CHEERING, JEERING AND ‘NUH-UH’S
Harris-Trump presidential debate
BY LILY BANN, JACOB UNRUH
arts@thesunflower.com sports@thesunflower.com
ore than 150 Wichita State students packed into a second-floor room in the Rhatigan Student Center on the night of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris’ presidential debate.
Attendees thumped their hands on tables as they loudly proclaimed their judgments, followed by determined hushes from attentive students attempting to mark up their debate bingo cards.
The most spirited in the crowd yelled at the screen as Former President Trump and Vice President Harris discussed a variety of issues, including women’s rights and abortion, immigration, the economy, the Israel-Hamas war as well as election security.
The event, organized collectively by the Shockers Vote! Coalition and the Department of Political Science with help from WSU Student Engagement, saw attendees from across the political spectrum.
Most viewers cheered for Harris, but a small contingent of students wearing “Make America Great Again” merchandise supported Trump.
While many students could be seen snapping, hollering or simply gawking, a scattered few used this event to find their footing on the political spectrum.
Raziah Izard, an undecided voter, said that although “nobody’s really looking good,” Harris could have a chance at winning her over. Issues like women’s health are helping to push her in the direction of the left, while Trump still “isn’t super clear.”
Anthony Carranza, another unsure potential voter, said while he “doubts” any candidate will sway him enough to be confident, the candidate that touches on “issues of illegal immigrants” will significantly help inform his decision.
“I’m not leaning towards anyone tonight … I’m iffy on both of them really,” he said. “Maybe whoever impacts me in my personal life the most … whichever impacts my family the most.”
They both have good perspectives and point of views, but I respect everybody’s opinion.
REACTIONS FROM HARRIS SUPPORTERS
Calypso Huff, a self-described moderate who plans to vote for Harris, said prior to the debate that she was concerned Trump might restrict access to birth control and “cause just a lot more hatred and a lot more anger between people.”
After the event, Huff said she was more impressed with Harris on the substance of the debate, whereas Trump used “more strawman arguments” and dodged questions.
“Whenever 90% of his argument back was basically boiled down to a ‘Nuh uh, you said this,’ that doesn’t really help me understand why I should vote for him,” Huff said. “Whenever, even if I don’t agree with everything Harris said there, I at least know what she wants to do.”
Ainsley Altenbern, another Harris supporter sitting at a table with Huff, kept track of how many times the candidates dodged a question. According to their count, Trump didn’t answer six questions, whereas Harris dodged one.
“I think that, especially in regards to international questions, I think Harris handled it really well,” Altenbern said. “I think that a lot of the debate was spent by Trump talking about people flooding into the borders and information that was just … untrue. I don’t think it was a very good showing from Trump.”
Akosua Antwi-Agyei and Joselin Orozco were vocal during the debate, loudly cheering some Harris answers and mocking some from Trump.
Antwi-Agyei, a self-proclaimed “hottie for Harris,” said prior to the debate that she was concerned with the candidate’s policies on the Israel/Hamas war, but that Harris’ answers during the debate made her “feel at more peace” about her vote.
“I honestly just thought that she was going to reiterate how she feels
about standing with Israel and their alliance,” Antwi-Agyei said. “So (it) actually did surprise me that she even brought them up and was like, you definitely want to, you know, bring them together and have something solved.”
Antwi-Agyei reiterated that she felt Harris provided more meaningful substance to the debate, while Trump “wanted to kind of shift the blame.”
“It seems like sometimes he just gets really riled up and angry, and he just again, shifts blame, talks bad about other people, as if it’s going to make him shine any brighter,” Antwi-Agyei said. “And I don’t appreciate that as a president; it seems like you don’t truly care for your people.”
REACTIONS FROM TRUMP SUPPORTERS
Prior to the debate, MKeegan Hoeffner, who was wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, was confident that Trump would outperform Harris.
“I think Trump has a lot of knowledge of debating and has a better understanding of how things work than Kamala Harris does, so I think it’s just going to be him shooting shots at her, like she’s a dog,” he said.
After the debate, Hoeffner took a slightly different tone.
“I’d say it’s pretty even split,” Hoeffner said. “I think Trump’s biggest issue is he exaggerated on a few things, and that, you know, caused people to rethink his credibility. But he has the proof.”
While prior to the event, Hoeffner said Harris “is too dumb to understand how to debate,” afterward, he said, “It was a little different than what I expected.”
“She knows how to say the right things, but she doesn’t know how to do the right thing,” he said.
Kendall Riley, another Trump supporter decked in a MAGA bucket hat, identified strongly with Trump, despite her political apathy for the upcoming election.
“I personally don’t like either of them,” she said.
Riley said she thought Harris “likes denying everything that she’s said,” but she wished Trump was “more adamant in women’s rights.”
Coming from a Republican background with a religious
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upbringing, Riley said that she is wary of issues such as the economy and abortion.
“I agree with Trump … I don’t think women should be getting abortions if they’re just spreading their legs open,” Riley said.
Caleb Nunn showed up midway through the debate riding a Trump scooter and wearing a “Never Surrender” shirt and a Trumpthemed cape. He said during the debate that Trump was “crushing Kamala.”
“It’s a great both-sided debate, though,” Nunn said. “I think they both have good perspectives and point of views, but I respect everybody’s opinion.”
LIVE REACTIONS
Many attendees cheered and laughed loudly during particularly contentious moments of the debate. Trump often earned cries of “preach” from his supporters, while those in oppositionto Trump mocked and laughed at his answers.
Harris earned loud cheers from supporters, while the contingency of people wearing MAGA merch yelled “lies” and “nuh-uh” as she spoke. Most loud interruptions were followed by a chorus of shushing noises from all sides of the room.
The audience was most raucous during the segment of the debate where the candidates discussed abortion and reproductive rights.
When Trump claimed, falsely, that Harris’ vice-presidential pick Tim Walz supports “execution after birth” for babies, many in the crowd laughed and jeered. Later in the same answer, he said Kansas’ 2022 vote on abortion “was somewhat liberal,” which received
a loud cheer.
When Harris pledged to “proudly sign … into law” a bill restoring Roe v. Wade’s abortion protections at the national level, attendees cheered again.
Immigration was another point of contention between the candidates. At one point, Trump claimed immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were “eating” pet dogs and cats, which led to one of the loudest laughs from the room of the night.
Harris supporter Charmaine Aggson brought up Trump’s immigration claims as a reason why she thought Harris performed better in the debate.
“That whole thing about the pets being eaten was a little weird,” Aggson said. “It got fact-checked right away.”
Later on, when Trump said the FBI was “defrauding statements” in crime data, Harris responded by saying Trump’s claim was “rich coming from someone who has been prosecuted.” This earned Harris one of her loudest cheers from attendees.
Trump’s loudest cheer of the night was when he responded to an interruption from Harris by saying “I’m talking now, if you don’t mind.” It was a reference to Harris’ 2020 vice presidential debate where she said a similar thing to former Vice President Mike Pence.
Harris elicited applause when she distanced herself from President Joe Biden, who dropped out of the race in July to endorse Harris.
After Trump criticized Biden’s handling of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Harris replied, “You’re not running against Joe Biden, you’re running against me.”
Near the end of the debate, Harris said she “clearly” is not Joe Biden and offers “a new generation of leadership for our country.” Both statements led to cheers from her supporters in the room. While organizers said they expected 30-40 people to show up to the event, student engagement stopped counting at around 150. Extra tables were put up in the back of the RSC 233 room, and even that wasn’t enough seating, as a spillover room was created to give more space.
CALEB NUNN Trump 2024 supporter
Caleb Nunn, a Wichita State student, talks to a Harris supporter who disagreed with his vocal support of former President Donald Trump. “Trump is destroying (Harris),” Nunn said. | Photos by Alejandro Clavier / The Sunflower
MKeegan Hoeffner shares his thoughts on the debate during a KAKE News TV interview. “Both had really good points, but we can’t allow Kamala to run the country,” Hoeffner said. “She doesn’t know what she’s doing.”
Cynthia Pizzini, an adult learner and SGA senator, pays attention as Kamala Harris responds to one of Donald Trump’s statements. Pizzini was wearing a “voting is my Black job” shirt, a reference to a quote from Trump.
BY BAYLOR HENRY baylorsahenry@gmail.com
Amazon Prime is in Wichita for the filming of “The College Tour,” a series that travels to colleges and universities worldwide, giving viewers a glimpse of what life is like on college campuses.
From Sept. 9-17, the show will be filming on the Wichita State campus, the first time a Kansas school has been featured on the program.
Bobby Gandu, who works in university admissions, said his department, and many others, are working with “The College Tour crew.
“‘The College Tour’ has solicited universities from all over the country to be a part of the show, and we’ve worked together to really bring this show to life here at Wichita State,” Gandu said. “There’s a four-person crew here on campus right now from the show, so we’re helping with all
BY BAYLOR HENRY baylorsahenry@gmail.com
A new semester brings many changes, including a new routine, new classes and new roles. In keeping with the theme, Wichita State hired nearly 50 new faculty members for the fall semester.
These new employees are based in various academic colleges, with the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS), the College of Health Professions and the College of Fine Arts bringing in the most new faculty.
Voncella McCleary-Jones serves as the associate dean of academic, faculty and student affairs in the College of Health Professions. She said there may be a few reasons for hiring new faculty.
“One, there could be a new position needed, and then, two, someone may have transferred to a different department or have left the university or retired,”McCleary-Jones said.
The associate dean said it’s
those logistics.”
To be featured on “The College Tour,” a college or university must go through a process to partner with the show.
“‘The College Tour’ is looking for partners that students will identify with, that they’ll be interested in learning more about.
They did solicit Wichita State, and we felt like we’d be a good partner,” Gandu said.
Gandu said the university paid a fee to be featured on the show.
The Sunflower is waiting to learn how much the university paid.
Over the course of the 10-day shoot, “The College Tour” crew will spend a few hours each day gathering footage to make 18-20 feature segments, each around two minutes in length.
Students from each of the academic colleges will be featured.
The featured students were selected from different majors, activities and walks of life, and will talk about their experience
not unusual for so many faculty members to be hired around the same time.
“We hire all the time,” McCleary-Jones said. “We have some (faculty) who start, say, later in the fall. It’s typical we have a couple or so (new faculty) each academic year.”
Whether one faculty member was hired or 100, McCleary-Jones said the university is “always happy to have them join us.”
“We know they bring knowledge and expertise and that our students will be in good hands,” McCleary-Jones said.
One of those new faculty members is Calee Courter. Courter is an assistant educator in the College of Health Professions.
Courter previously worked as a dental hygienist and helped start the dental hygiene program at Salina Area Technical College. She transitioned to teaching at Wichita State in order to work closer to her home.
at Wichita State and be filmed in different areas around campus.
“We want them to see what a genuine Wichita State experience is like, and we’re intentionally bringing the camera crew into spaces that our students are enjoying right now,” Gandu said.
Each academic college will be featured, as well as applied learning, campus living, the Steve Clark YMCA and other aspects of the WSU experience.
University President Richard Muma and Wichita Mayor Lily Wu will both be interviewed for the show.
After filming is completed, the production company for “The College Tour” will create a finished video that can be reviewed and collaborated on by the university.
“Our hope is that this will help to elevate Wichita State’s brand on a national scale, meaning that there will be opportunities for literally millions of individuals to see Wichita State in a new way
through this show,” Gandu said.
“We think that’s going to benefit our students and our alumni by raising our brand with them.”
The filming of “The College Tour” is an open set, and behindthe-scenes updates and footage will be shared on WSU’s social media pages.
“This is a really exciting project,” Gandu said. “I think that people will be really proud of their affiliation with Wichita State. It’s going to put more eyeballs on the university in a good way, and give us an opportunity to showcase what we’re all really proud of around here.”
Kadrian Ayarza practices her lines in between takes for the show, “The College Tour.” The show filmed students all over campus the week of Sept. 9.
While filming for the show “The College Tour,” signs were set up to warn people walking by.
Junior Madi Montgomery poses before filming her clip for “The College Tour.” Montgomery filmed her A Roll outside of Jardine Hall on Sept. 11. | Photos by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
Volleyball’s ‘quarterback’ Izzi Strand reflects on mentality, energy, and post-grad plans
BY SHELBY DUVALL
shelbyd306@gmail.com
Izzi Strand is no stranger to juggling multiple obligations at once, whether it’s being the “quarterback” of the Wichita State volleyball team, keeping up the energy on the court or her life outside of volleyball.
Strand is a fifth-year transfer student who joined WSU last year from the University of California at San Diego. As a setter, Strand’s job on the court is to ensure her teammates are put in positions to succeed, whether that be with a perfect pass or encouragement.
“I like to put my people in their best mindset,” Strand said. “If that’s hyping them up, if that’s talking them down … it’s just figuring out what’s going on.”
ON-COURT SUCCESS
Strand earned numerous accolades last year. She was named Second Team AllAmerican Athletic Conference and received the title of NIVC Most Valuable Player following WSU’s win at the NIVC Championship.
Additionally, Strand ranked first in the conference and fifth in the nation for assists with a season total of 1,340.
To earn those assists, Strand has to make quick decisions to find her teammates and balance the distribution of the ball.
“On the court, I like to consider myself the quarterback,” Strand said. “A quarterback can’t win the game, but they can make a really big difference.”
As someone who has been setting for years, Strand chooses to focus on strategy, her teammates and what the other team is doing on the court rather than the motion of setting itself.
“I focus on what I can say to get my players to be at their best,” Strand said. “What tempo works best for each person … and it all happens in a split second. It’s crazy. I don’t know how I think about it all at one time.”
According to Strand’s best friend and sophomore teammate, Maddie Wilson, Strand’s skills
and energy are appreciated on and off the court.
“She’s definitely got a big personality,” Wilson said. “She’s a big presence on and off the court. She brings a lot of energy.”
Wilson plans on reciprocating Strand’s “big presence” as a bridesmaid for her upcoming wedding.
OFF-COURT FUTURE
Wilson and Strand became friends after transferring to WSU at the same time. They spend much of their downtime together catching up on their rest and recovery with “bedrotting,” dance parties and watching the TV show “Love Island.”
Downtime is Strand’s method of dealing with her stressful schedule. When she’s not with Wilson, she’s making time to play “Valorant” with her fiancé Jack or hanging out with her hamster, Nugget. On the day-to-day, she compares her energy levels to that of a battery.
“I’ve figured out my balance,” Strand said. “I have a certain percentage of energy I can give in a day … if I’m exhausted from a three-day weekend playing five sets, then I’ve got maybe 30% percent … practice may take up 60% percent and then I’ve got how much left for class or people.”
Strand has also prepared to trade in her jersey for her grad cap, perhaps with hopes of picking up a professional jersey after, or even the coaching clipboard.
“I want to be a coach after I maybe play pro … I really want to be in the (Pro Volleyball Federation),” Strand said. “That is my number one goal.”
If there’s one parting message Strand wants to leave before graduation; it’s about embracing yourself despite others’ opinions.
“Be yourself,” Strand said. “I showed myself the second I got here, and some people liked it and some people didn’t. But I didn’t care, I was just myself … being open and vulnerable really matters and it really creates trust for your team.”
INVITATIONAL RESULTS
Esports sees high retention, recruitment after tryouts
BY TALIYAH WINN podcast@thesunflower.com
When Carsen Blasdel was a freshman in high school he spent much of his downtime, courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic, playing “Rocket League.” Now a freshman at Wichita State, Blasdel has found a community of competitive video game enthusiasts.
This fall, Wichita State’s esports program held a week of open tryouts with each day focused on a different game. WSU hosts teams in “Call of Duty,” “Rocket League,” “Super Smash Bros,” “Overwatch” and “Valorant.”
The program is overseen by Joe Mazzara, a WSU alum who has been involved in the program since its inception. Mazzara said this year’s recruitment exceeded his expectations, with a total of 12 new students.
“We ended up picking up five people this year (from tryouts), which is actually significant, as I truly thought that we’d go in and pick up maybe one or two,” Mazzara said. “But there’s always a lot of talent on campus that just kind of comes out of the woodwork.”
Blasdel is a first-year mechanical engineering student and one of the new recruits for “Rocket League,” which he played often in high school.
“I played pretty competitively, and I stopped because there just wasn’t time for it in my life,” Blasdel said. “I saw this whole thing (tryouts), and I was like, ‘Whoa, this is perfect.’”
Blasdel said he was happy
for an opportunity to improve in something he was passionate about in a supportive environment.
“There’s not necessarily an organized community for improving and just having people around you in the real world,” Blasdel said. “In basketball, you know, you can show up to the YMCA and have a community … and I don’t think that’s the same for esports.”
He said the environment at the tryout was “pretty relaxed” and that he felt confident going into them.
The tryouts consisted of open matches with non-leadership team members and other attendees playing matches with each other while the director and team captains looked for key attributes, like communication and teamwork.
One captain said these skills can be more important than technical ability. John Navarro, one of the “Super Smash Bros” leaders, said he looked for cohesion when observing the players.
“You can be the best player in the world, but if you can’t get along with your teammates, then it means nothing, right?” Navarro said. “If you aren’t a team player … then it’s just never going to work.”
In addition to open tryouts, esports recruits players across the country, mostly in the Midwest. Mazzara said that in 2019, when the program started, it was “scraping by” to find players in town and around campus. Now, they focus on promoting the Midwest Student Exchange Program to prospective students in the Midwest.
“I really believe in what we do here and I really believe in trying
to make it affordable for students,” Mazzara said. “(The Midwestern Exchange Program) is something that is a huge boon to us when it comes to recruiting.”
The program offers a discounted rate to students who live in Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio or Wisconsin and decide to go to college in other Midwestern states. Additionally, WSU offers a 33% discount on nonresident tuition to eligible students from some Midwestern states. Students generally only get benefits from one of these programs.
Outside of recruitment, esports also saw high program retention rates. Thirty three students returned this year, something Mazzara correlated with team culture.
“It’s really exciting to have a lot of students returning more than ever,” Mazzara said. “Those people just carry over and get to continue to grow … It’s a sign for me that we’re doing something right.”
Mazzara said some teams, like the varsity “Valorant” team, are made up of mostly juniors and seniors and that it’s important to have a mixture of leadership and new members to grow the program.
“It’s really important for team culture to just carry over from year to year,” Mazzara said. “The guys that are freshmen and sophomores now are learning from those guys and watching how they operate. Preparing those younger students to take on those roles as they progress through the programs is really important.”
Fifth-year Wichita State setter Izzi Strand sets up a teammate during the game against Kansas State University on Aug. 24. Strand was fifth in the NCAA in assists last season. | Photo by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower
Junior Jonathan Duncan competes for a spot on the “Overwatch 2” team roster on Aug. 29. The WSU esports team is based out of the Esports Hub on the first floor of the Heskett Center. | Photo by Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower
BY OWEN PROTHRO
During the home JK Gold Classic meet on Saturday morning, Wichita State cross country runners Sarah Bertry and Yared Kidane placed top 10 during their debut races for the team.
Bertry, a senior, finished in sixth place in the women’s 5K, setting a time of 17:37.72, breaking senior Lucy Ndungu’s record pace set last year at 17:42.50. Kidane, a junior, finished in third place during the men’s race, setting a time of 18:13.28, his collegiate best time during a 6K race.
Head coach Kirk Hunter said the best aspect of running a meet at home is that friends and family get a chance to cheer the team on and the teams get a chance to practice for the American Athletic Conference Championship in November, which will also be hosted in Wichita.
“They live on it, they know it real well,” Hunter said. “So it’s a big deal for them to be able to run on their own course.”
The WSU men took home first place out of 13 teams with 46 points overall and the women’s team finished in third place out of 10 teams with 72 points.
The men’s team finished on top of conference rival University of North Texas (73 points), who was seventh at the conference championship last season. The University of Tulsa won the women’s race, scoring a perfect 15 points and landing the first
through fifth positions, with North Texas behind at 70 points.
Tulsa finished fourth in the conference last year, and North Texas was 13th.
MEN’S RACE
During the men’s race, senior Adam Rzentkowski ran unattached for the Shockers and finished with a time of 18:04.09. Since Rzentkowski ran unattached to maintain eligibility for track and field season, he did not qualify for the final standings despite setting a faster time than Kidane.
Kidane said he planned to stay with his team during the half of the race. In the last 3K, he picked up the pace, resulting in his podium finish.
“That was a really good race, considering he hasn’t been training very long,” Hunter said.
“He had a long summer of racing for his country … he’s not fit yet and for him to open up that way, it’s the best opener he’s ever had in his life … That guy is going to be really good. He’s a talent.”
The next top runners from Wichita State finished in 11th through 16th place overall. Junior Cesar Ramirez came in 11th place, setting a time of 18:29.29, and redshirt freshman Ian Schram finished in 12th place.
Redshirt freshmen Colin Graham and Landen O’Neill finished in 15th and 16th place, respectively. Graham set a time of
18:35.29 and O’Neill was at 18:36.43.
WOMEN’S RACE
Bertry was right behind the pack of Tulsa Golden Hurricanes in her sixth-place finish, missing out on the top five by less than a second.
Bertry said she felt good about her performance in her debut for the Shockers, despite having a knee problem.
“I didn’t want it to go and start crazy,” Bertry said. “I felt like I could’ve raced faster, but I didn’t. I wanted to be conservative.”
The next four women’s runners for Wichita State finished between 11th and 21st place. Senior Jenna Muma finished in 11th place, setting a time of 18:07.79, and freshman Faith Ekart set a time of 18:20.86, good for 16th place.
Sophomore Isabelle Hartnett finished in 18th place, setting a time of 18:23.03, and freshman Emily See finished in 21st place after setting a time of 18:43.88.
“Faith is doing really well,” Hunter said. “Emily made a step forward. So, I think that freshman group is really good, and I’m really proud of them. I think they’re going to be a big part of our year.”
The Wichita State’s men’s and women’s cross country teams will shift focus to the Gans Creek Classic, hosted by the University of Missouri, on Friday, Sept. 27. The men’s 8K starts at 8 a.m. and the women’s 6K starts at 8:45 a.m.
BY JACOB UNRUH sports@thesunflower.com
Before the season, Wichita State volleyball head coach Chris Lamb said the team might have to win by “being better at defense and outlasting people.”
That seemed to be the approach during the weekend’s Wooo Pig Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where the Shockers won one of two games.
Wichita State lost to the #21 University of Arkansas, 3-0, on Friday but beat the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 3-1, the next day.
Wichita State sits at 3-3, still searching for a marquee win after falling short last week against Indiana University and failing to take a set off of the #13 University of Kansas or Arkansas this week.
VS. ARKANSAS
The Shockers faced their second consecutive ranked opponent on Friday night, taking on #21 Arkansas and losing in three sets by similar scores (25-19), (25-18), (25-18).
Wichita State set a new season-low in offensive efficiency, hitting just .114 in the game. It was the third-worst mark for the team dating back to last year.
The Shockers registered 33 kills on 114 attempts, good for a 29% mark which is the team’s worst in nearly a calendar year. The team added 20 errors for an ignominious offensive performance. Arkansas also doubled Wichita State in service aces, with eight to the Shockers’ four.
The Razorbacks set the tone early, taking a 6-1 lead in the first set. Wichita State would go on a run to close the gap to three, 22-19, but Arkansas closed the set with a kill and two consecutive blocks.
The first period was the worst offensive showing from both teams, as Wichita State hit .000 and Arkansas settled at .179.
The second set featured numerous big runs. Arkansas had a 7-2 stretch to open a 14-9 lead, followed immediately by an 8-2 Wichita State response to take a 17-16 lead of their own.
Arkansas would have the last laugh, closing the set with a 9-1 run that featured four Wichita State attack errors.
The third set never felt in doubt, as Arkansas ran out to a 7-2 lead they wouldn’t relinquish to close the game.
Senior middle blocker Morgan Stout led the way with 12 kills and three blocks. Freshman Gracie Morrow, seeing her first collegiate action, had six kills, albeit with four errors.
Wichita State’s outside hitters — Morrow, juniors Brooklyn Leggett and Emerson Wilford and redshirt freshman Alyssa Gonzales — combined for 18 kills, 16 errors and a .031 hitting percentage.
VS. LITTLE ROCK
On Saturday afternoon, the Shockers saw some improved performances and outlasted Little Rock (25-19), (25-22), (21-25), (25-19). Leggett matched her careerhigh kills with 15, and Gonzales set a new high with 13. Teams continued hitting at Wilford, who had eight kills, eight digs and four blocks. Stout chipped in with 12 kills on a .333 percentage.
Senior libero Annalie Heliste put in a career performance with 22 digs, seven assists and three aces, all matching or exceeding her previous high marks. Fifthyear setter Izzi Strand also set season-high marks with 47 assists and eight digs.
Little Rock, undefeated at 5-0 going into the game, hit only .168 as a team.
Early in the first set, it looked like a repeat of the Arkansas loss. Wichita State committed a service error and three consecutive attack errors to fall behind, 8-4. The Shockers rebounded, eventually taking the lead, 18-17, and closing the set with four straight blocks.
Fifth-year middle blocker Sarah Barham, making her return to the starting lineup after playing in only one set between the Kansas and Arkansas games, contributed to all of the rejections. She wound up leading the team with eight blocks.
The second set was close all the way through. It looked like Wichita State would be able to breathe easily, opening a 23-19 lead late, but Little Rock responded with three straight points. A Little Rock error and kill from Stout shut the door.
Little Rock avoided a sweep by taking set three, running out to a 9-3 lead early. The Shockers picked away at the margin, eventually cutting the gap to 22-21. The Trojans finished the set with three straight points, however. The fourth set mirrored the third. This time, the Shockers would run out to a 19-9 lead. On the brink, Little Rock responded with a 9-1 run. Gonzales stemmed the bleeding with a kill to take a 21-18 lead, and Wichita State closed out the game on a 5-1 run. The Shockers will take on some top teams in one of the best volleyball stadiums in the country next week when they attend the Nebraska classic.
The Wichita State cross country team raises the WSU hand sign before the start of the Sept. 7 home race. | Photos by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
Sarah Bertry runs during the JK Gold Classic race on Sept. 7.
Redshirt junior Yared Kidane runs the 6k race on Sept. 7. Kidane took third place at the JK Gold Classic.
Not to be ‘caddy’, but let’s drive golf out of Wichita’s budget
Lily Bann Arts and Culture Editor OPINION
Although it may seem like a stretch to ask the beloved golfers who keep our economy running to give up pursuits, let me offer this: A small city like Wichita has no place hitting a tiny ball at the expense of undermining cornerstones of our community such as parks.
Last month, Wichita declared a stage two drought emergency and released a response plan that included locally enforced restrictions on individuals’ water usage. However, some business sectors were exempt from these mandatory measures in an effort to maintain economic growth — golf courses being one of them. There are several strategies to mitigate the drought and help conserve golf course water use, such as using grasses that naturally require less water, like buffalo or Bermuda grasses.
This does not address the inherent fact that Wichita’s public golf courses are already in bad shape and require a larger financial plan to resolve their issues.
Due to the low quality of the irrigation systems of Wichita’s four
public golf courses — Arthur B.
Sim, Auburn Hills, MacDonald, and Tex Consolver — they face a risk of permanent closure. Fixing the state of these golf courses has been a topic in Wichita for months.
In a budget review last month, Mayor Lily Wu voted “no” on whether courses should increase their funding to support better irrigation systems, later defending her vote by saying that she was “very concerned” that the city was dismissing some of the park’s much-needed improvements and added that the city is “really just focusing on golf.”
Troy Houtman, director of Wichita Park & Recreation, agreed, saying, “Without those funds, there would be a lot of things that we would not be able to address and repair within our park system.”
Despite the worried sentiments, $4.2 million was allocated to replace the irrigational systems in Wichita’s golf courses. The Wichita Eagle reported that the funds were “originally earmarked for park enhancements.”
It’s not beneficial to a community like Wichita, where water is already being rationed, to invest in a recreational activity that only benefits a small portion of the general public. Before funding from the budget increased, the city council increased golf course membership fees to help alleviate
WSU textbook prices exploit us
For students at Wichita State University, purchasing textbooks through the university’s bookstore feels like a scam. This is because it is. The price markup on course materials is often significant, with many students paying more than necessary for their required books. From health science to business, the price difference between WSU’s bookstore and alternative online retailers is staggering, leaving students further in debt.
A health sciences textbook, “Moore’s Essential Clinical Anatomy” by Anne M. R. Agur, shows stark differences in price.
Amazon offers it for $78, with a Kindle option available for less. Yet, WSU’s store charges nearly double the price for a new copy at $152.85, while the used option is still a steep $114.65.
A search for “anatomy” on the WSU bookstore site reveals “Anatomy of an Epidemic,” which costs $15 used and an additional five dollars for a new copy. On Amazon, the same paperback is available for $12.59, and for only $18.70, students can buy a hardcopy, still cheaper than WSU’s new paperback price.
Business majors face similar challenges. Students typically spend about $200 a semester on
required books. For example, “Practical Business Analytics Using R and Python” by Umesh R. Hodeghatta is $34 on Access Now but only $27.84 on Amazon.
This inconsistency adds unnecessary financial pressure to students who already face high tuition costs.
Even in the arts, where resources tend to be slightly more affordable, the same issue persists. “Teaching and Learning in Art Education” by Sickler Voigt ranges from $63 to $71.67 on Amazon Prime, depending on sales. WSU sells the used copy for $71.95 and the new version for a super cheap and affordable $95.95.
This trend makes it clear: WSU is prioritizing profit over helping students manage their educational expenses. Instead of offering affordable options, the university takes advantage of students, further sinking them into debt.
While WSU promises its “Access Now” program as an affordable and convenient option for students, many still find cheaper alternatives elsewhere.
It is troubling that the institution meant to educate and support its students is making it more difficult for them to afford their education.
Students need to compare prices and be savvy about their purchases, but they shouldn’t have to worry about dodging scams from their own university. WSU is operating as a business first, and a place for students to learn second.
SO WHERE DO I GET MY BOOKS?
maintenance costs, causing concern for the fee’s affordability and the overall accessibility of membership.
If we’re increasing golf’s funding for the sake of the economy, why not invest in something that will benefit all, not just some?
Parks, a tried and true attraction, can be useful to virtually any demographic — and above all, they’re free. Golf courses, on the other hand, are funded by members who pay a maximum of $18 a month to play, along with an annual fee of $50.
In a 2022 survey conducted by Wichita on golfers’ demographics, nearly 80% of the respondents who made a $75,000 yearly income had a high satisfaction rate. 58% of satisfied respondents made less than $50,000 — nearly a 30% difference in income.
For reference, the median household income in Wichita is currently $51,690.
With Wichita looking to expand its tourism, largely from sports revenue and large investments like golf, targeting a high income may be a clever strategy with an even higher financial return. But, not only is that non-inclusive, but Kansas Sen. Mary Ware says a lack of park maintenance and growth could backfire on the very revenue the city is seeking.
The National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA) has invoked the 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford U.S. Supreme Court case in an argument that Vice President Kamala Harris is ineligible to run for president.
The group claims that the U.S. Constitution’s requirements to be eligible for the presidency disqualify Harris, along with Vivek Ramaswamy, because they do not meet the definition of a “natural-born citizen.”
The group interprets the meaning of natural-born citizen to be someone who is born on U.S. soil to parents who are both U.S. citizens at the time of birth. In the group’s interpretation, they cite six Supreme Court cases to beef up their argument, which includes the Dred Scott decision.
These claims have gained traction on X, formerly known as Twitter. They ring similar to the claims about former president Barack Obama’s heritage and nationalities during his presidency.
The Dred Scott decision has become one of the most infamous rulings in U.S. history. It is believed that this ruling is one of the key events that sparked the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861.
Despite the ruling, it was later overturned by both the 13th Amendment and 14th Amendment of the Constitution.
These amendments abolished slavery and established that any person born in the U.S. is a citizen, regardless of race or parentage. These amendments also nullify the arguments that the NFRA is attempting to make around 150 years later.
The group’s definition of a natural-born citizen is extremely narrow and has also proven inconsistent with longestablished legal precedents.
The case Perkins v. Elg explicitly stated that “a child born here of alien parentage becomes a citizen of the United States,” once again nullifying the NFRA’s
The park budget cuts strain the relationship between Wichitans and their trust in what the city is willing to do for the greater good.
At another public hearing discussing the city budget in August, Ware emphasized how the decision to cut park funding isn’t the only option for gaining revenue.
“If people are considering coming to Wichita, the number of parks does matter. Having parks spread evenly throughout the city at all economic levels is a real benefit,” she said.
Last year, KAKE spoke to golf course member Jim Todd who said the golf courses were “an embarrassment” to Wichita.
Why, despite the clear rationale for enhancing and increasing parks, and given the valid arguments from highly influential people, are we catering to the feelings of members embarrassed by the state of our lowly golf courses?
Some simple financial advice I’ve learned (instinctively) is this: focus on aesthetic wants after you prioritize your budget’s needs first.
HOW MUCH ARE WICHITA GOLF COURSES WORTH?
According to the city of Wichita’s Golf Divison Director Jesse Coffman, Wichita golf courses made nearly $6 million in revenue last year.
Coffman also said the golf board of governors will increase golfer’s fees, either through higher green fees, cart rental fees or both.
One has to ask if the NFRA is engaging in racial dogwhistling to undermine minority candidates and their legitimacy.
“definition” of a natural-born citizen. If the group wants to keep up their misguided and incorrect definition of a naturalborn citizen, so many of the nation’s earliest presidents and founding fathers would have been disqualified from the presidency; the list includes George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, as they were born to British parents before the U.S. was even conceptualized.
Another person who wouldn’t be president — if we’re going by the NFRA definition — is their main man Donald Trump, whose mother was a Scottish immigrant. This piece of information is incredibly hard to find, as
her name is only found in the personal life section of his Wikipedia page. A quick google search of her name, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, shows that she was born in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
The NFRA needs to take a step back and look at who they’re endorsing before making baseless claims about citizenship.
On top of all these inaccurate claims and definitions, I can clearly see how racially charged the group is. By challenging the eligibility of a woman of color to run for president, one has to ask if the NFRA is engaging in racial dog-whistling to undermine minority candidates and their legitimacy.
This shows how crucial it is to vote, especially in a politically turbulent climate like the one we’re experiencing. If eligible, make sure you’re registered to vote in this year’s election. The deadline is 21 days before election day, Oct. 15. You can check your voter registration status on VoterView’s website.
MALEAH EVANS Columnist
Illustration by Wren Johnson / The Sunflower
Illustration by Wren Johnson / The Sunflower
Maleah Evans Reporter OPINION
Illustration by Cameryn Davis / The Sunflower
ARTS & CULTURE
SYNTHETIC DREAMS
The School of Digital Arts welcomed students to the ‘Synthetic Scenes’ open house at Shocker Studios on Sept. 5, celebrating its new partnership with Justine McClure Creative’s LED Wall.
Outdoor Sculpture Collection transforms over five decades
BY MONIQUE BEVER monibever@gmail.com
What Wichita State University boasts as one of the largest American University Outdoor Sculpture collections continues to expand, with new additions almost every semester.
What began as the inaugural Ulrich Museum director Martin H. Bush’s mission to bring artistic sensibilities from around the
world to the Midwest is now an 88-sculpture-strong collection scattered across campus.
“There are 88 opportunities to walk around campus and stop and learn something new and have art engagement, which is what our mission is here,” Jo Reinert, curator of modern and contemporary art at the Ulrich Museum, said. The collection was established in 1972, with the bronze sculpture “Happy Mother” by Chaim Gross
as its first piece. The collection continued amassing world-class modern and contemporary works from a diverse array of artists, notably Fernando Botero, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. It is owned by the WSU Foundation. It is conserved and expanded largely through private funding and support from institutions such as the Institute of Museum and Library Services
and the National Endowment for the Arts. In April 2024, the most recent 87th and 88th pieces, two Spirit Totems, “Sun” and “Moon,” were added consecutively at the Duerksen Amphitheater by New Mexico-based Indigenous artist Doug Coffin.
Maintained by the Ulrich Museum, the collection engages students, faculty and visitors on campus
renowned works
from the art community through a casual and accessible medium, free and open to the public.
“Public art, in general, has demonstrable benefits, and that’s murals, sculptures, all of it, benefits to mental health, to feelings of belonging,” Reinert said. “I think on a university campus that’s especially important for so many people coming together.”
Charles Grafly, born in 1885, made the sculpture “Mother and Child” out of bronze. The sculpture was cast and added to campus after Grafly’s death.
“Reclining Figure: Hand” was made by Henry Moore in 1979.
Taking on a role for the demonstration, Jeannie Hernandez looks toward the throne. Hernandez concluded her acting experience by sitting on the throne and striking a confident pose.
with
While volunteer Jeannie Hernandez plays her part in the scene, audience member Dana Lonergan watches the performance in real time, occasionally turning to watch the screen. The screen portrayed the props in a seemingly more realistic way, as if it wasn’t filmed in a studio. | Photos by Joselyn Steele / The Sunflower
Before he joins his wife Allison Djedjes on set, Francois Djedjes records her. The couple was popular with the crowd.
Watching his silhouette project on the wall, Gideon Bowles “T” poses. The actors in Mocap Suits posed in various ways, creating designs that flowed based on their movements for the scenes.
Gabriel Pore smiles, taking in the scene before him. Pore stayed to watch the two hour presentation by speaker Justin McClure about the ancient Egyptian synthetic scene at Shocker Studios.
Chaim Gross’s sculpture “Happy Mother” resides in front of the Ulrich Museum of Art. Gross grew more concerned about the theme of motherhood during the late 1970s. | Photos by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower
A POET’S LIFE
Wichita State English professor brings poems to life at reading
BY LILY BANN arts@thesunflower.com
Adam Scheffler, in addition to being a new assistant English professor at Wichita State, has literary experience in authoring two poetry collections: “Artwork” and his newest book, “The Dog’s Life.”
On Tuesday, Scheffler celebrated his book with friends,
family and faculty at the Ulrich Museum of Art, with a reception followed by a reading of some selected poems from “The Dog’s Life.”
Scheffler’s first poem, “Contemporaries,” addresses themes of age and existential dread while weaving in humorous banter.
His next reading, a poem called “Partner,” took a turn as he wrote an ode to an “anti-marriage love
poem,” saying “I want you — no sidekick or wife.”
Scheffler also acknowledged that the night would later reflect a very factual, antipoetic tone, writing an ode to the presidential debate, called “Americas.”
Next, Scheffler wrote another love letter, this time to a state rather than a person, called “Dear Florida.”
Additionally, he read “Tamiami
Trail Signs,” where he invited student Jack Anderson to join him in the poetry reading, orating a back-and-forth dialogue of prose.
Lastly, he read “The Dead After,” a contemplative poem on the invisible nature of death during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Scheffler found inspiration in this poem from a 2020 concert he observed, where all attendees stood 6-feet apart, and emphasized
the weighted atmosphere between individuals.
“His diction, it’s so accessible, you know?” Anderson said. “Like, you can really get into his poems, and you don’t have be from any certain educational background or professional background. It’s just really fun to read his poems … the quality of a great artist is ... they make you feel less alone.”
Assistant Professor Adam Scheffler reads his poetry aloud to a group during the “Writing Now, Reading Now” poetry reading on Sept. 10. Scheffler read many poems from his books, “Heartworms” and “A Dog’s Life” during the event. |
Photo by Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower
Graduate student Jackson Anderson reads portions of a call-and-response poem alongside Adam Scheffler. Anderson is a second year graduate student, currently studying poetry.
BOWLING FOR CHILI
Community Build-a-Bowl Workshop invites Wichitans to try their hand at throwing and hand-forming clay bowls for the Chili Cook-Off.
UPCOMING EVENTS
CLAYTON STAPLES VISITING ARTISTS TALK: JESSICA “JB” BURKE AND KARIANN FUQUA
THURSDAY, SEPT. 12
Panel from 2:30 - 4 p.m., reception from 4 - 5:30 p.m.
McKnight Art Center, room 210
In a panel facilitated by Robert Bubp, the visiting artists will discuss their work from their collaborative exhibition, “A World Away.” Burke is an LGBTQ+ artist and educator working in North Carolina who explores world-building and identity in her work. Fuqua is an abstract artist who investigates natural disasters in her work.
ARTIST TALK: DINORÁ JUSTICE
THURSDAY, SEPT. 12
Reception at 5:30 p.m., program at 6 p.m.
Ulrich Museum of Art, Beren Gallery
Brazilian multimedia artist creates colorful, textured works that combine her social identity with the natural world. This artist talk is a part of the Ulrich’s fall exhibition, “[RE]POSE: Leisure Bodies and Embodied Postures.”
WIND ENSEMBLE CONDUCTED BY TIMOTHY SHADE
THURSDAY, SEPT. 12
7:30 - 9 p.m.
Miller Concert Hall
Join the WSU Wind Ensemble in a variety of classical to contemporary pieces. This concert is focusing on showing the advancement in the art of wind band. The event is free to all WSU students.
RIE BLOOMFIELD ORGAN SERIES PRESENTS JENS KORNDÖRFER
TUESDAY, SEPT. 17
7:30 - 9 p.m.
Miller Concert Hall
German organist Jens Korndörfer is currently the Joyce O. Bowden professor of music and associate professor of organ at Baylor University in Texas. Visit jenskorndoerfer.com for more information on the artist. The event is free to all WSU students.
ARTIST TALK: DOUG COFFIN
THURSDAY, SEPT. 19
Reception at 5:30 p.m., program at 6 p.m. Ulrich Museum of Art Potowatomi and Creek artist Doug Coffin combines the ancient totemic form from Native American cultures with abstract and geometric modernist elements. His spirit totem pieces “Sun” and “Moon” were installed at Duerkson Ampitheatre in April 2024 as part of the Martin H. Bush Outdoor Sculpture Collection.
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA CONDUCTED BY MARK LAYCOCK
THURSDAY, SEPT. 19
7:30 - 9 p.m.
Miller Concert Hall
Experience the work of 70 ungraduate and graduate musicians in the WSU Symphony Orchestra. The Symphony Orchestra has collaborated with names such as jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton and rock band Kansas. The event is free to all WSU students.
JAZZ PROGRAM PERFORMANCES
SUNDAY, SEPT. 22
7:30 p.m.
Walker’s Jazz Lounge
252 N. Mosley St. Guitar Ensemble, Saxophonics and Jazz Combo ensembles from WSU’s jazz program are performing alongside cocktails and charceterie boards. Tickets are available online or at the door.
Zahar learns how to make his own bowl through wheelthrowing techniques at the Build-a-Bowl Workshop.
Deb McArthur, a Wichita State alumna, paints a bowl on Sept. 7. Gary
| Photos by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
At the Build-a-Bowl event on Sept. 7, attendees had the option to make a bowl or choose a premade bowl to paint.