PRAYERS, POLICE & PROTESTS
Over 1,500 gather at RSC for Charlie Kirk vigil
BY KASS LEWIS & AINSLEY SMYTH news@thesunflower.com
& managing@thesunflower.com
Walking through or by the Rhatigan Student Center on Wednesday evening, it was hard to ignore the seemingly endless crowd of people gathered outside. Around 1,700 attended a vigil to honor Charlie Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, who was fatally shot in Utah earlier this month.
Kirk, who was known for his political commentary, was on the first leg of “The American Comeback” tour, in which he planned to visit college campuses for open debates with students on topics like gender, sexuality, race and gun control. During one of these visits on Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University, Kirk was assassinated.
Students and community members all crowded on the lawn east of the RSC for the vigil, and a small group of protesters were nearby.
“When we originally planned the event, we were planning on going into Grace Memorial Chapel,” WSU’s Turning Point USA chapter President Ryan Whalen said following the vigil. “And then I think in the first two or three hours (after announcing the event), we realized that already had filled. So obviously, that wasn’t going to be enough.”
Whalen said the chapter saw the number of people interested in attending grow rapidly in the lead up to the event.
“It was a bunch more than I expected, especially looking at the Facebook (event),” said Savanna Sparrow, a WSU TPUSA member. “It said that we had about 530 people interested, and then it climbed up to 580.”
An international student studying industrial engineering, Uriel Batukandikila Mbengu, shared surprise at the number of attendees.
“I was surprised, because I didn’t know that the group was going to be that big,” Batukandikila Mbengu said. “I’ll say the only thing is maybe that it can be a bit of a disruption, because my friend was not able to get a parking spot.”
TPUSA helpers passed candles to the crowd, but they quickly ran out. Although delayed in transit, more candles — donated by former Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer — arrived later in the evening.
High security measures
Due to the circumstances that caused the vigil — the shooting of Kirk on a Utah college campus — security was high.
Police officers stood at the north and south entrances to the lawn, and some were inside the RSC. Police marksmen also positioned themselves on the roof of the RSC.
Whalen said he reached out to the Wichita Police Department on Sept. 12 as he began working to organize the vigil.
“I wanted to let them know as soon as possible,” he said.
Whalen also said that he and his cabinet were told by campus police to report “anything that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck at all.”
Only a couple of heated Facebook arguments ended up being reported, according to Whalen.
Controversies in life and death
Similar to his life, Kirk’s death has been controversial. While some mourned his death on social media, many people expressed a lack of empathy due to his anti-gun control stance or even celebrated his death.
Olivia Krolczyk, who spoke on campus at a TPUSA event earlier this year, is one of multiple people who began a social media campaign
against anyone who made anti-Kirk posts following his assassination. Krolczyk is using X, formerly known as Twitter, to reveal some of these individuals’ names and their posts. A post on Sept. 16 said she has contacted 706 employers so far.
While some opposition was happening purely online, at the vigil some individuals were there protesting Kirk’s beliefs and not his death.
A sign held by one protester said, “Where is your empathy?” The sign also read topics the holder disagreed with Kirk about, including ICE, school shootings and Palestine.
The protester holding the sign declined to give their name but said, “We’re not celebrating his death, we’re not happy he died, but we’re trying to make a point.”
Whalen said he thinks they have a right to protest, but he still disagrees with them.
“I think it’s pretty distasteful to do it at a vigil,” Whalen said.
Some attendees stopped to debate the protesters, but the debates never escalated past verbal arguments and some vigil attendees shouting at the protesters.
WSU student Destiney Trochez, who neither participated in the vigil nor protested, said she disagreed with the speakers’ characterization of Kirk’s religious backing of his beliefs.
“I have a bunch of scriptures for the people saying that he was the man of God,” Trochez said.
Trochez compared Kirk’s public stances, like his anti-immigration positions, to some Bible verses, including Leviticus 19:33-34:
“When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
See Kirk Vigil, page 2
Attendees hold candles at the vigil for Charlie Kirk. The vigil was organized by the university’s Turning Point USA chapter.
Photo by Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower
Photos by Evan Tong and Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower
The woman behind the Shocker Store
Students wander in and out of the Shocker Store all day, checking out new items and old clearance pieces. So, who works all the magic behind the scenes? That would be Lisa Tilma, the official Shocker Store director — and occasional bingo announcer — who keeps Wichita State swag and textbooks on the shelves. She first entered Shocker Nation in January 2019.
“I initially started out working at the Shocker Store when we had a partnership with the WSU Tech campuses,” Tilma said. Before coming to WSU, Tilma
was the alumni director at Friends University for 15 years, where she primarily worked with donations. Five years ago, WSU Tech’s contract ended, and Tilma made her way to the main campus. Originally starting out as assistant director of the Shocker Store, she has moved her way up the chain to director. But running the Shocker Store is more than just folding shirts and ringing up customers. Tilma starts her mornings at the store on Braeburn Square, which is primarily run by student employees. When she’s there, it’s mostly to let them know what tasks need done throughout the day.
“You’ve got this merchandise, we are running this sale,” Tilma said as an example.
After that, she returns to the Rhatigan Student Center and goes to meetings, deals with donation requests and works on the ground floor with the rest of the employees. She also comes up with new creative ways to market the products.
Tilma says her biggest challenge thus far has been coming up with new ways to get students in the door.
“So much of course material has gone digital, and this semester has actually been a record
Small fire, big response: Lab fire in McKinley Hall
KASS LEWIS news@thesunflower.com
The Wichita Fire Department responded to a fire on the third floor of McKinley Hall late Monday afternoon. Despite the five firetrucks and over 30 firefighters that arrived at the scene, the fire was minor.
In McKinley Room 301, a bowl in a fume hood caught fire after a heating instrument was left out
too long, according to multiple students in the room. Lieutenant Jeremiah Williamson of the WFD said firefighters extinguished the fire by placing another object on top of the bowl to cut off oxygen.
“We found just a small pot that was on fire,” Williamson said. “We were able to just snuff it out.”
Fire hoses were hooked up, but weren’t used. A tower ladder was used to lift firefighters up to the
The fire took place in room 301 of McKinley Hall. Photos by
roof, but they did not need to cut any ventilation holes.
“So when they do that (go up to the roof), it’s their primary job is — if this was a fire — they’d get up there and ventilate it,” Williamson said. “They’d cut a hole in the roof, so that’s what they were doing — prepping for that.”
semester for us. [With] over 800 classes using digital,” Tilma said.
Even with the challenges, Tilma said her favorite part of the job is the people.
“We are kind of like a little family,” Tilma said.
Her love for the people plays a role in every part of the job — from the joys to what she hopes to accomplish. Tilma said it’s what makes the store unique: the people and their willingness to give back to their school.
At the end of the day, to Tilma it is not just about selling t-shirts, but making that connection with students and giving back to her community.
Trochez also cited Proverbs 6:18-19, 1 John 4:20, and Ephesians 4:31.
“And if he really stood for anything that he said he stood for with these scriptures in the Bible, his views would have been completely different from what they’re saying,” Trochez said. “And he is not the second Jesus.”
‘It still, quite frankly, feels numb’ Whalen, who spoke to the crowd to begin the vigil, recounted learning about the assassination of Kirk to the crowd.
“Last Wednesday around 1:30 p.m., I was finishing up my last class of the day, and I got a text from a close friend that Charlie was shot,” Whalen said. “I silently prayed.”
Whalen said he felt numb, as did other WSU TPUSA members who spoke.
“It didn’t seem real,” Whalen said. “And it still, quite frankly, feels numb.”
WSU TPUSA Vice President Mason Fouquet spoke directly to Kirk in the opening of his speech.
“Charlie, you were a giant among men,” Fouquet said. “You were a true visionary, an undeniably strong leader and someone that we could all strive to emulate.”
Following the speeches from chapter officials, the Aftershock Student Ministry led worship music with the crowd.
Along with TPUSA officials and student ministry, there were pastors from area churches that preached to close out the evening.
Despite the controversy and large crowds, Whalen said he and the WSU TPUSA officers weren’t as nervous throughout the vigil as they expected to be.
“All of us officers, we were talking — we had dinner afterwards — and we said that considering how many people were there, we surprisingly did not feel as nervous as we had expected,” Whalen said. “I think it was just kind of an in the moment thing.”
Lisa Tilma the director of the Shocker Store calls out BINGO numbers in the RSC Starbucks. Various offices in the RSC worked together at the RSC Day
Shocker Night on Aug. 21. Photo by Maleah Evans / The Sunflower
Wichita Fire Department Firefighters pack up hoses after determining the fire was extinguished.
Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower
The location of the fire in McKinley Hall. The fire was contained inside a fume hood.
WU’S BIG EVENT
Over 200 community members spent their Saturday morning volunteering at 21 locations in the Wichita area. Since 2016, the Community Service Board has organized Wu’s Big Event as a singleday event where students and other individuals dedicate themsleves to volunteering at different local organizations around the city. The board works with more than 20 organizationss, including the United Way, YMCA and the Kansas Aviation Museum. This year, alumni were allowed to participate.
How a student is fostering a community for indigenous people at WSU
NAZJAI DICKON
nazjaidicksons@gmail.com
Decson Chairs remembers being introduced to the Native American culture of Wichita while growing up.
“My grandma used to take me to powwows. I remember that from when I was really little,” Chairs said. “I also grew up in the USD 259 Native American Indian education program, so I really got more cultural knowledge and teachings through that program.”
He remembers when he joined a southern drum choir, which fostered his choice of music as his dual major at Wichita State, along with Pre-Medicine.
“In about the sixth grade, I started singing at a southern drum,” Chairs said. “I sing
currently with The Northern Group, Young Switch” This is something I believe is a really important way of connecting with ancestors is knowing these songs, and really what they mean.”
“I think in a way that’s kind of why I’m doing what I’m doing. There’s a strong belief in Native culture that music is a form of healing and can be used as a healing tool. I really want to do that.”
Chairs is a member of the Muscogee Creek Nation.When he thinks about his experience growing up native in Wichita, he remembers things fondly, from the work he’s done in the community and while in school.
“I didn’t necessarily grow up in my Muscogee Creek Nation kind of environment,” Chairs said. “I have been really active in and with my community here,
with people from different tribes — Kiowa, Comanche, Quapaw. I started up my own club for Native Americans at my high school (Northeast Magnet High School), then came to WSU and became events coordinator for the Indigenous Student Collective, and then this year I took over as president.”
Because of his work in the community, Chairs received a scholarship from Native Forward and was chosen as the organization’s student of the month in July. The Native Forward Scholars Fund is a program that provides Native college students across the nation with scholarships from $100 to $30,000.
Chairs said he’s looking forward to the future of Native programs on campus. Some are in the works right now.
“The ISC and the Student Engagement
Come hear international speaker Lisa
a
and Belonging is currently putting on an event, the Este-Cate Youth Summit, and we’re trying to get high schoolers from across the state of Kansas and from different places to come to Wichita State to learn what our Native community here in Wichita and on campus is really about,” Chairs said. Outside of just programs for students, Chairs said he wants to raise awareness on campus of the Native American history and culture in the Wichita area.
“Wichita State gets its name from the city, but the city’s name came from a tribe,” Chairs said. “So I feel like there should be some connection to that, and respecting it, acknowledging that Wichita State is respecting the people who came before it and whose land it was before it was created.”
Freshman Learned Kane pushes his shopping cart down, on the way to his next section of Sam’s Club. Kane is one of a handful of volunteers purchasing goods for the Shocker Support Locker. Photos by Kass Lewis and Piper Pinnetti / The Sunflower
Freshman Kayla Gann stacks a box of pancake mix onto the bus. Gann’s shopping list included basic necessities such as razors and baby diapers.
Student Governance Coordinator Lauren Madison unloads a cart at Sam’s Club. The group purchased food to donate to the Shocker Support Locker.
Former Student Body President Kylee Hower releases a snake back into a garden. Hower expressed her fear of the “creepy crawlies” in the garden at AbilityPoint.
The driver stands amused by the boxes piling around him as the volunteers help him pack up the groceries. He drove volunteers to and from Sam’s Club during weekend traffic.
Shocker basketball shifts into high gear
BY OWEN PROTHRO sports@thesunflower.com
As the Nov. 4 tipoff against UNC Asheville approaches, Wichita State is shifting into a higher gear. Starting Tuesday, 20-hour practice weeks begin, with two-a-days and weekend gym sessions, to fast-track a team of 12 newcomers.
Even through the chaos, the Shockers’ preparation for their season is deliberate.
“The more their brains are moving, the slower their feet usually do,” head coach Paul Mills said at an open practice Thursday. “We’ve probably been pretty basic and just trying to make sure guys can do fundamental things.”
That simplicity is strategic. Mills is using familiar terminology to keep the learning curve manageable, especially for a group of seven new upperclassmen — guys who’ve already weathered college seasons. Three played for 20-win teams last season, bringing a level of experience and expectations to the Shockers.
Among them is guard Dre Kindell, a JUCO National Champion at Barton Community College, who is making the leap to the Division I level. The difference in pace has been immediate.
“It’s a lot faster. Guys are a lot stronger,” Kindell said. “I’m just trying to adapt and getting used to the speed.”
But Kindell isn’t alone. The entire roster is adjusting — not just to the pace, but to each other. Players are sharing experiences with each other from their previous programs, building a locker room culture that’s as diverse as it is determined.
“I really appreciate the diversity they come from, and how that’s added to the locker room,”
We practice harder so that it can be easy during the game. I think that it’ll be light for us and just blend right in.”
BRIAN
AMUNEKE Sophomore,
Wichita State Men’s Basketball
Mills said.
Early film sessions revealed some physicality issues, but the team has made strides since then. That physical edge was evident when forward transfer Emmanuel Okorafor took a shot to the head scrapping for a rebound — a moment that ended the open practice, but underscored one of the team’s emerging identities, one that’s familiar to fans.
“We haven’t had anybody get knocked out due to a gash over their eye,” Mills said. “It was a physical practice, and I think our guys have embraced that.”
Guard Brian Amuneke, a Fresno State transfer, sees that as a blueprint for success, especially down the stretch of conference play.
“We practice harder so that it can be easy during the game,” Amuneke said. “I think that it’ll be light for us and just blend right in.”
While the defense continues to gel, the offense has shown flashes — especially from guard Kenyon Giles. Whether off the dribble or finding an open spot, the UNC Greensboro transfer has a knack for finding the net. During a team scrimmage, he drained a three from near the logo as the shot clock expired.
Kindell fits the same mold, as does Amuneke.
The numbers back it: this team can shoot.
Kindell, Amuneke and Giles each shot over 40% last season. That should help stretch the floor and allow others to be the point of attack.
“Even our fives can pop and shoot threes, too,” Kindell said. “That’s our strength right now.”
But it’s not just about talent — it’s about building trust. Kindell and Giles have gone headto-head enough to know each other’s tendencies. The camaraderie is becoming contagious.
“That’s my guy,” Kindell said of Giles. “When we’re going at it in practice, it’s just trying to make each other better. Me and him in the backcourt, going against all the other teams, it’s going to be scary.”
Depth goes beyond the backcourt as well. Okorafor, center Will Berg and forward Noah Hill bring a tenacity down low, while forwards Karon Boyd and Jaret Valencia are poised to disrupt offenses.
“We have real depth at multiple positions,” Mills said.
And then there’s guard TJ Williams — one of just three returners. After missing last season with a knee injury, the Wichita native has emerged as a vocal leader, guiding newcomers both on and off the court. Mills said he’s taken great ownership in that role.
“I know the program, know what we like, know what we like to do,” Williams said. “And just being a mentor on and off the court, too.”
With a new roster, a new identity being built, and a ticking clock, the Shockers are building something — and they’re doing it fast. The pieces are in place. Now it’s about making them fit together.
Kate Tilma’s family fuels her legacy in Wichita
BY OWEN PROTHRO sports@thesunflower.com
Fairways and greens have been a part of Kate Tilma’s story long before her senior season in college — even before she could hold a club. The game is in her bloodline.
Her grandfather, Johnny Stevens, was an All-American at Wichita State. Her mother, Cathy Tilma, dominated the Kansas high school circuit with three Class 6-5A individual titles — and that’s only two of her relatives who’ve played high-level golf.
While inspiring, maintaining that legacy can also come with pressure. WSU head coach Tom McCurdy sees her family’s fabric as a gift as much as it is a challenge.
“She’s surrounded by a lot of greats in golf,” McCurdy said. “It is really unique and difficult to have that kind of balance within a family or a structure within people that are that close to you.”
Rather than being bogged down by expectations, Tilma has found strength in her lineage. She’s embraced that balance, leaning on her grandfather’s guidance.
“He’s a big part of my golf career,” Tilma said. “He’s also always just been there for me when I need it. He calls me everyday wanting to go to the course. Even if I’m away, and I need something, I’ll give him a quick call. He knows my game better than anybody.”
It was that rooted connection — to her family and home — that helped guide Tilma to one of the biggest decisions of her collegiate career.
Tilma spent her freshman season at Kansas State after she graduated from Kapaun Mt. Carmel in 2022. But her year in Manhattan
made her realize just how much Wichita felt like home.
She entered the transfer portal, and after traveling home to familiar links coupled with a three-hour talk with McCurdy on a recruiting visit, knew where her heart was.
“I’m a homebody,” Tilma said. “I wanted to come back home, and I knew the program was going in the right direction. I knew the people around here would help me in the ways I needed, and that’s how I made my decision.”
Since returning to Wichita, Tilma has helped elevate the program at WSU. As collegiate golf evolves, from technology to equipment, Tilma’s play has helped the Shockers keep pace.
“Our program since Kate’s arrival has been on the upswing,” McCurdy said. “She is one of the players who are helping make that
happen.”
But her play on the course isn’t what make her great — her resiliency and demeanor are.
This year at the Payne Stewart Memorial, Tilma got off to a slower start with scores of 78 (+7) in rounds one and two. In the final round, she bounced back with an even-par 71 to help WSU post its best tournament finish since 2022.
“It meant a lot that I was able to come back,” Tilma said. “I think that’s something that I can take moving forward; seeing that I can do it and the different ways that made it possible.”
As Tilma continues her final season at WSU, she carries more than her golf bag with her. And whether she’s chasing birdies in the future or coaching the next generation, her story is far from its 18th hole — it’s about to tee off.
Center
Noah Hill practices shooting with contact during an open practice on Sept. 18. Hill attended Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita when he was in high school. Photo by Ellery Prothro / The Sunflower
Photo courtesy of Wichita State Athletics
Volleyball finishes non-conference slate
BY MACK SMITH & OWEN PROTHRO
mackred22@gmail.com & sports@thesunflower.com
The Shockers ended their nonconference schedule this season with a game against No. 17 Kansas on Tuesday, Sept. 16, and their last in-season tournament at the South Dakota Classic from Thursday, Sept. 18, to Saturday, Sept. 20.
Wichita State (8-4, 0-0 American) split the four games, losing to the Jayhawks and Villanova, but won against Drake and South Dakota.
The Shockers begin play in the American Conference Friday at 7 p.m. on the road at UAB. vs. No. 17 Kansas (9-5, 0-0 Big 12)
After a tightly contested first set against the nationally-ranked Jayhawks, WSU was swept in its only home game this month, 3-0. KU’s front row defenders made 13 total blocks, which resulted in half of the Shockers’ attacking errors for the game. The Jayhawks’ underclassmen trio of Jovana Zelenovic (6-foot7), Reese Ptacek (6-foot-3) and Aurora Papac (6-foot-4) denied just about everything WSU sent at them.
Sophomore Allie Paulsen tied the first set at 21 and was awarded with the loudest cheers of the night. WSU pushed it to set point, 24-23, threatening to take one from the Jayhawks, but a block by the away team sent it to extra points. The Shockers eventually lost by a score of 28-26.
From then on, it was all KU. They hit .324 in both the second and third sets with 29 combined kills. Multiple scoring runs of 7-0 or greater paved the way for 25-14 and 25-16 wins in both frames.
WSU hit -.032 in the second set with five kills. It kept the third set a little more competitive, hitting .079 with 12 kills. But it just wasn’t enough to win its first match against a ranked opponent since September 2017.
vs. Drake (4-7, 0-0 MVC)
A 3-1 win over old-Missouri Valley Conference opponent, Drake, on Friday afternoon marked the program’s 35th-straight win over the Bulldogs.
WSU used a 6-1 run in the first set to take a five-point lead, 7-2. A kill by senior outside hitter Emerson Wilford later gave the Shockers a double-digit lead, 22-12, as the team cruised the rest of the way, 25-14.
The teams traded points to start the second set, but the Shockers were able to take a 12-5 lead, making Drake call their first timeout. The Bulldogs later used an 8-1 run to come back within two points, 17-15, and used another 5-0 run to give them their first lead in the set since the
opening point, 23-21. Drake held strong and took the set, 25-22.
The next two sets remained competitive, but the Shockers won both (25-23, 25-21) to win the match.
vs. South Dakota (8-4, 0-0 Summit League)
The Shockers defeated tournament host South Dakota 3-1 on Friday evening.
WSU made runs of 4-1 and 6-1 to start the match, taking a 10-3 lead early in the first set. It didn’t look back from there and won the frame by 11 points, 25-14.
Neither team was able to gain control in the second set, with 10 ties after Paulsen knotted the score at 20. The Coyotes quickly gained the upper hand with a 3-0 run right after and stole the set, 25-22.
The Shockers bounced back in the third set. The team hit double digits first, making the score 10-4. A kill by Dunning gave the Shockers the set and capped off a 4-0 run to end the set, 25-15.
WSU pulled away at the start of the fourth set with a 5-0 run. Later, South Dakota battled back to take the lead, 14-13. The teams traded points until the end of the set, sending it to extra points. The Coyotes committed back-to-back errors to give WSU the set and the match, 26-24.
vs. Villanova (9-2, 0-0 Big East)
A thrilling five-set defeat concluded WSU’s non-conference schedule Saturday morning, as the Shockers fell 3-2 to Villanova.
Going into the media timeout, the first set was tight, with the largest lead only being two points by Villanova, 3-1. The Wildcats used a 4-1 run at the end of the set to win it, 25-20.
Villanova started the second set with a 3-0 lead, but the Shockers clawed back to take a 7-5 lead after a 5-0 run. After they took it, they never gave it back, winning the set 25-21.
WSU used a 7-2 run in the third set to grow their lead to five and make Villanova call a timeout, 14-9. The Shockers held the lead for the rest of the set, and a block by Leggett and Wilson ended it, 25-24.
The teams traded points all the way up to set point in the fourth set. By the end of the frame, the teams had tied 18 times and changed the lead five times. A kill by Wilford gave WSU the match point, but the Wildcats kept answering, as the teams tied the game at 28. Villanova ultimately scored the last two points to win it, 30-28.
WSU was in control of the fifth set, taking an 8-3 lead early on. The Wildcats answered with a massive 8-0 run later in the frame to take the lead, 13-9. The Shockers tried to hang on with a 4-1 run of their own, but Villanova took the set and match with a kill, 15-13.
Cross country finds silver, gold in Nebraska
BY ANTHONY GONZALEZ-MEDINA
65nthony@gmail.com
Still early into its 2025 season, both Wichita State cross country teams placed top-five at the 35th annual Greeno/Dirksen Invitational on Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska. The women’s team finished second out of six teams in the Division I 5-kilometer race, beaten only by Missouri. Senior Lucy Ndungu made her season debut after redshirting last year due to injury and finished the women’s race in second place. For the second-straight meet, the men’s team finished first overall in the Division I 8-kilometer race. Missouri and the Air Force rounded out the podium of the six team race. Sophomore Elkana Kipruto continued his strong start to the season, with another first place finish in the men’s race.
Wichita State cross country will next race at the Chile Pepper Festival, hosted by Arkansas on Saturday, Oct. 4. For more information about start times, visit goshockers.com.
ROARS AND STANDING OVATIONS
BY OWEN PROTHRO sports@thesunflower.com
When Wichita State hits the road during volleyball season, senior Katie Galligan admitted she sometimes wonders if the team is actually there for a match. More often than not, the gym is empty enough that you can hear shoes squeak.
“We go to so many different gyms, and there will be times where I’m like, ‘Are we practicing right now?’” Galligan said. “There’s just no one there.’”
That’s why nights like on Sept. 16 stand out.
Even in a 3-0 loss to No. 17 Kansas in their only home game this month, the Shockers found something worth celebrating: 2,681 fans, the most at a single match since 2023. Through three home matches, WSU is averaging an attendance of 1,756 — on pace for the program’s highest average in the past eight seasons.
When asked about what it means to have this kind of crowd back them for every set at home, WSU head coach Chris Lamb — an often outspoken voice — was left with few words.
“Isn’t that great?” he said.
Lamb said he doesn’t mind the loss either, especially to a team like
GREENO/DIRKSEN TEAM RESULTS
Men’s 8-kilometer:
1. Wichita State — 33 points
2. Missouri — 41 points 3. Air Force — 48 points 4. Creighton — 113 points 5. Nebraska — 140 points 6. Northern Colorado — 168 points
*Results were taken from the DI race
Women’s 5-kilometer (results are from the Division I race):
1. Missouri — 45 points
2. Wichita State — 54 points
3. Creighton — 74 points 4. Northern Colorado — 96 points
5. Nebraska — 108 points 6. Omaha — 116 points
*Results were taken from the DI race
It’s an environment like no other. I’m happy I get the opportunity to play here.”
KATIE GALLIGAN Senior, Wichita State Volleyball
the Jayhawks. They’re near the top of the NCAA in kills and use their size to their advantage. Seven of their players are listed 6-foot-2 or taller. The tallest player on WSU’s roster is 6-foot-2.
“My favorite way to watch my team play is when the other side of the net’s got real good players,” Lamb said. “We’re not always winning, and those are the ones I want to watch that helps me think of the next thing that we have to do.”
The 2,681 fans showed how loud a quarter-full Roundhouse can get, as the Shockers pushed the first set to the brink, forcing a KU timeout to the delight of a standing ovation and roars. A kill from junior Jordan Heatherly and a Jayhawks attacking error threatened a 3-0 run that would’ve given WSU the frame.
But the Jayhawks regained composure out of the timeout and
fought back to steal the set, 28-26. From there, KU took control of the game, but the Shockers showed fight.
A kill from senior Brooklyn Leggett and a block by her and junior Maddie Wilson helped keep WSU in the game during the second set, but KU went on a massive 7-0 run that stole any momentum from the Shockers. WSU took a brief lead in the third set, 6-5, that sparked the crowd again following a 6-1 run. Kills from freshmen McKenzie Jones and Jenna Cubbage later helped tie the game at 12. The Jayhawks kept chipping away and WSU eventually ran out of steam, 25-16.
The fight from the Shockers, and energy from the stands, wasn’t lost on Lamb.
“A big part of us taking this match is because I want it for my players and for the crowd,” Lamb said.
Regardless of the results, Galligan knows that the fans will rally behind them. It’s a reason why she, and a lot of others on the team, decided to attend WSU in the first place.
“It’s an environment like no other,” Galligan said. “I’m happy I get the opportunity to play here.”
Lupe Fiasco to headline Shocker Madness
BY OWEN PROTHRO sports@thesunflower.com
Lupe Fiasco, a Grammy award-winning artist and 12-time nominee, will headline Shocker Madness this year.
Shocker Madness is a free, annual event held at the end of Shocktoberfest to showcase Wichita State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams before the season through intrasquad scrimmages and other events, like 3-point contests.
Fiasco won his only Grammy at the 50th award show in 2008 for best urban/alternative performance for his song “Daydreamin’.” The Chicago-born artist has also received nominations for best rap song, rap album and rap performance for other songs like “Kick, Push” and “Superstar,” and for albums like “The Cool.”
Fiasco’s top-streamed songs on Spotify, “Battle Scars,” “Superstar” and “The Show Goes On,” have generated more than 1 billion combined streams on that platform alone.
His performance is set to begin around 7:30 p.m., following the Shocker Madness events, which start at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4.
Photo courtesy of Karl Ray/Lupe Fiasco’s media team
Middle blocker Maddie Wilson tosses the ball to serve against No. 17 Kansas on Sept. 16. The Shockers made three
service aces in the 3-0 loss. Photo by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower
OPINION
Insider Scoop
RSC events are held at convenient times for both students and organizations.
Students often complain that on-campus events are scheduled at inconvenient times. As a member of a student organization, I wanted to give a behind the scenes look at how and why organizations plan events at certain times, and why events on campus are beneficial for everyone.
I am a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority and have experience in planning events for my sorority, the National PanHellenic council, which includes eight Greek organizations. When we plan events, the first thing that we have to take into account is our own schedules — there would be no event if no one was there to host it.
All members of Greek life are required to be full-time students, so events are often planned around our class and work schedules. When we plan events during the day, we assume the time most of us do not have class is also the time that the majority of students do not have class. This is often around lunch or right before dinner.
Cas Curtis, the president of the Student Activities Council, said SAC also bases its events on the availability of the members of their organization.
“We aim to accommodate as many students as possible, looking for common times of availability, and fitting it with the type of event we are hosting,” Curtis said. “We also look to other events scheduled by other groups to avoid overlapping schedules.”
Organizations are taking students into account when they are scheduling events and truly do their best to make. Without engaging with students, we lose out on funding to have future events. Even if you can’t make it to every event in the RSC, I encourage the students at Wichita State to take advantage of the ones that you can make it to.
Peyton Eck
eckpeyton3@gmail.com
OPINION
Of the cardinal virtues of becoming a genuine, bona fide adult, moving into your first apartment is certainly up there.
“How exciting!” At least, that’s only the first half of what everyone is going to say when you tell them; the second half is, “Are you scared yet?” Really reassuring. Thanks. Moving out doesn’t have to be frightening though, and the key to that is knowing what you’re doing. Figuring out what works for you and sticking to it applies the same for apartment living as it does for school. You may not actually, genuinely know what you’re doing, but it’s college — the certified graveyard of swapped majors and dropped classes.
DIVIDED WE FALL
The threat of civil war should scare us all
If you’ve read the headlines lately, or opened any social media app, you’ve most likely seen the news that right-wing political activist, Charlie Kirk, was shot and killed Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University.
I’m not here to discuss whether he was a good person — if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 19 years, it’s that people will believe what they want to believe — but I am here to discuss the wedge that has been driven through the American people, furthering the gap between sides of the political spectrum.
In the last few years, there has been a divide — left vs. right, liberal vs. conservative — and it has been widening as social media spreads people’s ideologies across all platforms.
People can post whatever
they wish whenever they want, whether it’s true or not, with almost zero supervision. Sides are picking platforms to populate to keep their ideologies within their groups while shaming anyone who disagrees with them.
But since the assassination of Kirk, shaming others for their opinions has become the least of America’s concerns.
The mentions of “civil war” have been on the rise since the shooting. This mainly comes from right-leaning influencers, like Andrew Tate, a media personality known for his misogynistic views, who posted just “Civil War” on X, formerly known as Twitter, after Kirk was shot. Posts containing civil war rhetoric on X have jumped from the normal 18,000 to 210,000 times as of Sept. 9.
Left-leaning X users have been reportedly “celebrating” Kirk’s death and making fun of his assassination. A TikTok user by the name of angelasrightofficial, posted a video of herself saying, “Live by the sword, die by the sword. He did say that gun deaths were an acceptable side
effect of gun rights,” which was later posted to X by Wall Street Apes with the caption, “Liberals are celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death.”
I personally did not agree with Kirk — our views never came close to aligning, I’ll be honest. I’ve watched many of his debates and quickly turned them off. I am neither celebrating his death nor doxxing people for speaking ill of him. I refuse to take part in this war against each other, all over a man who died in the way he lived: controversially.
This debate, this war that’s formed, is harming everyone in America. As the sides split further, so do our chances of ever peacefully living again.
We already have enough outside threats as it stands; more internal wars seem unnecessary and frightful. I highly urge everyone to recognize we are all human — if we don’t bridge the gap between left and right soon, there will be no sides left to argue.
Why
On Thursday, the Student Activities Council hosted its third annual “Build-a-Friend” event at the Rhatigan Student Center. The event was scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. but when I came running from class to attend at noon, I couldn’t find the event.
In my search, I found another girl and asked her where the event was being held. She told me we had missed it and it had shut down at noon because they ran out of stuffed bears.
A lot of the events hosted by the RSC are held later in the morning to early afternoon, but is this the best time for most students? The answer appears to be no. A lot of people, like me, take earlier classes between 9:30 a.m. and noon. So these students either are unable to attend or choose to skip classes to go.
This can leave students feeling excluded because of their schedule. I believe events in the RSC are missing out on a large group of students. These events are meant to build community, but when they are hosted at the same time as many morning classes, they are dividing the chances of creating that space for students.
Cloud Walker, a freshman, agrees many of these events have poor scheduling.
“I’m normally in class when they do their events,” Walker said. “They should put them more towards the evening to give people more time to decide whether or not they want to go.”
If the groups hosting events want to serve the students, they need to start listening to them. Not everyone is going to be able to attend every event but more effort should be put into giving students the opportunity. College is already a stressful time, so why make it harder with timing conflicts?
Quick tips for surviving your first apartment
Be mindful of what you consume
You can only have ramen cup dinners so many times before you die an Oregon Trail death of scurvy.
I’m kidding, but the amusement of filling all the archetypes of college kid woe is only funny for the first few weeks.
I’m not saying ramen cup dinners have no place in our current life-stage. It’s way too convenient and financially feasible to abandon, but there is benefit in putting in a little extra effort to make things nicer than that.
This doesn’t just apply to microwave meals with questionable levels of microplastics. This also means putting stuff up on the walls to hide some of that awful landlord white.
The “having nothing on your walls” approach is cheaper, but you can find some steals by indulging in garage sales and stores like Goodwill. Your state of mind reflects your environment, so have fun with it where you can. It gets real sad, real quick in the winter months to look at four identically
drab walls and eat the same meal four different times.
Budgeting can be fun; here’s how:
It’s time to enter your boring adult era and get excited about coat hangers and kitchen appliances. By that, I mean, budgeting isn’t particularly attractive and can be stressful as all get-out but is absolutely necessary if you want to sleep easy at night.
Deadlines on rent, even with grace periods, are crucial to remember, so make sure you always know and track when and how much your payments are. If you have roommates, make sure you communicate clearly and often about rent-split.
Don’t stop there, either. Keeping the fridge stocked is a lot easier if you can be chill about sharing food expenses. Knowing roughly how much you need to set aside each week for household expenses helps you plan how much is left for everything else, including the evertempting sweet treat.
This may mean cutting back
on some things, like dropping a streaming subscription or not eating out as much. Eating at home can become just as expensive though, so be smart about where you shop and part with brand names where you can.
Don’t let your current expenses distract you from longer-term payments though. Bills, like your semester fees, are just as important as they were prior to apartment living.
Burnout is real (and it has your tax information)
A college student is no stranger to burnout, but it adds up once you’re doing all the “adult stuff” for the first time on your own. Don’t run yourself into the ground. There’s a lot going on, and it can be overwhelming, so break it up.
Set smaller habits — like having your laundry basket where it’ll be seen and used — to make it easier to keep up with larger habits — like doing the laundry more than once a month. Don’t sign up for more
than you can handle and learn to live with not being able to do it all, all the time.
Don’t be a stranger
Homesickness can be really difficult while you’re still getting settled. You might start missing things you never thought you’d miss, and that makes it hard to stay away from home. So don’t. You went to college, not the grave. Your friends and family are right where you left them. If you’re able to, visit on the weekend sometimes, eat a home-cooked meal and stay involved in your loved ones’ lives.
If you can’t visit, call home. It helps them, just as much as you if not more, to worry less when you’re where they aren’t.
Remember, this is a brand-new adventure for you, and you’re going to have all kinds of firsts. Take it in stride. Don’t be too hard on yourself. And, everyone’s not wrong, it is exciting. So be excited. The difference between “surviving” and living is having fun with it.
THE SUNFLOWER’S HOT TAKES
The Sunflower’s editorial staff gives their one sentence takes.
Maleah Evans: Mac and cheese is overrated.
Kass Lewis: Vine over TikTok any day of the week.
Kiona Brown: Walmart is better than Target but Dillions is better than both.
Taliyah Winn: Raw apples suck.
Illustration by Savanna Nichols / The Sunflower
BUILD-A-FRIEND
Family, Fuzzy’s and matching jerseys
BY JONAS LORD legobricklords@gmail.com
You can expect to see a team of five players known as Beevis, who are equally notable for their fashion sense as they are for their trivia prowess, every Monday at 7 p.m. at Fuzzy’s Tacos in Braeburn Square.
Consisting of WSU English professors, and husband and wife Darren and Melinda DeFrain, their daughter, a school psychologist, Ava DeFrain, WSU student Braeden McKeown and East High math teacher Cody O’Brien, this group –which is named after the DeFrain’s family dog, has been meeting consistently for trivia since 2022.
According to Darren, the matching jerseys started out as an inside joke.
BY MYA SCOTT opinion@thesunflower.com
“Now we are one hundred,” the play that won Alaina Tennant the 2025 Bela Kiralyfalvi National Student Playwriting Competition, will be performed at Wichita State as part of her reward for the competition. Tennant drew inspiration
“That was a joke for a Christmas present that I put together a few years back,” he said. “We’ve been saying we should have jerseys.”
The group’s strategy is primarily based on individual expertise, and every member puts time into staying knowledgeable about current events.
“I think we’re all pretty good at catching pieces of whatever news is going on so one of us usually has something covered,” O’Brien said.
The questions written by trivia master Ryan Meyer also play a big part in the group’s strategy.
“Ryan is a really good trivia master too,” Darren said. “I would say that not in a way of sucking up, but he writes really good, interesting questions
from the rocky relationship between A.A. Milne, the creator of “Winnie-the-Pooh,” and his son, Christopher Robin Milne to write
“Now we are one hundred.” The play explores literary fame and the search for personal identity through expressive dialogue between the father and son duo. In her senior year of high
and sometimes if they’re really complex — he’ll contextualize them enough that if you have a group of people, you can usually find your way to an answer.”
Beevis recently beat their rivals, the Moldy Bananas, breaking a streak of third place finishes in the process, which Melinda described as “pretty triumphant.”
“We have beef with them, but they don’t have beef with us,” she said. “They’re usually the first place winners.”
Overall, this group has a lot to look forward to on its trivia journey.
“Hopefully, getting more first places, I mean, that always feels good,” O’Brien said. “We’re just going to keep doing our thing.”
school another source of inspiration struck Tennant when online discourse about “mommy vloggers,” social media personalities who base their content around raising children, was prevalent.
“People were talking about recording your children; making money off your children,” Tennant
said. “Is that morally correct? Is it wrong? Should we be watching any of that? And around the same time, I think I just saw an Instagram post that was like, ‘Did you know the real life Christopher Robin hated the books?’ I was like, ‘No, I did not know that,” and then I went into a big loop.” Guest director Jane Gabbert
will direct “Now we are one hundred.” Last year, Gabbert directed “Angel of Death,” written by the 2024 winner of the Bela Kiralyfalvi National Student Playwriting Competition, Amanda Schmalzried. The show will be held at Welsbacher Theater, Sept. 25 to 27 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.
Nursing
Freshmen Christina Nguyen and Laylah Warren pose for a picture with their identical bears in the RSC.
Sophomores Kourtney Walton, Terious Tellis and junior Amir Muhammad sit around a table in the RSC showing off their stuffed bears. The Student Activities Council gave out miniture shirts for the bears to wear at the event.
Beevis team members contemplate their answers during Fuzzy’s trivia night on Sept. 22. Fuzzy’s Tacos in Braeburn Square hosts trivia every Monday night at 7 p.m. Photo by Ellery Prothro / The Sunflower
PUBLIC PRACTICE
Shocker basketball hosts open practice in Charles Koch Arena
UPCOMING EVENTS
BASEBALL INTRASQUAD SCRIMMAGE (FOUR INNINGS)
Tuesday, Sept. 23
2 p.m.
Eck Stadium
Watch the Shocker Baseball team
scrimmage each other at Eck Stadium, home of Tyler Field, at Gene Stephenson Park.
WRITING NOW READING NOW, FICTION READING WITH KAREN LEE BOREN
Tuesday, Sept. 23
5:30 p.m.
Ulrich Museum of Art
Listen to the next lecture by “Words by Women,” focusing on Midwestern women writers. Reception at 5:30 p.m., program at around 6 p.m.
URECA: LUNCH AND LEARN: DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON RESEARCH WITHIN AN HSI
Wednesday, Sept. 24
Noon - 1 p.m.
Ablah Library
Join the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Hub’s first Lunch & Learn session of the school year. With panelists and catered dessert.
THE CASE OF THE MISSING GRADES
Wednesday, Sept. 24
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Ablah Library
Join the Office of Student Success and the WSU Libraries for an interactive skills workshop, featuring puzzles and mystery-solving.
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY FALL LECTURE: SCOTT ELLSWORTH
Thursday, Sept. 25
5:30 p.m.
Hubbard Hall
Listen to a lecture from Dr. Scott Ellsworth, Teaching Professor of Afroamerican and African Studies at the University of Michigan.
STAGED READING OF “NOW WE ARE A HUNDRED”
Thursday, Sept. 25
7:30 p.m.
Hughes Metropolitan Complex
Watch a staged reading of Alaina Tennant’s “Now We Are A Hundred,” which won the Bela Kiralyfalvi National Student Playwriting Contest.
JAZZ PERFORMANCES
Thursday, Sept. 25
7:30 p.m.
Walker’s Jazz Lounge
Watch performances from Jazz Arts One and Two performing at Walker’s Jazz Lounge, with a discount with your Shocker ID.
SHOCKER STATE FAIR Friday, Sept. 26 4 - 8 p.m.
Rhatigan Student Center
Come to the Shocker State Fair for live music, face painting, a petting zoo, food trucks, inflatables and meetings with transition mentors.
HOPE
Come
HAVE AN EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED?
CONTACT THE ARTS EDITOR: arts@thesunflower.com
CONTACT THE NEWS EDITOR: news@thesunflower.com
Center Will Berg looks for a pass at an open practice Sept. 18. Berg, who is 7-foot-2, is one of the tallest players in Wichita State history. Photo by Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower
Men’s basketball head coach Paul Mills watches the team practice on Sept. 18. The practice was open for the community to watch. Photo by Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower
Guard Pierre Couisnard dribbles the ball past forward Henry Thengvall. Photo by Ellery Prothro / The Sunflower
Guard Dre Kindell shoots a floater over guard TJ Williams. The men’s basketball team held an open practice on Sept 18. Photo by Angellica Klingsick / The Sunflower
Guard Brian Amuneke answers media questions after practice on Sept. 18. Amuneke is a sophomore transfer from Fresno State. Photo by Ellery Prothro / The Sunflower
Forward Noah Hill jumps to block a shot by a teammate. Hill was the second-highest ranked recruit in Kansas out of high school. Photo by Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower