The Sunflower v.123 i.27

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2018 • VOL. 123, ISS. 27

THESUNFLOWER.COM

WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1896.

Former UPD sergeant sues WSU for discrimination, retaliation termination, Moyer says he sought opinions from two A former sergeant with outside psychologists who the Wichita State Police declared him fit for duty.

Department is suing the Moyer, who could not university for allegedly be reached for comment, violating the Americans claims in the court filing with Disabilities Act that his termination came MORRIS (ADA) and retaliating as a direct result of discussing against him for raising conracial discrimination with a cerns about racial discrimination university administrator in what he in the police department. thought was a confidential meeting.

Garret Moyer was terminated The complaint, filed in July with from his position in August of 2017 the United States District Court for after he was deemed “not capable the District of Kansas, alleges that of performing” his administrative within three business days of finding duties. Moyer, who began working out that Moyer spoke with a uniwith the university police departversity administrator, former WSU ment in 2000, had been diagnosed Police Chief Sara Morris arranged with dyslexia and relied on a for Moyer to take a fitness-for-duty read-aloud software program to psychological evaluation. help him with his work. After his The complaint states that in

BY MATTHEW KELLY

December of 2016, Demario Smith, a black police officer who at the time worked for the university police department, filed a complaint that his supervisors and Chief Morris were being racially discriminatory toward him. In an official response filed with the court, WSU claims it “lacks sufficient information to admit or deny” that Smith filed a discrimination complaint.

After the alleged complaint was filed, Moyer says Chief Morris told him WSU President John Bardo gave her “one more chance” to get things right or she would be dismissed. Morris retired from her position as police chief in September of 2017.

SEE MOYER PAGE 2

SUNFLOWER FILE PHOTO Garrett Moyer, a former sergeant with the WSU police department, poses with a police vehicle.

Moyer was fired in August 2017 and is now suing WSU for discrimination and retaliation.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITIES BY COLLEGE BUSINESS 51.8 PERCENT

UNIVERSITY-WIDE 22.2 PERCENT

BUSINESS - $20 MILLION New business school building — $20 million UNIVERSITY-WIDE - $8.6 MILLION Renovate and centralize student services in Clinton Hall — $8.6 million HEALTH PROFESSIONS - $4.4 MILLION AEGD building expansion — $2.7 million public CHP Student Service Center — $1.7 million

LIBRARIES 2 PERCENT

FINE ARTS - $3.5 MILLION Renovate Henrion Hall — $2 million Renovate Wilner Auditorium — $1 million Audio/visual equipment upgrade — $500,000

$38,595,000

LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES - $900,000 Biology remodel of Hubbard Hall — $600,000 Play therapy center and psychology clinical lab remodel — $600,000 ($300,000 for both LAS and Applied Studies)

WSU says the proposed infrastructure student fee hike would “positively impact all colleges,” but more than half of the almost $38.6 million raised would go towards building a new business school.

LIBRARIES - $795,000 Expand the 24-hour study room — $75,000 Relocate first floor microform and map cases and remodel area to include additional technology – $20,000 Move infrequently used materials to new compact shelving, develop additional student engagement/collaborative and partnership spaces on 2nd and 3rd floors — $650,000

LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES 2.3 PERCENT

Relocate existing first floor government documents and remodel area — $50,000 APPLIED STUDIES - $300,000 Play therapy center and psychology clinical lab remodel — $600,000 ($300,000 for both Applied Studies and LAS)

HEALTH PROFESSIONS 11.4 PERCENT

ENGINEERING - $100,000 Renovate and modernize the 3’x4’ wind tunnel and the supersonic wind tunnel labs in aerospace engineering — $100,000

FINE ARTS 9 PERCENT ENGINEERING .2 PERCENT

APPLIED STUDIES .7 PERCENT

INFORMATION SHARED AT FACULTY SENATE MEETING

Bardo hospitalized for chronic lung condition

BY EVAN PFLUGRADT AND MATTHEW KELLY

Wichita State President John Bardo is currently hospitalized for a flare-up of a chronic lung condition.

In a letter sent out Sunday to colleagues, Bardo said his doctors told him he can expect “several weeks of convalescence.”

“I’m in good spirits and continue to work with members of the Executive Team on university issues,” Bardo wrote. “I’m looking forward to being back on campus and seeing you in the new year.”

Vice President for Strategic Communications Lou Heldman said Bardo, 70, is “fully conscious and involved” in making university decisions but that he will not be back in time to attend fall commencement on Dec. 16. Bardo has been hospitalized since “before Thanksgiving,” Heldman said.

Bardo said his doctors told him that he can expected to return to the university in January.

Heldman said members of the president’s executive team are in

International students make up nearly 10 percent of WSU’s student body

BY AILEEN RUEDA-DACOSTA

SELENA FAVELA/THE SUNFLOWER

Wichita State President John Bardo responds to a question at an event last October. Bardo is not expected to return to campus until January.

charge of their own spheres of the university, but they will continue to “bounce things off of Bardo” while he is away.

“Right now, it’s business as usual,” Heldman said.

Heldman said Provost Rick Muma “is responsible for the biggest chunk of the university.”

Matt Keith, director of communications for the Kansas Board of Regents, said the Regents are

aware of Bardo’s condition.

“The Board and KBOR President Blake Flanders will remain in contact with President Bardo and will support the rest of the Wichita State leadership team until he can return to campus,” Keith wrote in an email.

“The Regents will also work with Provost Rick Muma to ensure that the management of the University continues to operate smoothly.”

This semester, Wichita State successfully recruited international students from more than 110 countries. Of the total student body of around 15,700 students, 1,635 are international students.

Around 71 percent of international students are undergraduates. The remaining 29 percent are graduate students.

The budget for WSU recruiters abroad comes from the application fees paid by international students. Their budget varies from year to year, and it can range from $50,000 to $100,000.

WSU is ranked no. 151 among more than 4,500 US institutions that have international student programs. The ranking accounts for what percentage of total enrollment is made up of international students.

Some students are recruited

through social media or school visits, but about 40 percent of international students find their way to WSU through agents.

Agents work to assist students with college applications and introduce potential overseas schools to prospective students.

Agents are paid partially through the school, ranging from $800 to $2,000 for each student who completes the enrollment process and attends WSU. “Most of the international recruitment is all directed towards students that are going to come here and earn a degree,” said Ann Burger, associate director for study abroad and exchange programs.

Both Burger and Fai Tai, associate director for international student recruitment, dedicate themselves to reaching students and having them successfully complete a degree or exchange program.

INSIDE

BLURRING BOUNDARIES

BEAR TRAP

CONFERENCE HONORS

Ashley Estes-Christ’s art show captures terrestrial beauty.

“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” makes the most of its streaming platform.

The Shockers play host to Baylor on Saturday.

Sophomore Giorgia Civita was named the AAC’s libero of he year.

CULTURE • PAGE 3

CULTURE • PAGE 3

SPORTS • PAGE 4

SPORTS • PAGE 4

STUDENT ART

2 | THURSDAY, NOV. 29, 2018

OPINION

www.thesunflower.com

FREE PRESS KEY TO A FREE NATION

THE STAFF EDITORIAL

Editor in Chief Matthew Kelly Digital Managing Editor Andrew Linnabary Visual Managing Editor Madeline Deabler News Editor Jenna Farhat Culture Editor John Darr Sports Editor Evan Pflugradt Photo Editor Selena Favela Sports Photo Editor Joseph Barringhaus

ADVERTISING

Advertising Manager Kylie Cameron

ADVISING

Faculty Adviser Amy DeVault

In the nearly two years of the Trump administration, a clear point of tension between the president and the media created the foundation for the widespread disdain for what is commonly called “fake news.” Mass outrage towards major news channels such as CNN and MSNBC led to the domino effect that is the distrust in America’s journalism.

After CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta’s press pass was revoked following a verbal altercation at a press conference, tension further grew. In a statement made on Monday, Trump alluded to the possibility of a government-run global media network to rival CNN in its monopoly of “unfair” coverage of the United States. Maybe nothing more than a rash comment made by an irrational and uninformed president, but the concept of creating a government-run news outlet is dangerous to America’s foundation of democracy.

A free and unregulated press is essential to the proper functioning of democracy. The media acts as a check on the national government, providing the people with the news necessary to make decisions free of government partisanship or bias.

Though networks with clear bias exist, ethical journalism is fundamental is the workings the press.

Outlets such as PBS, NPR, and The

MOYER

FROM PAGE 2 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Send letters to the editor to editor@thesunflower.com or submit at thesunflower.com. Please keep letters to 400 words or less. All letters are edited for clarity and length. Please include your name, WSU affiliation and a phone number for verification purposes.

Our Mission

The Sunflower — both in print and online — will be a timely resource of information about the Wichita State University community. It will report on news, issues, activities, academics and athletics, in addition to offering a forum for discussion, reviews and commentary. It will also be an effective learnig experience for students, who will have the final authority over what is published.

Legal

The Sunflower (published for use by WSU students, faculty and staff) is private property and unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable. One copy may be taken for free. Additional copies must be purchased for $1 each. The Sunflower is also partially funded by the Student Government Association at WSU. The opinions expressed in The Sunflower editorials, columns, guest columns, reviews, advertisements, letters and editorial cartoons are not necessarily those of the staff, publications board, student body or university. The Sunflower reserves the right to edit or reject any submission. We also reserve the right to edit or reject any advertisement.

CONTACT THE SUNFLOWER 019 Elliott Hall 1845 N. Fairmount Ave. Campus Box 134 Wichita, KS 67260-0134 ----------

SUNFLOWER OFFICES Front Desk: 316-978-3640 ADVERTISING Kylie Cameron: 316-978-6906 admanager@thesunflower.com EDITORIAL Matthew Kelly: 316-978-6905 editor@thesunflower.com ADVISER Amy DeVault: 316-978-6052 amy.devault@wichita.edu ---------ONLINE www.thesunflower.com FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/sunflowerwsu TWITTER @sunflowernews INSTAGRAM @thesunflowernews

First Amendment

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

CORRECTIONS This space is reserved for corrections.

Spot an error? Call us at 316-978-6905.

At a meeting discussing Morris’s risk of termination, Moyer claims that Sgt. Chad Agnew “put a picture of an African-American Lieutenant from the Wichita Police Department on an office computer screen and said that if Chief Morris was terminated and this woman was hired, it was ‘going to get a little dark in here.’”

In the complaint, Moyer says Morris asked him to “watch” Officer Smith — implying Moyer should write him up as often as possible so that he could be disciplined and eventually terminated.

Moyer claims that on Jan. 31, 2017, he voiced his concerns about racial discrimination to Linnea Glenmaye, vice president of academic affairs, but did not take her advice of filing a complaint for fear of retaliation.

Moyer states that Glenmaye assured him their meeting was confidential, but later disclosed their conversation with Chief Morris.

Moyer claims that on April 6, 2017, Chief Morris confronted him about his prior conversation with Glenmaye. He claims he explained to Morris why he thought members of the department — specifically Morris, Sgt. Agnew, and Capt. Cory Herl — had engaged in discriminatory behavior against Officer Smith.

At the end of their meeting, Moyer claims that Morris said, “I know what I got to do.”

WSU admits in the court filing that on April 10, Morris emailed Moyer, informing him that he was scheduled to meet with a representative from HR the next day as “a follow-up” of their “conversation and the events on January 31, 2017” — the day Moyer says he raised concerns of racial discrimination with Glenmaye.

The next day, Moyer met with the HR representative, Marcie Holsteen, who allegedly asked him about his conversation with Glenmaye before

MADELINE SPURLOCK COLUMNIST

New York Times provide unbiased reporting of government happenings and other basic news throughout the nation. Additionally, CNN and other networks that do have a slight partisan lean are no less trustworthy, as their reporters are still independent of the government and seek information, rather than given information.

The concept of a government run and regulated network strays into dangerous territory and could threaten America’s democratic principles.

In authoritarian nations like North Korea, government regulated media is commonplace, and the practice of freedom of speech and press is prohibited. Though an extreme example, the only benefit to a government-run media would be to establish and push the government’s own agenda.

With no bipartisan mediator, the people are only being distributed informing him that Chief Morris had expressed concerns about his mental health.

Holsteen allegedly proceeded to administer a fitness-for-duty evaluation on Moyer. The complaint states she “had no prior experience administering” such evaluations. After completing the evaluation, Moyer says he was interviewed by Dr. David Bowman, a licensed psychologist.

The university admits that Moyer was removed from his sergeant position and placed on administrative leave on April 18, after Dr. Bowman released a report stating that Moyer “seemed oblivious as to how his behavior has deteriorated workplace relationships and trust.”

“Given the chronic nature of [Moyer’s] personality traits and the fact that he has long sought out mental health treatment, it is unlikely that his stability & fitness will significantly improve in the future,” Dr. Bowman’s report states.

The university admits that Moyer was diagnosed with dyslexia but states that he “is not a qualified individual with a disability under the ADA.” The ADA defines a disability as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity.”

WSU General Counsel David Moses said it’s a common defense to deny that a terminated employee suffered from a disability.

“Whenever an employee claims that they have a disability and they’ve been discharged because of that disability, it is not uncommon that a defense that you initially raise at the front end is that it’s not a disability,” Moses said.

In the court filing, WSU also denies it was aware that Moyer required accommodations for his disabilities.

In March 2017, a month before Moyer was placed on leave, The Sunflower published a feature story with the headline “Dyslexia

www.thesunflower.com

news that the government wants them to hear, creating an ill-informed and delusional electorate.

With this, America is put at risk of becoming the authoritarian enemy we claim to hate. Blind trust in government and the information they choose to provide is what involves the United States in wars, both domestically and foreign, and want keeps the people ignorant.

Though distrust in both American media and government predates the Trump administration, his growing hatred of “fake news” is only perpetuating distrust in the free press. America’s founders understood the importance of an unbiased media when writing the Constitution in 1787 that, as a fundamental piece of modern democracy, must be protected at all costs.

It is the public’s responsibility to make sure the media they consume is reliable and factual, and the creation of a government facilitated network will inherently decrease public accountability, therefore creating a blind trust in government that is only intended to keep the people ignorant and compliant.

The government must be held accountable at every functioning level, and this can only be done by giving the power of the press to the people. difficulties don’t hinder UPD administrative sergeant.” The article describes how Moyer learned to combat his dyslexia by making use of software programs and audiobooks to complete his work and pursue his master’s degree in criminal justice.

Moyer completed his degree this May, nine months after his termination from the university police department.

In the article, Moyer states that Chief Morris gave him the idea to pursue his master’s degree. Morris is quoted in the article.

“I used to talk to [Moyer] about quality control and reviewing his paperwork better to find spelling and grammar errors,” Morris said.

“When we talked about the dyslexia, we started looking for resources available to help.”

Morris went on to say Moyer’s use of software programs greatly improved his confidence.

“As a result (of the programs), you could see his confidence building and then he just took off and started pursuing his master’s degree,” Morris said.

On April 19, after being placed on administrative leave, Moyer met with Jane Link, director of WSU’s Equal Opportunity Office.

Moyer complained that Morris was behaving discriminatorily and that she failed to accommodate his disabilities when he was given a fitness-for-duty evaluation.

WSU admits that Link conducted an investigation in which she interviewed both Moyer and Chief Morris.

Link concluded that the failure to accommodate for Moyer’s disability during the evaluation was a policy violation. As a consequence of the violation, a copy of the outcome letter was placed in Chief Morris’s personnel file as a written reprimand.

On July 11, Moyer underwent another fit-for-duty evaluation. The evaluation was administered by Dr. Bruce Nystrom, who Moyer claims openly admitted that he served on the Wichita Police Department with Morris.

In a written report, Dr. Nystrom wrote that while Moyer “likely is quite fit to perform other law enforcement duties, he is not capable of performing the current administrative requirements in a competent manner.”

On August 31, Moyer was terminated from the WSU police department.

In the next two months, Moyer

shocker

street speak

What is your end-ofthe-semester advice?

“I study a little bit at a time so I don’t have to handle everything at once.

I also take a tai chi class.

It helps me with stress by clearing my mind.”

— DESTINY WALKER, Pre-Nursing, Sophomore

“I find that spacing all my work out is best. I have to make sure that I have time to do things but also having enough time to breathe. There is a lot to do. I have to take time for me. I try to do a little bit of both work and recreation.”

—TAJAHNAE STOCKER, Field Studies, Senior

“I don’t put all of my different workloads on one day. I try to space everything out as much as I can so that I am not overloaded. That’s how I approach the end of the semester. Definitely, having some time for rest and relaxation helps.”

—KEVIN BENAVIDES, Strategic Communication, Senior

claims he sought out two independent opinions from licensed psychologists, who found him fit for duty.

Moyer claims that as a result of his termination, “his reputation as a faithful, hardworking, loyal and diligent employee has been irreparably damaged.” Moyer is suing WSU for more than $75,000.

Kansas is an employment-at-will state, meaning the employer or employee may end the employment relationship at any time, for any or no reason, as long as no agreement stating otherwise exists. Discrimination statutes make exemptions for cases in which employment is terminated based on a number of factors, including an employee’s disabilities.

Moses said WSU has roughly 3,000 employees.

“It is not unusual for there to be an employee that thinks they should have been treated differently, and that’s why we have a court system,” Moses said.

Moses said WSU outsourced the case to the Topeka-based law firm Fisher Patterson Sayler & Smith.

CULTURE

www.thesunflower.com

THURSDAY, NOV. 29, 2018

|3

Student captures terrestrial beauty in Cadman art exhibit

BY JOHN DARR

There are many reasons someone might go out to a farm: to get fresh fruit, pet some cows, or perhaps deal with a mid-life crisis by living off the land. Sarah Estes-Christ, a senior studying art education, goes for a different reason – to create a universe.

“When I was working on other paintings, I had a few that looked like planets,” Estes-Christ recalled.

“My husband looked at one of them and said, that looks like Mars. And I said hmm, what can I do with this information?”

Estes-Christ is showcasing her exhibit “Organized Chaos” at the Wilson K. Cadman Art Gallery in the Rhatigan Student Center through the end of the semester. Among the gorgeously textured, abstract works — each of which is created with layers of acrylic paint — are eight toscale representations of the planets.

The base material for each planet is a piece of plywood cut at Estes-Christ’s parents’ farm.

“Plywood is really interesting because you can make it whatever shape you want,” Estes-Christ said.

The freedom of shaping gave her the flexibility she needed for the project. However, size was just one aspect of differentiating the planets.

Estes-Christ said she had to improvise

when creating representations for moons and planets that naturally look similar.

“I redid Mercury like four or five times,” she said. “I just couldn’t get it right. It just didn’t want to be Mercury.

It kept looking like a moon.”

Ultimately, she found a solution through color — bringing Mercury’s great surface to life with subtle copper and blue shades.

Estes-Christ’s love of color is apparent in all her work. Across “Organized Chaos,” she used different base materials and palettes of color that recall all sorts of environments. Her pieces evoke settings from forests to seas to deserts. The huge variety stems from both Estes-Christ’s painting process and her aesthetic tendencies.

“I don’t stop working on something until I’m happy with it,” said EstesChrist, referring to “Panama,” a piece that features painted leaves over a swirling wash of tropical shades.

She starts most paintings by creating shapes of color, then fills in the gaps and adds layers until the work feels complete, she said.

That’s how Estes-Christ created “Reef,” one of her favorite pieces in the exhibit.

“I started with a base color, and then I took a pink and a blue and made out these shapes,” EstesChrist said.

JOHN DARR/THE SUNFLOWER

“Organized chaos” by estes is showing at the Cadman Art Gallery in the Rhatigan Student Center until Dec. 14.

As she added paint and used materials such as latex extender to create rich color patterns, she moved closer and closer to the final work — a rippling, warm, aquatic piece that entices the viewer with purples and pinks that jump out of the deep blue.

“I just kept manipulating it until I was happy,” she said.

Joy radiates through much of the

work, which Estes-Christ says is bound up in her personality. She’s an experimental artist, but she also doesn’t take herself too seriously.

Explaining her tendency towards abstract work, Estes-Christ laughed.

“I make messes a lot,” she said.

Estes-Christ said she hopes her experimentation will both inspire others — she’s studying education, after all — and help Wichita State

students in a practical way.

“It’s finals time. People are stressed out,” Estes Christ said.

“It’s fun to walk around and look at art and forget that you have a test in an hour.”

Whether students want to get lost in the galaxy or simply gaze on colors that remind them of home, they’re sure to find something to love amidst the paint.

Oxnard: .Paak’s hometown album

MARIAH PERKINS

COURTESY

MUSIC CRITIC

Anderson .Paak’s feel-good genre fusions and lightly political messages makes his third solo album both dynamic and accessible. His cutting edge production techniques and soul, funk, and 90’s influences are expertly weaved together in “Oxnard.”

The record’s features tend toward established artists, including Dr. Dre, Pusha T, Q-tip, and Snoop Dogg.

Each feature accents his musical sensibilities while generating a lot of attention for the album.

As a whole, “Oxnard” is easy listening. Many of the tracks seamlessly blend into each other. This makes for a cohesive album that lends itself to single-sitting listens.

The standouts among the album are generally songs that switch up .Paak’s comfortable soft funk sound or depart from his go-to lyrical topics of relationships and success.

The first standout track on the album is “Who R U?” Dr. Dre had a heavy hand in making this one of the most unique sounding cuts on the record. .Paak’s flow changes throughout the verses, but clear production and a focused instrumental keep the song from derailing.

“6 Summers,” on the other hand, boasts the record’s most interesting, layered lyrics. .Paak creates a playful premise — Donald Trump having a rebellious lovechild — to dive into the issue of ever-present gun

Tim Blake Nelson stars in “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” a Netflix original film.

‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs’ delights in blurring boundaries

COURTESY Oxnard is Anderson .Paak’s third studio album.

violence. The self-aware chorus tells us, “This sh*t gon’ bang for at least six summers/But ain’t sh*t gon’ change for at least three summers.”

The majority of “Oxnard” doesn’t directly address politics, so “6 Summers” stands out as a piece of cathartic topical art. As a counter to the jokey lyrics that open the track, the song devastatingly closes with the line “reform shoulda came sooner”—making “6 Summers” one of the best cuts from the album.

The rest of “Oxnard” features songs like “Smile/Petty,” “Mansa Musa,” “Anywhere,” and “Sweet Chick,” which recall the joyous rapture of .Paak’s summertime single, “Bubblin’.” “Cheers,” a similarly joyful cut, offers a more bittersweet moment. The track takes time to

JOHN DARR

CULTURE EDITOR give a tribute to those who helped .Paak get to where he is — specifically the late Mac Miller.

Although .Paak incorporates an impressive list of co-stars and a well-crafted fusion of genres on “Oxnard,” it doesn’t quite reach the heights of his previous record, Malibu. “Oxnard” could be interpreted as a reassertion of optimism in the face of hardship, but it could also be classified as a hedonistic album crafted in the face of hardship. The record’s smart lyricism suggests the former.

Anderson .Paak’s joy serves as a source of brightness that persists regardless of its environment, and “Oxnard” is no exception.

RATING: 3.5/5

In a world of Netflix and “Game of Thrones,” the small screen can often loom larger than the theater. What we watch is as likely determined by our taste as it is the current selection of a streaming site.

It was only a matter of time before feature-length filmmakers started asking themselves how to adapt to the changing market, and this year has seen the release of many excellent films exclusively through streaming networks.

“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” directed by artsy superstar duo The Coen Brothers, seems to be the first of such films to embrace the world of streaming head on through both form and content. “Buster

FREAKS AND GEEKS WELCOME

LIVE MUSIC- FREE ENTRY - COLD BEER - PIZZA -TASTY BEVERAGES FREE USE OF OUR OUTDOOR PATIO FOR WSU STAFF OR STUDENT EVENTS

WWW.KIRBYSBEERSTORE.COM 3227 E 17TH - 21+ TO ENTER

Scruggs” guides the viewer through six intriguing tales set in America’s Wild West. Though each tale grapples with bizarre violence and unexpected death, the collection is anchored by elegant camerawork that places contemplation over shock value. It’s a delicate balance and a welcome one.

The tales within “Buster Scruggs” operate like short stories. The Coen Brothers conjure vivid, quirky settings from thin air, drop striking characters into their midst, and allow them to meander their way into sin or salvation. The shots recall storybooks and old-school westerns, accentuating the odd-two dimensional nature of pop-up Western boomtowns. The film’s bold colors, whether illustrating the brilliant golds and greens of a meadow valley or the peeling blue wallpaper of a dark saloon, make the movie a delight to the eye even when it moves slowly.

Yet even when it meanders, “Buster Scruggs” avoids boredom at all costs. It moves with efficiency through each of its tales, utilizing forgotten staples of the American past like freak shows and old-fashioned ‘security systems’ to instill tales with tantalizing weirdness.

As soon as a character or setting has served its purpose, the Coen Brothers beckon the viewer onward.

Each new story wipes the slate clean.

As the tales veer from comedy to tragedy, the viewer rarely has an idea of what’s coming next.

This allows “Buster Scruggs” to tread a little-explored middle ground between television show and feature film. It features several bigshot stars like Liam Neeson and James Franco who are more often seen in theatres than in a series, yet it restricts each to about a half-hour of screen time through the constraints of the short-story format. As such, “Buster Scruggs” can be viewed as a whole or section-by-section.

It encourages viewers to experiment with storytelling form as much as it asserts the value of old ways of sharing stories. In its final chapter, “Buster Scruggs” sits the viewer down in a carriage to listen to the tales of its five inhabitants.

Each character has a story to share.

As they bicker, curse and even attack each other, the characters fall deeper into the spell of the narrative until they can no longer differentiate between the stories they’re hearing and the carriage ride they’re currently taking.

“Buster Scruggs” hints that, no matter which form our stories take, there is as much value in sharing them as there is value in moving into the future.

SPORTS

4 | THURSDAY, NOV. 29, 2018

www.thesunflower.com

THE SUNFLOWER FILE PHOTO

Wichita State defeated Baylor 64-62 on the road last December. The Shockers play host to the Bears on Saturday.

Baylor series continues at Koch Arena

BY EVAN PFLUGRADT

SELENA FAVELA/THE SUNFLOWER

Wichita State senior Markis McDuffie goes up for a shot during their game against Rice Sunday at Koch Arena.

Staff predictions

Wichita State versus Baylor Erik Stevenson said it best following Sunday’s win over Rice — Koch Arena has soft rims.

Stevenson struggled in Charleston, but that’s part of the struggle of a freshman playing on the road.

Stevenson erupted for 21 on Sunday, and he’s bound to do it again lining up against the Bears.

71-63, WSU — Evan Pflugradt WSU’s victory against Rice may not have been a major win, but a win is a win — and this team needed a win like that to propel them into

Saturday. Markis McDuffie, Samajae Haynes-Jones, and Erik Stevenson will have big games.

74,70 WSU — Joseph Barringhaus The Shockers pounded the ball inside early and often against Rice.

Expect Jaime Echenique to have another big day. If WSU can limit second-chance points and win the rebounding battle, expect the Shockers to get over the .500 mark.

73-71, WSU — Sean Marty

This game has the feel of the Providence game. The Shockers haven’t had a wild ending to a game yet, but this is going to be the one. WSU will have trouble with King McClure early on, but Markis McDuffie and Dexter Dennis will take over the game late with McDuffie hitting the game-tying shot with less than a minute to play.

Samajae Haynes-Jones will nail a three-pointer at the buzzer over former junior college teammate Devonte Bandoo, because why not?

79,76 WSU — Marshall Sunner

Wichita State will play rare host to Big 12 competition on Saturday.

The Shockers, who almost annually play Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, will finish a home-and-away series with Baylor on Saturday night.

“He's not afraid to play us,” WSU Head Coach Gregg Marshall said of Baylor’s Scott Drew.

Baylor enters Saturday’s game at 5-2. The Bears lost their home-opener to Texas Southern.

All five of their wins come to teams ranked outside of KenPom’s

top 150. Wichita State is ranked No. 82 in KenPom. Baylor is 58.

Should the Shockers win, WSU would have a record above .500 for the first time this season.

Marshall said his team will have turned the corner “when we start consecutively beating people.”

“The standards are pretty high. This year is no exception,” Marshall said. “Our margin for error is minimal.”

WSU hosts Baylor at 7 p.m.

Saturday at Charles Koch Arena.

The game will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network.

SHOCKER WOMEN DROP FIRST HOME GAME TO OKLAHOMA STATE JOSEPH BARRINGHAUS/THE SUNFLOWER

Wichita State libero Giorgia Civita dives for a ball during their game against SMU on Nov. 11 at Koch Arena.

Sophomore libero earns conference honors

BY MARSHALL SUNNER

KHÁNH NGUYỄN/THE SUNFLOWER KHÁNH NGUYỄN/THE SUNFLOWER

Wichita State freshman Dawnyel Lair shoots a free throw during their game against Oklahoma State Tuesday at Koch Arena.

Wichita State women’s basketball lost for the first time at home this season.

Oklahoma State defeated the Shockers by 60-47. WSU failed to break 50 points for the second time this year. WSU Head Coach Keitha Adams said the game was “a winnable game for us.” “It’s really a lost opportunity,” Adams told reporters. “In some ways, we didn’t deserve to win.” The Shockers have a 5-2 record and host Tennessee Tech on Sunday.

Sports in Brief

Sophomore libero Giorgia Civita has been named Libero of the Year by the American Athletic Conference.

Civita surpassed 1,000 career digs earlier this season and was the fastest in school history to get to that mark. On the season, she played in 117 sets and recorded 692 digs, all while only committing 22 receiving errors.

@myShockerHealth

Civita was also named First Team All-Conference by the American.

Heading into the Shockers NIVC postseason opener, Civita already holds the school single-season record for digs in a year. During conference play, she recorded at least 20 digs in 14 of 18 conference matches.

On the season, Civita is averaging 5.91 digs per set. She’s only missed one set of play all season.

@wsu.shs

wichita.edu/shs

DAVE ‘THE RAVE’ STATUE UNVEILED

Wichita State will unveil a statue of legendary basketball player Dave Stallworth at 11 a.m. Saturday. The statue will be unveiled outside of the ticket office at Charles Koch Arena. WSU Head Coach Gregg Marshall called Stallworth “one of the original superstars of this program.” Stallworth, a 6-foot-7 forward, was a three-time AllAmerican at WSU. VOLLEYBALL REACHES POSTSEASON

Despite a 13-17 record, WSU volleyball will play in a postseason tournament. The Shockers will make their fourth straight appearance in the postseason after receiving an at-large bid to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. This is WSU’s first appearance in the tournament. They’ll face Central Arkansas at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

STEADY FREDDY

Former Shocker point guard Fred VanVleet was perfect from the field in the Toronto Raptors’ Tuesday night game against the Memphis Grizzlies. VanVleet had 18 points, three assists, and three steals. He did not miss a shot.

Monday, November 26-Saturday, December 8

12 Days of Christmas Sale Hosted by The Shocker Store

Monday, December 3-Saturday, December 8

$1.50/Game of Bowling with Free Shoe Rental $3/Hour Pool Table Rental Hosted by Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes

Monday, December 3-Friday, December 7

Activities in Ablah

Hosted by Ablah Library during all open library hours

Monday, December 3

Winter Wonderland 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | RSC 1st Floor Hosted by Student Activities Council

Tuesday, December 4

DIY Spa Kits 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | RSC 1st Floor Hosted by Student Activities Council

Wednesday, December 5

Sensory Exploration 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | RSC 1st Floor Hosted by Student Activities Council

RSC Unplugged: Tom Page Trio 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | RSC Starbucks Lounge Hosted by RSC Marketing

Thursday, December 6

Finals Fuel Station 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | RSC 1st Floor

Hosted by Student Government Association

Get Tested and Know Your Status with free HIV testing and education.

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. | December 3rd |RSC 3rd Floor

Student Health Services | Office of Diversity and Inclusion | KU School of Medicine-Wichita