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SEASONS
Mike Kennedy prepares to sign off as the Voice of the Shockers
BY OWEN PROTHRO sports@thesunflower.com
hristmas 1957. Mike
CKennedy was 9 years old when his father bought him his first basketball and hoop — and with them, a crystal set radio, the kind you needed headphones for, the kind that whispered entire worlds to a child willing to listen.
At night, he lay in bed with the headphones clamped tight, letting the thud of dribbles, squeaks of shoes and the haze of radio static fill the darkness. The walls fell away. Only the sound remained.
Long before he could drive, he knew the cadence of those voices — steady, familiar, alive. Kennedy didn’t know it then, but he was learning the rhythm, the timing and breath he would one day carry himself.
In his Wichita bedroom, stacks of Dell Sports and Street & Smith magazines softened around the edges. Their stories more than their covers shaped how he imagined the game. In the backyard, he turned the stories he read — and the voices he heard — into imaginary games on the hoop his father hung.
For a boy, the radio made the world feel intimate. For a future broadcaster, it became a compass — a quiet map of where his voice would eventually travel.
Looking back, Kennedy now sees what that child couldn’t yet name.
“The whole connection between sports on the radio and sports was there from the beginning,” he said.
Nearly seven decades later, the child who once fell asleep to those broadcasts is preparing to sign off. After 46 years as the Voice of the Shockers, Kennedy will retire following the 2025-26 season — a decision that, like that first spark in 1957, came quietly but unmistakably. A beginning whispered in static now meets its quiet conclusion.
He shared the news first with longtime color commentator and friend Dave Dahl over a meal this past summer. Dahl was surprised, but not shocked; he knew Kennedy grappled with a question only he could answer.
Kennedy was coming off cancer treatment that forced him to miss two games during the 2023-24 season, ending a streak of 1,419 consecutive men’s basketball broadcasts. The boy who once listened in the dark and the man who spoke for generations were suddenly face-to-face with something neither of them could control: time. The uninterrupted rhythm of a lifetime paused — and it demanded reflection.
Dahl pressed gently, the way friends do.
What would happen if Wichita State was really good? What would happen if they went to the NCAA Tournament? What if they were in a fight for the league championship?
Kennedy’s answer stayed the
same each time.
“He was concerned about what our thoughts were, not how we would take it,” Dahl said. “It wasn’t as if he was asking my permission, but just making sure that I was OK, and I felt comfortable with the decision that he was making. It speaks volumes about him.”
Family pulled at Kennedy in ways a job no longer could: granddaughters competing in Division I athletics; others in Wichita he hadn’t seen as often as he wanted; sharing more moments with his wife, Debbie.
Friends told him he would know when it was time. Eventually, he did.
“I still love it, but it’s time,” Kennedy said. “I know it’s time to move on to something else.”
Finding the frequency
Long before Kennedy became the full-time voice of Shocker athletics, he imagined himself using his voice differently. Majoring in vocal music at Wichita State, he planned to teach.
Baseball fantasies faded — but the broadcast signal, faint yet persistent, never disappeared.
Then, a chance conversation shifted the frequency back to that childhood spark. A single sentence realigned the dial. Kennedy mentioned to a teacher he knew that he wanted to try sports broadcasting instead of teaching.
“‘The only way you’re ever going to know is to go try it,’” was the answer Kennedy recalled. Simple advice, but exact. It nudged him
toward the thing that had been calling him since that Christmas when he was 9.
A radio broadcasting class at KMUW Wichita Public Radio drew him in. Jobs in Chanute and Pittsburg followed. By the 1980-81 season, he returned to Wichita as the full-time play-by-play voice for men’s basketball and football.
Basketball led to baseball. Later came volleyball. Even when a chance to call Houston Astros games came into the picture, the pull of home and community out spoke the opportunity’s call.
“The more I established relationships, it just started to feel more and more like that’s where I should be,” Kennedy said.
When the streak fell silent
There are two figures Kennedy will never forget: Feb. 15, 2024, and 1,419.
That night, a recent prostate cancer diagnosis forced him to miss a game. His 1,419-game streak was over. He said he felt bummed about not being there — until messages poured in. His phone filled with texts and emails from family, listeners, colleagues, former players and friends.
“To know that you connected with people and made an impact on people over that time… it might have been the best night of my life,” he said.
And through treatment, Dahl said, Kennedy was unwavering.
“He was the same. It was the same guy,” Dahl said. “If you didn’t know, you would have never had
guessed it. He still looked to the future. He still prepared as much for each game. His performance on each broadcast was equally as good as they had ever been.”
The streak’s end didn’t diminish his career — it clarified it. After thousands of broadcasts, Kennedy understood that the true measure wasn’t in games called, but in the lives tuned to his voice.
A voice woven into Wichita’s fabric
Across decades of games, Kennedy can point to moments that made all the miles worth it: the 1988 Regional win in Stillwater, the call as the Shockers won their first College World Series, the 2013 Final Four run, the 35-1 season that ended in what Kennedy said might be the best game of basketball he’d ever been a part of.
There were awards, hall of fame inductions and tributes that recognized his impact in the broadcasting world and Wichita community. But just beyond those highlight reels lived what mattered most: relationships. Not the calls on the microphone, but the bonds behind them.
Brent Kemnitz remembers their first connection during the 1982 run that sent Wichita State to its first College World Series. Kemnitz was the pitching coach at the time, and the bullpen had just given up a single run in three games.
“He’s just such the ultimate pro,” Kemnitz said. “We just had a great friendship, almost from day one… He’s as good a friend as you’re ever
going to have.”
Dahl felt the same warmth as long as he could remember — a friendship built on dinners, conversations and shared time away from the court.
Fans felt it too. Many muted their TVs just to hear Kennedy on the radio.
“I know a lot of people when games are on TV, they would turn the TV volume off and then listen to Mike Kennedy,” said KMUW News Director Tom Shine. “He has introduced hundreds of thousands of people to Shocker athletics. He’s made them fans of Shocker athletics because of his work as a broadcaster.”
And to those who worked closest with him, Kennedy’s voice is only part of what makes him unforgettable.
“The thing that anybody who truly knows Mike (knows) is, you have a great friend,” Kemnitz said. “Somebody that’s going to be there for you. Somebody that’s going to support you. Somebody that you know is just a quality person that you enjoy being around.”
To Kennedy, those relationships formed the truest archive of his life’s work. The real record wasn’t on tape — it was in people.
“I’ve been blessed,” he said. “To do something I love, and to do it at my school, my university, all these years. It’s been an incredible run.”
“Forty-five years of students have come and gone to Wichita State,” Shine added. “If you’re in the freshman class of 1980, and you’re in the freshman class of 2025, Mike Kennedy is the Voice of the Shockers. That’s the only guy you’ve ever heard.
“It’s going to be a big change for people. It’ll be a big change for me.”
When Kennedy finally steps away from the booth, it will be the end of a streak, but not of his story. The voice that echoed through Wichita State’s highs and lows won’t be heard over the airwaves anymore, but it will live on in the same memories of fans, in the relationships he built, and in the way he helped shape the university’s identity through his words.
Because, in the end, what he’s really leaving behind isn’t a career marked by titles or numbers — but a lasting, unwavering connection to a community that always knew exactly who was calling their game. A voice that, through it all, never stopped listening.
And when he finally rests the headset, the voice that carried so many seasons will settle into memory — just as another once did for a boy in the dark who listened for voices, and one day became one.
The signal that started in a child’s bedroom will fade, not vanish — carried forward by all who heard it.
Photos courtesy of Wichita State Athletics
Wichita State Athletics radio broadcaster Mike Kennedy observes the Shockers during a men’s basketball game on Nov. 22. Kennedy will retire after covering WSU for 46 years. Photo by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower
Billiards instructor’s 30-year class brings fun into learning
BY MIA MALCOLM miamalcolm4@gmail.com
Taking electives can be an exciting way to keep college interesting for many students. Among the courses that might be unexpected is a billiards class.
“I’ve played all over the United States … [and] I’ve won some pretty good sized tournaments … I enjoy the game, [and] I play for fun– that’s why I started,” said Terry Young, the billiard class instructor.
The billiards class held at Shocker Grill and Lanes in the Rhatigan Student Center has been taught by Professor Young for the past 30 years. Young is known as one of Wichita’s top billiards players and said he has been active with the game for 65 years, playing in many tournaments.
“From what I’ve heard, Professor Young is the number three billiards player in Kansas,” said Luke Bumm, a current student in Young’s class. “I think he’s owned billiards clubs before, and he’s actually currently either semi-professional or professional. He just missed class this week because he was at a professional tournament.”
Young has also been inducted into two halls of fame. In 2013, he was inducted into the Wichita Pool Player HOF, and in 2025 he was inducted into the Valley National Eight Ball Association HOF.
Young previously owned a pool hall, Rumors, for 26 years in Wichita. According to KMUW, Rumors opened in 1987 at 1861 S Hydraulic Ave. It stayed open until 2013.
After playing and instructing the class for so long, Young said that the enjoyment he gets from the sport is a never ending journey.
“It’s a fun job. I wouldn’t even call it a job, you know … I got a table at home, I practice every day and I’ve learned how to enjoy practicing,” Young said “… You never get to where you want to be, it’s just a lifetime journey. You’ve just got to learn how to enjoy the journey, for better or for worse.”
Bumm, a business major, said that taking the billiards class is a good way to bring variety into his usual class schedule.
“It’s a great way to get outside of kind of the business classes I’m into day to day, and it gives me something that I’m able to translate to the outside world
Wichita State faculty and staff win statewide award
BY MYA SCOTT opinion@thesunflower.com
Wichita State nominated three faculty and one staff member for a prestigious award presented by the Kansas Board of Regents. All four of WSU’s nominees were among the 17 recipients, KBOR announced in September.
Every year, KBOR awards college faculty based on teaching and research. This year, faculty senates of each of the KBOR schools nominated three faculty members — a tenured, tenure-track and non-tenure-track — and the staff senates could each nominate one staff member. This was the first time staff awards were included, as KBOR approved the additional award last academic year.
Tenured Faculty of the Year — Lisa Parcell
Lisa Parcell, recently appointed director of the Elliott School of Communication, won the tenured faculty award. Parcell is also the director of public speaking and of research partnerships.
Parcell joined Wichita State in 2001 after completing her master’s in Alabama. Her husband, who teaches in the geology department, started the same year.
She said the people — faculty and students alike — are her favorite part of her many jobs.
“I love working with this group of faculty,” Parcell said. “They are fantastic. They’re encouraging, they’re supportive, they are here for the students, and they really, really, really want everybody to succeed.
“And the students, I think, are great because it’s a marvelous time of your life. Whether you’re an undergrad or a graduate student, you are here because you want to do something else and you want
to learn something and there’s promise and there’s hope and there’s something’s going better in your life now, and I love working with that.”
Tenure-Track Faculty of the Year — Erin O’Bryan
Erin O’Bryan was the tenuretrack faculty member to win this year. O’Bryan is an assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders.
Originally from Wichita, she eventually made her way back to the flight capital of the world after completing her master’s in Arizona.
“I went to a Kansas Speech and Hearing convention here in Wichita …, and (former professor Joanna Wyckoff) at Wichita State saw me at the convention, and she approached me and was like, ‘You seem very interested in this. Have you ever thought about applying to be an assistant professor?’” O’Bryan said.
O’Bryan focuses her research on people with aphasia, a language disorder that impairs communication abilities because of brain damage.
“I would say working with the people with aphasia and the students, and working with them both together, that’s really what I enjoy the most – is teaching the students how they can have a good conversation with somebody with aphasia, and how fun it can be,” O’Bryan said.
Non-tenure-track Faculty of the Year — Marco Hernandez
Marco Hernandez, foundations coordinator of the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries, won the KBOR award for non-tenuretrack faculty. Hernandez mainly teaches printmaking, and despite his role as foundation coordinator in the school, he considers himself an
art professor first. Hernandez said his favorite aspect of his job is when students appreciate what he’s teaching them.
“So, you know, teaching studio art is very different than, like, a lecture class or, you know, math class, biology, whatever. Like, we’re constantly talking to each other,” Hernandez said. “It’s more laid back. Students are up, walking around using different equipment… when I can tell that they’re happy in the studio, that’s what makes me happy.”
Staff of the Year — Christopher Leonard Christopher Leonard was part of the first group to win Staff of the Year from KBOR. Leonard serves as the director of Counseling and Psychological Services, where he oversees the quality of care of WSU’s counseling services.
While he isn’t directly involved with the counseling process, Leonard said his favorite part of his job is still interacting with people.
“I love the interactions that I get to have with students and staff on a day-to-day basis,” Leonard said. “I love to support staff and supporting students and seeing both of them grow.”
Leonard said he considered even a nomination a huge honor, but winning felt very good as well.
“This one felt very good, because I felt like this was a reflection on our staff, and that’s what the coolest thing is,” Leonard said. “I don’t think (of) this award as a personal award. I really think this is an award that is because of everybody in this building and everything that they do.”
once I graduate, as a recreational sport,” Bumm said. “He gives great pointers. He understands how to teach people who have almost no knowledge of billiards. It’s been a great class.”
Before teaching billiards, Young worked in computer software for 20 years. The opportunity for Young to instruct the class came by phone call in fall 1994 while he was the owner and operator of Rumors. Young said he believed it was Rich Renollet, the director of Shocker Grill and Lanes, who made the call to offer the job.
Young said that his experience and being a Wichita State University alum likely contributed to receiving an offer for the position. At WSU, he recalled participating in two national collegiate billiards (ACUI)
tournaments that would happen each year. In 1996, he took 2nd place for WSU.
“I think my students take my class for various reasons, and it doesn’t matter to me — I’m okay with whatever … It’s a blessing in disguise,” Young said. “One of the toughest things about pool is staying motivated to improve your game, and when you’re playing, it’s hard to stay motivated to give every shot 100%, so teaching this class is one more motivator for me.”
The motivation seems to go both ways with the fun that is shared between Young and his students.
“I would recommend [that] if anyone wants something fun in their class schedule or needs an extra credit, they should definitely take the billiards class,” Bumm said.
Terry Young lines up a shot on a pool table. Young previously owned a pool hall called ‘Rumours.’ Photo by Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower
Women’s basketball drops seventh-straight game at ZotGiving Classic
BY MACK SMITH
mackred22@gmail.com
Wichita State women’s basketball’s struggles this November continued in California as it lost both games at the ZotGiving Classic on Friday and Saturday. The Shockers fell to UC Irvine and Idaho over the holiday break.
WSU extended its losing streak to seven games and fell to 1-7 on the season.
Up next, the Shockers travel to the Lone Star State to play Texas Tech on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The game will stream on ESPN+.
vs. UC Irvine
WSU’s late, fourth-quarter push was not enough to end its losing streak, as it fell to tournament host UC Irvine on Friday, 58-52.
It took two and a half minutes of game time for the Shockers to make their first basket. WSU later took the lead after graduate forward Treasure Thompson snagged an offensive rebound and converted the putback, 6-5. The Anteaters then used a 12-0 run that spanned the rest of the first quarter to open a nine-point advantage, 17-8. Graduate guards Jaila Harding and Diamond Richardson combined to make three 3-pointers in the second quarter, but it wasn’t enough to create momentum as UC Irvine took a 37-19 lead at halftime.
Harding scored the first eight points for WSU out of the break, and a 16-3 run by the Shockers in the fourth quarter trimmed the deficit to four points with 20 seconds left.
The push was too little, too
late as UC Irvine made its free throws down the stretch. The Shockers finished the game with only two made free throws, the team’s lowest since 2019.
Harding scored a season-high 21 points on an efficient 8-of-15 clip, adding two assists and a steal. Graduate guards Taya Davis and Abby Cater each finished with seven points.
vs. Idaho
WSU could not find its footing in the final game of the tournament on Saturday, losing by 22 points to Idaho, 83-61.
The Shockers started the scoring on the first possession of the game, but two late firstquarter turnovers allowed the Vandals to go on a 7-0 run and helped push them ahead, 23-19.
Junior guard Kyleigh Ortiz finished off the first quarter with a 3-pointer to end Idaho’s run and cut the deficit to six points.
WSU cut the Vandals’ lead to three points in the second quarter, 26-23, but the Shockers went without a field goal for nearly seven minutes immediately after. Idaho took a 16-point lead during the drought, 42-26.
The Vandals held onto the lead the rest of the game, going up by as many as 26 in the fourth quarter as WSU couldn’t find rhythm or momentum. Idaho’s 83 points are the most that the Shockers have allowed this season.
Senior forward Maimouna Sissoko tallied a team-high 12 points, also a season high, on 4-of-8 shooting. Harding contributed 11 points and three assists, and Thompson scored 10 on 5-of-9 attempts from the floor.
‘A BIG ADVANTAGE’
BY OWEN PROTHRO sports@thesunflower.com
The changeup. In softball, it’s a pitch. In collegiate athletics, it’s the hum of a new season.
Newness defines head coach Kristi Bredbenner’s 15th year at Wichita State. Fourteen new players. A new practice facility. A new approach to the fall.
She spent more than a decade refining routines and standard operations, but this year she scrapped the old playbook. Like a hitter adjusting to a changeup, Bredbenner refused to get caught looking. For the first five weeks this fall, she prioritized individual workouts before bringing the team together.
In a sport built on chemistry, it might sound backward. But Bredbenner believes it was the best way to get everyone aligned early.
“(We) really gave everybody the base that they needed so that when we do come together for team practice,” Bredbenner said. “We’re not taking time out of the team practice to talk about something that we could have taught in that individual (workout), or that we assumed somebody already knew.”
The timing couldn’t be better, especially for sophomore Brookelyn Livanec. She tore her meniscus at the beginning of her freshman campaign but played through it, ending the season on a seven-game hitting streak and batted .364 in 44 games.
Surgery last May reset her path. Six months later, she’s back in the cage, leaning on the facility’s technology to rebuild her swing.
“I’m using my legs and my
driving, and producing enough power to swing again,” Livanec said. “Getting all my mechanics back. It was nice to go back and watch my swings and seeing where I was compared to last season.
“I really just enjoy going back to watch my mechanics and where the pitches are, where I’m hitting the ball.”
The Shockers’ new practice complex has become more than just a shelter from the rain. It’s accessible nearly round-the-clock, a recruiting magnet and a reflection of Wichita State’s ambitions.
Bredbenner’s 2026 class ranked No. 46 nationally after Signing Day, according to D1 Softball. Transfers have noticed as well.
“It was a huge plus,” said senior transfer Chloe Rhine, last year’s Atlantic-10 Defensive Player of the Year at Saint Louis. “We love it, and it’s basically new for everyone. It’s even a lot nicer than some of the Power Four schools. That’s a big advantage.”
Rhine said the early months together reflect that momentum.
“The team chemistry is awesome,” she said. “We’re always here to have a good time, but we really want to just get after it.”
Beyond amenities, the Shockers are finding another edge in technology. What looks flawless on the field isn’t always the full story — and the program is reshaping how it sees the game through data.
Technology systems like HitTrax, Trackman, AWRE and TruMedia now chart everything from bat speed to spin rates to subtle details often missed in the moment, giving players real-time feedback.
“I love being able to look up
there after each pitch, and knowing the statistics and if my mental games’ right at the plate,” Livanec said.
The upgrades go beyond stats, they’re reshaping how players experience the game.
“I never really had access to numbers like that at my previous institution,” Rhine said. “Seeing more data has been neat.”
For pitchers, the technology is equally transformative. Sophomore Ryley Nihart studies spray charts and velocity shifts to elevate her bullpens.
“It just gives us a whole other look into the game,” Nihart said. “I kind of hit a different gear in-game compared to my bullpens, so I think getting to see and compare my numbers from in-game to in-bullpen, and how I can elevate my bullpens to match my in-game — that’s going to help a lot in the long run.”
For Bredbenner, the value is simple.
“Without technology, you’re basically making assumptions,” she said. “What you’re seeing with the technology, you’ve got quantified data that can be that proof. You can sit down and you can fidget and mess and twiddle and piddle, and do all these things to see if you can make it better.”
Like any good changeup, the adjustments Wichita State has made this fall aren’t meant to slow progress — they’re designed to set up what comes next. With new players, new tools and a new approach, the Shockers aren’t just reacting to the pitch. They’re dictating the count.
Men’s hoops leaves Battle 4 Atlantis winless
BY OWEN PROTHRO sports@thesunflower.com
Wichita State men’s basketball’s first trip to the Bahamas since 2016 wasn’t always bountiful — or beautiful. More than anything, it was instructive.
The Shockers left the Battle 4 Atlantis at Imperial Arena’s ballroom-turned-basketball venue with three losses in a three-day stretch that tested their urgency and grit, and revealed how they stack up on a national stage.
Saint Mary’s showed WSU the necessities of closing out big games away from Koch Arena. Colorado State highlighted the importance of coming out with an edge instead of trying to find it late. Western Kentucky showed the ball doesn’t always roll favorably, no matter how much fight is shown. After emerging from their toughest stretch of November with a 4-4 record, the Shockers return to the Roundhouse Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. to face Mount Marty, an NAIA program from South Dakota, looking to steady itself as conference play draws closer.
Saint Mary’s was given a run for its money
WSU pushed Saint Mary’s to the brink Wednesday night, but costly late-game mistakes proved too
much as the Shockers lost 70-65.
Down by 10 with less than eight minutes to go, senior guard Kenyon Giles sparked a rally that put WSU ahead 65-64 with 1:16 remaining. He scored eight straight points for the Shockers before finding junior guard Dre Kindell wide-open on the left wing for the go-ahead three that jolted WSU’s bench and fans that made the trip to the Bahamas.
But on the next possession, Giles fired a quick 3-pointer and the miss fell to the Gaels. Saint Mary’s missed its shot after the rebound, but Joshua Dent secured a pivotal offensive board and hit free throws to put the Gaels up three with 18 seconds remaining.
To Giles’ credit, he’s hit shots like that before — the miss just came at a costly time.
15 consecutive makes sink Shockers against Colorado State Colorado State buried 15 straight shots in the first half Thursday night building a 21-point lead that proved too much for WSU to fully erase in a 76-70 defeat. It marked the Shockers’ first back-toback losses of the season.
The Rams’ blistering start — 19 makes on their first 23 attempts — put WSU in a deep hole. The Shockers’ defense responded after halftime, holding Colorado State to
37% shooting from the floor and 33.3% from three in the second half. WSU also grabbed 11 secondhalf offensive rebounds for 19 second chance points.
The Shockers mounted a furious second-half comeback, trimming the deficit to five with under five minutes left, but never managed to make it a one-possession game.
A Rams three to put them up by nine points with 2:12 remaining essentially served as the dagger.
WSU opened just 13-of-30 from the floor, while Colorado State shot 76% in the first half, missing just six of its 25 attempts.
Loss to Western Kentucky closes out disappointing week
The Shockers played their most complete and efficient game of the tournament Friday against Western Kentucky — shooting 36.8% from the floor, 30.4% from deep and 80.8% at the charity stripe — but it wasn’t enough, as the Hilltoppers escaped with a 75-70 win.
WSU opened both halves with energy, even holding Western Kentucky to a 1-of-9 start in the second half to take a 46-37 lead. But one sequence summed up the night for the Shockers. The Hilltoppers went on a 9-2 run late
in the second half, putting WSU in position to attempt its third lategame comeback of the week. Williams electrified the crowd with a fastbreak dunk that cut the deficit to 71-69. Moments later, Giles picked off a pass, but on the ensuing fastbreak, contact by a Western Kentucky defender sent him to the floor, triggering a brief scrum. The Hilltoppers emerged with free throws and converted both to push the lead back to four with 38 seconds remaining. Sometimes, the ball just doesn’t bounce your way.
Wichita State men’s basketball senior guards Kenyon Giles, left, and Mike Gray Jr. dive for a loose ball against Colorado State in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Nov. 27. Photo courtesy of Wichita State Athletics
Wichita State softball senior Chloe Rhine (1) makes contact with a pitch against Emporia State on Oct. 5. File photo by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower
Wichita State women’s basketball senior forward Maimouna Sissoko (24) shoots free throws against Idaho during the ZotGiving Classic on Nov. 29. Photo courtesy of Wichita State athletics
Pinnetti: This diva is graduating
Piper Pinnetti piperpinnetti12@gmail.com
As a military brat, change has been the one constant in my life. I have lived in more states than I can count — and even more houses and apartments. I don’t have childhood friends I grew up with or a home that stayed the same long enough to reference it as one.
From coastal cities to here in Kansas, I have lived in a dozen different communities and environments.
The Sunflower became the one exception. For almost five years, it has been the most constant thing in my life besides my family. And now I am finally graduating. It feels strange to type that — to say it in my thoughts as I press on the keys — because a part of me was convinced I’d jinx myself by putting it into words.
Sorry, Mya, for the procrastination — I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye. I still don’t even have my cap and gown yet, which is crazy considering I am so eager to walk the stage for the first time.
Amy DeVault, The Sunflower adviser, came to Maize South years ago when I was the editor-in-chief of our low-budget, barely back newsmagazine. She brought former
An
Angellica Klingsick angellicaklingsick25@gmail.com
It is time to finish the fall 2025 semester strong. Finding a place on campus where you can really focus on what you need to focus on is optimal.
To help with this, I have ranked ten study spots on campus to see which ones are great for studying and which ones not so much.
Some of the things I look for in a good study spot are as follows: Little to no distractions: You cannot focus if there are constant distractions around you, such as noise.
Good Wi-Fi: Most of the time, you cannot do homework without Wi-Fi.
Comfortability: A comfortable environment, especially a comfortable chair, is crucial for focusing on work.
Shocker Hall LKLs
1/10 - This is a decent spot, but
Sunflower editor-in-chiefs Matthew Kelly, Kylie Cameron and Chance Swaim with her, and the four of them gave constructive criticism in a way that made me just want to do more.
When COVID-19 erupted, I was a junior in high school. My senior year was still chaotic.
By the end of my senior year, I was panicking. My dreams of going back to Boston to be with my family were slipping away, and every college I’d hoped for was shutting down or locking students inside dorms.
So I remembered that visit — the leadership, the mentorship and the way Amy and her trio made journalism feel like a path I could actually walk. One random day in May, I applied to Wichita State to major in journalism.
Two days later, I was accepted.
I planned to transfer after a year, but I stayed. The Sunflower — and Amy — taught me more than any plan I had made for myself. Without them, I might never have become a Shocker at all.
Then, weeks later, it was time for me to graduate from high school.
I was the only student in my class who did not get to walk at graduation because of exposure to COVID-19.
I sat on the edge of my bed, door closed, wearing my cap and gown. I felt stupid, embarrassed — but I wanted to at least hear my name and see my friends graduate.
it appeals more to students living in Shocker Hall than others, seeing that it can be about a short walk or elevator ride from their dorm rooms. Besides that, there is also constant noise from the laundry rooms and the kitchens being consistently used. Also, the Wi-Fi is hit or miss, and the spaces are usually busy with residents.
Outdoor picnic tables outside Shocker Hall 2/10 - Studying outside can help reduce stress and improve focus. However, this is only beneficial with the right weather. I found studying at the outdoor picnic tables by Shocker Hall to be beneficial, but I wish it were not as cold and windy outside.
RSC (first floor)
3/10 - There may be a lot of seats and tables, but there are also a lot of people and noise. That can make it difficult to focus. Events are always happening. People you know are there, and if they are, you are going to want to talk and hang out with them rather than get your work done. It’s a great place to
I watched the livestream as they skipped right over me. I sobbed, ripped off my ridiculous cap and gown and threw them into my closet.
My principal, who retired that year, then gave me a small, unofficial ceremony outside of Maize South High School. I wore my cap and gown. He handed me my degree. Someone took cute pictures of me to make the moment last a lifetime.
I felt genuine community and kindness in that moment — gestures I hadn’t experienced much because I moved around so often.
Fast-forward to now, and I have found that same sense of community again at Wichita State, in the city — and through The Sunflower.
I have interviewed fellow students, staff, local leaders and members of the homeless community. I have been in the middle of breaking news, either on the scene or literally in the middle of three police scanners, trying to get an officer to tell me more details over the phone.
I have even delivered stacks of newspapers in my little, beat-up car. Apologies to anyone I accidentally startled as I drove on the sidewalks before the sun rose on campus.
In Wichita newsrooms, my love for journalism grew in ways I did not expect.
From newspapers, television
hang out. Not really a great place to study.
The Office of Student Engagement and Belonging
4/10 - If you do not mind the slight noise of office business, the Student Engagement and Belonging Offices have great couches, chairs and tables where students can relax and also work hard. This space is open to all students. However, it’s sometimes crowded with other students trying to accomplish the same goal.
The Promise Bridge at Woolsey Hall
5/10 - Hearing the water lapping in the lake below the bridge provides a calming atmosphere for studying. The Wi-Fi is good. The only issue with this space is the weather conditions, but that depends on the day it is being used.
Shocker Success Center: 2nd Floor
6/10 - I really liked the calm environment the center provides for students. There is plenty of comfortable seating, good Wi-Fi
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR
and radio, I have explored so many mediums and how they reach audiences. I have stepped outside of my comfort zone countless times, and yet, I still have more curiosity. I have not explored enough.
Even growing up, writing was always the one place I felt grounded. It is the way I hold on to people, places and memories after I left them behind. That instinct eventually grew into a love of storytelling, curiosity and community that journalism brings together perfectly.
I could never recommend The Sunflower enough, but to work at the newspaper, you have to be a
connection and students can focus decently well. However, there are people coming and going all the time. Even so, it still meets most of the standards of a good study space.
Woolsey Hall
7/10 - As a student living in The Flats on campus, I do not like walking across campus all the time. Sometimes, I want a place to study that is near my dorm. This fits that. The seats are really comfortable, and the internet connection is strong. However, it can also be overrun with business students and events at times.
The Ablah Library
8/10 - I find this to be a great place to study for finals. I could easily focus and accomplish a lot. All levels of the library had strong Wi-Fi connections, comfortable couches and chairs, and overall low sound levels. The first floor has more open space, reference, computers, and the circulation desk. The second floor has studios and a smaller study area. The third floor is known as the quiet zone
student at Wichita State, which I will no longer be. Still, I could never recommend journalism enough.
I don’t care if you think you are too young or too old, or if you’ve already had another career and want something new.
What I can say is that journalism, and The Sunflower, changed my life. And if you let it, it can change yours, too.
The Sunflower made Kansas feel like home, and for someone like me, that means more than I can ever put into words.
because of the study rooms that take up the whole floor. This space meets all of the standards, but is pretty busy most of the time.
Lounge on the fourth floor of Jabara Hall
9/10 - I never had a reason to go to Jabara until I discovered a lounge on the fourth floor. This spot is quiet, has fewer people trying to study at the same time, and the Wi-Fi connection remains strong. This exceeds all the criteria for a great place to study.
Honors College Lounge
10/10 - The lounge in the Cohen Honors College provides a nice, quiet and calm environment for studying and locking in on homework. The seats are really comfortable, and the Wi-Fi works well. This space appeals to most honors students but is open for all mostly during the day. Honors students get an extra bonus with free printing. This meets all the standards for a good study spot. If I needed a spot where I can focus on what I need to, I would pick the Honors College first.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Schrader
ARTS & CULTURE
The human moments behind the Ulrich’s ‘Bird People’ mural
BY PIPER PINNETTI
piperpinnetti12@gmail.com
Warm light spilled across the south face of the Ulrich Museum of Art on Wednesday, Nov. 12 and caught on the edges of 350,000 pieces of Venetian glass. Ladybugs drifted lazily through the air, landing on color-splashed tiles as a scissor lift reached its peak.
Conservators Marianne RussellMarti and Andy Breidenbach steadied themselves against a slight wobble that comes with working eye-to-eye with Joan Miró’s monumental mosaic “Personnage Oiseaux.”
Then, they began again: micro-fibre towels, a motorized toothbrush and patience.
“You can’t just have a work of art, put it up and forget about it, because they will deteriorate in the outdoor environment,” RussellMarti said. “Everything needs maintenance.”
Breidenbach, who has worked alongside Marianne, has recognized the cleaning process isn’t simple.
“If you wipe it with a damp cloth, it’ll look good. It’ll saturate and look really pretty,” Breidenbach said. “But as soon as the water evaporates, we’re back.”
Relationship built over decades
Their partnership with WSU goes back even further. In the mid-1990s, a Kansas City museum colleague recommended RussellMarti’s conservation firm to The Ulrich.
They arrived in 1995 for their first survey of WSU’s outdoor sculpture collection. By 1997, they were already scaffolding, re-adhering thousands of loose tesserae.
“When we first started, every time we came there’d be more pieces on the ground,” RussellMarti said. “It was literally falling apart.”
For three years, they surveyed the artwork’s needs. The full restoration took six more. From reattachment of glass to a complete rework of the mosaic’s backing, the duo did it all.
Russell-Marti said it was “all Andy did” until 2016 when the mosaic was restored.
Breidenbach agreed. “It’s tedious,” He said. “But actually, there is no other way to do it.”
The only mosaic of its kind
The “Personnage Oiseaux,” which is French for “Bird People,” is the only mosaic Miró ever made. Up close, the matte white marble and deep-colored glass echo the strokes of the original four-by-eight reference painting.
“This is the only mosaic like this in the world,” Russell-Marti said.
Up close, the piece reveals its strangeness and brilliance with bright, irregular shapes. What appears jet black is an array of deep colors. In Miró’s original painting created to map the intricate mural, the Bird People are illustrated with paints onto a plain canvas. The enchanting glass replaces the paint, and matte white marble references the original canvas.
“That’s what I love,” RussellMarti said. “The way they used color to turn a two-dimensional painting into this three-dimensional work of art is just stunning.”
Why they keep coming back
The team’s tools are humble: soft brushes, cloth and a toothbrush for the most stubborn crevices. There are no shortcuts.
The mural faces harsh Kansas summers, but the engineering helps it survive them. Behind the glass is a ventilation system few people notice.
Engineering for Miró’s final
work has helped it last through Kansas’ unforgiving weather. Underneath there is a screen that allows air to flow up like a chimney.
“If it faced north, that would fix the harsh sun problem,” Breidenbach said. “But the white marble would have organic growth all over it. There’s almost no easy answer.”
The Ulrich Museum’s commitment to the mural is not lost on the people who care for it.
“The university’s commitment to maintaining this is really commendable. Outdoor art needs ongoing care, and they’ve made it a priority,” Russell-Marti said. “That’s good stewardship — and it’s rare.”
Even on a bright fall day, the work is slow. A panel that looks “pretty clean” from the ground can take hours once the scissor lift rises and every glint of light reveals what the haze has hidden.
But Russell-Marti and Breidenbach seem energized by it — by the quiet discipline and knowledge that they are preserving something that cannot be replaced.
“That’s why we went into this profession,” Russell-Marti said. “We enjoy the art, we enjoy hands-on work, and we love solving problems.”
Down below, the museum lobby fills with students, artists and events. Drivers slow down as they pass, noticing the mosaic.
Russell-Marti has one request at the end of the shift: “Beam us down, Scotty,” before the lift lowers them back to earth.
Most don’t notice the ladybugs or toothbrushes. But they notice the mural. They always have.
Because of this team, they always will.
‘Mind-blowing experience’: Student guitarists rock out with Eagles’ Joe Walsh
BY MYA SCOTT opinion@thesunflower.com
What began as an email thread became a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a guitar ensemble in Wichita. On Veterans’ Day, Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh took a trip to Wichita State’s Shocker Studios to listen to an ensemble of student guitarists play a rock set with songs from bands like “Rush” and “King Crimson.” Walsh’s father, Robert Newton Fiddler, was a Wichita native and a Wichita State alumnus. Walsh also performed for the 9th annual VetsAid benefit concert at Intrust Bank Arena later in the week on Nov. 15. Isaac Waterman, a member of the guitar ensemble, said it was “really awesome” to play for Walsh.
“Such a just mind-blowing experience,” Waterman said. “Like the fact that Joe Walsh … wanted to come and check out what our ensemble was doing and give us advice and stuff like that. Like, it
BroadwayWorld
award
nominee on finding his way into local theatre community
BY MALEAH EVANS arts@thesunflower.com
Owen Balman has recently been nominated for best supporting actor in the Wichita chapter of BroadwayWorld awards. The Spring 2025 Wichita State graduate has been into theatre since he was a kid, first acting in elementary school.
The Wichita State production of “Twelfth Night” was a big breakthrough in acting, Balman said.
In April 2024, Balman attended the 24-hour play festival, an event hosted by Joseph Urick to help his directing class. Actors were paired with student directors and worked through an acting scene. Through it, Balman gained more experience in acting and stepped foot into the world of professional theatre in Wichita.
After the event, Balman heard that there would be an upcoming production of “Twelfth Night,” and he said that he knew he had to audition.
His attempts worked, and he was cast as Duke Orsino, one of the lead roles in the show. He worked closely with Kelsi Harris, a Wichita State theatre major, who played Olivia, the love interest of Duke Orsino.
“(That was) where we finally got to actually act beside each other instead of just being community theatre friends,” Harris said.
After his experience with “Twelfth Night,” Balman said that he had the confidence to go out into the professional scene in Wichita, both acting and on the production side of shows.
“It allowed me to step into a little more professional type of experience that I am able to apply to community theatre,” he said. “I feel like it’s something I was made to do.”
In June, Balman acted in the Wichita Shakespeare Company’s production of “Love Labour’s Lost” with an 80s spin, set in a college fraternity. In July, he acted in the Guild Hall Player’s production of “You Can’t Take it With You,” as the high energy Ed Charmichael.
“He (Ed Charmichael) was one of the more uniquely
CORRECTIONS
challenging and rewarding roles that I’ve ever had to play,” he said.
Balman’s BroadwayWorld nomination was for his role as best supporting performer in a play for his acting in “You Can’t Take it With You.” BroadwayWorld is a review website and forum for regional and national Broadway and offBroadway shows.
“Owen really deserves it … whatever project that he’s in, he really does bring his all,” Harris said. “He’s such a bright light of energy … there’s never a dull moment, like he gives everything his all … I will gloat about Owen all day, every day.” Balman said that he hadn’t known he was nominated until someone he knew texted him congratulations.
“I wasn’t aware of BroadwayWorld at the time … (well) I knew it was a forum for Broadway, off-Broadway and retinol and national theatre productions, but I didn’t know they had an awards thing every year,” Balman said. “I wouldn’t have been on there if someone hadn’t thought of me.” I was nominated … alongside some other fantastic actors. It’s a privilege to be considered amongst them.”
Balman said that the fact that one of his performances left a large enough impression on someone to be nominated for such an award made him happy.
“(The nomination) got me sentimental about the production, started thinking about it again,” he said. “I felt very honored … considering I’m very fresh and new to the community … so to leave an impression on somebody so early is truly a great thing.”
You know, the stereotype is when you meet a famous person, or like you never meet your heros. But he was so nice, he was so friendly.
ADRIAN TORRES Guitar ensemble member “
was just really a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Adrian Torres, also a member of the guitar ensemble, said performing for Walsh made him nervous, not only because of Walsh’s celebrity status, but because he held a personal connection to Walsh’s music.
“I’ve been listening to the Eagles since I was, like, two years old,” Torres said. “And I love his music. I used to study his solos when I was in high school, and I was incredibly nervous.”
After the performance, Walsh
gave advice to the budding musicians, ranging from the technical aspects of playing the guitar to help for their mindsets.
“For a lot of the guitarists, he helped them out with some tone stuff,” Waterman said. “A lot of what he told us — his big thing was, ‘Get outside your comfort zone a little bit. Get comfortable with playing in front of a lot of people.’”
In addition to passing along stories and advice, Walsh spoke with the individual guitarists about college and the type of music they were listening to.
Torres said Walsh beat the adage of “never meet your heroes.”
“(He was) incredibly nice,” Torres said. “Like, shockingly nice for someone who’s as much of a figure and celebrity as he is. You know, the stereotype is when you meet a famous person, or like you never meet your heroes. But he was so nice, he was so friendly. It was genuinely like he felt it didn’t feel awkward talking to me.”
Marianne Russell-Marti and Andy Breidenbach work to restore the mosaic on the front of the Ulrich Museum. RussellMarti has worked on the mosaic and other works around campus since 1995. Photo by Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower
Photo courtesy of Owen Balman
SNOW MORE STRESS
Students de-stress by making snow globes in the RSC
SHOCKER FINANCIAL WELLNESS WORKSHOP ‘COFFEE CHATS’
Tuesday, Dec. 2 8:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Woolsey Hall
Stop by the Cargill Cafe for a comeand-go tabling event and receive a $5 coupon for coffee. Hosted by the Office of Financial Aid.
PREHISTORIC PEP RALLY Tuesday, Dec. 2 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Rhatigan Student Center
Join DJ Chompy C and the success teams for a study break with inflatable dinosaurs to de-stress during finals week.
SELF CARE: DE-STRESS FEST Tuesday, Dec. 2 6 - 8 p.m.
Rhatigan Student Center
Join the Student Activities Council to de-stress at a slumber party themed self-care event, with ice cream, games, and relaxation.
MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. MOUNT MARTY Tuesday, Dec. 2 6:30 p.m.
Charles Koch Arena
Come support the Shocker Men’s Basketball team as they take on Mount Marty in Charles Koch Arena. Current students get free tickets.
PAWS & RELAX: STRESS MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP WITH THERAPY DOGS Wednesday, Dec. 3 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Ablah Library
Come to Ablah Library to relax and de-stress from finals week with therapy dogs from Love on a Leash. Free for all students.
‘ACTING REPERTOIRE MONOLOGUES & SCENES’ Wednesday, Dec. 3 5 - 6:30 p.m.
JUDGE
HAVE AN EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED?
CONTACT THE ARTS EDITOR: arts@thesunflower.com
CONTACT THE NEWS EDITOR: news@thesunflower.com
Sophomore Becca Hershberger and Freshman Josiah Armstrong admire their snow globe. They took an extra one afterward to gift a family member. Photos by Evan Tong / The Sunflower
Students take photos and assemble their snow globes. Over 100 students attended the event according to the SAC.
Freshmen Katie Gentile (left) and Alexis Prieto (right) surround Peyton Helton for a snow globe photo. The photo machine was accompanied with various props such as crab claws and false teeth.
A snow globe featuring members of the SAC sits on a table. Students were able to take free snow globes with their picture inside.
Junior Jasmine Peng hands a snow globe box to sophomore Alex Kimble. The event went as long as supplies could last.