Grad Guide - May 5, 2016

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VOLUME 120, ISSUE 50

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The 2016

Graduat ion Guide Congratulations to the class of 2016! It’s been years of hard work — some more than others — and you’ll finally get the diploma. Under each graduation cap is a different story, some of great triumph, others of tremendous challenges. Here is just a small sampling of the kinds of students graduating with the Wichita State spring class of 2016.

2

Veteran battles PTSD, returns to school

3

Education graduate provides outlook on state of education in Kansas

4

Student loses home in apartment fire, faces odds to graduate in communications

11

Six Sunflower staffers say farewell to the student newspaper

PAGE 2 | GRADUATION GUIDE

THURSDAY, MAY 5

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Photo by Manny De Los Santos

Phylicia Thompson, a senior graduating with a degree in social work, will soon open 2 Beatz Mobile, a traveling fashion boutique.

Senior takes fashion on the go with mobile boutique ALEX PERRY

REPORTER

@sunflowerap

The world of fashion is seemingly always moving at breakneck speed, making it intimidating for anyone who wants to stay up-to-date with all the latest trends.

2 Beatz Mobile, a new fashion boutique by Wichita State senior Phylicia Thompson, will not move that quickly. In fact, it will go around 40 miles per hour in most of the city, slowing down in neighborhoods and speeding up on highways.

Unlike the average clothing

outlet, 2 Beatz Mobile (named for the heartbeats of Thompson’s two children) peddles its wares out of a former church van that has been gutted and remodeled to fit her business needs. It is the retail wing of Thompson’s online boutique of the same name, and it brings new meaning to the phrase “fashion forward.”

The store’s slogan is “Be You, Be Beautiful.” Thompson said a major goal of 2 Beatz is to increase confidence in women.

“Our vision is to have a convenient shopping experience for women that allows them to feel [like] themselves,” Thompson

said. “Just so they can feel good in their own skin.”

She cites the widespread availability of fashion inspiration on the Internet that may contribute to lessened confidence among women.

“With the Internet, you have these people that you want to be, but you can’t be because that isn’t even really them, it’s a Photoshopped version of them,” Thompson said. “Us, as women, seeing that, we get down on ourselves like, ‘I wish I could do this, I wish I could do that.’ You don’t have to try to be anybody else.”

Once 2 Beatz Mobile gets rolling in May, the plan is to take the van to RiverFest and to places like black arts festivals or bachelorette parties around the city.

There are also plans to possibly go to universities. Thompson said she will also take appointments for customers who want the latest fashion brought to their doorstep.

“How convenient is it for someone to come to you?”

Thompson said. “Sometimes we don’t have the time or the ability to go somewhere, so if I can come directly to you and give you an amazing shopping experience, why not?”

Thompson graduates this semester with a degree in social work. While that may not immediately sound like it lends itself to running a mobile fashion boutique full-time, she said her classes helped her come up with the idea.

“Being in class, it gives you critical thinking,” Thompson said. “It allowed me to reach and talk to different women one-on-one.”

Those interested in seeing what Thompson has for sale in the online version of 2 Beatz can visit www.2beatzboutique.com for more information.

Through struggles with PTSD, student-veteran finds success in social work ALEX BULLOCK REPORTER @alexbullock_wsu

Everyone has a favorite Christmas present.

For some it’s a new gadget. For Amber McAnulla, it was coming home from Iraq one month early to be with her son, Brice. She had been gone for 11 months.

McAnulla joined the U.S. armed forces at 17, just before her senior year of high school.

After serving for nine-and-a-half years, she was ready to come home for good.

“Transitioning from military to a civilian was a harder process than I thought,” McAnulla said.

In fall 2009, she saw an advertisement for Upward Bound at Wichita State and enrolled right away.

McAnulla will graduate this semester with a master’s degree in social work, and will begin looking for a job.

“I want to start out working with mental illness,” McAnulla said.

Upward Bound is designed to motivate and help veterans return to school and have a career. The program provides tutoring, counseling and mentoring for its students.

“They have continually checked in on me and been in contact with me throughout college,” McAnulla said.

She was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder when she was a freshman at WSU. PTSD is a mental health condition that is triggered by a traumatic event, either experiencing it or witnessing it.

“I figured something was wrong, but didn’t know what it was,” McAnulla said.

“

I didn’t get blown up or shot at. I came home with all my limbs. I thought I wasn’t injured, but I was.”

AMBER MCANULLA Spring graduate

Photo by Jessica Green

Senior Amber McAnulla enrolled at WSU in 2009 after coming home from Iraq.

McAnulla struggled to come to terms with the diagnosis, due to the stigmas that swirl around the words “mental illness.”

“I didn’t get blown up or shot at. I came home with all my limbs. I thought I wasn’t injured, but I was,” McAnulla said.

After arriving at WSU, McAnulla progressed with the help of her education in social work and instructors, including

Shaunna Millar, clinical educator and director for the bachelor of social work program.

Millar has been a social worker for more than 18 years.

“Amber is an example of a student who has gone through so much, but has pushed herself to see her needs and where she needed to grow,” she said.

Millar has been one of McAnulla’s instructors since she was an undergraduate student.

“One of the things I love about Amber is that she is so genuine and authentic about her life experiences, and it has made it possible for her to grow so much, in some ways other students aren’t,” Millar said.

Millar said she has confidence in McAnulla. She said her ability to empathize with people who have served and experienced trauma will make her “a fierce advocate and social worker.”

“I love social work and all the little rewards in it,” McAnulla said.

After getting some experience in the mental health side of social work, she wants to focus her career on veterans.

McAnulla attributes her academic success to working through her own battle with PTSD. “You really have to know yourself to be a social worker, you have to know your triggers and be aware so you are prepared for anything,” McAnulla said.

Being a veteran and a student challenged McAnulla.

“WSU was the best thing for me,” she said. “The support I have gotten through the School of Social Work is truly incredible and something I never expected.”

THURSDAY, MAY 5

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PAGE 3 | GRADUATION GUIDE

Senior decorates to celebrate farewell JESSICA GREEN

REPORTER

@jesserca9

Courtsey Photo

Senior Kimberly Cummings decorates her cap with a phrase she found while scrolling through Pinterest.

Senior Kimberly Cummings browsed Pinterest for ideas of how to decorate her graduation cap.

Flowers? Maybe.

Glitter? No. Rhinestones? Sure, why not?

Stick-on letters? Perfect.

So, she began designing her cap and came up with a design full of flowers, rhinestones and the phrase, “So the adventure begins.”

“To me, school is one phase of your life and now that I’m graduating a whole new phase of life is about to begin, so I’m ‘on to my next adventure,’” Cummings said.

With her new phase of life about to begin, Cummings said she

plans to move to Kansas City with her sister, Christy.

“I want to help her with her new baby and begin my job search,” she said. “There’s more opportunity and higher pay in Kansas City, and I’d like to get out and explore my home for this next phase of my life.”

While Cummings is preparing for the next phase of her life and career, graduation is nipping at her heels. With graduation so soon, seniors have been deciding whether or not to decorate their caps to reflect their experience and feelings for Wichita State University.

“We enjoy when students decorate their caps,” said Jody Hall, assistant director for workforce, professional and

community education. “We just want it kept within reason — no vulgarities, or anything like that.”

Thus far, Hall said she hasn’t seen or heard about any problems with students decorating their caps.

As every school year comes to an end, students scour the Internet for ideas, much like Cummings did months ago when she decided what she wanted to say on hers.

Scrolling through the pages of Pinterest, there are designs with quotes from famous authors, television shows, movies and photos from the year. But for Cummings, the choice was easy.

“The real world is a whole new adventure compared to school,” she said. “I’m ready.”

How to:

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Decorate your mortar board

Gather mortar board and other extra materials you may need to help create your final masterpiece, such as a hot glue gun or scissors.

Begin by applying glue to the back of the rhinestones and stick them in the desired area of the mortar board.

Write a favorite quote or saying using either paint, markers or even stickers. Add any additional items such as flowers, bows or pictures.

Infographic by Madeline Deabler

Education major lands dream job at Chisholm Trail CHANCE SWAIM

REPORTER

@chanceswaim

Senior Connor Christensen has a lot to brag about.

But if you talk to Christensen, an elementary education major graduating this spring, he’ll leave out some pretty significant details.

He won’t tell you he was nominated by a faculty member for a student-teacher award this year, or that he shadowed elementary school teachers to learn how to set up a classroom for kindergarten — the grade he plans to teach next fall — and went beyond the requirements of his student-teaching duties.

He won’t tell you he’s a first-generation college student starting his master’s degree.

He’s one of the most consistent students professor Jim Granada said he’s ever had at Wichita State.

Granada advises WSU’s student teachers at Chisholm Trail Elementary.

“He does all of the little things,” Granada said. “Connor’s not one to draw attention to himself. He’s very humble and consistent and the kids seem to be very receptive to his teaching style.”

But there are other things that set Christensen apart from his fellow elementary education student-teachers.

For one, he’s a male. Of all the future teachers Granada has advised over the years who hope to go on to teach kindergarten, including his four students at Chisholm Trail Elementary School this spring, Christensen is the first male.

According to World Bank Data in 2015, only 13 percent of U.S. primary — kindergarten through fifth grade — educators are male.

Male teachers in kindergarten are even more rare. The latest data by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows only 2.8 percent of U.S. kindergarten teachers are male.

“I don’t know why more men don’t go into kindergarten teaching,” Christensen said. “Maybe it’s because most males go into teaching to be

coaches, but maybe that’s a bad stereotype.”

Christensen said the reason he chose to pursue a career as a kindergarten teacher is so he can give students a good first impression of school.

“I’m not all that interested in coaching,” Christensen said. “Don’t get me wrong, I love sports. I love the Royals and the Chiefs, but I want to teach.”

He enjoys the inquisitive nature and general interest in learning that comes with being five years old.

“I just really like being with the little ones,” Christensen said. “It’s their first experience with school.

They’re excited to be in school, and they haven’t gotten a tainted image of what school is or what school can be. Plus, I get to be silly with them.”

One of his keys to success in the classroom is a transitional move between activities that involves the

students putting their hands on top of their heads and looking at the front of the class so he knows they are paying attention. Christensen joins in and puts his hands on his head. The students stifle chuckles.

So, he’s a funny, humble, hardworking and compassionate guy, and one of the few men to go in to kindergarten teaching.

But what really sets Christensen apart from his classmates is that for the fall 2016, he already has a job.

‘A rocky start’ Christensen started college in 2012 at Fort Hays State University. Like many 18-year-olds, Christensen said he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do with his life. He thought about being a chiropractor, a doctor or an accountant. Nothing stuck.

After a year in Hays, Christensen transferred to the University of Kansas. He spent a semester there

and decided he didn’t like the atmosphere or the high cost of tuition and housing.

“Something about the culture up there, it just wasn’t the right fit,” Christensen said. “I never felt at home at KU. I had heard good things about Wichita State, so I decided to go there for my last two years.”

But Christensen still wasn’t sure about his career plans.

“I thought about my grandpa who passed away my senior year of high school,” he said. “He was a huge influence on me. He lived across the street, and I was over there all the time. One summer he bought a chalk board at a garage sale and he would use it to give me spelling lessons and math problems and stuff.”

Christensen said his grandfather, a military veteran, was always trying to educate him.

“He would give me money for my

grades, like a dollar for an ‘A,’” Christensen said. “He was always encouraging me and giving me that intrinsic motivation. So, when I thought about what I wanted to do, I thought, why not teach?”

‘It’s scary right now’ The teaching climate in Kansas has made national news in the past year, including an article in The Atlantic called “Unhappy teachers are leaving Kansas in droves” and “Why teachers can’t hotfoot it out of Kansas fast enough” from The Washington Post.

Kansas lawmakers face the task of closing the state’s $290 million deficit for this and next year. A handful of Kansas school districts have implemented hiring freezes while waiting to see how much money they will receive.

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PAGE 4 | GRADUATION GUIDE

THURSDAY, MAY 5

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Adult student has fiery perseverance ANDREW LINNABARY

MANAGING EDITOR @linnabary

Marcus Petty has spent more than a decade working to earn a college degree.

Looking back on an apartment fire and changing schools, majors and jobs, Petty said his biggest obstacle has been himself.

“A lot of it is self-inflicted,” Petty said. “The big part has been making sure I stay on track and making sure I did what I needed to do to get my degree.”

At 37 years old, Petty will receive his bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis in integrated marketing communication.

“I went to KU right out of high school, then WSU right after that,” Petty said.

He knocked out two years of college during that time, but said it was hard to focus.

“I remember when I was at KU, I spent 30 minutes reading a paragraph of my Russian history textbook,” Petty said. “I couldn’t understand or comprehend it.”

Petty said this led him to get tested for attention deficit disorder. His test results came back saying he was in the high percentile for distraction.

Petty had more issues than just his attention span while at KU, though.

“One of the biggest regrets I have is, when I was 21 or 22, I didn’t have a sense of money management,” Petty said. “On KU’s campus, they’d have little tents where you could get credit cards like it was nothing.”

Petty said he would sign up for the cards thoughtlessly. Now as a

Photo by Jessica Green

Marcus Petty nears graduation after facing many challenges — an apartment fire, ADD and debt. He holds a photo of his apartment after the fire.

full-grown adult, Petty said he has more personal debt than he’d like to have, in addition to student loans.

“Right now, it’s a little bit overwhelming because my income potential is minimal,” Petty said.

Petty’s internship as a communications specialist at the Mid-American All-Indian Center pays $10 an hour.

Petty said what he does not make in dollars, he gains in experience at his job.

A decade passed before Petty came back to WSU last year. Not long after returning to school, a fire ruined his apartment.

“It was on a Friday,” Petty said. “I didn’t have to work that day. The

only thing I had was Spanish class from 8:30 to 9:20.”

Petty said he got home from class and saw the fire trucks.

“I thought, ‘Huh, this is interesting,’” Petty said.

As he got closer, Petty realized the trucks were near his apartment.

“At this point I was hoping my cat was OK,” Petty said.

He then made his way up the stairs to his second floor apartment, walking through his kicked-in doorframe.

“I’ll never forget what it looked like,” Petty said. “It was like they had to rip my entire roof down to get to the fire. There’s just debris, insula-

tion, drywall, it’s wet, it smells.”

Nearly everything was ruined besides his laptop and his cat.

“Part of me wasn’t sure I made the right decision going back to school,” Petty said. “Then this happened, but I had amazing friends and people at Wichita State.”

Integrated marketing instructor Madeline McCullough left a card with Petty later that week while handing back assignments.

“It was from the whole Elliott School faculty saying that they hoped everything was going OK, with some gift cards attached,” Petty said.

“That was really awesome. It’s the gesture more than the gift cards. The

compassion and the caring helped me.”

McCullough said Elliott School instructor Eric Wilson came up with the idea of taking donations from the faculty. She said she met Petty the semester he had the fire in her introduction to IMC class.

“He was an engaged student, he did great work,” McCullough said.

“He didn’t waste time in class spacing out or texting on his phone.”

McCullough said she finds a lot of returning students are more appreciative of the opportunity to learn.

“I think when you come straight from high school you don’t understand your whole life won’t give you opportunities,” McCullough said.

“When you come back to college, you can really appreciate what a blessing it is to be somewhere where people are challenging you and presenting new ideas and new things to wrestle with.”

McCullough said she is drawn to lifelong learners, which she considers Petty to be.

Looking beyond graduation, Petty said at this point he is sending out résumés, networking and looking for any opportunity.

He said reaching this point in his life wouldn’t have been possible without perseverance and good fortune.

“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for meeting the faculty here,” Petty said.

“And regardless of everything, you don’t get anything without perseverance. Very few things in life are handed to you. You’ve got to work at it.”

From the tennis court to the workplace

definitely going to be helpful.”

Stevens is one of the four American players on her team of eleven. Ostojic is one of seven international players on his Both the men’s and women’s tennis team of nine. teams can boast their recent success this Stevens said she was at first unsure she season. Each having won their respective would get along with her foreign teamMissouri Valley Conference championmates, but that feeling changed quickly. ships, both are set to play in the NCAA “Being on a team with few Americans tournament. This success is largely due to has given me so much perspective,” the senior leadership on both teams.

Stevens said. “Learning about different Abby Stevens and Tin Ostojic are a cultures and being able to talk about the couple of those senior leaders, each with world has expanded my worldview and their own distinct background. Growing encouraged me to learn more about other up in Wichita, WSU has always been close cultures.” to Stevens’ heart, with Ostojic, on the Ostojic said he was feeling a similar way. other hand, growing up in Zagreb, “It was a little bit difficult, but traveling Croatia. with the tennis team made it easier for me Stevens chose to play tennis at Wichita to get used to it, so it wasn’t as hard an State because of its strong athletics sunfloweradsales@gmail.com adjustment for me,” Ostojic said. program. She stated that she wanted to Stevens and Ostojic agreed that the become as good as possible in order to pay biggest difference between being a student for her college and for the love she has for athlete and a normal student is the the game. traveling that comes with it.

After she graduates, Stevens hopes to “We travel all across America, like, we find a career in physical education that will went to Texas, we went to California, Las allow her to pursue her passion and teach Vegas, Virginia, Florida,” said Ostojic. kids about the benefits of a healthy “Tennis takes you a lot of places and I love lifestyle. to travel so I think that was the most Ostojic chose Wichita State because of interesting (thing about being a his best friend, who was on the tennis student-athlete).” team at the time. Ostojic was hoping for Stevens finished out her career as a them to eventually team up. two-time MVC regular-season champion, He stated that the process of moving two-time MVC tournament-champion, away from his family was challenging for and a two-time NCAA Tournament him. The hardest part, he said, was the qualifier, among other awards. fact that most people could drive back to Ostojic shared similar success, being a their hometown while he was limited to two-time selection to the All-MVC Select only summer visits back to Croatia.

Team, and won the first NCAA individual After he graduates, Ostojic plans on staying in Wichita to get an internship. He tournament wins by a Shocker in more than 30 years, among multiple other is undecided on where he wants to work. awards.

As for tennis, his decision remains simple.

Even though Stevens and Ostojic come “I’m still definitely going to play, you from contrasting backgrounds, their know, tennis has had a very big impact on ability to adapt combined with their hard my life,” said Ostojic. “Probably the people I’m going to work with are going to work put into their sport has shown them success. be some tennis guys and everything so it’s C. CONNER CLAPHAM REPORTER @clapdaddy1

The Sunflower: 1 column x 3”

File Photo by Manny De Los Santos

Senior Abby Stevens strikes the ball against Southern Illinois Sunday afternoon at the Sheldon Coleman Tennis Complex. WSU woman’s Tennis ended up winning the MVC Championship sweeping Southern Illinois 4-0.

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Shocker baseball takes on K-State | PAGE 8

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VOLUME 120, ISSUE 64

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Cecil steps down as director of Elliott School GRANT COHEN

REPORTER

@gforce4preach

As soon as Matthew Cecil stepped onto the Wichita State campus, he had a vision for the Elliott School of Communication.

Since 2013, he envisioned the communication’s program to become nationally known and give opportunities to students so they have the experience when they graduate. “(The faculty) was very impressed when he interviewed for the position,” said Jeffrey Jarman, associate Elliott School director. “We were excited about what he was going to do in his new position.”

Cecil has helped the Elliott School pursue multiple accomplishments, including the

Reflections on the past year of SGA, looking ahead to next year TJ RIGG

REPORTER

establishment of the Ad Astra Communication Agency and the Center for Excellence in Oral Communication.

After three years of serving as the Elliott School director at WSU, Cecil has accepted a new position at Minnesota State University. An alumnus of MSU with a master’s degree in history, Cecil will be the new Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities in Mankato, Minnesota.

Cecil’s new position starts July 1.

“I have always wanted to move into a dean’s position,” Cecil said. “(Minnesota State) appealed to me because it is a place that I am familiar with, and it is close to home.”

A native of Brookings, South Dakota, Cecil worked seven

requirements in order to make it easier for students to be admitted into the program.

“In my experience, Dr. Cecil has been Matthew Cecil hugely supportive of efforts in the Elliott School that are carried out with passion and purpose,” said Michelle Dreiling, Elliott School faculty member. “He genuinely cares about the faculty, and wants us to fulfill our potential.”

Cecil was not only involved working with the faculty of the ESC but engaging with the students as well. He taught a mass communication and Society course during his three-year

tenure as director.

“I enjoy facilitating other people’s successes,” Cecil said.

“That is important in administration and it is important to me to give (the students) an opportunity to be successful.”

Confident with how the ESC has evolved since his arrival, Cecil said he knows the school is in excellent hands, and it will continue to produce successful students.

“When you start thinking about the great things in Wichita, it makes it tough to leave,” Cecil said. “This is a great job that anybody would be happy to have. I work with wonderful people, and the Elliott School is as good as it can be for the size of the university. You do not see programs like this.”

Budget woes

Tuition increases for four-year Universities

@tj_rigg

Student Body President Joseph Shepard said many people will look upon the 58th session of Student Government Association as a controversial group.

“But they’ll think of it as a year that opened up so many doors for so many people that put a face to who Student Government Association is and what they do on this campus,” he said.

In addition, Shepard said the 58th session showed students how much power they have.

“A lot of students don’t realize how much power they have, but they realize now that when we come together and we unite and we stand together, regardless of our differences, we can make an impact and we can make a change on this campus,” he said.

Shepard said he is proud of the work the 58th session did.

He said he looks forward to a strong year with the 59th session.

“We see already that we have strong, powerful senators who are not yesmen,” Shepard said. “They are going to make sure that in the midst of much controversy, they’re going to stand up for what they believe in and what their constituents believe in.”

SGA Chief of Staff Kiah Duggins echoed Shepard’s thoughts and added the 59th session plans to be as data driven and oriented as possible to make sure decisions made by SGA are based, statistically, on what constituents want.

“I’m very excited to do that,” Duggins said. “I’m very excited for us to implement all the projects we have going. I think this is going to be a very productive year.”

Shepard said the 59th session is not going to look at what divides its senators, but rather unites them.

“We look forward to working with our student body senators and our cabinet to make sure we’re propelling our university in a positive direction,” he said.

Shepard, Vice President Taben Azad and other SGA members will work during the summer in preparations for next school year. SGA can be reached at 978-3840 at the SGA office on the second floor of the Rhatigan Student Center and online at wichita. edu/sga.

years in the media, working for daily newspapers, political campaigns and in corporate media relations.

He worked for the University of Oklahoma and Purdue before taking an associate director and professor position at South Dakota State, where he had earned his bachelor’s degree in history.

Once arriving on the WSU campus, Cecil helped establish more hands-on projects for students, expanding on experimental learning classes such as the Flint Hills Media Project, Studio B and the Sports Multimedia Project.

Along with adding a laptop requirement for all ESC students, Cecil was instrumental in changing the curriculum and

2006 – present University of Kansas Kansas State

99 percent 82.4 percent

Emporia State

79 percent

Wichita State

77.9 percent

Fort Hays State

52.46 percent

Infographic by Jillian Clough

State budget lifts cap on tuition CHANCE SWAIM

REPORTER

@chanceswaim

Tuition and fees at Wichita State have increased 78 percent in the last 10 years, and next year it could increase again.

Kansas lawmakers approved a budget Monday that will require Gov. Sam Brownback to cut $17.6 million from the state’s regents universities.

WSU will lose about $2.2

million in state funding for next year.

The budget bill passed both chambers of the Legislature with votes of 63-61 in the House and 22-18 in the Senate.

The budget removed a cap on tuition the Legislature imposed on the regents universities last year.

That means the university could make up for the loss in state funding through a tuition increase.

This year, Wichita State tuition

rate increases were capped by Kansas lawmakers at 3.6 percent.

Wichita State increased tuition 3.6 percent.

In fiscal year 2006, Wichita State tuition and fees were $2,115.50 per semester for resident undergraduates on a 15-hour semester schedule. Ten years later, for the same number of credit hours, that cost has grown to $3,763.80 in fiscal year 2016.

Of Kansas Board of Regents

universities, Wichita State had the second lowest tuition and fees increase in 10 years. The University of Kansas tuition and fees increased by 99 percent and, Kansas State saw a jump of more than 80 percent.

To make up for the $2.2 million loss of aid, assuming undergraduate enrollment at 15,000 students, Wichita State would need to generate an additional $146.66 a student in the 2016-17 school year.

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COLUMN BY

ALEX PERRY

Earlier this year, I came away from the ensemble cast cop drama “Triple 9” with a lukewarm

response.

It painted its world exclusively with dark shades, making the audience wallow in the misery of its slimy, crime-riddled Atlanta tenements with no real tension or payoff.

“Green Room” takes that formula and makes it work. The low-budget action thriller is the epitome of efficiency, constructing an impeccably tight narrative around the simple idea that neo-Nazis are scary.

Its darkness serves the purpose of putting the audience in a place no one should ever want to go. Its characters, like the audience, want nothing more than to get the hell out at any cost, and seeing it through to the end proves to be one of the more enjoyable cinematic experiences of 2016 so far.

The Ain’t Rights are a smalltime punk band playing the smallest of venues for the slimmest of payouts in Oregon.

When the opportunity arises to get decent pay from a backwoods skinhead bar, they take it because they’re care-free kids who need money.

As you would expect from any situation involving white supremacists, things go real bad real fast.

Our hapless heroes need to use their collective combat experience (a big fat zero among the four of them) to escape from this destitute environment.

And destitute it is, indeed.

Confederate flags, iron crosses and swastikas adorn the foul walls of this poorly lit and probably not temperature-controlled establishment.

Courtesy Photo

The set decoration is outstanding, with the cinematography making sure not to overemphasize or linger on any of those elements for too long.

It all exists just on the edge of the frame. You know it’s there, you know what it represents and you know that this is not a good place to be. It’s one of the more vividly established film settings I’ve seen in a good while.

I would characterize “Green Room” as an action film, but it stands out by deliberately subverting the “badass” nature of the genre. These characters are wholly incompetent in both their decision-making and combat prowess, but in ways that feel real.

I never wanted to scream at them for doing something like I do when I watch horror movies.

SEE IT SKIP IT

‘Captain America Civil War’

They’re just kids in a horrific, but unfortunately very real, situation, and they act accordingly.

It’s a graphically violent film, but the acts of violence make up a surprisingly small portion of the movie’s running time. It all happens, again, either on the edge of the frame or off screen, as the film chooses to have us deal with the consequences rather than gross us out with gore.

It all works because of the remarkable cast. Anton Yelchin is terrific as the meek bandmate who ends up taking charge, and it’s always good to see Alia Shawkat (Maeby from “Arrested Development”) as the band’s lone female member.

Most importantly, however, is Patrick Stewart. He lends his venerable presence as the leader of

this band of neo-Nazis, perfectly inhabiting the role.

He’s a fascinating villain, more calm and calculating than you would expect out of a skinhead ringleader. It was a wise choice to have Stewart be nuanced and measured in his performance instead of bombastic.

“Green Room” never attempts to provide a heavy-handed message or be more edgy than its contemporaries for the sake of gory peacocking. It’s simply a wonderfully directed, acted and paced story of decent people in a tough situation.

It’s the perfect realization of what it wants to be, and that’s all I want from any movie.

SEE IT

Other movies wisely backed out of opening this weekend, making it the only new release. By all accounts, it’s one of the better entries in the Marvel cinematic universe.

Marissa’s Melodies

Find eclectic mix of music festivals in Midwest this summer, fall As we head into our last week of school, most of us are trying to COLUMN BY think of how MARISSA to get through CAMPBELL finals as the anticipation begins for our summer break. If you don’t already have summer plans, it’s a must to add one of these festivals that will hit the Midwest area.

ROCKFEST When: May 14 Where: Kansas City Tickets: $27.50 to $47.50 Obviously the name explains it all — this festival is full of rock music. With Disturbed headlining, the day is sure to be kickass.

Along with them will be HELLYEAH, Seether, Escape the Fate and many more. If you love rock music, this festival is sure to be the best part of your summer.

Dancefestopia When: Sept. 9 through 11 Where: Kansas City Tickets: $159 If you are a lover of raving and EDM music, this is your nearest, most energetic party all summer.

Since it is multiple days, you can camp on the festival grounds, as well. During your sensory overload experience full of insane techno and lights, the artists include Gramatik, Adventure Club and 54 other performers.

Backwoods Camping & Music Festival When: Sept. 2 through 4 Where: Stroud, Oklahoma Tickets: $200 Backwoods is a festival for those who love indie music, techno, underground bands and everything between. Over the course of the three-day event, attendees will discover new music, as well as listen to artists they know and love such as

Coleman Hell, Joe Mack, Goldfish and Big Chocolate.

Camping is also allowed at this event.

Pitchfork Music Festival When: July 15 through 17 Where: Chicago Tickets: $140 to $165 Indie music festivals are at the front of the festival scene this year. There are tons to choose from, with a good amount of variety. Pitchfork brings tons of underground bands with a few bigger hits such as Neon Indian and Beach House. Some other performances that should be checked out are The Hotelier, Anderson Paak and FKA Twigs.

Vans Warped Tour When: July 28 Where: Bonner Springs Tickets: $41.50 Vans Warped Tour never fails to bring the top screamo and metal bands on their tour.

Although this will definitely take you back to your middle school emo days, the festival is a total blast and brings other genres of music as well. As someone who has gone for the past three years, I can vouch that anyone will have a good time at this fest. Some of the headlining acts include Good Charlotte, American Authors, Bullet for My Valentine and New Found Glory.

Riot Fest When: Sept. 11-13 Where: Chicago, IL Tickets: $189.98 Riot Fest is a cross-genre festival that brings some of the largest names to one event. From metal to rap and pop, any music lover will surely enjoy this three-day event. From No Doubt, System of a Down, Modest Mouse, Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube, the days will be filled with plenty of throwback bands along with some of your favorites.

Courtesy Photos

www.thesunflower.com

THURSDAY, MAY 5

PAGE 7 | NEWS

Students take break to ‘pet a puppy’

Photos by Manny De Los Santos

Pugs waited to be petted Tuesday afternoon outside of the RSC during the Pet-A-Puppy event which was held by the Student Activities Council. The event is a way to alleviate stress in preparation for Finals.

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THURSDAY, MAY 5

PAGE 8 | SPORTS

www.thesunflower.com

Baseball drops home-and-home against Kansas State

2

NICK BEACH

REPORTER

@nickbeach1

w w w. t h e s u n f l o w e r. c o m

The Shockers were set to take on Kansas State at Eck Stadium on April 26, but the game was postponed due to inclement weather. The contest was pushed back to Wednesday, making for a back-to-back home-and-home two-game series, starting Tuesday in Manhattan.

Wichita State dropped the first game 9-5 formed in Manhattan. In Wichita, the game alsoat a 9/11 unity Column by gathering ended in Ragini favor of the Wildcats, who won hosted by Global Faith In Action, a local 5-2. Venkatasubban

OPINION

September 12, 2

Performing with Wichita State’s South Asian dance troupe breaks down social barriers

Understanding Islam requires personal connections, not just study

dance.

Pakistani and Caucasian Forget what religion they descent. were—they just wanted to At the “Aloha!” luau organization that promotes dance. hosted by International In the said. “Especially he Game 1: bringing all religions Dance crosses all Student Union last week, Column by decade the Midwest.”

Sophomore pitcher Chandler together.

Sanburn When my cousin Anjana religions, races, cultures the featured Polynesian austin since To me, college is earned a rare starting job for WSU on nd I founded Shocker The hour-long show and boundaries. dancers were multi-racial.

Colbert 9/11, we ultimately a time f Tuesday.

Sanburn pitched four innings for hakthi, Wichita State’s included Jewish prayer, Even though I’m What brought them have all understanding.

It i WSU, allowing four runs.

Junior Zach first South Asian dance devotional Christian songs, Indian, I’ve done ballet together? Dance. been inundated with time to understand Lewisintook relief spot where he eam, the over fall ofthe2008, Islamic expression and since age 3, a dance that At the luau, the DJ played information about the you are as in indiv alsoonly gavemotivation up four runs. ur was a Hindu chanting. originated in France. I’ve bhangra, a type of Indian Middle East.

The Shockers would go on to lose by and a time to reach desire to bring Indian Our dance team, which taken zumba, hip hop, music so upbeat you can’t four.

The media constantly deeper understand usion dance to the is made up of many tap, jazz, African dance, help but dance. The dance WSU led 2-0 in the first inning, but then throws out terms like our ever-enclosing Midwest. different cultures, chose belly dance, modern floor exploded with surrendered the lead in the bottom half and Sunni, Shia and Ramaworld.

Compared to other three songs that represent dance and so many others. international and domestic never regained it. dan.

By now, most of us Wichita State an universities on the east and remembrance, Dance breaks down students alike who came WSU’s bullpen allowed one run over four struggle and understand the dictioncity of Wichita pro west coasts, which frehope—the three themes of barriers because it’s only together just for dance. innings. Senior John Hayes recorded a ary definitions of these a truly unique opp uently host Indian dance achieved by lowering your “There is a bit of shutout eighth inning, pitching the fourevent. pitches. terms and peoples. nity to learn about ompetitions shows,Trey Vickers After our performance, inhibitions—and when insanity in dancing that Sophomoreand shortstop scored But do we truly world, especially M WSU didn’thaving have much of in a four many people congratulated that happens, any predoes everybody a great two runs, two hits at-bats. understand what it Eastern culture, wi presence. wanted them a conceived notions about deal of good,” said He hit hisWe first career to home runus in for theshowing top means to follow Islam? going too far outsi hange that.inning. snippet of our culture. religion and race autoAmerican dance critic of the fifth Have we really reached a your comfort zone.

As we started performing What really struck us, matically get lowered as Edwin Denby.

Photo by Jessica Green Sophomore catcher Gunnar Troutwine proper acceptance and To understand round Wichita, however, however, were the Muslim AndUniversity maybe that’s what also drove in two runs, one off a douSophomore Keenanwell.

Eaton attempts a hit against Kansas State on Wednesday. understanding of someone of a differ nother came into and gentleman, Catholic Take Shakthi—we’ve brings people together in ble-playpurpose in the first inning, another Muslim culture? faith culture, i pitched two innings, allowing two earned rotation all hit above .300, each one Bohm grounded out to endand the inning. play—bringing theleft world had dancers of Indian, dance—putting our with a single into field in thewoman ninth and countless If your answer is yes, important to put runs on 42 pitches. recording a base hit.

Sophomore pitcher Tyler Jones retired thed ogether others who asked if we African, Vietnamese, brains to rest and acting inning. through dance. those who adhere to the books, turn off Another freshman took over in the third.

Redshirt sophomore Chase Williams eighth inning with six pitches.

Jones Sunday, Shakthi percould teach them how to Chinese, Cambodian, from the heart.

Game 2: Right-hander Codi Heuer lasted one inning, threw three scoreless innings.

Islam might disagree. television inter allowed another Wildcat run in theand ninth; At home, freshman Luke Ritter took over allowing one earned run before being Vickers drove in a run on a single in the leaving theArabShockers short in the “I claim to be withthree suchruns people. the top spot in the batting order. relieved by Lewis for the second straight 7th inning to cut the deficit to two runs.

A second American moregame. than It is the only way Ritter notched a multi-hit game with a game. Lewis entered in the fourth. bunt by Ritter and a groundout by Jenista WSU has a 16-19 andconnect will return Muslim-American, just record really with double in the early going.

The Wildcat’s pitching unit retired 10 set up the opportunity for freshman third play withculture a home-series becausetoofconference discriminaand reach a Freshman Robby Evans started the game WSU batters through five innings. baseman Alec Bohm to score the tyingtion run reasons,” against said Indiana State starting 6:30 p.m.

Dima deeperatunderstand on the mound in a spot situation. He The top five batters in K-State’s batting with two outs.

Friday at Eck Stadium.

Hammouri, a junior in “Just having con political science at tions with people w Wichita State. “I don’t are different than y want people to judge me people from other based on my religion or cultures, other reli even my nationality.” helps a lot,” Hamm every detail wasplate given to two runners of … $449 billion. dramatically with on base.

Broyles hit scoring position.and numerous score both runs, whichsaid. was awesome GRANT COHEN SPORTS EDITOR Hammouri was born “When and you m Column by the press.

Oh, and this would all be other programs will have to came up a ball pitched right down the middle of the Freshman Laurie Ann Derrico the best feeling.” and raised in the U.S., that personal conn @gforce4preach Derek His plan is ambitious. paidrun for without adding plate to earn a home that would scoreto to be thecut. plate to hit a line drive single, but her family Wichita State (32-18,tion 17-5)with is guaranteed is origipeople, y blair State softball team Nearly tax givingthe deficit.State the series That isn’t so badbase on the threeinruns, Wichita advancing to second off of an nally from the No. 1 seed in tournament in The Wichita ran $250 billion Palestine, a the MVC establish a relation for teachers, How face of it, until rememand the MVC leadcan 7-4.this be done? overthrown ball toyou first base by the Bears.

Illinois, onand Mayrelationships 12-14 with w through obstacles all year long.cuts, more jobs sweep region ofCarbondale, the Middle President Barack Obama and cops,“The massive Thatis isa an amazingly good With ber the howtying longand it took one thing that pretty big go-ahead run in scoring Tuesday night’s victory.

The Shockers have Prior to the Shockers winningfiremen 10 straight East centered primarily people help you to held a joint session amounts of money spent to is that question, because Congress to come a swung at the turning point our seniors areit remains position, junior Kelli to Spring the opportunity to win the conference games heading intoof Tuesday, the team had around the countries of become more Congress on Thursday rebuild roads and bridges, unanswered by“We the Obama decision to cut aa few stepping up,” Bredbenner said. really first pitch, hitting rightbillion field double that outright this weekend against Southern dropped two games in atoseries at EvansIsrael and Jordan. comfortable.” hare plan to defeated fix sawsuper that in the Drake series and has the winning runs and the MVC Illinois, needing just one win in the three spending fast administration, whobeen say ita brought dollarsinfrom the budget. ville. his They were

by Missouri on in a new She is a practicing There are more t difference forwill us.”be answered “soon.” championship, off Missouri State game series.

America. plan was investments You know,finishing nearly six April 13, His dropping fourvery games rail in a system, row. andbig Muslim, meaning she 1,000 internationa A win at Tulsa and two victories at 5-4.

The three-game series with the Salukis ecretive dayrecord, of in Shockers green energy.

The only plausible answer is months of intense partisan Then, until with athe 21-18 the fasts and prays as students at WSU, a Indiana State put the Shockers in command “I’m really glad my team had confidence will begin with a doubleheader on Saturday, he speech, when were tied for thirdalmost place with Bradley and All for the low, low price that taxes will be raised fighting for each party’s required by Islam. many as 20 cultura in me,” Spring said. “I was thinking to just and will celebrate the team’s five seniors on trailed Drake, who stood atop the Missouri once again. This gave them a three-game priorities.

And despite the international stude lead in the MVC heading into Tuesday put the balldid on the Sunday during Senior Day. The first pitch Valley Conference with a five-game lead. It Why the ground Obamato score one to progress made since organizations. Cul tie administration the game at least.decide (The hit) was the practice after that loss in Columbia, against Missouri State. The Shockers to happened to is at noon.

9/11, Hammouri stills events are held con Missouri, that the Shockers started to come carried a 10-game winning streak and had a go with this plan? finds herself ridiculed ly around town, th chance to clinch at least a share of the together.

Well, because they need for her faith. majority of which a “The biggest thing for us was to focus in regular-season MVC title with a victory. to do something to deal “We get a lot of open to the public.

“Making adjustments was the big on keeping things simple,” head coach with this economic crisis, right-wing people, So using Wichita difference right now when you get to the Kristi Bredbenner said. “We had to have and putting more money right-wing Christians isolation from the end of the year,” Bredbenner said. “When the belief that it doesn’t matter who was at who don’t really accept the world is a reall you play well and put all facets together, the plate and that the 1-9 spots can get the Please see Obama on you have a good chance to win.” the Muslim faith,” she excuse for not beco job done.” page 4 The Shockers were in familiar territory, cultured.

The Shockers started up their winning jumping out to an early lead with a Broyles ways again, beginning with a come-fromLearning about two out double, giving the team a 1-0 lead behind victory over Bradley at home and different cultures i in the bottom of the first. Sophomore capped off by a walk-off single by senior just about reaching Mackenzie Wright followed in the bottom Liz Broyles. The Shockers carried that understanding abo !"#$%#&'"#(%)*# of the second inning, hitting a double to momentum into game two of the doubledifferent faith, but !"#$!%&'()*$+',-./$01'(.! header, winning 11-10 by scoring nine runs left center field that brought in two WSU helps in reaching a runs and pushed their lead to 3-0. in the bottom of the fourth inning. understanding abo +'"%,#!"#$%&'()*+,-(./'(0(1(2345(+-6-( Junior Katie Malone pitched five straight With the third game of the Bradley series one’s self. shutout innings and struck out five canceled due to inclement weather, the # +'),(788(9:;<:,%(),%,*(9"6*###( “I would encoura Missouri State batters on Tuesday night.

Shockers prepared for five straight road students to go out +'-&,#="6*$:%#(>:?*@(ABC,"#'(?%8B%D8*(( games. As the team swept Missouri State in With the bases loaded, her only mistake their way to meet resulted in a grand slam home run to give Springfield, Missouri, the Shockers put !"#$%&$"&'$()"*+&,)-./,&!++0)+1&2$$3&43!5)+1&( someone who is M Missouri State the lead 4-3 in the top of the themselves in the position they had been E:F,(D%EC'(C#%;GC'(HB:,(C6"G:#E(G:,C(( who is Middle Eas fighting for: a chance to grab the lead in the sixth inning.

Hammouri said. “I +'.,#I"(<*8+(&"B(8:?*(%(8"#E'(<%++&(J(( “It is a lot easier when we know that we MVC with a three-game series at Drake. think that would b don’t have to play from behind,” Malone D*%B,:FB8(8:F*( Broyles and senior Cacy Williams great thing for them said. “If I do give up runs, I know my team stepped up to defeat the Bulldogs in Des +'"/",#ABE<*C(!*,@"+"8:,%#(( do if they want to will have my back and that they pick me Moines, Iowa. After winning the first game ="6+8*K'(L5ML(N(.2,<(),(O! about other culture up.”

9-1, Williams set a new WSU record by would make them Senior Brittany Fortner then drew a hitting her 36th career home run in a 9-0 well-rounded leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh victory in the second game of the series. individuals.” inning. Junior Ashley Johnson’s sacrifice In the top of the seventh inning of the

Obama’s jobs speech strong in delivery, but weak in content

Shocker softball overcomes adversity to win MVC title

— Best Bicycle shop —

last game, the Shockers were tied with Drake 4-4 when Broyles went up to the

bunt was caught by a Missouri State fielder, preventing Fortner from advancing into

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THURSDAY, MAY 5

PAGE 9 | GRADUATION GUIDE

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SHOCKER STREET SPEAK What advice do seniors have for current and future Shockers? Spring graduates describe what to do, what not to do in college.

“Study abroad. It’s the best thing ever. They say going to your humanities and your basic introductory classes will teach you critical thinking. The only way to really learn to critically think is when you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere trying to figure how to get around.”

“My regrets are that I didn’t go straight through and finish right away. I took a break before coming back to graduate. I should have tried a lot harder when I was a freshman and a sophomore. It’s important.

Everything matters.”

DALTON STANFIELD

Geology

“Take hard classes in the beginning and study hard.

Don’t put everything off until the end. Take up opportunities for internships because those count a lot.”

LUCA PUMP Psychology

BRIAN FLANAGAN

International business, biology

“Focus on yourself. You only get out what you put in. Figure out what you want to do. You just got to be yourself. Follow your dreams and work hard.

This is your college experience, make it your own. Don’t let anyone tell you what to do. This is your journey and it’s no one else’s. It’s not your professors’, it’s not your peers’. It’s yours.”

“Get serious about your studying. Study sooner. It comes to bite you in the end if you don’t keep your GPA up. Also, get involved more.”

“I would say be more involved.

Four years is not long at all. So enjoy life, live it while you can.”

BOI TRAN Nursing

VIVIAN PHAM Sociology

BRIAN TRILLO Marketing

ANTHONY GASBARRE Musical theater

DREAM

FROM PAGE 3 “It’s scary right now with the state that Kansas education is in,” Christensen said. “But I think if you’re a good teacher and you’re passionate then you’re going to have a job, and the money is going to come.”

Christensen recently took a job teaching kindergarten at Apollo Elementary School in Goddard. He was also offered a teaching position in the Dodge City school district.

Christensen said he understands why some people would be apprehensive about starting a teaching career in Kansas, but he said he thinks circumstances will get better.

“I do believe teachers are underpaid, but it’s not going to make an impact on my life because seeing the impact I make every day with

those kids is more rewarding than the paycheck I’ll get at the end of the month,” he said.

Granada, who spent almost two decades teaching, said he thinks the districts in Kansas are being conservative with new hires to minimize the financial challenges they may face going forward.

“It’s not a black-and-white type of an issue,” Granada said. “There are reasons why things are happening.

It’s not that the legislature is doing a terrible job or that the districts are not being fair. They are doing what they need to do in order to prepare for whatever scenario comes out.”

‘The perfect fit’ Christensen grew up in Minneapolis, Kansas, a town of a little more than 2,000 people. He said he applied to Goddard school district after attending an open house, where he instantly felt welcomed.

“I’m a small-town guy,” Chris-

“I never really did anything here. So get more active in the entire community. I did internships and all that career wise, but I didn’t feel like I was involved in college. I only know life half these buildings. Try to get as most out of the college experience as you can.”

tensen said. “I like the intimacy and the close-knit culture of a small Kansas town. That’s home for me.

That’s what I felt at Goddard.”

An unofficial hiring freeze in the Wichita School District has some of Christensen’s classmates looking out of state for a teaching position.

Christensen said he can understand the desire to leave the state, but the thought never crossed his mind.

“Wichita State has really allowed me to flourish, to thrive,” Christensen said. “You get to know your professors and they actually care about you and want to talk to you.”

Granada said he thinks Christensen has the potential to pursue an advanced degree, move up to an administrative role at a school or become a university professor.

“I just hope that he stays in the classroom for a few years,” Granada said. “He really has a tremendous amount of potential, and I’d like to see him succeed.”

PAGE 10 | GRADUATION GUIDE

THURSDAY, MAY 5

www.thesunflower.com

Four years: A look back

File Photos by Kevin Brown

Since 2012, the Wichita State community has experienced change, development, struggle and triumph. The Sunflower staff reflects on a few experiences that united the University over the course of four years.

Moving on: Facing the world all on my own again COLUMN BY

SEAN JONES

I knew graduation would be a roller coaster of emotions for me, but I didn’t expect it to be this

tough.

Friends are moving out of state and I’m once again about to face the world on my own. But even though all of this is happening, I’ve never felt more prepared to face life. And a lot of this courage comes from working at The Sunflower.

I started as the advertising manager, a job that I secretly loved (despite the stress, headaches and late nights and early mornings in the newsroom). I sold ads to businesses and helped generate income for the paper. I managed a team of advertising

representatives and created campaigns and contests for the paper.

It was a job of highs and lows, and I think that helped me understand life a little better. The lows sucked. A lot. And just like life, it seemed like there was an endless stream of lows. But without those lows, the high points weren’t as gratifying.

It’s a lot like life, running an advertising department — constantly moving and not knowing what was around the bend. But it made my job (and my life) fun and exciting.

After my stint as advertising manager ended, I spent a yearand-a-half delivering the papers each morning. A crappy job, yes, but it taught me time management skills and how to be a morning person before the coffee kicked in. It also taught me to enjoy being

alone with my thoughts. It’s scary sometimes, but being independent and learning to be alone is a good skill to acquire going into life after graduation.

Most importantly, my work at The Sunflower and education at the Elliott School of Communication gave me invaluable friendships that I am honored to hold.

Shelby, James, Kevin, Danielle and Robbie: I love you guys more than you will ever imagine. Amy, Jen and Madeline, you have helped me break free from my shell and have given me a new handle on life. I can’t thank you enough for your guidance and friendships.

Scary? Yes. Emotional? You bet.

But it’s life. And with this experience and my group of friends, I’m ready to live it. Happy graduation. Bring in the dancing lobsters.

Started from the bottom now we’re here COLUMN BY

JOSHUA DUNCAN

Graduation brings on a sudden feeling that the road you’ve been traveling on becomes that metaphorical

fork in the road.

It begins with joy, the exhale of stress, knowing that this particular road is over. Followed by a “WTF” do I do now phase as you look left, look right, then look left again.

As you stand looking down at your feet pondering your next move, you start to remember all the escapades that have carried you up to this point. An air of melancholy surrounds you, and you see your career as a Shocker flash before your eyes.

Thirteen years ago, I started my collegiate journey at Hawaii Pacific University. From there, I spent eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps, was deployed twice to Iraq, worked for two large corporations, attaining a hefty salary, married the woman of my dreams, had three children (my wife did all the work), bought my first house and have started my own business.

Strange, the “was-never-goingto-happen” thought of getting

my degree is now “it’s going to happen next week.”

After dedicating the past three years of my life to Wichita State University, I will walk across the stage at Charles Koch Arena, forever becoming a Shocker alumnus.

It is important for me, now that I have this platform, to acknowledge a few faculty members that deserve praise.

Amy DeVault is a well-known name for those of us at the Elliott School of Communication. More than just a name, Amy has been a person who has cared for my journey, every step of the way, making sure I stayed focused.

Kevin Hager, as quiet as he may be, has graced me with advice and information that I will retain for the rest of my life.

I would like to thank my loving and supportive wife, Carly Peckman. Without her, this accomplishment would not have been possible. To my three kids — Lyric, Oliver and Isaiah — Daddy is done with his homework for good. And last but certainly not least, Gigi. You knew when and how to guide me when I was overwhelmed.

Semper Fi and farewell to Shocker Nation.

PAGE 11 | GRADUATION GUIDE

THURSDAY, MAY 5

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Time to right Headline goes here some wrongs For almost three years now, my various editors have seen fit to COLUMN BY give me an ALEX PERRY opportunity to give my opinions about a movie every week. That was indisputably a terrible idea, but I kept doing it and they kept giving me money to do it.

They won’t let me do it after I graduate this semester because of some stupid rule about needing to be a Wichita State student to be on staff at The Sunflower. I think that’s a load of horse hockey, but hey, someone offered me a job in New York City, so I guess I can just do that for a while.

Any critic worth their salt is willing to re-evaluate their positions after time has passed.

Instead of getting all sentimental about my time at WSU, I’m going to tell you how I would’ve reviewed some movies differently.

I unjustly won a collegiate journalism award for my review of “Gravity,” which I gave five stars out of five. I would bump it down to four stars now because the dialogue is pretty horrendous in spots.

My initial response to “Kingsman: The Secret Service” was that it was decent, but now all I can remember is that it ended with an excruciating anal sex joke. Don’t watch that movie.

Some hooligan on Yik Yak said I was too mean to “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” which I said was dumb but basically enjoyable. In retrospect, I wasn’t mean enough to that incomprehensible mess. Who wants to spend 45 minutes on Hawkeye’s farm?

I gave the Zac Efron EDM odyssey “We Are Your Friends” two stars, but I would give it one or two more now. It is a work of (probably) unintentional genius, too good for the world that shunned it with low box office returns.

Finally, I would give “Furious 7” six stars if I could. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson flexes out of a cast, drives an ambulance into a predator drone and then takes the gun off the drone to use himself.

Sincerely now, thanks to everyone who read and enjoyed my work at this fine publication over the years. I became a better writer and person because of all the people I was fortunate enough to interact with at The Sunflower.

Reelin’ in the years As I sit down to right this farewell close to midnight on COLUMN BY a Tuesday, I JOHN SMITH think it’s best if I choose not to reflect on this semester. It’s been rough, to say the least. Balancing a full-time job with school is not for the easily deterred.

However, the payoff is well worth the agony, so I think I should start with how I got to where I am.

You see, I work full-time producing the news at KSN (Channel 3). I earned a very good relationship with the people there during an internship I had last year. They had an opening at the end of last year, and I truly believe that divine intervention allowed my school schedule to line up with what is now my work schedule.

God is good.

There is no doubt that I would not have this job it was not for Wichita State. The university’s internship fair is how I first came in contact with KSN, and now a year later I’m starting my career in the news industry, and in a big way.

How cool is that?

Aside from the job aspect, I have been blessed with getting to know some very great people here. Having moved back here after spending the majority of my life in Texas growing up, I had trouble dealing with the change.

Thankfully, I came into contact with some very good people in my first semester and relationships began to blossom.

Now, two years later those relationships have grown exponentially and brought tons of new faces into the fold.

Many of us are going our separate ways. Some people are moving for their jobs, and that makes it hard. Especially when your relationship with those people is still in the developmental stage. But even still, I know I will never forget any one of them.

Many thanks to my teachers, as well. I’ve never stumbled upon a better collection of teachers than I did in the Elliott School. It’s a wonderful place to be, I tell ya. You learn just about everything you need to know for your future career, and have a fun time doing it.

Special thanks to Kevin Hager for putting up with my goofiness that came out in the videos I produced, and for dealing with my tardiness (I still swear it never happens in any other classes).

Lastly, if you’re reading this and still have a few years to go, don’t lose hope. And please don’t take anything the campus has to offer for granted. I no longer walk across campus with anticipation to get away, but with a reluctance to leave. It’s a special place. Keep your head up. Never stop pushing. And, if you’re religious, know that God has a place for you. It’ll all come together eventually.

If there’s anything I’ve learned from my time at Wichita State, it is about COLUMN BY commitment.

SHELBY In fact, I REYNOLDS have nightmares about printing “headline goes here.”

I’ve worn many hats during my four years as a Shocker, but with all of them, I’d like to think I’ve thrown myself at every project with enthusiasm and fervor.

I first learned it from the leaders before me — family, teachers, colleagues, bosses, advisers — who worked long hours, put in extra effort to provide feedback and always had five minutes to talk, no matter how swamped they were. I’ve been lucky to have several strong women in my life that served as a model for leadership and class.

It started with my family, who worked hard and taught me that no matter what I do in life, to enjoy it.

Then in middle school, my teachers challenged me to be a better person and to find my passion; at the time, it was environmental science. I learned I could write when I wrote to nominate a teacher for a Golden Apple award, and she won. Flores taught me to love myself band to smile at strangers.

In high school, I became a student leader and found constant support from my teachers. Mrs. Morse and I spent many delirious hours together in the newsroom, and Mr. Davis challenged me as a writer. He made me condense a 10-page paper to four. I thought he was mad.

Photo Illustration by Jessica Green

The challenges — and sometimes frustrations — continued in college, but I found new mentors to remind me of my commitment to my education, my future and my relationships. I learned to be brave and to stick up for what I thought was right, even if I was stubborn sometimes. I rode that struggle bus round trip a couple different times.

If I have any advice — as if I have the authority to give it — it’s that no matter what you do in life, do it well and do it right. Be a committed student, employee, daughter, girlfriend and leader. I don’t like to half-ass anything.

I’m leaving The Sunflower in wonderful hands, as if it were ever mine to hold. I’ve had a whirlwind four years on staff, first as a reporter, then as a copy editor, managing editor and ultimately editor-in-chief. I’ve learned so much about this university and the people that make it a living, breathing campus. I’ve seen the

good, the bad and the ugly, but I’m ultimately leaving here with an experience I’ll always cherish.

Now I’m headed toward a new adventure — a features reporting position at a daily newspaper in southwest Florida — where I plan to commit myself to telling the stories of the people that live, work and play there.

If it weren’t for all those role models, I wouldn’t be strong enough to face this journey with a full heart and a smile on my face.

Yes, it’s scary to move away from the place I’ve always called home, where I don’t know a single person, and to practically start a new life. I feel prepared, however, to take it on with grace and confidence. Thanks, Mom. I ended my high school senior column with these same words, and I can’t help but do it again because they are all the more real now. In the words of Mr. Davis: Be brilliant. Go

A shutter click on Shocker history

It is one thing being able to experience college from the perspecCOLUMN BY tive of a KEVIN BROWN student.

But, it is a completely different perspective to have the opportunity to see college through a telephoto lens.

My time at Wichita State has been one of many experiences, both good and bad. However, no matter how I slice it, these experiences I will forever cherish and will always be a part of me.

During my time as a reporter, photographer and former multimedia editor of The Sunflower, I didn’t just see the tale of Letitia Davis, the inauguration of a historical Student Government Administration and mid-air sporting emotions on a national stage with my bare eyes.

I saw these cataclysmic moments through the viewfinders of three beat up, grungy Canon cameras — and I was able to grow as a student, a professional, a Shocker and, most importantly, as a human being through the pentaprisms I saw these through.

Stories of triumph, frustration, sadness and happiness. Some-

times these stories turned out with a happy ending — others, not so much.

Regardless, each individual I photographed on this campus helped tell the story of being a Shocker — and each opportunity was an honor for me to learn, grow and change with each click of my camera’s shutter.

These are stories that helped take me (and my faithful cameras) across the country for opportunities with national news organizations, non-profits and, even, an opportunity on the campus of a NASA research center during summer 2015.

When I came back home to finish my degree here at WSU, the stories I told of life in the WSU community helped me gain an opportunity to become a photographer at KWCH channel 12, joining the Eyewitness News team in coverage of wildfires, community growth and, in February, a mass shooting that rocked a community I know and love.

And, this summer, those same cameras will be going with me across the country for the next chapter of my life as a grad student at Syracuse University — yes, that is correct. I am trading in some of my Shocker yellow for something, well, a little more orange.

The craziest opportunity of my life.

However, even with that, the stories I have told — and learned from — here in the Shocker community are also going with me.

With that, I want to say thank you to Sean, Shelby and Danielle at The Sunflower. This job has not only blessed me with some of the most amazing colleagues but some of the best friends I could have ever asked for. I couldn’t have done this job without you all.

In addition, I want to extend a huge thank-you to Amy DeVault in the Elliott School for believing in me all these years, even when I didn’t believe in myself.

Out of everyone, though, I want to say thank you to, well, you: the Shocker community.

Thank you for allowing me to come into your lives and tell stories of your triumph, tribulations and help establish your mark on history.

Most importantly, thank you for being my teacher, my mentor and, ultimately, an inspiration to strive for excellence. Go out and be great. Never turn down an opportunity. Look for beauty in every situation. I know you can do it.

After all, I have already witnessed you do it.

PAGE 12 | GRADUATION GUIDE

THURSDAY, MAY 5

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