The Sunflower v. 128 i. 27 (April 11, 2024)

BLINDED BY BEAUTY

Solar eclipse unites students on campus

BY PIPER PINNETTI piperpinnetti12@gmail.com

Acelestial spectacle occurred on campus Monday afternoon as a solar eclipse graced the skies. It captivated students who paused their daily routines to witness the event firsthand.

When a new moon moves between the Earth and the sun, it creates a solar eclipse. Wichita was not situated within the path of totality, yet residents still witnessed an 87.7% coverage of the sun.

Students left class to witness the celestial occasion, and teachers helped add to the experience. Customers gathered in Braeburn Square to enjoy a late lunch with their glasses ready on the table. Employees left the kitchens during the peak eclipse time to savor the best of the view.

Eye protection is a priority during the solar event, and people across campus made the effort for not only themselves, but other students.

A large crowd of students gathered outside of Jabara Hall and waited for a chance to use a friend’s pair of glasses or another unique tool to observe the sun and moon.

Jason Ferguson, professor and director of physics, set up a telescope from his work on the south side of Jabara Hall.

“The telescope is owned by the physics department,” Ferguson said. “It is a Celestron

8-inch reflector. I used a 25mm eyepiece and solar filter to protect everyone’s eyes.”

The telescope allows viewers to see more details before, during and after the eclipse that the eclipse glasses do not.

“Before the eclipse, we could see sunspots on the surface of the sun,” Ferguson said. “The edge of the eclipse is more defined as well.”

Not too far away, students stood outside of the Heskett Center. Senior Mariah Anderson caught sight of the alignment with solar glasses.

“It was very surreal,” Anderson said. “I

Tanganyika animals take over the RSC

BY PIPER PINNETTI piperpinnetti12@gmail.com

An array of wildlife animals roamed the Rhatigan Student Center, giving students and other passersby the chance to meet and pet the animals.

On Wildlife Wednesday, two employees from Tanganyika traveled to campus with four exotic animals: an African crested porcupine, a three-banded armadillo, a sulcata tortoise and a two-toed sloth. Each animal was featured for 30 minutes to ensure all had their time to get pets or give high-fives. Students lined up for a chance to pet the animals in the designated area. A small group of students were able to get an up-close experience for each ambassador animal, and then a new group would cycle through.

Taylor Craig, an animal experiences specialist at Tanganyika,

handled animals and talked to students. In her role, she usually handles interactions between the guests and animals.

“We get to work with lots of animals, which is my favorite part, but we’re the ones that do things like meet and greets or education stuff,” Craig said.

Before each event, employees traveling with the animals conduct study sessions, where they catch up on fun facts through shared Google Docs and Googling of their own.

Credit for the Wichita State event belongs to Vanessa Bell, the director of marketing for the Rhatigan Student Center, who found online that Tanganyika offers opportunities for their team to bring animals and educate people about them.

“I thought college students might like the chance to interact with animals they might get to, or

they may not make it all

loved looking at that kind of change in the environment.”

At Ablah Library, Freshman Angelina Le Calvez caught glimpses of the eclipse with her friend before class.

“I actually asked four people if I could borrow their glasses because I always wanted to keep looking at them,” Le Calvez said.

Le Calvez, originally from France, was glad to have another opportunity to catch an eclipse after the sight in 2017 left her disappointed.

“In 2017, there was an eclipse in France, but it was cloudy so we didn’t get to see it,” Le Calvez said. “So actually seeing it like the moon aligned with the sun was just crazy, breathtaking and the experience of a lifetime if you ask me.”

The partial eclipse lingered above Wichita for only a few hours, but left a lasting impression on those who witnessed it, sparking conversations and igniting excitement for astronomical events.

All over campus, students, faculty and staff joined together, remembering their last eclipse experience in 2017, stood in awe of this alignment and now wait patiently for the next one.

The next solar eclipse will happen in 20 years on Aug. 23, 2044. Later this year, on Sept. 18, there will be a partial lunar eclipse visible for America, Europe and Africa.

Special election to be held for student senator seats

During a meeting on the night of April 4, SGA’s Supreme Court ruled that election code does not differentiate between a declared candidate and a write-in candidate.

Prior to this meeting, write-in candidates who won their race were asked if they accepted the role. The results of all other races, including the presidential race were officially certified on April 5.

Certain Senate seats will go into a runoff election after the declared and write-in candidates for those seats received the same number of votes. Only students in the Colleges of Applied Studies, Fine Arts, Health Professions and the Graduate School will receive a ballot as there are only ties in Senate races for seats in those colleges. The runoff election will be held April 15-17, with the unofficial results being announced around 6 p.m. on April 17. Gabriel Fonseca, an SGA adviser, said that this year was “fascinating” because there were a larger number of write-in candidates compared to previous years. “We’re talking about a significant number of them because (the College of) Engineering had seven seats, and there was not a single declared candidate, so seven of the write-ins will take the seat,” Fonseca said.

Physics professors Mathew Muether and Jason Ferguson set up telescope on lawn of Jabara Hall for observers to see solar eclipse on April 7.

A dog in dance class and other ways service animals, emotional support animals help

BY COURTNEY BROWN newsprojects@thesunflower.com

When Draco gets his service dog vest put on, the English golden retriever knows it’s time to work for his owner, Kimmy Aguilar, whether it’s from his dog bed in his Aguilar’s dance class or throughout campus.

Wichita State students with service animals or emotional support animals (ESAs) shared how their furry companions help them navigate life.

When Aguilar started at Wichita State last fall, her service dog, Draco, began his first day of work alongside her.

Aguilar, a freshman dance major, said she decided to get a service dog before going to college out-of-state so someone could always be ready to help her.

Service animals like Draco must perform a specific task directly related to a person’s disability, according to The Americans with Disabilities Act.

Aguilar has eosinophilic esophagitis (EEO), a mixture of vocal cord dysfunction and athlete’s heart. Growing up as a competitive dancer, she struggled with fainting, being unable to catch her breath, an unusually high heart rate and dizziness. She said in very rare cases, EEO can also lead to her having seizures.

Now, Draco watches Aguilar during dance practices, ensuring she sits when dizzy or giving her compressions when she struggles to breathe.

“I tough it out a lot. I’m very well known for that, so if I’m like, ‘Oh, let me stand up. I’m fine,’ and he’s like, ‘No, you’re not,’” Aguilar said. “He makes sure I don’t get up.”

Under the ADA, service dogs can go with people with disabilities generally anywhere in public. According to Isabel Medina Keiser, the director of the Office of Student Accommodations and Testing, students are not required to register their service animal with OSAT.

While Aguilar stressed how Draco is with her all the time and must always be prepared, she said his service dog vest helps him know when he’s “only on duty” and should focus solely on Aguilar.

“It’s like putting your jacket on for work or something,” she said.

The dancer said others’ interactions with Draco have been

mostly positive, aside from a few poor encounters with less trained animals in Shocker Hall and some “typical guys” in the dining hall or in one of her fall classes who distracted Draco by calling his name.

“Just simple and easy as that, asking ‘Is he on duty?’ or ‘Is he working?’ or even the question of ‘May I pet your dog?’ … is the biggest thing you can ask of someone who has a service animal,” Aguilar said.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS

Draco is far from the only animal in the residence halls — Katie Austin, the director of Housing and Residence Life, said 41 ESAs and three service dogs currently live in WSU housing. This number includes dogs, cats and even a ferret.

ESAs provide comfort and companionship to their owners, and unlike service animals, they are not limited to people with disabilities. However, students living with an ESA in campus housing must have documentation from a professional stating the

student’s diagnosis and their need for an ESA, according to Medina Keiser.

While Medina Kesier said service animals are almost always dogs, ESAs can be any kind of animal.

Austin said unlike service animals, ESAs are restricted to students’ living areas.

According to Austin, the number of ESAs has increased within the last five years. OSAT notifies Housing when it approves the ESA, and then students must sign a behavioral agreement for their ESA.

“This a big responsibility, and it’s not something they should enter into lightly because it is ultimately on them to take care of that animal,” Austin said.

Mel Sharp, a junior majoring in studio applied drawing, said that the responsibility of taking care of her ESA, a cat named Toast, helped improve her mental health.

Following a week spent in bed and a therapist’s recommendation, Sharp decided to get Toast while living in Shocker Hall during her freshman year.

“It’s nice having a pet there

that you would have to get out of bed to walk or feed or clean up after,” Sharp said. “And it really has helped me a lot.”

Sharp, who has since moved off campus, said WSU’s approval process went quickly, and her roommates and other Shocker Hall residents accepted Toast.

Sharp’s only recommendation for Shocker Hall is to have a better trash set-up so she could have more easily cleaned Toast’s litter box instead of going from her fifth-floor room to the dumpster outside.

Freshman Misty Galloway said she got her cat certified as an ESA to help her manage her social anxiety and her first year in college. She said upon receiving her therapist’s letter, her apartment complex approved Angel, a whitehaired cat.

“Whenever I’m really sad or about to cry, she’s always like, ‘Ooh, what she’s doing over here? Look at me. I’m gonna be a little weirdo,’” Galloway said. “She just has this way of always knowing when I’m not feeling so great and showing up.”

RECOMMENDATIONS

For students interested in getting an ESA, Austin and Medina Keiser both emphasized considering the full responsibilities of caretaking for an animal, such as having plans for when students are in class or on spring break.

Medina Keiser also mentioned the importance of finding other supports than the animal, such as counseling.

“Just making sure that you’re not putting all that pressure on the emotional support animal and making sure that you’re going to give them a good home,” she said.

The Student Government Association passed a resolution in January urging for greater student accountability of ESAs in residence halls. But Austin said residents generally notify them of any animal misbehavior, and overall, owners are responsible.

“They really care for this animal as if it was their own child,” Austin said.

Students wanting to live on campus with ESA or register their service animal can go to OSAT’s website.

Shockers Learn Shockers Vote focuses on student voices in voter registration

BY MALEAH EVANS maleah.evans04@gmail.com

Shockers Learn Shockers Vote is a campus-wide coalition looking for those who are committed to ensuring that people on Wichita State’s campus have the resources and tools available to them to become educated and engaged voters. The coalition has invitations open to students, faculty and staff.

Loren Belew, the civic engagement coordinator in the Student Engagement, Advocacy & Leadership (SEAL) office, joined the coalition in 2020 after attending some webinars and utilizing the resources provided by the coalition. Within the past year, Belew applied to be on the coalition’s advisory board.

Through the coalition, Belew was able to develop the new skill necessary to implement voting engagement strategies on campus. She applied her new knowledge to her role in the SEAL office, working with the voter engagement events there.

“In 2022, I got to write the action plan and carry out the steps,” Belew said. “I feel really passionately about helping our campus and other campuses reach their full voting, or have their full voting turnout realized or reached.”

Shockers Learn Shockers Vote is not just focused on national elections. The group hosts events for municipal elections, trying to get the campus engaged in local politics before jumping to the national level. During a mayoral forum hosted last October, the group was able to determine student’s interests in local-level elections.

“We … had a lot of interest from students who wanted to learn about our mayoral candidates,” Belew said. “They submitted questions, and they were very curious about the candidates.”

This year, the coalition is creating a new branch called the Shockers Vote Delegation, with four student leaders who are taking charge of creating action plans for a series of voter drives, among other events.

“I feel really excited (to have) the Shockers Vote Delegation,” Belew said. “I think we were kind of missing that element of student leadership in our voter engagement work.”

Ryan Nuckles, a freshman studying political science, joined the delegation because he has a passion for voting. When he saw the delegation was looking for student applicants, he applied and was appointed as the deliberative dialogue delegate.

“I’ve voted in every election since I’ve turned 18, and I’m just very passionate about people voting, so when I saw that come across my email, I was like, ‘Sign me up,’” Nuckles said.

In his role as the deliberative dialogue delegate, Nuckles will work to organize speaking events similar to the mayoral debate that took place on campus last October.

Nuckles also said the delegation is going to other organizations on campus, like Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO) and Black Student Union (BSU), and gathering information on who they want to hear from.

“I know who I want to hear about, but the problem is, I don’t know what they want to hear about. And the easiest way to find out is to just go and ask,” Nuckles said.

Dave Joshua Del Mar, a junior studying exercise science, joined the delegation because he feels like he has earned the right to vote and wants others to take advantage of the privilege.

“I didn’t grow up in the U.S. I moved here, and I went through the citizenship process. I took the test and all that stuff,” Del Mar said. “So I feel like voting is something that I

worked for and not something that I was born into, so I take it really seriously.”

He also hopes that by working with the delegation, he can make voting simpler for college students, both international and local. He was also overwhelmed by the voting process and said he hopes to make it easier for others by taking away some of the mystery that makes voting so overwhelming.

Del Mar is the president of the delegation and oversees the other delegates while creating connections with other organizations on campus. For the fall semester, he and the other delegates are looking at utilizing TurboVote at registration drives to streamline the process of registering students.

“Another thing that we have planned, too, is for international students,” Del Mar said. “We’re trying to have resources on their country’s elections or civic information.We’re trying to do, like, an all-inclusive kind of deal.”

The delegation doesn’t have many plans for this spring or summer, but they will have quite a few events taking place in the fall. Students, faculty and staff can check their voter registration status and for upcoming events on the VoterView website.

Illustration

‘If no one else will do it, it’s

BY AINSLEY SMYTH ainsley.smyth3@gmail.com

When Tiffany Tucker graduated high school, she didn’t feel ready for college. Instead, she enrolled in the Air Force.

“I joined because I needed the structure,” she said.

Tucker was in the Air Force for six years, working as a radar, airfield and weather systems technician.

Then, after years of rigid order, she felt she was ready to change course again and enrolled at Wichita State.

Now, Tucker uses her military experience to support veteran and civilian students as the president of a previously inactive club.

Going to college 10 years after finishing high school has its challenges, according to Tucker. Not only is the less structured schedule a shift from being in the military but so is getting used to being in classes again and having people assume that she,

now 26, is a teenager. “A lot of instructors tend to forget that there are adult learners in general in their classrooms and address the class as a whole as though they are on the younger side,” she said.

And then, just as she was getting used to being a student again, Tucker found herself in another new role. She noticed the number of organizations catering to students’ different interests and identities but felt there should be a group supporting military and veteran students. Then an adviser told her about the Veteran Student Organization (VSO), which used to fill this role but wasn’t operating anymore.

At first, Tucker was focused on adjusting to campus life and her classes and was hesitant to take charge.

“As I saw more and more of the need for that sense of community, I was like, ‘You know what? If no one else will do it, it’s gotta be me,’” she said.

Tucker was joined by Vice President

Sierra Riley and Secretary John Navarro.

The group said one of their next goals is to fill the rest of their board, including a treasurer position. Tucker said that the trio hosted a bingo event in March and is working on planning more events to draw student interest.

Other goals include partnering with veteran organizations outside the university and connecting student veterans with resources and opportunities, like internships.

“Veterans themselves are a very small minority of students and even smaller population-wise around the United States, so they need the resources that they can get,” Navarro, a junior sociology major and Army Reserve member, said.

According to the Pew Research Center, veterans make up 6% of the U.S. population.

Wichita State’s Military & Veteran Services office certified 446 veteran students this semester, according to Brady

Iranian Student Association brings second home to Iranian students in Wichita

BY MONIQUE BEVER monibever@gmail.com

Laughter, soulful Persian music, animated conversations in Farsi, and the aroma of traditional cuisine filled the room as Wichita’s close-knit Iranian community gathered at the Iranian Student Association’s event celebrating Nowruz at the beginning of March.

Coming around 7,000 miles from Tehran, Iran, to further his studies at Wichita State University, Iranian Student Association President Mohammad Amin Ahouei understands what it’s like navigating life as an international student and aims to help others integrate into Wichita through the group.

“It’s a good feeling when we can organize a large number of Iranian students and families, communicate with them, and provide a situation that they can have fun,” Ahouei said.

The Iranian Student Association acts as a support

net, prioritizing international students in their first six months of moving from Iran. At the club’s events, members of the local Iranian community often help fundraise financial support for these students that the university hasn’t provided, ranging from groceries to shelter.

“Our main responsibility is to create a kind of association for the students who recently came here,” Ahouei said. “Here in Wichita, we try to make it easy for them to get home and settle down.”

According to Treasurer Atena Tajaddodi, the association is preparing a handbook to guide incoming students.

The Iranian Student Association holds various events throughout the year, from traditional celebrations, like Nowruz and Yalda Night, to casual activities like volleyball games and movie nights. Sina Aghaei, the Iranian Student Association adviser, said celebrating traditional festivities

with a newfound community is intended to help ease homesickness while replicating facets of Iranian culture.

“It helps them to get back to their tradition,” Aghaei said. “They don’t get homesick as much as they used to. They can find some memories that they can share together.”

Public Relations Officer Arian Gerami said the group’s shared knowledge of Iranian customs helps him feel more at ease with other members.

“They’re all speaking your language, and it makes it feel like parts of my country,” Gerami said. “Being in a group that knows all about (your) traditions, you don’t have to explain why you’re doing this or that, whether it’s logical or not. You just get to go somewhere and enjoy the moment.”

For more information on the Iranian Student Association, updates are frequently shared on their Instagram page: @iransa_ wichita. Contact information for the group can be found here.

Marzolf, the military and veterans benefits coordinator, said.

Tucker pointed out, though, that this number doesn’t account for all student veterans enrolled at WSU because veterans can choose to forgo some of their benefits or leave them for their children to use later.

Riley said she hopes to see the organization grow during her time as president.

“I feel like a lot of times when people aren’t a part of something or have never experienced something, they don’t really look at it,” she said. “I just feel like it’s important for everybody to know that, and you don’t have to be affiliated with the military or be a veteran to be a part of this organization.”

Anyone interested in joining or learning more about the Student Veteran Organization can stop by the Military Student and Veterans Center in Grace Wilkie Hall or find the organization on Facebook.

not only important to students majoring in them but also non-majors taking the classes to complete general education requirements. “(We’re) trying to communicate that value to the Board of Regents when we submit our action plans,” she said.

CONSTRUCTION

said the programs are

Iranian Student Association President Amin Ahouei opens the Nowruz event with a speech. The Iranian Student Association held the event at the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex on March 16. | Photo by Monique Bever

/ The Sunflower

President Richard Muma during a university town hall on April 5. | Screenshot from Wichita State SGA YouTube

Baseball extend losing streak against Oklahoma State and Kansas State

BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ AND JACOB UNRUH sports@thesunflower.com assistantsports@thesunflower.com

Wichita State baseball traveled to Riverfront Stadium on Tuesday afternoon to face off against Oklahoma State University (OSU). The Cowboys defeated the Shockers, 9-5. The Shockers then traveled to Manhattan to play against Kansas State University, losing 6-3.

VS. OKLAHOMA STATE

The Cowboys capitalized early in the game with 12 walks and three hit batters. OSU sophomore Carson Benge put up an RBI double in the first inning, giving the road team an early 1-0 lead. By the third inning, OSU added one more run, 5-0.

The Shockers failed to respond offensively, but junior pitcher Mason Munz held the Cowboys to scoreless fourth and fifth innings that slowed its momentum.

Wichita State got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, getting a walk and three consecutive singles from senior Dayvin Johnson, junior Mauricio Millan and sophomore Jaden Gustafson. The Cowboys responded in the sixth by adding another run to the board to make it 6-2. OSU shut out the Shockers in the next two innings and scored three more

in the eighth to further its lead, 9-2.

Freshman Lawrence Haworth had six appearances at bat and acquired his third hit of the evening in the eighth inning, singling to right field and getting his only RBI of the night. Haworth’s single gave the Shockers another run as redshirt junior Jordan Rogers crossed the plate, 9-3.

Haworth said he had been trying to stay consistent with his bats but all the travel can catch up to him; however, he said that he stays prepared because he never knows when he is going to be called up.

“I think it just consistency — its a long season, late nights, plane rides,” Haworth said. “Its just like take care of your body and be consistent and be prepared, and you never know when your name is going to be called.”

The Shockers shut out OSU in the ninth inning, but the Shockers would still come up short, only making two runs from a Durnin triple that allowed Rogers and junior Derek Williams to settle the score, 9-5.

“It’s really tough in these midweek settings,” Green said. “If you come in and you’re not throwing strikes and you stretch your bullpen as early as we did, it makes it tough to get back.”

VS. KANSAS STATE

Wichita State’s baseball team led during the vast majority of the game at

Kansas State University on Wednesday night. An eighth-inning collapse gave the Wildcats the win, 6-3. The loss extended a five-game losing streak for Wichita State, dropping the team’s record to 19-15. Kansas State improved to 21-10. The Shockers scored a run in the second and two more in the third, grabbing an early 3-0 lead. Kansas State responded with two in the fourth, creating a 3-2 score that would hold until the bottom of the eighth.

Aided by two batters reaching base via bunt, the Wildcats rallied for four runs in the eighth. The Shockers failed to respond in the ninth inning, going down one-two-three to end the game.

Hamilton earned the loss, giving up a run in the eighth without securing an out. Sophomore Caleb Anderson started the game on the mound and pitched 3.2 innings, while junior Jack Mount pitched 2.1 scoreless innings in relief.

Haworth continued his hot streak at the plate, going 2-for-4. Senior Dayvin Johnson, redshirt junior Jordan Rogers and freshman Camden Johnson also had multi-hit games.

The baseball team will look to end its losing streak in a three-game series in Eck Stadium over the weekend against Florida Atlantic University.

The first game is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m.

Women’s golf places top-10 in final event before conference championships

BY OWEN PROTHRO owenprothro@gmail.com

In its last tournament before the American Athletic Conference (AAC) Championships, Wichita State’s women’s golf team traveled to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, to compete in the Oral Roberts Spring Invitational.

After three rounds of golf on Monday and Tuesday, the Shockers finished tied for ninth place out of 15 teams with 915 strokes.

Sophomore Kate Tilma tied for 26th place with 228 overall strokes and was Wichita State’s top individual performer.

Abilene Christian University won the event with 886 strokes.

ROUND ONE

During the first 18 holes, the Shockers were in 10th place after shooting a 306.

Tilma tied for 13th place in round one as she shot a 74 just two strokes over par.

Redshirt freshman Lauren Thiele made three birdies in the back nine en route to shooting a 75 in her opening round. Sophomore Brooklyn Benn finished behind Tilma and Thiele as she shot a 79.

ROUND TWO

After round two, Wichita State was tied for 10th place with Missouri State University, shooting a 310. Benn and senior Madison Slayton each shot a 77 in round two, combining for three birdies.

Sophomore Mackenzie Wilson, redshirt junior Sarah Lawson and Thiele each shot a 78 during their rounds.

ROUND THREE

The Shockers put together its best performance in the final round of the tournament, shooting a 299 to solidify their final position.

Wilson led the charge in round three, shooting a 72 and tied for 35th place. Tilma and Lawson each shot a 75 in round three, and Lawson finished tied for 49th place.

Thiele and Slayton followed behind, each shooting a 76 to round out their tournaments. Thiele tied for 31st place and Slayton tied for 39th. Benn shot a 78 in round three, tying her for 43rd place.

With its regular season completed, the Wichita State’s women’s golf team will compete in the AAC Championships from Monday, April 15 to Wednesday, April 17, at the Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville, Florida.

Athletic Director Kevin Saal gives update on Cessna Stadium renovations

BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ sports@thesunflower.com

In 2022, the Wichita State Athletics Department announced plans to move forward with renovating the formerly-named Cessna Stadium.

“We think it will be an absolutely premier community facility,” Kevin Saal, athletic director, said in a press conference earlier this week. “There will be some short-term inconveniences as we get to it, but we are envisioning a day where we can host premier events within a premier facility and accommodate fans in a firstclass way.”

The plan is to turn Cessna Stadium into University Stadium, a multi-purpose state-of-the-art home for Wichita State athletics.

In September 2022, the university’s Board of Trustees approved the funding’s first few phases.

This phase of the project will cost approximately $11.8 million dollars. During summer 2023, the east side of the stadium was demolished.

In December, Wichita State received one bid for the project but ultimately declined the bid because it was not financially

responsible, according to Saal. “There was a lack of competitive bidding at both the construction management level and the subcontractor level that resulted in literally millions of dollars that were going to be a challenge to spend,” Saal said. Saal said Wichita State hired Crossland Construction, a local firm, as the construction manager, out of five candidates. Phase 1B is scheduled to begin immediately following the Kansas

High School State Track and Field Championship on May 25.

This phase of the project will include reconfiguring the eightlane track to accommodate a regulation-sized soccer field and adding new bleachers that seat approximately 3,600 people on the north and south sides of the stadium.

All the phases of the project will be scheduled around the state track and field meet to allow Wichita State to continue to be

able to host the event without any problems. Saal said he will meet with state athletics representatives next month to refine the plan for the meet. “(We’re) arranging the week prior to state high school track some opportunities virtually and/ or in-person to present some of this information to coaches and directors of athletics throughout the state to make sure that we are clear and transparent in terms

of what it will look like this year and then work through all the operational logistics, so there’s no surprises,” Saal said.

Although the renovations are in their early phases, 2A and 2B, which are set to cost approximately $40 million, will get rid of the west side of the stadium. The west stadium renovations will include a single level of viewing decks, offices, locker rooms and team room areas.

Phases 2A and 2B are scheduled to begin as early as June 2026. Saal said the funding to complete the project will be sourced through the university, private donations and local funding. The renovations seek to give Wichita State a state-of-the-art track and field facility and allow for a potential women’s soccer program, which could begin in 2026.

Saal said he has already begun applying for future NCAA track and field postseason bids, hoping to host the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the next few years.

“We think it will be an absolute premier community facility,” Saal

Jordan Rogers slides into home plate to score Wichita State’s third run of the game. | Photos by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower Freshman pitcher Drew Iverson pitches in the second inning. Iverson allowed no hits and two runs. Mason Munz walks back to the dugout after at the end of the fourth inning. Munz pitched 2.2 innings throughout the April 9 match.

The west stands of Cessna Stadium on April 10. The stadium has been slowly demolished over

Softball blanked by No. 2 Oklahoma

BY JACOB UNRUH assistantsports@thesunflower.com

In front of a sold-out crowd in Wilkins Stadium on Tuesday night, Wichita State’s softball team failed to put any runs on the board, losing 7-0 to the No. 2 ranked University of Oklahoma. The Shockers dropped to 18-15 on the season, while the Sooners were every bit as dominant as its 36-3 record indicates, coming out of the gate at a different level than Wichita State.

Oklahoma put up all seven of its runs in the first two innings with only four hits. Senior righthanded pitcher Lauren Howell

struggled with her control, walking five batters. Junior Alison Cooper entered the game in the second inning and proceeded to throw six scoreless frames, striking out five batters in the process.

Cooper, who was animated in the circle and yelling after every out and inning change, said the first few Oklahoma swings and misses gave her confidence.

“I try to bring that energy and have my teammates feed on it,” Cooper said. “Celebrating the little things, getting that strikeout when it’s needed. When they make a great play I’m telling them ‘great job’ … I’m just trying to

keep them engaged and keep the ball rolling and try to bring some momentum on our side.”

On the offensive end, graduate student CC Wong led off the first inning with a single but that would be the only hit for the Shockers until the sixth inning.

Wichita State stranded two runners on base in the sixth and seventh, only managing four hits for the game. Wichita State head coach Kristi Bredbenner said she wanted the Wichita State batters to swing at pitches early in the count instead of waiting for walks.

“We just have to keep trucking, and get after it a little bit more, and be aggressive,” Bredbenner said.

Bredbenner praised Oklahoma but said the way her team competed in the second half of the game shows that they can play against anyone.

“When we have even small successes, it’s something that hopefully can build our confidence,” Bredbenner said.

Softball will compete in a road series over the weekend against the University of South Florida. The first pitch is scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m.

Shocker Sports Round Up: what you missed over the weekend

BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ sports@thesunflower.com TRACK AND FIELD

The track team traveled 4.8 miles away over the weekend to compete in the Friends Invitational at Friends University. Freshman Josh Parrish recorded the fifth-farthest mark in the NCAA in the long jump and qualified for the NCAA West Preliminaries.

Parrish jumped 7.94m/26’0.5” to win in the long jump, helping him hold on to the conference lead and setting the third-best mark in Wichita State program history.

Junior Chidera Okoro won the women’s long jump with a personal best in the outdoor, 5.93m/19’5.5”.

The women’s team broke the Wichita State record in the 4x800 meter relay as junior Jenna Muma, redshirt sophomore Lea Jerkovic, junior Audrey Parson and junior Farrah Miller finished in 9:02.62.

While the team wrapped up in Wichita, junior Brady Palen competed in the Arkansas Spring Invitational on Saturday afternoon and cleared a 2.20m/7’2.5” high jump that moved him up to No. 1 in the American Athletic Conference and No. 4 in the NCAA.

Sophomore Mattelyn Swartz and junior Marissa Jensen placed third and fourth in the high jump for the women in Arkansas.

BASEBALL

Baseball traveled to South Florida over the weekend, where the Shockers could not get much going, losing the series 3-0. In the series opener, Wichita State fell 7-3. The Shockers had 16 hits compared to the Bulls’ six and trailed 3-2 in the seventh inning. South Florida responded with three runs that enhanced the lead, 6-2. Wichita State got its final run

in the eighth when senior Dayvin Johnson hit a double and scored freshman Kam Durnin, making it a three-run game, 6-3. Senior Caden Favors gave up 13 hits and six runs in six innings, striking out seven while allowing one walk.

In its second game, the Shockers made four runs in the ninth inning but ultimately could not defeat South Florida, 8-7.

Wichita State entered the final inning trailing 8-3, but a single from junior Mauricio Millan and a double from redshirt junior Ryan Callahan set them up for success as senior Seth Stroh’s right-side single allowed them to cross the plate, 8-5.

Freshman Lane Haworth hit his first career home run on an error, as a fly ball hit off an outfielder’s glove and flew over the fence. However, it was not enough for the Shockers’ late-game rally.

In the final game of the series, Wichita State led most of the game, but South Florida came back in the ninth and won in extra innings, 3-2.

The only scoring for the Shockers came with two runs at the top of the fifth. Durnin broke the scoreless game with an RBI double that allowed redshirt junior Jordan Rogers to score. Later in the inning, freshman Camden Johnson’s single allowed Durnin to run home for a 2-0 lead.

The Bulls managed to tie the game in the ninth inning on a walk, single and double.

Freshman pitcher Tommy LaPour struck out seven in five innings but allowed seven hits and three walks.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Five women’s basketball players enter transfer portal

With a month left in the transfer portal declaration period, five Wichita State women’s basketball players have entered the portal: senior guards Ambah Kowcun and Jeniah Thompson, junior guard Raissa Nsabua, sophomore forward Daniela Abies and freshman center Sophia Goncalves.

A Wichita State spokesperson confirmed the information on Wednesday night. The transfer portal allows collegiate athletes to explore offers from other schools or return to their original team if they choose. The deadline for declaring entry into the portal is May 1.

Abies led Wichita State in scoring and rebounding last season, taking a major leap under head coach Terry Nooner. She averaged 13 points and 9.7 rebounds, setting the American Athletic Conference tournament single-game rebounding record with 22 on March 9 against Florida Atlantic.

Tulsa claiming victory over sophomore Kristin a Kudryavtseva on court four sealed the win. Wichita State came back to sweep UMKC two hours later.

The Shockers took the doubles point easily. Wang and Kurahashi won 6-0 on court two, and graduate student Jessica Anzo and Kudryavtseva won, 6-3, on court one.

Anzo found victory in the singles match starting on court five. Junior Anne Knuettel added to the lead with a victory on court four.

Wang delivered the final point for Wichita State with a win on court one, 6-4, 6-3.

Women’s tennis will travel to Lawrence to face off against the University of Kansas on Friday, April 12, at the Jayhawk Tennis Center. The match is set to start at 10 a.m.

Women’s tennis faced Tulsa and the University of MissouriKansas City (UMKC) on Monday in a doubleheader. The Shockers fell to Tulsa, 4-1 but came back to win against UMKC, 4-0. Against Tulsa, the Shockers came close in doubles, but the Golden Hurricanes came out on courts one and two to take the doubles points. In singles, freshman Xin Tong Wang won her match in two sets on court two. Redshirt senior Natsumi Kurahashi lost her match on court two, to give Tulsa the lead. Freshman Giorgia Roselli would be the next Shocker to fall, losing in three sets.

Nsabua was a junior college player her freshman year but joined Wichita State before her sophomore campaign. She was a regular starter for the Shockers down the stretch, averaging 3.6 points on 39% shooting.

Thompson was also a former JUCO player, starting at John A. Logan College for her freshman and sophomore years before joining the Shockers. She started four games last season, scoring 2.5 points and nabbing 3.3 rebounds a game.

Kowcun joined Wichita State after two years of JUCO at the North Dakota State College of Science. She started two games last year and played 7.4 minutes per game, averaging 2.1 points and 1 rebound.

Goncalves played only nine minutes during her freshman year, failing to score a point.

Senior Bailey Urban catches the ball on April 9 against OU. Urban caught one ball and put one out.

Junior Alison Cooper screams after striking out a player during the top of the seventh inning against OU. Freshman Sophie Johnson catches the ball to get an out on April 9 against OU. Johnson put out 5 outs.

Junior Alison Cooper prepares to pitch on April 9 against Oklahoma. In the six innings she played, Cooper had five strikeouts and no runs allowed. | Photo by Bryan Chavez / The Sunflower

Illustration by Cameryn Davis / The Sunflower

Spotify trumps Apple Music time after time

For years, we have seen music lovers debating between artists, music genres and even music streaming services. The epic debate between Spotify and Apple Music has the same vibe as Xbox versus PlayStation or even Apple against Android.

Popular music streaming services over the years have included Apple Music, Spotify and even YouTube Music. YouTube Music came to the world in 2015. It is free to download and use, but includes incessant advertisements. With a subscription, users can listen to ad-free videos and exit the app and still listen to the music. YouTube Music doesn’t really hold a flame to Spotify or Apple Music.

There are benefits to each service, but each offers different products and experiences.

As someone who bums off their families’ Apple Music subscription, I can confidently end the debate of the services by saying Spotify is the better offer.

Depending on your mood, you can click on a specific artist in your library, one of your curated playlists or even your entire library of songs.

The app offers many artists on its platform. It has categories like spatial audio, pop, alternative and more. When I look up if I can listen to podcasts on Apple Music, Google tells me yes. When I look up any podcast on the app, Apple tells me no; nothing appears under

‘Bob

the search bar. I know that Apple Podcast exists, but it is frustrating to download and start up another app when I barely ever have storage as it is.

Spotify has a lot of nooks and crannies where users can find new music and artists, as well as other products.

I love to use Spotify to listen to my podcasts. I love how I can turn on notifications on Spotify to get the updates I want and look forward to, like Emma Chamberlain’s hilarious podcast.

In September 2022, Spotify added audiobooks to its range of services and products. Popular books such as “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner and “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid are offered.

For PlayStation users, we are limited to only Spotify because Apple Music is not in cahoots with the gaming company the way our green and black icon is. I am able to listen to music during a game whenever I please. I can have the Spotify application and my game open at the same time.

Spotify offers student deals that help us save scraps here and there. When confirming you’re enrolled as a student with a simple form, you only pay $5.99 a month for your premium subscription. There are additional bundles with Spotify that include Hulu and Showtime.

Apple Music matches the same price but does not offer bundles with other companies for students.

My phone has both apps downloaded, but I prefer the variety Spotify offers in just one app. I like the green and black theme. Listening to music while playing video games is just a bonus point.

YouTube Music can hold its own against Spotify and Apple Music

A good amount of people in their early twenties listen to music on their phones. It is convenient and modern and allows them to connect to each other in a cultural way.

According to the Next Gen Personal Finance website, and unsurprisingly, Spotify reigns as the most used music streaming service, accounting for 32% of music streamers. Following this are two smaller titans: Apple Music at 15% and YouTube Music at 13.6%. Spotify and Apple Music are toeto-toe in discussions and debates about which one of them is a better music streaming service, but it’s quite a letdown to see no one speak about YouTube Music and all it has to offer.

YouTube Music is the musical side of YouTube, and with that, it possesses all the music videos, rough remixes, b-sides and demo takes from the artist’s vault that never see the light of day on other platforms. This is what makes YouTube Music stand out so much. There is more music to experience and more ways to experience it.

YouTube Music, like Spotify and Apple Music, has a hefty dose of playlists and individual artist mixes (called radio in YouTube Music). YouTube Music also has podcasts of almost any kind like on Spotify.

Of course, it cannot compare to all the things that Spotify has, including the endless amount of playlists and a keen assortment of audiobooks. It also cannot compare to the lossless audio quality that Apple Music’s UX has.

Not only that, but YouTube Music also has videos related to the song. For instance, live albums will have a video counterpart for each song. All it takes is a slide

from the song-only setting to the video setting located at the top of the phone screen. Visualizer videos are included for weaker tracks so something appealing can be seen.

Of course, Apple Music and Spotify have beautiful Canvas (eight-second loop of a visual) in the background, but their impact is a bit two-dimensional compared to what visualizers have in them. To top it off, YouTube Music allows the viewers to see lyric videos, either fan-made or originals from the official channel.

When it comes to these three services, Apple Music has the best sound because of Apple’s unbeatable hi-res lossless. YouTube Music’s competition for audio quality is with Spotify. Google Support reveals that YouTube Music’s normal level of audio quality is 128 kilobits (128,000 units of computer storage), while Spotify’s is 96 kilobits.

For any song streamed on Spotify that is louder than YouTube Music, the Spotify setting would have to be turned on high and keep YouTube Music’s kilobit setting the same. On a normal basis between the two, YouTube Music has more punch and dynamism to its sound.

Marley: One Love’ is

Finally, YouTube Music covers everything musical on YouTube, which includes ascending underdog artists who aren’t based on Spotify or Apple Music. Many mainstream artists have gotten their start on YouTube, such as The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Charlie Puth and Bo Burnham. They had released projects when they weren’t famous as a stepping stone. The ability to see anything musical — within the industry and outside of it — is the biggest thing that makes YouTube Music stand out from everything else, not only Spotify and Apple Music.

YouTube Music has been nothing but a blast to use. There is so much creative diversity all around the app and website. Parody music is made in ridiculous or lowbrow content. Cover songs by talented musicians showcase raw and sought-out talent. There are even meme videos and reels as precursors to many videos to check out and many songs to listen to. Despite the fact that it will not have the best audio quality like Apple Music or an abundance of audiobooks like Spotify, it will provide an experience more people can enjoy.

a beautiful take

on family, God and revolution

Cheyanne Tull

earth2chey@gmail.com

REVIEW

On my way to the Regal Warren West movie theater, I reminisced how I grew up with what my mom liked to call her “soul music,” which consisted of artists like Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Bob Marley and pretty much anyone who performed at Woodstock 1969 or was big in the 1970s. From a young age, I was drawn to the laid-back vibe and messages of peace, love and unity these artists conveyed.

After years of listening to Bob and Ziggy Marley’s music, I realized I didn’t actually know that much about Marley, the father of 11 children. When I saw the trailer for “Bob Marley: One Love,” I knew I had to see it.

To begin the story of a peaceloving man, the “Bob Marley: One Love” film begins in 1976 in a politically violent Jamaica. Most of that violence was gang-related and took place in poverty-stricken communities.

These gangs were linked to the two parties of the country, the democratic socialist People’s National Party and the conservative Jamaica Labour Party, which were locked in conflict. Both parties, as depicted in the film, paid off crime bosses in gangs to assassinate important figures and kill, injure and displace thousands of ordinary people. This portrayal underscores the devastating consequences of political corruption and violence on the lives of innocent citizens. At the beginning of the film,

Robert Nesta Marley (Kingsley Ben-Adir), better known as Bob Marley, is gearing up to perform at a concert called Smile Jamaica to advocate for peace. His profound lyrics have always resonated deeply with me, echoing the Jamaican people’s longing for peace. Similar to Woodstock 1969, Marley’s music serves as a unifying force, inspiring collective action. Just as music was pivotal during and after the Vietnam War with Woodstock, Marley’s performance is poised to drive political and social change.

Before Marley’s concert could even take place, he, his wife, and other band members were shot at in their home, resulting in hospitalization. Despite the ordeal, they managed to recover and perform the concert just in time.

Subsequently, Marley decides to send his wife and children to live in the U.S. out of concern for their safety following the event. Out of this tragic violence, Reggae music and the Rastafari religion emerged. In my view, Marley’s upbringing and musical influences played a crucial role in shaping him into the driving force behind the Reggae music movement, blending native Jamaican styles with rock and soul music elements. The heartache and spiritual mark of this event on Marley was portrayed really well by Ben-Adir.

In the film, viewers are taken on a compelling journey through Bob’s entire life, beginning with his early ventures into the music industry alongside The Wailing Wailers, eventually evolving into Bob Marley and the Wailers. The struggle to secure a recording studio in Jamaica proves to be immensely challenging,

which perhaps ignites Marley’s ability to aspire for more later in the film, such as a tour in Africa. It was an essential moment for Marley when One Studio label offered him and his band a chance, marking a turning point in Marley’s trajectory. His whole journey truly encapsulates Marley’s resilience and unwavering determination to transcend obstacles in pursuit of his musical aspirations.

Marley’s upbringing was far from easy, marked by strained relations with both his mother and father in the film. His father, a white Jamaican, rejected

him, while his mother sought opportunities in the United States, leaving Marley to fend for himself in Jamaica. Despite the challenges of youth and independence, I can tell that he overcame that adversity to carve out a path for himself. Marley isn’t alone for long, which speaks volumes of the power of love in his life’s narrative. He met his future wife, Alfarita Constantia “Rita” Anderson, played by actress Lashana Lynch, in Kingston, Jamaica, and they tied the knot in 1966. Shortly after, they welcomed their first child, Ziggy. Not shown in the film, Ziggy followed in his father’s prestigious

musical footsteps, embarking on his own musical journey. He formed Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers with his siblings Sharon, Cedella, and Stephen. Their latest hit, “Circle of Peace,” featured on Ziggy’s Circle of Peace 2024 tour, exemplifies the enduring legacy of the Marley family’s commitment to spreading messages of harmony and unity through music.

In my opinion, this multigenerational legacy captures the profound impact of Bob Marley’s influence on both his family and the world at large. When Bob and Rita are separated, actor and actress Ben-Adir and Lynch display the unruly aspects of being apart, with trust issues and infidelity in their marriage. His music transcends mere entertainment as a way to test our values and perspectives. While Rastafarianism draws parallels with Judeo-Christianity, Rastafarian followers praise Jah over God and use marijuana spiritually.

I don’t align with the spiritual use of marijuana, but I do find solace in traditional Christian prayer and a relationship with God. His songs aren’t necessarily calling on any one religion or belief system. His songs simply reverberate with a profound wisdom that challenges the divine essence that provides solace and tranquility amid the chaos of existence. Every song used in the movie soundtrack was by The Wailers or Bob Marley and the Wailers.

After watching “Bob Marley: One Love”, I can say it perfectly encapsulated the presence of a man I grew up listening to.

Illustration by Preston Caylor / The Sunflower

Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Piper Pinnetti piperpinnetti12@gmail.com OPINION

Tyler Guthrie tylereguthrie2022@gmail.com OPINION

Asian Student Conference, Vietnamese Student Association, Thai Lao & Cambodian Student Association and SYZ sorority sold a variety of Asian foods in the RSC for a combined fundraiser.

Ulrich attempts innovative, collaborative approach to exhibition development

BY PIPER PINNETTI piperpinnetti12@gmail.com

In an innovative move to foster community engagement and reimagine the traditional museum experience, the Ulrich Museum of Art invited art enthusiasts, students and professionals alike to actively participate in creating its upcoming exhibition, “The Ulrich Co-Lab.” Hosted by the Ulrich Alliance, a group of museum volunteers, the event aimed to bridge the gap between the institution and its diverse audience. “We’re gathering your

thoughts, your ideas in relation to our collection,”

Vivian Zavataro, the executive and creative director of the Ulrich, said. In Grafly Gallery, attendees were offered an interactive journey through various phases of exhibit development.

As attendees explored the exhibition, they were encouraged to reflect on their emotional responses to the artwork, breaking away from traditional labels and interpretations. Zavataro emphasized the importance of breaking down barriers and fostering inclusivity

within museum spaces. The key components of the event wereare the stations, designed to encourage visitors to interact with the museum.

“We want to know that the communities around the museum can connect with our museum,” Zavataro said. “Instead of showing art that we think people are going to like, we want to know what you want to see.”

Throughout the event, participants were invited to provide feedback on a range of topics, from demographic information to personal preferences in

artwork. The data, which will be collected for the next two years, will inform the curation of the next collection display in 2026. “The show will be literally a co-creation with our communities and our patrons here in which this is one of the ways that you can participate today” Zavataro said.

For those interested in participating in future events or providing feedback, visit the Ulrich Museum of Art’s website or contact the museum directly. Comments and engagement are welcome from all.

Vivian Zavataro, the executive and creative director of the Ulrich Museum of Art, shows the new interactive features in the museum lobby to curators and community members on April 3. | Photos by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower

Vivian Zavataro, the executive and creative director at the Ulrich, explains artwork in the museum lobby to community members on April 3. “We want to know that the communities around the museum can connect with our museum,” Zavataro said.

Rebecca Oh, a second year student, talks to a vistor during the Flavors of Asia food sale in the RSC on April 3. Oh is a member of the Thai, Lao, & Cambodian Student Association. | Photos by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower

Asian Student Conference fundraising coordinator Krystal Pham serves a rice bowl for the Flavors of Asia event. The event served Asian food for students to purchase in the RSC on April 3.

Emaan Syed, Asian Student Conference president, stands at the club’s booth. The event took place in RSC and displayed various Asian food made by the members.

Tandoori chicken kebabs were sold during the Flavors of Asia event in the RSC. The event was hosted by multiple Asian student groups on campus.