaurant are from a bartender’s mother, who lives in Lawrence.
It’s easy to chalk that touch of Lawrence up to just how ingrained Madeira, and the rest of his staff, is in the community. There’s one more thing that has helped keep the Mass Street Fish House relatively busy since it first opened in December: The restaurant is original, and it’s continued to fill a niche, and do it well. Madeira is very aware of that, too. “Downtown (Lawrence) has a lot of restaurants, so you want to try to do something that’s not covered by somebody else,” Madeira said. “A raw bar and a fish house, nobody’s done this big like we have... We want to be considered one of the staples of the Lawrence community.”
WHAT TO DO
KANSAN.COM
D7
Illustration by Gracie Williams/KANSAN
Smith: Fashion tips and backpack, snack must-haves for syllabus week BRITTANIE SMITH @britters__smith Welcome to the Hill, new Jayhawks! There aren’t many rules in college, but when it comes to syllabus week readiness, we’ve got you covered with some fashion trends and backpack must-haves! Comfort Colors If you haven’t heard of Comfort Colors before coming to college, let me
introduce you to the best T-shirts ever! They’ve been growing in popularity on college campuses because they’re cute, comfortable and come in a variety of pastel hues. People here tend to get these shirts oversized, so they can be worn looser than a fitted tee. Chacos and Birkenstocks Birkenstocks have been popular for a few years now, but Chaco sandals are
starting to become a bigger trend on campus. These sandals are technically made for hiking, but since KU has so many hills, it’s like hiking your way to class, right? Same thing. These sandals offer a lot of support and have an ankle strap, unlike most pairs of Birks, which means they won’t slip off your feet if you’re sprinting to catch your bus — yeah, that really happens.
Nike Shorts
These are a fashion staple in every college student’s wardrobe because who wants to wear jeans or restrictive shorts when they don’t have to? No one, thats right! We college students are very against pants, and we’ll find any reason to not wear them. Since you can’t go pants-less to class, Nikes are the next best option. Whether you dress up or down, make sure to keep it comfortable. You’ll be doing
a lot of walking this week, so now definitely isn’t the time to break in those cute new shoes. In an online Kansan poll, 90 percent of students who responded said they would rather dress comfortably to class than dress to look nice. Taking the time to look pictureperfect isn’t worth losing precious minutes of sleep. Backpack Must-Haves A water bottle because the walks to class in this
August heat are tiring. Headphones make the walk to and between classes less boring. A planner to keep track of upcoming assignments (most classes will have an introduction day, but after that it’s time to get down to business). Snacks are important as well to avoid a growling stomach. A full day of classes could mean your lunch hour will be later in the day.
WHAT TO DO
D8
KANSAN.COM
Jones: Summer music fell mostly flat
MYLAN JONES @thislanismylan
Summer jams this year were a “meh” out of 10. I will say this: We got a decent amount of music this summer. I was able to add a few albums to my library throughout the season. But there were a lot of projects that did not live up to expectations. Or if they sounded cool at first, they got old after a few listens. As far as extremely anticipated projects go, there seemed to be more disappointments than things that were really satisfying. I hoped that Lil Yatchy, an artist many people our age adore, would finally release a solid body of work that I could at least slightly support. But even after he released some singles, I could tell that it was not going to be what many fans wanted. Other artists such as Bryson Tiller, DJ Khaled and Young Thug didn’t release projects that were as good as previous work or that really warranted a release at this time. Then we had quite a few releases that were just all right. Some projects had a few great summer songs, but nothing that stood out too much. With artists like Gucci Mane, 21 Savage, Calvin Harris and even Vic Mensa, their projects did not provide much besides a few good
Associated Press Photo Jay-Z performs during a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in Cleveland on Nov. 4, 2016. tracks here and there. It pains me since I was expecting good – or at least decent – music from all of them. But I would be lying if I said nothing good came out of the last few months. There are three albums that I have kept in heavy rotation since their release. “Ctrl” by SZA, “4:44” by Jay-Z, and “Flower Boy” by Tyler The Creator are my favorite albums of the summer. These three cover a lot of what I love about music. SZA’s “Ctrl” was everything I wanted it to be and more. The production and songwriting were light and playful at one moment and then changed to something
very dark and sexy. With songs like “Prom,” “The Weekend,” and even “Doves in the Wind,” the changes are very present and clear. Those three tracks happen to be some of my favorite. After hearing the album, I hope I am able to see her when she visits The Uptown Theater in Kansas City. Fingers crossed. Jay. Hova. Jigga. The legendary Jay-Z dropped his 13th – again, his 13th – studio album. “4:44” is an extremely personal album for Jay. He explores his decisions and experiences throughout his life regarding his family, Beyoncé and his music career. The title track almost brought
me to tears just by listening to what Jay thought about himself after cheating on Bey. The whole album is a look into Jay-Z’s life apart from the music. It has been very interesting watching Tyler, the Creator grow as an artist. He started with darker albums “Bastard,” “Goblin” and even “Wolf” to some extent, which incorporated a lot of things that I did not want to even try to defend. And then there’s “Cherry Bomb.” Parts of “Cherry Bomb” seemed awkward, but I could sense potential in the album since it capitalized on what I liked about Tyler’s music: very lush production combined with
Associated Press Photo SZA attends the Black Girls Rock! Awards at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, in Newark, N.J. lyrics mostly covering the subject of love. Now “Flower Boy” is here. It’s everything I wanted from a Tyler album. The instrumentals are his best yet and the features add to the whole presentation. He even has quite a few bars throughout. I hope that Tyler goes on tour again so I can see these songs performed. All fingers crossed at this point. Look, this summer’s mu-
sic was decent. I would be lying if I said it was trash or awful when it really was not. Though I found myself listening to earlier releases, that is no reason to denounce what was released this season. I am excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for us. May more good music come our way.
Fall concert preview: SZA, Princess Nokia among acts headed to Lawrence area in upcoming season
DEASIA PAIGE @deasia_paige Many new acts are headed to Lawrence as a part of the fall concert lineup. Although each artist has their own unique sound, their similar styles and bohemian dimensions instantly make them interesting to watch, and that’s what makes each of their concerts equally appealing. SZA- ctrl Tour: Sunday, September 3 at The Uptown Theater Fresh from basking in the success of her debut album “ctrl,” SZA is embarking on a nationwide tour to promote her debut album, and she’s headed to Kansas City this Labor Day weekend. “ctrl” has put SZA on a musical pedestal because it defied the traditional borders of rhythm and blues. Her alternative sound, which was
reflected on her previous mixtapes, was revamped with this album. It relays messages of transparency, love, disappointment, and failure in life and relationships – all in her attempt to emphasize that it’s okay to not have it all together. The only woman signed to Top Dawg Entertainment sonically illustrated her comfort with not being in control of her life, and obviously that message resonated with the many listeners who went on social media to say how this masterpiece related to their lives. The critically acclaimed album has already been deemed among the best of the year, and her concert will not disappoint. Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors: Saturday, September 16 at Liberty Hall If you’re interested in hearing a non-traditional
country band, then Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors is the concert for you. The band defies the genre of country music by imposing a fusion of rock, folk and even R&B into its sound. Its songs range from the blatantly country vibe of “What Would I Do Without You” to the airy folk sound of its new single “Rowdy Heart, Broken Wing.” Although the band has been around since 2006, it has managed to stay underground throughout its career. The concert will offer a glimpse into what the somewhat obscure Texas band is all about. Princess Nokia: Thursday, September 28 at The Granada It’s hard to really limit Princess Nokia to one genre or style. She’s the type of artist who’s really adamant about not being monolithic. She’s queer, black, a femi-
nist, a tomboy, Afro-Nuyorican (a mix of New York and Puerto Rican), and an independent hip-hop artist who’s passionate about telling women’s stories. Repping her Spanish Harlem roots, Princess Nokia has made it her business to ensure that all of those identities are reflected in her music. More importantly, she’s unapologetic about infusing her fluid identity with her sound. Her different styles were reflected with her debut album “1992” last year. Therefore, you can’t really predict what you’ll experience from attending her concert, but you can expect Princess Nokia to be authentic and amaze the audience while doing it. The concert is presented by KJHK and Student Union Activities GoldLink: Wednesday, October 4
at The Granada Also presented by Student Union Activities and KJHK, rapper GoldLink will come to Lawrence as part of his “At What Cost” North American Tour. “At What Cost” is definitely reminiscent of the go-go music genre that originated in his hometown of Washington, D.C. In fact, every track vividly illustrates the vibes, style and environment of D.C. It’s an interesting focal point of an album because the DMV (D.C-Maryland-Virginia) area isn’t the typical location that artists emphasize on their albums; it’s usually Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, or Atlanta. GoldLink does a great job of celebrating the colors and dimensions that paints a picture of the D.C. aesthetic. His concert will be filled with that same vibe, infused with shades of funk – not to mention that he’ll excite
the crowd with his hit song “Crew”.
Big Thief: Thursday, October 12 at The Bottleneck Big Thief is a new band whose sound lies between the folk and rock. It have a very distinct sound that’s coupled with vivid and meaningful lyrics, as heard on its debut album “Masterpiece” released last year. Lead by the soft yet powerful vocals of Adrianne Lenker, whose sound doesn’t fit into a box, the band creates intense, avantgarde vibes that makes its rhythm difficult to describe in just one paragraph. That’s why seeing it live would give the audience a better idea of its sound because it isn’t really reminiscent of any existing folk group.
WHAT TO DO
KANSAN.COM
D9
Former chemistry teacher’s daughter was the inspiration for new gluten-free bakery BRIANNA CHILDERS @breeanuhh3 Kelly Dempewolf, owner of Shana Cake, got the idea to open a bakery from her daughter. Dempewolf’s daughter has a gluten allergy and Dempewolf wanted her to be able to feel like she wasn’t missing out. “I was a chemistry teacher for 10 years, and I spent a lot of time around teenagers and they will cheat because they want to feel like their friends,” Dempewolf said. Shana Cake, which opened in Lawrence in April, wants to be able to provide delicious treats and food for people with food allergies. The bakery’s food doesn’t include gluten, wheat, soy, dairy, corn, or nut products. Instead, Dempewolf uses brown rice flour, potato starch, and millet in place of gluten, and coconut milk in place of dairy. She also orders a special corn starch-free powdered sugar in from Pennsylvania. The bakery serves a wide variety of food ranging from sweets to bread and pizza crusts. Dempewolf said opening
a store was sudden, but she’s able to apply her years of teaching to her new profession because baking is basically edible chemistry. “When you start to take out all of the ingredients, you really need to know the science behind it to find out how to make it taste good,” she said. “It truly is chemistry, and it’s really more of what I have always done.” As to how she makes sure her food tastes good, Dempewolf said that she uses her son as a benchmark because he can eat whatever he wants. “The hardest part was trying to find patterns because if you look at regular cookbooks, chocolate cake recipes are pretty much the same,” she said. “When you start looking at gluten free and vegan, they are extremely varied.” Dempewolf said one of the most popular items served is oatmeal crème pies, which she said have been described by customers as “spectacular.” She said another favorite is banana split cake. Kaelyn McCall, a resident of Lawrence, agrees. She said
Sarah Wright/KANSAN Shana Cake, located on Massachusetts Street, sells allergy-safe baked goods. the cake is her family’s favorite item in the store. McCall’s son has an egg and peanut allergy, and she said he was very excited to have multiple choices that were egg-free. “He insisted that we all get egg-free items so that he could sample multiple things,” McCall said.
Dempewolf said that her favorite part about owning Shana Cake is the customers and knowing they have cried in the store because it’s the first time they can safely bring their child with food allergies to a bakery. “Knowing that it’s not just a cupcake shop
for people who can’t eat anywhere else and for them to feel normal and eat anything that won’t make them sick,” Dempewolf said. McCall said this is the first allergy-friendly bakery they have discovered and they think it’s really great and fills an unmet need.
“Shana Cake has become our go-to anytime we have a special occasion or need a treat,” McCall said. “The treats are just as yummy as you would find at a regular bakery with the added bonus that no one feels excluded.”
— Edited by Erin Brock
Andrea Ringgenberg/KANSAN Local businesses can struggle during the summer months without the influx of student shoppers.
Lawrence shops welcome return of student business JOSH MCQUADE @L0neW0lfMcQuade
The end of finals and beginning of summer is a time many students wait for the whole year. However, local businesses are left with fewer customers to market to. According to the University of Kansas Office of Research and Planning, 24,892 students were enrolled at the University for the fall of 2016 semester. These students make up about 26 percent of Lawrence’s
95,358 residents, according to the United States Census Bureau. Should all enrolled students at the University leave for the summer, Lawrence businesses lose more than a quarter of their patrons. Lawrence’s variety of businesses each view the summer in its own way. Some greet the summer with open arms, while others have to buckle down and survive. Mass Street Soda is one of the businesses that enjoys the summer.
Manager Maren Ludwig said the students may leave, but that opens the door to other sections of business. “There’s a drop in the student population, but more townsfolk come downtown in the summertime,” Ludwig said. The best time for business, according to Ludwig, is during graduation, as it is the time when students bring their families to celebrate along with them. The same applies to the end of summer when parents drop off their children.
Summer in Lawrence brings many events including the Lawrence Farmers Market and the Lawrence Busker Festival. These events bring an influx of residents and visitors to downtown, simulating the busy days when school is in session. Although Mass Street Soda is not heavily affected in the summer, it does not reach the same level of profits as they would while school is in session. “Home football games give us some of our best days,” Ludwig said.
Love Garden Sounds is a bit indifferent toward summer, as its product does not expire as a restaurant’s would. The recent increase in vinyl collectors amongst the younger generations allows Love Garden Sounds to thrive in a college setting. However, when the young people leave, the business may slow down. “We’re a bit insulated from the summer slowdown, our business is roughly the same when students are not in town,” Kelly Corcoran, the owner of Love Gardens Sounds,
said. Corcoran said the foot traffic within the store increases during the school year, allowing for word of mouth to spread. The end of the school year is also a month after the largest day for both record stores and collectors, Record Store Day, which carries the business into the summer. With the summer coming to an end, local Lawrence businesses will be welcoming a new wave of students into their stores.
WHAT TO DO
D10
KANSAN.COM
What to listen to on KJHK campus radio MYLAN JONES @thislanismylan
Many see Lawrence as a hub for the arts. As more people become involved, the arts community will only grow larger. For those who are into the music scene, try looking to radio station KJHK 90.7 FM. KJHK is the University’s student-run radio station. Established in 1975, the station is an outlet for students to express themselves and the community continues to grow more and more.
“KJHK is what the students want it to be.” Mike MacFarland KJHK general manager
The station’s slogan provides a clear idea of what it plays: It’s dubbed “The Sound Alternative.” “We basically play things that are not all over the radio,” said KJHK content director JeanJaques Corbier. “Some of the music can be local or regional.” A large variety of genres are played on the station. The DJs even have blocks of time dedicated to specific genres. There is a lot of freedom when it comes to what the students want to hear and play on the station, according to general manager Mike
Sarah Wright/KANSAN KJHK is the student-run radio station on the University’s campus. MacFarland. About half of KJHK’s airtime is dedicated to “New Music Rotation” programming, according to their website. The rest of the day is dedicated to programs such as “Jazz in the Morning” and student reporting in the evening. “It is not that we do not play enough of one genre compared to the other,” MacFarland said. “The students on the station decide what they
want to play, they have that freedom of choosing what they want.” With Lawrence being home to such a lively music culture, KJHK tries to be a part of the scene. The station is often used to promote local artists. “It’s a symbiotic relationship,” MacFarland said. “By playing their music, we provide content for our listeners while providing the artists with the promotion. It’s a win-
win situation for both parties.” When it came to the type of local artists the staff wanted to showcase more of, there were a variety of answers. The staff wants to capitalize on its platform and support others whenever possible. Corbier wanted to find more hip-hop artists to showcase on the station. Ellie Fehlig, the multimedia director,
is interested in playing local folk artists. “KJHK is what the students want it to be,” MacFarland said. “Not just on the FM side of things. There are many options for students who would like to be a part of it. By getting involved you can come across a lot of opportunities that you could add to your resume, perhaps.” Corbier said there are many opportunities
for students to join the station and get involved with large groups of people, regardless of major. “We have film, business, journalism, different positions to cater to everyone,” Corbier said. “There’s quite a bit of diversity here.” For information on how to join KJHK, go on the “Join Us” link on kjhk. org.
WHAT TO DO
KANSAN.COM
D11
Fall movies: Horror, reboots and superheroes CAMERON MCGOUGH @cammcgough After a pretty stellar summer for movies, the fall season has a lot to live up to. Luckily the roster of titles coming out within the next few months is very reassuring. Don’t miss out on this season’s most promising movies. “IT” September 8 Tim Curry’s Pennywise the Dancing Clown first scared the bejesus out of television audiences in the 1990 miniseries “It.” 27 years later, Bill Skarsgård is taking his turn as the carnivorous clown with a hunger for children, and the scares look to be in heavy supply. “Battle of the Sexes” September 22 The film marks a reunion for stars Emma Stone and Steve Carrell, who costarred in 2011’s “Crazy, Stupid Love.” But this time, the duo is playing real people, with Stone as young tennis superstar Billie Jean King and Carrell as tennis veteran Bobby Riggs. Set in 1973, “Battle of the Sexes” follows the events during and surrounding the titular famed exhibition match in which King and Riggs went head-to-head. “Kingsman: The Golden Circle” September 22 After the solid critical and commercial success of Kingsman: The Secret Service,” a sequel was
Associated Press Photo Harrison Ford, left, and Ana de Armas attend the Warner Bros. “Blade Runner” panel inevitable. And this film looks like it’s putting all cards on the table with a stellar cast that includes the return of Taron Egerton as Eggsy, Colin Firth as Harry Hart and the addition of Julianne Moore, Channing Tatum, Elton John and more. It’s sure to have just as many action-packed, James Bond-on-steroids scenes as the first film. “Blade Runner 2049” October 6 Reboots, sequels and prequels seem to keep Hollywood alive as of late, and “Blade Runner 2049” is another addition to the pile. Luckily, the pile is mostly comprised of quality franchise installments, and if the trailer is any indication, this film will fit in favorably among the others. With the return of Harrison Ford and the addition of Ryan Gosling, who was just 2 years old when the original “Blade Runner” was released, “Blade Runner 2049”
should satisfy die-hard fans, while also allowing new fans to join in.
“Goodbye Christopher Robin” October 13 This film’s title just brings a wave of nostalgia mixed with an odd tinge of sadness, doesn’t it? Christopher Robin was one of Winnie-the-Pooh’s best friends, of course, but this film isn’t really about that Christopher Robin. It’s about Christopher Robin Milne and his father A. A. Milne, the author who famously created the yellow teddy bear Winniethe-Pooh. “Goodbye Christopher Robin” gives insight into Milne’s the troubled life and the creative inspiration he drew from his son.
“Mother!” September 15 Horror movies are notorious for being cheesy, low-budget and just plain terrible. With Oscar winning director Darren Aronofsky and a high caliber cast led by Oscar winners Jennifer Lawrence and Javier Bardem, “Mother!” is likely to avoid the pitfalls of traditional horror. Aronofsky has proved himself to be very good at psychological scares with “Black Swan.” It remains to be seen whether this film will follow Aronofsky’s previous work or venture into new territory. Regardless, “Mother!” looks to be a satisfying visit to the movie theater. “Murder on the Orient Express” November 10 Kenneth Branagh and a giant, grey mustache. Dame Judi Dench. Leslie Odom Jr. with hair. Josh Gad and a cigarette. Daisy
AP PHOTO Jason Momoa poses with his Aquaman trident at the Warner Bros. “Justice League” panel on day three of Comic-Con International on Saturday, July 22, 2017, in Ridley without a lightsaber. “Murder on the Orient Express” is basically a Whodunnit with your favorite celebrities dressed in old timey garb. It’s not an original film (shocking!), but it’s putting a modern stamp on the premise, which was originally published in a book by Agatha Christie, and then used for the 1974 film of the same name. “Justice League” November 17
steam against its Marvel Universe competitor. With a hefty roster of superheroes, including Batman, Aquaman and The Flash, “Justice League” is likely to be pretty darn similar to most superhero films. There’s action, and probably a bit of romance. Superman is probably going to come back to life (he’s listed in the cast in IMDB, after all). Let’s just hope Jared Leto’s Joker doesn’t find his way into this one.
With the recent release of the critical and commercial success “Wonder Woman,” the DC Universe is finally picking up some
How a Latin American studies lecturer’s knowledge of indigenous languages and cultures inspired a rock opera BRIANNA CHILDERS @breeanuhh3 Three times a week, Laura Hobson Herlihy’s radio show, called “Waikna Sangni/Mairin Blu,” is broadcast in Nicaraguan in the indigenous language, Miskito. Whenever she gets the chance, she calls into the show so that she can explain to the listeners the stories behind the songs that she wrote. She speaks the Miskito language with enthusiasm and the words flow out as if it’s her native language. But Herlihy, a New Orleans native and lecturer of Latin American and Caribbean studies at the University, didn’t start learning the language of the Miskito people, a Native American ethnic group in Central America, until she lived in the rain forest in Honduras for six months in 1991. “The kids really taught me the language, and every day the children would come to my house because I had music and art supplies,” Herlihy said. “They would come over and I would study the language and the kids would practice with me.” It took Herlihy about a year to learn the language. The Miskito language is
Missy Minear/KANSAN Laura Hobson Herlihy, a lecturer of Latin American and Caribbean studies, has a radio show in Nicaragua. The show is in Miskito, which Herlihy began learning while living in Honduras in 1991. spoken by about 200,000 people and includes words like “Naksa,” which means hello, and “Tingki” which means thank you. Herlihy said she really got interested in indigenous languages while she was going to school at Tulane University for her undergraduate studies. While there, she learned the language of the Aztecs. “It was just a natural thing as an anthropologist to learn the language,” Herlihy said. Herlihy said what drew
her to the Miskito people was their diversity and how they are so different from other indigenous people. “They are part black, part British, part Indian, and because of their cultural mix and racial mix, I really liked that combination,” Herlihy said. “They are really strong, in your face, kind of aggressive people, and I guess I like people like that.” Herlihy got the opportunity to share her experiences with students at the University when she was given the chance to take them on
a study abroad trip to Nicaragua starting in 2009. Will Fleming, a University graduate, said that he went on the trip because, at the time, he was debating whether or not he wanted to major in anthropology. “I learned that the way and life in Lawrence is very different from how other people live in the world, and that there are plenty of other great things that I can do with my life that I haven’t even thought about,” he said. When Herlihy isn’t
traveling, she also teaches a class at the University called “Language and Society in Latin America.” Fleming said that he learned a lot from Herlihy when he took her class a few years after going on the study abroad trip. “Laura really has a passion for what she does that I don’t get to see a lot from other teachers,” Fleming said. “A part of the reason is that she really cares about her students and wants them to get involved in stuff because that’s the best way they learn.” During those study abroad trips, Herlihy was given the same phone from the study abroad department which had text messages that Herlihy exchanged with the Miskito leader, Brooklyn Rivera. “I didn’t want to lose them, and I wrote them down and I got the idea to fictionalize this account and turn them into songs,” Herlihy said. Since then, Herlihy has written the lyrics to 27 songs and hopes to one day create a rock opera out of them. Herlihy’s idea for the opera follows an anthropologist and the Miskito leader, who casts a love magic
on her so that she will talk positively about his people. Then a rival faction kidnaps the anthropologist and breaks the spell, turning her into a blue woman. Herlihy started a GoFundMe page to push the musical to the next step. Her goal is to have the musical play in Nicaragua first and then eventually bring it to the United States. Right now, Herlihy uses her radio show to broadcast her songs to the people in Nicaragua and surrounding areas. “People really like to read the story, and they are so in love with their leader,” she said. “I was picking up on the energy because everyone is talking about this guy and you hear from people what’s important, and I tapped into that.” Herlihy, who takes a few trips to Nicaragua on her own a few times a year, said her favorite part about being there is the creative atmosphere. “Speaking an Indian language is my passion and it also has a boost of creativity,” Herlihy said. “I feel important there because I’m a radio persona there, and it’s like being a celebrity.”
Let’s take study time
up a notch .
From streaming and surfing to researching and writing, Midco® Internet gives you the speed and capacity to take on the world with Wi-Fi. Download that study guide. Stream that long-distance lecture. Take that online class. Discover, watch and master the tutorials, tips and tricks that make the grade. Let’s go.
Midco® Internet 30
24
$
95 per mo.
• Faster internet – up to 30 Mbps downloads • FREE, instant access to ESPN3 online • Up to 10 email addresses with spam and virus protection
Midco.com/Lawrence | 1.800.888.1300 © 2017 Midcontinent Communications. All rights reserved. This limited-time offer is available to new and qualifying customers adding internet service only. Offer expires 12/31/2017. Midco Internet 30 (reg. $39.99/mo.) will return to monthly rate once promotional pricing has expired. Customer is responsible for modem purchase or lease required for Midco Internet. Modem lease price is $7/mo. for standard modem or $10/mo. for wireless. DOCSIS 3.0 modem is required to connect multiple devices. Actual internet speeds may vary depending on your computer or mobile device’s capacity, the number of devices accessing the internet at once and web traffic. Speeds may also be impacted by third-party equipment (such as your computer or router). Price does not include taxes, franchise fee, broadcast retransmission or other fees. Midco Internet 30 installation is $50.