K A N S A S
S TAT E
vol. 126 issue 28 | friday, march 19, 2021 | kstatecollegian.com
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Only time will tell if Fake Patty’s Day gatherings reignite COVID-19 spread, campus officials say
Manhattan Public Library promotes inclusion, diversity with new display of LGBTQ+ books
Collegian sports staff predict the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament
K-State skydive club provides community for some Wildcats
COVID-19 survivors, others reflect after one year of the pandemic KAYLIE MCLAUGHLIN staff writer
Editor’s Note: Andrew Smith, professor of practice in journalism and mass communications, is also the chairperson of the Collegian Media Group Board of Directors. This time one year ago, professor of practice in journalism and mass communications Andrew Smith was waiting on his test results for COVID-19. Given how sick he already was and his recent international travels, a positive test was almost inevitable. Smith ultimately became one of the first COVID-19 cases in the state of Kansas and the first in the area. While he was ill, he spent about a week in the hospital, and recovery in the aftermath was a slow, monthslong process. “A year ago today, I wish I knew that I was going to be OK,” Smith said. Smith’s story is one of countless to be told from the last year in the pandemic — from the thousands of people who had COVID-19, the families of those who didn’t survive the illness and those who had their lives turned upside down by the pandemic. “I think all of us are scarred in some way. Whether that be emotionally, spiritually, psychologically — there’s a lot of carnage in the wake of this disease and pandemic,” Smith said. “I think all of us are going to feel this pretty much for the rest of our lives.”
POSITIVE OUTCOMES FROM THE PANDEMIC The pandemic might have ravaged the economy and caused irreparable damage to the health and lives of thousands in the community, but it’s brought with it some change for the better, too, President Richard Myers said. When the burgeoning COVID-19 outbreak first shut down in-person operations at Kansas State a little over a year ago, university faculty and staff scrambled to offer education in a fully-remote format. That transition was stressful, but it also provided a new paradigm for what higher education can be. “We have some flexibility we didn’t think we had,” Myers said. Myers said he expects K-State and other higher education institutions to expand their hybrid course offerings, mixing the best parts of in-person and online classes to maximize a student’s education. For Maggie Borders, graduate student in counseling and student development, the pandemic was tough to adapt to but opened the door for more accessibility. Borders, who has ADHD, said she sometimes has a hard time processing audio quickly. “It’ll take my brain a moment or two to put the words together, and with the pandemic, we’ve got a lot more closed captioning,” Borders said. For Smith, the best thing that came from the pandemic is the sense of community instilled by the crisis despite the prolonged separation
Kaylie McLaughlin | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Professor of practice of journalism Andrew Smith was waiting for test results that would eventually tell him he was one of the first people to have COVID-19 in the greater Manhattan area in mid-March 2020. Now a year later, he hopes the community will continue to heal as the pandemic continues. and isolation. “We as a community are all doing this together,” Smith said. “I think we’ve seen a lot of examples of community working together.” When Smith and his family were sick and stuck in an unexpected isolation for weeks, neighbors and students
did their best to support them. In some cases, that was in tangible ways, like purchasing groceries and sending packages of essentials. But it was also an outpouring of encouragement, prayers and thoughtful messages on social media. “For me, that was such a huge
boost in spirit and for care and for feeling cared about,” Smith said. “As soon as we were better, we’ve returned the favor to other people.” see page
03, “PANDEMIC”
02
NEWS
friday, march 19, 2021
Annual spring blood drive to continue with new safety precautions ZOE SCHULTZ staff writer
The Red Cross returns to the Kansas State campus March 22-25 for its annual spring blood drive in the K-State Student Union Ballroom and the Tallgrass Ballroom in Kramer Dining Center. Jan Hale, Red Cross external communications director, said the past year has taught her people can help and hold each other up during difficult times. “Even though the last year has been a challenging rollercoaster, we are very grateful that blood donation has remained an essential community activity throughout the pandemic,” Hale said. Hale said additional safety precautions and other things have changed in the past year, but the need for blood donations has not stopped.
Donors are required to schedule an appointment in advance on the Red Cross Website. Scheduling an appointment before donating helps the Red Cross comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regulations. Donation centers continue to comply with safety standards — including temperature checks, proper social-distancing and face coverings. The Red Cross is a non-profit organization that supplies nearly 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply. Kristi Ingalls, Red Cross Account Manager, said the partnership with K-State has been incredible. “I love working with K-State, getting new students involved and enjoy all the student volunteer groups that make the blood drive happen,” Ingalls said. In addition to the typical
Red Cross procedures, Ingalls said the organization also offers COVID-19 antibody test results. “A student can see their antibody test results within one to two weeks in the Red Cross Blood Donor App or donor portal at RedCrossBlood.org,” Ingalls said. Ingalls said campus groups like the American Red Cross Club, KSU Vet-Med Club, PreVet Club, Delta Chi, Phi Alpha, Pre-Physical Therapy Club and others play an integral part in supplying 450 pints of blood during the drive. Ingalls said over 90 percent of Red Cross workers are volunteers. “It is incredible that numerous K-State campus groups choose to give back to their community in such a special way,” Ingalls said. “Each year, we work with many excellent campus groups that help recruit donors and volunteer at the drive-
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
by signing in donors, giving out refreshments and promoting the blood drive across campus.” Shaelyn Ward, senior in nutrition and kinesiology and American Red Cross Club president, said the Red Cross is an organization everyone should consider joining. “As the American Red Cross Club, we do our best to volunteer for and promote the organization,” Ward said. “We volunteer for both university and community blood drives, look for American Red Cross donations and promote local blood drives through the use of social media.” Students and community members who donate will receive free T-shirts while supplies last. Students and community members can sign up at the Red Cross website, call 1-800-7332767 or download the Blood Donor App.
Pretend like youʼre taking notes and do the SUDOKU
ON THE COVER Photo courtesy of David Mccune
Despite the name, Skydive K-State is not limited to Kansas State students — the group’s Facebook boasts over 900 members.
Rachel Seiffert Marketing
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
03
NEWS
friday, march 19, 2021
Only time will tell if Fake Patty’s Day gatherings reignite COVID-19 spread, campus officials say KAYLIE MCLAUGHLIN staff writer
Though events in Aggieville for Fake Patty’s Day were relatively tamped down this year, that didn’t stop Kansas State students and community members from enjoying the partying holiday at large — and apparently maskless — house parties. Those mass-gatherings could become a catalyst for more rapid COVID-19 spread in the community and higher testing rates, Dr. Kyle Goerl, medical director at Lafene Health Center, said. “Oh, it’s bad,” Goerl said. “I can’t think of a worse thing that people could go and do right now.”
‘WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IT’
This isn’t the first time off-campus activities have affected on-campus COVID-19 numbers.
PANDEMIC continued from page 01
‘THE BEGINNING OF THE END’
Although the pandemic is still ongoing and new cases pop up in the community weekly, K-State is confident the fall semester will be more like normal than this year. For one thing, every eligible American adult who wants a vaccine should be able to get one soon, but also community spread is down across the state. In Riley County, the positivity rate has been below five percent for about two months. The university tentatively announced a plan to begin a formal phase-out of most, if not all, campus COVID-19 restrictions on Aug. 1. What exactly that will look like is uncertain, but Myers said he sees a future where more in-person and larger classes are available again.
In August, off-campus parties and trips to bars are what likely caused the major climb in the positivity rate at the time. Within a week or so of the fall semester starting, the positivity rate on campus surpassed 20 percent. In the meantime, it’s a waiting game, President Richard Myers said, to see if COVID-19 numbers locally change trajectory. He said K-State and the greater Manhattan area should expect to get a clearer picture of the aftermath from Fake Patty’s Day in about a week. “I do think some of that behavior is going to come back [around], and we’re going to have to pay for it,” Myers said. “We will probably start to see a surge in cases, and we can probably trace those back to those kind of activities.” Last week, Duke University instituted a temporary shelter-in-place order after off-cam-
“I’m confident,” Myers said. “We’ve got to keep everybody safe and so that’ll be uppermost in our minds.” That isn’t set in stone, however. He said more transmissible variants of the virus continue to pose a threat to further reopening plans, but there is a glimmer of hope that the end of the crisis is coming. “It’ll give [students] a chance to start to spread their wings and get to know people,” Myers said. “All the things that contribute to their university experience are going to open up, and I’m really looking forward to that opportunity for everybody, but particularly for students.” Previously, local health officer Julie Gibbs said she believes the story of the pandemic could soon be coming to a close. “I hope it’s the beginning of the end,” she said. “We’ve been through the height of the pandemic and we know what to do if a problem does occur.”
pus activities caused on-campus cases to spike and thousands of people entered a quarantine period. Goerl said he doesn’t expect a similar action to be necessary for K-State. Myers agreed. “My guess is we won’t have to do that, but we have to be ready to do that,” Myers said. “We go back to our first principle: Keep both faculty and students as safe as we possibly can.” Dr. Lee Norman, the secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said Fake Patty’s Day gatherings could cause problems, but some of the major fallout might be avoided given the relatively low level of spread currently present in the community. Last week, K-State saw a positivity rate below one percent and Riley County as a whole reports just 56 active cases. “There will be less people coming and going that
Archive photo by Alex Shaw | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
In 2018, citizens from Manhattan and surrounding areas came to Aggieville to celebrate Fake Patty’s Day with their family and friends. On March 13, 2021, some partiers took it upon themselves to celebrate Fake Patty’s despite the Aggieville Business Association no longer sponsoring the event. have already acquired it probably than if we were having this conversation two months ago,” Norman said. If there is an uptick, Myers said he doesn’t expect it to be as drastic as the one Riley
County experienced when students returned to campus in the fall and started engaging in similar behavior. Since many K-State students and community members have already had COVID-19, there
is a smaller pool of people to potentially infect.
To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com
TEXTBOOKS 2.0 FOCUS OF 2021 ALL IN FOR K-STATE JOSIE WHITAKER assistant news editor
The KSU Foundation will host the all-day philanthropy event All in for K-State on March 24 to support Textbooks 2.0. All In for K-State gives people a chance to focus their donations on one cause for that day. Textbooks 2.0 is K-State’s grant program for faculty and instructors to develop or adopt inexpensive and high-quality digital alternatives to traditional print textbooks. The program supplies up to $5,000 per course. “[The event] is a really engaging 24-hour experience where we asked you for a gift once, but then once you’ve given it we keep you engaged and continue to inform you as to what it is ... what that money will actually accomplish,” Eric Holderness,
associate vice president of development, said. Beginning in 2019, All In for K-State has a fundable idea committee that gives applications to campus partners to decide the objective of their event. Last year’s philanthropy was delayed because of the pandemic. “We put a call out for applications and got 15 to 20,” Holderness said. “We used about four weeks to evaluate, decipher, ask more questions of those applicants, and Textbooks. 2.0 was the cream that rose to the top this year.” The first All In for K-State focused on Cats’ Cupboard “We bring everyone together for 24 hours and go all-in to fund this one thing that’s most important to the K-State community that particular year,” Holderness said. “Then the next
year, we get to do it all over again, for something else just as fun and fascinating and impacted.” Andrew Bennett, head of the mathematics department at K-State, helped bring the open alternative textbook initiative to the university. Bennett’s first resource was published in 2010. “Open textbooks don’t just save students money — professors can adapt materials to fit the class rather than students struggling to match the textbook to the lecture,” Bennett said. “With the flexibility of open materials that can be accessed from anywhere, students use the materials more than they would a normal textbook.” Holderness said Brian Lindshield, health and human sciences professor, is the cutting-edge of producing these resources.
“[Lindshield] partnered with a LibreText open platform to build these really interactive and really cool resources that he actually took me on a tour of today,” Holderness said. Textbook 2.0 is the foundation’s second iteration, Holderness said. Cats’ Cupboard raised over $320,000 dollars in 2019 from donations to the food pantry on campus. All In for K-State plans to hold the annual event on the last Wednesday of March for years to come. “Each year will be a different fundamental idea, whose sole purpose is to deliver high philanthropic impact,” Holderness said.
To read more, visit kstatecollegian.
04
NEWS
friday, march 19, 2021
K-State rated one of the most LGBTQ-friendly campuses in the nation EDEN BROCKMAN staff writer
Campus Pride named Kansas State among the top 40 LGBTQ-friendly colleges for the fourth consecutive year because of the campus’s commitment to LGBTQ inclusion in policy, program and practice. Campus Pride is an indexing tool that “allows prospective students, families/parents and those interested in higher education to search a database of LGBTQ-friendly campuses who have come out to improve the academic experience and quality of campus life,” according to its website. K-State also earned a 5-star Campus Pride index score because K-State meets benchmarks in a variety of categories, including policy inclusion, support and institutional
commitment, campus safety and more. Campus Pride noted the LGBT Resource Center in its report as well. “Each year, we bring campus partners together to go over the criteria,” Brandon Haddock, LGBT resource center coordinator at K-State, said. “Campus Pride has a rather lengthy process for evaluation. It is not an application or anything. What they do is evaluate the campus.” Haddock said even though K-State received a 5-star rating, there is still work to do. “I always tell people that a 5-star ranking means that we are attaining some of our goals,” Haddock said. “It does not mean that we are exceeding our goals, and we need to be.” Anna Casner, president of the Sexuality and Gender
Alliance and senior in social work, said she agreed with Haddock that much more can still be done. “I want us to acknowledge our accomplishments, and acknowledge the resource center for all of the hard work they have done,” Casner said. “At the same time, we can’t stop. We can pause and celebrate, and then we have to push on.” Casner said she would like the K-State administration to put in more effort towards campus-safety by holding students who are not in the LGBT community accountable for homophobic actions. While Campus Pride gave K-State a 5/5 rating in the campus-safety category, Casner does not think this rating accurately reflects LGBT safety on campus. “I think a lot of institu-
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tions can approach safety by making a victim put on seven coats of armor, instead of taking the sword away from the people trying to stab them,” Casner said. “Until we have accountability for the people that do racist and homophobic things on campus, they are going to keep happening.” Katie Hutson, SAGA vice present and senior in English, expressed her frustration with K-State’s administration handling of campus safety for LGBT students, as well. “The reason we got such a good score [from Campus Pride] is that we have many policies,” Hutson said. “But it doesn’t matter because nobody listens to them. There are no repercussions for people that are homophobic and
File photo by Dylan Connell | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
The LGBT Resource Center is located in Holton Hall. racist on campus.” Haddock offered solutions for non-LGBTQ students to support the LGBTQ+ community.
To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com
Privilege Fee Committee recommends decrease to Wildcat Watch SEAN SCHAPER news editor
The Privilege Fee Committee recommended a $21,990 decrease to the Wildcat Watch allocation Monday night. The allocation funds operations and equipment. Wildcat Watch provides video editing and production services for Kansas State students, groups and organizations at no cost. These services include live-streamed events such as promotional, recruitment and instructional videos along with original programming. The entity has partnered with Wildcat Dialogues, the Student Governing Association, K-State Today, Cats' Cupboard, the Manhattan Arts Center among other student organizations, K-State colleges and student events Creative director and senior in mass communications Kylie Ledford said Wildcat Watch operates as a Department Student Organization under the Division of Communications and Marketing
and employs 15 to 20 students. "We have students in the journalism program, business school, English department, computer science — lots of different parts of the university," Ledford said. Tyler Traxson, advisor and video production manager, requested $45,000 annually for the next three fiscal years — $30,000 for the operations budget and $15,000 for the equipment budget. "Student salaries make up for most of the operating budget," Traxson said. "Other things within the operating budget are professional services and transportation." The equipment budget consists of computer hardware and computer software and audio and video equipment replacements. The allocation took a 36 percent decrease after last fall's insufficient funds callbacks. For the next three-year cycle, the committee recommended a 40 percent decrease to the operations budget and a 67 percent decrease to the equipment
budget. This recommendation will give operations $18,000 and equipment $5,000. Wildcat Watch has a roll-over balance of just under $18,000 for fiscal year 2021, and JW Wells, student senator and sophomore in agricultural economics, said the 67 percent decrease to the equipment budget will still allow the entity to function properly. He said Wildcat Watch will have enough wiggle room to get by, and the given amount of money will allow for equipment repairs if needed. "We're not trying to strangle or prevent any growth, but we're also trying to cut [the budget] down as close as we possibly can," Ashley Grills, committee member and sophomore in business administration, said. "I think we're still providing [Wildcat Watch] quite a few funds." The recommendations for both line items passed unanimously. The next Privilege Fee Committee meeting is 5:30 p.m. March 22 in Wildcat Chamber.
5
SPORTS
friday, march 19, 2021
PETERS RECREATION COMPLEX REOPENS SOME ADDITIONAL SERVICES FOR STUDENTS, GUESTS
Doctoral student receives grant to research intersex individuals, spark difficult conversations LANDON REINHART
BLAKE CRAWFORD staff writer
The Peters Recreation Complex began this month to reopen some services previously closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Rec opened the north sand volleyball courts on March 10 and racquetball courts, squash courts and the games lounge on March 15. However, there is a two-person limit for each indoor court. Masks are required and social distancing is strongly encouraged when possible. Steve Martini, director of recreational services, and John Wondra, associate director of development and communications at the Rec, introduced the reopening plan to several campus leaders, including Dr. Kyle Goerl, Lafene Medical Director and Derek Jackson, associate vice president for student life. Jason Brungardt, assistant director of facility operations at the Rec, said the reopening plan is a step in the right direction. “All fall, we were pretty stagnant and now we’re making steps in that direction towards normal-
cy,” Brungardt said. The outdoor Rec will open March 22 — pending weather conditions — and members can rent canoes, paddle boards and kayaks. Brungardt said the Rec will even hold a fraternity basketball tournament. However, he said it is hard to tell what the plan is going into the summer and the fall. “Everything very much is TBD right now,” Brungardt said. “We’re going off of what other universities are doing well but also we have to follow the phasing protocols that the university has in place.” As of March 13, members can bring guests with a few exceptions: guest sales are only available on weekends, the host can only bring one guest, the fee is $8 with no refunds and guests must be 18 years old or older with the exception of a family member 14 to 17 years old. Wondra said he hopes for operations to return to normal by the fall, but it all depends on how the pandemic affects the area. Even though only a few areas are open at the Rec, Brun-
gardt said those areas offer some escapism for students. “The Rec is a way for students to get away from added stress or pressure,” Brungardt said. “We’ve played a big part in that.” He said even though enrollment declined, the number of students going to the Rec is still high. Grace Reiman, recreational service staff member and junior in apparel and textiles, said she thinks now is a good time to start reopening areas and that the Rec is a great place for students to stay active during the pandemic. “I think exercise helps with my mental health,” Reiman said. “I know a lot of people are struggling with being stuck at home. Since the Rec has taken a lot of precautions, I believe that it is safe.” Group classes, personal training and some intramural sports that allow for social distancing and safety will still continue this semester. Wondra said he hopes to include some outdoor team sports in the spring session of intramural sports.
staff writer
The Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood awarded Shelby Astle, first-year doctoral student in applied family science, a $1,000 grant that will allow her to further research intersex individuals and how they discuss sex. Astle said talking about sex can be, and is, a difficult conversation to have — whether that be with friends, family or people in general — and there isn’t an easy starting point. For her, this is an important issue that needs to be tackled. “I want to figure out how parents can overcome some barriers and be able to talk about things,” she said. “Both sides are confused and ashamed.” The challenge increases when an individual is intersex. Kristin Anders, Astle’s comentor, graduate faculty professor and assistant professor of human development and family science at Kansas State, defines intersex people as individuals who have a variation in sexual development. “We’ve fixated sexuality on being male or female,” Anders said, “When in reality it is on a spectrum, and it isn’t binary due to differences in hormonal development.” Anders said it can be very challenging to be considered a “variation” in a gendered
(785) 776-3771 Archive Photo by Dalton Wainscott | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
The Peters Recreation Complex reopen some more areas as Riley County phases out some COVID-19 precautions.
103 N. 4th St. Manhattan, KS
Photo courtesy of Shelby Astle
society. Astle said kids born with non-traditional genitalia or reproductive systems can pose challenges and confusion for parents, but she is understanding of them. “I have a lot of empathy for parents who don’t know,” Astle said. Astle said she plans to use the grant money to find these erased stories and talk to intersex people about their experiences. The first $250 will go towards an intersex consultant — Astle said no one in her department identifies as such and it would dilute the research if they didn’t have an intersex viewpoint. The other $750 will be given to intersex individuals that participate in the study. Sam Sharpe, genderqueer
doctoral student in biology, is intersex and a member of SAGA, oSTEM, gender collective and LGBTQ FSA. Sharpe said historically, some people thought of there being two sexes, but that doesn’t align with what is really shown. “Most bodies don’t fit the typical understanding of male and female,” Sharpe said. “Some [intersex traits] are identifiable at birth, some during puberty and some people never find out.” Sharpe said many intersex people have non-consensual surgeries when they are young and are not told it happened. Sharpe said when intersex people find this out, it can lead to confusion, which creates selfalienation and trauma. “In general, intersex people are erased from science, technology, history and LGBTQ communities,” Sharpe said. “We need more experience with how these people interact.” Anders said Astle will be great through the process because she sees her passion to immerse herself in the community and make a difference. The research being done is also important to Anders because of the lack of the research in the field. “For intersex people in particular, it is challenging to find that information to discuss because while the research done is important, it is limited and not easily accessible,” Anders said.
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06
CULTURE
friday, march 19, 2021
K-State sk ydive club provides community for some Wildcats
Photo courtesy of David Mccune
Over 900 people are in the Skydive K-State Facebook group, but only 50 to 100 of those people are active jumpers.
NATALIE LEONARD staff writer
Most students’ weekend plans involve relaxation, hanging out with friends and spending time outside. Week-
ends for David Mccune, junior in professional piloting and skydive club president, include jumping out of a plane and hurtling towards the earth. “I couldn’t really think of anything better to do on the weekends,” Mccune said.
Mccune is no stranger to adventure. Despite only being 21 years old, he has skydived 46 times and said he hopes to double this number over the summer. In the fall of 2019, Mccune joined the club, which has dropped thrill-seekers from the sky over the Abilene, Kansas, airport for the last 57 years. Despite the name, Skydive K-State is not limited to Kansas State students — the group’s Facebook boasts over 900 members. Mccune said he guesses 50 to 100 of those members are active jumpers — all united in their love for the sport, but with different reasons for sticking around. “For different people, it does different things,” Mccune said. Mccune said he has heard many stories from members about how skydiving has helped with managing their mental health and combating depression. For Mccune, it’s how he enjoys
spending his weekends and hanging out with friends — hanging out of a Cessna 182, that is. The club offers tandem jumps for beginners. These are jumps done with an experienced skydiver that prepares a jumper for solo jumps. Thomas Miller, sophomore in biomedical engineering and a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie, said once he learned Skydive K-State was one of the cheapest ways to get certified, he was ready to join. “The feeling I have free-falling is the best feeling of freedom,” Miller said. Miller said the 45 seconds before he pulls his shoot is where he finds peace. “When I make a skydive, everything else just kind of isn’t as important anymore,” he said. “It kind of goes away and I’m focused solely on what I’m doing in that exact moment, which is free-falling.” Since joining, Miller said
he’s found a community of K-State students in the club, including those whose purple pride and love for skydiving stuck around long after they became alumni. Things look a little bit different for the club today than in the past because of COVID-19. The team added masks to the list of necessary gear while in the planes. However, it will take more than a global pandemic to keep them out of the air. In fact, some dedicated team members can be found at the Abilene airport every weekend. Zach Borowski, vice president of Skydive K-State, is one of these members. “If they’re open every weekend, I’ll be there every weekend,” Borowski said. Currently studying professional piloting in his first year at K-State, Borowski is quickly progressing towards becoming a licensed skydiver. Since joining the team in September of 2020, he already completed 36
jumps and plans on adding to that number this weekend. “I got a notification that we’re going to be open this Saturday — open at eight, wheels up by nine. I’m itching to go — let’s go,” Borowski said. Outside of their passion for skydiving, one thing all three skydivers have in common is the community they found in their club. “Everybody is there to do the same thing — have fun and do it safely,” Borowski said. “It’s just a good ole time.” Mccune said any students interested in joining the team can get into contact with him over OrgCentral, or are welcome to go to the Abilene airport on a Saturday morning to watch them jump and learn more. Students can find more information about the club, as well as directions to the jumping zone on the Skydive K-State website.
Students find ways to show their personality through wearing masks TAYLOR PARISH
staff writer
The introduction of COVID-19 yielded a new accessory to everyday wardrobe: masks. While people use masks to protect themselves from the virus, they also use them to express their personality. Major brands like Victoria’s Secret, Nike and Under Armour started selling masks on their websites when the pandemic started. Many brands and small businesses started making a profit from this new accessory that people needed to wear out in public. Sydney Stricker, senior in fashion studies, is currently living in New York City and attending the Fashion Institute of Technology. She gave some insight on how she styles masks and uses them to her advantage since the pandemic
began. “The main way I have utilized wearing a mask in the fashion industry is by making sure that my mask always matches my outfit,” Stricker said. “When COVID first started, I was all about having enough options to have a mask to match any color I would wear. Now I typically stick to an all-black mask because I love how sleek it looks.” Masks are having huge impact on how people express themselves — from the patterns and colors to the type of fabric. “I use masks to show off my personality by showing people I am not afraid to have fun with my outfits and express myself. Some of my masks are definitely fashion-statements in themselves,” Stricker said. “I have two different all-rhinestone masks and a Chanel logo mask. These masks definitely draw attention to them-
selves, but I love wearing them. I don’t let others’ opinions stop me from having fun with what masks I wear.” While masks are now considered a fashion statement, there are some things they have made difficult. “I would definitely want to create and advertise masks that are centered around keeping your glasses from fogging because that is my biggest struggle with wearing masks,” Lydia Vriezelaar, sophomore in elementary education, said. Sydney Barclay, junior in apparel and textiles, said she always considers style when wearing masks. “Being comfortable is important, but I feel I do my best when I look my best,” Barclay said. “So if I have to wear heels to feel awesome and be on top of my game, so be it.”
Jared Shuff | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Masks have created another way for people to express themselves no matter what their interests are.
07
CULTURE
friday, march 19, 2021
MANHATTAN PUBLIC LIBRARY PROMOTES INCLUSION, DIVERSITY WITH NEW DISPLAY OF LGBTQ+ BOOKS WENDY BARNES staff writer
Promoting diversity and inclusion of LGBTQ+ young adults is a priority for two librarians at the Manhattan Public Library. Rashael Apuya, teen services librarian, and Crystal Hicks, collections librarian, said they wanted to create a space that fosters inclusion and safety for the LGBTQ+ young adult community. They said one way they try to create space is through the young adult queer-book collection. The diverse collection now includes four new books from The Rainbow Library Initiative sponsored by the GLSEN Kansas chapter, and
are on a wall display outside the Teen Zone on the second floor of the library. According to the GLSEN website, the initiative, started by the non-profit’s Connecticut chapter, “provides LGBTQ+ affirming text sets to schools, teachers and libraries free of charge. Over half of our books are centered on queer people and characters of color and over a quarter of our books center on trans and nonbinary perspectives.” Liz Hamor, director of the GLSEN Kansas chapter, said this is the first year Kansas has participated and the response was larger than expected. “We were really excited by the turnout. … We now have a long waitlist that we’ll look at
next year,” Hamor said. Though the GLSEN Kansas chapter prioritized rural schools and libraries when making its selections, the Manhattan Public Library was one of the 158 chosen recipients for a set of ten books. Apuya said she applied for the books because she wanted to create a display that would let the Manhattan community know the library is supportive of the Rainbow Library Initiative. She said diverse displays are prioritized because she is working to make the space safe and welcoming to queer youth. “Luckily, thanks to Crystal, we have a very diverse collection,” Apuya said. “We only were missing four of [what] they sent us, so we were already
doing pretty well.” Hicks said she prioritizes purchasing books written by queer authors when the subject matter deals with the LGBTQ+ community because they are speaking from their own voice and those voices are important. “The way I view it, I don’t know how much books help form identity,” Hicks said. “But I think that they give you permission to accept and feel empowered about whatever identity you have.” Philip Nel, university distinguished English professor, said including these books is important because all children need to be seen and know that their stories matter. “If you are one of the un-
Jared Shuff | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
The Rainbow Library initiative provided the Manhattan Public Library with new LGBTQ+ books to promote inclusion and diversity in their young adult section. derrepresented, the moment of seeing yourself in a movie, on a television show, in a book, in a comic, in a song is extremely powerful and affirming and uplifting,” Nel said.
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Cornerstone Café provides relaxing study spaces, student-favorite drinks, snacks ANTHONY GORGES staff writer
Studying and doing homework as a college student is often frustrating and difficult. That said, having a peaceful and quiet environment helps take the stress away while enjoying a snack or drink as well. For Kansas State students, the Cornerstone Café — with three locations across campus — offers the stress-free environment they might need. Despite the obstacles this past year presented, the café is open and serving the public. While there are multiple Cornerstone Café locations, most students are familiar with the Hale Library location. They offer coffee, espresso and many other drinks and snacks. Allan Ortiz, main operator and manager of the Cornerstone Café at Hale Library, said the café is a place students should feel welcome and safe. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has
created challenges. “The problem that I ran into last semester is that we had 10 students working here,” Ortiz said. “At some point I had to let them go and I stayed with only two. That was difficult, very difficult.” The café initially opened in September, but closed for some time before re-opening in January. Ortiz said students are back inside working and they, “… want to work here, they depend on this job.” While business is operating smoothly, there is still a lack of customers. Ortiz said the café’s mission is “serving good, quality products that are affordable to students.” Abby Huddleston, senior in dietetics and frequent visitor at the Hale café, enjoys the relaxing hospitality it provides. “I like that I can plug in my laptop and just study here,” Huddleston said. “The barista’s are always really nice and so
helpful. I even ordered a drink today that they don’t usually make, but they were able to help me out.” Huddleston understands the challenges created by the pandemic, but she said the café is doing all they can to keep customers and staff safe. “I like that it is a safe place even with COVID and that all the tables are spread out,” Huddleston said. Skylar Lindquist, senior in English and another frequent customer, has visited the other Cornerstone Café locations and has always appreciated the setting it provides. “Cornerstone is where I got to know my current roommate, and the two of us got through biochemistry by meeting there every week to study,” Lindquist said.
To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com
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Grammy-nominated musician Giveon gets personal in new compilation album JARED SHUFF culture editor
Grammy-nominated R&B musician Giveon released his 13-song compilation album “When it’s All Said and Done… Take Time” on March 12, combining his two previously-released EPs and adding a previously-unreleased song, “All to Me.” Giveon Dezmann Evans — artistically known as Giveon — made his musical debut in 2018 with the self-released single “Garden Kisses,” hitting the spotlight in March 2020 after appearing on Drake’s “Chicago Freestyle.” A year later, Giveon went against musicians like John Legend and Gregory Porter at the 2021 Grammy Awards for Best R&B Album. While Legend ultimately won the award, Giveon’s crisp baritone voice, insane range and flawless vocal runs make him a force to be reckoned with. Giveon is making a name for himself, and I expect he’s just getting started. Giveon’s March 12 release, “When it’s All Said and Done… Take Time,” combines his debut and follow-up EPs. The compilation was released to recognize the first anniversary of his debut EP. Covering topics like love and lust, his hometown and the pangs of heartbreak, Giveon bares his soul in this beautifully-produced project. Giveon opens the album with “The Beach,” referencing his hometown of Long Beach, California. In an interview with Vice, he talked about his experiences growing up in Long Beach during “the peak of gang culture.” Despite the dangers, Giveon said he wouldn’t want to have grown up anywhere else. “The Beach” transitions right into “World We Created,” a soft love song comforting his lover’s insecurities. He sings, “I need you to trust and believe when I say this /
Ain’t nothing or nobody that’s ever gonna break us.” When they’re together, nothing else in the world matters. After a brief interlude, Giveon steps out of his lover’s world and ventures into another, one he considers his “Favorite Mistake.” He knows he’s being unfaithful, but he can’t seem to get over this mistake. He admits over ambient keyboard chords and backing vocals that, “We both know it’s wrong / But you’re still coming over / Even when you’re gone / The feeling just grow stronger.” “This Ain’t Love” shows off Giveon’s flawless falsetto and insane vocal runs as he sings about an extremely unhealthy yet passionate relationship. The song’s outro teases the instrumentals of the next song, “Heartbreak Anniversary.” Remembering the first anniversary of a breakup, Giveon brings beauty to the pain of heartbreak. In the chorus he sings, “’Cause I remember every time / On these days that feel like you and me / Heartbreak anniversary, do you ever think of me?” Piano and distorted guitar blend with Giveon’s painfully passionate vocals in this tear-jerker. “Like I Want You” showcases Giveon’s bold baritone voice in the verses and his flying falsetto in the chorus, while “Vanish” uses ambient rain and dreamy guitars to lull the listener into a trance. “Vanish” ends with a voicemail snippet of Giveon apologizing for his hypocrisy and mistakes. “When It’s All Said and Done” is a transition from Giveon’s “Take Time” EP, with Giveon finally giving up on the person he loves, promising he’ll “be good when it’s all said and done.” This flows into “Still Your Best,” an egotistical comparison to his ex’s “downgrade.” Giveon deals with the end of the relationship by saying he’s,
“Still your best I know, love it or hate it.” “Last Time,” a duet between Giveon and Swedish singer/songwriter Snoh Aalegra, has the two artists sing of spending one more night together, even though they keep telling themselves it’s the last time. They sing in the chorus “Don’t make me regret it, I don’t wanna say it / Let’s not overthink it, baby.” Still trying to get over the relationship, “Stuck on You” emphasizes how difficult it is to sever romantic connections. He can’t even talk about his love for her anymore because everyone is so sick of him talking about her. With a melancholy piano, layered backing vocals and reverberating drums, Giveon sings, “Waiting for you, even how you treat me / You’re my baby even when you leave me / Maybe I’m the one to blame / Maybe I’m the cause of the pain.” In the compilation album’s final song, “All to Me,” Giveon promises a woman in a strained relationship that he’ll give her what she needs, saying “Oh, he still don’t make you feel beautiful / I know, but I do, just know I got you.” It’s a short song that gets straight to the point. Giveon is still a fresh face in the music industry and has reached an impressive level of success in such a short time. When it’s all said and done, I’m sure Giveon will have his fair share of accomplishments. 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.
friday, march 19, 2021
R&B supergroup Silk Sonic sets the mood with new songs, upcoming album JARED SHUFF culture editor
Prepare your playlist of seductive songs for the sultry sounds of R&B supergroup Silk Sonic. American singer Bruno Mars and American rapper Anderson .Paak come together to announce the upcoming release of their new project “An Evening with Silk Sonic.” On Feb. 26, Mars and .Paak announced via Twitter they “locked in and made an album,” presenting Silk Sonic to the world. Both artists received immediate excitement from their fans. The duo started collaborating in 2017 after touring together for Mars’ 24K Magic World Tour and the project has been in the works ever since. They released the first two songs from the album on March 5, opening the door to a whole new sound.
Opening the album is “Silk Sonic Intro,” inviting listeners to an evening of smooth vocals, passionate instrumentals and lyrics that will make you sweat. The minute-long introduction switches from acapella vocals and handclaps to a full-on brass ensemble. Special guest Bootsy Collins closes the introduction, saying, “Fellas, I hope you got somethin’ in your cup / And ladies? Don’t be afraid to make your way to the stage / For a band that I name Silk Sonic.” Collins is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and a staple of funk music. After finishing the album, Mars and .Paak realized they needed someone to “host” the album and tie all the songs together. They shared mutual respect and admiration for Collins, so they played the album for him and he agreed to join, even creating the name “Silk Sonic”
for the duo. The first full-length song on the album, “Leave the Door Open,” is a different kind of invitation than the intro, one that’s a bit more — personal. This sensual love song is filled with beautiful background vocals, heart-pounding percussion and mesmerizing melodies from Mars and .Paak. .Paak opens the song by expressing his interest in a woman, telling her, “We should be dancin’, romancin’ / In the east wing and the west wing / Of this mansion, what’s happenin’?” The song then transitions to a chorus where Mars shows off his vocal range and promises to “Leave the door open” for her when she’s ready.
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IN MY OWN WORDS My experience with COVID-19 as an international student VEDANT KULKARNI staff writer
The mental, physical and financial toll that COVID-19 has taken on international students across the nation, including myself, is too high. Last November, I had the plan to visit my family in Nashik, India, for winter break. The Indian Government only allows people to fly into the country after testing negative on an RT-PCR test for COVID-19, so I took one on Nov. 17. I had a minor headache and a runny nose at the time of my test, but I did not think it was a big deal. I had a nasty cold at the end of October and when I took a rapid test, it was negative. I essentially thought I just had some “residual” cold. I was excited to go home after nearly one and a half years. I thought I was receiving my negative results when Lafene called me on Nov. 18, so I picked up the phone with excitement and gave the caller a cheerful “good afternoon.” This is when they told me the devastating news — I had tested positive for COVID-19. At that moment, I felt the strongest palpitations I had felt in my lifetime. I felt like I could hear my fast heartbeats. I immediately called my father in India, where it was 3 a.m. I woke my father, as well as my mother and sister, from their sleep and gave them the mind-numbing news. I tried to stay as calm as possible as I gave them the news, but on the inside, I was panicking. As soon as I was finished speaking with my family, I broke down in my apartment. Nov. 18 was also the day my roommates left our apartment because they were graduating. When I gave them the news of my positive test, they said they
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Archive Photo by John Chapple | Collegian Media Group
Vedant Kulkarni, senior in mass communications and management information systems, is an international student from Nashik, India. would be quarantined once they reached their respective homes. Luckily, their tests came back negative and they received the opportunity to quarantine for two weeks. Students had Thanksgiving break over the course of the following 10 days and everyone I knew got a break, as well as the opportunity to reunite with their families. I was instead dawdling my four bedroom apartment all by myself with a devastating mindset. I was heartbroken. The most surprising part to me was that though I took all the necessary precautions that I could, I still got infected with COVID-19. The only times I left my apartment were for my one in-person class, one organization’s in-person meeting and purchasing groceries. Nevertheless, I got infected. COVID-19 is no joke. I had multiple symptoms when I got infected — sore throat, runny nose, mild headaches throughout the days, a cough, difficulty breathing, difficulty sleeping and losing my sense of
taste and smell. The worst part was that symptoms developed overtime throughout my isolation and quarantine period. While most of the symptoms have subsided, I still have difficulty breathing. My lung capacity is not fully back — I can feel it. My taste and smell senses are not fully back either. The mental health trauma that COVID-19 caused only added more salt to my injuries. I was already suffering from depression because of the KSUnite hijacking incident. After my isolation and quarantine ended, it was time for finals. Once the semester ended, I went to Lafene for a mental health check-up. I am currently receiving treatment and practicing mindfulness activities to better my mental health. I wanted to share my experience publicly because being an international student during a pandemic has been extremely stressful and difficult. A majority of international students, like myself, have been unable to go home
because of the pandemic. On top of that, it totally devastates our families and us when we are diagnosed with such illnesses. I cannot imagine the pressure my parents must have undergone when they learned their son, who is halfway across the world, was diagnosed with COVID-19. I had to stay strong on the outside to keep those close to me strong, but the mental health toll that the COVID-19 diagnosis took on me is too high. I have not completely got over it. I find solace because I did not need to be hospitalized in the U.S., especially because my family and I could not have been able to afford it at all. COVID-19 is to be taken seriously. Whether you are local or international, do not take it lightly just because vaccinations have started. We need to continue following basic regulations such as wearing masks and staying healthy and indoors as much as possible in this pandemic. We are not going back to how it was before COVID-19, rather we will be entering a new normal. In these upcoming times, I plead all of you to believe in our scientists and healthcare providers and the health tips they give us. We are in this pandemic together, and it’s only together that we can make it out. Vedant Deepak Kulkarni is a Collegian contributor and a senior in management information systems and mass communications. 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.
Pandemic pets provide companionship in isolation MADDY DANIELS staff writer
Lockdowns, quarantining and limited social interaction made the past year a lonely one for many. Without the opportunity to seek companionship in humans, some turned to the next best thing: animals. Bryce Brown, junior in life science and gerontology, adopted Ozzy, a one-and-a-half-year-old bulldog mix, from a shelter to keep her company. After school closed, Brown moved back to her hometown for the lockdown and — knowing campus would have few in-person classes — Brown said she knew it was the perfect time to adopt. “The main reason I got Ozzy was I knew I would still not have a ton of interaction coming back to Manhattan,” Brown said. “It’s been really good; he keeps me company and makes me go outside and keeps me active. He’s a very goofy dog so he entertains us all.” Ozzy not only remedied Brown’s isolation, but he brings joy to her roommates as well, Brown said. Making his rounds to spend time with everyone, Ozzy helps manage loneliness and provides emotional support while receiving plenty of pats and love himself. “I live with three other girls; they all appreciate having him
here too,” Brown said. “He’s very snuggly and likes to check on everybody when they’re not happy.” Just like other businesses, animal shelters adapted to the pandemic. Shelters require potential owners to make appointments to meet animals, but with a large number of people looking to find camaraderie in affectionate pets, Brown said it’s difficult to find an open slot and take time to decide. “It was a little bit of a race to get in and meet the dogs,” Brown said. “There were two dogs before Ozzy I probably would have adopted, but other people got in before me. By the time you get to meet an animal, several people have already seen them before you.” Even though the process of adopting the right dog was strenuous, Brown said the comfort of having a four-legged family member to count on was worth it. “When I got to meet Ozzy, we had to wear masks and meet outside,” Brown said. “He couldn’t really run around. It was just me meeting him on a leash and that was good enough. Now he follows me around like a shadow.” People still searching for a “pandemic pet” to cure their loneliness can find more information about pets up for adoption in this area on the Riley County Humane Society website.
Photo courtesy of Bryce Brown
Bryce Brown, junior in life science and gerontology, adopted Ozzy, a one-and-a-half-year-old bulldog mix, from a shelter to keep her company during the pandemic.
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OPINION
Inside spring practice: A close look at Wildcat football heading into the fall
In an athletic year unlike any other, K-State’s freshman class performed beyond expectations
Sophie Osborn | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Freshman running back Deuce Vaughn looks to run past a group of Texas defenders in K-State’s 69-31 loss to the Longhorns on Dec. 5, 2020. Vaughn is just one of the many talented freshman K-State athletes from this year.
CODY FRIESEN staff writer
Obviously, the 2020-21 athletic year did not live up to expectations for Kansas State. Granted, this season was immensely stranger than most thanks to COVID-19. Hopefully, student-athletes do not have to deal with that again. If there was any silver lining about this year though, it highlighted the freshman class at K-State and provided hope for the future. If there was any trend in college athletics this year, it was that experience matters. Look at the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament for example — every No. 1 seed, with maybe the exception of Gonzaga, is loaded with experience. In college football, experience was a critical component of what made the 2020
national champion Alabama. Six players from the Crimson Tide roster are projected to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft, according to ESPN football analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s second mock draft. Quarterback Mac Jones had to wait his turn behind Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa, and it served him well — he is a national champion and his draft stock rose significantly. What K-State can find hope in is that this freshman class made quite an impression in almost every sport this season. Freshman running back Deuce Vaughn was one of the first of this class to make waves in the program. He joined Tyler Lockett as the second Wildcat football player to win the Big 12 offensive freshman of the year award and was one of two freshmen to make an All-Big 12 team
with a second-team selection. Vaughn was reliable in the ground game and through the air with 642 rush yards and 434 receiving yards. The Round Rock, Texas, native, was one of three running backs in the nation with at least 600 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards in a season. Travis Etienne of Clemson and Najee Harris of Alabama were the only other running backs to reach that feat, and both are likely going early in the NFL draft. Freshman quarterback Will Howard stepped up after the loss of senior quarterback Skylar Thompson and led the Wildcats throughout the majority of the season. With the youth came mistakes, though — Howard threw 10 interceptions. see page
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NATHAN ENSERRO assistant sports editor
Offensive coordinator and receivers coach Courtney Messingham and some offensive players provided an update on the growth of Kansas State’s offense — including a preview of some new Wildcats — during Tuesday’s press conference. Last season, one of K-State’s biggest offensive woes was consistency at the wide receiver position. They simply never really came together, and the passing game suffered due to injuries in the receiver room — and along the line and at quarterback. “The thing that I think some folks miss is it’s the entire offense,” Messingham said. “A couple of [opportunities] we actually had somebody in the quarterback’s face. … It’s more than just the one individual receiver, it’s the o-line, it’s the quarterback, it’s the wideouts getting open. All of us as a group putting ourselves in a position to make a play.” The Wildcats likely will not have a stand-out wide receiver once again this season, but the depth at the position could help K-State make some noise in the passing game. “Been really happy with Keenan Garber,” Messingham said. “Obviously, Malik [Knowles] and a [Phillip] Brooks know so much about our offense now after being here for two seasons. They’ve been easy to coach, and they’ve done a good job trying to help some of the younger guys.” The two leading receivers for K-State’s already lackluster passing game were a running back and a tight end, one of whom is headed to the
NFL Draft and will not return next season. Luckily, K-State found a transfer tight end to plug that gap in senior Daniel Imatorbhebhe, who has spent time at both Illinois and USC. “Daniel’s a really good football player. You can tell he’s played a lot of football and has a lot of experience just by the way he runs routes, the way he understands defenses,” sixthyear senior quarterback Skylar Thompson said. “What I really like about Daniel is that he’s really physical with his routes and uses his big frame to get open.” K-State will also return its most explosive and productive offensive playmaker, sophomore running back Deuce Vaughn. Behind him at running back will be a committee of classmates. Who has impressed the most in early spring practice? Sophomore Joe Ervin, who opted out last season. “The first two or three practices before we got pads on, it felt like ‘I don’t know where he’s at.’ But once we got pads on … he’s done a phenomenal job of doing what we saw him do as a true freshman,” Messingham said. “We’re really, really happy with how he’s progressed this spring.” Thompson will return for a sixth year after losing most of last season due to a season-ending shoulder injury and surgery. He was targeting a June return, but Messingham said that he is taking reps in seven-on-seven drills and throwing to live receivers but is still non-contact. He is the presumptive starter for the beginning of the season. “I attacked my rehab every single day,” Thompson said. “I’m going to be positive about this and I’m going to
come back better than I was before. That’s been my mindset since the day I got surgery.” The Wildcats also have promising talent behind Thompson. Sophomore Will Howard was thrown into the fire last season and performed well at times. Messingham is impressed with how he’s grown both mentally and physically this season, especially with his confidence in running the football. True freshman Jake Rubley is talented, but Messingham said the game has not slowed down for him yet. Sophomore Jaren Lewis also impressed. “Jaren has the best arm talent on our team, I think anyone in that room will say that,” Thompson said. “He has a natural ability to throw the ball.” K-State also has a wealth of returning talent along the offensive line. Messingham describes his offense as a “knock your socks off” physical offense and that starts with the trenches. “Night and day from where it was when we started fall camp last year,” Messingham said. “The biggest reason is because those young men got forced into playing … The growth and mental side of it that we’re seeing out of those guys has really been good. Now they have to get back to where they’re being the most dominant physically that they can be.” The first game of the year for K-State will be a Labor Day weekend trip to Arlington, Texas, to take on Stanford in AT&T Stadium in the Allstate Kickoff Classic, before finishing out their non-conference schedule with home games against Southern Illinois and Nevada.
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SPORTS continued from page 10
He was one of four true freshmen to play in seven games. Football is far from a one-and-done league, per the NFL’s standards, and it is just the reality of fielding a 53 man roster with plenty more scholarship players. Seeing a true freshman take the helm of an offense doesn’t happen often. It will be interesting to see what Howard’s next move is after Thompson announced he would be returning for his final year of eligibility. It is hard to deny that the men’s basketball team struggled mightily this season, but showed massive improvement at the end
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the year. Unlike football, the men’s basketball team knew this season would be a learning season, having just one senior. Most freshmen on the football team were pushed into action because of injuries and COVID-19 protocols. It was widely known that basketball was going to have a process — a long, grueling process that featured a 13-game losing streak. Freshman trio Selton Miguel, Nijel Pack and Davion Bradford all found themselves as consistent starters this season. Miguel transformed into one of the best defenders on the team and took on some of the best players in the conference. Despite missing five games because of COVID-19 and an eye issue,
Pack was one of the leading scorers on the team, averaging a team-high 12.7 points per game. He led the Wildcats in scoring in ten games and produced double-digit scoring efforts in 16 games. Bradford jumped into the starting lineup and gave the Wildcats some solid minutes and points in the paint. Late in the year, the Wildcats got early leads by getting him the ball inside. He garnered 126 rebounds, second only to sophomore guard DaJuan Gordon. It is easy to compare this team to the 2018-19 Wildcats led by Dean Wade, Kamau Stokes and Barry Brown, who were put in a similar situation and missed the NCAA tournament in 2016. The trio eventually reached the Sweet Sixteen
and won the Big 12 Conference tournament the following year. K-State baseball is riddled with experience with the added year of eligibility for spring athletes. Yet freshman infielder Nick Goodwin got off to a hot start and earned a lot of praise from head coach Pete Hughes. Goodwin is batting in the heart of a lineup stacked with experience and performed well with a .311 batting average, 14 RBIs and four home runs, all of which are second on the team in 16 games. The Overland Park native also showed his ability to get on base with a .982 OPS with nine walks — not a bad start for the number two ranked shortstop in Kansas, who did not play his senior season because of COVID-19.
In an odd season for K-State volleyball, the Wildcats jumped from an eighth-place finish in 2019 to a third-place finish in the conference. K-State went 10-6 in Big 12 play this season, which was significantly better than a 4-12 finish a year ago. Freshman duo outside hitters Aliyah Carter and Jayden Nembhard helped the Wildcats make that jump. Both earned multiple conference rookie of the week awards and finished in the top 10 in kills in conference play. Carter is in the top four in points while freshman libero Mackenzie Morris finished in the top four in the conference in service aces. Across all sports, this class raised some eyebrows and made fans excited about the future of K-State athletics.
This freshman class is special, and if they continue to buy into the program, K-State could be a dominant school in the Big 12 very soon. As ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla put it, “The greatest thing about freshman is that they become sophomores,” and that is certainly an exciting thought for K-State fans. Cody Friesen is a Collegian staff writer and a graduate student in mass communications.The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Collegian. Please send comments to opinion@kstatecollegian.com.
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COLLEGIAN SPORTS STAFF PREDICT THE 2021 NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT It’s time for March Madness. The 2021 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament kicks off this week after a oneyear hiatus from the tournament. Finally, fans can fill out their brackets once again to determine who is the king of the dance. Those fans include our very own Collegian sports staff who submitted their own picks for the crown jewel of college basketball.
MARSHALL SUNNER, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
After a year of uncertainty and pain, March Madness is finally back. With the tournament back — which I’m thrilled about — it’s also time for kerosene on brackets and heartbreak. It’s a true love-hate tradition that I never want to lose again. Favorites: This year’s tournament favorites are pretty clear — Gonzaga and Illinois. With the experience and talent throughout it’s really a no-brainer. As 1-seeds, they don’t need an introduction. My one dark horse of a favorite though is 3-seed Texas out of the east. The Longhorns have it all — a great back-court, future pros down low and a head coach who’s experienced a Final Four before in Shaka Smart. Upsets: With the way college basketball played out this year, expect some upsets. I think the most obvious one is 12-seed Winthrop over 5-seed Villanova — with Collin Gillespie out for the Wildcats, I’m not giving them a chance. I’ve also got UC Santa Barbara over both 5-seed Creighton and 4-seed Virginia on its way to the Sweet 16. Look out for 13-seed Ohio and 11seed Syracuse to flirt with upsets as well. Cinderellas: 11-seed Syracuse is the most intriguing Cinderella candidate. The Orange are hot and all you need to know is that
they’ve got Jim Boeheim at the helm — who’s built for March. I’ve also got 8-seed North Carolina making a run to the Final Four. And as previously stated, those Gauchos from UC Santa Barbara are winning at least two games. Champion: With a Final Four of Gonzaga, Texas, UNC and Illinois, I’ve got the Fighting Illini over the Bulldogs, 71-66. The duo of Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn will just be too much to handle. The Illini are deep and play great defense. With the way they’ve been playing as late, expect Brad Underwood’s team to cut down the nets in Indianapolis which will be a bittersweet sight for K-State fans.
NATHAN ENSERRO, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Anecdotally, it feels like the most exciting regular seasons and conference tournament seasons lead to the most chalk brackets. When people say ‘March is going to be wild this year,’ I tend to lean toward fewer upsets. Part of that is hedging and playing the probability game and part of it is that upsets in conference tournaments mean bid-stealers, which means underqualified teams make the tournament. Favorites: I think Alabama is undervalued in a lot of people’s analysis of the tournament. They fit on the two-line, but I have them sliding past Michigan. I also think highly of the Big 10’s second-tier teams: Purdue, Rutgers and Wisconsin are all winning at least their firstround game in my bracket. Upsets: In terms of early-round upsets, I look for mid-majors with a lot of wins or major-conference teams that are on low seed lines. I like Patrick Ewing’s Georgetown team, Virginia Tech and UC Santa Barbara. I’m also not high on Michigan. Baylor has been
questionable at best since its COVID-19 hiatus earlier this year. I do not trust undefeated mid-majors teams in March either, so no Gonzaga in the Final Four. Cinderellas: I am notoriously bad at choosing Cinderellas, and picking them in your tournament can be fun but it is a huge risk. The highest seed I have making the second weekend is a pair of six seeds: USC and BYU. I think BYU is undervalued and I do not trust Texas. USC makes the Sweet 16 thanks to a Kansas team that I am not convinced will be healthy. Champion: Illinois. Sharpie. I have been really impressed with Brad Underwood’s work at Illinois and I think he brings the Illini a banner this year. They roll through Drexel, Loyola, Tennessee, West Virginia, Ohio State and Alabama to a title in my bracket.
COLIN SETTLE, STAFF WRITER
Oh baby, do we have a good tournament this year! I think we have a great chance at seeing some upsets and some lower seeds defying expectations. With that being said, I do think we have some odds on favorites out of the gate that you can easily take or bet on to go pretty far in the tournament. Favorites: Of course, everyone knows that Gonzaga is good. That is no surprise at all, but, let me introduce you to the midwest region of the bracket. Illinois, Houston, Loyola Chicago, West Virginia — the list goes on. The midwest region is by far my favorite in the bracket this year and has some of my favorite picks for who might win the tournament. Along with the midwest, I also really like Michigan and Alabama coming out of the east and Baylor is the only team that sticks out in my mind in the south division.
Upsets: If you’re looking for an upset, look no further than the classic 12-5 upset with Villanova and Winthrop. Don’t sleep on the 12-seeded Eagles. Winthrop is 23-1 on the season coming into the tournament and is currently on a seven-game winning streak coming into the game with ‘Nova. Another upset I like is Eastern Washington over Kansas. With Kansas dealing with COVID-19 issues and the fact that the team has not looked like themselves this season, don’t be surprised if Eastern Washington steals one from the Jayhawks. Cinderellas: My biggest Cinderella story team this year is Colgate. The Raiders are currently on a 13-game win streak and are led by the senior Patriot Player of the Year Jordan Burns who currently averages 17 points-per-game and averaged 15 points-per-game for the past three seasons. I can see Colgate getting to the Sweet 16 with the path it will play through, although it will be difficult to get past a stingy Ohio State team. Champion: In case you have been living under a rock, Brad Underwood’s Illinois team is the hottest team in college basketball right now. I love this team, I love how they play, I love the path of games in the tournament and I love Illinois over Gonzaga in the championship this season.
LANDON REINHARDT, STAFF WRITER
Wondering what to do with the $1 million Warren Buffett will hand me for my perfect bracket is a stress I experience every year. I dream of Teslas and Starbucks cake pops up until the fourth or fifth game of the opening weekend, when a mid-major takes down my national champion. But I believe this is the year that I will be swimming in gold coins like Scrooge McDuck. Favorites: Baylor has a favored path to the Elite Eight where it
will likely match up against a solid Ohio State team. From there, anything is possible. Watching what Texas did in the Big 12 Conference Tournament makes it hard to believe the team will fall before the second weekend. A match-up with SEC tournament-winner Alabama would be an incredible watch. Upsets: Naismith-winner Luka Garza and his Iowa Hawkeyes have shown serious troubles when facing good teams. Don’t be surprised if they get upset early on. A COVID-19 plagued season hasn’t given Iowa very many games, but if a 15-seed is going to win a game this year, don’t count out Rick Pitino. Cinderellas: LSU, who took Alabama to the final buzzer in the SEC championship game, has that spunk you look for in a Cinderella story. A pretty easy top-half of the East region could give us a possible rematch between LSU and Alabama in the Elite Eight. To go along with my upsets, Oregon, winner of the Pac-12, could give Iowa troubles as a 7-seed and then get past a Kansas team that isn’t its typical dominant self. Champion: Illinois is playing the best basketball in the country in the best conference in the country. The Fighting Illini, winner of seven straight, ran through the Big 10 tournament, which sent nine teams to the Big Dance. All-Americans Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn have a fun matchup with Oklahoma State in the Sweet 16, but after that, have the best shot at winning it all.
DREW GALLOWAY, STAFF WRITER
I’m really excited about the NCAA Tournament this year. It is a tournament unlike any other with every game taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana, in a bubble. This is my favorite time of the year with high-level basketball games on all day.
Favorites: Tournament favorites for me this year are Gonzaga and Illinois. Gonzaga finished the regular season at 26-0 and is the top-ranked team according to KenPom and is the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament. Illinois is the No. 3 ranked team and I don’t think any team ended on a higher note than the Illini, finishing the season on a seven-game win streak, including five wins over ranked teams. Upsets: Two big upsets that I think could happen are Winthrop beating Villanova and Ohio beating Virginia. Winthrop ended the season 23-1 and looked dominant to end the season. Villanova will also be without star guard Collin Gillespie in the NCAA tournament because of a torn MCL. Ohio is a fun team to watch, led by junior guard Jason Preston. I think Ohio can upset Virginia because of Virginia’s inconsistent offense. Cinderella: Winthrop is my potential Cinderella this year and I think the team could go on a Sweet 16 run. The Eagles are a top 50 offensive team and are top 20 in defensive rating. I think the team matches up really well with Villanova in the first round and matches up well with either Purdue or North Texas in the second round. Balance is key for the Eagles as they have four players averaging 10 points or more and eight players averaging five points or more. Champion: My champion pick is Gonzaga defeating Illinois. I think Gonzaga has too much offensive firepower and will take the crown. Since the KenPom era started in 2002, only one National Champion has not been top 20 in adjusted offensive efficiency and defensive efficiency. There are only four of those teams this year: Gonzaga, Illinois, Michigan and Houston.