vol. 126 issue 27 | friday, march 12, 2021 | kstatecollegian.com
PAGE 3
PAGE 5
PAGE 11
PAGE 9
Voter turnout down from last year, still good, elections commissioner said
American ethnic studies and gender, women and sexuality studies merging
Hubert, Moore look to improve draft stock after promising Pro Day
K-State dominates South Dakota State to sweep mid-week series
Aggieville parking garage set to finish in February 2022 ANTHONY GORGES staff writer
Parking in Aggieville was limited even before construction sites began popping up around the shopping district, so the city of Manhattan and the Aggieville Business Association decided it was time to act and expand the parking. Last spring, the city announced a new parking garage was coming to Aggieville. With McCownGordon Construction at the helm of the project, groundbreaking for the new parking garage began in December 2020. Brian Johnson, Manhattan city engineer, said McCownGordon Construction is under a construction manager-at-risk contract with the city. He said the city is also working on landscaping and street widening along North Manhattan Avenue in front of the garage and along Laramie Street on the south side of the garage. Other streets to see landscape improvements are 14th Street and Anderson Avenue as well as 14th Street and Laramie Street. “We are going to develop some new turns lanes, put in some new signals and we’re going to do quite a bit of improvements to help people get to the garage and get
out of the garage,” Johnson said. “Within the next two to four weeks, you will start seeing cranes and other large construction equipment start putting the foundations in for the parking garage.” The new parking garage will feature around 500 parking spaces, a bike parking room and about 8,000 square feet of potential retail, office and tenant space. Dennis Cook, executive director of the Aggieville Business Association, said the specifics of the parking management plan is not yet decided. “At upcoming City Commission meetings, a large discussion is going to be had about the parking management plan,” Cook said. For parking payments, people will use an app. “It is going to be all off of reading one’s license plate,” Cook said. “Whatever your bill is will be sent to you [through the app].” Prices are not yet set for the parking rate, but Cook said depending on how often you use the app or park in the garage could help determine what kind of rate the person could get. When it comes to the actual construction, Cook said the concrete pouring happens off-site.
Kaylie McLaughlin | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Ground broke on the new Aggieville parking garage in December 2020 and construction is ongoing. The garage will not be free to use, but it will have about 500 parking spaces and room for bike parking. “The pieces get brought in and it’s like a very large Lego set,” Cook said. “Then they stand them up one piece to the next and then they build it.” Rich Markle, owner of
Rock-A Belly Bar and Deli in Aggieville, said he was happy to see more parking availability for people who want to come to Aggieville. “I would hope that it would bring a convenience
to more customers that maybe are choosing not to come to Aggieville because of the parking,” Markle said. “If it brings more total parking then that is a positive.” The parking garage is set
to finish and open to the public in February 2022. More information on planned developments for the Aggieville Community Vision is on the City of Manhattan website.
02
NEWS
friday, march 12, 2021
Dowd wins student body presidential election SEAN SCHAPER news editor
JOSIE WHITAKER assistant news editor
Michael Dowd, senior in animal science and global food systems leadership, will be the next student body president at Kansas State. The results came after a months-long process of preparation from both campaigns, and show that Michael Dowd and his running mate Cameron Koger, junior in marketing and student finance director, received 1,517 votes, amounting to more than 64 percent of the vote. “We couldn't have done this without the students," Koger said. "And that's not something that we're going to forget. The students got us here. ... We're going to return the favor by leading for students." Koger said he was "over the moon" for the opportunity to get to help students to make K-State a better place. “We’re ready to move for-
ward, ready to get to work,” Dowd said. Vedant Kulkarni, international affairs director and senior in management information systems and mass communications, fell behind. He received around 850 votes, good for just under 36 percent of the vote. "I believe in the philosophy 'it's more in the journey, not the destination,'" Kulkarni said. “All the work we have put in, all the late nights, all the late-night conversations, we are extremely proud [of running].” Koger said Kulkarni and his running mate, Maggie Billman, sophomore in secondary education, were "awesome" through the process. "We could not have asked for more kind, caring candidates to be running against, and their commitment to win, lose or draw,” Koger said. “We took the same approach [to] still be committed to helping students. That's what we need in our elections for SGA.” The transition process will begin in the coming weeks.
Dowd and Koger will start meeting with the current executive branch of Student Governing Association. “I mean, it's just time to roll up our sleeves and get to work," Koger said. "We're going to be working hard in the next couple of weeks getting transition documents in place from the current administration figuring out, like the more intricate details that you don't necessarily see." Koger said they wanted to be the most approachable duo from day one, and they want to continue this trend by making sure students know where their office is, which is located in the Center for Student Involvement. “I want [students] to know when we're in there. And we want to, like, give them that opportunity to have direct contact with the people that they elected,” Koger said. Kulkarni said this loss will not be the end to his involvement on campus. “We really, really look
EDITORIAL BOARD Bailey Britton Editor-in-Chief
Lori Leiszler Asst. Culture Editor
Julie Freijat Managing Editor
Cameron Bradley Sports Editor
Sean Schaper News Editor
Marshall Sunner Asst. Sports Editor
Josie Whitaker Asst. News Editor
Nathan Enserro Asst. Sports Editor
Jared Shuff Culture Editor
Dalton Wainscott Multimedia Editor
Dylan Connell Deputy Multimedia Editor Gabby Farris Design Lead Blake Hachen Designer Sarah Unruh Designer Rachel Seiffert Marketing
Josie Whitaker | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Michael Dowd is the next student body president, accompanied by Cameron Koger as vice president. They will serve for the 2021-2022 academic year. forward to helping Michael and Cameron in their administration and we’ll find different ways to stay involved around campus,” Kulkarni said. “The work doesn’t stop. Come tomorrow, the work will
start again.” Billman said she cannot thank the campaign team enough, and the intentions for their campaign and Dowd’s and Koger’s are for the best intention of the students.
“Cameron, Michael, Vedant and I have worked really really hard to maintain a positive relationship throughout the running,” Billman said. “We all have the best for campus in our hearts and in our minds.”
ON THE COVER Sophie Osborn COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Senior infielder Cameron Thompson swings during the second game against Eastern Illinois on March 6, 2021, at Tointon Family Stadium.
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.
CORRECTIONS
If you see something that should be corrected, call editorin-chief Bailey Britton at 785-370-6356 or email collegian@ kstatecollegian.com The Collegian, a student newspaper at Kansas State University, is published by Collegian Media Group. It is published 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 665067167. First copy free, additional copies 25 cents. [USPS 291 020] © Collegian Media Group, 2021
Voter turnout down from last year, still good, elections commissioner said BAILEY BRITTON editor-in-chief
In the 2021 Student Governing Association elections, students cast 2,470 total votes across Kansas State’s seven undergraduate colleges, graduate school and College of Veterinary Medicine. For the student body presidential election, students cast 2,367 votes. The discrepancy in votes between the presidential election and the other offices could be based on interest of those voting, Trey Kuhlmann, SGA elections commissioner and junior in political science, said. “There are some people who maybe they aren’t interested very much in some of the other positions to vote for and so they didn’t vote anywhere else,” Kuhlmann said. Senior in animal science and global food systems lead-
03
NEWS
friday, march 12, 2021
ership Michael Dowd received 1,517 votes to win the office of student body president. Cameron Koger, junior in marketing and student finance director, is his vice president. Results for the 2020 election are unavailable as the SGA website has a glitch, Kuhlmann said. However, he said last year there were 800900 more voters. “I did not expect that we would see similar results as what we had last year,” Kuhlmann said. In 2019, students cast 2,340 votes for student body president and 2,318 total for the colleges. That year, former student body president Jansen Penny won with 1,805 votes and was unopposed after Ryan Kelly, graduate student in communication studies, was disqualified. Kuhlmann attributes the decrease in voters in the 2021
election from the 2020 election to COVID-19. However, he said voter turnout has been an issue in SGA for awhile. “We all want to find ways to help them do it, but COVID-19 has definitely exacerbated the issue of the presence of SGA on campus, and making people more involved and know about SGA outside of just seeing when the campaign posters show up that once a year,” Kuhlmann said. “Making sure that it’s present and actually something students care about.” This year, campaigns utilized sidewalk chalking, tabling in the K-State Student Union and social media to promote their campaigns. “I was super satisfied with the work, especially with what the campaigns did to try to reach out with what means they could with fewer people on campus,” Kuhlmann said.
SGA 2021 Election Results Student Body President and Vice President
COLLEGE BY COLLEGE RESULTS COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
Bryston Warren Caleb Stout Ely Eslinger Parker Vulgamore Bryce Atchison Mason Prester John Mayor
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
Lily Colburn Marissa Lux Sara Wallace Lane Lundeen Marta Richenburg Rachel Grollmes Jackson Willis Jessica Binckley Alexa Scheer Durga Jambunathan Arianna O'Donohue Katerina Thomas Meredith Comas
COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING AND DESIGN
Melody Holland Tanner Koch
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Megan Splichal Natalia Rodriguez Ashley Grills Blake Phillips Vedant Kulkarni Allyson Demott William Bannister Fischer Carr
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Joshua Diazdeleon Payton Lynn Ashley Elliott
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Andrew Booze Creighton Glasscock Carter Oeding Jakob Long Brian Blood Juan Pineda Gomez Nicholas Saia Bradyn Tacha Luke Kramer Calvin Nelson
College
COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SCIENCES
Grace Reiman Richard Salmen Michael Cunningham Travis Gardner Emily Farthing (write-in) Erin Rose May (write-in) Kye Schmale (write-in) GRADUATE SCHOOL
Marcus Kidd Lauren Dock Billy Croslow Laura Bain Donald Riffel (write-in) Jake Anderson (write-in) Rich Myrick (write-in) Nathan Bothwell (write-in) COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
Cristina Marquez Grace Calo
Total voters
College of Agriculture
426
College of Architecture, Planning and Design
Vote totals
Michael Dowd, Cameron Koger - 1,517 Vedant Kulkarni, Maggie Billman - 850 Total: 2,367
75
College of Arts and Sciences
541
College of Business
375
College of Education
169
College of Engineering
440
College of Health and Human Sciences
261
Graduate School
150
College of Veterinary Medicine
33
Infographic by Bailey Britton | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
04
NEWS
friday, march 12, 2021
Manhattan Housing Authority appoints new executive director JOSIE WHITAKER assistant news editor
On March 1, Aaron Estabrook assumed the position of executive director for the Manhattan Housing Authority. The position opened after Joann Sutton, former executive director, announced her retirement in 2020. Sutton worked with MHA for almost thirty-three years. Estabrook said it was a perfect fit when the position opened up to lead a team dedicated to serving others through public housing and housing choice vouchers. “Regardless of the job or the political title I have had in the last decade, I have always found myself advocating for safe, affordable, inclusive housing,” Estabrook said. “Now I get the chance to help my team do it.” Kennedy Clark, MHA
commissioner and executive director search committee chair, said in a press release the Housing Authority is excited to have Estabrook join the team. “Aaron is coming to the Manhattan Housing Authority with significant leadership and work experience that demonstrates an understanding of what it takes to continue the momentum created by our current administration,” Clark said. “He has demonstrated that he is passionate about affordable housing. His aptitude for innovative approaches to complex problems is important for us moving forward.” Estabrook graduated from Kansas State in 2008 and enlisted in the U.S. Army. He said the military helped him appreciate the necessities of life from the wants. After his service, he became a case manager for homeless veterans in Kansas. “It was in that position
that I became a true believer in the phenomenal power of housing. People need air to breathe, water to drink and shelter to survive before anything else,” Estabrook said. “I was fortunate enough to walk alongside hundreds of Veterans and their families, secure housing through VA and HUD assistance and with a little bit of strength-based case management, I watched them thrive and get back on to living their best life.” He said with anything that involves multiple levels of government, the challenges MHA faces are bureaucratic. “It’s a little bit like turning a giant ship at sea — it will be slow at first and changes might not be as evident, but I promise we are moving toward the right place as fast as we can,” Estabrook said. One of the problems the Housing Authority faces is being
designated as “troubled status” by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. “This is just like saying K-State is ranked last in the Big 12,” Estabrook said. “I’m not too worried about the ranking but it does indicate we have a lot of opportunity for growth and improvement. We are going to build on those things each day and soon we will have proven that we have the discipline to serve our community with the dignity and quality of life they deserve.” Estabrook said residents of Manhattan can expect a refocusing and reimagining of the mission and goals of MHA. “Residents should expect us to be focused on creating positive and productive community partnerships to maximize social and economic opportunities for them,” Estabrook said. “We will be encouraging resident participation in programs and services promoting self-sufficiency, education, and improved quality of life.” Estabrook said he is most
Archive Photo by Alex Todd | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Now executive director for the Manhattan Housing Authority Aaron Estabrook discusses his thoughts on how we can eliminate gun violence in schools at the March For Our Lives demonstration in CiCo Park on March 24, 2018. excited about the people he gets to work with and work for in the new position. “I truly think we have the right ingredients to do some phenomenal things with Housing Choice Vouchers and Public Housing in Manhattan,” Estabrook said.
The Housing Authority will also provide information and referral services to assist in the success of each program participant. “It takes everyone in the community to be good neighbors,” Estabrook said.
Faculty senate committee looks for causes for, solutions to decreased enrollment MARSHALL SUNNER assistant sports editor
WILDCAT 91.9
New Music Now! Visit: wildcat919.com to learn more about us! Wildcat 91.9 New Music Now
Wildcat919FM
wildcat919fm
Kansas State’s faculty senate Committee on University Planning met Thursday, March 4 to discuss reasons behind and solutions for decreased enrollment. Karen Goos, vice provost for enrollment management, said with the state of decline the university has seen, freshman and sophomore class sizes will be low for at least the next four years. She also said a large drop in those classes can be seen, with a 4 percent decrease in total credit hours. “One of the things I really want to point out is that if you look at our 100 and 200 level classes, the decline in our freshman and sophomore classes is at 9 percent,” Goos said. “As I
look at my overall projections of enrollment, we will be down for at least the next four years of enrollment because it is not likely that I can bring in a 10 percent or 11 percent increase in an undergraduate freshman class.” K-State has seen a 35 percent decline in first-generation students over the last five years; a decline in credit hours in agriculture, arts and sciences and engineering; and a 2 percent decline in persistence rate from last fall alone. The committee wants to acknowledge the issue. “We want to understand it so we can assist with pawning our way out of it,” Daniel Ireton, FSCOUP co-chair, said. “Strategic enrollment management is under the vice provost, and any sort of planning which this would qualify would
fall under shared governance guidelines — we just want to consult and insist on planning on that. That’s what we are for, to an extent.” Both Goos and FSCOUP member and professor of English Tanya González discussed reasons why these issues are arising as of late during the meeting — with Goos crediting it to transfer pathway issues. Goos also said the decrease in enrollment isn't because of lingering racial tension the campus has seen. As for possible ways to fix the issue, González said she wouldn’t mind seeing more focused opportunities for students.
To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com
05
NEWS
friday, march 12, 2021
NEW NAME, SAME GAME BLAKE CRAWFORD
staff writer
The Race to Zero Waste, formerly Recyclemania, may have a new name, but the goal remains the same — to promote waste-reduction activities on college campuses. The recycling competition changed its name in 2020 to "better reflect the purpose of the program," according to its website. "It’s more of an eye-catching, robust name," said Bill Spiegel, project manager of Kansas State's Race to Zero Waste event. "When people say 'zero waste,' people will try to go zero waste in all directions, not just in this eight-week period." Lane Lundeen, student body vice president and senior in environmental biology, said he believes the name change is to widen the spectrum of what the event is about.
"It's not all about recycling," Lundeen said. "It's more of a holistic approach to cutting down waste here on campus." The Race to Zero Waste is an eight-week competition where over 100 colleges and universities from the United States and Canada compete against each other in various recycling categories. The competition runs from Feb. 1 to Mar. 27. The two main competitions are the number of pounds recycled per capita and diversion, which represents how much food and recyclable waste is "diverted" from the total waste generated from the university Spiegel has run the event at K-State since 2011 and said he has experienced great success. K-State has ranked first in The Race to Zero Waste among Big 12 Conference schools in six of the last seven years. As of March 7, K-State
ranks 28th nationally at 5.283 pounds per capita. It ranks 47th in diversion, at a recycling rate of 30.446 percent. Iowa State is the only other Big 12 school involved in the competition this year. K-State is ahead in per capita, but behind in diversion. Race to Zero Waste updates its scoreboard weekly and results can be found on their website. Spiegel said he enjoys the competition, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is spreading the word about waste reduction. "To me, we’re all winners," Spiegel said. "Even if you’re in the last place, you’re still a winner because you’re preventing things from entering the waste stream." Recycling committee chair and faculty advisor for the Students for Environmental Action, Gerry Snyder, said the success reflects
Religion Directory St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center Saturday Vigil Mass Saturday 5 p.m.
Sunday Mass
9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 4:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 9:09 p.m.
Daily Mass
Monday-Thursday 9:09 p.m. Wednesday & Friday 12:10 p.m. Chaplains: Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt Fr. Drew Hoffman
711 Denison
539-7496
Worship Service at 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. or livestream our services online. Adult and Children Bible Hour Classes
Offered at 10:00 a.m. 785.776.0424 www.gracebchurch.org 2901 Dickens Ave. (2 blks. E. of Seth Child)
well on K-State and shows that they care about sustainability and the planet. But he said the recycling market has changed, and K-State needs to change with it. "We've reached that plateau about recycling," Snyder said. "It's been an enduring love trying to get recycling going on campus. We’ve hit quite a few barriers along the way. Money has always been an issue, but now education is our top priority. We need more people to be aware of why they need to reduce their waste." In 2020, the competition was cut short because of the
Race to Waste, formerly Recylemania, in full swing this year
COVID-19 pandemic. Spiegel said he was disappointed, but he plans for the event to bounce back this year. "We are still gonna do our best to pull it off," Spiegel said. "Working together with social media, radio and word-ofmouth advertising, we’re gonna do the best we can to get the word out. We all work together as a team here at K-State." Lundeen said he had high hopes in 2020 until the pandemic hit, which he said felt like a step back. But he doesn't want students to get complacent and hopes K-State can get their diversion and per
capita numbers up. Any recyclables are eligible for the event when participants place them in the blue one-stopdrops around campus and blue bins in the hallways inside campus buildings. Students can also bring their recyclables to the K-State Recycling Center behind Weber Hall. It accepts glass and cardboard as well, but those must be deposited in specified bins. More information on recycling bin locations around campus, in the dorms along with what can be recycled are on the K-State recycling guide website.
American ethnic studies, gender, women and sexuality studies merging, joint degree program coming soon JOSIE WHITAKER assistant news editor
The College of Arts and Sciences at Kansas State is consolidating the American ethnic studies and gender, women and sexuality studies to create a new degree program. "For some time, there have been discussions of the possibility of a merger," Charles Taber, provost and executive vice president, said. "In recent months, with my full support, these conversations have progressed to a planning process in the two departments for a merger." The Kansas Board of Regents recently reviewed programs across the Regents systems, and it discovered that the number of students majoring and graduating from these two programs at K-State fell below the minimum requirement. The board voted that the programs should be merged as soon as possible. "Both of these departments are small and they draw relatively few majors to their programs," Taber said. "At many universities, these programs reside together and benefit from fertile intellectual interaction, as well as econo-
mies of scale." Two committees, one for curriculum and one for structure, are working on the new program. Scott Tanona, associate dean of academic affairs, said the structure committee is looking at how the two departments organize things — in terms of faculty and staffing structure and processes, and determining how the new unit will be organized. The curriculum committee looks at the degree program. "They are looking at the two majors and working up a proposal for a new major, deciding what courses will be required, how to set up different tracks or concentration areas, and so on," Tanona said. While the new unit will not be identical to the current layout of American ethnic studies and GWSS, the courses listed in these programs will still be offered. "It's too early to say [how the tracks will compare to each other], but the idea at the moment is to have concentration areas or tracks that capture the foci of the two disciplines," Tanona said. "Students will still be able to focus in what they would have in American ethnic studies or gender, women and sexuality studies, but
it will be in a wider, common curriculum, and there might be other options for them as well." Taber said American ethnic studies and GWSS offer opportunities for social transformation for students and the community. "They are central to our diversity, equity, and inclusion mission and engage our students in deep discussions of our multicultural world," Taber said. Students currently enrolled in either of the merging programs will be able to finish their degrees. Tanona said that once the new program is set up, there will be potential for students to switch if they are interested. "We are really hoping to make the transition as smooth as possible for students, as well as faculty and advisors so that they know what to expect and what big things [advisors] will be able to recommend to their students," Tanona said. While there is no specific date for the program to be complete, Tanona said the committees work as fast as they can while still treating decisions about major curriculum changes carefully, following the university processes that need to occur to enact these changes.
06
OPINION
friday, march 12, 2021
OPINION Dr. Seuss controversy brings to light importance of diversity in children’s literature LORI LEISZLER assistant culture editor
On March 2, Dr. Seuss Enterprises released a statement announcing it will no longer publish six books because of the books’ hurtful portrayals of others. The ceased publication of these books — "And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street," "If I Ran the Zoo," "McElligot’s Pool," "On Beyond Zebra!," "Scrambled Eggs Super!" and "The Cat’s Quizzer" — has led to many heated discussions on the balance between social correctness and the ability to share classic children’s literature with kids. It would be easy to accept the stories I grew up reading as the gospel truth of goodness, but we were not made for comfort; we were made for greatness. And many times that means making decisions that aren’t so easy, including becoming aware of our own ignorance. I’m a book nerd, always have been, and I was blessed growing up to have adults who fed that passion, particularly one sweet aunt who gave me Dr. Seuss books every year for my birthday; I ate those up like candy. When I saw the headlines that some books by Dr. Seuss — real name Theodor Geisel — were being discontinued, I was ready to be mildly outraged at this “attack” on my childhood; but, on learning which books they were, why and more about Geisel, I felt foolish. I’m not bothered in the slightest by their discontinuation. I don't think Dr. Seuss Enterprises is hurting through it either, as the pulled books were relatively low-selling, and the publicity surrounding this decision has led Dr. Seuss's
books to fill nine of the top 10 spots on Amazon's bestseller's list this past week. But hopefully, Dr. Seuss Enterprises is doing it for more than the money. The reason for pulling the discontinued books was because they, “portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong,” the company said. In “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” for example, an Asian person is drawn wearing a conical hat and holding chopsticks. On one page in “If I Ran the Zoo,” a couple of African men wear grass skirts with their hair tied up in a way that mimics the animals on the page around them. I don’t think Geisel meant to be a bad guy, but it’s important to recognize that he wasn’t perfect either. According to a fascinating NYT article from 2017, Geisel drew hundreds of political cartoons in the 40s, many of which would now be seen as blatantly racist. The same article says in later life, however, Geisel was embarrassed by many of these. "'Characterizations were done, and he was a cartoonist and he tended to adopt those,'" the same article quotes Geisel's great-nephew, Ted Owens. "'And I know later in his life he was not proud of those at all.'” Certainly, Geisel's works aren't all harmful, however. His "Horton Hears a Who," for example, says, "A person's a person, no matter how small," teaching me and so many others the importance of valuing all life, especially minorities and those without strong voices. Even "Green Eggs and Ham" has an underlying theme of trying new things and getting new perspectives as the main character realizes by the end that he does, in fact, like green eggs and ham; he'd
just never tried them before. Maybe we could take notes. This Dr. Seuss Enterprises decision leads me to question, "What now?" and I'm sure you wonder my point of all this as well. It brings to light the necessity of more diversity in children's literature. I know I'm just a white girl from the middle of Kansas, but I struggle to think of many children's books that focus on characters who aren't white or steeped in just white culture. We need to fix that. But don't just take my word for it. Philip Nel, Kansas State English professor and an expert on the issue, even wrote a book on the subject, "Was the Cat in the Hat Black? The Hidden Racism of Children's Literature, and the Need for Diverse Books." Y'all should check it out. We can all take steps to combat ignorance and hateful actions, including educating ourselves and starting safe, important conversations with others. Coming full circle, now I'm the old aunt with the little niece to spoil. I'm not going to stop reading the good Dr. Seuss books to my own little niece — they have morals too important for her to miss out on — but I know they won't be the only books in her growing little library. Lori Leiszler is the assistant culture editor of the Collegian and a junior in secondary education with an emphasis in English/journalism. 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.
Abigail Compton | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
On March 2, Dr. Seuss Enterprises released a statement announcing it will no longer publish six books because of the books’ hurtful portrayals of others. The ceased publication of these books has led to many heated discussions on the balance between social correctness and the ability to share classic children’s literature with kids.
need the news? (now more than ever.)
two clicks and it’ll be sent to you every monday, wednesday, friday.
the collegian newsletter kstatecollegian.com/newsletter
Outdoor dining provides safe, healthy way to eat out during COVID-19 pandemic JULIE FREIJAT managing editor
Spring is rounding the corner with its warmer weather and folks are beginning to venture back outside after a year of being locked away because of the pandemic. While vaccinations are underway and COVID-19 cases are dying down, it is still important to take precautions to avoid spreading the virus. Dining out might pose some risks, but there are ways to mitigate them — such as taking your meal outside. Manhattan boasts quite a few restaurants and bars with outdoor options that come with great food and fun atmospheres. I’ve compiled a quick list of my favorite places to dine at where I feel safe, happy and well-fed.
TALLGRASS TAP HOUSE
Enjoy creative drinks and tasty food on the rooftop of Tallgrass Tap House while staring at a beautiful view of Manhattan. Tap House is one of my favorite destinations for a nice night out
07
CULTURE
friday, march 12, 2021
because of its cozy rooftop patio that allows for social distancing in a nicely vented area. In addition to being outside, you can also enjoy its craft brews and great food. This restaurant makes for a great date night with a fun, fluid and relaxed atmosphere. Tap House is also set perfectly in downtown Manhattan where you can enjoy walking around and window shopping afterward for a safe, socially distanced activity.
views of Aggieville and a menu full of delicious Italian food. Snack on bread and enjoy some wine while basking in the sunlight — or nightlife — at Nico’s Little Italy. Its robust menu includes all kinds of noodles and sauces, along with a fine selection of wine. The classic, laid-back ambiance is perfect for a date night, a girl’s night or just to get away from the noise of life.
GORDO'S
Sitting in the heart of Aggieville is Bluestem Bistro, which has a patio section perfect for studying or mingling with friends. Enjoy some warm, fresh coffee and pastries, or order something a little more substantial off the menu to curb your cravings. Bluestem is the ideal place for afternoon meet-ups, study dates or a quick morning brunch. Its outdoor seating lets you get away without putting yourself at high risk for catching COVID-19.
If you’re looking for a bit more spice, some loud music and an exciting atmosphere, check out Gordo’s in Aggieville. This is the perfect place if you’re looking to let loose after a stressful week. Kick back and enjoy some cheesy enchiladas and a fruity margarita on the spacious rooftop patio. The patio overlooks the ‘Ville, so you can enjoy the streets without actually having to be in them.
NICO'S LITTLE ITALY
This new spot has a cute little sidewalk patio that boasts
BLUESTEM BISTRO
Archive Photo by Sarah Millard | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Bluestem Bistro has a wonderful outdoor dining area with tables as well as a couch with colorful cushions. As the weather gets warmer, more and more people will be looking for outdoor dining areas.
Spring weather brings more outdoor adventure opportunities in, around Manhattan MADDY DANIELS staff writer
The view atop of Konza Prairie Nature Trail’s highest point is worth the uphill climb, but sometimes the adventure is more memorable than the destination. Hiking through the terrain of golden tallgrass-carved paths and dusty stones while feeling the vitamin D soak into your skin is one must-have experience on a warm, spring day in Kansas. temperatures With reaching as high as 70, the winter gloom seems to be behind us for another year. Longer days of sunshine create more possibilities for outside activities, and areas in and around Manhattan offer many adventures.
KONZA PRAIRIE NATURE TRAIL
The Konza trail, located south of Manhattan, provides miles of hiking trails fit for an enjoyable afternoon walk. The path climbs up and over hills and features a noteworthy scenic overlook midway through the journey. With chances of seeing wildlife such as whitetailed deer or turkeys, the trail offers possibilities for a memorable outing. Spring is approaching and wildflowers are sure to be popping up soon, adding to the already impressive landscape. There is an abundance of other hiking trails in the area like Fancy Creek State Park, Linear Trail and Tuttle Creek State Park, just to name a few, all varying in length, scenery and difficulty.
Maddy Daniels | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
MANHATTAN AND "KS" HILL
Another hotspot for great views is visiting Manhattan Hill or “KS” Hill. Both boast pride of the city and state with the words spelled out in large white lettering, but they’re not just an enjoyable sight from below. Driving up to either and sitting at the top grants you the birds-eye view of the city. Taking picnic supplies or drive-through ice cream along with some friends to enjoy the sunshine should help take your minds off of any stressful tasks.
SUNSET ZOO
Sunset Zoo is an inexpensive outdoor activity where animal-lovers can get their dose of serotonin for the day. With warm weather, the animals are sure to be out sunbathing as well. The zoo is home to over 300 animals, from insects to tigers. Its summer hours will
begin soon, and feeding and encounter times with otters, wolves and many more will start, too. Spending a day walking around watching wildlife in a beautifully landscaped area is sure to be an enjoyable outing.
HAMMOCKING
If homework is getting in the way of traveling and taking advantage of these warm days, a hammock could be the solution. Hammocking with your laptop and books will provide an environment of productivity while still being outside. If getting away from the mundane is all you can do to find an outdoor experience, taking your hammock to City Park, CiCo Park, a peaceful spot on campus or even a sturdy tree along a trail will certainly give space for appreciating nature.
STAY UP-TO-DATE
@kstatecollegian
08
CULTURE
friday, march 12, 2021
REVIEW
Beach Film Club gives a voice to women of the silent film era JARED SHUFF culture editor
Today's film industry exists because of the silent films created a century ago, with actors like Charlie Chaplin and Lon Chaney still remembered as some of the greats. However, the contributions of women in silent film — both on and behind the screen — are often overlooked. On Wednesday evening, the Beach Film Club — part of the Beach Museum of Art's annual program series — dedicated its second virtual discussion to the creative contributions of women in silent film. From directors to actors to both at the same time, women in silent film offered more to the industry than they're often recognized for. Shannon Skelton, assistant professor in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance, led the discussion. He provided background on the history of silent film and biographical information of the discussed women directors. "I think that it's important to remember where our filmmakers tonight sit in this timeline," Skelton said. Some of the directors covered were Lois Weber, Marion Wong, Mabel Normand, Cleo Madison and Helen Holmes. Many of them acted in their films and were the only women with creative positions. "You can imagine how male-heavy the film industry was at that time," Skelton said, "and the challenges of a woman breaking in."
(785) 776-3771
103 N. 4th St. Manhattan, KS
The short films curated for the discussion ranged from comedy to suspense to action. Holmes directed and starred in "The Hazards of Helen," an action series revolving around her outwitting dangerous characters and proving women can take care of themselves. She did all of her own stunts, like fighting men and jumping on and off moving trains. The film "The Curse of Quon Gwon," directed by Wong, was considered lost until two film reels were found in the basement of her family home and restored in 2005. Although parts of the film are presumed lost, the remains uniquely depict Chinese-American assimilation at odds with traditional Chinese culture. "Plot-wise, it's very difficult to determine kind of for sure … about 90 years before it was discovered it was only screened twice," Skelton said. "So it's a little bit difficult to kind of piece some of that together." The film predates other Asian-American films made by men, showing the creative talents of women and immigrants — even if they were often overlooked or forgotten. Another example of a women director starring in her work is Normand's "Mabel Strange Predicament," a slap-stick comedy featuring Charlie Chaplin as a bumbling drunk. Normand finds herself running around in her pajamas, trying to get back in her locked room, with plenty of mishaps occurring along the way. "It was interesting that she had as much physical comedy as
it seemed [Chaplin] did," Jennifer Harlan, office and events assistant for the Beach art museum, said. "Her role was as physical as his, which I think is interesting." Skelton ended the discussion by asking about the depiction of women in these films, how they compare with each other and modern films. "I kind of felt like through this whole thing, and not just even about women that, you know, times are the same," Robin Lonborg, assistant director of operations for the Beach art museum, said. "These women were dealing with a lot of similar things … a lot of familiar things going on." "I think some of these films are surprising in their depiction of women … not bowing to kind of the patriarchy and expectations of that time," Skelton said, "but really kind of embracing, kind of action, right?" While silent films are mainly a thing of the past, silent film festivals can still showcase this historical form of cinema with live accompaniment and all. "If you haven't experienced live accompaniment with a silent film, definitely check out the Kansas Silent Film Festival," Nicole Derr, accountant for the KSU Foundation, said. "Definitely have to see a live performance if you ever get the chance." The next Beach Film Club is at 7 p.m. March 24, and will discuss the 2001 Indian drama film "Monsoon Wedding." Registration and streaming options are available on the Beach art museum website under the event calendar.
Due to current circumstances, please call before you stop in. Sorry for any inconvienence. Thank you for understanding!
Quinn XCII’s new album ‘A Change of Scenery II’ touches on purpose, reflection and escapism JARED SHUFF culture editor
After spending the past year sitting in my room watching Zoom lectures, I’ll admit a change of scenery sounds absolutely amazing. Since I’m stuck posting on discussion boards between work and classes, musician Quinn XCII's new album "A Change of Scenery II" will have to make up for my solitude. Quinn XCII — real name Mikael Temrowski — released the sequel album to his debut EP "A Change of Scenery" this past week. It just so happened I was driving home for the weekend, so I had the chance to listen to the album while taking in my own change of scenery. Quinn opens the album with a short ambient intro that beautifully transitions into the first full song, "Distracted Youth." A hypnotic guitar riff resonates throughout this song about temporary distractions and the fear of complacency. He sings, "I'd rather find a temporary situation than somebody to spend my life with." Songs like "My Wife & 2 Dogs" and "Mexico City" focus on escaping an undesirable situation for a soul-searching, life-affirming adventure. Whether leaving town for a few days or straight-up fleeing the country, Quinn makes it clear he’s ready for change. "My Wife & 2 Dogs" plays with meta lyricism as Quinn talks about getting away from everything after finishing the album. While the process was fun, he’s ready to "Buy some real estate with all of these cool songs we made / Move out to the beach with my wife and my two dogs." Honestly sounds like a great
plan to me. "Mexico City" gives off coming-of-age road trip vibes, with absolute strangers abandoning their normal lives so they can, "Go down to Mexico City / F**k around and get drunk." They spend all their money on takeout food and clothes, talking about their lives and what the world expects from them. Escaping doesn’t always mean running away from your life. Sometimes you can escape through other people. "Stay Next to Me (with Chelsea Cutler)" is a duet about two overwhelmed party-goers ditching the clubs and taking on the night together. With no destination in mind, they sing "We should go somewhere / You choose, I don’t care / As long as you’re right here / Stay next to me." As fun as it might sound to ditch your life and get drunk in Mexico’s capital — trust me, I know — escapism is usually a sign of much deeper problems. Quinn addresses these problems in songs like "Dorris Terrace (with ayokay and Jeremy Zucker)," "Feel Something" and "We Don’t Talk Enough (with Alexander 23)." "Dorris Terrace" depicts someone going through a depressive episode, struggling to find purpose in the monotony of everyday life. In Zucker’s verse, he sings, "I made it out the house today, / I even called my mom / It feels so strange to measure my worth / With every little thing that I get done." Sometimes we have to find purpose in the small accomplishments, even getting out of bed. Conflicting emotions are brought up in "Feel Something," as Quinn wrestles with his need for sympathy and inability to share how
he really feels. The rhythmic pattern and rhyme scheme in the verses feel choppy, like jumbled thoughts in an anxious mind. Quinn sings, "The illusion I’m fine / Should not be stuck in your mind / Wish you could see what I see in the mirror." "We Don’t Talk Enough" is heartbreakingly nostalgic, an acoustic message of fading friendships and lost connections. We’ve all lost touch with close friends before, not for any particular reason, but simply because life pushed us apart. Quinn sings in the chorus, "It’s no one’s fault that life gets tough / But all we share in common is that we don’t talk enough." Closing the album with a moment of reflection, Quinn takes a breath and acknowledges his growth in "Look How Far We’ve Come." He reminisces about his college antics and compares them to his life now, pointing out that, "When you and I were young / This is all we ever wanted / Look how far we’ve come." The song ends with the slam of a door, signaling a new chapter in his life. It’s been a rough year, and we could all use a change of scenery. Take some time to escape with Quinn XCII’s new album. After everything that’s happened, you should be proud of how far you’ve come. Jared Shuff is the Collegian culture editor and a junior in secondary education. 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.
09
SPORTS
friday, march 12, 2021
Men’s basketball’s season-ending loss to No. 2 Baylor provides glimmer of hope CODY FRIESEN staff writer
The 2020-21 Kansas State men’s basketball season came to an end in a hardfought 74-68 loss to No. 2 Baylor on Thursday, March 11 in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Championship. It was quite a turnaround for the Wildcats, who were dominated by Baylor in the previous two matchups. While the season ended, the loss gives K-State some hope for the future, winning four of the final six contests. “I didn’t want the season to end,” head coach Bruce Weber said. “I think we were playing high-level basketball. We could compete with anybody. We just showed it. I hope we can use this as momentum going into the next season.” Freshmen dominated the
day for K-State, as guard Nijel Pack and forward Davion Bradford both led the way with 18 points. Sophomore guard DaJuan Gordon finished the afternoon with 15 points. The freshmen duo were left off of the end of the season Big 12 Conference accolades. Both seemed to take that personally, as each led the Wildcats in scoring in back-to-back games in Kansas City, Missouri. “We told them [Pack and Bradford] to use it as motivation not getting picked on any of those teams and not getting any recognition,” Weber said. “I think they have made a nice statement the last couple of days.” Experience won the day as Baylor senior guard MaCio Teague led all scorers with 24 points. Junior guard Davion Mitchell was right behind
him with 23 points and junior guard Jared Butler scored 18 points on the afternoon. “Those three guards are really good,” Weber said. “They can make shots and play off each other pretty well.” The five guards who made the score sheet combined for 70 of Baylor’s 74 points — nearly 95 percent of all scoring. Bradford scored 15 points in the first half to keep the Wildcats in the game, only trailing Baylor 36-34 at halftime. “Davion was excellent,” Pack said. “Finishing, diving, screening and playing defense. All the talent that we know that he has, he was putting it on full display.” K-State limited Baylor to long scoring runs with only two 6-0 runs in the first half. The Bears finished the half
shooting 55 percent from the floor, led by 11 points from Butler. The Bears turned the ball over 13 times in the first half, but K-State only scored five points off those turnovers. Baylor entered play averaging 12 turnovers per game, and finished with 21 on the afternoon. K-State took a one-point advantage three separate times in the second half, but it seemed like it was just a matter of time before Baylor would take over. The Bears built its largest lead of the game with a 12 point lead with 5:30 remaining in the game, outscoring K-State 13-7 in the near five minutes it took to build that 12 point lead. K-State did not go away however, going on a 10-2 run to make it 70-66 with 1:03 to play, but sloppy play by
K-State dominates South Dakota State to sweep mid-week series DREW GALLOWAY
Sophie Osborn | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
K-State junior Zach Kokoska awaits a pitch during Tuesday’s game against South Dakota State at Tointon Family Stadium. led 3-0 at the end of the first inning. “We’re always looking to make our lineup better and give kids opportunities to prove that,” Hughes said.
“That’s what good and really deep programs are able to do.” see page
10 “BASEBALL”
the country right now.” The Wildcats were one of the youngest teams in the country, but one of the best parts about freshmen is that they become sophomores. “From this here, it feels like we are a whole new team,” Pack said. “It feels like a preview of what is going to happen in the years to come.” The loss to Baylor provided a lot of early optimism for next season, and Weber anticipates returning for next season among rumors of his possible retirement. Lone senior Mike McGuirl has the opportunity to return for the Wildcats as well, but a decision has yet to be made on his status for next season. Barring significant losses to the transfer portal, K-State will return the majority of the current roster, including all five starters if McGuirl does decide to stay.
“Follow Kansas State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic from the campus closure to the opening of fall semester. Told through student accounts, the Collegian newspaper staff chronicles this paramount time in history in an all new, limited-edition coffee table book.”
staff writer
The Kansas State baseball team (8-4) dominated South Dakota State again on Wednesday, March 10, winning 10-0. The victory capped off a mid-week series sweep of the Jackrabbits. The Wildcat offense struck early with the second batter of the game junior catcher Austin Garrett hitting a solo home run to make it 1-0. The home run was Garrett’s first home run as a Wildcat. “Austin Garrett is an unselfish team guy that’s been waiting for his opportunity,” head coach Pete Hughes said. “He just works and when his name got called, he was ready.” After sophomore second baseman Daniel Carinci’s two-run single, the Wildcats
K-State ended up closing out any hopes of a miraculous come-from-behind upset in the final minute. Baylor advances to face fifth seeded Oklahoma State in the semifinal round tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. The Bears finished the afternoon shooting 53 percent from the floor. The Wildcats shot 41 percent from the floor and went 16-of-20 from the free-throw line. Despite the loss, the young Wildcats showed significant improvement near the end of the season, going from losing to Fort Hays State to beating No. 7 Oklahoma to then competing with one of the NCAA Tournament favorites. “We came from being one of the worst teams in the country being pretty good,” sophomore guard DaJuan Gordon said. “I feel like we could compete with anyone in
Buy the book and get a free calendar!
10
SPORTS
SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS: COLIN SETTLE staff writer
Tejaswin Shankar, or TJ as he calls himself, is one of the top runners and jumpers not only on the Kansas State track and field team, but in the nation. “I think it’s a really good feeling,” Shankar said. “I don’t really look up all the rankings because some of my friends were looking at them the other day saying this and that. ... I was talking with coach (Rovelto) about it and he said that sometimes ignorance is bliss and the less you know the better.” Hailing from New Deli, India, Shankar came to the United States at only 17-years-old with one goal in mind — to learn from the head coach of the Kansas State track and field team, Cliff Rovelto “I didn’t have the usual recruiting experience that other people had,” Shankar said. “I was at a training camp and there was another coach from Australia and he said that I should post my sports abroad in the U.S. because most of the kids that compete there are the kids that are going to be with you at the Olympic games. ... I asked him what was a good university and who was a good coach and the first name he said was Coach Rovelto. I looked him up on the K-State website and after I saw that I said if I want to train with someone it has to be that guy.” Over the course of his career at K-State, Shankar has put together a resume of kings. Shankar was the 2018 outdoor men’s high jump national champion, he is a 3-time Big 12 Conference high jump champion, a 4-time track and field All-American and has broken multiple records at K-State, in the United States and in his home country of India as well.
Even with all of his accolades, some of Shankar’s favorite memories from being here at K-State have nothing to do with jumping the bar. “I think the people, for me, I think being here at Kansas State has really good memories,” Shankar said. “As international students, we expect everyone to be understanding of our situation but a lot of times what we do is we don’t understand the host country or host situation as well. ... Just those relationships that I’ve made here and just the time that I’ve spent with people and the people that have taken the time to understand and get to know me, I think that’s the most special feeling and moment I’ve had here in Kansas and I think that should carry on for a long time.” His goals of becoming a champion at K-State have already been reached, but his ultimate goals he has yet to achieve. Shankar looks up to former K-State high jumper Erik Kynard Jr. who was a silver medalist in the event in the 2012 London Summer Olympics. “[Kynard] told me that it’s really important to not get carried away by what’s about to come,” Shankar said. “But the mind is really powerful, so he said that the more you can try to stay in the present and just try to see what we can do to get better today and keep it in the back of your head but not get carried away. It’s always good to have accomplished people in your corner so you can draw from their experiences.” Shankar isn’t the only one that thinks highly of his future goals — sophomore and track and field team videographer Alec Handlin shares a lot of Shankar’s thoughts. “I know that man will accomplish so many things by the time he is done,” Handlin said. “I’ll be off working some job somewhere and I’ll hear about TJ winning some
Olympic gold medal. I’m just so excited to see it because there is no limit on that guy. Even off the track, Handlin said, Shankar is an ultimate team player and genuine person. “I don’t know what I thought originally because it’s so easy for someone like him to be cocky or be in front of everybody because when he walks into a building, everyone knows who he is,” Handlin said. “But he is probably the most humble guy I’ve ever met in my life. It is so easy for him to talk how he wants, do what he wants, but he is just so humble.” Shankar is excited for what is to come as he strives for his second national championship in the high jump this weekend in Fayetteville, Arkansas. “Going into indoor nationals, I’m really excited to go out there and have some fun and jump high,” Shankar said. “Up to this point, I have done something before that so this will be the first event where I will get to jump fresh without having to do an event before the high jump. Usually, the conference championship is about the team and the national championship is about yourself so, at this point, I’ll just try to see what I can do for myself and the coach.” The NCAA Indoor National Championships take place from March 11-13 inside the Randal Tyson Center in Fayetteville. Shankar comes in as the No. 3 seed in the high jump with a seed distance of 2.25 meters, while also coming in as the No. 12 seed in the triple jump with a seed distance of 16.09 meters. The men’s high jump preliminary and finals start at 2 p.m. Friday, while the men’s triple jump preliminary and finals will start at 1 p.m. Saturday. All of the events over the weekend can be seen on ESPN3.
friday, march 12, 2021
An inside look at Tejaswin Shankar, the man who defies gravity
Archive Photo by Alex Todd | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Senior Tejaswin Shankar clears the 2.12 meter mark in the high jump during the Carol Robinson/Attila Zsivoczky Pentathlon in Ahern Field House on Dec. 7, 2018. Shankar will compete in the high jump this weekend in the NCAA Indoor National Championships.
BASEBALL continued from page 09
The offense stayed hot in the second inning, adding three more runs and making it 6-0. Sophomore Dylan Phillips added a solo home run in the third inning to make it 7-0. His home run extended his on-base streak to 23 consecutive games. Phillips said he was pleased with how the team kept its foot on the pedal. “We kind of scuffled in a few games this past weekend, but yeah these two games were good for us just seeing the ball fly, kind of relaxing us just knowing that we are capable of being a pretty good offense,” Phillips said. Not to be outdone by the offense, senior starting
pitcher Caleb Littlejim only allowed one hit in his four innings and striking out eight. His set a new career-high with eight strikeouts. Strikeouts were a theme for Wildcat pitching — Littlejim, Phillips, sophomore Griffin Hassall, senior Luke Hauswirth and junior Andrew Stratman combined to strikeout 16 total with every starter for the Jackrabbits striking out at least once. The pitchers also held the Jackrabbits to 3-30 as a team at the plate. “We got a lot of guys involved, guys that are looking to expand their role in our bullpen and guys that already have roles in our bullpen,” Hughes said. “Those guys were sharp.” Freshman Cameron Uselton added to the hit parade with an RBI infield sin-
gle in the fifth. Junior Kamron Willman followed with an RBI single of his own to make it 9-0 Wildcats. Phillips decided one home run was not enough and added another solo shot in the sixth to make it 10-0. The home run was Phillips’s third multi-home run game and his third home run in two games. It was an offensive performance the team will use as confidence moving forward. “I think that [scoring 25 runs in the past two games] is definitely big for our confidence,” Phillips said. The Wildcats take on Northern Illinois on March 12 in Houston, Texas. First pitch is scheduled for noon. Audio coverage will be provided by KMAN radio.
11
SPORTS
friday, march 12, 2021
Wyatt Hubert, Briley Moore look to improve draft stock after promising Pro Day CONNOR COTTENMYRE staff writer
The Kansas State football team hosted its annual Pro Day on Tuesday, March 9 to help its players prepare for the 2021 NFL draft. Junior defensive end Wyatt Hubert and senior tight end Briley Moore showcased their talent in front of NFL scouts. “Personally, I think I tested pretty well,” Hubert said. “Some things I think I exceeded my standards, some things I could’ve done a little bit better, but, overall, I’m happy with my times. It was definitely a good day, not just for me but for a lot of my teammates. It was really nice being out there with nine or 10 other guys that I’ve played with for the last two to three years.” Hubert recorded the eighth-most sacks in K-State history with 20 during his three seasons with the Wildcats. Hubert was also the only unanimous first-team 2020 All-Big 12 defensive player in the conference. Hubert said he spoke with representatives and
scouts for several NFL teams including the Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals and Kansas City Chiefs When asked about what he would be doing to prepare from now until the draft, Hubert said he was going to focus on his flexibility and bending skills. “I talked to a few coaches and a few scouts after we were done with all the drills,” Hubert said. “You can never be flexible enough, especially at the edge position that I play. That’s going to be the main thing I hone in on and focus in on these next two to three months before the draft.” Hubert ran the threecone drill in seven seconds flat, which for a player weighing 265 pounds is a remarkable feat. To compare, NFL star outside linebacker Khalil Mack ran a 7.08 prior to being drafted in 2014. When asked about his mindset for the NFL draft and being labeled as one of the most underrated prospects before going into the 2021 draft, Hubert said he has a lot of things other players don’t have. “My football IQ and my
knowledge of the game are some things that exceed a lot of other players in this draft class,” he said. “Just how smart I am and how experienced I am at multiple different positions. I definitely have a chip on my shoulder — I want to be the best player I can be and want to exceed past all the other edge rushers in this draft class.” Moore was also the talk of the Pro Day. Having played only one season at K-State, the senior tight end racked up 338 yards and three touchdowns. Though injuries plagued him during his only season with the Wildcats, he was invaluable in the win against No. 3 Oklahoma where he caught four passes and hauled in a touchdown against both Texas Tech and Kansas. Coming in at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Moore follows the recent trend of a more pass-catching, big-play tight end rather than the traditional block-focused tight ends of the past. “It’s funny because when you’re talking to scouts, they’ll say, ‘You’re a good receiving tight end, but we didn’t know
you could block that well,’” Moore said. “Then I’ve talked to some who have said, ‘You’re a great run-blocking tight end and I was surprised at how good you were in the receiving game.’ I love to hear that because it shows the versatility that I was talking about.” Moore and Hubert received invitations to the NFL Combine before it was canceled, but when both were asked about where they might land, Moore shared Hubert’s mantra of “coming in and doing whatever I can to help a team compete.” “I feel confident,” Moore said. “Going into this next phase, the numbers I put up today, I’ll be able to go to sleep tonight knowing if May 1 comes around and I don’t get a call during the Draft or whatever it is, I can go to sleep tonight knowing it’s not because I didn’t do everything I could at Pro Day.” The NFL Draft begins April 29 and continues until May 1. Several draft experts expect Hubert to be a middle-round draft pick and Hubert is projected as a seventh round pick.
6
Grab your copy of
3
2 5
at the Rec Center
5
7 8
Difficulty Level
2 4 6 8
1
2 6 3
9
2
4
7
8 4
1 5
6 3/12
2021 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
By Dave Green
12
SPORTS
friday, march 12, 2021
ANALYSIS: While the 2020-21 season was challenging, the future still looks bright for men’s basketball
CAMERON BRADLEY sports editor
Down 38-5 with just a little under halfway to go in the first half of Kansas State’s Jan. 27 game against Baylor, ESPN’s Chris Spatola said it best. “C’mon Kansas State, have a little pride, man.” Up to that point in the season, the K-State’s men’s basketball team lost to NCAA Division II opponent Fort Hays State, lost to Baylor by more than 30 points in their first meeting and were on a six-game losing streak. Oh yeah, and the final score for that second game against Baylor? 107-59, the largest margin of defeat in K-State men’s basketball history. People called for head coach Bruce Weber to be fired, making fun of the Wildcat’s social media posts and simply giving up on K-State. It seemed like everything that could go wrong for the Wildcats this year, was going wrong. But for the members of one of the youngest team’s in the country — featuring five freshmen and just four players that returned from the year before that saw a decent amount of action on the floor — they weren’t giving up. “I love my teammates. Their hearts are in the right place. It’s new to a lot of them, and they’re figuring it out,” lone senior Mike McGuirl said following K-State’s 74-51 loss at KU on Feb. 2. “I’m with them every step of the way to try to help them figure it out. Whatever it takes.” Slowly but surely, that’s exactly what this young team did. Going wire to wire with teams like No. 13 Texas Tech, No. 13 Texas and No. 23 Oklahoma State, but
still not picking up any wins. “We’re improving every time and doing everything we need to do, but we need to finish on the small mistakes we have,” freshman Davion Bradford said following the loss to OSU. “We’re still trying. It’s not like we’re trying to lose. We’re trying to win.” Finally, after 13 straight losses, the streak came to an end on Feb. 20 at TCU with a 62-54 victory over the Horned Frogs — but the winning didn’t stop there. The Wildcats managed to rattle off two more wins in the final three regular-season games
— upending No. 7 Oklahoma on senior night before closing out the regular season by defeating Iowa State, holding both opponents under 60 points. With that momentum following them into Kansas City for the Big 12 Championship, K-State dominated TCU in the opening round and came ever so close to upsetting No. 2 Baylor in the quarterfinals, closing their roller coaster of a 2020-21 campaign on a hopeful note. But how hopeful should people be about this team moving forward? Especially after a season
where the Wildcats finished with its worst winning percentage since World War II (.310)? To be honest? The future looks quite bright for this young team — and the team thinks so as well. “We’ve got that experience this year so therefore next year we can go in knowing what to expect, knowing the work that it takes and knowing what it takes to win,” freshman Nijel Pack said following Thursday’s loss. “I feel like we’ve got the talent, we’ve definitely got the coaching, we’ve definitely got the support to win
the Big 12 Championship, we’ve just got to believe it and put the work in.” Pack is going to be a big factor in that success. The freshman guard from Indianapolis, Indiana, came in and made a major impact on a team that was rebuilding from the ground up. Even though Pack missed four games this season because of COVID-19 and a fifth because of an eye infection, the freshman still led the team in scoring, averaging 12.7 points per game, three-point percentage where he averaged a 40.5 percent clip and
Denny Medley | BIG 12 CONFERENCE
The Kansas State Wildcats and Baylor Bears compete during the Phillips 66 Big 12 Basketball Championship at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 10, 2021.
Grab your copy of
at Bluestem Bistro
free throw percentage where he shot at a 79.4 percent clip. Pack also finished second on the team in total assists (91), average minutes (33.5 minutes) and third in total steals (28). And still, he was snubbed from the Big 12 All-Freshman team. Pack, along with the rest of the talented youth on the team like Davion Bradford and Selton Miguel, will continue to grow with the more experienced team members such as DaJuan Gordon and Mike McGuirl if he chooses to return. The rest depends on the shape of the Big 12 Conference next season. Being in one of the best conferences in the nation this season didn’t help this young Wildcat team. Seven out of the 10 teams in the Big 12 were ranked at some point this season, and with the opportunity for seniors to return next year, the conference will still most likely be the toughest in the country. So while the goal of a Big 12 title might seem lofty for next season, improvement on all phases of the game is bound to occur. It’s important to look back on K-State basketball when the original big three — Barry Brown Jr., Kamau Stokes and Dean Wade — were all freshmen. At that time, K-State struggled to stay above .500. Over the next three years, the team improved each season before the Elite Eight run in 2018 and the Big 12 Championship in 2019. So the word for now with this team is patience. The end of the 2020-21 season provided good building blocks for success that might just be around the corner for the K-State men’s basketball team.
WASTE
AND RECYCLE