WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1896 www.thesunflower.com
Jan. 18, 2024
Volume 128 Issue 16
‘OPEN DISCUSSION’
What Wichita State gets right when accommodating students with disabilities — and areas to improve BY COURTNEY BROWN
newsprojects@thesunflower.com
When social work student Ashlyn Wheeler experienced a health flare last spring, she switched to online classes and struggled to get accommodations in one of her courses. “It really impacted my class experience because I was getting zeros put in for big assignments,” Wheeler said. “And when I needed an extension or needed an explanation, that professor wasn’t there to help.” Wheeler, who has EhlersDanlos Syndrome and serves as accessibility liaison for Disability Rights, Education, Activism and Mentorship (DREAM), said that to address the professor’s lack of communication, the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing worked “up the chain of command” on Wheeler’s behalf. Finally, the dean of the college got involved. According to Wheeler, that process took over a month. After that meeting, the professor responded to Wheeler’s emails more quickly, and she received an extension to complete her assignments. “But it was frustrating to get to that point,” Wheeler said. Wheeler and other students with disabilities spoke with The Sunflower about their experiences with accommodations at Wichita State. While they said their experiences were generally positive, some experienced at least one professor attempting to deny their accommodations.
HOW OSAT HELPS The number of students with disabilities in higher education has increased throughout the past decade. According to the United States Department of Education, 21% of undergraduate students reported having a disability in the 2019-2020 school year — an increase from 11% in the 2011-2012 school year. About 700 Wichita State students are registered with the Office of Student Accommodations & Testing (OSAT), according to director Isabel Medina Keiser. The registration process for accommodations previously took place through the Office of Disability Services (ODS), but ODS and Testing Services
combined in July of 2023. As of fall of 2023, students request accommodations through the Accessible Information Management (AIM) Student Portal, which Medina Keiser called more “student-driven. Then students can select which professors are notified about their accommodations. “(AIM) makes it so that they can kind of customize their accommodations,” Medina Keiser, who is dyslexic, said. Mia Dennett, an autistic theater sophomore with anxiety and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, said OSAT registration was “very smooth.” Dennett said teachers at WSU are accepting and noted OSAT’s “very organized system” for test accommodations. According to Medina Keiser, students must schedule accommodated exams themselves via RegisterBlast, and they can receive extended time or a separate testing area, among other needs. “Wherever I go to take tests, there’s lots of people there,” Dennett, DREAM’s secretary and treasurer, said. “I think that they (OSAT) keep really good track of what accommodations you get.” Integrated marketing communications sophomore Zaylee Bell, a wheelchair user and DREAM president, similarly called OSAT’s registration process “really easy,” but she said it was harder for OSAT to enforce professors and classrooms to follow accommodations.
ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE CLASSROOM In a U.S. Department of Education survey released in April 2022, only 37% of students with disabilities informed their college, and out of those students, 85% received accommodations. Research published in 2019 highlighted one potential barrier to accommodations is negative reactions from classmates and faculty when disclosing a disability or requesting accommodations. Jasmine Peng, a Student Government Association at-large senator and accessibility subcommittee member with Crohn’s
“ If you’re going to offer
help, you should not assume what help they need. You know you better than I know you. CAITLIN BRUNER TRIO DSS academic adviser
disease, said she has spoken with students who have had trouble getting their accommodations honored, such as one student who was denied extended test-taking. Peng, a pre-nursing major, said one of her professors was also “stubborn” about honoring her extended test time. Eventually, the professor made a “compromise” for her to test on a different day and then send the exam to the testing center. “They (teachers) think everything should be fair, which is understandable,” Peng said. “But at the same time, it’s a new generation … I do believe that we need to change that mindset if we can.” While some may have concerns
that students with disabilities receiving accommodations is unfair, the American Psychological Association states that accommodations “provide a level playing field” by “eliminating or reducing disability-related barriers.” Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990) also mandates reasonable accommodations be made in academic programming and exams when students disclose their disability. While Wheeler shared some negative experiences at WSU, she said she generally has had “great luck” with professors following accommodations at Wichita State, aside from the one online professor. She also said that OSAT is “really involved” and “willing to help” when needed. Hannah Bartlett, an autistic creative writing major with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, said most professors honored her accommodations — one even checked in on her. She also receives content
OSAT DOCUMENTATION FOR ACCOMMODATIONS To receive accommodations, students must inform Wichita State of their disability and provide documentation. According to Office of Student Accommodations and Testing Director Isabel Medina Keiser, when students register for OSAT, their disability documentation can come from: • Wichita State’s Student Health Services • Doctors or nurses • Individualized Education Plans used in high school • Documentation can also come from other relevant professionals and avenues. warnings about graphic images and content, which she said has led to other professors incorporating them into their lessons. SEE ACCOMODATIONS, PAGE 2
Student graduates with first American Sign Language bachelor’s at WSU BY MIA HENNEN
editor@thesunflower.com
When news first broke about Wichita State offering a bachelor’s in American Sign Language a year ago, Madison Fields and deaf studies instructor Lorita Slieter had no idea. “We hadn’t heard about it,” Fields said. “We were like, ‘What?’” At the time, Fields was majoring in sociology and minoring in ASL. She said the news about the new major coming to Wichita State in the fall of 2023 motivated her to reach out to her advisers to see if she could turn the credits from her minor into a complete bachelor’s degree. “(The advisers) created the paper for me with the requirements, just so I could have it,” Fields said. “I looked at it, and basically, it was five more classes.” Initially planning to graduate in the spring of 2023, Fields
Madison (Maddie) Fields, a fall 2023 graduate, waits to have her picture taken before walking across the stage in Charles Koch Arena. Fields was the first student at Wichita State University to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in American Sign Language. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
postponed her graduation until last semester. Fields had no prior experience in ASL before entering college. She started taking ASL courses in the fall of 2020 after learning that these could fulfill the foreign language requirements necessary for her liberal arts degree.
“People ask me often like, ‘Oh, did you know growing up, and then you took it formally?’ No,” Fields said. “I didn’t know anything.” Fields has also assisted and helped teach ASL classes alongside deaf studies faculty. Magaly Benítez Castillo, a
biological science student pursuing a minor in ASL, frequently spoke to Fields in the classroom as well as outside for tutoring help. “She’s the most accessible tutor you’ll ever have,” Benítez Castillo said. “It was really fun … to see her finally decide to do (the ASL major), and now that she’s done, it’s really cool to see.” The semesters leading up to her delayed graduation had their difficulties, though. Fields said that three of the five classes she needed to take to complete her degree hadn’t been established yet. “They didn’t exist, and there was no teachers,” Fields said. “And I know that they’re very busy and everything, but I wanted a little bit more fire (with the new degree).” Fields took matters into her own hands, asking two instructors to essentially teach independent studies in place of the three courses. “I was glad I found somebody
to teach them as well, so I could get them out of the way,” she said. Having just walked across the stage last month, the graduate now holds a double major in sociology and ASL. Fields said she could see herself taking various paths post-graduation, some options being teaching, community interpreting, pursuing a master’s degree, and more. For now, though, the grad will work under the agency Sign Language Interpreting Services, Inc. The WSU alum said that while she was able to obtain her ASL degree despite the obstacles, she hopes to see improvements as more continue their journey in the major. As of last fall, just over a dozen students have declared an ASL major. “I was totally fine with being the guinea pig for this one,” Fields said. “But for the future, I do hope that they improve on it a little bit.”
NEWS
2 | Jan. 18, 2024
WINTER-Y WEATHER
Students at Wichita State walk through campus bundled up on the first in-person day back to school. Wednesday was a cool 30 degrees Fahrenheit for most of the afternoon. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
Provost speaks on hazardous weather on campus BY ALLISON CAMPBELL news@thesunflower.com
Students were welcomed to campus Wednesday after frigid temperatures Tuesday morning spurred university administration to suspend Wichita State’s in-person operations. Tuesday’s temporary transition to remote-only instruction and in-person critical campus functions marks the university’s first severe-weather closure of the 2023-24 academic year. While the worst of the weekend’s cold front has passed, forecasted El Niño winter conditions are still estimated to take its toll on the country’s southern half. According to Provost Shirley Lefever, university closures or temporary suspensions are determined by “hazardous weather that could potentially endanger
ACCOMMODATIONS FROM PAGE 1 “I was worried that it’s putting too much work on the professors, but … they just want to protect me and keep me safe,” Bartlett, who graduated in December 2023, said. “I’m really hopeful that that will help other students someday … who might be too afraid to ask for those accommodations.” Despite the support overall, one professor would not grant Bartlett an extension without taking off from her grade. She contacted the Office of Disability Services, who resolved the issue. Bell also asked ODS for help when, in a previous English class in Lindquist Hall, the table for wheelchair users like her was out of her reach. “I would have to move the table every day, which is an issue with using a wheelchair,” Bell said. According to Medina Keiser, professors failing to enforce accommodations “doesn’t happen very often,” but when needed, OSAT will meet with the professor, and if that fails, they speak with department heads. She said students can also file a complaint at the Office of Civil Rights, Civil Rights, Title IX & ADA Compliance. “We really want the students to learn how to advocate for themselves, but if they’re running into any boundaries, then we jump in,” Medina Keiser said.
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT While all five students spoke positively about accommodations at Wichita State, some shared areas of improvement.
the health and safety of students, faculty and staff,” and other factors that could negatively impact student-parents, commuters or other campus populations. “These decisions … take into consideration a number of factors, including safety of our students, faculty and staff in traveling to campus by car, bike or foot; the need to reduce car and traffic on campus to clear roads and sidewalks; childcare challenges faced by students, faculty and staff; and feasibility to temporarily suspend or move to remote our business operations and/or classes,” Lefever said. In the event of inclement weather, the university president and his designees — with the input of the provost and vice president for finance and administration — determine if
university closures or suspensions are necessary the evening before or the morning of the forecasted hazardous weather. Additionally, Wichita State University typically adheres to USD 259 closures and suspensions regarding the status of campus operations. The university also has several proactive weather-related strategies to ensure safety in and around campus. These methods can vary from campus road maintenance to university closure. “The university’s inclement weather protocols range from clearing snow and ice from roads and sidewalks, to ensuring our on-campus students do not have to worry about food insecurity, to moving to remote operations and classes, to temporarily closing campus facilities and suspending
Bartlett and Peng both said that OSAT should increase its outreach so students realize it’s an option. Peng said she only discovered ODS when withdrawing from WSU one semester due to health reasons. Research has indicated that a lack of awareness of campus resources can be a barrier to students with disabilities receiving accommodations. In a recent Mental Health America survey of 471 college students with mental health disabilities, 70% didn’t register for accommodations, with 33% not knowing accommodations existed. 41% reported not believing they were “sick enough,” a concern that students with other disabilities can also share. “A lot of students don’t feel that they’re ‘disabled enough’ to get accommodations when they can get them for struggling for anxiety, for depression,” Bartlett, who previously tutored at WSU’s Writing Center, said. “I’ve told a lot of students that come into the Writing Center, ‘I have accommodations; these accommodations will help you.’” Medina Keiser said she attends orientations and events to share about OSAT and help students not “feel any shame” about accommodations. While she said she has done “at least 60 awareness tables for different events,” including SGA’s Diversity Week, she’s eager to hear more suggestions for improving outreach. “I’ve been advocating for people all my life,” Medina Keiser said. “I’ll continue to do so.” According to Medina Keiser, OSAT also offers workshops for students as well as coaching,
where students can discuss issues such as time management and assistive technology. This spring, Medina Keiser plans to offer a workshop to prepare students on asking for accommodations in the workplace.
INTERACTION AND INCLUSIVITY Peng also highlighted how TRIO Disability Support Services (DSS) can be helpful for students. According to TRIO DSS academic adviser Caitlin Bruner, the federally funded program supports students with disabilities outside the classroom through one-onone meetings, tutoring, scholarship opportunities and workshops on topics such as study skills, time management and budgeting. Bruner, who has Type 1 diabetes and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, emphasized getting students’ input and collaborating with them on developing useful strategies. “If you’re going to offer help, you should not assume what help they need,” Bruner said. “You know you better than I know you.” Peng also shared the need for an interactive approach among students and faculty. She said the SGA accessibility subcommittee is working on a resolution to “urge professors to hear out students more” about accommodations. “It’s a two-way street,” Peng said. “They’re here to teach us. We’re here to learn… Hopefully, this resolution kind of opens (faculty’s) eyes.” While Wichita State distinguishes between accessibility as proactively addressing populations’ needs and accommodations as responding to individuals’
classes,” Lefever said. During inclement weather, several essential on-campus services — referred to as critical campus operations — continue to function. Some of these critical operations include Campus Police, Facilities Services and Student Housing, as well as other operations deemed necessary by the president, athletic director, or any university vice president. While temperatures are predicted to increase over the next few weeks, the “severity of the weather conditions, and how those conditions impact safety and operations” will continue to be prioritized by university administration, according to Lefever. Additional university closure and suspension procedures information can be found on the MyWSU Inclement Weather page.
RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) • Disability Rights, Education, Activism and Mentorship (DREAM) • Neurodiversity support group through CAPS • Office of Civil Rights, Title IX & ADA Compliance • Office of Student Accommodations and Testing • Student Health Services • TRIO Disability Support Services needs, making educational settings and teaching methods more accessible can potentially reduce the need for accommodations, according to the Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking and Technology Center. One method is the Universal Design for Learning, which implements various teaching formats and resources for a diverse audience, including those with a wide range of disabilities. Wheeler highlighted how one of her social work professors stays engaged in disability topics and said she would like to see more “open discussion” across Wichita State. Through DREAM, Wheeler said she also hopes to share helpful resources and improve the conversation around disability. “I am hoping to change … how we treat others on campus with disability (and) how professors view disability at different colleges at WSU,” Wheeler said.
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.
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Lily Wu, incoming Wichita City Council members sworn in BY JACOB UNRUH assistantsports@thesunflower.com Lily Wu is officially the mayor of Wichita. Wu was sworn into her four-year term as the head of Wichita’s government, alongside city council members Becky Tuttle (District 2), Dalton Glasscock (District 4) and J.V. Johnston (District 5). Wu began her speech during the ceremony by talking about her background as an immigrant from Guatemala, graduating from Wichita East High School and Wichita State University, and working for KWCH 12 Eyewitness News. “My Wichita story was certainly not possible without hard work, perseverance and a desire to achieve earned success,” Wu said. “That’s the American dream, and right here in Wichita, Kansas, it’s possible.” Wu claimed Wichita faces numerous challenges, including police officer vacancies, homelessness, brain drain, and a looming budget deficit. She said Wichita can solve these problems with the “power of we.” “We will conduct business with integrity, humility, and respect,” Wu said. “We will get back to the basics by focusing on priorities and protecting taxpayer dollars. We will engage and energize our community by listening first to understand and communicate better.” Wu said her goal is to “bring out the best in Wichita.” “I’m not a politician, so some things may look a little bit different,” Wu said. “But I’ll promise you this: I will listen, I will learn, and I will work hard to be the best public servant for our community.” Before Wu spoke, outgoing mayor Brandon Whipple and outgoing city council members Jeff Blubaugh (District 4) and Bryan Frye (District 5) were recognized and given keys to the city. Whipple, who had served as mayor since 2020, said during his term, the city went through many crises and became stronger. “It is with such pride that I stand here today knowing that we are in a better place economically, financially, and structurally than we were in the past,” Whipple said. After a hard-fought election, Whipple gave a plea for unity, saying that all members of government are “on the same team.” “To … those who support me and have supported me, please keep an open mind about our new mayor,” Whipple said. “Make sure that we are focusing on issues and not on people, that we’re focusing on progress and not on politics, and that we’re making sure we give our elected leaders the benefit of the doubt so that they have room to be successful.” Tuttle was sworn in for her second term representing District 2. She called for new leaders to push forward bold ideas to solve Wichita’s problems. “My goal over the next four years is to inspire Wichita to continue to be the leading city in our nation,” Tuttle said. Glasscock, who served as a Sedgwick County Commissioner and on the Wichita Fourth District Advisory Board prior to being elected, said he is excited to be a representative of southwest Wichita. “I commit to you that I’ll think strategically, ask the tough questions, work to practice grace and kindness, and always listen,” Glasscock said. Johnston discussed his roots in Wichita and the need for hope as a community. “Hopefully, we can build on the successes of the previous council and create a city where people proudly announce they are from the greatest city in America: Wichita,” Johnston said. Wichita City Council meetings take place on the first, second and third Tuesdays of the month at 9 a.m. in City Hall.
CONTACT US 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. EDITOR IN CHIEF Mia Hennen editor@thesunflower.com ADVERTISING/DESIGN MANAGER Thy Vo admanager@thesunflower.com
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CORRECTIONS
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NEWS
www.thesunflower.com
Jan. 18, 2024 | 3
WINTER WRAP-UP Catch up on Wichita State news from winter break and early this week with these Sunflower stories.
Courtesy of wichita.edu
Telly McGaha announced as new WSU Foundation president, CEO
Illustration by Cheyanne Tull / The Sunflower
WSU recognizes Juneteenth as university holiday
BY COURTNEY BROWN
newsprojects@thesunflower.com
Following the search for new leadership since July, Telly McGaha has been announced as the new president and CEO of the Wichita State University Foundation and Alumni Engagement. McGaha’s most recent positions include serving as the interim president of the Georgia State University Foundation as well as the co-interim vice president for university advancement there. He has a bachelor’s in English from the University of Louisville and a master’s in public administration from Northern Kentucky University. “As a first-generation college graduate myself, the university’s (WSU) commitment to accessible education and innovation stood out to me immediately,” McGaha said in an interview with WSU Strategic Communications. According to WSU Strategic Communications, McGaha will join the foundation’s team on Feb. 12 and work alongside current president Elizabeth King to transition into the new role. King, who announced her retirement in May 2023 after over 30 years in the position, will complete her last day on March 1.
Brandon McClain speaks in a Student Government Association meeting on Dec 6. | Photo by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
Student government adviser departs from Wichita State BY LOREN AMELUNKE
loren.amelunke@outlook.com
After serving over a year and a half at Wichita State, Brandon McClain is departing for a new position in his hometown. “There’s never a good time to leave,” McClain, the assistant director of Student Engagement, Advocacy & Leadership, said. “It’s always a bittersweet moment.” McClain, who also advises the Student Government Association (SGA) at WSU, is moving back to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. There, McClain said he will continue to pursue his passions of community service and leadership development in the Office of Student Involvement at his alma mater, University of Louisville. “I knew it was a decision that I just couldn’t pass up,” McClain said. “Same as the reason I came to Wichita State in the first place:
“
There’s never a good time to leave. It’s always a bittersweet moment. BRANDON MCCLAIN Former Student Government Adviser
it was a good opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.” In his new position, McClain will also advise a student government. Additionally, he said he plans to broaden the opportunities for students through creating more leadership programs as the assistant director of leadership development programs at the University of Louisville. “I did some great things while I was at Wichita State, and I expect a lot of those things to continue while I’m gone, but I’m really excited for that next stage,” McClain said.
Gabriel Fonseca, the head SGA adviser, commented on McClain’s contributions to SGA. “He made lots of effort to engage with Senators who didn’t serve in leadership roles … and was instrumental in advancing the Shocker Support Locker programs and systems,” Fonseca said. “He is passionate about working with students and over our time together he made me a better director and a better adviser. I know he will continue to do great work in his next role and will help advance their mission as he did here at Wichita State.” In McClain’s absence, Fonseca will continue to advise the Senate and the Speaker and Committee Chairs. McClain’s other responsibilities will be temporarily delegated to other members of the SGA staff until it is the right time to look for a replacement.
BY ALLISON CAMPBELL news@thesunflower.com
Wichita State University announced earlier this week that Juneteenth, a newly state-recognized federal holiday, will be designated as an official university holiday beginning in 2024. Like other official campus holidays and break periods, there will be no office hours or classes held in recognition of the holiday on June 19. Juneteenth honors the announcement and enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas, and other rebelling southern states. Juneteenth commemorates a milestone in ending slavery in the United States and serves as a time for many to celebrate freedom and family. Two months ago, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly established Juneteenth as a state holiday. Since this announcement, WSU joins Kansas State University and the University of Kansas in marking Juneteenth as a university holiday Additional information regarding Juneteenth can be found on the National Museum of African American History and Culture website and the official Juneteenth website.
NOW From classics to rom-coms: new Wichita State book club invites readers of all kinds BY MIA HENNEN
editor@thesunflower.com
“Book lovers on campus looking for their next book club can now join one at Wichita State. ShelfCare Book Club, started by pre-nursing student Promise Johnson last semester, aims to provide a space for readers of all kinds. Johnson, who now serves as president, started the group after wondering why the campus didn’t already have one. “We have a lot of clubs for literally everything, and I was like, ‘How can we not have a book club?’” Johnson said. “My friends were just like, ‘Oh, why don’t you just create a book club?’” Johnson said that creating the club has helped find others who share the same passion as her. Currently, the group has around 30 consistent members. “I just generally love having conversation with readers, if it’s like five people, or 10 or 15,” Johnson said. “I just want to create that space for readers.” Marisol Muñoz-Morales, vice president of ShelfCare, said that the club’s goal is to also “foster
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We really want to focus on creating a safe environment for those different perspectives and cultures and backgrounds MARISOL MUÑOZ-MORALES ShelfCare Book Club Vice President
the critical thinking skills needed to dive into different perspectives than what we may know.” “Every event that we have, we really want to focus on creating a safe environment for those different perspectives and cultures and backgrounds,” Muñoz-Morales said. Both Johnson and MuñozMorales mentioned having a book of the month, with some months tying specifically into various cultures and people. “We actually did Native American Heritage Month,” Muñoz-Morales said. “February is definitely going to be Black history. And then, although we won’t be in session for June, we’re hoping to have at least a couple pride or LGBTQ authors in the mix as
ShelfCare Book Club members pose for a photo. | Courtesy of ShelfCare Book Club
well.” The group also aims to make the books they read accessible. “We offer free links to all of our books online just to make sure it’s affordable for people who want to read but can’t afford to read,”
Johnson said. ShelfCare Book Club generally meets every two weeks. Johnson and Muñoz-Morales both said regardless of how often and what you read, all are welcome to come to the club’s meetings.
“This is a group that’s a safe space for everyone,” Johnson said. “If you’re a book reader, it’s the place for you.” More about ShelfCare and its meeting times can be found on their Instagram: @shelfcare.ict.
SPORTS
4 | Jan. 18, 2024 www.thesunflower.com
HAVE A STORY IDEA? Contact the Sports editor, Melanie Rivera-Cortez sports@thesunflower.com
Freshman Theodora Chantava sets herself to recieve a serve. | File photo by Brianna Cook / The Sunflower
Women’s tennis comes up short in season opener BY JACOB UNRUH
assistantsports@thesunflower.com
Tre’Zure Jobe yells to her teammates about the next play late in the Jan. 17 game. | Photos by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
Women’s basketball team snaps losing streak against Memphis BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ
A
sports@thesunflower.com
four-game losing streak for Wichita State women’s basketball ended after defeating Memphis, 71-66. “It’s kind of a relief because we put in so much work and practice, and so it just paid off, it feels good,” redshirt sophomore Jayla Murray said. The game started off the game shaky with the Shockers committing seven turnovers. The Tigers created a lead with three 3-point shots. In the second quarter of the game, the Shockers came back strong, making a 20-4 run to take the lead. Head women’s basketball coach Terry Nooner said he emphasized attacking and dominating the paint. “I think that today they had the mindset that they wanted to get buckets in the paint … because of the way Memphis defense kind of works,” Nooner said. Wichita State led going into the half, 41-33, and Memphis could not take the lead once during the third and fourth quarters. Coming back from the break, the Shockers would create as much as a 13-point lead. Sophomore Daniela Abies led the Shockers with a doubledouble, creating 18 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.
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I thought it was some of our best basketball three quarters, and we have been focused a lot on just making sure we get better every single day
Men’s tennis goes 1-2 against Arizona teams BY JACOB UNRUH
TERRY NOONER Head men’s basketball coach
assistantsports@thesunflower.com
“(Abies) is the best in the country in fronting the post and helping when people drive downhill,” Nooner said. He said Abies is a good rebounder because she has great anticipation and does a good job at reading the basketball. Abies said she was not expecting to get as many rebounds as she did but has been working on boxing out during practice. The Shockers outrebounded Memphis, 47-35. “I think that it gave us confidence, and we were able to get out and score in transition,” Nooner said. Nooner said that the team has been trying to focus on getting better every day. “I thought it was some of our best basketball three quarters, and we have been focused a lot on just making sure we get better every single day,” Nooner said. Wichita State women’s basketball will travel to Oklahoma to face off against Tulsa on Jan. 20. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Ambah Kowcun pushes past the Memphis defense during the Jan. 17 match.
assistantsports@thesunflower.com
Wichita State’s track and field team came in third in a three-team triangular against the University of Kansas and Kansas State University, but had some impressive individual performances along the way. The Shockers finished with 190.5 team points, while Kansas took home the win with 245.5 points. Kansas State ended up with 228 points. On the men’s side, freshman Josh Parrish won the 60-meter hurdles event with a 7:90 time, breaking the meet record in
the process. He also won the long jump over senior Yuben Goncalves. Both Parrish and Goncalves jumped 7.09m/23’3.5”. Parrish also placed fourth in the triple jump, capping off a meet-high 17 individual points. Junior Jaleel Montgomery finished second in the men’s 60-meter sprint with a 6:88 time and third in the 200-meter event at 22:27. Junior Zander Cobb came in second in the 3000-meter at 8:26:15 Junior Brady Palen set the eighth-best high jump in the nation at 2.14m/7’0.25”
Men’s tennis swung into the 2024 season with a road trip to Arizona. On Thursday, they beat Grand Canyon University, 5-2. On Friday, the team lost both legs of a doubleheader with Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University, 4-0.
THURSDAY
Tre’Zure Jobe sprints down the court during the second quarter on Jan. 17
Raissa Nsabua jumps to make a basket in the second quarter against Memphis.
Track and field team breaks records but finishes third in Kansas Triangular in Lawrence, Kansas BY JACOB UNRUH
In a tough matchup to begin their season against #13 Oklahoma University, the Wichita State women’s tennis team was beaten, 6-1. It is the 37th consecutive home win for the Sooners. The Sooners swept both doubles matchups. Wichita State was bested quickly in singles on the second, third, fourth and sixth courts. However, the other two matches were hard-fought battles. On court two, redshirt senior Natsumi Kurahashi was beaten in the first set, 6-1, but fought back with a 6-2 win in set two. In the decisive 10-point tiebreaker, Kurahashi fell short, 10-8. On the fifth court, freshman Anne Knuettel won the first set on a tiebreaker set, 10-8. She dropped set two 6-2 before gutting out a win in the tiebreaker, 10-8. The Shockers continue their season on Saturday, Jan. 20, in Omaha against Creighton.
but finished second in the triangular. Sophomore Lea Jerkovic won the only event for the Wichita State women, coming in first in the 800-meter at 2:21:18. Junior Destiny Masters placed second in the high jump with the second-best mark in Wichita State history, 1.85m/6’0.75”. She also finished second in the long jump at 5.73m/18’9.75” and third in the 60-hurdles at 8.63. In the 600-yard run, senior Farrah Miller set a new personal-best time of 1:23.55 en
route to a second-place finish. Junior Sydney Brown also set a personal best of 7:77 in the 60-meter sprint. Brown went on to finish second in the 200meter as well. The other podium-finishers for the Shockers on the women’s side were junior Peyton Pogge in the 1000-meter, junior Lucy Ndungu in the 3000-meter and junior Chidera Okoro in the triple jump. The track and field team will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, to compete in the Prairie Wolf Invitational on Friday, Jan. 19.
Wichita State opened the season by beating Grand Canyon on Thursday. The Shockers won two of the three doubles matches and four of the six singles matches against the Lopes. In the doubles courts, sophomores Luke Bracks and Alejandro Jacome delivered the first win for the Shockers on the day, 7-5. On court one, freshman Vanja Hodzic and graduate student Misha Kvantaliani were defeated, which left it up to court two’s sophomore Richey King and graduate student Marcelo Sepulveda. The duo fought the match to a 6-6 game tie before winning the tiebreak, 7-2. The Shockers won on the first three singles courts. Jacome and Kvantaliani swept their opponents, while Hodzic won his matchup in the third set. King won on court six in a tight matchup, winning the tiebreaker in the third set, 7-5.
FRIDAY On Friday, Wichita State played a doubleheader against Northern Arizona and Arizona State. Both legs ended with the same scoreline: a 4-0 defeat for the Shockers. Against Northern Arizona, Wichita State was swept on the doubles courts, failing to pick up a set. In singles, Bracks and Hodzic each won a set in their matchups, but both matches failed to conclude after wins on courts two, four and six wrapped up the overall victory for Northern Arizona. It was the same day and the same script against Arizona State. Wichita State was swept again in doubles. No Shockers singles players were able to claim a set victory, and Jacome’s match on court one was ended due to injury. The men’s tennis team will travel to Texas Tech on Saturday, Jan. 20.
SPORTS
www.thesunflower.com
REMAINING
MEN’S
GAME SCHEDULE HOME
AWAY
JAN. 18 | 6 P.M.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
Jan. 18, 2024 | 5
WHAT’D YOU MISS?
REMAINING
WOMEN’S GAME SCHEDULE HOME
AWAY
JAN. 20 | 2 P.M.
TULSA
JAN. 21 | 1 P.M.
SOUTH FLORIDA
JAN. 25 | 6 P.M.
UAB
JAN. 24 | 6:30 P.M.
EAST CAROLINA JAN. 27 | 6 P.M.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC JAN. 28 | 2 P.M.
SMU
JAN. 31 | 6 P.M.
TEMPLE JAN. 31 | 6 P.M.
TULSA
Quincy Ballard fights with University of Kansas’ Kevin McCullar Jr. for possession of the ball in the second half of the matchup at the T-Mobile Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. Ballard scored 10 points and four rebounds during his 19 minutes of play on Dec. 30. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower FEB. 3 | NOON
MEMPHIS
Catching up on basketball from the break
BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ sports@thesunflower.com
FEB. 7 | 6:30 P.M.
UTSA
FEB. 11 | 11 A.M.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
FEB. 15 | 6 P.M.
EAST CAROLINA
MEN’S BASKETBALL Wichita State men’s basketball wrapped up the calendar year by going on the road to Kansas City, Missouri, to play against in-state rivals Kansas University and the University of Kansas. The Shockers returned home to play the first conference game against the University of North Texas.
VS K-STATE FEB. 18 | 11 A.M.
CHARLOTTE
FEB. 21 | 8 P.M.
TULSA
FEB. 25 | 3 P.M.
TEMPLE
FEB. 28 | 7 P.M.
UAB
game. Ten minutes into the first half, KU was in the lead, 14-9, but the Shockers made an effort to tie the game with a layup from junior Kenny Pohto and a threepointer from graduate student Dalen Ridgnal 14-14. This would be the last time the Shockers would be able to tie the game.
VS UNT In its first game of 2024, Wichita State lost to AAC newcomer, North Texas, 74-62. Wichita State committed 14 turnovers, which led to easy points for the Mean Green.
At the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, men’s basketball lost against Kansas State University, 69-60. The Wildcats led going into the half, 33-29, despite shooting 38% compared to the Shockers 41%. Wichita State went more than four minutes without a field goal, giving the Wildcats a lead that the team could not overcome.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
VS KU
VS MISSOURI
In a sea of red, white and blue, Wichita State lost to the University of Kansas, 86-67, in the Shockers’ last non-conference
Shooting and turnover struggles in the second half doomed Wichita State in a loss on the road against Missouri
Women’s basketball started off its winter break with a loss at Missouri State . The team would continue its losing streak against Oral Roberts at home. The Shockers would turn it around to win the conference opener against Tulane in Charles Koch Arena.
State, 72-65. Wichita State shot 68% from the field and forced 15 turnovers in the first half but committed 13 turnovers of their own in the second while shooting 35%.
FEB. 4 | 2 P.M.
EAST CAROLINA
FEB. 10 | 1 P.M.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC
VS ORAL ROBERTS In its final non-conference game of the season, Wichita State women’s basketball lost against Oral Roberts, 76-74. By the end of the fourth quarter, Wichita State was down by eight. The Shockers would be able to tie the game with a pair of free throws from Abies and two 3-pointers from senior Sierra Morrow with 17 seconds left on the clock.
FEB. 13 | 6 P.M.
SOUTH FLORIDA
FEB. 17 | 2 P.M.
TULSA
VS TULANE The Wichita State women’s basketball team opened up its American Athletic Conference play with a win against Tulane University, 63-60, snapping the team’s four-game losing streak. The game’s action came in the fourth quarter with the game’s last eight points from redshirt senior Tre’Zure Jobe, who hit six free throws and brought the score to 61-60.
FEB. 24 | 3 P.M.
CHARLOTTE
FEB. 28 | 6 P.M.
SMU
MARCH 2 | 2 P.M.
UTSA MARCH 2 | 6 P.M.
RICE
MARCH 5 | 6 P.M.
UAB
MARCH 8 | 8 P.M.
TULANE
MARCH 13 - 17 Fort Worth, Texas
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
After defeating Tulane University, senior guard Aniya Bell celebrates on the sidelines. The Shockers defeated the Green Wave by three points, 63-60 on Dec. 30. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
Kenny Pohto looks around for a teammate to pass the ball to during the Dec. 10 game against South Dakota State. Pohto scored nine points and 13 rebounds. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
Raissa Nsabua runs past the Temple defense to make an attempt at the basket. Nsabua played for 13 minutes, and scored one point and one rebound. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
MARCH 9-13 Fort Worth, Texas
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Men’s basketball allows over 100 points in loss against Memphis BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ sports@thesunflower.com
After nearly 20 years of not allowing an opponent to score 100 points, No. 13 ranked Memphis outscored Wichita State men’s basketball 112-86. “I was just as shocked as everybody else,” Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway said. “I expected this to be like a dogfight and didn’t expect for it to be a blowout.” Wichita State began the game strong, winning the jump ball and making the game’s first bucket from junior Quincy Ballard. Memphis responded with a jump shot from Jaykwon Walton, a former Shocker. In his return to the Roundhouse, Walton led the Tigers with 23 points and scored a career-best of six 3-pointers. Redshirt junior Colby Rodgers said it was nice to see a former teammate back on the court. “I didn’t want to see him do good, but … it was fun seeing him
back here,” Rodgers said. The Shockers held a one-point lead by the first media timeout, 22-21, but the Memphis Tigers pushed back to take the lead, 49-43. With seconds left in the first half, graduate student Dalen Ridgnal made a key 3-pointer to send the Shockers 49-46 into halftime. By the start of the second half, the Shockers were still on a high from the first with back-to-back 3-pointers from Rogers. The Tigers countered by making the next five points, 57-52. The Shockers failed to respond, causing Memphis to go on a subsequent 25-8 run. “When those shots started falling early, we couldn’t get caught up in a shootout, and we did,” Paul Mills, Wichita State head coach, said. “We’re not going to win those kinds of games.” Memphis hit 100 points with 6:02 remaining. The Tigers would
break its own program record with the 19 3-pointers made. The Shockers shot a seasonhigh 55% from the field, but it would not compare to the Tigers’ 65%, going 19-30 from beyond the arc. Rogers led the Shockers with 20 points. Redshirt junior Beverly Harlond would follow suit and make 15 points, and Ridgnal scored 15 buckets. Looking forward, the team hopes to continue to grow from tough losses. “We just got to focus in on what we have to do as a team and keep focus on getting better as individuals, as players,” Rogers said. This was the fifth straight loss (0-3 in conference) for men’s basketball, who will seek to snap its losing streak as they travel to Boca Raton, Florida, to face off against No. 23 Florida Atlantic on Jan. 18. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Xavier Bell runs past the Memphis defense on Jan. 14. Bell scored three of his seven attempted field goals and three of four free throws. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
6 | Jan. 18, 2024 www.thesunflower.com
OPINION
HAVE A STORY IDEA? Contact the Opinion editor, Sascha Harvey opinion@thesunflower.com
is an ‘Mean Girls’ musical movie adaptation ‘INSANO’ hour of okay hip with is imperfect and unapologetically fun hop/trap underlying gems Monique Bever monibever@gmail.com REVIEW
The new “Mean Girls” movie is so fetch. Well, kind of. It’s pretty fetch. More than 20 years ago, Tina Fey adapted Rosalind Wiseman’s parenting self-help book, “Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World” into a screenplay that what would become the original 2004 movie, “Mean Girls.” The cult classic status of “Mean Girls” may have been inevitable. With 2000’s it-girl Lindsay Lohan as the lead, a script overflowing with iconic quotable one-liners and the inclusion of possibly every single teen comedy trope, the film has had a timeless cultural impact. How do you successfully adapt or follow up on an enigma of a film like “Mean Girls”? Maybe just try doing the opposite of whatever “Mean Girls 2” was. For “Mean Girls 2,” an entirely new cast, a team of writers and story touting the “Mean Girls” name wasn’t enough to carry it to being anything more than a shameless cash-grab. In 2016, the entertainment industry gave “Mean Girls” another shot, turning “Mean Girls” into a Broadway musical. I love musicals, hyper-feminine ones especially. I’ve streamed the “Legally Blonde the Musical” soundtrack an embarrassing amount of times. So, the “Mean Girls” musical had been on my
radar for a while. From a non-fiction book to a movie to a musical to a musical movie, ignoring a really bad sequel somewhere in between, “Mean Girls” (2024) was born. The bold, theatrical songs from the Broadway musical were altered to a pop rhythm that powerhouse singers like Reneé Rapp (Regina), Auli‘i Cravalho (Janis), and Jaquel Spivey (Damian) could make work. Avantika Vandanapu did flawless as Karen, including her rendition of “Sexy.” This, unfortunately, didn’t bode for the rest of the cast, who, though stellar in their own right, gave forgettable performances musically. There’s a lot I love about the movie, and maybe a bit more that disappointed me. Still, If there is anything to say about the new “Mean Girls,” it is that it’s a love letter to its original film. Though the 2004 movie certainly isn’t going anywhere, I was glad to see a new generation of girls filling into the theater, experiencing the story in a way suited to their interests. Although the TikTokification of “Mean Girls” is one of the movie’s selling points, the random mentions of modern social media put me off quite a bit. The actual TikTok videos are sporadic throughout the film. At best, they offered a cute plot device to start songs. It would be silly not to love the random Megan Thee Stallion cameos throughout the film. But at their worst, they were simply unfunny and repetitive. I think the biggest offender, though, was the costuming. It
was all too Shein chic. Though I’ll be honest, I think I’m judging a bit too harshly because I very delusionally hoped they’d have the cast dressed in a McBling mid-2000s style. Still, it hurt my heart seeing grunge icon Janis in a watered-down, mass-produced version of what’s historically a style based on anti-consumerism. There was a bit of revisionism to the film’s script, but I’m not mad about it. Although the original movie has its loveable basis, there’s quite a bit that’s uncomfortable about it. Cutting the excess of racist jokes, having Coach Carr take sexual advantage of students as a flippant joke, and the casual usage of homophobic and ableist slurs out of the script worked to the benefit of a remake. But, in a way, the sanitization of the script took away the cruelty that made the villains of the film. For example: “You can’t join the mathletes. That’s social suicide” was revised to “socially ruinous.” Casually using the word suicide is insensitive, but people still do it, and pretending students don’t cuts on the realism of the film. Without being immoral and insensitive, aren’t The Plastics just superficial divas? Is that really too horrible? When done right, a film can have characters do and say deplorable things and not endorse their actions. The original failed to achieve that in many ways, so I understand the apprehension of recreating in full. Even though I didn’t connect to the movie in many ways, I still had fun watching it and found many things to love. The ensemble cast was
fantastic. Gen-Z darling Rapp reprised her role of Regina George from the Broadway musical and did the impossible by portraying the character as well as Rachel McAdams had. Despite this, Vandanapu gave my favorite performance as Karen, stealing every scene she was in. As Cady Heron, Angourie Rice played her transformation from socially undeveloped to a mean girl naturally, staying faithful to the character. I’ve always found Gretchen Wieners to be one of the most complex characters in “Mean Girls.” Bebe Wood brought empathy to the character and channeled her perfectly. But the film’s true highlight to my 10-year-old self and me was seeing Janis as a fully realized lesbian. I’ll be forever frazzled seeing Janis get with Kevin G at the end of the original movie. People can disagree with the original Janis’ queer-coding. Still, I can attest to the representation I had watching her being ostracized for a perceived queer identity as I experienced the same thing. Seeing Janis and Damien’s WLW/MLM dynamic embraced made my week. “Mean Girls” is definitely corny, but the constant homages to the original movie were so fun. Like it was getting audience participation treatment, catching references became a game. Seeing Lohan return, as a Mathletes Quizmaster, was plain adorable. For the girls, the gays, and musical lovers alike, get in loser, we’re going to see the new “Mean Girls.”
‘Counting the Cost’ is required reading for former Duggar fans Sascha Harvey opinion@thesunflower.com REVIEW
I’ll be honest when I say that I grew up with the Duggar family. Living just one county south of the star family of the TLC show “19 Kids and Counting,” the Duggars were a huge staple of my childhood. The Duggars followed the teachings of a group called the Institute of Basic Life Principles (IBLP), specifically the “Quiverfull” ideology that values having as many children as possible over pretty much anything else. Other IBLP ideals stress the importance of sexual purity, traditional gender roles and gaining political and social power to minister the Christian gospel. My mom didn’t have any other children, but we resonated with the Duggars’ ideals. Like them, we were Christian, lived in Arkansas and loved Silver Dollar City. This sweet, mild and meek family simply touched our hearts, and we tuned in for every marriage, birth and everything in between. So when daughter Jill Duggar released a memoir recounting her experiences growing up Duggar (and defining herself outside of being a Duggar), my mom and I jumped at the opportunity to check it out. Alongside writer Craig Borlase and her husband Derick Dillard, Jill gives a detailed account of her adolescence in “Counting the Cost,” which was released in September 2023. Although the memoir starts with memories from Jill’s childhood, the pace intensifies following Jill’s marriage to Derick Dillard. My mom and I excitedly tuned in to the episode premiere of the wedding in 2014, which seemed like a joyous occasion. However, more than nine years later, Jill touches on what went on below the surface in her book. The event was far more publicized than she had ever wanted, a common theme throughout her life that would extend from small aspects of her relationship to the birth of her first child.
In 2015, the image of this perfect Christ-following family was shattered when In Touch Weekly magazine revealed a huge family secret without permission: the oldest child, Josh Duggar, had been touching four young girls, including at least two of his sisters, from 2002 to 2003. For those who didn’t keep up with the legal drama, Jill covers the extent of the story in her memoir, mingled with how these events impacted her directly. Josh revealed his abuse to his parents in 2006 and faced essentially no consequences. Jill was one of these sisters — she found that a huge part of her personal trauma was being relived for entertainment. I applaud Jill for sticking to her guns and not explicitly bringing up her own trauma in her memoir. Instead, she focused on the long legal battle that ensued against In Touch as well as Springdale, Arkansas, for the unlawful release of these records containing private information about juvenile victims. The original show was canceled after the information was leaked, and father Jim Bob had to work hard to get the family any sort of screen time again. Jill was practically forced by her parents to do an interview with Megyn Kelly to make it clear that her brother was forgiven, resulting in the spin-off show “Jill and Jessa: Counting On.” Later, in 2015, Josh was found in a data breach of the dating website Ashley Madison, which is geared towards individuals seeking extramarital affairs. He admitted he had a pornography addiction and checked himself into a rehab facility. Josh was never seen on TLC again. In 2021, Josh was arrested for the reception and possession of child pornography. “Counting On” was canceled, and the reign of the Duggars as the model Christian family, and Jim Bob’s IBLP ministry, was finally over. Jill faced a long and hearty battle with not only this legal case but separating herself from the show, gaining any sort of payment and recovering from the harmful and misogynistic teachings of the IBLP. While no longer heavily
Photo courtesy of Gallery Books
under the public eye, Jill broke away from the IBLP to find her own faith in God, even if that meant wearing pants or a nose ring — two things that dominated headlines when pictures appeared online. With Derick at her side, Jill writes heavily in the book about redefining her own religion without the fear and pain she gained from the IBLP. One thing I admire about the memoir is how raw her writing style is. To put it plainly, she’s not a good writer. Her words are almost identical on paper to how she speaks, as shown in the documentary mini-series “Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets.” The casual style is one of things that makes “Counting the Cost” really special, especially for a former Duggar fan. I watched “Shiny Happy People” when it came out last year and again after reading the memoir. Jill and her husband Derick make several appearances in the documentary, making her the only Duggar child to do so. Alongside Jill, Jim Bob’s sister and her daughter agreed to speak for the series. The documentary was the first real information I had gained about what was going on behind the scenes for the Duggars, but “Counting the Cost” set everything in stone. Jill’s book featured a plethora of email and text messages from her parents,
specifically Jim Bob, that showed his true colors. Still, the reader doesn’t walk away thinking Jill is an ungrateful daughter. Even when recounting all the pain she has faced from her father, Jill writes in detail about how much she loves her father and hopes their relationship can be healed. Jill has stuck to the truth through and through, both the good and the bad. If anything, the epilogue is a love letter to her wonderful childhood. While “Shiny Happy People” touches a lot on the IBLP and leader Bill Gothard, Jill’s memoir has a more personal touch. She talks about going from being the model child, “Silly Jilly Muffin,” to learning to have her own voice and question the IBLP. With her husband to support her through thick and thin and be her voice if she struggled, Jill was able to break away from the IBLP and practice her faith in a way that felt right to her — even if that meant wearing pants, which the IBLP forbade for women. “Counting the Cost” was a quick and easy read and perfectly ties up the Duggar family saga. Jill has taken the honorable approach to spread the truth when she has been taught to do anything but her entire life. If you caught even a few episodes of “19 Kids and Counting,” I recommend “Counting the Cost” to set the record straight.
Tyler Guthrie
tylereguthrie2022@gmail.com
REVIEW
Rapper Kid Cudi started the new year with his ninth studio album, “INSANO,” which ventures on an hour of hip hop/trap mix, spanning across 21 tracks. After listening to all of them and sitting on the album for a bit, I’ve got a few things to say about an experience that can only be described as tasteful. The hip hop and trap mash that Cudi goes for on this album is executed to a fruitful degree, starting with the opening track “OFTEN, I HAVE THESE DREAMZ.” After about a 45-second intro, where Cudi and guest vocalist DJ Drama introduce themselves and the album, the hip hop/trap comes and it sticks its landing. Cudi and DJ Drama execute their lines with a reserved spice in their rap voices. Unfortunately, the next handful of songs until about the midpoint of the album sound incredibly similar to one another. Listening back to back, it feels like there is almost no variety; however, each track has something unique to offer under individual examination. On the second and third tracks, “KEEP BOUNCIN’” and “GET OFF ME,” the vocal executions in the chorus sound similar. The difference is that “KEEP BOUNCIN’” has a more airy expression while “GET OFF ME” is sung in a lower, commanding tone. Additionally, “WOW” (featuring A$AP Rocky) has a beautifully sung chorus in a breathtaking ambiance. It makes me feel as if I am losing breath alongside Cudi. Most of the outright variety that was lacking in the first half is in the second half. In fact, it starts with the most standout song on the entire album. “AT THE PARTY” (featuring Pharrell Williams and Travis Scott) is not only a single, but stands out from most of the album. I think this is because the instrumentation is more drawn out and takes a backseat. It really allows Williams to come in with the intro and outro choruses and for Cudi’s and Scott’s choruses to land. The laidback execution allows the song to stick out. Two of my favorite songs are back-to-back. “TORTURED” and “X & CUD” (featuring XXXTENACION) really exemplify how incredible the more underrated tracks are. “TORTURED” talks about Cudi giving his life to inner demons and drugs because it is all he has ever known, and it’s so comfortable here. While the trap beat sounds like what has been previously heard on the album, Cudi’s delivery makes this song stand out to me. “X & CUD” (featuring (XXXTENACION), where Cudi sampled the late XXXTENACION’s song “Orlando,” feels like a conversation between X and Cudi about mental health and death. It’s a track that is supposed to directly follow “TORTURED.” The most standout aspect of “X & CUD” is Cudi’s outro verse. Cudi comes in with a delightful fire, as if he’s admonishing himself for feeling down and assuring the listener that he will be okay. The album ends with “HIT THE STREETZ IN MY NIKES,” which has one of the best flowing choruses in the whole album. The trap beat and autotune that Cudi uses mesh well together. It leads into a 20-second outro that takes an enthralling amount of time to close the album, but before it does, it hits me with one last word that fades out: “INSANO!” It’s a song that does its diligence of being a solid closer. This album is a mostly captivating listening experience from front to back. It may take a couple of listens or individual track listens to fully capture the longevity of the album, but once past the more lackluster tracks in the first half, “INSANO” will hold you in place.
HAVE A STORY IDEA? Contact the Arts editor, Salsabila Attaria arts@thesunflower.com
ARTS & CULTURE
Zuzu’s Petals, made up of Emmalie Hurla, Jack Anderson and Kyle Hall, perform songs from their debut album, Roses & Thorns. The band describe themselves as a Midwest poet punk band. | Photos by Gavin Stephens / The Sunflower
Jan. 18, 2024 | 7 www.thesunflower.com
Vocalist Kyle Hall performs at Kirby’s Beer Store with Zuzu’s Petals on Jan. 13.
Graduate students start punk band Zuzu’s Petals BY MONIQUE BEVER
C
monibever@gmail.com
ombining their study of poetry and prose with punk, graduate students Kyle Hall and Jack Anderson created the band Zuzu’s Petals alongside their friend Emmalie Hurla in October. Hall is the band’s vocalist, songwriter and guitarist. His professional and academic life revolves around poetry, so he often incorporates it into his music. “Lyrically my studies in poetry have really informed my lyricism even without meaning to, just by being immersed in poetry all the time,” Hall said. Anderson is the band’s drummer. When balancing his work and band responsibilities, he finds the creative intersection between each helpful. “Since we are immersed in such a creative community, it still does feel like we’re feeding that artistic monster a little bit,” Anderson said. “So I don’t beat myself up too much about it because I do get my work done. It just takes a lot of effort.” Hurla is the band’s bassist. She’s a Kansas State University graduate and works at the Sedgwick County Zoo. She’s new to the instrument but has begun learning for the band. Her experience with playing instruments lies in her upbringing playing piano.
HOW ZUZU’S PETALS BLOOMED Chronicling the band’s origin, Hall and Anderson met as office mates on the sixth floor of Lindquist Hall. The two were both pursuing an MFA for Creative Writing in Poetry and shared an interest in music that inevitably sparked their connection. “I knew of Kyle before I met him, and then I knew I wanted to convince him to play music,” Anderson said. “And that eventually came up, but it took a second. We became friends first.” Hurla’s connection to Hall and Anderson is through her husband, Alexander, who works with them in the creative writing program. Hall and Anderson call Hurla an ‘in-law’ of the program. The band’s name, Zuzu’s Petals, comes from the “It’s a Wonderful Life” character, Zuzu. The conversation came up during a band practice in Hall’s home regarding his “It’s a Wonderful Life” themed blanket. Zuzu’s Petals refer to a significant symbol in the film. “At first, Kyle and I were very worried about … being too loud,” Anderson said. “And so we would have to mute the drums (by putting the blanket over them). One day, we were testing out names, and I looked at Zuzu (on the blanket), said Zuzu’s Petals, and we kind of started joking about that.” Zuzu’s Petals’ music-making process takes a collaborative effort
that honors their shared artistic vision. “Kyle usually comes to the table with the song or enough structure of a song that I can play drums on it,” Anderson said. “Then we’ll work on it.” They face occasional trial and error during the writing process but find that constructive input from each other strengthens their music. “Some songs just get trashed. I write them, and they sound good by myself,” Hall said. “But when Jack and I sit down to try to really flesh them out, it’s like, ‘Oh, this one didn’t work.’” Hall, Anderson, and Hurla find the time they’ve spent together for the band has solidified their connection. “Chemistry is everything,” Hall said. “You might be the best musician in the world, but when you sit down to play together (as a band), it’s just awkward. It’s way more rewarding and fun to be in a band with people you’re friends with already. And then maybe your band sucks, but you have a good time working on it.”
MUSICAL INFLUENCES Whether it be from film, music, geography, or the literary work and poetry Hall and Anderson absorb in their academic career, Zuzu’s Petals draws from multiple influences. Hall cites indie-folk band The
Mountain Goats as a significant inspiration. He also found that all the bandmates enjoy older music and bond together over artists like The Beach Boys, Neil Young and Eagles. “We’re a very loud band, but the
songs themselves are relatively simple and lyrically driven,” Hall said. “I think that there is a singer-songwriter sensibility to the music.” While working harmoniously with Hall on the music’s rhythm, Anderson and Hurla’s sound is punk-influenced. “The rhythm part, which (Hurla) and I do, is more punkbased,” Anderson said. “And that’s mostly just because (Hurla) and I just learned how to play these instruments.” While Anderson and Hurla are both from Kansas, Hall has lived in various cities nationwide, which comes up frequently in their music. “I think a lot of Zuzu songs are place-based, like Chicago comes up in almost all of my songs,” Hall said. “Boston and Los Angeles, just places where I’ve lived before. Quite a few of the songs are about Wichita.”
EXPANDING THE SCOPE During the end of the fall semester, Hall and Anderson balanced their first year of graduate school by playing Zuzu’s Petals’ first show at The Donut Whole
and recording the band’s debut album, Roses & Thorns, which was released on Jan. 12. Hall and Anderson found some difficulty with the workload the band had added to their lives. Both consider Zuzu’s Petals’ output rewarding and worth the struggle. The two help hold each other accountable when school gets hectic. “The band is my excuse, like not to do things,” Hall said, jokingly. “Like, well, maybe I didn’t get as much writing as I wanted to do, but we wrote a song.”
MOVING FORWARD As of now, the band has multiple shows scheduled throughout January at local music venues, like Kirby’s Beer Store and MonikaHouse. Considering the band’s future, Zuzu’s Petals seeks to continue making and recording music. Plans to tour the United States over the summer are in early discussion. “I feel like there’s something appealing in being a Midwestern band that makes it to the West Coast,” Hall said. “Anywhere (to tour) is fine, but I’m really a go big or go home person, just in general; I think the band is a lot like that, too. If we’re going to do it, we’re gonna do it all the way.” The band’s first album can be streamed from Bandcamp for free.
‘Two things can be true’: Musician Marrice Anthony on collaboration, complaining and reexamining his life at 30 BY AINSLEY SMYTH
ainsley.smyth3@gmail.com
The cover of Wichita rapper Marrice Anthony’s latest album, “2 THINGS CAN BE TRUE,” is his mom’s graduation photo. She died when he was 11. Following his mother’s passing, he moved from Detroit to Wichita. At 13, he recorded his music for the first time. As a teenager, he started looking for inspiration in other artists from his hometown. “When I moved here to Wichita, I was looking for Detroit artists to listen to because I realized I didn’t know a lot of Detroit acts,” Anthony said. “I was 15 and I discovered J Dilla and his whole story and whatnot. The last album he put out before he died was ‘Donuts’ and I found out that the reason why he named the album ‘Donuts’ was because he liked donuts.” This stuck with Anthony: the idea that he chose a name just because he liked something. He continued writing and recording. According to Anthony, he never wanted to get famous. His goal was to make meaningful music that reflected what he liked. “I don’t have a desire to make Top 40 music but I have a desire for folks to like my music,” he said. “I think that’s what gets lost in the sauce a lot of time with artists is that they’re like, ‘Nah, I’m just gonna make whatever I’m making
and it’s like, ‘but people have to enjoy that.’ I take more time now to make sure people get my message (rather) than trying to guide them to get it the way I want them to get it.” Besides trying to create music that resonates with people around him, Anthony said his work has undergone one other major change since he was a teen. “I’ve got more stuff to write about,” he said. “The downside to that is that my life starts sucking worse and so I’ve just had more things to complain about.” Anthony uses his music to “complain” and express himself, but he said there’s been times where he gets frustrated or overwhelmed with the process. He recalls one instance of this in 2019. “I had like a mini freak-out and sent out some emails to some people in the industry trying to get help,” he said. One person he reached out to responded with a phone call. “One of the things that he told me was that, ‘you know, if this was the 90s we would just fly you out to New York and sign you today but it’s not the 90s, you have to legitimize yourself’,” Anthony said. He said this phone call discouraged him because he had been hoping for more help, but the advice he received would inspire him to start his record label, the Cookie Store. That advice, along with J Dilla’s
influence, made Anthony attach the Cookie Store label to his work. “So then I just went and bought a chef ’s hat and apron on Amazon,” he said. “I went and got the logo put on it and then I just went and started playing shows and I just really didn’t describe it. I didn’t give nobody no context or nothing. I just showed up rapping in an apron.” Anthony was surprised when other artists approached him about joining the Cookie Store, but he accepted their requests and the group grew. They started booking shows together and supporting each other’s music. The Cookie Store now includes 43 members, mostly in Wichita, according to Anthony. The Store had a significant impact on the career of these artists who didn’t fit into the mainstream. “We don’t really appeal to whatever people are trying to sell,” he said. “So we didn’t really have anybody with that mindset in our circle before but now we do and that’s because of the Cookie Store.” Anthony said this collaborative mindset helped inspire some of the music on “2 THINGS CAN BE TRUE.” “There’s a song on side B of the album called ‘two weeks,’ that I would not have made had I not been listening to a lot of logan. jpg,” he said. “They just put out an album called ‘Chameleon.’
Photo courtesy of Marrice Anthony
Anytime you hear a new sound, you’re like, ‘huh, I guess I just didn’t think of it that way.’ It’s like a new language.” Originally, he said he wanted to release his album on his 30th birthday. That didn’t happen because Anthony said he got writer’s block. Still, that milestone was an important influence. “Everybody has that fear of turning 30 and wanting it to be a clean slate and if I’m gonna do that, then I kind of have to get out all the shit that I’m mad about,” he said. Many of the songs reflect difficult parts of his past. Side A and B of the record are distinctly different, something he said was intentional, but also made it difficult to unify. “I used each side to inspire the
other because I wanted everything to be balanced,” Anthony said. “I knew that sonically, there were two different sounds. One is made on an SP-404 so it’s very analog. One is made on a computer so it’s very digital and has a lot more intricate detail to it.” While struggling with piecing together the album, Anthony said he came across the inspiration for the title, as well as the cover featuring his mother’s photo. “It’s life three or four o’clock in the morning and I’m sitting– and this was one of those conversations where I’m stressing about, ‘okay, what are we gonna do, we’ve got damn near an album over here and like, damn near an album here. Like, what are we going to do?” he said. Read the rest at thesunflower.com
BUNDLING UP NEWS
8 | Jan. 18, 2024
www.thesunflower.com
UPCOMING EVENTS WSU & ALU: ‘WICHITA/ SARAJEVO CONNECTING STORIES’ THURSDAY, JAN. 18 All day | McKnight Art Center
PEE FOR PIZZA
THURSDAY, JAN. 18 Noon - 4 p.m. | Steve Clark YMCA & Student Wellness Center
WSU MEN’S BASKETBALL WATCH PARTY VS. FLORIDA ATLANTIC THURSDAY, JAN. 18 5:30 - 9 p.m. | Social Tap
WINTER WELCOME
FRIDAY, JAN. 19 5 - 8 p.m. | President’s Residence
SCHOOL OF MUSIC MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL KEYBOARD FESTIVAL
SATURDAY, JAN. 20 - SUNDAY, JAN. 21 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Duerksen Fine Arts Center
PANHELLENIC SPRING RECRUITMENT SATURDAY, JAN. 20 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. | Omega Court
ULRICH MINDFULNESS: GET OUT AND WALK SATURDAY, JAN. 20 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Ulrich Museum
ULRICH MINDFULNESS: GET OUTDOORS & WALK SCULPTURE STROLL SATURDAY, JAN. 20 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Ulrich Museum Natsuki Doi, a student at Wichita State, walks through campus on the first in-person day back to school. Wednesday, Jan. 17 was a cool 30 degrees Fahrenheit most of the afternoon. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
STUDENT ACTIVITIES COUNCIL OPEN HOUSE
MONDAY, JAN. 22 5 - 7 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center
SYLLABUS PARTY
TUESDAY, JAN. 23 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center
IGNITOR 2.0: EMPOWER YOUR BUSINESS WITH FEEDBACK AND STRATEGY TUESDAY, JAN. 23 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Devlin Hall Two classmates chat as they walk past the Rhatigan Student Center on Wednesday morning. After in-person classes were made remote on Tuesday, Jan. 16, Wednesday marked the first day of in-person classes at Wichita State. | Photo by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
Lenora Callins, a student at Wichita State, walks from the parking lot near Elliott Hall. Callins, and other students, braved the cold to come back for the first in-person class on Wednesday, Jan. 17. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
NORTH AMERICAN COMPUTATIONAL LINGUISTICS OPEN COMPETITION THURSDAY, JAN. 25 8:30 a.m. - Noon. | Rhatigan Student Center
SPRING INVOLVEMENT FAIR
THURSDAY, JAN. 25 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center
COHEN HONORS HOUSEWARMING
THURSDAY, JAN. 25 3:30 - 5 p.m. | Shocker Hall
CHEERS & CHANTS 101 WITH THE SHOCK BLOCK THURSDAY, JAN. 25 4:30 p.m. | Charles Koch Arena A trio of classmates make their way out of Hubbard Hall after their first in-person class of the semester. | Photo by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
A student at Wichita State walks through campus on the first in-person day back to school. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
A student makes her way toward the RSC to take shelter against Wednesday’s cold wind. | Photo by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
ROWING INTEREST MEETING THURSDAY, JAN. 25 5 p.m. | Heskett Center
ULRICH MUSEUM OF ART: SPRING 2024 EXHIBITION OPENING CELEBRATION THURSDAY, JAN. 25 5:30 - 8 p.m. | Ulrich Museum
IGNITOR 1.0: BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY TO STARTUP MASTERY THURSDAY, JAN. 25 5:45 - 8 p.m. | Devlin Hall
A Shocker Hall resident cruises to class on his electric unicycle. While most sidewalks and roads were obstructed by snow last week, campus walkways were traversable by foot, bike and unicycle in time for Wednesday’s in-person classes. | Photo by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
A student leaving Shocker Hall tightens her scarf as she makes her way to class. Temperatures on Wednesday morning were just above freezing as students, faculty and staff commuted to campus. | Photo by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
Caitlin Nolen, Student Advocacy Coordinator in Student Engagement, Advocacy & Leadership (SEAL), zips up her jacket before heading out into the cold outside the Rhatigan Student Center. After the university removed to remote operations on Tuesday, Jan. 16, normal operations continued the next day. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
HAVE AN EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED? CONTACT THE ARTS EDITOR: arts@thesunflower.com CONTACT THE NEWS EDITOR: news@thesunflower.com