The Sunflower v. 128 i. 15 (December 7, 2023)

WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1896 www.thesunflower.com

Dec. 7, 2023

Volume 128 Issue 15

Ashley Collette and Cole McDaniel work on one of the cars during the Baja Racing meeting on Nov. 29. | Photos by Shelby DuVall / The Sunflower

Shocker Racing clubs describe lack of funding from SGA, College of Engineering

BY JACOB UNRUH

I

jacobunruh333@gmail.com

nside the Shocker Racing workshop, they still run equipment coded to floppy disks.

Built in 1996, the outdated mill cutting machine is just one example that Shocker Racing Baja SAE and Formula SAE club members cite as evidence of persistent underfunding from the Student Government Association (SGA) and the College of Engineering.

The two clubs build cars from scratch that they take to competitions against universities from around the globe. Alex Spear, the Baja SAE shop director, said students have used their experience with the club to acquire internships.

“It’s a great talking point for people coming into engineering firms,” Spear said. “From this club, they gain a lot more knowledge than just in school. And that’s what companies want to see, that hands-on knowledge.”

The clubs take some of their most active members to competitions across the country. There, their car is judged on tests such as brakes and acceleration before an endurance test, either on a fourhour off-road track for Baja or a 15-minute sprint for Formula. Finally, they are graded on a business presentation where they examine their budget and attempt to sell the car.

The travel and equipment costs of the clubs add up. For fiscal year 2024, Baja SAE and Formula SAE requested

$42,343.60 and $75,000, respectively, from SGA, but only received $18,270 and $19,260. Both clubs described their budgets as being significantly less than most other competitive universities.

Formula SAE President Beau Rodriguez said the money the club received from SGA is the “bare minimum” to cover the costs of building their car, which leaves out funding for traveling to competitions.

“Competition costs are a big part of what we’re going to try to work on this next semester,” Rodriguez said. “In the past, we have been able to kind of squeak by with money, but it’s been really on the knife’s edge.”

In 2022-23, Formula SAE spent $62,451 on parts and $21,290 on travel. The clubs seek out and receive outside sponsorships, usually in the form of discounts on parts. However, Baja SAE club treasurer Hannah Leslie called the lack of SGA and Engineering funding a “perpetual disadvantage.”

“Because we’re underfunded, we can’t do as well at competition compared to other teams,” Leslie said. “Then, outside funders don’t want to fund us because we’re not doing well. It’s this terrible cycle of, we’re always going to be below where we could be.”

The lack of funding has lowered the number of competitions Baja SAE is attending this year as well as the number of people they take to competitions. Cole

McDaniel, Baja SAE’s Chief Engineer, said their limited budget also prevents them from updating and purchasing equipment that could lower their longterm costs.

“Having a full budget, it would be to buy new machines and equipment that can help us do more stuff in-house,” McDaniel said. “A lot of that in-house is cheaper because when you outsource, the material isn’t normally the most expensive; it’s the time you have to pay for labor.”

Leslie said SGA and the general public on campus don’t have a full understanding of what goes into their budget. A question the Baja and Formula SAE clubs both say they received from SGA is why they don’t share and reuse parts for the cars. Leslie said that isn’t viable because of equipment damage, rule changes and the lack of crossover in the parts necessary for Formula and Baja cars.

“It’s like swapping parts from a go-kart onto a Ford Ranger,” Leslie said.

The clubs generally expect not to be fully funded by SGA because of budget constraints. However, Baja and Formula SAE receive no funding from the College of Engineering. The College usually helps the clubs find outside funding rather than providing it directly, which club leaders say is abnormal compared to other universities.

Rodriguez said the Engineering College told Formula SAE they would

Rylan Fay, mechanical engineering major and composites lead, works on carbon fiber molds during the Baja Racing meeting on Nov. 29

consider providing direct funding three to five years from now. For now, he claimed the lack of funding is a bad look for the university.

“When we do well at a competition, it directly affects the school on a national level as well as a worldwide level,” Rodriguez said. “I think it’d be wise for the school to support us more because this is a direct reflection on them.”

Rodriguez called the future of Formula SAE “a little dark” without Engineering funding. However, he said the club is focused on performing the best they can, even with their limitations.

“I expect us to perform well at competition and hopefully break through that top 50 to show that we are growing as a team,” Rodriguez said. “So that will help attract some more sponsorships and things like that. But it’s really hard to see the funding go away, especially when we’re on the come up from getting better and better.”

Students with disabilities receive citations despite registered ADA parking

BY COURTNEY BROWN

newsprojects@thesunflower.com

Two students with disabilities said they had received tickets for parking in their registered ADA parking spaces at Wichita State.

Both Zaylee Bell and Mia Dennett said they registered for the Americans with Disabilities Act parking spaces but have still received parking citations multiple times.

Bell, a sophomore, said this problem has occurred twice, first in fall of 2022 and then again in spring of 2023. Dennett, a theater major, said she has received citations about five times since starting WSU in fall of 2022.

According to WSU Parking Services, students with a state disabled parking placard or plate must register their vehicle and purchase an ePermit, like other students. They also must upload their Disabled Identification Card when purchasing “to eliminate your risk of receiving a citation.”

Bell and Dennett both said they have uploaded their disability identification cards to the WSU

parking portal, as required, and their permits are visible on their vehicles.

“I have one of the cars with – on the tag, it has a little handicap symbol. And in the picture for the tickets, you can see the symbol,” Bell, a wheelchair user, said.

Bell said one citation was given in the ADA parking space in The Suites parking lot, which she found ironic due to how often she has found other students without the ADA tag parking there.

“I cannot tell you how many times I would come to the dorm and park, and there might be one or none handicap spots because people thought it was okay to go ahead and park in one of those spots, even if they didn’t have the handicap tag,” Bell said.

Bell said she contacted Autumn Fitten from the Office of Disability Services about the parking citation, and she and Fitten both contacted Parking Services.

“Nobody knew why I got it, and they were so confused,” Bell said.

“But they didn’t take it off, and I’m like, ‘I’m not paying this. I have proof

I’ve paid for my parking pass.’”

Bell said it took multiple calls and eventually her mother stepping in before Parking Services removed the ticket.

“As Autumn said, (the citations) shouldn’t have happened in the first place,” Bell said. “And it’s really confusing why it happened twice.”

Dennett called the “reoccurring” ADA parking citations “frustrating.”

“I had to go out of my way to resolve the issue when I had done everything right to have access to that (ADA) spot,” Dennett said.

Dennett, a mobility aid user, said there are not many accessible parking spots on campus, and often, they’re far away from buildings, including Wilner Auditorium, where most her theater classes are held.

“There’s only one space in front of the building, and there’s more than one of us that needs the spot,” Dennett said. “So someone always has to go out of their way and potentially harm their bodies to walk a distance.”

In November, when the accessible spot was taken, Dennett parked behind Wilner to attend her

class there and received a ticket, which she appealed.

The WSU Parking Services website states that “in the unlikely event” that students cannot find an available ADA parking space, they can park in any parking space in any lot except for restricted or reserved stalls.

Emily Martins, the parking and transportation manager at WSU Parking Services, said that Parking Services has only heard of students getting citations when they have not registered their ADA parking spots.

She said they usually issue a couple of warnings beforehand to let students know they should complete registration.

“If anyone does have an issue, I would definitely encourage them to contact us so we can look into it further,” Martins said. “At the end of the day, even though these are cameras and computers that are scanning them (the vehicles), with anything else, they’re still open for error, so it could just be that maybe the scanner read their license plate number wrong, or something of that nature.”

Martins said students work at the front desk of Parking Services, which is currently located in the University Police Department, and those students, as well as the administrator, can assist those with parking issues and citations.

“We’d rather people learn why they’re getting a citation, so that way we can help correct it, and they don’t have to get citations on the future,” Martins said.

Students can also appeal citations on the parking section on their myWSU account. According to Martins, students have 20 days to appeal the ticket from when it is issued.

Dennett said that Wichita State should ensure that officers pay attention to accessible permits on vehicles.

Bell emphasized the importance of ADA spots for people with mobility aids. “(Other students) might see it as a luxury, but really … why we need those spots is because we need that extra room to get our mobility aids out and be able to get around vehicles,” Bell said.

NEWS

2 | Dec. 7, 2023

www.thesunflower.com

WSU student housing rates still slightly higher than off-campus alternatives

BY ALLISON CAMPBELL news@thesunflower.com

As renting rates across the country continue to rise, many Wichita State students are struggling to navigate the ever-changing housing market. With dozens of housing options, students often must determine on their own if on-campus or off-campus housing gives them the best bang for their buck.

While WSU student housing has historically cost more than off-campus options, the price margin between the two has narrowed over the last few years.

According to a recent analysis of on and off-campus housing data, WSU on-campus housing options continue to cost more monthly than off-campus alternatives.

Wichita State University offers three separate housing complexes: Shocker Hall, The Suites and The Flats.

Earlier this semester, Director of Housing and Residence Life Katie Austin presented the pending student housing rates for the fiscal year of 2025. Austin said that dining rates are projected to increase by 3%, double-style rooms by 2%, and single-style rooms by 3%. Triple-style rooms will not experience a rate increase.

“The goal (is) always being to keep our low-cost options as low as possible while still accounting for the rises that we’ve seen in our utility bills and in some of our major projects,” Austin said.

The standard plan for Shocker Hall — a double, two-bedroom suite with one bathroom and an unlimited access meal plan — will cost $5,885 a semester, or roughly $1,177 per month, which is $42 more than the most expensive off-campus unit. The standard plan for The Flats and The Suites is about $1,184 and $1,358 per month, respectively.

All students living in student housing are required to pay for a meal plan, which ranges in price from $2,345 to $2,670 per semester.

Flats residents are required to pay for at least a dining dollar plan, which starts at $500 and also has $750 and $1,000 options.

To compensate for some of these higher costs, WSU Housing and Residence Life will be offering “Reside and Thrive” scholarships next year to help 50 students pay for housing expenses.

OFF-CAMPUS STUDENT HOUSING For other students, living off-campus can be a more affordable alternative, but with new apartment complexes popping up around campus, such as Seventeenth Apartments, competitive rates have made it difficult for students to obtain sustainable housing.

Star Winsler, a junior studying theater with a minor in creative writing, has lived at Seventeenth Apartments and 2909 Oliver and says that even with three jobs, they still struggle to find affordable housing near campus.

“Places close to campus that are below $600 basically are rare,” Winsler said. “I have three jobs and pay for college out of pocket and still can’t afford a good $600 apartment. Especially when parents don’t help you, you’re thrown to the wolves to figure this out the hard way.”

Graphic by Cameryn Davis / The Sunflower

WSU STUDENT HOUSING

with each resident paying $610 per person for a two-bedroom unit and $510 per person for a three-bedroom unit.

Each tenant is allotted $40 per month to pay their electricity bill, with tenants responsible for paying any overages. Residents are also responsible for paying for their water services.

2909 Oliver charges $10 per month for a green fee and, beginning in 2025, will charge $10 per month for valet trash.

According to Winsler, 2909 Oliver will likely be increasing their rates soon to “try and fix the place.”

“There have been more than three requests to fix things in the first few months that just keep breaking,” Winsler said. “The costs are about to skyrocket up by $45-$75 for extra stuff they’re adding.”

Amenities include: • Free Wi-Fi • Free cable • In-unit laundry • Access to a community pool, library, game room, bistro, basketball and volleyball courts • 24/7 gym 2909 Oliver units also come fully furnished.

ALTITUDE

SEVENTEENTH APARTMENTS

Seventeenth Apartments refused to provide a comprehensive list of unit rates, stating that they “do not publish this type of information with the media, but rather through our website as it changes from time to time.”

May von Leonrod, a property manager at 17th, provided these rates via phone: • One-bedroom: typically $849 per month • Two-bedroom units: $610-$749 per month • Three-bedroom units: around $645 per month • Four-bedroom apartments: around $549 per month According to Winsler, who lived in a shared four-bedroom apartment, their rent was often $700 or more because of overcharges.

“Everything less than (a) four bedroom was more than $675,” Winsler said. “Nothing there is $610, or I would have stayed.”

Amenities include: • Free roommate matching services • In-unit laundry in most units • Gym • Pool • Studying areas • Gated parking ($30 per month) Tenants must pay for their own electricity and a $20 monthly rate on top of rent for water and trash services. For residents with pets, like Winsler, Seventeenth requires a non-refundable $300 pet fee with $20 per month due in pet rent.

VASSAR FLATS Owned and managed by Point Guard Management and Bonavia Properties, Vassar Flats houses 50 units, according to Project Manager Rachel McFadden.

One-bedroom, one-bathroom: average rent of $850 per month Amenities include: • In-unit laundry • On-site parking • Access to pickleball court • Access to lounge area with free

coffee Tenants are expected to pay for their own electricity and pay $25 per month for water and trash services. These units are 500 square feet with individually dedicated Wi-Fi in each unit.

LIV APARTMENTS Also owned by Point Guard Management and Bonavia Properties, Liv Apartments comprises 67 units: 27 studios, 21 one-bedroom, one-bathroom units and 19 two-bedroom, two-bathroom units. The square footage of units ranges from 450-900 square feet with an average rent of $530.

Amenities include: • Free Wi-Fi • In-unit laundry • On-site parking with monthly rent These units require tenants to pay for their own electricity, along with a $25 per month fee for water and trash.

DWELL APARTMENTS The newly remodeled Dwell Apartments offer three different styles of units: studios, one-bedroom one-bathroom units, and two-bedroom two-bathroom units.

Room types range from 370-740 square feet with the average rent costing $560 per month.

Amenities include: • Free Wi-Fi • In-unit laundry • On-site parking Like other Bonavia properties, tenants must pay for electricity and $25 per month for water and trash services.

GRANDVIEW APARTMENTS Located near the southwest corner of campus, Grandview Apartments features 31 units, including studios and one- and two-bedroom units. The square footage of the units ranges from 400-800 square feet.

According to McFadden, the

average rent is $675 per month with tenants responsible for electricity and an additional $25 per month for water and trash charges.

Amenities include: • Free Wi-Fi • In-unit laundry • Onsite parking • Access to a workout room, upper deck television and a social area

GRANADA APARTMENTS This 12-unit, one-bedroom complex advertises 618 square feet units with an average rent of $675 per month.

Amenities include: • Free Wi-Fi • In-unit laundry • On-site parking This complex also has residents pay for their own electricity, in addition to the $25 per month water and trash services.

FAIRMOUNT FLATS APARTMENTS Located near Granada and Dwell Apartments, Fairmount Flats charges the average resident $875 for their one or two-bedroom units. Units vary from 500 to 800 square feet.

Amenities include: • Free Wi-Fi • In-unit laundry • On-site parking • Access to a workout room, vending machines and a social courtyard area Tenants must pay for their electricity usage and $25 per month for water and trash.

All Point Guard Management and Bonavia properties are pet friendly, with deposits and rent varying by property.

2909 OLIVER

This complex, located roughly one-and-a-half miles from campus, offers 800 square feet two-bedroom, two-bathroom units and 1200 square feet three-bedroom, three-bathroom units.

2909 Oliver charges per person,

MISSION The Sunflower — both in print and online — will be a timely resource of information about the Wichita State University community. It will report on news, issues, activities, academics and athletics, in addition to offering a forum for discussion, reviews and commentary. It will also be an effective learning experience for students, who will have the final authority over what is published.

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

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ADVERTISING/DESIGN MANAGER Thy Vo admanager@thesunflower.com

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

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Copyright © 2023 The Sunflower. This newspaper, its design and its contents are copyrighted.

NEWS EDITOR Allison Campbell newsprojects@thesunflower.com

PODCAST EDITOR Jacinda Hall podcast@thesunflower.com

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

FINDING HOUSING When it comes to finding affordable housing, Winsler recommends teaming up with friends to find the best deals and rates.

Winsler is also opting to rent a home instead of an apartment to get a better deal.

“Apartment hunting is a struggle all together if you’re alone,” Winsler said. “It would be better to have friends who want to live with you, so getting a space brings the costs down. I’m with a small group right now looking at renting a house, so I only have to pay $300 a month.”

A complete list of off-campus student housing complexes can be found on the WSU Off-Campus Housing Marketplace website.

Additionally, the Wichita Journalism Collaborative will continue to publish stories on its website geared toward housing and renting-related subjects.

CONTACT US

EDITOR IN CHIEF Mia Hennen editor@thesunflower.com

LEGAL

Altitude, formerly known as Aspen Heights, offers studio apartments, two-bedroom and two-bathroom units, four-bedroom vand two-bathroom units, and four-bedroom and four-bathroom units.

The 548-square-foot studio units cost $1,135 per month, the most expensive available offcampus student housing option.

Four-bedroom, two-bathroom units range from $600 to $625 a month with square footage ranging from 1,211-1,318 feet.

The four-bedroom,fourbathroom units are $700-$750 per month with square footage of 1,498 and 1,293, respectively.

Amenities include: • Free Wi-Fi • In-unit laundry • Access to a community pool, study hubs, firepits, grilling stations, an Amazon Hub and an on-site dog park • Black and white printing • 24/7 fitness center Altitude units also come fully furnished.

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

Mia Hennen: 316-978-6906 editor@thesunflower.com ADVERTISING

Thy Vo: 316-978-6905 admanager@thesunflower.com FACULTY ADVISOR

Amy DeVault: 316-978-6052 amy.devault@wichita.edu

CORRECTIONS

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

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Dec. 7, 2023 | 3

Grace Richardson colors in a printed coloring page of Stitch at Coloring with Conduct. Student Conduct and Community Standards hosted the destress event on Dec. 4 and have another planned for Dec. 7. | Photo by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower

Coloring with Conduct gives students chance to relax during finals preparation

BY GENESIS MERRIETT genserudition@gmail.com

Stress over finals and academics tends to affect students most around this time of year, according to Student Conduct Coordinator Liz Thornton and Graduate Student Conduct Coordinator Grace Henderson.

Because of this, the duo decided to host Coloring with Conduct in the Shocker Hall lobby on Dec. 4, where students could color sheets and have casual conversations to relax for a few minutes.

“We know that, in general, finals can be a really stressful time of year for college students,” Henderson said. “We just want to provide an outlet where students

can come and hang out with us, maybe get some food and some drinks, color, chat with us, and also just learn about resources on campus like Student Conduct.”

The Office of Student Conduct is dedicated to the growth of students, and when students commit acts of academic misconduct, it is up to Student Conduct to handle the situation, according to Thornton. This led to the coordinators developing ways to make students less likely to violate academic policies.

“It’s important to us … to give them an outlet to destress and to not think about school for a couple minutes, so that … maybe they don’t tend to lean toward those academically misconduct or

“

It’s really just giving people ways to cope with their stress so that they’re able to make good choices and feel better.

GRACE HENDERSON Graduate Student Conduct Coordinator

academic dishonest behavior(s),” Thornton said. “We want them to be able to do their finals and not have to have interactions with us if they don’t need to.”

According to the American Institute of Stress, finals and midterms were reported to be the top sources of stress for 31% of

U.S. students.

Another 36.5% of United States college students reported stress as the largest factor as to why their academics had suffered in the last year.

“It’s really just giving people ways to cope with their stress so that they’re able to make good choices and feel better,” Henderson said. “Hopefully we’re giving them a space to do that.”

Thornton said coloring is a great way to destress because you don’t have to think about it, and it’s easy to do because free coloring sheets are easy to find on the internet and print. For students concerned about paying for printed paper, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion allows

Mario Kart champion crowned by Shocker Gaming Club

BY JACOB UNRUH

jacobunruh333@gmail.com

When Red Yoshi crossed the finish line at N64 Rainbow Road, sophomore Noah Sanford was crowned the 2023 Shocker Gaming Club Mario Kart champion.

On Wednesday evening, 20 competitors packed into the Heskett Center Esports Hub to test their “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” skills.

After four rounds and 40 races, Sanford took home the Mushroom Cup replica trophy.

Sanford remembers playing Mario Kart on the Wii as a kid and has fallen in love with the game series since.

He said he’s tried to go to all of the Mario Kart events on campus that he’s seen so far.

“When I heard about this tournament, I played the game once a day,” Sanford said. “Just to get ready and practice for it.”

Sanford explained that while he is extremely competitive, he always gets nervous before competitions.

He thanked his friends, Erik and Diego, for showing up and supporting him at the tournament.

“I probably would have not been able to do this without them,” Sanford said. “During the practice rounds, while they

were still in classes, I had this knot in my stomach, and I was not doing my best. But when Erik and Diego showed up, it helped calm me down.”

Shocker Gaming Club President Branden Davis said these events offer a space where people interested in games can come together and have a good time in a relaxed environment.

“I think WSU needs a strong gaming community,” Davis said.

“We have an esports club, but the esports club is for people who are competitive, and not everybody’s competitive. I wanted something casual that everybody can join to come together and just play video games, board games, card games, you name it.”

Davis became the president of the club at the end of last Attendees concentrate as competitors race each other in Mario Kart on Nov year.

29. | Photo by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower He said the club has gone from attracting around five to really paid off.” people having the same joy that people every meeting to at least The club hosts numerous I have playing video games …

20 this year. events throughout the semester. On campus, it can be hard to “That first club day was so The Mario Kart tournament really make friends, and some scary because we’re like, ‘How was the second tournament people don’t know how to do many people are going to show the club put together this year, that. So I want to be an outlet up?’” Davis said. “We had 50 following a Mortal Kombat for people to come and make people show up. So to go from tournament in September. friends and play games.” five people to 50 people for our Davis said the club has For more information on first meeting of the semester Super Smash Brothers and Shocker Gaming Club events, was just something special. All Street Fighter tournaments visit their page on Shocker of our hard work that we did to planned for the spring.

Sync. keep getting this club up to the “I’ve been playing games my level that we wanted to get it up whole life,” Davis said. “I like

students to print up to 10 free pages per day.

For students experiencing a severe amount of stress or a crisis, Henderson recommended students use campus resources.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) can be contacted by calling 316-978-4792 or by visiting their website. If it is an immediate crisis, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be contacted by calling 1-800-2738255 or you can text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to get help.

There will be another Coloring with Conduct event held on Dec. 7 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in The Suites lobby for students who wish to attend.

Student Senate evacuated mid-meeting due to gas leak

BY ALLISON CAMPBELL news@thesunflower.com

Senators were alerted midsession of a potential gas leak in the Rhatigan Student Center during the Student Government Association (SGA) meeting on Wednesday evening.

Senators, as well as all RSC and Chartwells staff, were forced to evacuate the building and suspend their ongoing meeting.

Senators were deliberating over the details of the Senate Seat Reapportionment Act when Gabriel Fonseca, who helps advise SGA, told the body they needed to leave immediately.

“We need to recess. We need to evacuate the building due to a gas leak,” Fonseca said as senators left the Sante Fe room.

According to first responders, Chartwells employees noticed the smell of gas around 10:45 p.m.

Firefighters were seen investigating the kitchens of Chick-fil-A and Panda Express in the RSC. Shortly after 11:15 p.m., RSC cleaning staff and the SGA video and audio team could be seen re-entering the Santa Fe Room before ending the on-going SGA session livestream.

The livestream can be viewed on the SGA YouTube.

SPORTS

4 | Dec. 7, 2023 www.thesunflower.com

Emerson Wilford hits the ball past Drake’s blockers in the third set on Dec. 6. Wilfordscored five and a half points during the game.

Teammates Izzi Strand and Natalie Foster look to each other while celebrating a point made in the close second set.

HAVE A STORY IDEA? Contact the Sports editor, Melanie Rivera-Cortez sports@thesunflower.com

Morgan Stout swings for a kill during the second set of the game versus Drake. Stout scored 14 kills throughout the game.

Senior Aniya Bell bows her head before the start of the game on Dec. 4 against Houston Christian University. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower

Women’s basketball falls to Houston Christian

BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ sports@thesunflower.com

With five minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Wichita State women’s basketball team was only two points away from tying the score against the Houston Christian Huskies but was ultimately unsuccessful after a scoring drought, ending the game 49-44.

“It was a struggle for us tonight,” head coach Terry Nooner said.

The Shockers started slow with three turnovers and went 0-9 in shooting during the first quarter.

Sophomore Daniela Abies scored the first basket for the Shockers with only three minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Senior DJ McCarty led Wichita State with 11 points after coming off the bench and playing for 27 minutes. McCarty has seen limited play this season due to a knee injury.

Nooner said he didn’t expect McCarty to play as many minutes as she did but that she had been looking good in practice.

“She gave us some good minutes, and she played more than I actually thought she was going to play,” Nooner said. “I was pleased.”

During the third quarter of the game, a 9-1 run helped Houston Christian take its biggest lead of the night, 37-27.

Senior Aniya Bell came off the bench in the third quarter to spark the momentum of the game. She got the team going by scoring a 3-pointer to close out the quarter to bring the Shockers to 37-34.

Nooner said having a player like Bell who can give the team a spark of confidence was important.

“It was just a matter of me trying to find somebody that could give us a spark, that could give us some defense, that can make a shot,” Nooner said.

Despite multiple efforts from Wichita State during the fourth quarter, the Huskies were able to connect a five-point lead to end the game.

Nooner said that when the women played Southeastern Louisiana, they did not fall through with their shots, which was different from this game.

“The last time we had a tough matchup was Southeastern Louisiana, and when we didn’t have our shots falling, we let our defense falter too, but tonight we had them under 40%, which is a goal of ours,” Nooner said. “We just couldn’t get it going offensively.

Nooner said the past few games, he has been emphasizing rebounds, and now that the team has had two games where they have a high number of rebounds, he wants to focus on shooting and making points.

“We got to get better at the free throw line, and we got to get better at knocking down shots because I think that just gives you even more confidence and as to play better,” Nooner said.

Wichita State women’s basketball will face off against the University of Kansas on Sunday, Dec. 10 in Charles Koch Arena. Tip off is scheduled for 1 p.m.

The team is running their Rally the Roundhouse promotion, where the first 500 fans will receive free foam fingers.

Gabi Maas, Katie Galligan and Morgan Stout celebrate after evening the score early in the first set. Wichita State faced Drake University of Des Moines, Iowa in the Great 8 of the NIVT. | Photos by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower

Volleyball sweeps Drake to advance to semifinals of NIVC

BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ sports@thesunflower.com

B

efore the match even began, Izzi Strand stood next to redshirt junior Morgan Stout during the starting lineup and said that they were going to win the match; Stout replied with a “hell yeah, we are.”

On Wednesday, Dec. 6, Wichita State volleyball competed in the National Invitational Volleyball Tournament quarterfinal against the Drake Bulldogs. The Shockers won 3-0 (30-28), (27-25), (25-21).

Wichita State’s attacks came from middle blockers, Stout, a redshirt junior middle blocker, and junior Natalie Foster.

Stout led the Shockers with 14 kills and six blocks — nine of those

kills came in the first set.

“She was just on fire; I can tell from the look in her eyes,” Strand, a senior setter, said. “She’s grown every single game, just gets better and better.”

Foster said that as a middle blocker herself, it was impressive to see Stout’s performance in the first set. Foster contributed 12 kills, a .522 hitting percentage and seven blocks.

“You have two middles lead the match in point scoring … you just don’t see that very often,” head coach Chris Lamb said. “It was crazy good for us.”

During the first set, Wichita State made its best effort to put up points on the board, but the Bulldogs would not go quietly, tying the game every other point.

The Shockers’ largest lead of the

night came in the third set when a few defensive errors from Drake allowed them to create a five-point lead, 21-17.

“There were some tells that the setter had that made it a little bit easier for us to know where the ball might end up … that definitely helped,” Foster said.

Strand put up 8 kills of her own and had 44 assists. She said that,as a tall setter, she has always liked scoring.

“Before coming here, that was one of my specialties, and I haven’t really gotten the rhythm,” Strand said. “I always want to score; I feel like it helps the hitters.”

Strand said that she scouted Drake before the game and saw that they’ve had a hard time stopping the middles. She texted

the team before the game and told them that they would win because they had a strong middle.

“We know we can win in the middle, and we’re so good at it,” Strand said. “Our connections have always been great.”

Strand said that competing in the tournament has been a blast because she came from a program that would not make it to the postseason.

“I think everyone has a mentality like ‘We’re going all the way,’ and we’re gonna win this because we’re here, and we want to win,” Strand said.

Up next, Wichita State will face off against Montana State in the semifinals of the NIVC on Saturday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. in Charles Koch Arena.

Junior Xavier Bell goes up for a shot against Lipscomb on Nov. 7. | Photo

by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower

Men’s basketball held off by Mizzou in regional rivalry game

BY TRINITY RAMM managing@thesunflower.com

Brylee Kelly talks to teammate Natalie Foster after a timeout in the second set. Kelly played two sets of the Dec. 6 game versus Drake University. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower

‘Fell in love with it’: Brylee Kelly reflects on journey, achievements at Wichita State

BY JACINDA HALL

podcast@thesunflower.com

For Brylee Kelly, her love of volleyball is familial. Her mom, Lisa, played NCAA Division I volleyball for Depaul University in the mid-1990s.

“Growing up, (my mom) didn’t want to push volleyball in my face. She wanted me to kind of find it myself,” Kelly, a redshirt senior outsider hitter, said. “She let me experience other sports and try other things, and one day, I went and tried out … and I immediately fell in love with it.”

Kelly, who has played volleyball for nine years now, said this has been a true winning season for Wichita State.

“I feel like this year has really kind of brought back the foundation and everything of what this program has built over many years,” Kelly said.

Kelly said the last six years at Wichita State have been the best of her life.

“(It’s) easy to leave and assume that the grass is greener on the other side,” Kelly said. “I’m so grateful that I have stayed here all of my years because I’m leaving with the most impactful friendships and forever connections.”

Senior opposite Sophia Rohling said Kelly’s expertise makes her a special and powerful player on the team.

“She’s been playing volleyball for a while,” Rohling said. “I think she brings great experience to the court.”

Rohling said Kelly makes her presence known on that court.

“You can tell whenever she’s on and whenever she’s performing, she’s unstoppable, and there’s nothing we can’t do without her,” Rohling said. “She tries to encourage everyone as best as she can for whatever’s going on and just tries to be a great teammate.”

Throughout the season, Kelly battled through injuries

for the first time in her career, something that she has had to adjust to.

“This is the first year I’ve been injured, and it has affected my play and just playing time all season, so I’ve kind of gotten a little dip of what that is like,” Kelly said. Head volleyball coach Chris Lamb said he sees Kelly as a conscientious person who cares about everyone on the team and the staff. “(Brylee is) super concerned about how people are doing and wants everybody to be one big happy family, ” Lamb said. “I admire that in her.”

Lamb said he plans to be in Kelly’s life after she’s done with volleyball and graduates from Wichita State.

“I’ve enjoyed all my time with Brylee; we have a very strong relationship,” Lamb said.

“She wants me to speak at her wedding, and I’m sure I’ll always be in touch with Brylee Kelly.”

The Missouri Tigers handed Wichita State basketball its second loss of the season, 82-72, at Mizzou Arena on Dec. 3.

Missouri led Wichita State from buzzer to buzzer, with the Shockers coming as close as two points on multiple occasions.

The Shockers were plagued by shooting woes and turnovers at the hands of Mizzou’s defense, shooting 27% from the 3-point line and committing 18 turnovers.

The Tigers were able to convert those turnovers into 20 points, with Noah Carter and Sean East II leading Missouri with three steals apiece.

Redshirt junior guard Harlond Beverly led Wichita State in turnovers with seven on the night, which accompanied 12 points and a career-high 17 rebounds.

Junior Colby Rogers led the Shockers’ offense with 17 points and four rebounds, matching his total from Wichita State’s last outing against Richmond.

Four Shockers scored double figures: Beverly, Rogers, junior Xavier Bell and redshirt sophomore Isaac Abidde, who came off the bench.

Men’s basketball will face off against South Dakota State in their annual game at Intrust Bank Arena on Saturday, Dec. 9.

The two teams will tip off at 6 p.m.

HAVE A STORY IDEA? Contact the Opinion editor, Sascha Harvey opinion@thesunflower.com

OPINION

Dec. 7, 2023 | 5 www.thesunflower.com

Photo courtesy of Sois sage musique

Brandon Whipple, incumbent mayor, talks to people attending his watch party on Nov. 7. | Photo

by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower

‘Saisons’ captures beauty of shifting seasons Genesis Merriett

genserudition@gmail.com

REVIEW

Lily Wu speaks to the people attending her watch party on Nov. 7. Wu was elected mayor of Wichita. | Photo by Monique Bever / The Sunflower Illustration by Wren Johnson / The Sunflower

Is Lily Wu what Wichita really needs?

Shaylee Jacobs-Wilson shaeryann2@gmail.com

OPINION

With the recent mayoral election on Nov. 7, Wichita voters were faced with a difficult choice between incumbent mayor Brandon Whipple and challenger Lily Wu. Despite having little to no political experience prior to launching her campaign, Wu succeeded in the election with 58% of the votes, over 36,300 votes in her favor.

Wu was a reporter and news anchor for two Wichita-area television stations for 12 years and also served as a board member for three Wichita-area nonprofit organizations, according to Ballotpedia.

Whipple has spent the last 10 years in elected office. Prior to his election as mayor in 2019, Whipple served for District 96 in the Kansas House of Representatives for seven years and has also taught at Wichita State University. He relocated to Wichita from New Hampshire in 2003, in a year-long education-service mission with AmeriCorps. With that program, he worked with at-risk youth at

Wichita South High School and decided to call Wichita home.

Wu approached the election from a businesswoman’s perspective. She consistently ran her campaign focusing on ideas that would benefit the economy and those who currently earn livable wages, instead of looking at the city’s needs as a whole or even considering the 15.2% of Wichita citizens who are currently living below the poverty line.

Being considerate of the challenges and division of citizens in all income brackets is necessary to be a successful city official, especially in a city with 2.6% more citizens living under the poverty line than the 13.4% average for Sedgwick County.

Wu said real estate development is necessary for growth and that real estate will bring affordable housing, retail, restaurants, hotels and other amenities that help increase our quality of life.

However, in the last four months that I’ve been living in Wichita as a college student, those “amenities” she mentioned never came to mind when contemplating Wichita’s immediate needs.

Whipple, on the other hand, focused on improving the public safety in Wichita, a crucial point for the well-being of the city in

my eyes.

Before moving to Wichita this year, I had never anticipated such a high poverty rate, this was something I didn’t experience in Johnson County, Kansas, the wealthiest county in the state.

“As Mayor, we must continue to build a safer city,” Whipple said. “This includes rebuilding trust, investing in programs that address youth violence, domestic violence, human trafficking, and embracing best practices for addressing mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness.”

Homelessness is an issue gaining more attention as the city’s homeless population has grown to its highest point in the last 12 years. In addition, people of color face disproportionate rates of poverty in Sedgwick County, with 22.5% Hispanic and 31.1% Black residents living in poverty.

In 2022, under Whipple’s leadership, Wichita moved to invest nearly $8 million from American Rescue Plan funds in order to arrange and operate a housing facility to accommodate individuals struggling with addiction or seeking shelter. On Nov. 2, 2023, Whipple announced the facility’s location and specific details about how the shelter will serve its intended purpose.

Whipple knows the importance of acknowledging and acting on Wichita’s citizens’ feedback — doing so and saying so are two different things, but Whipple has done both. This is reassuring to me as a citizen in a rather large city. The 2022 budget was transformed from important resources back into important services based on feedback from Wichitans.

Whipple also invested $31 million into paving dirt roads around neighborhoods and schools to create a safer route for children who walk to school. In 2023, Whipple incorporated five in-person town halls to provide a structured opportunity for citizens to share their thoughts and values on Wichita.

Overall, Whipple carried out multiple promises he made prior to winning his election in 2019 against incumbent mayor Jeff Longwell. He made significant efforts toward eliminating homelessness in the city and providing resources for all citizens in need.

With Wu’s focus being aimed primarily toward improving the economy, she is unlikely to make as many substantial improvements where they’re most needed in the city, which are citizens’ public health and safety.

Welcome back to ‘Good Burger,’ 26 years later Jacinda Hall

podcast@thesunflower.com

REVIEW

“Good Burger” is a 1997 classic that gained popularity among fans of “All That” and other Nickelodeon shows that aired during the late 90s and early 2000s.

The movie is cheesy, but there’s no denying that the dynamic between Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell is hilarious. The iconic line “Welcome to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger, may I take your order?” is one that will never leave your head.

Now, 26 years later, Thompson and Mitchell return as Dexter and Ed in the Paramount+ original movie, “Good Burger 2.”

Although the comedy remains the same, some things have changed since the original movie.

Ed now owns Good Burger, and there’s no competition… for now.

Dex is also an entrepreneur now — well, was an entrepreneur. His business ended up going under after an invention went wrong in front of several investors, and he ended up burning down his house.

When I rewatched the original “Good Burger,” there wasn’t much hinted at Dex becoming an entrepreneur in the future other than the scene where he made Ed sign a contract for his sauce where Dex got 80% of the share and Ed, the creator of “Ed’s Sauce,” only got 20%.

As for content not shown in the movie, we find out that

Dex has an older sister named Charlotte, who happens to be mad at him, but we never find out why until later on; all we know is that he calls her when looking for a place to stay, and she hangs up almost immediately after laughing at him.

With nowhere to go and no family to call, Dex goes back to Good Burger, where he is rehired to work alongside Ed. When Ed introduces Dex to the new employees of Good Burger, we find out that Ed’s oldest son, Ed2, works at the restaurant alongside Dex’s niece, Mia. Mia also happens to be mad at Dex, but again we aren’t sure why until Dex sits with her and tries to create an uncle-niece bond with her, which is something she clearly doesn’t want.

It’s later revealed during the scene that Dex scammed Charlotte out of thousands of dollars from his business ventures that he still owes, and Mia is working at Good Burger to help her mom out with money.

Throughout the movie, Ed is persuaded by a businessman who works for a company called MegaCorp to sell the Good Burger restaurant, which makes Ed uneasy and uncertain about the future of Good Burger. After asking Dex for advice, Dex encourages Ed to sell the restaurant as he thinks it would be a good business venture.

This decision results in all the workers being fired and Ed losing the restaurant, and everyone, understandably, pins the blame on Dex because it was Dex’s idea

Singer, songwriter and musician Pomme may just be the folk French lesbian you need in your life.

Part one of her newest album, “Saisons,” meaning seasons in French, was released on Dec. 1, and with it, her music just keeps getting better. The orchestral album features six songs with a total listening time of 17 minutes and 52 seconds. The album consists of four movements and three acts, with each movement representing a season and each act being a song that represents a month of the year.

Pomme has revealed that part two of “Saisons” will be released in 2024 with no further detail as of Dec. 6.

In an interview with Tsugi, Pomme said she wanted to celebrate classical music and nature because they made her the artist she is today.

Unlike her previous albums where she placed her voice and problems at the center of each song, Pomme focused on nature and the seasons themselves in “Saisons.” She was happy with the timing of this album’s release because of the other tragedies currently taking place worldwide.

She felt that more songs about her “little problems as a white woman in the West” are not the stories that need to be heard with the current social context.

Her pre-released song, “_dec carte de noël,” hinted at the December release of “Saisons” part one. It also took on a more familiar sound and theme to her previous songs. It depicts a story of someone who disappeared from her life and remembering them during the holiday season.

I always find it difficult to pick favorite songs from Pomme, but I would have to say two from this album so far are “_sept magie mauve” and “_feb carte de noël.”

“_SEPT MAGIE MAUVE”

Photo courtesy of Paramount+

to have Ed sell the restaurant.

But at the same time, Ed and Dex were both tricked into thinking that Ed would get a partial share of the money from selling the restaurant.

In hopes of getting the restaurant back, Dex and Ed visit the owner of MegaCorp, who we find out is Katt Bozwell, the younger sister of Kurt Bozwell. Kurt is the villain in the first “Good Burger” who opened Mondo Burger and was arrested after he poisoned the Good Burger sauce. Katt wanted revenge on the duo and planned to open what she called “Mega Good Burger” across the globe.

I never liked Kurt in the first movie because he was goofy and tried too hard to be cool. I understand he was the villain, and you’re not supposed to like him, but to me, he came off as a try hard with his flashy silver jumpsuit and spiky hair. He looked like he was a member of Backstreet Boys or NSYNC. (No offense to NSYNC fans, I love NSYNC.) Kurt’s sister is, unfortunately, the same way. She tries to be cool

by introducing all new technology that she plans to incorporate in her restaurant. Katt comes off as a knock-off of Shego from “Kim Possible,” only instead of a jumpsuit, she’s wearing a business suit.

Ed and Dex eventually get revenge on Katt and the rest of the MegaCorp company by ruining the grand opening of the chain restaurant by messing with the restaurant’s technology.

Ed and Dex own the Good Burger restaurant together. Dex makes amends with his family, and all turns out well in the end.

Something I really liked about the movie is the celebrity cameos, including many Saturday Night Live cast members like Ego Nwodim, Leslie Jones, Andy Samberg and Pete Davidson.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed “Good Burger 2.” It was funny, heartwarming and (still) cheesy.

The cheesiness is what made the original movie so hilarious, so I am glad they kept the charm of the original movie for this one.

Pomme’s first track on the album, “_sept magie mauve,” perfectly captures the feeling of leaves changing colors and a chill breeze sweeping through the fall season.

In this song, Pomme describes her surroundings and the sleepy nature of the autumn months, in preparation for winter.

The melody is sweet but spooky, perfectly capturing the spirit of my favorite season.

“_FEB CARTE DE NOËL” My absolute favorite song on this album is definitely “_feb carte de noël”. It is instrumental, but Pomme still has vocalizations in the background, so we don’t miss out on her angelic voice too much.

The almost fluttery sound of the orchestra seems to prelude to the upcoming spring months while still being soft like the snow in winter. It made me envision the first buds and sprouts unearthing themselves in the snow, and it left me with much excitement for the spring and summer movements as the last track on the album.

“SAISONS” PART ONE OVERALL I always tell my friends that I don’t think Pomme has a single bad song, and she has had yet to fail. Although this album is different from her past ones, she pulled it off perfectly.

Until “Saisons” part two is released, I would highly recommend giving part one a listen as we enter winter ourselves.

6 | Dec. 7, 2023 www.thesunflower.com

ARTS & CULTURE

HAVE A STORY IDEA? Contact the Arts editor, Salsabila Attaria arts@thesunflower.com

Las Adelitas is my new go to and it should be yours too Jacinda Hall

podcast@thesunflower.com

REVIEW

Wyatt Pankratz sells ceramics, soap, and other art at art market in Rhatigan Student Center. | Photos by Monique Bever / The Sunflower

Fine arts students showcase creativity on campus

BY MONIQUE BEVER

V

monibever03@gmail.com

arious original prints, ceramics, oil paintings, stickers and jewelry were available for students and other community members to buy at a student art market on Nov. 29 and 30.

The purpose of the market is to give students in Arts, Design and Creative Industries (ADCI) the opportunity to sell their art and connect with other artists on campus.

“We love art, and we love to see artists grow within their artistry and allow them to do what they need to do,” De’Andra Hughes, a senior majoring in fine arts, said.

According to Hughes and Laine Schawe, a senior studio arts major and organizer of the market, their team has decreased in size over the years due to members graduating. This has placed several constraints on keeping the art market up and running, and they are looking for help because they, too, will soon graduate.

“We just lost a lot of our manpower for the team,” Schawe said. “I think it’s gotten smaller, but people are still really interested and want to participate.”

Together, the duo reserved tables in the Rhatigan Student Center, recruited artists, trained them on their system, gave support and feedback, and created promotional flyers found in the fine arts buildings.

Artists were given the opportunity to sign up using a QR code on flyers and were selected on a first-come-firstserve basis. Hughes and Schawe

“

I’ve been really encouraged by the community at WSU. SAVANNAH NICHOLS Junior painting major

aim for 25 artists each year, but this year only 20 signed up.

Shanisse Vontress, a senior art education major and thirdtime vendor at the art market, said she hoped to connect with other artists and their work.

Some of her favorite pieces included fan art prints of her favorite “Demon Slayer” characters, which were also her bestsellers.

Art vendor Savannah Nichols, a junior painting major who uses any pronouns, said they were excited to show off some of their art, which included framed taxidermy pin bugs made of paper, hand-painted magnets, prints and stickers.

“I’ve been really encouraged by the community at WSU, the art community here,” Nichols said. “I’ve had some interest in people wanting to either buy or like trade or whatever for some of my artwork, so I was really excited when I heard that we’re having a sale for an opportunity.”

Colleen Schwarz, a community member who purchased some pieces from the art market, said supporting local artists is important to give them a good start, collect unique works, and build creativity in the community.

“I just feel like there’s so much underappreciated art, especially students here, that it’s good they got their stuff

Art prints by Winter, known on social media as Winter Papaya, for sale at the Arts, Design and Creative Industries art market, which aims to provide student artists the opportunity to make connections and gain exposure.

Art prints by Jimena Huanqui selling at an art market in Rhatigan Student Center.

out in the open where you can purchase it and just kind of learn about different things,” Schwarz said.

Hughes and Schawe hope to keep the art market and the supportive culture it creates around for a long time.

They have plans to expand the event outside of WSU so it can become a block party or convention.

“I really pray and hope that we’re able to get this continuously going because … it’s nice to see the artists enjoying (and) sharing their work with others, and that was the whole mission,” Hughes said.

Hughes and Schawe said anyone willing to join their team should email them at artsmarket2022@gmail.com.

Downtown Wichita is known for its restaurants, shops and breweries, but it also has its hidden gems — especially when it comes to its cafés.

Located on the first floor of The Lux, an apartment building located on First Street near the Orpheum, Las Adelitas brings coffee, culture and food to one spot.

The cafe roasts its own coffee beans and makes the drinks using its brand, Esperanza Coffee Roasters.

The shop also serves a variety of food items from local places around Wichita, including pastries from Juarez Bakery.

I went to Las Adelitas with my mom, and we were able to try a few different things. My mom got a hot Abue Choco Mocha made with Abuelita’s Hot Chocolate and a poblano chile and cheese tamale.

While I stole a sip and bite of my mom’s order, I got my own as well.

I chose an iced La Lavenda coffee made with homemade lavender syrup and Mexican honey, as well as a ground beef and potato burrito.

Later on, I also got a Comote Chai Latte, which was made with the café’s homemade sweet potato flavored syrup, chai tea, and topped off with hand-torched roasted marshmallows.

I enjoyed the burrito, the ground beef had a good flavor and just the right amount of spice, and it paired well with the potatoes. I also really liked the bite of the tamale I had — I loved how the poblano peppers paired with the flavor of the monterey jack cheese.

For the drinks, I enjoyed a sip of the Abue Choco mocha, as someone who grew up loving Abuelita’s Hot Chocolate, I enjoyed the flavor of the latte.

I liked the La Lavenda, but I could only taste the lavender flavor rather than lavender and honey combined. Don’t get me wrong, I am a huge fan of lavender, but I do wish there was a splash of vanilla to balance it out.

My favorite out of the drinks I tried was the Comote Chai Latte.

I enjoyed the sweet potato flavor mixed with the spices of the chai tea.

I also loved the roasted marshmallows on top; you can pick them out and eat them or you can let them melt into your drink.

This was also a great drink to have on a cold day, and I enjoyed it so much that I stopped by the café again two days after my first visit and got the drink again.

The price range for both food and drinks is between $3 and $8, but it is worth it as everything is made locally, both at the café and around Wichita.

If you want to try a new café with a flavorful twist of Mexican spices with a cozy atmosphere, give Las Adelitas Café a try.

Artist Exploration Association creates welcoming, accessible environment in art

BY GENESIS MERRIETT genserudition@gmail.com

Some students in search of a judgment-free, warm and welcoming community to destress and test out their art skills have found refuge within the Artist Exploration Association (AEA), a new campus organization that was founded in the spring.

According to members Jose Lopez, a vocal music education major, and Banine Haidar, a biochemistry major and psychology minor, the cost of supplies is a concern to those interested in pursuing art.

AEA addressed this concern by charging a one-time $5 fee that members pay whenever they can. After that, everything is free, including art supplies and snacks, according to Lopez.

Haidar said clubs such as AEA are an effective way to make art more accessible to the community.

“Not everybody in that club is a perfect artist, or good, or even

an artist,” she said. “Some of them just want to be like ‘Oh, I’m very, very stressed, and I’ve got friends here, so let me go here,’ and they end up having fun.”

Members joined for the stressfree environment, according to Benjamin Anderson, a music performance major.

“I’m not much of a visual artist at all,” he said. “This isn’t for just art majors. This isn’t for people who love art and want to do it and are really good at it.

It’s basically for anyone who has even any semblance of interest in art.”

Lopez said the meetings at the end of the week always give him something to look forward to.

“After a long week, it’s always nice to just chill with a bunch of people that … will be nice and accepting and loving,” he said.

The organization remains true to its name as members educate participants and help them explore various types of visual art mediums.

“We did crochet and

sometimes pens, painting, all these different things,” Haidar said. “It’s perfect for what I do and aligns with my hobbies (and) interests.”

Lopez emphasized the versatility of art and its various purposes and meanings. He also said it can be used to speak of injustice and discrimination in more serious cases.

“We understand that there’s that loving and accepting and expression side, but we also love and understand that there’s this … political expression side,” he said. “All the deeper meaning like you see behind art and what it has and what it does for social action.”

No matter what the artist uses their art for, Haidar says it alters the way you see the world.

“Being an artist helps you gain a different perspective on life, and honestly, it’s a much more fun way of life,” she said. “I’ve been able to find community in places I just didn’t think I ever would.”

Illustration by Wren Johnson / The Sunflower

Students can find AEA on ShockerSync to become an official member, and information about upcoming meetings can be found on ShockerSync or AEA’s Instagram page. Meetings are open for everyone to attend.

“AEA is a cool club,” he said. “(If you) have any interest in it, definitely don’t be afraid to show up to a meeting, (we would) love to have you. It’s a fun time.”

ARTS & CULTURE

www.thesunflower.com

Dec. 7, 2023 | 7

Jefferson Godard and Madison Mccullough pin patches to ShiftSpace Gallery’s Remembrance Quilt on Dec. 1. | Photos by Monique Bever / The Sunflower

ShiftSpace Gallery’s Remembrance Quilt tributes deceased historical figures, celebrities, and loved ones at the open-community event on Dec. 1.

Kyndall Stine and Brodie Staton make patches for ShiftSpace Gallery’s Remembrance Quilt on Dec. 1.

Kayli Schoech pins memorial patch to the remembrance quilt.

The remembrance quilt tributes historical figures ans loved ones.

Grief explored through art with quilt exhibition

BY MONIQUE BEVER

monibever03@gmail.com

“We forget it’s a healing tool.

That making is a healing tool,” Tanna Burchinal, an art studio manager in the school of Art, Design and Creative Industries, said about the artistic process.

People from across the community gathered at Fisch Haus in downtown Wichita to participate in the Remembrance Quilt Exhibition, either by bringing a photocopy of a loved one to add to the collaborative paper quilt or by tributing artists, historical figures, and celebrities

with images provided by ShiftSpace organizers.

Tributed figures included Andy Warhol, Whitney Houston, Florence Nightingale, Harriet Tubman, Matthew Perry and Josephine Baker.

ShiftSpace Gallery is a studentrun roaming gallery that prepares exhibitions and engages in community outreach. The group is open to all currently enrolled Wichita State students and offers experience in gallery roles as curators, preparators, community outreach coordinators, and social media managers.

Offering insight into the

relationship art and grief have with each other, Burchinal said, “I think in some ways, people look at artists understanding everything that they make right off the bat, and then that isn’t always the truth.

Sometimes, I feel like art itself, the process of making, is similar to maybe the process of grief and loss.”

The Remembrance Quilt Exhibition coincided with World AIDS Day, set to commemorate and raise awareness for those who died or were affected by the AIDS Pandemic on Dec. 1.

Jefferson Godard, who manages ShiftSpace Gallery and assists the

student-workers, discussed how AIDS impacted his life.

“I grew up during the AIDS generation,” Godard said.“And being gay during that time, it was very difficult because people didn’t want to talk about it, and people were dying around us. Tonight is not about AIDS, but it’s just the idea of thinking of someone and memorializing them.”

The Names Project Aids Memorial Quilt inspired the Remembrance Quilt.

According to the AIDS Memorial website, “Individuals and groups create Quilt panels to honor, remember and celebrate

the stories and lives of those ones lost to HIV/AIDS. Today there are roughly 50,000 panels dedicated to more than 110,00 individuals in this epic 54-ton tapestry.”

“The quilts were made to make people realize these names because people weren’t talking about them, and people were dying,” Godard said. “So, it’s more about people dying without being recognized. That’s what this does.”

ShiftSpace considers bringing The Remembrance Quilt to McKnight Art Center for students to participate in adding photo tributes to the paper quilt.

NEWS

8 | Dec. 7, 2023

www.thesunflower.com

Winter Word Search K I R V O VW I N T E R A J C P UMMD E A D L I N E B A I E C K S I S S J C U B Q C A J M F GN L Y J S X R A E A V J P A QG V E A Z I F TWL G F C H R R Z K D T MA VM L I I H A A I S T UD Y I NGN N N R F K N A V F B I A GQ I G A I K Q C U H A A HN P QG E L S J WH S K C C M T G U H R S T E F A WM K A A I C C T B E M S U A N Z C A R T L Q E R I A S B F K Z C L H E I Y R E X S A B L K Y A P Y Z Y O E A U B Y DM T K C A K AWP NDU

Mariah Carey

All nighter

Christmas

Deadline

Vacation

Hanukkah

Gingerbread

Sledding

Kwanzaa

Studying

Family

Winter

Finals

Essay

Want to see the answers? Go to thesunflower.com/worksheet_answerkey/