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T H E I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E F O R K A N S A S S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y
vol. 124, issue 16
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Three weeks later, Labor Day flooding aftermath still affects locals
ROWAN JONES
THE COLLEGIAN
The floodwaters may have subsided, but three weeks later, the impacts and damage of Manhattan’s Labor Day floods have lingered with victims. Joseph Wyatt, co-owner of Goblin Games, woke up on the day of the flood to Facebook messages that asked if everything at the store was okay. After checking his phone and not being able to access the store’s downed surveillance equipment, he drove over to see it in person with his business partner, Anne Higley. Goblin Games is part of a strip mall that has flooded in the past, but the flooding never affected the gaming store until now. Around 10 a.m., while driving down Seth Child Road, they could see that everything past Linear Trail was covered in water, including the store. Goblin Games had been filled with six feet of water. As the day went on, water levels rapidly lowered. By 3:45 p.m., they were able to enter. They looked to see if anything was salvageable. Some of the board games on the store’s higher shelves and “Magic: The Gathering”
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cards in double plastic-wrap stayed safe from flood waters. But other than that, everything had been ruined. The next day, the two owners set out to find a new space immediately. Within the afternoon they were contacted by Jeff Sutton, marketing manager for the Manhattan Town Center. He offered them a free space in the mall. By Friday of that week, they were able to reopen. For the independent store, the biggest factor for their revival was the community. The business launched a GoFundMe for the business’s rebuilding efforts, and as of Tuesday, the store has raised $13,505 out of their $20,000 goal — about the same amount of funding they originally had when they first started Goblin Games back in 2015. They held a muddy box sale, giving away figurines with boxes that had been damaged, only asking for donations. Thanks to that, they were able to raise an additional $2,500. The store owners are currently planning on not returning to their previous location and continue to look for properties. “There [are] way more people that are much more worse off than me,” Wyatt said. “We’ll get back, we have a strong community. There’s a
lot of people that like, actually lost everything … I would much rather people help them than us.”
IMPACTING HOUSEHOLDS
For Manhattan resident Michael Reffitt, the worst part of the flood was watching his family home fall apart. “Right now, it’s kind of a family disaster,” Reffitt said. “If they were to lose the property its definitely a tremendous disappointment.” The home has been in the family since 1953. Currently Reffitt’s mother Linda Reffitt lives there. It has been a central figure in the family, acting as a gathering place for reunions, holidays and vacations. “Everybody camps out over here, goes fishing over here, has bonfires on the weekends,” Reffitt said. “[It is] a family hangout.” Located off of Village Street, the home sits next to Wildcat Creek in front of a now-unused railroad foundation. With its large lawn, wooden deck and accompanying pool, its position in the family is visually apparent. But because of previous floods, this home and many others in the area are ineligible for flood insurance.
By the numbers: Where is your meal plan money going?
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Rowan Jones | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
The inside of Goblin Games is covered in leftover sediment; a couple of vending machines and an old arcade console are some of the only items remaining in the store following the Labor Day floods. “It’s been in several different floods, but [it has] never ever gotten this high,” Reffitt said. On the morning of the flooding, water filled the Reffitt’s front lawn and home with water. By noon, water still covered the lawn, making Wildcat Creek look more like the Missouri River than a slow, meandering stream. Reffitt said he fears that due to damage, there’s a chance the city might deem it irreparable. This would force them to tear down the home. For Linda, this would have a heavy impact. “If you own the house… and its bought and paid for… [and the city says] you can’t rebuild it, what are you going to do?” Michael Reffitt
said when asked about the flood’s toll on his mother’s mental health. “My folks are 80 years old, and starting from scratch at 80 is a big deal.” For now, the family focuses on only one thing: repairing the home. They work together tearing down sheet rock and shoveling the eight inches of dirt out of the basement, bucket by bucket. The lack of insurance and the expectation that the city won’t assist them in repair costs has made the Reffitt family conclude that they are going to have to pay for the repairs out of pocket.
see page 8, “FLOOD”
Football team’s offense looking to improve before Saturday’s matchup
NEWS
How the Business Building’s stock ticker works by Tori Wiegers From the sidewalks of Manhattan Avenue, the LED lights in the College of Business shine through the large windows, the ticker displaying stock market information all through the night. Stacy Kovar, associate dean for academic administration, said the eye-catching machine has multiple purposes. One of the reasons, Kovar said, is simply because it’s a stock ticker similar to the one someone would see at the New York Stock Exchange. “The ticker reflects who we are,” Kovar said. “It gives students the opportunity to be aware of stock prices. We can also put messages on there. We’ve specialized it so if a company that hires a lot of our graduates is publicly traded, then their ticker will appear on the stock price. It exposes people to the companies that we hire.” Though the ticker provides information specific to the same groups of companies regularly, it isn’t paid for through advertising or other outside sponsorships, Kovar said. The feed is purchased through an outside company called RISE, which sells a standard stock feed that the school then customizes to fit their specific needs and wants. The ticker is on 24/7, but Gary Weishaar, engineer in controls and energy management, said the technology isn’t necessarily racking up high energy costs. “The ticker is a LED type display, so it’s a much lower usage than what you might think,” Weishaar said.
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wednesday, september 26, 2018
Have a meal plan? Here’s what your money actually goes toward ANNA SPEXARTH THE COLLEGIAN
The $2,365 that the “All Access” meal plan costs for one semester in Kansas State’s dining halls and the $2,010 for the “Any 14” meal plan may seem like a lot of money just for food. However, there is much more that goes into that amount than just food. Mary Molt, associate director of the Department of Housing and Dining Services at K-State, said about 40 percent of the meal plan charges are actual food cost. “We try to get as much of the food as local as possible,” Molt said. “We get much of our dairy from Call Hall here on campus and many of our meats and fresh produce come from locations on campus as
well.” Locally sourcing much of what they give to students not only cuts down on transportation costs, but also improves the freshness of the products, Molt said. “We’ve got quality food, we’ve got from-scratch recipes and we have people who are passionate about them,” Molt said. “We are a mostly fromscratch production facility, so we have many, many recipes.” She estimated that Housing and Dining Services has about 12,000 different recipes that they use to prepare food for students, and these recipes have been accumulating since the creation of dining services at K-State. An additional 40 percent of the cost of meal plans goes toward labor, which includes the student staff who work
Rowan Jones | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
One of the concepts for the classic line is breakfast for dinner. Concepts are repeated from previous years but altered based on student reception; alterations can inlcude changing the amount of food produced or even removing items from the menu if needed. in the dining halls. Molt said there are approximately 500 student employees and 12 pro-
fessional staff spread across the three dining hall locations on campus.
In all her years working at K-State, Molt said the staff in K-State’s dining centers are one of the things that she is most proud of. “They are a great staff of professionals who also have a passion about preparing quality, from-scratch foods for students,” Molt said. One inevitable aspect of any dining center is food waste, which can occur when students take more food than they need or can eat. This is why Kramer Dining Center did away with trays after its renovation, Molt said. “Not only did the renovation make the food easier to access and see, but by not having trays we were able to significantly cut down on food waste, since students became unable to load up a tray with food that they would not eat,” Molt said.
Madeline Powell, senior in mass communications, said she also noticed this waste occurring in the dining halls. “Either students would get too much food and not finish it or ending up not liking it and throwing it away,” Powell, a former on-campus diner, said. “I try to be mindful of it, but I have been guilty of it too.” The remaining 20 percent of meal plan cost goes toward utilities for the dining centers, equipment repair and replacement and bonds, which pay for new dining facilities like Kramer Dining Center, since they do not receive money from the state of Kansas for construction projects, Molt said. In the future, those bonds will also pay for updates to Derby Dining Center, which Molt said will occur within a year.
Two College of Architecture educators named ‘Top 25 Most Admired’ EMMA WITTER
THE COLLEGIAN
Tim de Noble, dean of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design, and Stephanie Rolley, head of the department of landscape architecture and regional and community planning, have been ranked among the “Top 25 Most Admired
Educators in Architecture, Interiors and Landscape Architecture” by DesignIntelligence for 2019. Both de Noble and Rolley also received this distinction two years ago, making the Kansas State architecture program home to two multi-year award recipients. Rolley said receiving the award was a surprise both times.
Rowan Jones | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Professor of landscape architecture and department head Stephanie Rolley has recieved multiple awards of recognition for her work.
“It’s the most wonderful kind of recognition because I just did not see it coming at all,” Rolley said. Rolley, who said she comes from a family of educators, attended K-State as an undergraduate student and has been teaching at the university since 1987, becoming a department head in 2009. She said her choice to come back to teach was largely a result of happenstance. “I received a call asking if I’d be interested in coming up for a year,” Rolley said. “It has been a lot of years since that one-year gig.” Between the time she graduated from K-State as an undergraduate student and the time she returned to Manhattan to teach, Rolley went to graduate school and worked at various architecture firms in the San Antonio, Dallas and Cambridge, Massachusetts areas. “I started, very naively, thinking that I could continue to practice [while teaching],” Rolley said. “I was traveling a lot to maintain that work … then I re-
alized I just needed to focus on what I was doing here.” Rolley said she believes tremendous changes have been made in the College of Architecture, Planning and Design since she attended as an undergraduate student. “When I was in school, I didn’t see much of the rest of the university,” Rolley said. “Now, students learn from the expertise all across campus and that is a huge change.” The architecture program has collaborated with over 50 departments and disciplines on campus, “which is really important to the design and planning disciplines,” she said. “One of the things that I’ve focused on for the last 15 years has been developing our students’ masters projects and reports,” Rolley said. “It’s a hallmark of our department that each of the students who has graduated in landscape architecture and planning … has had an independent project.” Rolley became the department head of Landscape Architecture and Regional and Com-
munity Planning in 2009, the same year Tim de Noble was hired as dean of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design at K-State. The two have worked closely together and seen the college
grow and change over the last 10 years, Rolley said.
see page 5, “COLLEGE”
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wednesday, september 26, 2018
Week 4 upsets impact Big 12 power rankings CODY FRIESEN
times. TCU will look to bounce back as it hosts Iowa State in Fort Worth on Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
THE COLLEGIAN
The 2018 Big 12 football season is shaping up to be an interesting one. Last weekend, Texas upset a ranked opponent for the second week in a row, and Texas Tech turned some heads in a dominating upset, all while Heisman hopeful quarterbacks Will Grier and Kyler Murray shined again. In week five, half of the Big 12 will be looking for their first conference win and the Big 12 will see its first Top 25 conference matchup.
10. UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS (2-2, 0-1)
Kansas’ winning streak came to an end on Saturday after losing to Baylor 26-7. The defense could not contain the Bears’ offense, allowing 447 yards. The Jayhawks offense only gained 271 total yards, and 90 of those yards came off their only touchdown drive of the game. Running back Pooka Williams Jr. leads the Big 12 in rushing yards per game (125.7), but Baylor held the true freshman to just 89 yards. Quarterback Peyton Bender threw for 105 yards and one touchdown. Kansas will be looking to get its first Big 12 win of the season and first conference win since 2016 when it hosts Oklahoma State on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. on the Fox Sports Network.
9. BAYLOR UNIVERSITY (3-1, 1-0)
As previously mentioned, Baylor defended its home turf and defeated Kansas soundly with a score of 26-7 last Saturday. In the win, quarterback Charlie Brewer threw for 221 yards and three touchdowns. The Baylor defense dominated the Jayhawks all afternoon as it recorded four sacks and nine tackles for losses. The Bears will be looking to stop quarterback Kyler Murray and undefeated No. 6 Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, at 2:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC.
4. NO. 18 UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS (3-1, 1-0)
Courtesy photo from The Athenaeum
Senior quarterback Will Grier throws the ball in West Virginia at the football game against K-State on Saturday. The Wildcats fell to the Mountaineers 35-6.
8. IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY (1-2, 0-1)
Iowa State wrapped up non-conference play with a 2613 victory over Akron. Quarterback Zeb Noland threw for 233 yards and one touchdown, and wide receiver Hakeem Butler had 12 receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown. Placekicker Connor Assalley made four field goals for the Cyclones and accounted for 14 points. Former starting quarterback Kyle Kempt is still questionable as of Tuesday, but is making progress in returning soon for the Cyclones. The Cyclones will travel to Fort Worth to face TCU on Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
7. KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY (2-2, 0-1)
The Kansas State offense struggled yet again on Saturday, mustering just two field goals in a 35-6 loss on the road at West Virginia. The offense has been a topic of concern all season long. At Tuesday’s press conference, head coach Bill Snyder mentioned that it is likely that both quarterbacks— Skylar Thompson and Alex Delton — will play on Saturday against Texas. Wide receiver Isaiah Zu-
ber leads the offense in receiving with 24 receptions for 356 yards and three touchdowns through four games. Linebacker Da’Quan Patton is leading the defense in tackles with 22 tackles this season. The Wildcats will play Texas in their Big 12 home opener on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on FS1.
6. OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY (2-2, 0-1)
Oklahoma State entered Saturday’s contest against Texas Tech ranked No. 15 before being stunned 41-17 by the Red Raiders to open Big 12 play. Running back Justice Hill ran for 111 yards and one touchdown, as the Cowboys were held to 386 yards and surrendering 621 yards to Tech. Oklahoma State will travel to Lawrence to face Kansas at 11 a.m. Saturday on the Fox Sports Network.
5. TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (2-2, 0-1)
TCU was dominated in a 31-16 loss to in-state rival Texas on Saturday. Quarterback Shawn Robinson threw for 197 yards and one touchdown, but threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, amounting a QBR of just 37.0. The Horned Frogs only managed to score one touchdown and turned the ball over four
After upsetting USC two weeks ago, the Longhorns played spoiler once again in a dominating 31-16 victory over then-ranked No. 17 TCU. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger threw for two touchdowns and ran for one in the opening Big 12 contest for the Longhorns. Wide receiver Collin Johnson had seven receptions for 124 yards and one touchdown. The Longhorns will be looking to win on the road against K-State for the first time since 2002 on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on FS1.
3. NO. 25 TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY (3-1, 1-0)
Texas Tech dominated Oklahoma State on Saturday, defeating the then-No. 15 Cowboys on the road in Stillwater, Oklahoma, 41-17. True freshman Alan Bowman is showing that he is the next big arm at Texas Tech after throwing for 397 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Demarcus Felton rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns. The Red Raiders are showing they can beat teams in a variety of ways with a strong aerial attack and a threatening ground game. Through four games, they have passed for 1,743 yards, which is first in the Big 12. They have run for 751 yards — fifth in the conference — and scored a league-best 16 rushing touchdowns. Texas Tech will be facing a huge test against No. 12 West Virginia in a game between the conference’s number one offense in Tech and number one defense in West Virginia. Kick off Saturday is at 11 a.m. and the game will air on ESPN2.
To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com
Wildcat offense looking for spark in running game AVERY OSEN
THE COLLEGIAN
A constant theme at Tuesday’s Kansas State football press conference was how to improve in the running game, though no fingers were pointed at anyone and all seemed to take credit for only one 200-yard rushing game this season so far. On Saturday, K-State will face the Texas Longhorns, who have yet to allow a 200-yard rushing game this year. Junior running back Alex Barnes said he knows it will be a challenge to run the ball against Texas. “We’ve had our struggles and they’ve had their successes in the run game,” Barnes said. “It’s about how we execute and how we come back and perform.” Although Barnes leads the team in rushing with 277 yards this year, he also spoke about the difficulties that come with having expectations for a team with a good history of a run game. “It’s been really frustrating especially with all the expectations out there,” Barnes said. “Not being able to be close towards that 200-yard mark that we kind of set for ourselves. It’s
just about reestablishing ourselves and our identity.” To put it in perspective, K-State had at least 200 rushing yards in over half the games. This season, just once, with 256 yards against South Dakota. Some point their fingers at the offensive line, as all five are returners from last season. Head coach Bill Snyder was the first to come to the offensive line’s defense on Saturday, as he explained that it is a team effort. “There are a lot of things that go into if we are moving the ball effectively and all of is not those five guys up in front,” Snyder said. “They have a hand in it most certainly, but it falls on all of us.” Junior offensive lineman Adam Holtorf spoke about how the offensive line needs to step up its game as a unit. “It’s a consistency thing,” Holtorf said. “We each sometimes take our turns having a bad play here and there, and eventually those bad plays add up. That’s what’s been holding us back a lot lately.”
To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com
File photo by Cooper Kinley | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
K-State defensive back D.J. Reed intercepts the ball intended for UT Austin wide receiver Lorenzo Joe during the football match between Kansas State University and University of Texas, Austin at Darrell K Royal Stadium on Oct. 7, 2017.
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COLLEGE continued from page
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de Noble said he appreciates Rolley’s recognition. “She’s truly dedicated to her disciplines and to the craft of building her own department,” de Noble said. “She has advanced opportunities for students and faculty here.” In her years of both teaching and serving as a department head at K-State, Rolley said her favor-
ite moments are always either the beginning or the end of the school year. She said she loves to see the excitement of new architecture students coming in to select their studio desks and get settled at the beginning of the year as well as her masters students giving their reports and theses at the end. “To see [students] stand up and defend their work and think about all of the things that they did while they were here that got them to that point, and to see where that’s pointing them in terms of their career, is really ex-
citing,” she said. “That’s why we do this.” Rolley said her years at K-State, both as a student and as an educator, have been an important aspect of her life. “In a lot of ways, I think that K-State is still the same place that I came to school,” she said. de Noble echoed Rolley’s surprise at receiving the distinction of one of the Top 25 Most Admired Educators; he said it was a complete surprise to him the first time he received the award two years ago. For 2019,
he said winning the award was “more exciting” for him. de Noble said it feels as though this time the award reflects the advancements made to K-State’s architecture program. “In many ways, the recognition is in light of the fact that we’ve improved the learning, teaching and research environment for students, faculty and staff,” de Noble said. “In spite of all of the odds against us, we got that done. [The award] is more of a reflection of all of us than it is of me as an individual.”
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Before accepting the deanship at K-State, de Noble practiced and taught both in the U.S. and abroad in Italy and Mexico City. He said his transition from teaching to deanship came with the choice to be a leader. “As a designer, I’m always critical about the way things are done, and if you’re going to be critical, you need to put yourself in a position to make the changes,” de Noble said. “I see the college as a design project; not just the building itself, but how to bring the most potency out of the
interrelationship of the parts of our college and the people within it.” Even as dean of the College of Architecture, Planning and Design, de Noble is currently teaching in some structures classes alongside assistant professor Michael Grogan, a member of the K-State faculty since the fall 2017.
To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com
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wednesday, september 26, 2018
Notable novels frequently make banned book lists. Have you read one? REBECCA VRBAS THE COLLEGIAN
Literature continues to face attacks from those that seek to silence voices and ideas with which they don’t agree. Though it is rare for a book to be effectively banned in the United States, censorship is still widespread. The most common objections to books usually pertain to offensive language, sexuality, suicide or substance abuse. Though not all stories censored may consist of these issues, their censorship often closes off the opportunity for productive discourse. Yet, no matter how hard anyone tries to ban sensitive topics from publication or education, they impact lives in one way or another. This week, bibliophiles around the world celebrate Banned Books Week, an annual reminder of how crucial the freedom of speech is to both democracy and society. Here are some of the most common
banned books you have probably read or heard about.
“LOOKING FOR ALASKA” BY JOHN GREEN
Remarkably philosophical for a young adult book, “Looking for Alaska” deals with subject matter fairly commonplace in teenage life. Adults will often take issue with the drinking, smoking and language found in this book. However, these are framed in the larger context of coping with loss and discerning the purpose of life. If there’s one John Green novel to read, this is the one.
“THE CATCHER IN THE RYE” BY J. D. SALINGER
Don’t let the length of this book fool you. Though the page count is short, it makes up for its brevity with surprising depth of character. Drifting from place to place in a stream-of-consciousness narrative, Holden Caulfield is
the original angsty teenager, disenfranchised by school and just about everything else. Youth today will inevitably find rapport with this timeless, short novel.
THE “HARRY POTTER” SERIES BY J. K. ROWLING
Though originally intended for children, these books have become a beloved modern classic among all ages. It’s never too late to visit or revisit this series. Reasons for being challenged range from being “anti-family” to containing “witchcraft.” However, anyone who has read these books know they contain very uplifting themes such as friendship and triumph of good over evil, in addition to being fantastically entertaining.
“BRAVE NEW WORLD” BY ALDOUS HUXLEY
Every year the advancement of scientific technology brings the real world closer to the realm of eugenics portrayed in this visionary story. It has
been widely challenged for containing nudity, racism, religious viewpoints and sexuality. Those concerned about the ethical implications of progress in reproductive technology will find this story frightening and compelling.
“I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS” BY MAYA ANGELOU
Maya Angelou holds nothing back in her autobiography, bravely sharing the most intimate details of her life growing up as a black girl in the 1930s. Recounting her experience with sexual assault and violence incited many people to challenge this book, but her litany of awards speaks to the power of her voice and how deeply it continues to resonate with so many people.
“THE HATE U GIVE” BY ANGIE THOMAS
This contemporary narrative of K-State’s common read tells the story of youth faced with the horror of police bru-
tality, drug use, profanity and offensive language. Anyone who has paid attention to the news over the past several years has seen the widespread controversy concerning lethal force by law enforcement. This timely book has won numerous awards in the past year, defying the criticism and censorship efforts of many. Moreover, the movie adaptation will be released Oct. 19, 2018.
“TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD” BY HARPER LEE
Repeatedly challenged for containing violence and use of the N-word, “To Kill Mockingbird” remains salient for its subject matter involving racism. Published in 1960, this book still ranks on the ALA’s list of “The Top Ten Challenged Books of 2017.” This classic American novel conveys frankly the injustice of world through the eyes of a young girl growing up in the South in the 1930s.
Cover art for “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, a book that has been banned in several schools. Unfortunately, racially motivated violence and institutional racism akin to this time period are very alive and well today, making it all that more important to revisit stories such as these.
Banned Books Week Highlight: “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini
The cover of “The Kite Runner.” Image courtesy of penguinrandomhouse.com “The Kite Runner” by Khaled
Hosseini, set in Afghanistan during the dying years of the monarchy, tells the unforgettable, heartbreaking story about the unlikely friendship between Amir, a wealthy, young Afghan boy, and the son of his father’s servant, Hassan. The uncommon bond that the boys have shared since birth is broken with Amir’s choice to desert his friend in his hour of need, effectively abandoning him to the political, ethnic and religious unrest of the time. Amir spends the next thirty or so years of his life seeking redemption for the wrongs committed against the only true friend he ever had. I was surprised when browsing the American Library Association’s list of banned books to find that “The Kite Runner” has been threatened in libraries and schools across the country since 2008, when the novel appeared in the top 10 of the association’s list of frequently challenged books. The main concerns about the
novel include its sexually explicit content, offensive language and age inappropriateness. In 2012, it rose to sixth place on the ALA’s list, and in 2014 it placed seventh. Other objections to “The Kite Runner” include its treatment of homosexuality, religious viewpoint and violence. According to the ALA, the novel was the fourth most challenged book in 2017 because it “was thought to ‘lead to terrorism’ and ‘promote Islam.’” But the novel has not only been challenged for language and adult themes. Reynolds High School in North Carolina suspended the use of “The Kite Runner” in its honors English class when a parent and former school board member expressed her concern that “The Kite Runner” was replacing classic literature, such as “All’s Quiet on the Western Front.” An Arizona school district removed the book from the English curriculum without prior notice and
without explanation after having taught the novel in the school for five years. Despite the district’s assurance that the case was not one of censorship, the removal does seem a little suspicious. Hosseini addressed the issue at the 2013 annual ALA Conference. He admits that the novel has elements of a serious nature that parents and teachers need to discuss with their kids before handing them the book. “I think to flat-out ban it is doing the kids a disservice because the book, I think, has served as a window to Afghanistan, as a window to that region of the world for the kids, and allowed them to feel connected to a part of the world that is so distant from their own lives,” Hosseini said. I couldn’t agree with him more. In “The Kite Runner,” which I devoured recently in the space of one sitting, I discovered a mesmerizing story about the price of betrayal and the possibility of redemption.
I found a young boy, whose emotions I could identify with: his struggle with jealousy, loyalty and bullies, and his desire to win the approval of a distant father — not to mention his love of stories and tasty food. It is a story that taught me to appreciate more deeply my family, my friendships, my culture and my country. Through Amir, I witnessed the devastating effects of standing by and doing nothing. Amir’s father warns him: “A boy who won’t stand up for himself becomes a man who can’t stand up to anything.” Let’s not be the ones who stand by mutely while stories that deserve to be heard are silenced. Jacinta Mioni is a senior in English. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Collegian. Please send comments to opinion@kstatecollegian. com
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wednesday, september 26, 2018
OPINION: Here’s how to show K-State’s game day songs respect JASON DEFISHER
2. WILDCAT VICTORY, A.K.A. THE FIGHT SONG
THE COLLEGIAN
In my four years of Kansas State sports fan experience, I’ve noticed one glaringly obvious thing: the student section is not the most musically inclined group of people out there. To help remedy this gap in our fan experience, here are some helpful hints on how to make the most out of K-State’s favorite songs and give our musical traditions the respect they deserve.
1. THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
“The Star-Spangled Banner” is a sports tradition all around the nation, from ice hockey to American football. Despite this, it’s still surprising how often people can mess it up. It’s commonly understood that all audience members should remove their hats and place their right hand over their heart while the flag is advancing or displayed during the anthem. Since K-State’s tradition includes the audience singing along, I’d like to remind everyone that Francis Scott Key did not use the word “Chiefs” anywhere in his lyrics.
For some who are new to the K-State family, singing a song that you’ve never heard before may seem rather intimidating. There’s no shame in looking the lyrics up or making cheat sheets until you have the lyrics memorized. For those among us who have trouble keeping time during the fight song, pay attention to the drum majors or the percussionists. The drum majors provide an excellent beat to clap along to, even when the band changes the tempo on us.
3. THE ALMA MATER
The Alma Mater is the easiest song in the entire game day lineup. The words are displayed on the video board for all to see, the tempo is slow and it requires a minimal amount of energy. The hard part of this song, however, is putting your arm around complete strangers next to you. This problem is even worse when it’s a hot day. I’d recommend making friends with your neighbors before you get thrown straight into the Alma Mater. This will help reduce the awkwardness immensely.
4. THE WABASH CANNONBALL
Recognized by ESPN as the greatest pre-game tradition in the Big 12 and by K-Staters everywhere as the best ab workout in existence, the Wabash is a more recent addition to the list of K-State’s songs. Make sure to coordinate with your neighbors so that you don’t end up facing the same way. Once you have the coordination and movements down, the Wabash is pretty easy. Just make sure to keep the dirty words about the dirty birds away from this beloved song. If you have any further questions about K-State’s music, grab your favorite band geek and get ready for a lesson. At the end of the day, we’re all a bunch of sports fans with a love of the Wildcats. Stay hydrated, enjoy the games and make sure to keep cheering on the ‘Cats — just try to clap on beat.
miscellaneous sources. Between Fiscal Year (FY) 20012002 and FY 2016-2017, state appropriations remained mostly stable, increasing at 0.173 percent each year. In dollar amounts, that’s an average increase of $146,000 each year. In contrast, tuition-based funding has gone steadily up. It has increased by an average of 10.5 percent each year. In dollars, that’s an average $12 million more each year. K-State funding from sources other than state appropriations and tuition, increased by an average of 4 percent, or $13 million per year. So, state appropriations, tuition, and other sources of funding all enjoyed an average year-to-year increase, and consequently the uni-
author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the
Jason DeFisher is a senior in animal sciences and industry. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the
OPINION: Don’t blame state government for high college tuition Tuition is expensive. We all pay more for tuition than we did before. This happens every year. The reason for our drastically increased tuition costs is that the state government is failing to give enough in appropriations funding. Right? That seems to be what we have all been told repeatedly. I wondered what truth there was to this idea, so I took a look at the numbers. First, some terms. State appropriations are monies that the state sets aside to assist the mission of the university. Tuition-based funding is funding that the university receives by charging students fees for school. Other sources of funding include hospital and diagnostic fees, federal land-grant funds, auxiliary enterprises, local agencies, gifts, grants, research contracts and some
Emily Starkey | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
A Kansas State drum major conducts The Pride in Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Sept. 17, 2016.
versity budget enjoyed an average year-to-year increase. Specifically, the budget increased by about 4 percent or around $25 million per year. Admittedly, state appropriations appear rather stagnant in comparison to the rest. They hovered around $167 million each year while total funding went from $486 million in 2002 to $868 million in 2017. From this, it seems that the justification for sharp tuition increases makes some sense. But how much should tuition increase in response to this stagnation?
see page 8, “TUITION”
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Collegian. Please send comments to opinion@kstatecollegian.com.
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wednesday, september 26, 2018
Farmers’ market to take place at Bosco Plaza today File photo by Alex Shaw COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Erin Bailey sorts produce at the Willow Lake Student Farm table at the K-State Farmers’ Market on Oct. 25, 2017.
JENNER LITTLE
THE COLLEGIAN
The K-State Student
Union Program will be hosting a market at Bosco Plaza today from to 1 p.m.
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The number of fall-enrolled students went up by an average of 0.41 percent each year, only about 90 students per year. The number of full-time staff increased by only 0.44 percent, or 23 staff members each year. The number of students, full-time staff members and state appropriation funding all remained mostly stable with a slight upward trend. At the same time, other funding sources increased at a steady rate. The university needs a certain amount of growth, but did tuition funding really need to increase over 10 percent each year? In 2002, the university received $54 million from tuition funding. Divided by the 22,396 enrolled students, that’s an average of $2,437 per student. In 2017, the university received $240 million from tuition funding. Divided by the 23,779 enrolled students that’s an average of $10,101 per student. From $2,400 per student to $10,100 in the course of just 15 years. Was this massive increase necessary? What if tuition funding per student had remained steady, at around the 2002 mark of $2,437.94 per student? Instead of the 10.5 percent increase that actually occurred, tuition funding would have increased an average
Council farmer’s Student 11 a.m.
For students and staff of Kansas State, this provides an easy way to purchase fresh, affordable and local items. Vendors selling various fruits, vegetables and baked goods will be present. Chelsea Klahr, senior
of only 0.41 percent each year, matching the increase in number of students. What kind of impact would this have had on total university funding? Instead of increasing an average 4.1 percent each year, total funding and budget would have increased an average of 3.5 percent each year. Would a difference of 0.6 percent in funding and budget increases have prevented the continued operation of the university? It seems that the university should have been able to survive just fine on a 3.5 percent annual growth in funding. Can we really blame the rise of tuition on the idea that the state government just wasn’t giving enough for the university to get by? I would argue that the blame for increased tuition should instead be divided between two sources: that of the university and how they choose to spend money, and also how government subsidization impacts cost. To the first issue, anyone can see that universities in general suffer from a certain amount of bloat. As just one example, look at the way salaries are doled out. While many hardworking instructors earn less than they deserve, top administrators enjoy hefty six-figure salaries. In 2017, instructors made an average of $41,365 each, assistant professors $80,510 each, associate professors $94,073 each and professors $127,171 each. The
in English and aselfproclaimed “foodie,” expressed her excitement about the market. “I’ve always enjoyed the farmer’s market ever since I was a kid,” Klahr said. “I love all the homegrown produce provided by the vendors. There are so many varieties of vegetables, and I’m a sucker for some good fruit. Fresh peaches are my weakness, so it’s nice being able to buy these items in a convenient place, like the plaza.” Maddie Cannon, senior in early childhood
vice provosts, vice presidents, the provost and the president made an average of $284,307 each. For a school focused on research and education, it seems that we could be paying those who teach and do research a little more and those who administrate a little less. Note that this isn’t just a K-State issue. Although the university president’s salary is larger than the salary of the President of the United States’, it is dwarfed by the salaries of university presidents elsewhere. For example, Kirk Schulz left a $467,000 salary at K-State for a $625,000 salary at Washington State, another similarly sized land-grant university. Perhaps the university can’t risk lowering administrative salaries without losing staff to other schools, but something just doesn’t seem right about such a distribution of money within a non-profit. In addition, despite complaints about how the state spends money, the governor, lieutenant governor, state treasurer, secretary of state and attorney general of Kansas together make an average salary of $84,908 each, over three
development, shared the same excitement. “Farmers’ markets are an awesome way to meet the people tending to our food,” Cannon said. “Supporting local patrons and getting to peruse the tables of food they’ve either made or grown is just heartwarming. Not only that, but the prices are usually cheap and the produce is always fresh. It’s a good deal for everyone, really.” For more information on UPC’s Farmers’ Markets, visit www. kstateupc.com/our-events.
times less than the top administrators at K-State. To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com
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The Reffitts said they feel that assistance seems unlikely. Reffitt said that when Linda attended a Red Cross Recovery event, she received a bucket of hardware tools and a $250 debit card. Other than that, no one has reached out to the family offering assistance. Reffitt expressed frustration with the city for not accepting responsibility for the flooding and blaming homeowners for building in the flood zone. He said he wants the city to look into why places along Wildcat Creek flooded. “We get rain all the time,” Reffitt said. “We get heavy rain
all the time, but we have places that flooded that have never flooded before. Why? Someone pick up some responsibility.” According to a news release by the City of Manhattan, the scale of the Labor Day floods makes it ineligible for the Individual Assistance program from FEMA, stating that IA is “provided when 1,377 individuals or families, and 587 or more homes are destroyed in a disaster event.” The city says that only 327 individuals were impacted and 102 homes were destroyed. Local service agencies and nonprofits are working to create long-term recovery funds for those with damaged private property.
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