The Sunflower v. 128 i. 25 (March 28, 2024)

GraceMed CEO announces resignation amidst academic fraud allegations

BY ALLISON CAMPBELL

Venus Lee, the CEO of GraceMed Health Clinic, resigned earlier this week following an

Lee,

under different names.

Lee’s credentials were brought

into question in January by whistleblower Marty Keenan, a former attorney for GraceMed. In an interview with KWCH, Keenan said he first became suspicious of Lee’s education when he uncovered a verified document that contradicted Lee’s claims and her GraceMed bio.

Keenan said he found no evidence that Lee possessed either degree she claimed to have earned. He quit the company soon after.

After receiving an anonymous tip about the conflicting claims in March, Christopher Brunet, a contributing editor at The American Conservative and a writer for Karlstack, investigated further and contacted both WSU and Emory University.

According to the initial investigation published by Brunet on his Substack page, Emory University

confirmed that there was no record of a “Venus Lee’’ in the school’s ThD (doctor of theology) program. Emory also confirmed to Brunet that there was no degree under Lee’s maiden name and no degree under the name “Venus” in its Thesis and Dissertation repository. A dissertation is required for graduating doctoral students.

The Wichita Business Journal also confirmed through Emory University that there was no record of Lee’s degree.

Lee claimed to have proof of her degrees but refused to show them to Keenan, Brunet, The Wichita Business Journal and other media publications. In mid-March, GraceMed issued a statement that said Lee “has no credentials under the names of Venus, Lee, Thatcher, or Thomas” but did not specify under what

‘WILDEST DREAMS’

name Lee allegedly had her degrees under.

Lee and GraceMed did not reply to The Sunflower’s request for an interview.

Last week, The Wichita Business Journal reported that WSU confirmed Lee attended the

News anchor Norah O’Donnell

details ‘career of a lifetime’ to students

Norah O’Donnell has been working since she was 10.

After holding positions at a television program in South Korea, a law firm and a Chinese restaurant, she decided to become a journalist after an internship in college.

O’Donnell, now the CBS Evening News anchor, visited Wichita State on Thursday as part of the “Craig W. Barton Speaker Series,” answering students’ questions and sharing about her Emmy Award-winning career.

Her chosen profession aligns with her family’s values. Growing up as a military kid, she said her father’s deployment in the Gulf War meant the news mattered in her home.

“What happened in the world immediately affected my family, and my parents revered the news. They revered journalists,” O’Donnell said. “As a little girl watching Barbara Walters, I thought, ‘Wow, this is a woman around the world, interviewing the most powerful people in the world.’”

After graduating from Georgetown University, O’Donnell covered Congress as a reporter at Roll Call and then worked at NBC News for 12 years. At CBS News, she was the chief White House correspondent and co-anchor of the morning show before becoming the evening news anchor.

“I just happen to pair, I think, what was my natural curiosity and interest with people with a profession, which is reporting about the world,” she said. “And it’s been the career of a lifetime.”

O’Donnell’s curiosity has taken her to six continents, where she has gone to the Red Sea, war zones,

and has spoken with princes, presidents and military members.

“Never in my wildest dreams did this girl from public school in San Antonio, Texas, think that she would have interviewed all six living presidents,” O’Donnell said.

O’Donnell said her work is rewarding, but interviewing presidents can pose a challenge due to the limited timeframe. These interviews usually last about 10 minutes and can force a “confrontational style” to fit in questions.

But O’Donnell and the CBS production team prepare in advance, researching and narrowing down questions before interviews. She said overpreparing is key.

“For me, I think, the lesson is preparation builds confidence, and confidence equals success,” O’Donnell said. “I know I’m going to walk in there with confidence that I can answer any question. I can rebut any argument. I will know the facts.”

She said lawyers and a standards team examine the reporting, from her regular broadcasts to 60 Minutes reports, where almost every line has a footnote.

That advance preparation extended to when O’Donnell and the CBS News Investigative Unit looked into sexual assault within the United States military and its failures to address the issue.

O’Donnell said the producers took time to find people comfortable enough to speak on camera.

“That took months and months of trust and understanding, and we’re still in touch with many of those people,” she said.

When approaching sensitive topics, O’Donnell emphasized the importance of listening, treating people with empathy and not making assumptions.

Although these stories can be emotionally challenging — O’Donnell recalled her producers “sobbing uncontrollably” during the sexual assault survivors’ interviews — the news anchor said it is rewarding to report stories that “can change someone’s life.”

In July 2023, President Joe Biden signed an executive order that changed how the military handles sexual assault cases, transferring the power from commanders to “independent military prosecutors,” according to ABC News.

“Hopefully through our reporting, we’ve shone a light on something (sexual assault) that keeps good people out of the military, and hopefully, that means that there’s a big change ahead,” O’Donnell said.

O’Donnell acknowledged that her job can be mentally taxing.

In October 2023, she and the CBS Evening News team were reporting in Tel Aviv, Israel, when sirens went off, forcing them to take cover. Even with bulletproof vests and a security team, O’Donnell said being in Israel was the first time she felt “it was out of control.”

“When I don’t have control of the situation, it makes me like — my chest is tightening, even talking about it.”

O’Donnell emphasized how dangerous it is for journalists to report in warzones like Gaza and Ukraine and their importance in illuminating the situation.

“I would give those people grace

when you see them on TV … they risked their lives to bring a camera and a spotlight and to see what’s happening there,” she said. “And look how that galvanizes world opinion.”

O’Donnell said that “there’s a reason that the Israeli government does not want to allow independent journalists into Gaza.”

O’Donnell also started the “Profiles in Service” series, which highlights veterans and military members. She said traveling the world and meeting military families has helped her appreciate military members’ service and sacrifice, like her father.

Throughout her talk, O’Donnell gave advice. She encouraged students who are trying to figure out their paths to follow their curiosity, take internships and dream big.

“I wish that somebody had told me more often … ‘What in your wildest, wildest dreams do you want to do? Who do you want to be?’” she said. “Give it a shot.”

university briefly in the late 1980s and again in the early 1990s but was unable to provide any record of an MBA.

Corbin Education Center shut down indefinitely

BY TRINITY RAMM managing@thesunflower.com

The Corbin Education Center is closed until further notice after a water pipe burst and flooded the basement, the university announced Tuesday afternoon. The building was initially scheduled to reopen this Wednesday.

The press release said that any major damages were limited to the basement, but the equipment controlling air conditioning, power and IT services needs to be replaced and will take “many months.”

According to a press release from Strategic Communications, the building could reopen as early as September.

Students should keep up with their school email and Blackboard for updates on how and where their classes will continue for the rest of the semester.

Faculty and staff who work in the building are being rehoused throughout campus and can contact Eason Bryer or Aaron Conyers to retrieve their belongings from the building.

Former Wichita State students create innovative restaurant space

BY JACOB UNRUH assistantsports@thesunflower.com

The logo of Social Tap Drinkery, a tap house with locations on the Wichita State Innovation Campus and 2244 North Greenwich, depicts two people sitting across from each other with drink glasses between them.

The symbol is representative of the culture Social Tap’s founders, Justin Neel, Luke Luttrell and David Hopkins, all former Wichita State students, wanted to instill in their company.

“We wanted to stray far away from what the norm was now of, bars are nothing but TVs in chaos and not relaxing and enjoying your company,” Neel said.

SERVICE-CENTRIC LIFESTYLES

Neel and Luttrell met in eighth grade, and Hopkins joined the friends at Wichita Heights High School. After graduation, all three decided to attend Wichita State and have remained close ever since.

Norah O’Donnell listens as an audience member asks her a question. O’Donnell, the CBS Evening News Anchor, participated in a Q&A session for students in the Rhatigan Student Center on March 21. | Photos by Kristy Mace / The

Illustration by Cameryn Davis / The Sunflower

SEE GRACEMED CEO, PAGE 2

Student body presidential candidates define goals, plans to increase student engagement

BY TALIYAH WINN AND LOREN AMELUNKE tmwinn03@gmail.com loren.amelunke@outlook.com

The two presidential debates for student body president and vice president gave students a chance to see the candidates’ opinions and their plans for office.

The debates, held on March 20 and 25, answered questions submitted by students via a Google form and taken from the audience.

Kylee Hower is running for president with Matthew Phan as vice president. In Student Government Association, Hower currently serves as speaker of the Student Senate, and Phan is an engineering senator. Phan could not attend the second debate due to a car accident.

Hower and Phan’s platform have four prongs: sustainability, engagement, outreach and retention.

On the other ticket, Aiden Powell is running for president with Diana Grajeda as his running mate. Powell is the director of student organizations for SGA. Grajeda is the director of leadership and engagement.

Powell outlined their platforms’ three key points: trust, vision and connection.

GOALS FOR OFFICE

Hower and Phan’s goals for office include diversifying SGA and increasing communication and outreach with student organizations.

“For Student Government Association to be successful, you need to have representatives of every possible community on campus so that we can ensure that every student’s voice is being heard,” Hower said.

Phan added that SGA should directly reach out to students.

Powell and Grajeda plan to

SOCIAL TAP

FROM PAGE 1

“I do reflect back, it’s like that for 30 plus years, we’ve been great friends and have continued that and that’s pretty rare nowadays,” Neel said.

Hopkins enlisted in the army after graduation, while Neel and Luttrell got their first jobs in the restaurant industry and developed an early passion for service.

“I love cooking,” Neel said. “I love science, the research, the inconsistency daily of you never know what’s going on but I also love to serve … And there’s no better industry than serving really awesome food, but being able to change someone’s day for the better just by the service.”

The trio remained friends, but split off career-wise, with Neel managing a Wichita location of Il Vicino Wood Oven Pizza, Luttrell owning a signage company and Hopkins working for various aircraft companies.

ESTABLISHING SOCIAL TAP

During a 2019 baby shower, the friends were discussing the need for a new event center in Wichita and grew passionate about creating a business. When COVID-19 hit, that idea formed into Social Tap. Neel’s restaurant experience and Luttrell’s business acumen made for an obvious fit, but Hopkins had no experience with either.

“(Neel’s) always had a big overview of what it takes to run restaurants … and he’d always

DIVERSITY IN STUDENT

foster collaboration between SGA and the student organizations and faculty. “One of the things we want to do is implement a forum that runs directly through the Senate, where students can submit their questions, concerns, feedback, requests — everything,” Grajeda said.

WHAT SETS EACH TICKET APART

Hower said their ticket’s main qualification is their involvement and leadership on campus.

“We know a lot of students on this campus, so I feel like we have wider outreach and a better perspective on the needs of the students and the struggles that they’re going through,” Hower said.

Powell said one of the strengths of their ticket is previous executive branch experience.

“In my current position, I have met a lot of individuals and a lot of students in student organizations, and from there, I’ve been able to communicate with different groups on what they are lacking from SGA,” Powell said.

Grajeda said she didn’t want to join other clubs because her focus was on SGA, but she still

kind of talked about it and been interested in doing that for himself or with his friends,” Hopkins said. “When he finally decided he wanted to pull the trigger, he asked Luke … trying to get the groundwork started … and they asked if I was on board with it. And I said, ‘Yeah, absolutely.’”

The three developed a working relationship where Neel oversees daily operations, Luttrell manages the business side and Hopkins researches the product on tap.

BUILDING THE CULTURE

From the beginning, Social Tap was viewed as a communal space for all different kinds of people to meet and talk.

“I want a spot … where you might have a guy in a suit, might have a guy that just got done working out, might have a college student … a place for everybody to hang out and enjoy it,” Luttrell said.

Neel said they worked to reduce the “friction” customers might feel when trying to get comfortable. Part of that mission was going digital from start to finish. According to Neel, Social Tap was the first restaurant in Kansas to use a QR code at every step from ordering to paying.

“You don’t have to have a server check you out,” Neel said. “You don’t have to have a payment go through them. You don’t have to wait on your party … But we don’t want to lose the hospitality. They will do anything you need if they want them to take your order.”

The three founders also

networks with people outside of the organization.

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability came up frequently in the first debate.

Hower explained she and Phan would create a sustainability plan and specifically look into food and water waste.

“We want to walk into the residence halls, dining halls, like, hotspots on campus for waste production, and investigate ways that we can cut back on waste,“ Hower said.

Hower and Phan also plan to create a committee under the sustainability director that would be responsible for overseeing initiatives on campus.

Powell admitted that he lacks knowledge on sustainability.

“I want to be completely honest, sustainability is not one of my strong suits,” Powell said.

He suggested increasing solar initiatives on campus and implementing them in Devlin Hall, Wallace Hall and The Flats. Two current solar sites on campus are The Smart Factory and the John Bardo Center.

GOVERNMENT

International students make up a large percentage of the population at Wichita State; about 3,100 students at WSU are on nonimmigrant visas. Yet not many are represented in SGA due to a high turnover rate, according to Grajeda.

Grajeda said more information should be provided to international students about SGA so they can attract members who are passionate and most likely to serve their whole term.

“Hopefully by having that target audience within the international population (we) will be able to get representation for them within SGA,” Grajeda said. Hower said she and Phan would diversify SGA by increasing communication with identity-based student organizations on how to best serve the population.

Powell said he and Grajeda would love to help identity-based organizations “fulfill their full capacity and reach all the students that fit their demographic while also raising awareness.”

Hower also brought up the importance of LGBTQ representation in SGA.

said that part of their mission is attempting to pay employees better and offer a better culture than many other restaurants. They believe that if the bartenders are happy, they’ll reciprocate that to the customers.

“The military is a difficult life,” Hopkins said. “You get yelled at a lot, don’t get treated the best, paid the best. So having that experience, I have also figured out that to get the most out of people, it helps to treat them well.”

Every Wednesday, the three meet at the campus location to discuss how the business is doing and respond to customer concerns. Neel said the prioritization of a digital infrastructure allows the business to adapt quicker than most.

“Not only is it the culture that we’re always constantly growing and changing because we have a very in depth culture code that everybody goes through, but it’s a living breathing thing, and it

changes every year,” Neel said.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

Neel said they are looking to begin accepting Shocker Dining Dollars at their campus location and utilize the Starship Technologies robotic delivery services on campus in the near future. The founders also have a few ideas for expansion into new locations, whether it be around Wichita or to other college campuses across the country.

For now though, the mission of community has continued. Luttrell said they’re looking to give Wichita State more of a “college vibe.”

“We wanted to create … a place where five, 10, 15, 20 years, when they come back to campus, they’ve got some other connection where they want to go celebrate and remember the good times that they had here,” Luttrell said.

“I also feel like there’s a low representation for members of the LGBTQ community — and if they are here, they’re not really being represented fully,” Hower said.

Hower said when people’s representatives look like them and have had similar experiences, “it makes people more apt and more comfortable to come talk about those things.”

CONDUCTING OUTREACH

Hower and Phan also plan to increase the visibility of SGA’s leadership through outreach and attending more events. Hower said that, if elected, she would like to require cabinet members to attend at least eight on-campus events each semester.

Powell plans on having oneon-one meetings with different colleges and campus officials to best represent the students to the university as well as having one-onones with students.

Elections will be open from time to time from April 1-3 on ShockerSync.

For more information about the candidates, read The Sunflower’s profiles at thesunflower.com

GRACEMED CEO FROM PAGE 1

According to research conducted by The Sunflower in Ablah Library’s Special Collections, Lee was listed in the 1989-1990 directory under the name “Venus L. Thomas.” She was listed as a freshman at the University College (UC). In the 1990s, all incoming freshmen at Wichita State were enrolled in the UC program before being admitted to a specific school of study. Directories and commencement guides from 1990 to 2005 did not show anyone with the names “Venus,” “Lee,” “Thatcher” or “Thomas” who graduated with a bachelor’s or master’s in business administration.

In a second article, Brunet reported that the names “Venus Lee” and “Venus Thatcher” also appeared in attendance records from 1993-1994. The Sunflower emailed Brunet asking him to share the documentation to corroborate these years, but Brunet refused, stating that he “can’t trust or work with people with pronouns.”

The Sunflower’s investigation did not find the names “Venus Lee” or “Venus Thatcher” in the 1993-1994 directory.

Since Lee’s resignation, the GraceMed marketing firm said, “There is no additional information to be released,” according to KWCH. In Lee’s absence, Dr. Julie Elder will serve as the company’s interim CEO.

Alongside Aiden Powell, Diana Grajeda addresses audience questions during first presidential debate on March 20. Grajeda is running for vice president with Powell as president.

Speaker of the Senate Kylee Hower speaks during the first presidential debate on March 20. Hower is running for student body president with Matthew Phan, engineering senator, as vice president. | Photos by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower

Luke Luttrell, Justin Neel and David Hopkins discuss finances for their restaurant Social Tap on March 27. |

Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower

Oklahoma State shuts out WSU baseball

BY OWEN PROTHRO owenprothro@gmail.com

After a deadlock at zero through six innings on Tuesday, Wichita State’s baseball team gave up runs in the seventh and ninth innings to lose at home against its rival Oklahoma State University (OSU), 3-0.

The Shockers’ record dropped to 15-9 overall and 9-4 in Eck Stadium after the loss. The Cowboys’ record improved to 16-9 overall.

Despite the loss, head coach Brian Green said the team played well on the mound and on defense.

“I thought we could have done a better job with the bullpen guys,” Green said. “But what went well

was certainly our defense and our energy in the dugout.”

Wichita State’s pitchers coerced 10 fly-outs and eight ground-outs, giving up only four hits and three walks against 34 batters faced.

Freshman Tyler Dobbs started on the mound and earned his second loss of the season. Dobbs gave up two runs on one hit and struck out five batters in 6.1 innings pitched.

“That changeup was really keeping them off balance,” Dobbs said. “Then I had that slider to go to and today the fastball, I was able to command it to both sides of the plate. If I have all three of those going, it keeps them off balance.”

Dobbs made OSU go 1-2-3 in innings four, five and six, striking

out four batters in the process.

Dobbs said pitching coach Anthony Claggett had a good game plan for him and the rest of the pitching crew.

Wichita State managed five hits and left nine runners on base. The Shockers could not manage a hit with runners in scoring position.

Down 2-0 in the eighth, the Shockers loaded the bases with one out, but redshirt junior Jordan Rogers struck out and sophomore Jaden Gustafson fouled out to strand the three on base.

Green said the emotions of a big game caused Wichita State to “lose sight of the process” in key moments.

“I do think that there were specifically some opportunistic

at-bats for us that we didn’t respond very well,” Green said. “We were looking at the scoreboard and expecting to see a grand slam versus just digging in with the process and having a better approach.”

Green said that something to look forward to for the rest of the season is a group of guys who play hard and respond quickly.

“You’re going to see a consistent group that’s going to show up and play hard every day,” Green said.

Following the loss against its rival, the Shockers will prepare for its first home conference series from Thursday, March 28 through Saturday, March 30, against Rice University. The first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Pohto becomes fifth men’s player to enter transfer portal

BY JACOB UNRUH assistantsports@thesunflower.com

For the second consecutive year, Wichita State men’s basketball junior forward Kenny Pohto has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Pohto becomes the fifth Shocker player to explore other schools, following redshirt freshman Trevor McBride, sophomore Isaac Abidde, junior Colby Rogers and sophomore Jalen Ricks, who left the team before the season.

Born in Stockholm, Sweden, Pohto moved to Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita for three years of high school before joining the Shockers.

Pohto averaged 14 minutes and five points per game his freshman year and became a starter as a sophomore, upping his averages to 8.7 points per game and 5.7 rebounds.

After his sophomore year, Pohto entered the transfer portal for two months before returning to play for coach Paul Mills at Wichita State.

He began this season as a starter but was swapped into a reserve role midway through the season, coming off the bench for junior Quincy Ballard. Pohto finished the season averaging four fewer minutes per game than the previous season but with slightly more points and rebounds.

In the transfer portal, Pohto can choose to return to Wichita State for his final year of eligibility or take his talents elsewhere. If Pohto leaves, Wichita State’s current roster will be left with only two big men: Ballard and junior forward Ronnie DeGray III.

Wichita State now has four scholarship slots available to offer prospective transfers in the portal. The deadline for entering the portal is May 1.

Shocker sports roundup: What you missed in sports this weekend

BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ sports@thesunflower.com

SOFTBALL

Wichita State’s softball team swept its three-game game series against the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) in a doubleheader, 10-2 and 8-0, on Friday and a 12-0 win in five innings in Saturday’s game.

The Shockers improved to 16-10 overall and 7-2 in conference play. UTSA dropped to 9-25 this season.

GAME 1

In the first game of the series, softball slaughtered UTSA 10-2 in the first five innings before mercy-ruling the Roadrunners.

In the second inning, senior Jessica Garcia and junior Krystin Nelson hit back to back two-out singles that landed them on the first and second base. Graduate student CC Wong hit a single back up the middle of the field that allowed Garcia to run home from second, scoring the first run.

In the bottom of the third, Wichita State had an eight-run frame. Redshirt senior Lainee Brown started the run with an RBI single. Junior Caroline Tallent had an RBI double and an RBI from Garcia made it 4-0. Wong hit a three-run homer and the Shockers scored two more runs before the inning ended. Wichita State made its final

run in the bottom of the fourth inning on Nelson’s single through the right side that allowed redshirt senior Bailey Urban to run it home.

The only runs for the Roadrunners came at the top of the fifth due to a fielding error.

GAME 2

By the second game of the doubleheader, the Shockers shut out UTSA 8-0 in just five innings.

Freshman pitcher Chloe Barber threw a complete game shutout, striking out seven batters and without allowing a walk. UTSA only managed two hits off Barber.

The Shockers aided Barber when they opened up play in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs from senior Addison Barnard, sophomore Taylor Sedlacek and Brown.

Wong gave Wichita State another run on an RBI groundout in the second inning.

The Roadrunners shut out the Shockers in the third inning, but four runs in a fourth-inning rally allowed the mercy rule to go into effect after the fifth.

GAME 3

Looking for a sweep on Saturday, Wichita State cruised to a 12-0 victory against UTSA.

Wong led Wichita State during her best match this season. She

tied a school record with three home runs in the game, driving in six runs and ending the day with a grand slam in the fourth.

Urban also stood out during the game as she recorded her first career multi-home run appearance, going 2-for-3 with two home runs and three RBIs.

Up next, softball will travel to Charlotte, North Caroline to face off against Charlotte University in a three game series from March 28 to March 30. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Thursday.

MEN’S TENNIS

Wichita State men’s tennis traveled to the 65th Annual Ralph O’Connor Rice Invitational in Houston, Texas, falling to Rice University, 4-0 on Friday and to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) on Saturday, 4-3.

With the losses, the Shockers drop to 3-16 overall, riding an eightgame losing streak.

VS. RICE UNIVERSITY

On Friday, the Owls started off hot, winning doubles court three, 6-2 and court one, 6-3.

Freshman Ziwen Ju fell in singles as he retired due to injury during his first set, letting Rice get the point, 2-0.

The Shockers could not get anything going during the rest of the

match, as sophomores Alejandro Jacome and Luke Bracks lost their matches.

VS. UAB

Men’s tennis came close to turning it around against UAB on Saturday afternoon but came up short in the match. The doubles point came close, with two courts being decided in a tiebreak. The Blazers grabbed the early lead in court three against Bracks and Jacome. Graduate student Misha Kvantaliani and sophomore Richey King responded with a win on court one, but freshman Vanja Hodzic

and graduate student Marcelo Sepulveda fell in the deciding tiebreak set, 8-6.

In singles, Jacome won in court two, leveling the match score, 1-1. UAB responded with wins on courts four and six to move one point away from victory.

Bracks was the lone Shocker left to decide the match but would fall in the third set 6-3, ending the match in favor of UAB.

Up next, men’s tennis will continue in Texas, facing off against The University of Texas at Arlington on Thursday, March 28. The first serve is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Caleb Anderson throws the first pitch on the top of the seventh inning on March 26 against OSU. Anderson had two strikeouts and zero errors. | Photos by Bryan Chavez / The Sunflower

Tyler Dobbs goes through his pitching motion during the bottom of the fifth inning on March 26 against OSU.

Ryan Callahan swings at the ball during the bottom of the seventh inninng on March 26 against OSU. Callahan had one hit and zero runs.

Caden Favors throws the ball to home plate to finish off the top of the ninth inning against OSU. Kenny Pohto prepares to take a shot at the basket during the Dec. 10 game at Intrust Bank Arena. Pohto played for 26 minutes, and scored 13 rebounds. | Photo by Kristy Mace The Sunflower

Illustration by Cameryn Davis / The Sunflower

DANCING DOCENTS

Italian food in Wichita still sucks

Victor DiMartino vvjjdd@yahoo.com REVIEW

In my search of good pasta in Wichita, I’m starting to feel lost and hopeless. Are there really no gold standard restaurants in Wichita for what good Italian food tastes like? As a continuation of my exploration of some of the most popular Italian food in Wichita, I went to four new restaurants, some of which you readers recommended to me.

In case you missed the first part of this series, I’m an ItalianAmerican who grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. I have been to Italy and have tasted the authentic food of my people. In my last story, some ignored the fact that I said Kansas City has good Italian restaurants and made the obvious point that Italian food in Italy is better than it is here.

Every Sunday until I started playing sports on the weekends everyone in my family would go over to my grandma’s house and we’d eat pasta.

I know what good Italian food tastes like and my opinion is valid because I grew up eating this shit. It’s not Italian food to me; it’s just food.

One more thing before I get into the restaurant reviews. In Kansas City, when I go to an Italian restaurant, usually my family and I aren’t the only Italian people there. In Wichita, I’m almost always the only Italian person there. There are very few Italian people in town, so it makes sense to me why Italian food here isn’t that good.

ALBERO BISTRO

This time I visited Albero Bistro, the sister restaurant to Albero Cafe. I was initially very impressed while reading the menu. It had traditional Italian dishes and seemed legit. I got the steak ravioli with a side of meatballs. The ravioli was decent enough to finish, but the meatballs I was disappointed with. They tasted like they were frozen before they served it to me, which really sucked because the texture and taste were good. I really wish I could have tried them fresh. They had other items on the menu that I would like to try, like some of their sandwiches, but I probably wouldn’t come back here.

For dessert, I ordered the limoncello cheesecake. I have to say I don’t know where they got that cheesecake or who made it, but that was probably the best cheesecake I’ve ever had in Wichita. This place is worth going to just for the cheesecake. But cheesecake isn’t pasta, so if you want pasta, maybe try somewhere else.

SAVUTE’S ITALIAN RISTORANTE

A lot of the people that read my last story recommended the oldest Italian restaurant in Wichita: Savute’s. I got there

and was pretty interested in the menu because it presented the restaurant’s story, and I was like, “Damn this place must be good then.” I was wrong. All I had to do was turn the page to the actual food part of the menu. This menu was very Wichita, which isn’t a good thing if you didn’t know.

I ordered the spaghetti with sausage, and following the theme in my last story, this pasta was over-cooked and over-sauced. It was also super watery.

That’s not all that was wrong with this restaurant. I went with my girlfriend, and she ordered a steak fillet because they had steak on the menu, and it wasn’t very expensive, so I was like go for it. This steak was so rare it was disgusting. I felt bad for her for getting it because I suggested it. I don’t know why this place has been open for so long, or why they have such a big fanbase, but please don’t go there.

FIORITO RISTORANTE

Last time, I said Napoli Italian Eatery was the saving grace of Italian food here. This time, I bring you FioRito’s, which is owned by the same people. I personally like FioRito’s more than Napoli’s, but one thing that threw me off about this place is that the menu was very out there. None of the dishes were traditional at all, so I was very worried about that, but I gotta say that it was pretty good. I would go back if I wanted some Italian food, but I probably wouldn’t go because it is a little pricey for the value of food.

Something this place buys into is the stereotype that Italian restaurants are supposed to be fancy. I hate this so much. I used to take pasta in a thermos to school everyday for lunch and it was better than most places I have been to. Nothing fancy about eating pasta out of a thermos in a high school cafeteria.

LUCIANO’S

This next restaurant is hands down the best Italian restaurant in Kansas. This restaurant is in Mulvane and it’s called Luciano’s. This place is phenomenal.

I got the seasonal course special and it was amazing. Every course was phenomenal. My girlfriend got my favorite dish, which is lobster ravioli, and you have to try it, because it was probably the best I’ve had since it became my favorite dish.

Everything about this place was amazing, except for one thing, it’s in crusty old Mulvane.

If this restaurant was in Wichita, it would be the hot commodity of popular restaurants in Wichita. And that leads me into my conclusion that, since this place is in Mulvane, I can still say, Italian food in Wichita city limits sucks.

Please go to Luciano’s; it’ll change your life, especially if you think restaurants like Angelo’s and Savute’s are your taste in Italian restaurants.

Dance department chair Mina Estrada combines visual art and movement in an interactive tour of the Ulrich Museum of Art.

Attendees dance through the galleries of the Ulrich Museum of Art to represent different elements of art like color, texture and narrative. The dance was led by instructor Mina Estrada. | Photos by Monique Bever / The Sunflower

Mina Estrada, WSU dance department chair, leads the event. Estrada earned an MFA in Dance at Temple University.

Attendees dance through the Polk/Wilson gallery at the Ulrich. The event was free and open to the public.

The event offered refreshments prior to the dance instruction.

Estrada led a dance that pulled from the themes and elements of art displayed in the Ulrich.

It’s time to start a new ‘Stardew Valley’ game

After an endless stream of lategame content, “Stardew Valley” has finally given you a reason to make a new save file.

Created and maintained by one-man show ConcernedApe, “Stardew Valley” has recently undergone one of the biggest updates ever seen. The release of update 1.6 packs improvements in everything, from layout to bug fixes to entirely new content.

FUZZY FRIENDS

Most important, though, are the changes to pets.

Farmers now have the ability to have a cute gray dog with a red bandana as a pet. In addition to this new dog, the game now offers three other pet colorings, though none are quite as cute.

On top of the existing cats (ginger tabby, gray tabby, light yellow) and dogs (original brown dog, German Shepherd, light brown dog with floppy ears), players can now choose from a light cat with blue eyes, a black cat with yellow eyes, a dark brown dog and the highly superior gray dog.

Even better, all these animals can now wear hats. Horses, another late-game asset, have been able to wear hats since August 2018. Now, all we need is more horse colorings, and then all your

pets can wear hats together.

EARLY-GAME CONTENT

One of my biggest complaints with “Stardew Valley” prior to this update was the lack of new content distribution. Previous large updates, like the movie theater and Ginger Island, have catered toward late-game farmers, with features that take a long time to reach for the average player.

These additions are far from unwelcome, but I feel like catering only toward experienced players damages the replayability of the game. If it takes so long to get to any new content, why not just stay on the same save file eternally?

This new update, though, has fixed that, with updates ranging from dialogue options with NPCs to new events and festivals throughout the year.

Some of the updates are expected, like the addition of carrots as a spring crop, but others are entirely unique. One such example is the Giant Stump, a large tree found in the northern sect of Cindersap Forest. New quest lines like this really breathe new life into the game.

NEW HORIZONS

The update also features a completely new farm layout, the meadowlands farm. The eighth map and the first new farm since late 2020, the meadowlands farm follows the precedent set by the prior farms in which one pursuit, such as fishing or foraging, is granted leverage at the cost of

Cigarettes After Sex’s ‘Tejano Blue’ was well worth the wait

Emerging from a four-year album hiatus, Cigarettes After Sex released a new song, announced a new album and set tour dates worldwide. Their journey to stardom has focused on love, longing and heartbreak.

Recorded from August 2020 to February 2022 in Los Angeles, California, the latest single, “Tejano Blue,” serves as the lead track for the upcoming album. The album — simply titled “X’s” — is set to release this summer on July 12.

“Tejano Blue” is not only the perfect tease to this long-awaited album but also marks the start of the promotion of their world tour.

The band does not step in Wichita, but will touch base in Texas and Colorado, the closest they will get to Kansas. Cigarettes After Sex begins the tour this year in June and does not finish until March 2025. Their album has ten songs and plays for 38 minutes. The single is the second track on the list.

The guitar work and mesmerizing vocals of Greg Gonzalez foreshadow a rhythmic journey with the album. The band still exhibits remarkable skill while reinventing tenderness and capturing the complexities of yearning.

“Tejano Blue” is inspired by Gonzalez’s upbringing in El Paso, Texas. It also signals the departure

farmland. The riverland farm, for example, grants additional access to fishing but packs less farmable land.

The meadowlands farm is geared towards livestock. The game warns you that farmland is limited, but you’re granted a special blue grass that animals love. One thing that separates the meadowlands farm from the others is that the player is granted two chickens upon spawning. In the house is a package for 15 hay instead of 15 parsnip seeds.

This shocked me, as hay is

a hot commodity at any point throughout the game. Parsnip seeds would only set the player back 300 gold at Pierre’s General Store, but swapping the seeds for hay grants the player a huge advantage, as 15 pieces of hay would cost 750 gold from Marnie. Another leg up the farmer gains with the meadowlands farm is a starter coop and fenced-in area. I found that my chickens only ate hay on rainy days (admittedly, I thought this was a glitch instead of animals actually eating the grass). With a steady income from eggs,

farmers can focus on expanding their farms and exploring Pelican Town. I wouldn’t be surprised if this farm gets nerfed here soon due to its obvious upper hand, but I hope it doesn’t.

A full list of updates can be found on the Stardew Valley Wiki, but I recommend jumping right in and exploring the game as soon as you can, with as little prior knowledge as possible. Choose the new farm, revel in your free chickens munching on the blue grass, and then definitely choose to adopt the gray dog.

Who is the most amazing Spider-Man?

Originally from Marvel Comics, Spider-Man is a popular superhero who has been portrayed on the big screen by three different actors. Having a couple of different Peter Parkers has caused many people to argue over which one is the “best” version of him, creating a lot of in-fighting in the Marvel fanbase; however, in the most underwhelming answer ever, I say they are all great Peter Parkers — but in different ways.

TOBEY MAGUIRE

from the band’s 50s and 60s fixation in previous albums and seems to steer towards the 70s and 80s mood.

The song was produced and recorded by Gonzalez himself, with mixing by Anthony “Rocky” Gallo and mastered by Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone. The craftsmanship of “Tejano Blue” reflects the band’s commitment to sonic excellence and to making me want to go on a late-night drive with the volume all up to their music.

Gonzalez’s ability to articulate the nuances of affection is shown through their lyrics, which delve into a desire for authentic intimacy and connection. The song weaves together physical and shared experiences and provides an exploration of love and longing for meaningful connections.

The song’s ethereal sounds and lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia after years of silence from the band. It embodies the signature sound and vibe of Cigarettes After Sex. The soothing and calming vibe aligns with the band’s established sound. They create an atmosphere that feels like old memories with friends, sleeping in on the weekend, and, of course, cigarettes after sex.

The artwork accompanying the song, “Untitled (Deja Vu)” by Ralph Gibson, adds to the dreamy atmosphere of the track.

With “Tejano Blue,” Cigarettes After Sex sets the tone for their upcoming album, inviting listeners to join the band on a journey of complexities of romantic emotions.

Tobey Maguire was the first Spider-Man introduced to the live-action scene in 2002’s “Spider-Man,” and his story progressed through a total of three movies. Maguire’s take on Parker is definitely the most calm of the three, being quite a bit more stoic throughout his movies. This Parker also leans more into the “nerdy” attribute of the character. His intelligence is noticed by other characters, and he is given multiple opportunities to work in labs throughout the trilogy.

Maguire’s take on Spider-Man is less playful than the other three, coming off as the most adult, and his movies progress to show more of his adult life than anything else. The relationship between him and Harry Osborn is strained throughout all three movies. It can be really hard to picture them as close, despite the fact they are supposedly best friends.

At the end of it all, Maguire’s Spider-Man is definitely the least like Peter Parker, but the nostalgia of the movies and integration of so many comic-related details makes this version a favorite for many. I think that with him being the first Spider-Man, he sets the stage for the next two in a great way, as well as adapting the comic into a real life world.

ANDREW GARFIELD

Andrew Garfield is the next Spider-Man, with his first movie being 2012’s “The Amazing Spider-Man.” He also received another movie, but not a third, unlike his predecessor.

Garfield portrays the SpiderMan persona the best out of these three movies, coming off as witty and funny while also being quick and dangerous. In these movies, there is more emphasis on his parents, and less on Harry and his father Norman Osborn, with Harry not even being introduced until the second movie; however, their relationship feels more organic. Garfield’s Parker is also much goofier when playing Spider-Man, often messing with his opponents and hurling witty insults, which feels a bit more like the character’s original depiction in the comics. Nevertheless, I feel we do miss out on the nerdier side of Parker in these movies. He is still incredibly smart, but we do not see as much of this, and due to his slight personality switch, coming off a bit edgier, he does not really fit the bill in that sense. Garfield is also more of a heartthrob, again pushing away from the more typical view of Peter Parker, but you could argue this change has caused more fans to see him as the best version, and I can totally see why. He takes Maguire’s version of him, and in my opinion, makes him feel more like a cocky 17-year-old kid.

TOM HOLLAND

Our next Spider-Man is where the argument gets a bit tricky. While Maguire and Garfield’s portrayals stuck to the same origin story for SpiderMan, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is set in a completely different universe to fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Parker receives his powers much younger, being only 14 instead of 17. We also have yet to see his origin story, with a final movie awaiting production. We are not actually sure at this point how his story even concludes.

Holland’s Parker is first introduced in “Captain America: Civil War” in 2016 after being brought in by Tony Stark, or Iron Man. Holland has three of his own movies so far, as well as a couple more appearances in Avengers movies.

Holland’s Peter is much geekier than Garfield’s but still holds the playfulness his predecessor did but at a lower

level. His version acts the most like a teenager, to put it simply. He’s more naive and awestruck by the world around him but holds the sincerity that the past two Spider-Men also hold.

There is no Harry Osbourn, or even Oscorp, in his version. Harry is perfectly replaced by Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon), and the two have undeniable chemistry as friends. To be fair, though, Ned never tries to kill him in these movies, so it’s an obvious difference.

This Spider-Man story focuses less on the traditional comic Spider-Man adventures, and more on his relationship to the Avengers and his fight to not be considered a kid anymore. I find Holland’s Spider-Man to be the most realistic and life-like Peter Parker and definitely the most enduring version of him. Despite this, Garfield still beats him out with a more accurate Spider-Man persona.

Holland’s loveable personality and closeness to Tony Stark have caused many people to favor Tom Holland’s version. While he is not an accurate depiction of the comic Spider-Man story, I think it’s a fun play, and it’s interesting to see his relationship with the other Avengers.

SPIDEY-CEPTION

Worlds collided in “SpiderMan: No Way Home,” with all three aforementioned SpiderMen meeting. This movie is a beautiful conclusion to the other two versions of Spider-Man and a great solution to the best Peter Parker debate. The chemistry of all three Parkers was so fun to see in action.

While all being Peter Parker, they are all different in their own way, especially when side by side. Many fans have pointed out that you can see this in the smallest of ways, from the way they swing and land to their body language. Throughout it all, I can not help but appreciate all of them for their respective movies.

However you see the movies and whoever you see as your favorite, you’re definitely right. All three versions gave us a different side of Peter Parker, and I cannot wait to see what is done with his story in the future, not only with the Parkers, but also up-and-comer Miles Morales.

Sascha Harvey opinion@thesunflower.com

Piper Pinnetti piperpinnetti12@gmail.com

Makenzie Miller makenzieleighart@gmail.com OPINION

Illustration by Cameryn Davis / The Sunflower

Photo courtesy of Spanish Prayers

SWINGIN’ AWAY

Softball swept its three-game series against the University of Texas at San Antonio with a doubleheader, 10-2 and 8-0, on Friday and a 12-0 win in five innings in Saturday’s game.

UPCOMING EVENTS

NATIONAL STUDENT EXCHANGE INFO SESSION

THURSDAY, MARCH 28

9 - 9:30 a.m. | Rhatigan Student Center

HOUSING FAIR

THURSDAY, MARCH 28

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center

PUSHING THROUGH PERFECTIONISM MINISERIES

THURSDAY, MARCH 28

2 - 3 p.m. | Ablah Library

HEALING FROM TRAUMA SUPPORT GROUP

THURSDAY, MARCH 28

3 - 4 p.m. | Steve Clark YMCA & Student Wellness Center

SCHOLAR TALK: MARIN R. SULLIVAN

THURSDAY, MARCH 28

5:30 - 7 p.m. | Ulrich Museum

BASEBALL VS. RICE

THURSDAY, MARCH 28

6:00 p.m. | Eck Stadium

EMPTY SPACE THEATRE PRESENTS ‘SMOKEFALL’

FRIDAY, MARCH 22

7:30 - 9:30 p.m. | Hughes Metropolitan Complex

PROPELLER AERODYNAMICS FOR MULTI-ROTOR VEHICLE APPLICATIONS

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

10:50 - 11:30 a.m. | Wallace Hall

BASEBALL VS. RICE

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

11 a.m. | Eck Stadium

ENTREPRENEURSHIP RESEARCH LUNCH & LEARN

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

Noon - 1 p.m. | Ablah Library

LECTURE SERIES IN MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

3 p.m. | Jabara Hall

EMPTY SPACE THEATRE PRESENTS ‘SMOKEFALL’

FRIDAY, MARCH 29

7:30 - 9:30 p.m. | Hughes Metropolitan Complex

VOLUNTEER AT RONALD

MCDONALD HOUSE

SATURDAY, MARCH 30

9 - 11 a.m. | Off-Campus

BASEBALL VS. RICE

SATURDAY, MARCH 30 Noon | Eck Stadium

BAJA SAE MEETING

SUNDAY, MARCH 31 12:30 - 3 p.m. | John Bardo Center

FOOD FOR FINES

MONDAY, APRIL 1 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center

INSPIRASIAN INVASIAN

MONDAY, APRIL 1 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Rhatigan Student Center

FRATERNITY AND SORORITY

LIFE SPEAKER: PHIREDUP

PRODUCTIONS

MONDAY, APRIL 1 6 - 7:30 p.m. | Hubbard Hall

HAVE AN EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED?

CONTACT THE ARTS EDITOR: arts@thesunflower.com

CONTACT THE NEWS EDITOR: news@thesunflower.com

Senior Madyson Espinosa dances on first base after getting walked on March 23 against UTSA.

The Shockers celebrate CC Wong for hitting a home run. Wong hit three home runs on March 23 against UTSA. | Photo by Bryan Chavez / The Sunflower

Senior Addison Barnard smacks the ball against UTSA. Barnard had two hits and two runs in the game.

Senior Lauren Howell throws the first pitch on March 23 against UTSA. Howell had nine strikeouts in the game.

Head coach Kristi Bredbenner talks to the Shockers after the game on March 23 against UTSA. Wichita State won 12-0.

CC Wong screams and runs to home plate after hitting a home run against UTSA on March 23.

Junior Caroline Tallent steps into home plate after hitting a home run against UTSA. Tallent scored one home run.

Sophomore Taylor Sedlacek slides to second base on March 23 against UTSA.