K A N S A S
S TAT E vol. 125 issue 55
monday, feb. 17, 2020 kstatecollegian.com
BEHIND THE GLAM
Before the 16th annual drag show, queens share experiences Page 4: Cowboy Church provides service for rodeo-goers away from home
Page 5
Springs sports begin, the grind of basketball continues Page 3
How small changes can make a big difference in your carbon footprint Page 7
Native American Student Body offers opportunities for social connection, networking Page 8
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The Mission of the Collegian Media Group is to use best practices of journalism to cover and document life at Kansas State University from a diverse set of voices to inform and engage the K-State community. The Collegian welcomes your letters. We reserve the right to edit submitted letters for length and style. A letter intended for publication should be no longer than 600 words and must be relevant to the student body of K-State. It must include the author’s first and last name, year in school and major. If you are a graduate of K-State, the letter should include your year(s) of graduation and must include the city and state where you live. For a letter to be considered, it must include a phone number where you can be contacted. The number will not be published. Letters can be sent to letters@kstatecollegian.com or submitted through an online form at kstatecollegian.com. Letters may be rejected if they contain abusive content, lack timeliness, contain vulgarity, profanity or falsehood, promote personal and commercial announcements, repeat comments of letters printed in other issues or contain attachments. The Collegian does not publish open letters, third-party letters or letters that have been sent to other publications or people.
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EDITORIAL STAFF Kaylie McLaughlin Editor-in-Chief Bailey Britton Managing Editor Dene Dryden Julie Freijat Copy Chiefs Peter Loganbill News Editor Julie Freijat Assistant News Editor
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Monday
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CORRECTIONS
Olivia Rogers Community Editor
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THIS WEEK ADAM MEYER
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
WRITER
BASEBALL
The baseball team will be finishing up its first season series of the year Monday night as they take on UTRGV for the fourth time. On Thursday, the team will be in Corpus Christi, Texas, to play Texas A&M – Corpus Christi at 6:30 p.m. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday they will compete in the Kleberg Bank College Classic against Missouri, Texas A&M and Utah.
The women’s basketball team (11-11, 5-6 Big 12) will host TCU at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. It is Play 4 Kay Pink Game/Team-Camper night at Bramlage Coliseum. The Wildcats lost their first game to the Horned Frogs this season in Fort Worth on Feb. 1, 65-61. On Saturday, they will play the Longhorns in Austin, Texas, at 12 p.m. The Wildcats lost the first game of the season series to the Longhorns in Manhattan, 63-71. This team is coming off a big
Baseball season is underway, K-State basketball continues its grind and tennis, track and field and soccer get into action.
18-point comeback against West Virginia that resulted in a 56-55 win on Jan. 12. The Wildcats will try to build off that momentum to try to finish the season strong.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
The men’s basketball team (9-16, 2-10) will play against two Lone Star state teams this week. On Wednesday, they will play the Red Raiders in Lubbock at 8 p.m. This game will be aired on ESPN2. The Wildcats lost their first game against Texas Tech this season on Jan. 14, 77-63.
On Saturday, they will host the Texas Longhorns for a throwback game with the famous Lavender jerseys. This game will begin at 1 p.m. and air on CBS Sports. The Longhorns won the first game of this series on Jan. 11, 64-50. This team is currently stuck in a five-game losing streak, and is looking for a way to finish the season off strong. They are coming off a road loss to TCU, 68-57.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
The tennis team will be in Peo-
ria, Arizona, on Sunday and Monday to participate in the Westbrook Invitational hosted by Wisconsin University.
TRACK AND FIELD
The track and field teams will host the Steve Miller Open Invitational at Ahearn Field House on Saturday.
SOCCER
The soccer team will begin its spring schedule on Saturday against the University of Missouri in Manhattan at 9 a.m.
Three-point shooting sinks the Wildcats in loss to TCU CAMERON BRADLEY the half on a 13-2 run. WRITER
The men’s basketball team and TCU both entered Saturday’s matchup desperate for a win, with the Wildcatsdropping their last four games and TCU their last six. It came down to three-point shooting for both teams. TCU hit 15 threes and Kansas State managed to hit two. Slow starts have been one of the biggest issues for the Wildcats this season, and that trend continued on Saturday evening. Thanks to three early Wildcat turnovers and three early three-point shots from the Horned Frogs, the Wildcats found themselves in a 10-point hole with five minutes remaining in the first half. Junior guard David Sloan and senior forward Xavier Sneed gave K-State a competitive edge. K-State finished out
Sloan and Sneed both combined for nine out of the 13 points during that stretch. The Wildcats went into half-time leading 27-26. Sloan led the Wildcat scorers with seven points. Nine turnovers for TCU paved the way for 15 K-State points in the first half. Redshirt junior guard Cartier Diarra got energy going for the Wildcats in the second half, scoring four points including a big windmill dunk to put K-State up 32-31. Diarra left the game mid-second half with an apparent chin injury, but he returned later in the game. The second half mainly consisted of a three-point barrage from both teams. Unfortunately, K-State was on the losing side of that battle. This surge of threepoint shooting led to a 46-40 TCU lead at the
under-12 media timeout. K-State made adjustments and took the lead after the Wildcats went on a short 10-5 run, making the scoring 50-48. TCU dominated K-State throughout the rest of the half, finishing the game on a huge 17-7 run to break their six-game losing streak, defeating the Wildcats 68-57. In the loss, K-State shot 42.6 percent from the field and just 16.7 percent from beyond the arc. Sneed led the Wildcats in scoring with 15 points. The Wildcats have now lost five straight games and are 9-16 overall on the season with a 2-10 record in conference play. K-State is off to Lubbock, Texas, to take on Texas Tech (16-9, 7-5) Wednesday night, which will wrap-up the two game road trip for the Wildcats. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. on ESPN2.
Logan Wassall | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Senior forward Xavier Sneed charges the basket during the men’s basketball game against Oklahoma State in Bramlage Coliseum on Feb. 11. The Cowboys took the Wildcats 64-59.
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Cowboy Church: following the trail to Christ EMILY EUBANK WRITER
Sunday morning in Weber Arena, rodeo-goers gathered for an annual tradition of the Kansas State Rodeo: Cowboy Church. Cowboy Church is a service where people share their faith and love for rodeo culture while away from home. It has the same principle as a traditional church service, the main differences are the location and the dress code. Expected attire consists of boots and cowboy hats. “Cowboy church ... you can call it whatever you want, the only difference is we’re not in a church, it’s just at the arena,” Kory Keeth said. “There’s music, there’s a sermon. [Everybody from the rodeo is] obviously not at home for their home church, so this is just another place for them to come worship since they’re away.”
Keeth, a professional rodeo announcer and musician from Conway, Missouri, has been announcing at the K-State Rodeo and singing for the cowboy church for the past six years. Keeth said when he was handed a mic for the first time, he knew he wanted to announce on rodeo’s biggest stages. He’s announced rodeo announcer for about eight years, and sings at cowboy churches along the way. “I just really like the fact that we live in a country that we’re able to get to get together and do that, the fact that we cherish the freedom that we can get together and worship our creator,” Keeth said. “Regardless of where it is ... anytime you get to stand up and tell people about Jesus ... I just think you can’t go wrong with that.” The service on Sunday morning was led by pastor Dale
Hirschman. Hirschman has been involved in rodeos since the age of eight, and discovered his calling to be a cowboy preacher through a church sermon. The sermon that day was about a horse that was said to be unbreakable. Through hard work, prayer and love, the horse eventually broke. When the sermon came to an end, a young Hirschman thought about how cool it would be to become a cowboy preacher. “You might be discouraged from one time to the next, now follow Jesus Christ, and you’re thriving,” he said. During the service Hirschman talked about how his faith has helped him. “God is trying to get you in here, and it’s a nice feeling,” he said. “It’s worth looking for a symbiotic relationship with you.
He wants us to do it, He wants to have a relationship with us and He wants us to carry His grace and follow his tracks going into His house.” Keeth said he plans to return to cowboy church at K-State next year. “I love coming to K-State, it feels like home to me,” Keeth said. “The people here, the community, it just seems like a great place. They get an awesome crowd for the rodeo itself. ... I just think the whole thing is very Logan Wassall | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP unique, they’ve got a lot of history, a lot of tradition.” K-State hosted its 64th Annual College Rodeo in WeKeeth said he thinks the ro- ber Arena over the weekend. The rodeo brought over deo is something that many peo- 500 contestants from 19 colleges and universities from ple on campus are missing out on. the Central Plains Region. On the night of the 15th, “There’s a lot of people I feel 4,000 people were in the bleachers. like that are missing out on something that they could be involved in, just to know more about our “I mean, I know this an agricul- agriculture. We represent a lot of lifestyle, the cowboy lifestyle and ture school, but rodeo is so differ- different things, I think that’s what just more about animals,” he said. ent, it’s so much different than just makes it so unique.”
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monday, february 17, 2020
PRIDE BAILEY BRITTON
MANAGING EDITOR
Pink lips, large lashes and a curly pink wig adorned Dusty Garner-Carpenter as he finished preparing for the 16th Annual K-State Drag Show Friday afternoon. He swept glitter on his lips and eyelids to accentuate them for the future crowd — something he has done many times over the last 30 years. This year, however, there is a difference. Garner-Carpenter said this is the first time there have been death threats and threats of protests at the Kansas State show. "The more we receive those, the more we are reminded why this is important, why we do this," Garner Carpenter said. "My job is to give back to the communities that gave me things. I thrived because I was in a community that welcomed me and until our students, whether they're trans, queer, gay, whatever, feel safe and supported in everything they do, then we have to continue doing this." However, before all this, Garner-Carpenter had to try dressing in drag. At 15, he dressed in drag for the first time. It wasn't something he expected to enjoy. "All of the gay men that I knew did drag," Garner-Carpenter said. "And in my head,
Behind the glam: Queens in K-State’s 16th Annual Drag Show share their experiences
we all just kind of took turns doing it. ... I realized that is obviously not the case. I was good at it and I enjoyed it. So I just started doing it regularly. At different times in my life, it's paid my bills. Now it is an opportunity for me to give back to communities that have helped me." Lil' Kim Chi also didn't expect to enjoy performing in drag shows, but has come to love it. "I did not want to do drag," Kim Chi laughed. "I was a person that was like, 'I'm never going to do drag.' But then there was an open competition hosted by Monica Moree, who's the host of the show, and a couple of my friends just threw me in there and we had a good time. So I just kept doing it." Garner-Carpenter graduated from K-State in 2010 with a degree in political science and has been with the show since its inception. Now, he performs across the country with groups like the Cincinnati Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. The K-State Drag Show acts as a fund-raising event for the LGBT Resource Center. In addition, Garner-Carpenter has a KSU Foundation account to provide mental health care access and financial access for students that identify as transgender.
"I happen to work for a large tech company that matches our donations up to $10,000 a year, so that makes what we do here even more important," Garner-Carpenter said. Kim Chi lives in Manhattan and is the entertainment coordinator for Little Apple Pride. "Not only do I have the role of finding entertainers for our big festival in April, I also do some of the performing at our fundraisers," Kim Chi said. "So we do like a drag bingo. We'll do drag shows raise money." The preparation the two queens go through for each performance is hours long. Garner-Carpenter said he spends about an hour doing his makeup, but total time can be as much as three hours. this is an image "As I am sure anyone that applies makeup knows, you can take as long as you want to," Garner-Carpenter said. "The more you fuck with it, the worse it can get." Kim Chi said they spend two hours doing makeup along. After that, they have to pad their body to give the impression of hips and curves. "We have to pad our bodies to make like fake hips and butts and bras," Kim Chi said. "So that can take anywhere 10 to 15 to 30 minutes, depend-
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ing on what I'm doing." While it takes substantial amounts of time to prepare, neither Kim Chi or Garner-Carpenter would change it. Performing is something they enjoy and by doing so, they help others. The joy of performing is why Garner-Carpenter invites a new performer on stage each year. "I make them experience something that is uniquely K-State," Garner-Carpenter said. "I have performed around the world. I had a show in the Las Vegas Strip for two years ... I was in front of huge crowds like this every night. There is something about a K-State welcome that is unlike anything else and so I make all of my performers step out on stage and soak that in for a minute." The audience can also experience a new world they have never seen. Kim Chi creates a world for the audience to escape to — a world they call "the funky world of drag." "I think it's just the ability to kind of step outside of yourself and into another character because it's an art, it's a performance," Kim Chi said. "I like to create an environment where the audience gets to also do the same thing and kind of step outside of their own life and just be with us for however long they're there."
Dalton Wainscott | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Dusty Garner-Carpenter, a founding member of the K-State drag show, does his makeup in the dressing room backstage at McCain Auditorium during the day before the show on Feb.14.
K-State’s 16th Annual Drag Show raises money for LGBT resources REBECCA VRBAS C U LT U R E E D I T O R
Despite protests outside, the 16th annual K-State Drag Show had roaring crowds. The host of the evening, drag queen Monica Moree opened the show with a medley of Todrick Hall an-
thems, and the church said amen. Each following act strived to outdo the previous in drama, costuming and emotional impact. Adorned in glitter, sequins, feathers and tassels, queens lip synced to a diverse array of songs, from Britney Spears
to “Baby Shark.” The burlesque-themed show featured performers Monica Moree, Penny Tration, Victoria Fox, Lil' Kim Chi, Valeree Love and the couple Alexander Cameron and Ginger LeSnapps. see page
6, “DRAG SHOW”
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HEALTH Lafene nursing coordinator addresses coronavirus plan and prevention PETER LOGANBILL NEWS EDITOR
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the 15th case of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the U.S. Abby King, nursing coordinator at Lafene Health Center, said on Thursday that the CDC says there is currently a low risk of someone getting the disease. “They have multiple tests that are still pending,” King said. “We have multiple tests that were actually negative.” Lafene gets notifications daily from the CDC addressing the disease. “They give us more numbers and information about the cases in China and other countries,” King said. She also said Lafene has been in communication with the Riley County Health Department and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. “We’re working on a process,” King said. “What would it look like if we had a positive case here at Kansas State University? What are our next steps? What would the community do? What would [the] K-State com-
munity do? That sort of thing, so we’re planned and ready to go if that does occur.” The CDC is still coming out with information on it daily, she said. “This virus is ongoing, the research of it’s ongoing, we don’t know everything about it yet,” King said. “They’re still coming out with more information daily on what exactly it is and what the extent of it is.” What students should be doing now, she said, is washing their hands, covering their cough with their elbow and regularly cleaning. “We’ve had students ask, ‘Should I be wearing masks? Should I be doing this?” King said. “Really, you should be doing just everyday preventative measures in general because it’s just another virus that’s going around.” She said that of those in the United States, the cases have not been severe or caused death, and the patients are recovering from it. While the coronavirus disease is important, she said, King noted there have been 12,000 deaths from influenza this year. “Realistically, influenza is booming right now, this is the season for it and people need to take precautions, and get their flu vaccine,” she said. “If they’re sick, call and schedule an
DRAG SHOW continued from page
5
The married duo specializes in burlesque, and traveled all the way from Cincinnati, Ohio, to perform for K-State. “Burlesque literally means to mock or spoof,” LeSnapps said via email. “It's extremely popular in fringe sects of society that consider themselves disenfranchised, and particularly in times of socioeconomic hardship. It usually involves some element of striptease, but not necessarily always.” LeSnapps’ said she loves burlesque for its inclusiveness and em-
powerment. In her 11 years of performing, Manhattan is the farthest she’s traveled for a show. However, the roar from the crowd, she said, was potentially the most deafening she’s ever heard. Moree agreed, acknowledging this to the audience. “I’m telling you, I have been around the world and I have not experienced an audience like this,” Moree said. Moree, a K-State graduate, has been helping organize this show for 16 years. This year, however, was the
File photo by Katelin Woods | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Cotton swabs and tongue compressors sit in a doctor’s office at Lafene Health Center. Since the novel coronavirus outbreak, Lafene has been keeping up with CDC updates about the disease. appointment.” Of the cases in the U.S., they have mostly been people returning from China. “There was one case, because it was a husband and wife,” King said.
“She came back from China and she was at home with her husband and he ended up being diagnosed also.” If there was a case in the area, King said they would call the KDHE, who would call the CDC.
“There’s that chain of command,” she said. “They know what their next steps would be.” To schedule an appointment with Lafene, call 785-532-6544 or go to their website.
first year there were people protesting outside, Moree said. Despite the protestors, Moree said it’s amazing to see what a different place K-State is from 10, 15 or even 30 years ago. For Olivia Elmore, freshman in kinesiology, and Drew Langston, freshman in biology, this was their first time attending a drag show. “I thought it would be a super cool experience, especially because
it’s at K-State, and like I didn’t have to go out to a bar or anything,” Elmore said. “I love the message that they have of like loving everyone and just being super respectful of the performers on stage. It was really fun, some parts were shocking, but in a good way for sure.” Langston said the show was definitely interesting. “Maybe not my scene, but I’m glad that I came and experienced
it," Langston said. Donations from the audience for the LGBT Resource Center were matched by Adobe and will go towards providing resources for queer and trans students at K-State. Moree reminded guests of several upcoming events hosted by the LGBT Resource Center, including and AdventureOUT: Intro to Drama Feb. 17 and free HIV & Syphilis testing Feb. 19.
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LETTER ROSE KROLL CONTRIBTOR
Small, simple and inexpensive life changes are a great way to make a difference in our community. Why should I care about the waste that I produce? Does it really make a difference compared to the billions of people who don’t try to change their own wasteful habits? How am I supposed to change my waste production? It’s too expensive. These are some of the many thoughts I had after climbing out of the YouTube wormhole of zero waste vlogs and tips and tricks videos. I, like many of you, felt kind of hopeless after watching these videos. I love the planet, I’m grateful for the beauty I get to look at every day, but is there really anything I can do? The answer: yes. It is true that we are running out of time to reverse some effects of climate change, but small, simple and inexpensive life changes are a great way to make a difference in our community and the world.
1. DITCH THE STRAWS.
I know, I know, you’ve heard this a million times. But it really does make a difference. Over five hundred million plastic straws are used and trashed every single day in the U.S. It’s a super easy change to make, too. You know that little cubby in between the seats in your car full of loose napkins and condiment packages? Throw a little reusable straw in there. They’re super cheap and you can get a ton of different colors and materials. Next time you go through the drive-thru, politely say that you don’t need a straw. Most of the time, people actually get super excited that you’re denying to participate in producing that waste.
2. BUY REUSABLE
Small steps, big difference: How you can be more environmentally friendly
GROCERY BAGS.
The U.S. uses over 100 billion plastic bags every year, and less than one percent of those are recycled — these are scary numbers. Think about the difference you could make if you decided to buy even one reusable bag to take with you to the store. When I first started to make the change to reusable bags, I noticed that I would forget the bag and have to use plastic bags anyways. One way that I helped myself get into the habit was to not allow myself to use plastic bags. I would do my shopping and then force myself to carry all of my purchases all the way to my car. This worked especially well for me because I don’t enjoy looking like an idiot trying to carry a whole watermelon along with all my other groceries all the way across the parking lot. You can also support online entrepreneurs like Package Free and Wild Minimalist who put cool art on tote bags. Also, if you do have plastic bags, most stores have plastic bag dropoffs where they can be recycled and reused.
3. DON’T BUY NEW CLOTHES.
Okay, I feel like I can be honest here: I’m a severe shopaholic. I love buying new clothes. But, we need to remember that we vote with our dollars. When I buy that cute new sweater at Target, I’m telling Target that we need more, then Target uses more materials to make another sweater. When you buy from thrift stores, you aren’t supporting companies making more clothes and wasting more materials. You can also find a lot of really cute stuff that you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. Thrift stores are a great way to shop cheap and sustainably. Along the lines of buying clothes, be aware of who you’re buying from. Lot’s of big, popular companies still use sweatshops
File Photo by Dene Dryden | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
A recycling bin and trashcan are by a sidewalk. There are a few simple, cheap ways to reduce your carbon footprint.
to produce their products. Some of these brands are Adidas, ASOS, Disney, H&M, GAP, and Victoria’s Secret. The internet is a great resource to find sustainable and ethical brands that support good working conditions and produce beautiful and affordable clothing.
4. AVOID SINGLE USE PLASTICS.
No, I’m not just talking aboNo, I’m not just talking about water bottles. I’m talking about candy, chips, sodas, produce bags, etc. I totally understand that craving for spicy Doritos. I also un-
derstand caffeine addictions. There are ways to avoid producing so much waste. Buy a reusable water bottle or coffee mug and fill it up with your favorite drink at the gas station or convenience store on your way to class. Instead of buying a bunch of tiny chip bags, buy a family pack and put it in a plastic bag when you pack your lunch. Don’t forget to reuse that plastic bag throughout the week. Washing it with a little soap and water works wonders on helping to reduce waste. You can also buy reusable silicone sandwich bags online on sites like Package Free and Stasher. If you have plastic
bags though, don’t throw them away, get as much use out of them as you can. If you buy produce at the store there are tons of mesh bags that you can buy online to use when you go shopping. Or, if you already have plastic produce bags from a previous shopping trip, reuse them as much as you can. Every change that you make to reduce your waste is a positive one. Hopefully some of these tips are new to you and will help you start your journey towards a more conscious and sustainable lifestyle. These changes may be small and simple, but the amount of waste
that is avoided with making these changes is so worth it. It will make the planet healthier, and lessen your negative impact on the planet. Also, don’t be afraid to look on the internet for awesome resources to find out how you can make more of a difference.
Rose Kroll is a sophomore in psychology. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Collegian. Please send comments to opinion@kstatecollegian.com.
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CONNECTION Native American Student Body offers opportunities for social connection, networking EMILY EUBANK WRITER
Victor Andrews, president of the Native American Student Body and graduate student in kinesiology, got involved in the organization as a way of connecting with people. “We are a group that expresses ourselves whether it be as [a] cultural identity or religion,” Andrews said. Laura Baldwin, freshman in computer science and member of NASB, said being a part of the organization has been important for her as well. “[NASB is] both a social group and a way we can talk and meet with people like us,” Baldwin said. “People who come from the same background, and who struggle with the same things.”
Throughout the year, NASB holds a number of cultural events. “So, last semester we had our Native American Heritage Event where we invited members from the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation to come share some of their history, and where they are going from here,” he said. Andrews, who is currently working on his doctoral dissertation, says beyond the events, being involved with the organization has shaped his mindset. “I recognized that, while we are all different, there are a lot of things that are very similar as far as the issues and barriers that have been faced,” he said. For instance, Andrews said, an issue common among a lot of tribes is the lack of
RESEARCH REBECCA VRBAS C U LT U R E E D I T O R
Kansas State will be part of an interdisciplinary research collaboration between the U.S. and the United Kingdom, which will conduct 10 research projects to better understand soil ecosystems and feed the world. The research, funded by
the National Science Foundation, will take place in Alabama, Texas and the United Kingdom. Suprem Das, assistant professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, is the principal investigator for the three-year project. The goal of the approximately $800,000 project is to create durable sensors to con-
recognition. Due to the implementation of the Indian Removal Act in 1830, the process can be an uphill battle. “There’s 574 recognized Native American Indian tribes, and there are a lot more that are currently being recognized,” Andrews said. Another issue Andrews said a lot of individuals face is the portrayal of the modern Native American. Oftentimes, he said, the portrayal is inaccurate or incorrect. But NASB can also open doors for members. During a national conference she attended through NASB in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she was able to network. “The conference was really impactful,” Baldwin said. “And I am actually in the process of getting an internship
Dylan Connell | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Victor Andrews, president of the Native American Student Body and graduate student in kinesiology, says the goal of the organization is to educate people and give members the opportunity to self-actualize in college. from a company that I met during the ACS conference. So, I’m really excited. It’s not
set in stone yet, but it’s a connection I would have never made if I were not in NASB.”
NASB meets every at 7 p.m. every Tuesday in K-State Student Union Room 003.
Re s earch pro j e c t ai ms t o us e nanot e chnol o g y t o i mprove s oi l pro duc t i v i t y tinuously monitor phosphates in the soil, which are a critical fertilizing material. “...By 2050 the world’s population will be nine billion — that’s kind of the projection,” Das said. “We are driven by techno-industrialization, urbanization. So the land is fixed, and the population is growing and urbanization is growing — that means the ag-
ricultural land is shrinking.” Consequently, the only sustainable way to feed the growing world population is to increase productivity, Das said. Growing crops requires three important components: phosphate, nitrogen and potassium. Currently, if farmers want to get their soil tested for these,
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they must send it to a lab facility, such as K-State’s, which can potentially take weeks to get results. “That’s for a single test,” Das said. “The farmer wants to know how the phosphate is changing over time … so the idea of this project is to build the platform, kind of probing the phosphate level in the soil.” Additionally, results from tests of this nature only tell you the levels in a certain area and depth of soil, which is often not representative of the field as a whole. Das said having the technology to know phosphorus levels in the soil would potentially improve the practice
of what is called “precision” farming. “Right now farmers just put fertilizer everywhere, because we do not know [where exactly to put it],” Das said. “Instead of applying the fertilizer everywhere, you apply wherever it’s necessary.” Das, whose background is in nanotechnology, hopes that the use of graphene and plastic can make the technology cheap enough to be accessible to farmers. “Graphene [is] a so-called wonder material, because it’s really wonderful,” Das said. “We use additive manufacturing techniques to use graphene to make these sensors … economic.”