The Sunflower v. 126 i. 23

/ The Sunflower

WICHITA STATE’S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1896

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THURSDAY Feb. 24, 2022 Volume 126 Issue 23

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WSU President Richard Muma and WSU Vice President Shirley Lefever answer questions regarding Covid policies and campus growth, Feb. 22 at the RSC.| Photo by Devon Sipes / The Sunflower

Muma: University ‘getting close’ to relaxing COVID mandates

BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com

At the SGA town hall Tuesday, university President Rick Muma said that the university is “getting close” to relaxing COVID mandates.

“We expect [the mask policy to be] lifted probably in the near future, and we’re working towards that,” Muma said.

“I can’t give you an exact date, but we’re getting close.”

The county’s COVID test rate is currently at 5.5%, according to the county’s dashboard. As of Feb. 21, there are 98 COVID patients in the hospital with 29 in the ICU. Currently, Wichita State’s policy requires masks to be worn at all times when indoors and outdoors when social distancing cannot be met. The university did drop all COVID mandates in the past, but they returned at full capacity due to President Joe Biden’s executive order. The university also had an employee vaccine mandate issued in October, but that was dropped in December.

The Student Government Association hosted the town hall in hopes to provide students an option to ask questions and share concerns with the university’s president and interim provost. Other topics included mental health, parking, the DEI plan and more.

When asked about mental health concerns brought on by the pandemic, Interim Provost Shirley Lefever encouraged students to look at their options.

“We really recognize that and have tried to invest more resources,” she said. “We are really trying to raise awareness of how we can all be there for each other.”

Muma said that another way the university is working to ensure students heard is to have constant open dialogue.

“I believe that that relationship is a two-way street,” Muma said.

The university has a lot of resources, many of which fall through the cracks. Both Muma and Lefever recognized the difficulties students face when knowing what resources the university has to offer, and encouraged students, faculty and staff to help each other.

“It requires all of us, when you know information sharing it with others,” Muma said. “Sometimes it’s a matter of making a habit of checking Shocker Blast ever Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Going through the portal, accessing Blackboard that way or directly going through Blackboard.”

Lefever said they are in conversations with the IT department to come up with better solutions on how students can access all the resources they pay for.

“We’re open to ideas,” she said.

When it comes to parking, Muma said that has been a concern of students his entire time at WSU. “We have made some improvements in parking over the years,” Muma said. “I will say that ... There is available parking in places really close to buildings and I always ask, ‘Why aren’t students parking there?’”

Muma mentioned the parking lots near the Duerksen Fine Arts Center and Ech Baseball Stadium.

Muma said that with the new business building will come a new parking lot that can help free up some unavailable parking in other lots.

Junior Deborah Jolie dances during Fairmount Formal. The event was hosted by SAC on Feb. 19 at the RSC.| Photo by Khanh Nguyen / The Sunflower

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Aaron Austin, dances with his daughter at Fairmount Formal. | Photo by Khanh Nguyen / The Sunflower

A student dances with his friend during Fairmount Formal. The event was hosted by SAC on Feb. 19 at the RSC. | Photo by Khanh Nguyen / The Sunflower

The Student Activities Council hosted its first Fairmount Formal on Feb. 19 in RSC Beggs Ballroom. | Photo by Khanh Nguyen / The Sunflower

Fairmount Formal sweeps students and faculty off their feet in night of glamor and dancing

BY ALLISON CAMPBELL ancampbell@shockers.wichita.edu

Wichita State students, faculty and guests were treated to a night of dancing, hors-d’oeuvres and fun, last Saturday evening at the first SAC Fairmount Formal. The event, which entertained more than 350 individuals, was hosted in the Beggs Ballroom located on the third floor of the Rhatigan Student Center.

The dance was complete with a D.J, photobooth and festive black-and-yellow macaroons. Not only was this the first Fairmount Formal, but

the first major event coordinated by new SAC president, Mo Wetta. Wetta aimed to not only host a dance for students who missed prom due to COVID-19, but for students and faculty of all ages to enjoy annually.

“We kind of wanted to have it similar to prom but also make it so that students feel like they’re in college, so it’s a little more formal,” Wetta said. “I’m really happy that students, like freshmen and sophomores, can get the (prom) experience tonight.”

From custom balloon garlands to rows of fondue

fountains, hosting the formal successfully was no small feat, as it took nearly three months of planning. However the weeks of delicate preparation paid off, as the dance went without a hitch. Students could be seen dancing, socializing and partying for the entire three hour length of the event. Free beverages, catered goods and photobooth sessions saw massive lines as students enjoyed all that SAC had to offer.

Students weren’t the only ones to benefit from the formal. Several of the university’s more notable members

were spotted in attendance as well, such as John Lee, the Director of Campus Recreation, and Aaron Austin, the Dean of Students. These well-known campus individuals were included on a “VIP” list for WSU faculty and staff and were each accompanied by their young daughters.

“We decided to make it (the formal) a daddy-daughter date. We went to dinner together and then came here to dance,” Austin said with his daughter Vivian standing by his side. “But the emphasis SEE FORMAL PAGE 7

2 | THURSDAY, FEB. 24, 2022

NEWS

‘Sankofa’ film panel discusses the absence of representation for Black people in Wichita

BY MELANIE RIVERA mxrivera-cortez@shockers.wichita.edu

Twenty nine years ago, the film “Sankofa” gave a narrative of slavery in the trans-atlantic slave trade and how they struggled to keep their culture. In 2022, the themes discussed in the film are still relevant today.

In honor of Black History Month, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted a panel surrounding the film and talked about how the Black community is treated in Wichita. “‘Sankofa’ is not a film about slavery, but of resistance,” Naquela Pack, director of engagement, said.

“Sankofa” is a film that follows the journey of a model who is transported to the past where she becomes a slave. “Sankofa” was the first motion picture to be directed by a person of color to focus on an enslaved African American’s journey in a feature film.

“I feel like in order for us to make strides as Black people sometimes it’s really important to have those experiences to look back and see where we came from,” Bobby Berry, assistant dean of diversity and outreach for the college of applied studies, said.

Robert E. Weems Jr., a speaker and writer focused African American business history, said that the harsh depiction of the trans-atlantic slave trade was well depicted in the film from the point of view of an African slave. “‘Sankofa’ celebrates the story of our resistance to the enslavement process, in it Black people are not the backdrop to their own story,” Weems Jr. said.

Berry admitted that he would be treated differently as a Black man if he didn’t have the credentials he holds today.

“One of the things I felt watching was thinking about the parallels of how we as a people, Black people, receive some of the messages that have been seen or heard growing up,” Berry said.

Berry said that he felt out of place receiving a higher education and it plays into how he views resistance.

“In trying to figure out how to navigate the work that I do … With this whole notion of resistance to stereotypes, resistance to feel like we have to conform and I think a lot of times we as Black people have to do those things,” Berry said.

While watching the film Berry said he wondered whether there would be a time where there would no longer be a heavy undertone in Black culture.

The panelists discussed several issues, including how they feel Wichita has treated people of color.

“I feel that Wichita is still gatekeeping in a lot of positions where if you don’t fit a certain crowd or you are not represented in a certain area, there is still a very fundamentalist right that continues to push their agendas that strive to keep Wichita this Bible Belt,” Shana Chivon, a writer and content creator on Patreon and a womanist.

Weems Jr. said that Wichita has been experiencing a “Black brain drain” for the past decades.

This term refers to Black people seeing that there is no opportunity for them in Wichita and deciding to move to cities like Houston and Atlanta.

“Here in this city, based off of who you are and what you do it’s a real thing, and so I think we have a long way to go,” Berry said.

Berry said that in today’s culture it is cool to be Black when it comes to the music, culture and fashion, until it is not.

“But when we talk about what it means to live and wake up and breathe in the skin every single day, that’s the part where people can’t or even want to identify with,” Berry said.

“Sankofa” is about African slaves who are dreaming of a better life, sewn in the fabric with equality and justice.

“Do we still dream or actualize this idea of a future without oppression?” Chivon said. “I’m not talking about equity. I am talking about that same system and systematic racism no longer exists.”

Kaye Monk-Morgan speaks about the history of the university village proposal and what it means for the Wichita State community. | Photo by Jordan Plowman / The Sunflower

University Village proposal puts buildings in student parking lots

BY JULIA NIGHTENGALE news@thesunflower.com

Three University Village proposal listening sessions took place Wednesday in order to gather public feedback and engagement on the project, which is in the initial stages.

If the University Village proposal passes, two buildings will be built in the parking lots south of campus on 17th street. When asked about how parking will affect the students, the developers said that it will be a discussion between them and the university.

“Yeah that’s a huge concern, parking is just a huge component of any project,” Brandon Buckley, Vice President of LANE 4, said.

“That’s something we’ll meet with the university to talk about, accessing that, we don’t want to push anyone out by any means.

That’s something that we take seriously to minimize the potential negatives from that.”

Both Kaye Monk-Morgan, vice president for engagement and planning, and Rick Muma, president, said that this idea has been talked about for many decades, as far back as 1989.

“The most important thing for

Fairmount offers Blessing Box for the Wichita community

BY RACHEL RUDISILL

“[Parking] is something we’ll meet with the university to talk about ... We don’t want to push anyone out by any means.”

- Brandon Buckley

faculty senate, US senate and student senate. They also had meetings with the Fairmount Neighborhood Association, Community Benefits Agreement group and held a Shocker Neighborhood Development Panel in June 2021.

“As a development company, we take really seriously this community engagement and we’ve heard a lot about what the community wants, what the university wants,” Buckley said.

GLMV Architecture was in charge of the development for many locations on Innovation Campus and other locations in Wichita, including NetApp. Read the rest at thesunflower.com

This week’s news in brief

BY LINDSAY SMITH

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR PHENOMENAL WOMEN AWARDS THROUGH MARCH 11

racheltaryn268@gmail.com

After recognizing the need for access to food from their customers, Fairmount Coffee Co. decided to find a way to give back in May 2021.

The Blessing Box was created as an outreach to serve the Wichita community. It is a small wooden box located at the front door of Fairmount and is available for the Wichita community.

Customers are encouraged to leave or take nonperishable items as needed.

“Sometimes we get people who come in and are in need and we want to meet the needs of our customers,” Fairmount coffee manager Paige Edgington said.

The Blessing Box is an extension of Fairmount’s community garden, where individuals can

me as president is it connects to the community, connects not only to the university community but the existing community around the campus,” Muma said.

The project was formally launched in September 2021.

In 2014, there was an effort created to be intentional about connecting with the Fairmount after a murder took place in the neighborhood. In 2015, the Shocker Neighborhood Coalition was created to build a healthy and active community south of campus.

In 2019 and 2o20, the University Village concept was born. A town hall was held in September 2020, and throughout 2021 developers were selected through a competitive process.

The two developers that were selected are LANE 4 and GLMV architecture.

Starting in July 2021, QR codes were posted in 24 different places throughout campus, Shocker neighborhood and Fairmount neighborhood. The question asked, “If built in your community, what would you support?”

In terms of engagement with the University Village, they have held presentations for

Students, faculty and staff can now nominate women for the 14th annual phenomenal women awards, presented by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. These awards are given every year to women who contribute to WSU “through their scholarship, activism and commitment to excellence.”

Nominations can be made until 5 p.m. Friday, March 11.

SHS RELEASES NEW HOURS FOR COVID TESTING The Blessing Box is available at Fairmount for the entire Wichita community. The box was freshly stocked on Feb. 22. | Photo by Rachel Rudisill / The Sunflower

get fresh produce. However, produce is limited in the winter.

The Blessing Box is available year round to consistently meet the needs of the community.

If the box is full when a customer comes to donate items, or brings a surplus of canned goods, the baristas will take those items and put them into a stock room.

The Sunflower, founded in 1896, is the student-run newspaper covering Wichita State University. The print edition is published Monday during the fall and spring semesters. The staff publishes daily online at www.thesunflower.com.

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 learning experience for students, who will have the final authority over what is published.

LEGAL One free copy of The Sunflower is available to members of the WSU community. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 in the newsroom, Elliott Hall 019. The Sunflower is private property and unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable. The Sunflower is funded by a combination of print and online advertisment sales and student fees allocated by the Student Government Association.

The Sunflower is a member of Kansas Collegiate Media, the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association.

Copyright © 2022 The Sunflower. This newspaper, its design and its contents are copyrighted.

Whenever the box gets empty, a staff member will restock the box — usually twice a week.

“We just love the opportunity to care for our community,” Edgington said. “The box is not just for people who do not have a home, but anyone in need. If it’s something useful to you, we want everyone to know about it.”

Student health services, located at the student wellness center in the Steve Clark YMCA, has changed their COVID-19 testing hours for students, faculty and staff. Students can walk in to recieve a test, appointments are not necessary.

The hours are as follows: Mondays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesdays 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays noon to 4 p.m.

Thursdays 9 a.m. to noon

EDITOR IN CHIEF Lindsay Smith editor@thesunflower.com

DESIGN DIRECTOR Thy Vo design@thesunflower.com

NEWS EDITOR Julia Nightengale news@thesunflower.com

PHOTO EDITOR Khanh Nguyen photoeditor@thesunflower.com

SPORTS EDITOR Sean Marty sports@thesunflower.com

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Rachel Rudisill rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu

OPINION EDITOR Emmie Boese opinion@thesunflower.com

MARKETING MANAGER Kaylee Stout marketing@thesunflower.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Kyran Crist arts@thesunfower.com

ADVERTISING MANAGER Rachel Thomas admanager@thesunflower.com

FACULTY ADVISOR Amy DeVault amy.devault@wichita.edu

Contact Us 019 Elliott Hall 1845 N. Fairmount Ave. Campus Box 134 Wichita, KS 67260-0134 EDITORIAL

Lindsay Smith: 316-978-6905 editor@thesunflower.com ADVERTISING

Rachel Thomas: 316-978-6906 admanager@thesunflower.com

Corrections The Sunflower is committed to accuracy in its publications. If you find an error in any of its publications, please email the editor at editor@thesunflower.com immediately.

WWW.THESUNFLOWER.COM

THURSDAY, FEB. 22, 2022 | 3

Sports

HAVE A STORY IDEA? contact The Sunflower’s sports editor, Sean Marty sports@thesunflower.com

Softball splits four games in Arkansas

Baseball off to worst start since 1953

BY EMMIE BOESE

BY SEAN MARTY

elboese15@gmail.com

sports@thesunflower.com

New faces in the circle and a run-rule on Saturday led to a 2-2 performance for the softball team at the Razorback Invitational this week.

The Shockers played several nationally ranked teams in Arkansas. Their first ranked match up came against No. 24 Illinois. They beat Illinois 8-3 on Friday. Freshman Alison Cooper threw a complete game in the circle and recorded first career start.

Neleigh Herring, Addison Barnard and Lauren Lucas all homered. Lucas recorded her first career home run.

Against Longwood University, the Shockers didn’t get going offensively until the fifth inning with a homer and an RBI from Sydney McKinney. The Shockers ultimately took a 4-2 loss after a walk off home run from the Lancers.

On Saturday, the Shockers run-ruled Western Illinois 11-0.

Freshman pitcher Kenzie Schopfer threw a complete game and only allowed two hits in her first career start in the circle.

Lucas continued her strong offensive performance on Saturday by getting the Shockers going in the fourth inning with a solo shot. Barnard and McKinney kept the offensive momentum going with back to back home runs in the fifth. This gave Barnard five home runs so far this season, and McKinney four.

The Shockers closed out the week with a matchup against No. 10 Arkansas. Arkansas got the bats swinging in the third with a grand slam. By the fourth, the Shockers were down 0-7. They started to make a comeback in the fifth, but fell short by losing 7-4.

The softball team will head to Charlotte, North Carolina to play in the Niner Invitational starting on Feb. 25.

Shocker baseball was swept in their season-opening series against Louisiana Tech over the weekend.

In game one of the series, WSU opened up a three run advantage in the top of the fourth inning, but the Bulldogs responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. The bullpen struggled in relief of sophomore ace Jace Kaminka — who gave up three earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched.

The Bulldogs would tack on four more runs, with one coming in the fifth and three in the seventh, to take the opening game 7-3.

In game two of the series, the Shockers once again took the first lead of the game, scoring three runs in the opening frame. WSU would add to their lead in the seventh, scoring three runs on twoout RBIs from Brock Rodden and Sawyre Thornhill. But the Shocker bullpen struggled to hold onto the 6-1 lead.

After freshman Payton Tolle gave the Shockers a lift in his first collegiate start — who went six innings, allowing one earned run and striking out and striking out one — WSU’s bullpen allowed five runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at six. Louisiana Tech added three more in the eighth, including a two-run homer from Cole McConnell, to win the game 9-6.

In the final game of the threegame series, Louisiana Tech struck first on a home run from Phillip Matulia. Tolle then scored on a wild pitch in the following frame to tie the game at one. The Bulldogs would go on to add four runs entering the later stages of the game, leading 5-3. WSU had the bases loaded in the top of the eighth but were unable to push another runner across home plate.

Will Stevens suffered a loss in his Shocker debut, allowing four runs in two innings.

On Tuesday, the Shockers traveled to Norman, Oklahoma and fell to Oklahoma, 6-2. The Sooners jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, using four hits.

After a single and a walk, Tanner Tredaway hit a two-run double to get OU on the board. Two batters later, Cade Horton hit an RBI single to extend the lead to 3-0.

With runners on the corner in the top of the third, Jack Sigrist hit a sacrifice fly to right field, which scored Chuck Ingram and cut the OU lead to 3-1. OU answered with another run in the bottom of the third on another RBI single from Horton.

The Sooners added single runs in the seventh and eighth to extend the lead to 6-1. Sophomore Seth Stroh scored the Shockers’ final run of the game, with a run-scoring groundout to second in the ninth.

Saint Louis transfer Matt Boyer took the loss in his first start as a Shocker, allowing four runs over 4.2 innings.

NINER INVITATIONAL FRIDAY, FEB. 25

WSU vs Northern Iowa 9 a.m.

Charlotte, N.C.

WSU vs Charlotte 2 p.m.

Charlotte, N.C.

SATURDAY, FEB. 26 WSU vs Minnesota 11:30 p.m.

Charlotte, N.C.

WSU vs Charlotte 4:30 p.m.

Charlotte, N.C.

SUNDAY, FEB. 27 WSU vs Minnesota 9 a.m.

Charlotte, N.C.

Freshman Kenzie Schopfer throws a pitch during a fall game against Emporia State on Oct. 9, 2021. | Photo by Sean Marty / The Sunflower

Pitching coach makes immediate impact on freshman pitchers

BY EMMIE BOESE elboese15@gmail.com

It’s a season of firsts for some of the pitching staff in the women’s softball program at WSU and Pitching Coach Presley Bell said they are “growing together.”

Bell is in her first year as a pitching coach for the women’s softball program after spending BELL two seasons as a graduate volunteer assistant. Joining her this season are freshman pitchers Kenzie Schopfer and Alison Cooper.

“They’re my first true pitchers that I’m going through the whole shebang with so we are building that relationship (and) we are talking in our bullpens,” Bell said. “We are talking mindsets.”

Cooper and Schopfer both have had an immediate impact in the Shockers last two weekends of play. Both threw a complete game in the circle last weekend.

Cooper threw a complete game against No. 24 Illinois and pitched 2.1 innings of relief against No. 10 Arkansas.

Schopfer threw a complete game shutout against Western Illinois. Bell said she’s had

an opportunity to help both Cooper and Schopfer form their own unique mindset in their first season.

“I mean Ali came in and showed she’s a competitor,” Bell said. “She kind of wants the ball in those situations and she kind of thrives in that atmosphere and she gets after it.

“Kenzie is pretty calm, cool and collected. She did her job.

She got her spots. She got her strikeouts which is awesome.”

“They’re my first true pitchers that I’m going through the whole shebang with so we are building that relationship (and) we are talking in our bullpens.”

- Presley Bell

Even though Schopfer and Cooper have had an opportunity to start a brand new relationship with their pitching coach and vice versa, Schopfer and Cooper said the first time establishing a relationship with senior pitchers Caitlin Bingham and Erin McDonald have helped them prepare for the division one level.

“I think the biggest thing that Cailtin and Erin have taught us is to just have intent

with every single practice,” Schopfer said.

“Every single bullpen. Every single pitch all the time and that’s how as you get older SCHOPFER and more experienced… how you do well.”

Cooper described the seniors on staff as more of a second coach due to the years of experience they have.

“So I got to them with a lot of questions if like how do they do different things or what kind of mindset they have and different plays so it’s nice to have them to get advice and then even learn COOPER from them and what they do and how they act in certain situations and how they handle certain situations,” Cooper said.

Bell said starting out as young and successful in the program is only more room to see both Schopfer and Cooper establish themselves as strong pitchers.

“They can only go up from here and they have a lot of growth to still get into and that they have a lot of potential to be people to eat some innings for us this season,” Bell said.

Women’s Basketball drops road contest against USF

BY RACHEL RUDISILL rtrudisill@shockers.wichita.edu

Coming directly off a loss against the Central Florida where the Shockers committed 31 turnovers, WSU’s women’s basketball team was determined to have a better outcome against Memphis last Saturday.

The Shockers battled closely and only committed 11 turnovers while battling to keep a lead against the Tigers.

Senior Mariah McCully bounced back from her previous struggles during her conference season and scored a game-high of 23 points — the fourth 20-point lead of the season. Senior Asia

Strong followed closely behind McCully with 17 points. By the end of the first half, the two scored a combined 16 points in the first 20 minutes of the game.

With less than two minutes remaining, the Shockers and Memphis were tied at 56. In just 30 seconds, the Shockers swiped the lead 62-56 scoring six straight points. After taking the lead, WSU scored six points on the free throw line to win the game, 68-61.

The Shockers were unable to win back-to-back games, suffering a heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss against South Florida, 61-57.

McCully reached the 20-point game for the second straight game, with 21 points.

The Shockers defense dominated the Bulls forcing 18 turnovers – leading to 24 points for WSU. The Shockers offense struggled to put up points and only lead twice.

Elisa Pinzan put up four successful three-pointers bringing the score 59-54. With 30 seconds remaining, the Shockers quickly battled to put up points, but were unsuccessful.

The Shockers could not keep sophomore Elena Tsineke from breaking through the line, scoring a layup on the buzzer.

Up next, the Shockers will face South Florida in Charles Koch Areana on Thursday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

Head coach Keitha Adams looks from the sideline during the game against SMU at Charles Koch Arena on Feb. 12. | Photo by Lena Alhallaq / The Sunflower

4 | THURSDAY, FEB. 24, 2022

SPORTS

OVERTIME THRILLER

After junior Dexter Dennis scores a two point shot, sophomore Tyson Etienne celebrates during the game against Houston on Feb. 20 inside Charles Koch Arena.. Dennis had nine points and 11 rebounds and Etienne with 15 points and five rebounds. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower

No. 14 Houston steals win from men’s basketball in final seconds

BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com

M

en’s basketball was handed another gut punch on Sunday, a feeling all familiar to the team this season.

The Shockers battled with No. 14 Houston, but ultimately a last second dunk in double overtime was the deciding blow.

After junior Craig Porter Jr. tied the game up at 74 with a stepback three in double overtime, Houston went the length of the floor and J’Wan Roberts converted the game-winning dunk with 1.8 seconds left.

The Shockers looked to be on its way to their second season-defining win against Houston in as many seasons. Last year, the Shockers upset No. 5 Houston, which catapulted them into first place in the AAC and helped seal their first AAC regular season championship. But on Sunday afternoon that magic fell two points short.

With Sundday’s loss, the Shockers have clinched their first losing season since they joined the American. With the chances of an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament diminished, the Shockers know how important gaining momentum ahead of next month’s conference tournament is. If WSU wants to make another trip to the big dance, they’ll need to win it all.

“Obviously we wanted to come out victorious, we never play a game to lose but that gives us a lot of confidence going into these next games,” sophomore Tyson Etienne said. “We’ve got to keep as much momentum as we can heading into

the conference tournament. That’s where our lives are on the line.”

Porter played his best basketball during the five-minute double overtime period, scoring eight of his 17 points. He also grabbed four rebounds and dished out four assists.

The junior point guard is playing his best basketball in this recent stretch, reaching double figures in three of the past four games. Porter said he just wants to do whatever he can to get the Shockers back on track, whether that’s scoring or running the offense effectively.

“We’ve got to keep as much momentum as we can heading into the conference tournament. That’s where our lives are on the line.”

- Tyson Etienne

“It wasn’t anything special,” Porter said. “It was just overall just trying to give my team whatever we needed to compete. Our big focus is turning this thing around and getting on the right direction, especially heading into the conference tournament.”

The Shockers battled back multiple times throughout the overtime periods, erasing a four-point deficit in the final minutes of regulation and in the first five-minute overtime period. Both times the Cougars had a chance to win it but fell short as the buzzer sounded.

Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson credited WSU’s heart in a game that saw 50 total minutes of action.

“Can’t say enough about Wichita State’s kids though,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “One team walked away happy tonight but their kids fought their hearts out. Wichita State could’ve easily won today’s game but they didn’t.”

Freshman guard Ricky Council IV was inserted into the starting lineup for Sunday’s loss, after coming off the bench in the last seven games. Council recorded his second career double-double and finished the game with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Head Coach Isaac Brown had been committed to starting Joe Pleasant for much of the season but decided to change things up ahead of the matchup with the Cougars.

“Ricky’s in every game the last 15 minutes so it’s just like he’s the starter,” Brown said. “It doesn’t really matter who starts, it matters who finishes the game. I wanted to get him in as an extra ball handler because I didn’t think we were handling the ball as well as we needed to. So, with him being on the floor, it gets me another handler.”

The Shockers will continue their tough schedule, with a road matchup against Memphis next Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN. If WSU falls to the Tigers, they will record the most conference losses since they joined the AAC. The Shockers will also clinch their lowest finish in the American with a loss.

“We’ve got to put together 40 minutes,” Brown said. “When we go to Memphis, nothing we did against Houston is going to matter.

We’ve got to go over there and compete like we did tonight.”

Junior Morris Udeze goes up for a two point shot against the Houston Cougars on Feb. 20 inside Charles Koch Arena. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower

Houston’s sophomore Jamal Shead attempts to drive the ball through Wichita State’s defense. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower

SPORTS

THURSDAY, FEB. 24, 2022 | 5

Track and Field prepares for AAC Indoor Championships

BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com

After the 2021 AAC Indoor Championships was canceled, the Shocker track and field program is preparing for the first conference championship since 2020.

The Shockers are set for their third team scored meet of the season, including a first place finish in the All-Kansas Invite earlier this season. The program is looking to improve on their fifth place finish in the last indoor conference meet.

“Obviously we go to every championship meet with the vision for team success,” Director of Track and Field Steve Rainbolt said. “Top-three finishes are certainly the goal and on the women’s side right now, a top four finish is more realistic. It’s going to be challenging and difficult,

you never know it’s going to play out. Conference weekend, cross country, indoor and outdoor, those are always the target of our year.”

After the Shocker athletes were limited to the NCAA Regionals as their only postseason action last year, Rainbolt said it has been easier for them to have this meet to look toward.

“I love championship track and field and I try hard to promote that with the athletes,” Rainbolt said. “As a young athlete, every week is significant, every week is important, any time you put on your college uniform it means a lot. As time goes on those are dress rehearsals. Everything we’ve done up to this point is a dress rehearsal and this is showtime and this is where it really matters.”

In the team’s most recent meet, two Shocker throwers broke the school record. In the women’s shot

put, Amanda Kakoulias shattered the program record with a huge personal-best throw of 15.86m/520.5 to move up to No. 2 in the conference.

Senior Michael Bryan broke his own personal and school record in the weight throw, with a distance of 21.22m/69-7.5. Bryan moved up to No. 26 in the nation in the event as he remains atop the American Athletic Conference leaderboard heading into championships next weekend.

“I say a huge performance in Michael’s case, he improved on his own personal record and his own school record by a small amount,” Rainbolt said. “You still stand by and imagine that he’s going to unleash one at some point and who knows how far that might go because that guy’s so focused and such a terrific competitor.”

Rainbolt said he is excited

for the momentum the team is gaining heading into this weekend.

Dae’Trell Gordon (16.29m/53-5.5) and Anna Zimmer each threw personal bests in the shot put and weight throw last week.

Three Shockers made finals in the women’s triple jump, with all three setting new personal records.

Summer Stevenson led the way with a seventh-place finish and a jump of 11.96m/39-3, with Ezinne Okoro (11.88m/38-11.75) and Grace Lange (11.87m/38-11.5) finishing right behind her in eighth and ninth.

On the track, JD Prinsloo and Sydney Johnson both ran personal bests in the 200 meters, crossing the line in 22.62 and 24.94, respectively.

Rainbolt said this momentum heading into the conference meet is typical for the program and he

AAC CHAMPIONSHIP DATE Feb. 25-26

LOCATION Birmingham, Alabama

WHERE TO WATCH ESPN+

is excited to see how they fare with the rest of the American.

“I feel like good things are happening, good things are coming together at the right time. We’ve been doing this for a long time, I feel like our team typically does that,” Rainbolt said. “We typically round into form at the right time and we have a coaching staff that helps athletes get ready at the right time.”

‘He doesn’t get flustered’ Former Shocker Fred VanVleet looks on during the Aftershocks game on Sunday, July 18 inside Charles Koch Arena. | File Photo by Khanh Nguyen / The Sunflower

Fred VanVleet happy with first All-Star Game

BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com

Former Shocker guard Fred VanVleet continued his remarkable basketball journey, competing in the NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland. From undrafted to NBA champion, VanVleet became the first WSU guard since Xavier McDaniel to play in the game.

VanVleet’s weekend started by tallying 16 points in the ThreePoint Contest on Saturday, falling short of the required total to advance. VanVleet struggled out of the gates, clanking his first shot off the side of the backboard.

VanVleet’s 16 points came six away from qualifying for the finals of the contest, with KarlAnthony Towns, Trae Young and Luke Kennard all advancing.

The Toronto Raptors guard went 12-of-27 and missed both of the Mountain Dew Zone shots, which counted for three points. His 16 points were seventh-best of the eight participants.

“If I do good, I win, if I do bad, I get talked about for a few hours and move on. I can handle both,” VanVleet said prior to the event.

During the game on Sunday, VanVleet scored six points on 2-of-4 shooting for Team LeBron, which defeated Team Durant 163-160. With Steph Curry’s record-breaking performance, which included 16 threes, VanVleet was held six minutes off the bench.

“I’m happy with the way the night went,” VanVleet said. “We won, I got out there and made a couple shots, got some cardio in.

That’s it. I’m good.”

VanVleet became the eighth different Raptors player to be named an all-star and is just the fourth undrafted player selected.

He’s averaging a career-high 21.6 points and seven assists per game while shooting 40.1% from threepoint range.

VANLEET’S 2021-22 AVERAGES POINTS PER GAME 21.6

THREE-POINT PERCENTAGE 40.1%

MINUTES PER GAME 38.9

Junior Craig Porter Jr. dribbles down the court, looking for a teammate to pass to during the game against Houston on Feb. 20 inside Charles Koch Arena. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower

Porter’s scoring adds to improved Shocker offense

BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com

The importance of junior point guard Craig Porter Jr. hasn’t gone unnoticed during Wichita State’s midseason resurgence.

Porter has the ability to create offense for himself and others, which was showcased in Sunday’s double overtime loss to No. 14 Houston. Porter scored eight of his 17 points in double overtime.

The Terre Haute, Indiana native’s late scoring punch allowed the Shockers to hang with the American’s best last weekend, including a game-tying stepback threepointer in the final seconds.

“He’s got an old man’s game. He looks like a dad backing his son in the paint and scoring in the paint over the top of him,” Houston Head Coach Kelvin Sampson said of Porter. “I don’t know if he’s great at everything but I don’t know if there’s anything he’s not pretty good at. He doesn’t get flustered.

He’s the kind of kid that his style of game will travel and he doesn’t get too high.”

Although the Shockers are 1-3 in their last four games, Porter has delivered an offensive spark, reaching double-figure scoring in three of those games. During that stretch, Porter is averaging 12.8 points per game, the third-highest on the team.

With Porter’s increased offensive output, the Shocker offense is averaging 72.3 points per game, up from their season average of 68.3. Porter’s scoring ability has made the Shocker offense more difficult to defend, although the results haven’t ended in wins yet.

“It wasn’t anything special,” Porter said.

“It was just overall just trying to give my team whatever we needed to compete. Our big focus is turning this thing around and getting in the right direction, especially heading into the conference tournament.”

When Porter arrived on WSU’s campus last year as a transfer from Vincennes University, he was known more as a “pass first” point guard. Porter was effective in limited minutes off the bench, averaging 2.1 assists per game while averaging 12.9 minutes. 1

“I don’t know if he’s great at anything but I don’t know if there’s anything he’s not pretty good at.”

- Kelvin Sampson

This year, Porter has consistently found his teammates, even with his increased scoring, tallying a 1.75 assist-to-turnover ratio. Porter’s assist rate of 28.5% is also No. 98 in the country.

“He makes guys around him better, but his offense has gotten better,” head coach Isaac Brown said. “Last year, if you would throw Craig the ball late in the game, he would drive it and kick it to someone, and we’d get a shot clock violation.

“Now when you throw it to him after guys do a double team, he’s got enough confidence to step up and make a wideopen three, or he can drive the basketball and finish at the rim. His all-around game has gotten totally better.”

Porter has battled injuries and COVID-19

Junior Craig Porter Jr. goes up for a two pointer against Houston’s senior Josh Carlton. Porter had 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower

during his time as a Shocker, but Brown said it’s been a welcoming sign to have him on the court. Last year, Porter missed almost 50 days due to COVID and played in 19 of WSU’s 22 games. Porter has missed one game this year due to protocols and one other game with an ankle injury.

“Having him is like having another assistant coach on the floor,” Brown said.

“He does a good job just leading the game, getting everybody in the right spot. We don’t turn it over because he’s at the head of the press attack. He’s getting the ball to the right guys and he’s done a great job. We need that to continue.”

6 | THURSDAY, FEB. 24, 2022

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Arts & Entertainment

HAVE A STORY IDEA? contact The Sunflower’s A&E editor, Kyran Crist arts@thesunflower.com

Illustration by Wren Johnson / The Sunflower

Why and ways to be sustainable in college

BY JACINDA HALL email@thesunflower.com

Sustainability has been a huge issue regarding climate change.

Many people have realized that many of the clothes they wear, or food they eat, is killing the planet.

Most clothing companies are considered fast fashion, whether consumers like it or not. These brands include Shein, Zara, H&M, Fashion Nova and Forever 21., which rely on workers from overseas to mass produce their clothing in just a matter of weeks.

According to an article from CNN Style, 18 cents of the profits made from a $33 shirt goes to the worker that made the shirt.

Because of the low wages that are given to workers overseas, these workers are struggling to survive because they can’t afford food When it comes to groceries, most of the meat and dairy products that we use produce a lot of greenhouse gasses.

According to the USDA, the average American consumed 144 pounds of meat in 2017. And according to an article by the BBC, beef produces the most greenhouse gasses out of any other meat on the market. When it comes to dairy products, the numbers aren’t any better. According to the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), dairy cows and their manure produce emissions as well.

While these problems will still be around, we can help reduce these problems by making mindful choices when it comes to food and shopping.

When it comes to clothing, choosing to shop at local thrift stores or learning to make our own clothes both are great ways, or reducing shopping trips and trying to keep a small closet space can also help.

It’s unrealistic for everyone to make their own clothes or to keep people from shopping altogether, but keeping in mind when out and about can help keep the impact down.

When grocery shopping, shop sustainably. One way to be sustainable with shopping is to reduce or completely cut off dairy and meat consumption and shop at sustainable grocery stores. Especially if you are a college student.

The prices of meat and dairy have gone up and college students don’t usually have the funds to spend on meat and dairy products.

These products can be replaced by doing research on dairy alternatives and where to get them at a lower cost.

Aldi grocery store is a good example of where to find lower priced items. They have a wide variety of dairy alternatives at a low cost. You can buy a carton of Almond milk at Aldi for $1.79, which is significantly cheaper than places like Target or Walmart. w At the end of the day, the idea is to just be conscious of the decisions when purchasing and not only will it be better for the environment but also will save money in the long run.

Students stop outside the Rhatigan Student Center Monday Feb. 21 to pet dogs at the Graduate Student Council event Puppy Days | Photo by Kyran Crist / The Sunflower

Beauties and Beasts Inc dog Luna receives pets and treats at Graduate Student Council’s Puppy Days event. | Photo by Kyran Crist / The Sunflower

Graduate Student Council partners with Beauties and Beasts to bring Puppy Days, an event to show love to dogs being rescued from the 11th hour.| Photo by Kyran Crist / The Sunflower

Beauties and Beasts Inc dog Hal enjoys the pets and treats from passersby outside of the RSC on Monday Feb. 21 on Puppy Days. | Photo by Kyran Crist / The Sunflower

Graduate Student Council brings warm hearts and puppy love with Puppy Days

BY KYRAN CRIST arts@thesunflower.com

Slobbered hands and warm hearts were found outside the Rhatigan Student Center on Monday afternoon, as the Wichita State Graduate Student Council paired with Beauties and beasts for Puppy Days to give dogs in need of a home some love.

Graduate Student Council events coordinator Emily Thon said she wanted to organize this event out of nostalgia for when she was a student, as well as give these dogs some people to love on them.

“What I wanted to provide was my happiest memories at Wichita State was the dog days that they would provide during finals week,” Thon said. “And so I kind of wanted to bring

that back, especially with COVID and everybody missing their pets at home.

So just giving everybody a chance to like take and hang out with the dogs.”

“What I wanted to provide was my happiest momories at Wichita State was the dog days that they would provide during finals week.”

-Emily Thon

Beauties and Beasts, a Wichita non-profit and volunteer-based organization that helps rescue dogs from the euthanization lists in and around Wichita, brought out dogs to WSU campus to give students a chance to give some pets

and love to dogs pulled from the euthanization list for minor issues. The dogs were controlled by volunteers during the afternoon and were eager for pets.

Thon said that GSC partnered with Beauties and Beasts and they brought dogs that were essentially in the 11th hour and are either recommended to be put down or just have a bit of behavioral issues that can be fixed by getting them out of the shelter.

The organization is 100% volunteer run and is completely non-profit, simply looking to help pull these dogs and give them a home and people to help work with them.

Donations, volunteer work or adoption information can all be found on their website beautiesandbeasts. org.

After being outside the RSC during the morning and early afternoon, Tone said they saw many students come up and express how much they enjoyed the day and missed their own pets at home.

“It’s been really good, a lot of kids have been really excited that they get to come hang out with the dogs” Thon said.

The GSC will be hosting this event again on Monday, March 21, April 18 and May 4. They are hoping to help graduate students become aware of the council and their presence on campus, stating that they are always looking for new members and would like to be a voice for graduate students, as well as show these dogs some love and Beauties and Beasts some awareness to what they do.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

THURSDAY, FEB. 24, 2022 | 7

FAIRMOUNT

FORMAL

2022

Courtesy of Netflix

Daredevil explodes on Netflix once again

BY KYRAN CRIST arts@thesunflower.com

Finance senior Leonardo Sandino dances alone during Fairmount Formal. The event was hosted by SAC on Feb. 19 at the RSC. | Photo by Khanh Nguyen / The Sunflower

Two Wichita State students dance together during Fairmount Formal. The event was hosted by the Student Activities Council on Feb. 19 in RSC Beggs Ballroom. | Photo by Khanh Nguyen / The Sunflower

Junior Deborah Jolie (left) and freshman Toyeba Khan (right) dance together during Fairmount Formal. The event was hosted by SAC on Feb. 19 at the RSC. | Photo by Khanh Nguyen / The Sunflower

A student breaks his legs during Fairmount Formal. The event was hosted by SAC on Feb. 19 at the RSC. | Photo by Khanh Nguyen / The Sunflower

Sarah Laffen dances during Fairmount Formal. The event was hosted by SAC on Feb. 19 at the RSC. | Photo by Khanh Nguyen / The Sunflower

FORMAL FROM PAGE 1

The Student Activities Council hosted its first Fairmount Formal on Feb. 19 in RSC Beggs Ballroom. | Photo by Khanh Nguyen / The Sunflower

of this event was because so many students missed prom due to COVID-19, so this is a great time to make it up.”

When schools were closed across Kansas in the spring of 2020, many students lost the opportunity to attend school dances. For several students, the Fairmount Formal was the first dance since high school that they had the opportunity to attend. For others, such as Baker graduate student Raymond Tollison, the formal was the perfect opportunity

to socialize, have fun and of course, dance.

“I’ve been dancing for years,” Tollison said. “I try to go dancing at XY Bar every weekend. I also have a lot of pent up energy. I work from home often so the cabin fever brought me out tonight.”

But for most, the dance served as the perfect form of closure for prom memories and opportunities lost to COVID-19.

“I only got half of a high school prom,” Nalah Stokes said. “So when I heard about the dance I was like ‘Oh my gosh I can actually have that last senior experience of you’ve grown up and you’ve done it.’”

Marvel released the newest Spider-Man movie “SpiderMan: No way Home” in December of last year, and with it came multiple cameos in the film, one of those being Matt Murdock, played by the 2018 Netflix “Daredevil” series actor, Charlie Cox. Since the cameo, the Netflix original series has returned to Netlix’s top ten watched, again, since its original release with old and new fans going back to watch the blind lawyer kick some ass.

The series follows Matt Murdock, also known as Daredevil, as he struggles with the daily life of being a law-abiding lawyer and helping those in need. At night he becomes a masked vigilante, using the enhanced senses he received after being blinded from spilled vats of chemicals.

Murdock and his partner Foggy Nelson (played by Elden Henson) start their own law firm, taking on cases basically free of charge to help others out of the goodness of their hearts.

All the while Murdock is working as Daredevil, trying to clean up the evil in Hell’s Kitchen, especially that done by crime lord Fisk Wilson, aka Kingpin (played by Vincent D’Onofrio).

“Daredevil, even three years after its final episode aired on Netflix, still remains a wellwritten and directed series with great casting and acting.”

The series later introduces characters that we see in later Marvel shows, such as “Luke Cage” and “The Punisher”.

Season two of Daredevil leads up to the events that take place in the collaboration special series The Defenders, which features Daredevil, Luke Cage, Jessica Jones and Iron Fist.

Though the other shows did not receive the same praise that Daredevil did, they were good at displaying their own characters and stories. Except for Iron Fist, that was a dumpster fire.

But while the others (excluding Iron Fist) were still great for what they were and displaying Stan Lee’s comic book characters, Daredevil was the most-watched and better of the Marvel-Netflix series as it does the old comics and character of Matt Murdock justice. It also helped that the 2003 Daredevil film starring Ben Affleck was a disaster in comparison.

The series is everything one would expect from a Marvel superhero series, while also having the flexibility to be a little more gritty than their family-friendly superheroes.

This is what made the series so good because they could fully encapsulate the gritty and notso-happy life of Matt Murdock.

Daredevil, even three years after its final episode aired on Netflix, still remains a well-written and directed series with great casting and acting. It will pull on your heartstrings as well as give you a good laugh once in a while. I recommend to anyone who loves a good superhero show, to give it a chance before Netflix removes it at the end of Feb.

8 | THURSDAY, FEB. 24, 2022

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Opinion Street

HAVE AN OPINION?

contact The Sunflower’s opinion editor, Emmie Boese opinion@thesunflower.com

Trust your gut with online dating Allison Campbell Columnist campbellnallison@gmail.com

WHY DO THE LITTLE THINGS IN FRIENDSHIPS AND RELATIONSHIPS MATTER?

JENNIFER BANKS Anthropolgy “Everybody has like their own little quirks and their individuality shows through with the little things that they do and each realtionship is kind of defined on the little things that people do.”

CARLY JANELLE FANT Anthropolgy

Netflix’s latest documentary film, The Tinder Swindler, has dating app users across the nation clutching their hearts and credit cards closer than ever, including yours truly. In less than two hours, Netflix shows exactly how several women lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to an extravagant casanova only to be left in financial ruin.

As a hopeless romantic and a notorious cheapskate, nothing creeps me out more than thinking the cutie I swiped right on is staring at me with dollar signs in their eyes. In a country where more than 91% of surveyed college students use dating apps according to Global Dating Insights, what can we do to protect ourselves from such devilish heartthrobs?

The victims of Shinmon Hayut (who is also known as Simon Leviev, David Sharon, and who knows what else) weren’t gullible women. They were employees of wealthy industries, property owners and respected members of their communities. Yet in only a few months time they were stuck with several lifetimes worth of debt.

The film stresses the importance of Googling your dates, but that matters little if your match has totally fabricated his entire life.

One of the best takeaways from The Tinder Swindler is to rely on your own gut feelings and believe that someone can in fact be “too good to be true.” Hayut lulled women into false senses of security

Illustration by Wren Johnson / The Sunflower

by reading them like a football playbook.

His bio and cleverly constructed personality made him come across as genuine, attractive, compassionate and a trait nearly all women on dating apps search for, vulnerability. His victims were easily swooned by his extravagant lifestyle full of private jets, free meals and drinks and frequent vacations. Generally, if someone is willing to waste hundreds of thousands of dollars on you after only a few days of courtship, that’s not love - it’s a trap.

This can prove especially tempting to college students who find themselves drowning in debt.

So even if you’re not worried about a scammer stealing the entire $4 in

your name, keep in mind they can do much worse things with your identity or social security number.

That being said, take your social security card out of your wallet. Yes, right now. A staggering majority of individuals keep the most precious document they will ever be given sandwiched between crumpled dollar bills and used gift cards.

Put it in a safe, a heavy, fireproof one preferably. And don’t tell people where you put your important documents, such as your social security card. If I had a nickel for everytime I heard someone practically map the location of their credit cards, bank receipts or birth certificates, I’d be able to give Shinmon Hayut a run for his

money.

The Tinder Swindler serves as a not-so-friendly reminder that those with ill intentions lurk around every corner, even if they are dressed in Versaci. In this day and age, everything can be fabricated whether it’s Instagram accounts, checks or entire identities.

So for your next Tinder date, do a little more research than you usually would (especially if you don’t do any at all). And for the love of all that is holy, don’t share your bank account information with anyone. Not your partner, your best friend, not even your dog. You never know what may be lurking underneath the surface of a con artist until it’s too late.

“It means that they care and they are thinking about you at least.”

ALI ALI

Biology

“Those things matter because it shows that person you know really cares. They thought about you and you know they thought maybe this would make their day better or they thought about this or that and so you go and get them a coffee or you get them lunch. I know especially for myself from work somebody really cares and I really appreciate that.”

So I would do the same for people that I care for.”

Junior Dexter Dennis defends the ball during the exhibition game against Missouri Southern State on Nov. 4 inside Charles Koch Arena. | Photo by Sean Marty / The Sunflower

Every student should be treated equally, student athlete or not Emmie Boese Opinion Editor

opinion@thesunflower.com

ALI ALJADI

Enginnering “It’s done with the love and respect and maybe done from the bottom of their heart so that’s what will matter even if it’s small I think it is a big thing.”

“Student athletes are just dumb jocks.” “They are the favorites on campus because they put a ball through a hoop.” I’ve heard people say these comments many times.

I’ve even heard myself say these hurtful comments.

I grew up around sports but I was not athletic. Because of this, I didn’t feel as “popular” as my other family members. However, my family helped me realize I was

Opinion LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and must be fewer than 400 words. Letters may be edited for accuracy, clarity and length. Please include your name, WSU affiliation and a phone number for verification purposes. To submit letters, email opinion@thesunflower.com or submit at www.thesunflower.com.

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 the university. The Sunflower reserves the right to edit or reject any submission. We also reserve the right to edit or reject any advertisement.

not an outsider and I just had a different path in life than they did.

I’ve always been jealous of people that are athletic. They are the people that many pay attention to because of their athletic skill, and their ability to accomplish physical tasks that seem almost impossible.

They are the people that can entertain you for hours with their God-given ability. If you saw WSU guard’s Ricky Council IV windmill dunk several weeks ago you know exactly what I mean.

Due to being so jealous of other’s athletic ability, I decided for a while there was no way I had

anything in common with athletes.

This negative self-talk and comparison with others was damaging to my self-esteem.

Athletes aren’t just objects that are there to entertain you at a basketball game. They are not the people that are just here to take all of your scholarship money away.

I know their popularity and the need for attention may frustrate many students.

However, student athletes do a lot for the university. College athletic programs bring in quite a bit of revenue at WSU. I also understand that they have a large student-athlete success

center on campus just for them.

However, it was given to them through private donations. Also, stop and think about what they use it for. They use it to study, hang out with their teammates and have team meetings. It isn’t a luxury hotel just for them.

Student athletes are just students who happen to play a sport.

Just like if you are a writer that’s what you do. If you are a doctor or a nurse that’s what you do.

No one is above someone else on campus just because they play a sport. Let’s all be kind and support one another in our dreams and passions.

STUDENT OPINION OF THE WEEK OLLIE MCCOY JUNIOR, SECONDARY EDUCATION “So I think that there is a lot of like ideas about diversity here (WSU) but there not really like enforced very well.

I’ve had a lot of problems within the classroom when it comes to like my identity or my name, were like teachers say that they will use it and then it doesn’t get used so one of my strongest opinions is that like we need more enforcement on like teachers actually like using the things we perfer.”