03.20.19 by Kansas State Collegian

T H E I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E F O R K A N S A S S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

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vol. 124, issue 67

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wednesday, march 20, 2 0 1 9

K-State has spent more than $350,000 fighting two Title IX lawsuits since 2016

The suits pertain to university responses to off -campus sexual assaults that occured at fraternity events KAYLIE MCLAUGHLIN THE COLLEGIAN

In fighting two Title IX lawsuits filed by former Kansas State University students Sara Weckhorst and Tessa Farmer, the university racked up more than $350,000 in legal expenses. Michelle Geering, news and digital media specialist at the Division of Communications and Marketing, said via email that by late-January, the university had spent $371,548.96 over the last three years on outside counsel regarding the lawsuits. The two lawsuits pertain to the sexual assaults of Weckhorst and Farmer that occured off campus at fraternity events on seperate nights. Afterwards, both women complained to the university. “KSU refused to investigate or take any action against the perpetrators, allowing them to remain on campus, and justified its indifference on the basis that the rapes occurred off-campus,” reads a statement from The Fierberg National Law Group, which represents Weckhorst and Farmer. Weckhorst, who experienced a string of assaults at a fraternity event in 2014, reported the assaults and identified her attackers. She said the director of the KSU Women’s Center (now the Center for Advocacy, Response and Education) alerted the

perpetrators of the complaints. Weckhorst was also told by two associate deans of student life that the university could not act punitively because the rapes occurred off campus. A similar sentiment of inaction was expressed to Farmer, who was also assaulted at a fraternity event in 2015. She was told by the CARE director that a report could be made with the Interfraternity Council, but it would not be investigated directly. She filed a complaint anyway and later filed a complaint with the Office of Institutional Equity. She was told the policies overseen by the OIE did not require adherence from fraternities. While the man who attacked Weckhorst, Jared R. Gihring, was sentenced in August 2017 to almost 13 years in pris-

on for rape, both women sued K-State on the basis of Title IX, claiming “deliberate indifference” and inaction which created a learning environment that left them “vulnerable” to further harm at the hands of their attackers. “KSU disagreed, suggesting that their fear of encountering the assailants on campus had no ‘basis in reality,’” the Fierberg statement continues. On Monday, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver denied K-State’s motion to have both cases thrown out. Despite K-State’s argument that neither case pertains to Title IX, the court upheld the district court’s finding that Title IX anti-discrimination legislation does come into play. This means the cases will continue through the civil court system. The court of appeals sided with the plaintiffs, upholding the ruling of the District Court for the District of Kansas that an atmosphere of fear following an assault prevents an equitable learning environment. “A Title IX

Illustration by Olivia Bergmeier

Rising water at Tuttle Creek caused by Nebraska floods, officials say

plaintiff’s alleged fear of encountering her attacker must be objectively reasonable, but under the horrific circumstances alleged here Plaintiffs have adequately alleged that KSU’s deliberate indifference to their rape reports reasonably deprived them of educational opportunities available to other students at KSU,” the court of appeals wrote in their 27-page long decision. According to the Department of Education, “Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance.” As a public university and landgrant institution, K-State is included in the policy’s purview. Fierberg communications manager Erika Yobbi wrote that the court ruling “will help these women and countless women across the country use Title IX to achieve justice and compel schools to protect survivors.” In an emailed statement on behalf of the university, Geering said the university “respectfully disagrees with the court’s decision on the discrete legal issue.” “The court’s narrow legal ruling did not determine the facts of the case or that the university committed any error,” the university statement reads. “K-State cares about its students and always provides a wealth of support. … K-State is reviewing its options for next steps in the cases.”

K-State researcher wants to use milo for feeding malnourished children

SPORTS

K-State women lock down 9th seed, will play Michigan in NCAA Tournament by Nathan Enserro The Kansas State women’s basketball team found out where it was headed for post-season play a little bit earlier than expected Monday night. The NCAA Tournament bracket was scheduled to be released by ESPN at 6 p.m. central time during a special selection show. Due to an error, the bracket graphics were accidentally aired earlier in the day. K-State earned a ninth seed in the Albany Region of the NCAA Tournament. Their first round game will be hosted by first-seed Louisville and will be against eighth-seed Michigan. K-State finished its regular season with a record of 21-11 overall and 11-7 in Big 12 Conference play. The Wildcats won eight of their last ten games, with the two losses during that stretch each coming at the hands of top-ranked Baylor. Michigan earned its seed by also going 21-11 overall this year and 11-7 in Big 10 Conference play. The Wolverines played the 67th toughest schedule in the nation and sit at number 46 in the NCAA’s rating percentage index rankings, or RPI. The NCAA still uses RPI to rank women’s basketball teams because they have not optimized an NCAA Evaluation Tool, or NET ranking, for the women’s game. The Wolverines’ roster features a 6-foot-5-inch senior center named Hallie Thome who averages 12.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game. She also has blocked 37 shots this season.

see page 4, “NCAA”

wednesday, march 20, 2019 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 400 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 BOARD Kaylie McLaughlin Rachel Hogan Co-Editors-inChief Dené Dryden Managing Editor

Rebecca Vrbas Assistant Culture Editor

Gabby Farris Colton Seamans Design Chiefs

Molly Hackett Sports Editor

Olivia Bergmeier Multimedia Editor

Rafael Garcia News Editor

Nathan Enserro Julia Jorns Assistant Sports Editors

Bailey Britton Peter Loganbill Assistant News Editors

Olivia Rogers Leah Zimmerli Community Co-Editors

Macy Davis Culture Editor

Kyle Hampel Copy Chief

Wednesday

CORRECTIONS

If you see something that should be corrected, call co-editors-in-chief Rachel Hogan and Kaylie McLaughlin at 785-370-6356 or email news@kstatecollegian. com.

The Collegian, a student newspaper at Kansas State University, is published by Collegian Media Group. It is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the school year and on Wednesdays during the summer. Periodical postage is paid at Manhattan, KS. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 828 Mid-Campus Drive South, Kedzie 103, Manhattan, KS 66506-7167. First copy free, additional copies 25 cents. [USPS 291 020] © Collegian Media Group, 2019

Logan Wassall Kyle Hampel Deputy Multimedia Editors Monica Diaz Autumn Mock Social Media Editors

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wednesday, march 20, 2019

Two College of Human Ecology departments approve fee increases RACHEL HOGAN THE COLLEGIAN

On Tuesday, students majoring in personal financial planning, or PFP, and apparel, textiles and interior design, or ATID, approved fee increases unanimously during meetings with the Tuition and Fees Strategies Committee. The fees will be paid for on top of the $20 per credit hour fee in the College of Human Ecology, which houses both programs. ATID students approved a $30 per credit hour fee increase by a vote of 13-0. Students raised very few concerns during debate. “Personally, I would love to not pay any more money, but seeing the need for this and knowing that this is going to benefit me job-wise and

internship-wise, I am for it,” Brooklyn Burnett, junior in interior design, said before voting. Before bringing the fee to the tuition committee, faculty and administration within the Department of Human Ecology and ATID conducted votes to gauge student opinion. According to the fee proposal, 254 of the 268 ATID students who participated in the vote showed that 81 percent of the students supported the fee. “It’s pretty overwhelming to get that percentage of students in favor of a fee,” John Buckwalter, dean of human ecology, said during Tuesday’s meeting. “I think that’s a pretty strong endorsement that they think that they’re getting a pretty good return on investment. They don’t

want to see that go away, and that’s why they’re willing to invest in themselves.” The fee will be used to fund instructional salaries for non-tenure track faculty and instructors in order to provide students with six additional courses that are currently unavailable due to vacancies. The additions will alleviate crowded studio sections and add face-to-face and online-only sections. PFP students also approved a $30 per credit hour fee increase by a vote of 8 to 0. This fee, which follows a $20 per credit hour increase from last year, also received substantial student support in surveys. Undergraduates approved at a rate of 95 percent, with graduate students at 74 percent.

Jack Giardino, senior in personal financial planning, voted in favor of the fee increase last year, and he voted in favor of this year’s fee, too. “As far as what they said the fee was going to go toward last year, 100 percent they came through with it,” Giardino said. “So I have full belief that this fee, upon completion, will do a tremendous benefit to this program.” The fee will “maintain high quality instructional faculty to enhance the advancement of career development and student experiences,” the proposal reads. Specifically, the fee increase will fund two instructors, expand the program’s tutoring efforts and maintain a diverse course offering including software training. While the fee received

less support from graduate students, the graduate student representative on the committee, Mackenzie Blakeslee, said she gave her full support. “To me, if it’s going to help reduce the load on faculty and it’s going t o make t h e program r u n more smoothly and run better and get opportunity to students, it’s a no brainer for me,” Blakeslee said.

“I’m absolutely support of it.”

K-State pulls ahead of KU in national ranking for best public university ROWAN JONES

THE COLLEGIAN

In a list compiled by Learn. org, Kansas State University was selected as the second best public university in the United States. Running up to Indiana University Bloomington, the website said K-State’s workforce-ready graduates and variety of undergraduate programs earned it the number two spot. The University of Kansas earned third place in the rankings due to its high number of study abroad programs. Rankings were chosen by the website based on data from the U.S. Department of Education alongside other factors, including campus beauty, study abroad programs and student activities. One of the cited reasons for K-State’s selection as the second best public university in the nation was workforce-ready graduates, something that resonated with Pat Bosco, vice president of student life and dean of students. “Other national publica-

tions have cited K-State for the high average starting salaries our graduates earn and for being one of the top educational values around,” Bosco said in a K-State Today release. “K-State also is a leader in providing the services that keep students prepared and focused on learning.” This recognition can only be attributed to one thing, Bosco said. “This high ranking by Learn.org is a tribute to our professors, academic advisers and student life staff who work tirelessly to ensure every student we serve has a chance to succeed — and it shows,” Bosco said. Brooke Barrett COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

The K-State Student Union provides various amenities for students. From Radina’s Coffeehouse to popular fast food restaurants, to bowling and the famous Call Hall ice cream, the Student Union is a perfect place to study or hang out with friends.

wednesday, march 20, 2019

Water levels rising at Tuttle Creek Lake

NCAA

SARAH MOYER

continued from page

THE COLLEGIAN

As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported that Tuttle Creek Lake, located north of Manhattan, was 29.56 feet above its normal water line, currently at 1,104.56 feet above sea level and rising. The lake has been rising since March 9, according to a release from the Corps of Engineers. From the same release: “Currently, the lake level is forecasted to rise near an elevation of 1,113.0 over the next two weeks. Several factors impact this, in-

cluding additional precipitation at the basin and how quickly downstream conditions recede, so this estimate could change.” With extreme flooding occurring now in the neighboring state of Nebraska and other parts of the Midwest, Manhattan's local lake is affected more "indirectly," said Brian McNulty, Tuttle Creek Lake operations project manager. In response, outflow has been reduced to a minimum to prevent from adding water to already high or flooded areas downstream. McNulty said the Big Blue River is a primary source for the extra water coming into Tuttle

Creek Lake at this time. Tuttle Creek's basin extends up toward Minden, Nebraska, and east of York, Nebraska. "It's a triangular-shaped basin with Manhattan on the southern end," McNulty said. Floods will continue to have a widespread effect on water levels during the next week, McNulty said, and some oversaturated areas in the Kansas City district connected to the Missouri River will be impacted for the remainder of 2019 because of flooding effects like infrastructure damage. "We know there's going to be an extended recovery," McNulty said about the district.

The Corps of Engineers also said most of the Tuttle Creek Cove and Stockdale Parks will be delayed for opening until April 30. They were previously scheduled to open April 15. "The county has closed some county and township roads," McNulty said. "Obviously, all the boat ramps are underwater." McNulty said public safety is their number one priority, and his message for students was to remember how to safely handle flooded roadways: "Turn around. Don't drown." The Corps of Engineers updates its Facebook page daily with lake information.

Also for the Wolverines, freshman forward Naz Hillmon has not started a game yet in her young career, but she averages a team-high 13.2 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The Michigan team is fairly experienced, with two juniors, three seniors and one graduate student on its roster. Michigan shared just one common opponent with K-State: Texas. The Wolverines lost to the Longhorns 69-52 during a mid-season tournament in December.

By contrast, K-State swept Texas this season, winning 87-69 in Manhattan and 69-60 in Austin, Texas. If K-State were to beat Michigan, the Wildcats would likely take on top-seeded Louisville on its home court. This is the Wildcats’ 16th NCAA Tournament bid since the first NCAA Women’s Tournament in 1982. Additionally, this is K-State’s third trip to the tournament under head coach Jeff Mittie. K-State has not advanced past the first weekend since a “Sweet Sixteen” run in 2002, and the Wildcats have been eliminated in the second round in their last three NCAA Tournaments.

SWEET VICTORY Logan Wassall | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Senior guard Kayla Goth is fouled as she leaps up for a shot during the K-State women’s basketball game against Texas Tech in Bramlage Coliseum on March 2, 2019. The Wildcats beat the Red Raiders 75-67.

Olivia Bergmeier | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

The K-State men’s basketball team faced off against Texas Christian University in the Wildcats’ first game of the Big 12 Tournament in the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, finding victory with a finish of 70-61. Follow @sportscollegian and @hackett_molly for updates on men’s basketball from San Jose, California, as the Wildcats compete in the NCAA Tournament.

wednesday, march 20, 2019

K-State researchers use milo to Searching for hands-on media experience? fight food shortages, feed children

Join our team!

OLIVIA BERGMEIER THE COLLEGIAN

From developing countries to the most modern places in the world, feeding children and boosting economies is a constant challenge for leaders, but Sajid Alavi, professor of grain science and industry, is working to find solutions to these problems. Alavi and the research team he works with at Kansas State University are finding ways to better utilize the 21 million acres of Kansas row crops — corn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum — to feed hungry populations and give Kansas agriculture an economic boost. Alavi’s team consists of five researchers, including Brian Lindshield and Sandra Procter, assistant professors of food nutrition. The U.S. Department of Agriculture funds Alavi and his team. They have taken their research across the ocean into Tanzania to benefit local children with their more sustainable crops and fortified food research. Alavi’s team creates fortified food products, or dry foods and meals ready to eat enhanced with extra nutrients to “fortify” them, which aids in the development of malnourished children by giving them more calories and nutrients. Alavi’s meal for children has a high caloric value and is made from corn and soy bases. However, children tend to enjoy drinking the current product instead of eating it with a spoon, so many families put a lot of water into the meal to allow children to sip it from a cup, which results in the number of calories available for consumption being replaced by water. The team’s current fortified food product is already produced and shipped all over the world, but Alavi said he wants to create a new formula that not only feeds more children, but also benefits Kansas farmers. Procter studies how chil-

Editor: Manhappenin’ Magazine, Royal Purple Yearbook Olivia Bergmeier | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Sajid Alavi, professor of grain science and industry, stands in front of the processing equipment used to create his fortified food products. dren receive the team’s products in Tanzania. Her research has helped to provide guidance on what children are most likely to positively receive as a food product, such as something sweeter that is drinkable from a cup. Their new product is produced from sorghum grains and is “more viscous” compared to the previous product, Alavi said, allowing for children to sip the product without losing calories. The species Sorghum bicolor, which is also known as milo in Kansas, is a common row crop that is traditionally used for livestock feed. With the team’s research, another industrial use for sorghum could arise and allow for a different market with Kansas farmers. According to the USDA’s 2018 State Agriculture Overview, roughly 2,650,000 acres of sorghum were harvested for grain. Most of that grain went to making livestock feed. Alavi said the grain is easily grown in Kansas, has a low input value — meaning it needs less water, insecticides and herbicides — and has a high caloric value to help the early stages of development in children. “Sorghum ... is a very sustainable crop and requires much less water to grow in Kansas where there’s not much rainfall,” Alavi said. “It is drought tolerant, it doesn’t take necessarily as much fertilizer as corn

does or as much water as corn does.” The team is not only working to help feed hungry children and give Kansas farmers a new outlet for their produce, but also to begin the process of farming more sustainable products. “As we promote foods based on sorghum like these products, we are really also aiming toward sustainability,” Alavi said. “We connected with sorghum farmers, and they want more value for their produce, which is very important for them, and we are here to help farmers.” The sorghum product Alavi and his team are creating will also positively impact the Kansas economy, Alavi said. “This is a big international impact and global impact,” Alavi said. “We’re helping kids and mothers, but also we’re helping our farmers at the same time. It has to help us as well when we help others, meaning it has to help taxpayers, too.” Ivy Gichohi, research assistant in grain science, was born in Kenya and now lives in the United States. She said this research is impactful to her since she is originally from an area that food science research directly affects. “I can make a difference,” Gichohi said. “I can be a part of something. ... I’m not there, but I can make a difference while I’m still away.”

The Collegian Media Group is Searching for new student editors to manage Royal Purple Yearbook and Manhappenin’ Magazine in Fall 2019. If you have a background in daily news, a yearbook or magazine, we invite you to apply.

How to apply: Go to www.collegianmedia.com/join/apply/ Apply online by March 27, 2019

wednesday, march 20, 2019

Kansas Supreme Court justice returns to alma mater to teach law SYDNEY HOOKSTRA THE COLLEGIAN

After graduating from Kansas State University, Dan Biles was a lawyer for 29 years before being appointed a justice for the Kansas Supreme Court, and he has returned to his alma mater this semester as a visiting professor of practice to teach MC 466, law of mass communications. Biles began his journey when he graduated from K-State in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Biles said he can connect the dots from his experiences as a student at K-State to the accomplishments he has had in his career. While sitting in the Kedzie Hall library, Biles said he remembered being in this very room as a student when he did a panel presentation that had Fred Moe, bureau chief of The Associated Press, in attendance. Moe told Biles that if he ever needed a job to contact him. Around four or five months later, while Biles was working for the daily newspaper in Coffeeville, Kansas, he wrote Moe a letter, who responded and said there

happened to be a job opening for the AP in Topeka. Biles moved to Topeka, became a reporter for the AP and began attending law school at Washburn University. “I can draw a direct line from being in this room on that day to getting a job at the AP, which led me to be in Topeka. Then I went to law school, working at the AP at the same time, which pretty much paid for law school,” Biles said. Biles said the connections he made through the AP got him the job at the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, which led to “basically all the things [he] did career wise.” “I got into law school because I could write well and write fast, and that was because I learned those skills here and then practiced them,” Biles said regarding his time at K-State. Biles has been on the advisory board of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications for around eight years. About a year ago, Biles said Jean Folkerts, then-interim director of the journalism school, sent him an email asking if he knew of anyone that could teach a class called law of mass communications. Biles said

Olivia Bergmeier | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Kansas Supreme Court associate justice Dan Biles waves to the audience in Manhattan High School’s auditorium after being introduced by chief justice Lawton Ness. he had a few people in mind but, if they couldn’t do it, he would. Folkerts responded immediately and said he was hired. “I knew him through his work as a jurist, as a justice and as a very successful lawyer who could put dreams in the minds and hearts of our students,” said Nikhil Moro, director of the journalism school. Moro added that Biles brings attributes to the classroom he be-

lieves are invaluable: his expertise as a sitting Kansas Supreme Court justice, his love for K-State, which he “is emotionally invested in,” and his connections. Moro also said Biles is a role model for what students can do with a mass communications degree. Biles had previously been a professor in the 1980s at Washburn Law School, teaching courses in communications law and trial techniques.

Biles said teaching law school is done with the “Socratic method,” meaning students are taught by answering questions with questions, but he knew his teaching method had to change at K-State. He said teaching law of mass communications is more “lecture style.” “What I knew we would have to do in this class is start out with familiarizing everyone with the process and terminology,” Biles said. Holly Speck, graduate student in mass communications and Biles’ teaching assistant, also spoke highly of the sitting justice. “He has a law background, but also was an AP reporter, so I think he blends the two together very nicely using overarching law foundation, but still making it relevant to students in their mass comm life and individual interests,” Speck said. Speck also said Biles is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to law. “I named a case that happened in Idaho, and he knew exactly what it was and what it did,”

Speck said. Teaching has made Biles learn a lot, he said, which is his favorite part of the job. Biles added that there are areas of the law and the Kansas Constitution that he is looking at a little differently now. “Specifically, the First Amendment equivalent in the Kansas constitution — Section 11,” Biles said. “Working this material [at] this time, I’m seeing more energy in that than I see in the First Amendment, which might mean there are more protections, and that is something I hadn’t thought about before.” Speck said she thinks if students use Biles as a resource for their own interests, that would be very valuable to them. The advice Biles said he would give students on success is the same as what he tells his daughters: there are so many opportunities, and if you can take those opportunities and not get caught up in the narrow focus of your studies and be a little more open to all the stuff that’s going on around you, you can take away a little bit more.

REVIEW: 'theNewsWorthy' a worthy newscast SIERRA STAATZ

THE COLLEGIAN

Want to be a more informed citizen without spending hours scrolling through a newsfeed? Have you seen news on social media and questioned how accurate it was? "theNewsWorthy" is a podcast that has you covered. "theNewsWorthy" is a simple podcast to keep up with weekday news in less than 10 minutes. Every weekday, the podcast is put up before 4 a.m. so listeners can enjoy a summary of what is currently going on in the United States and around the globe while they are getting ready for the day. The founder and host,

Erica Mandy, keeps the podcast short and fun. Previously seen on many TV news stations, Mandy’s experience as a reporter has encompassed everything from covering terrorist attacks to interviewing corporate CEOs. When you're beginning to keep up with the current news, it can feel as if you do not know enough information to hop into many of the articles. What makes this podcast amazing is its quick, unbiased content that gets straight to the point. Furthermore, many news apps give you the option of choosing if you would prefer articles from different categories, from world politics to space exploration and fashion. While it can be nice to dive

into your interests, this podcast allows you to learn about things you wouldn't hear otherwise by staying in a niche category. As far as social media goes, information can become altered as it spreads. Algorithms within many social apps track what you have previously clicked on, delivering news ideologies you would like to see, instead of unbiased facts. For this podcast, the news cannot track previous interest because it is delivered in the same standard system, and news is succinct enough there is no opportunity for opinions to be given. My favorite part? The podcast allows anyone to listen to the news on the go. Every morning, my walk on my way to class with headphones gives

me a quick news update for the day. So, next time someone brings up subjects like Boeing planes in Ethiopia or the celebrity college admission scandal, you’ll have some quick knowledge on the subject without spending hours sifting through the endless news cycle and commentary. Don’t know what those are about? Even more of a reason tune in to "theNewsWorthy." Sierra Staatz is a freshman in chemical engineering. The views and opinions expressed in this review 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.

Do You Like Cap & Gown?

Share your thoughts in an academic survey All K-State faculty, from adjuncts to university distinguished professors, are invited to complete a short questionnaire of faculty attitudes about academic dress at a land grant university. The results will be published. Link is in this morning’s K-State Today email!

wednesday, march 20, 2019

REVIEW: ‘Little Women’ goes graphic in ‘Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy’ MACY DAVIS

THE COLLEGIAN

Macy Davis is the culture editor for the Collegian and a senior in English. Originally published in two parts a year apart from each other, Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel “Little Women” turned 150 in 2018 and 2019. The BBC adapted “Little Women” into a mini-series in 2017. A modern adaptation

of the novel starring Lucas Grabeel as Laurie premiered in 2018, and Emma Watson is starring in a forthcoming movie adaptation directed by Greta Gerwig. For a 150-year-old story about four sisters, “Little Women” is still alive and kicking. Its host of adapted and derivative works is joined by the 2019 graphic novel “Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy” by Rey Terciero and Bre Indigo. The brightly colored graphic novel features timely updates to Alcott’s original

story, while also dramatically diverting from the original subject material at times and ignoring large swaths of the second part of Alcott’s original “Little Women.” One of the best changes that Terciero and Indigo made to “Little Women” is to have the titular characters of Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy be part of a mixed family. Beth and Amy are biracial, and Jo and Meg are from their parents’ previous relationships. This change is well developed and moves beyond

a surface-level change to explore themes of race. Scenes from Alcott’s original, such as Amy being bullied at school, are adapted to consider the role that race plays in the girls’ lives. Terciero and Indigo do a really good job of replicating the dynamics Alcott originally created between the four sisters. The teasing, joking and incidents have been updated to reflect the contemporary urban setting of the graphic novel, and I still found myself relating to these characters

Rent-Houses & Duplexes

Housing/Real Estate

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Rent-Apt. Unfurnished MANHATTAN CITY Ordinance 4814 assures every person equal opportunity in housing without distinction on account of race, sex, familial status, military status, disability, religion, age, color, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation or gender identity. Violations should be reported to the Director of Human Resources at City Hall, 785-587-2440. APARTMENTS NEAR CAMPUS: One bedroom $450-$590; two bedroom $560-$680; three bedroom $860-$900; four bedroom $1000-$1200. Property locations: 1838 Anderson, 516 N 14th, 519 N Manhattan, 1214 Vattier, 1207 Kearney. Call 785-5391545 or 785-537-1746; Visit us at mhkrentals.com¢˚ TWO BEDROOM Apartment. 921 Vattier: $650 per month, water, gas, trash paid, pets ok. Call or text 785-3131884 or thebrummett5@gmail.com.

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in the same way I related to the characters in the original “Little Women.” There are a couple of big changes I won’t spoil that Terciero and Indigo made which stray greatly from the source material. While I’m okay with both of the changes made, one of them still fits well with background knowledge about Alcott and with the characterization of the original story. The other change feels disingenuous to the character development that takes place

Help Wanted Employment/Careers

Help Wanted THE COLLEGIAN cannot verify the financial potential of advertisements in the Employment/ Opportunities classifications. Readers are advised to approach any such business opportunity with reasonable caution. The Collegian urges our readers to contact the Better Business Bureau, 501 SE Jefferson, Topeka, KS 66607-1190. 785-2320454. GREENHOUSE POSITIONS available for seasonal full-time and part-time employment at Horticultural Services, Inc. Above average wages. Apply in person at 11524 Landscape Lane, St. George, KS 66535. (785)494-2418

H O R T I C U LT U R A L SERVICES Garden Center is seeking seasonal full-time and parttime staff. Sales experience and plant knowledge helpful. Involves lifting and physical work. Above average wages. Apply in person at 11524 Landscape Lane, St. George, KS 66535. (785)494-2418 THE MANHATTAN Country Club is hiring! We are looking for a dynamic summer staff interested in providing a quality experience for our members and their guests. Positions available: certified life guards, grounds, pro shop, and service staff. Quick learners and those with a drive to succeed are welcome to apply! Please come to The Manhattan Country Club Office (lower level) at 1531 N. 10th St. M-F between 1-3 to apply. *Some positions have specific age requirements.

Cleaning House? Sell your stuff in the Collegian. Kansas State Collegian • Classifieds • 103 Kedzie Hall • 785-370-6355

in the second portion of the original “Little Women,” even if I’m okay with it as a reader. Perhaps the biggest concern that I have with “Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy” is that the graphic novel focuses far more on the first part of “Little Women” and doesn’t include major events from the second portion of the book.

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wednesday, march 20, 2019

every Wednesday

Eastern Nebraska faces severe flood waters after winter storm strikes BAILEY BRITTON THE COLLEGIAN

After a "bomb cyclone" that blew across the plains and Rocky Mountains last week, Nebraska residents are battling flood waters at historic levels. Over 2,000 people were evacuated from the flood waters brought on by melting snow and rain along the Missouri and Niobrara rivers, according to an Associated Press article. Most of the flooding is in eastern parts of the state. Brea Hostert, sophomore in agribusiness, lives north of Atkinson, Nebraska. She says the Niobrara is six miles from her house. "There was a ton of flooding

and bridges were broken," Hostert said. "Lots of towns downstream were evacuated. Tons of roads were washed away. It normally only takes me 12 minutes to get to Butte, the town next to us, but now it takes an hour and 25 minutes because there is only one bridge left in the entire county." For Hostert, the rain and bad weather began on Wednesday, March 13, and continued all day. The next day, there were strong winds and snow. Hostert added that the weather killed lots of livestock. Luckily, her family was away from the river and on high enough ground that they did not experience any flooding and their livestock was safe.

Only two deaths were attributed to the storm. In Kansas, Interstate 70 was closed from Hays to the Colorado border, along with some state and national highways. Northwest Kansas experienced sustained winds of over 50 miles per hour. "Bomb cyclone" is a common name for the weather phenomenon explosive cyclogenesis, which occurs by rapid deepening of low-pressure systems in the atmosphere. TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Cars sat Sunday in flood waters from the Platte River alongside a train in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Hundreds of Nebraskans remained out of their homes.