5.5.23

Kansas Senate passes bill barring transgender people from using the restroom of their choice

Happy Hippie replaces Public Hall

Wildcats in the NFL: Draft Edition

OPINION: K-State baseball has a chance to reach the NCAA tournament

On May 4, the completion and redevelopment of every road up to Aggieville is o cially open for the rst time since 2018. A day of celebrations was held, including a ribbon cutting and free gift cards.

SEE PAGE 04, “AGGIEVILLE OPENING”

Privacy, safety and ethicality: Students react to transgender bathroom legislation

SOPHIE LENKIEWICZ staff writer

On April 27, the Kansas Senate overrode Governor Kelly’s veto of Senate Bill 180 which requires transgender people to use the restroom that aligns with their assigned sex at birth.

“Sadly, I wasn’t surprised just due to the fact that there are all these regulations going out,” Alex Rice, a transgender woman at Kansas State, said. “In my opinion it is the start of a slippery slope. It starts with one thing and goes to another.”

According to the ACLU, Senate Bill 180 is only one of 13 bills that target LGBTQ+ rights passing through the Kansas legislature.

Sexuality and Gender Alliance [SAGA] President Julia Coverdale said they are concerned about the future of LGBTQ+ students on campus if these bills are made law.

“For me it was kind of ‘oh s—’ because I knew there was going to be anti-trans legislation proposed in this legislative session, but we’ve always been protected by Laura Kelly vetoing and the legislature not having enough people to override that veto,” Coverdale, senior in anthropology, said.

Choosing a bathroom to use is already difficult for many transgender people on campus, Rice, junior in kinesiology, said.

“For most people I’ve talked to who also identify as trans, they usually go to the bathroom that they pass the best [in], rather than the one they feel more comfortable with, just due to the fact that they feel the student presence would not be as supportive,” Rice said.

Rice said this is a con-

troversial issue with many students at K-State.

“There’s a side where people are for the legislation and a side where people are not, but I have met people who are not part of either and are like ‘it doesn’t affect me,’” Rice said.

Chance Delaney, junior in architecture, said this is the case for him.

“My moral standpoint would be that it doesn’t affect me, so I don’t really care,” Delaney said. “But from my major’s standpoint, just make every bathroom a single bathroom, and that solves the issue.”

Delaney said he believes that legislation on this issue is pointless.

“If the government just left the issue alone, people would just sort it out themselves,” Delaney said. “You can legislate all you want, but people can only be controlled for so long.”

Amelia Hicks, a philosophy professor at K-State specializing in ethics, said the arguments in favor of the bill are mostly centered around legality.

“I haven’t seen any good-faith ethical arguments in favor of bathroom bills. … Instead, I’ve seen legal arguments appealing to the legal right to privacy,” Hicks said.

Christian Neises, senior in journalism, said he is in favor of the bill and shares this perspective on privacy.

“In the matter of intimate spaces like this, those two things [safety and privacy] do coincide,” Neises said. “People are never going to be more vulnerable than when you are using the restroom.”

Hicks said she believes the right to privacy argument is weak because it doesn’t consider the privacy

of trans people.

“Transgender people have the same privacy rights as cisgender people,” Hicks said. “Plus, the right to privacy doesn’t entitle someone to only share bathrooms with people who are similar to themselves.”

Thomas Adcock, freshman in history, said he believes this issue is about public safety.

“To put a biological male in a restroom with biological women is hindering the safety of women in that case,” Adcock said.

Hicks said while many supporting the bill call on public safety, these arguments lack statistical backing.

“Sometimes arguments for bathroom bills appeal to public safety. … Those public safety arguments are entirely specious,” Hicks said. “I’m not aware of any real evidence that inclusive bathroom policies reduce public safety.”

Delaney said he also believes it’s unlikely transgender people using the bathroom of their choice will result in safety issues.

“There’s always a safety concern because there’s always crazy people,” Delaney said. “But 99% of people are going into the bathroom to use the bathroom, not do something weird.”

Hicks said the ethical crux of the bill centers around the people who will be most affected by it.

“I often see ethical arguments against bathroom bills,” Hicks said. “Those arguments usually appeal to the harm caused by the bills.”

Coverdale said they have already seen the negative effects the bill has had on mental health.

“For SAGA, I see the severe impacts it has on men-

tal health for our students,” Coverdale said. “I know so many students who couldn’t even get to classes because of this news.”

Neises said his perspective isn’t meant to come from a place of disrespect.

“We absolutely disagree, and sometimes those disagreements become overheated, but it is not supposed to be out of a place of hatred,” Neises said.

Rice said this has not been her experience as she has encountered people who violently oppose her identity.

“I get times are changing and people are trying to

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Schumacher | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

be more inclusive, but for every one person that is trying to be inclusive, there’s five more people who are advocating for your death,” Rice said.

Rice said she wouldn’t have persisted through the criticism if she wasn’t certain of her identity.

“If I didn’t feel the way I do right now, do you think I would continue with my own identity?” Rice said. “I just want to live my own life to the best I can.”

As Senate Bill 180 and others become law, Coverdale said many students are left wondering how K-State

will react.

“If these bills pass, what is K-State’s response going to be?” Coverdale said.

“Unfortunately, I think that the university is more likely to take a politically neutral stance where they don’t comment on anything.”

When asked to comment, K-State said it is too early to speculate what changes may or may not be made until the bill is officially passed into law.

by Zoe

Kansas Senate passes bill barring transgender people from using the restroom of their choice.

Ongoing complaints remain unresolved: Kedzie Hall falling apart

ELIZABETH HAMILTON staff writer

Kedzie Hall has been open at Kansas State since 1899 and home to the journalism school for decades. However, some students, like Austin Schultz, said the condition of Kedzie has started to decline.

“It looks like an old brick building that you have to take classes in and there’s nothing really exciting about it,” Schultz, sophomore in journalism, said.

“I think if you brought in more colorful and engaging material, it would make Kedzie a more exciting place.”

Hallie Everett, student publications adviser, also said repairs should be made to Kedzie.

“Yes, the ceilings do leak,” Everett said. “I was here for the Manhappenin’ meeting. ... I got out of this meeting and a couple of the editors came to me like, ‘hey, there’s like a big ceiling leak on the south side of the building.’ So I just took a trash can and put it under where it was dripping,

and then I went upstairs and the floor was wet. It had leaked from the ceiling and through the floor, down to the first floor.”

Greg Paul, interim director of the A.Q. Miller School of Media and Communication at K-State, said the recurring budget cuts limit what improvements can be made to Kedzie.

“K-State has experienced several years of cuts to budgets such as reduced enrollment,” Paul said. “All those things together lead to rounds of cuts. We don’t know our budget yet,

because the state hasn’t sorted out its appropriations yet, and our dean’s office is still working through what its budget is going to be for next year.”

Everett said the budget for improvements should be the university’s responsibility.

“I think it should be up to the university to help put in the necessary money to keep the buildings functioning and looking nice,” Everett said. “A place that looks interesting to students, not with weird paint splotches on the walls.”

An anonymous survey sent out to SMC students on April 15 asked students how they used the space in Kedzie and how they thought the building could be improved. All 15 respondents said the building is “old,” 11 said Kedzie is “outdated,” 10 advocated for new paint and 12 wanted updated furniture.

Paul said the building is slowly sinking into the ground.

“When I spoke to folks about Kedzie and Nichols last year, I was hearing a lot of comments about the leaks in the roof and the bats in Kedzie disrupting class,” Paul said. “The north side was beginning to sink into the earth, so you could see — before they repainted and did other renovations — the difference in where tiles lay and where they are now, showing how the building has sunk.”

Everett said students are becoming unphased to the bats in the building.

“We had a bat in the newsroom in late August, just hanging from the ceiling, hanging out,” Everett said. “There’s lots of stories about bats and we are just like, ‘Oh yeah, another bat, there’s another one in here.’”

Dawson Wagner, programming and news director for Wildcat 91.9, said he noticed the physical condition of Kedzie declining.

“The ceiling of The Collegian’s newsroom was caving in,” Wagner said. “I’ve been talking to people about the issues in Kedzie for quite a while.”

Christopher Culbertson,

interim dean of the school of

arts and sciences, declined to comment on the budget and function of Kedzie Hall.

Paul said the budget will be released in July 2023 and will determine what and how much can be put toward repairs and renovations of Kedzie.

“Our fiscal year runs from July to June, so every July we get our new budget,” Paul said.

Everett said if people cared, they would put in the effort to repair the building.

“If people really care

about them, they put in the money to help fix it,” Everett said. “We need people to care about Kedzie’s character, Kedzie’s history, just the work that goes on here. Between all the publications, people create a lot of memories here. That’s one of the reasons I love Kedzie so much.”

Two inmates found dead at Riley County Jail within two weeks

Manhattan resident Joseph Varvel died April 28 while in confinement at Riley County Jail.

After an arrest for possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and interference with law enforcement, Varvel complained of breathing issues while in custody. Riley County Emergency Medical Services arrived on scene at 1:56 a.m. and cleared Varvel at 2:05 a.m., Aaron Wintermote, Riley County Police Department public information officer, said.

“EMS was called back at 3:32,” Wintermote said. “Varvel became physically ill while he was at the jail, and his condition deteriorated quickly. Corrections officers began life saving treatment. EMS arrived at the jail at 3:41 a.m. and continued to perform life saving treatments. He was then transported to Via Christi Hospital. He was pronounced dead at 3:47 a.m.”

This is the second death in the jail within two weeks. The first was Laura Pearce on April 15.

“Miss Pearce was found unresponsive in her single cell in the Riley County Jail on April 15 around 8:30 a.m.,” Wintermote said. “Corrections officers found her and started life saving treatment. Riley County EMS arrived at 8:32. Paramedics continued life saving measures. She was pronounced dead at 8:52 a.m. at the Riley County Jail. We do not believe there is any foul play with this and it is pretty clearly a suicide.”

Both deaths are under investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and autopsies will be performed.

Wintermote said neither of these deaths are related.

“I know they were in close proximity,” Wintermote said. “The suicide was the first death we have had at the jail since basically its creation that we know of. So, for that to happen and then to have another one two weeks later, there could maybe be conspiracy theories or things out there; but these are two separate instances, two really unfortunate situations that aren’t connected in any sort of way.”

MARGARET LATENSER managing editor

Elizabeth Hamilton | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP Students in Kedzie Hall have noticed several issues with the state of the building. Among these issues is a leaking ceiling.

Carter Schaffer

Editor-in-Chief

Margaret Latenser

Managing Editor

Zoe Schumacher

Page Design Chief

Cole Bertelsen

Copy Chief

Meredith McCalmon News Editor

Grace Needham

Arts & Culture Editor

Luke Lazarczyk Sports Editor

Avery Johnson Multimedia Editor

Catherine Eldridge Graphic Design Chief

Walter Steiner Website Manager

Reece Bachta Marketing / PR Manager

Lillian Muder Adversiting Manager

The Collegian, a student newspaper at Kansas State University, is published by Collegian Media Group. It is published Fridays during the school year and on Wednesdays during the summer. Periodical postage is paid at Manhattan, KS. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 828 Mid-Campus Drive South, Kedzie 103, Manhattan, KS 66506-7167. First copy free, additional copies 25 cents.

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CORRECTIONS

If you see something that should be corrected, call editor-in-chief Carter Schaffer at 785-3706356 or email collegian@kstatecollegian.com

Note from the editor: Our April editions (issues 26-29) were missing the masthead. The 2022-2023 editorial board created all these issues; this is the first issue with the 2023-2024 editorial board.

MEREDITH MCCALMON news editor

For the first time since 2018, all roads in Aggieville are fully open for use after steady construction for years, Andrew Lawson, Manhattan communications manager, said.

“There’s always been at least one entryway into Aggieville that had some kind of disruption,” Lawson said. “Right now you can come into Aggieville from any direction without major interference.”

Dennis Cook, Aggieville business director, said without construction patrons will notice several changes in Aggieville.

“There’s much improved parking stalls,” Cook said. “There’s a dedicated bicycle lane that’s in the appropriate spot and it has flowers and benches. Now we have this great Aggieville arch that stretches over the road to give [Aggieville] a nice picturesque piece.”

Lawson said Aggieville has added space for foot traffic.

“We’ve removed some of that on-street parking to allow for better flow,” Lawson said. “The sidewalks are clearly widened. There’s a lot more transit area for pedestrians and that’s important for when students are visiting.”

Lawson said he hopes the opening of all entrances to Aggieville will help bring more patrons to businesses that suffered during the construction.

“Aggieville is a community,” Lawson said. “It’s more than just a collection of businesses. There’s a feel to it. ... We’re trying to accommodate these businesses. It’s not the Aggieville businesses’ fault things are messed up down there. They’re just trying to survive and hang on.”

London Beuscher, Tanners Bar & Grill employee, noticed an influx of business since the streets opened up.

“Before, people weren’t really sure how to get down here, but with the roads open again I always see people

coming down,” Beuscher, junior in interior design, said. “I worked last night and it was completely packed.”

that said, things can change. ... We know there’s a water line under [Moro Street] that needs attention and we’re kind of

is a collaboration between the city and the ABA [Aggieville Business Association]. We’re hoping basically to create a

Religion Directory

GRACE NEEDHAM arts & culture editor

Happy Hippie in Aggieville is finally open, taking the place of Public Hall. Students flocked to the newest smoothie restaurant at the beginning of this week to try the food and drinks. One student, Krista Else, posted a picture of herself in a booth at Happy Hippie with her laptop and acai bowl, captioning it “Public Hall in a different font.”

The space still feels remarkably like Public Hall. The notes students shoved in the walls of the old coffee shop are gone, but the wood accents, plants and distinct Public Hall smell still remain.

In all honesty, I thought a smoothie shop had no chance of surviving in Aggieville, especially since the most successful businesses along Moro Street are full-service restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Happy Hippie has thus far proven my theory wrong; the space is usually busy in the mornings with customers vying for their morning health food.

The menu at Happy Hippie is alarmingly long; the best restaurants stick to a pared-down menu of items they know they can make well. Between blended coffees, smoothies, acai bowls, coffee, avocado toast and more, it was hard to choose something to try as a firsttime customer. Finally settling on the Midwest smoothie, I took my number and sat near the front of the space where I could look out on Aggieville through the massive windows.

The Midwest smoothie is a blend of strawberry, pineapple, peach, mango, yogurt and honey. When it was brought to my table, I was given a fat straw and a large pink blend in a plas-

tic cup. While the smoothie was slightly too expensive for my liking, I did get a decent amount of drink for the price. I took a sip and was pleasantly surprised.

The smoothie was well-balanced and sweet. It was strawberry and honey-forward. The drink was agreeably smooth; sometimes smoothies can get too icy or too watery, but the consistency was perfect. As I made more progress on the drink, it did develop a slightly weird, gritty texture, but it was nothing I wasn’t willing to endure for the fantastic taste.

Going to Happy Hippie for a nice chat with friends is one thing; studying is another. Every time a new order is punched in, the whirring noise from the choir of blenders fills the restaurant.

If I were studying I wouldn’t be able to hear myself think. The only seats isolated from the noise pollution are the few coveted booths in the back.

Happy Hippie’s success outside of breakfast hours may be short-lived as its novelty wears off. While it’s nice to have a breakfast place in the ‘Ville that doesn’t just serve donuts, the business needs to figure out a way to make studying a more enjoyable experience in order to expand and maintain its customer base. Based on my own experiences and listening to others’, I’d grade the food and drinks a solid B–. While the business made quite the debut, Happy Hippie might still have some work to do.

N O T E V E R Y H O U S E I S A H O M E M H K

H O U S I N G . C O M

t h e o f f i c i a l o f f - c a m p u s

h o u s i n g w e b s i t e !

The Midwest smoothie is a blend of strawberry, pineapple, peach, mango, yogurt and honey. Happy Hippie is a new smoothie shop in Aggieville that has replaced Public Hall

summer Events at k-state

5/24: Nobel Prize Summit 2023 Watch Party, Hale Library, 8 a.m.

6/5: K-State Garden Hour, Zoom, 12 p.m.

6/7: K-State Garden Hour, Zoom, 12 p.m.

6/16: Hale Library Concert Series: Jazz in June, Hemisphere Room in Hale, 7:30 p.m.

7/28: Wabash Cannonball Colorado 2023, The Brown Palace Hotel and Spa

7/29: Iris Sale at K-State Gardens, 8 a.m.

8/2: K-State Garden Hour, Zoom, 12 p.m.

8/20: New Student Convocation, Bill Snyder Family Stadium, 5 p.m.

COLE BERTELSEN copy chief

The latest horror movie to hit theaters is a mixture of strong character-driven scenes and unnecessarily over-the-top action. “The Pope’s Exorcist” stars Russell Crowe as Father Gabriele Amorth, the chief exorcist for the Vatican, and is based on the real figure in history.

Amorth performs exorcisms for the church, the majority of which are — by his own admission — not true possessions but rather mentally disturbed people. Still, Amorth forcefully defends his position to those trying to remove him. While 98% of his cases may only require psychiatrists and doctors, the other

2% percent are true evil. The pope sends him to Spain to exorcize an American boy named Henry who is possessed by a powerful demon. With the help of local Father Esquibel, Amorth attempts to learn the demon’s name to perform the exorcism and uncover further secrets in the old Spanish abbey where the boy and his family are staying.

Crowe’s performance as Amorth is the highlight of the film. The first half of the movie shows him dealing with the politics of the Vatican. Younger members of the church view Amorth as unnecessary and consider evil an idea rather than a tangible threat. Crowe shows his acting prowess in his portrayal of the practical

and experienced exorcist. It is satisfying to watch the devout man deal with the challenges thrown at him with disarming humor and strong determination.

Peter DeSouza-Feighoney is frighteningly convincing in the role of Henry as the possessed boy. Audiences will be surprised by the child’s acting; it’s easy to forget he is an actor and not really possessed. The demon has some particularly disturbing lines to be expected from a purely evil creature preying on others’ trauma and fears.

“The Pope’s Exorcist” begins with slow, character driven scenes, but as the plot progresses, the movie becomes a spectacle with a climactic ending that was a

bit overdone. It seems like the movie included 80s songs out of obligation since the movie is set in 1987. The first time one played, it felt bizarrely out of place, contrasting with the previous dark and serious scenes.

The mixture of Amorth’s strong character writing and Crowe’s acting make the story captivating throughout. The man is unwavering in his commitment to the church and his faith, and his conflict with the demon feels like two unstoppable forces facing off. This battle between a demon and the pope’s exorcist is worth the watch.

5 / 6

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K e l l e y H u n t + J a m e s A l b r i g h t @ F i r s t C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h , 7 : 3 0 P M

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@ B l u e E a r t h P l a z a , 1 0 - 5 P M

N a t h a n C o r s i & M y A t o m i c D a y d r e a m @ A u n t i e M a e ' s , 7 P M

T h e D u d e A b i d e s @ B l u e m o n t H o t e l , 8 P M

N a t h a n P a g e ' s U n d e r g r o u n d G u i t a r P u l l @ A u n t i e M a e ' s , 8 P M

T h e T h u n d e r i n g C a t s @ M c C a i n A u d i t o r i u m , 7 : 3 0 P M

M I D F E S T I S M I D F E S T I S B A C K , T H I S J U L Y ! B A C K , T H I S J U L Y !

K E E P Y O U R E Y E S P E E L E D F O R

M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N

F e s t i v a l d a t e s t o b e a n n o u n c e d s o o n F o l l o w @ M i d F e s t M H K o n

I n s t a g r a m s o y o u d o n ' t m i s s a n y a n n o u n c e m e n t s ! !

w w w . m h k m u s i c s c e n e . c o m

LUKE LAZARCZYK sports editor

TOBY HAMMES staff writer

The 2023 NFL Draft from April 27-29 featured four drafted Wildcats, each in or near his hometown team. The Wildcats have not had four players drafted in one year since 2013.

Frank Clark this offseason. Anudike-Uzomah will presumably fill Clark’s role as a high-motor pass rusher.

Anudike-Uzomah played a huge role in K-State becoming Big 12 champions in 2022 and will look to help the Chiefs repeat as world champions.

in the 6th round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Hayes played one year for the Wildcats, collecting 71 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss along with seven pass deflections on the season.

The Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs selected Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah with the 31st pick of the 2023 NFL Draft in Kansas City, Missouri.

Anudike-Uzomah was born in Kansas City, Missouri before attending Lee’s Summit High School and becoming a star pass rusher at K-State.

Declaring for the draft as a junior, Anudike-Uzomah finished his college career tied for sixth in school history in career sacks (20.5) and tied for fourth in career forced fumbles (8).

He received the 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year over Texas Tech edge rusher Tyree Wilson, who was selected as the seventh pick to the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Chiefs selected defensive end George Karlaftis in the first round last year but cut ties with fellow end

Cornerback Julius Brents was drafted with the 44th pick of the NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

Brents heads into Indianapolis after recording one of the best performances in the NFL Scouting Combine.

In his four years at K-State, Brents recorded six interceptions and 111 tackles with four interceptions and 45 tackles in the 2022 season.

Running back Deuce Vaughn was drafted with the 212th pick of the NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

Vaughn, 21, had a remarkable career at K-State before declaring for the draft as a junior. The 5-foot-6 all-purpose back became a consensus All-American for a second-straight season in 2022. He was one of just two repeat consensus All-Americans on the 2022 list along with Alabama’s Will Anderson who was drafted third overall to the Houston Texans.

Leaving K-State with the school record for receptions and receiving yards by a running back, Vaughn also ranks second in career rushing yards. He became the third player in school history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

Vaughn has drawn comparisons to K-State’s leading rusher Darren Sproles who is ranked fifth in career all-purpose yards in NFL history. Each running back owns a small stature but makes up for it in play-making ability.

SUMMER HIRE: Associated Insulation is hiring Full-time Asbestos Abatement workers in the Manhattan and Ft. Riley areas. Base pay $18.86/hour. Daily jobsite transportation provided from their Manhattan location. Required: 32 hours, free to you, classroom/ hands on training, May 15- May 18, 8 am-4:30 pm in St. Marys (lunch provided, must have your own transportation to get to class) To comply with state requirements, you must complete the full 32 hours to receive certification. Must be at least 18 years of age to apply and pass a background check for government projects. Contact Angie or Tim at 785-321-1290 for additional details, and to register for class.

Safety Josh Hayes was drafted with the 181st pick

Following the departure of senior guard Markquis Nowell, Kansas State needed a point guard to run their offense in 2023-24. Enter Tylor Perry.

The 5-foot-11 senior leaves North Texas as the 2023 Conference USA Player of the Year and the 2023 NIT Most Outstanding Player. In 2023, Perry averaged 17.3 points per game with 2.1 assists per game while shooting 41.3% on 3-pointers and 43.7% on all field goals.

The Athletic rated Per-

ry as the second best player available in the transfer portal. As one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal, Perry chose K-State over Florida, Ole Miss and Texas Tech.

Before spending his last two seasons at North Texas, Perry played junior college at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas.

By coming to Manhattan, Perry is reunited with K-State assistant head coach Jareem Dowling, who played a large role in Perry’s recruitment. Dowling coached at North Texas from 20172022 before being announced as the first member

of head coach Jerome Tang’s inaugural coaching staff.

“Jerome Tang and Jareem Dowling ... that whole coaching staff, as soon as I got around them I instantly knew this was it,” Perry said according to KSNT.

K-State has three scholarship openings remaining for 2023-24. One position of interest for the Wildcats would likely include a small forward replacement for Keyontae Johnson, who declared for the NBA Draft. Tang has also mentioned looking to add a second guard.

“We’re going to hit the transfer portal hard,” Tang

said in an interview with The Field of 68. “I want to find two guards who have played 90 games of college basketball, that are passionate about getting better and want to win.”

Perry joins incoming freshman four stars Dai Dai Ames, RJ Jones and Macaleab Rich as newcomers in 2023-2024. Tang and his staff will look to continue to build a roster of “dudes” built for another deep tournament run.

K-State men’s basketball transfer Tylor Perry shoots a 3-pointer against Western Kentucky. Perry announced his transfer to K-State on Tuesday, May 2 and averaged 17.3 points per game for North Texas.

TOBY HAMMES

staff writer

OPINION: Expect to see K-State baseball in the NCAA tournament

on deck for the Wildcats.

In a historic year for Kansas State athletics, K-State baseball might be the latest program to succeed where few expected. For the first time since 2013, a postseason berth to the NCAA Regionals could be

Following a series victory over then-No. 14 Texas Tech, K-State rose 10 spots in the rating-percentage index — one of the deciding factors in ranking teams. The series also moved K-State into a tie for second place in the Big 12. Few will argue against

the SEC being the pinnacle of college baseball. All but one national champion has come from the conference since 2017. However, the next-best conference is up for debate, and the conversation starts with the Big 12 and the ACC.

The Big 12’s RPI just edges out the ACC for the

second highest over the last three seasons. A high Big 12 finish would make K-State deserving of making the postseason.

College Sports Madness projects K-State as one of the last four teams to receive a regional berth. Collegiate Baseball is higher, ranking the Wildcats as the 22ndbest team in the nation.

In each of its three remaining series, the opportunity presents itself for K-State to turn more heads and perhaps cement its place in regionals.

The path starts with this weekend’s series against Southeast Missouri State, which has a spot in region-

als as the first-place team in the Ohio Valley Conference. K-State has seen trouble with non-conference play at times but could right the ship against the Redhawks.

In its final two conference series, K-State takes on Oklahoma State and TCU. Each team is ranked above K-State by RPI despite neither having a better conference record than the Wildcats.

“My message to our guys every day is, ‘Prove them right, or prove them wrong,’” head coach Pete Hughes said to K-State Athletics. “We were ranked ahead of Texas Tech in the RPI before the weekend and

we were ranked ahead of them in our conference, and they were ranked No. 14 and K-State doesn’t receive any votes. … What better than to play a series against them and then you can prove people wrong.”

Hughes and the team have already proven themselves to the other head coaches who picked the Wildcats to comfortably finish bottom three in the conference preseason poll. With a strong finish to the season, K-State could surprise the nation by claiming their spot in the postseason.

TOBY HAMMES staff writer

Jersey Johnson | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Third baseman Kaelen Culpepper celebrates after a double against then-No. 14 ranked Texas Tech. Kansas State won the series 2-1 and was later ranked No. 22 in the nation.

baseball

Historic men’s golf season leads to fifth seed in NCAA Regionals

We’re excited now.”

In back-to-back seasons, Kansas State men’s golf has reached the NCAA Regional. In one of the best years in program history — including winning four season championships, which is tied for second-most in school history — the Wildcats were named the No. 5 seed in the Bath Regional. The tournament will take place May 1517 at Eagle Eye Golf Club in East Lansing, Michigan, between 13 teams.

“It’s a good feeling,” golfer Will Hopkins said. “This is what we’ve been working towards all year and we kind of knew that we had achieved our first goal. …

The Wildcats have been on track to make the NCAA Regional since the season began. The team swept through the fall, winning three tournaments.

“We’ve been talking about it since the beginning of our fall semester,” golfer Tim Tillmanns said. “Winning all of our fall events, I think that was really a big confidence boost.”

After placing ninth out of 13 teams last year, the Wildcats look to grow from the experience.

“Last year was a little bit inexperienced for the whole team,” Tillmanns said. “Thirteen years and [K-State] haven’t been there, and I think with that

came a lot of pressure, and I think we learned a lot from that.”

Marking the first time the team has made back-toback regionals since 2008 and 2009, men’s golf has come a long way.

“It took a while to get to that first step to make regional,” head coach Grant Robbins said. “We came so close in 2019, and again in 2021, and then last year we finally broke through and made that regional. This year we just had such a great year, we’re very consistent, top 25 all year. This year it’s

all about where we’re going and what it’s going to take to advance.”

Robbins said the team’s consistency comes from having an all-around talented roster.

“The thing that’s made our team so good this year I think is the depth,” Robbins said. “If you look at the course of the year, there’s always been someone to step up.”

The team’s depth will be vital when facing its opponents in the Bath Regional. Those opponents include No. 1 seed Illinois, who beat

K-State by eight strokes in the Hal Williams Collegiate, and fellow Big 12 team and defending NCAA Champions, No. 3 seed Texas.

“Every region was tough and this is obviously going to be a tough one,” Robbins said. “Every school that’s there has earned their way there. They’re going to be really tough to beat. We’re going to have to play our best golf.”

In every region, the top five teams advance to the NCAA Championship. As the No. 5 seed, this places the Wildcats in position to

make its first NCAA Championship ever for the program. That achievement is the main focus on the team’s mind going to Michigan.

“It’s something we’ve had circled from the beginning of the year,” Hopkins said. It’s something we want to do for the school, one another, and with this being my last go around, it is definitely something that is motivating me.”

LUKE LAZARCZYK sports editor

Avery Johnson | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP Kansas State men’s golf watches on during its selection show watch party. The Wildcats made regionals as the No. 5 seed in the Bath Regionals.

Avery Johnson | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

1. Hale Library will host Jazz in June on June 16 in the _____ Room.

4. Men’s golf was selected to play in the NCAA’s _____ Regional.

5. With construction at a pause, patrons will notice improved ____ when visiting Aggieville.

7. “The Pope’s ______,” a horror movie starring Russell Crowe, came out on April 14.

2. Tylor Perry’s transfer ranking according to The Athletic.

3. Pitcher with eight saves.

6. Baseball hasn’t participated in __________ play since 2013.

8. Students have noticed issues in ___ Hall such as leaking ceilings, uneven floors and bats.

9. Happy _____, a smoothie shop, is now open in Aggieville in place of Public Hall.

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