04.16.21

K A N S A S

S TAT E

vol. 126 issue 32 | friday, april 16, 2021 | kstatecollegian.com PAGE 04

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Local advocacy groups look to solve housing issues facing Manhattan residents

AASU hosts two-week Taste of Asia event through Konza Student Table

OPINION: Marginalized students should acquire leadership roles across campus

Nate’s Notes: Baseball’s toughest stretch is behind the team

Graduates to walk at commencement, protocols in place to mitigate potential COVID-19 spread JULIE FREIJAT managing editor

Gowns won’t be the only attire for Kansas State graduates this year. All graduates — as well as their guests — will be required to wear a mask.

Additionally, the ceremonies this year are scheduled to occur outside to allow for better airflow and additional space to separate individuals, Karen Goos, vice provost for enrollment management, said. For the Manhattan campus, commencement will occur at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

“K-State has a long tradition of recognizing graduates at an in-person commencement ceremony,” Goos said via email. “University leadership understands the importance of this tradition and wants to honor students by hosting an in-person ceremony.”

This commencement will be the first in-person commencement ceremony since the fall of 2019.

Pranav Savanur, senior in biology, said he has friends who graduated last semester and last year who were sad they weren’t able to walk.

“I really hoped I could do the walk because of all the four years I’ve put in towards getting my degree,” Savanur said. “The way I decided is that vaccinations [have] been given out to K-State students at a great level, and there is good vaccine distribution across the state and across the country as well right

Kaylie McLaughlin| COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

K-State will have its first in-person commencement ceremonies since the fall 2019 graduation. now. I personally received both my doses of the vaccine, and I feel [safer] and more confident in actually attending an in-person event with such a large gathering.”

Students are allowed only six

guests for the ceremony. This is to promote social distancing and accommodate the guidelines set for Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

K-State requires the stadium remain at 25 percent capacity be-

cause of the pandemic.

“Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the venue as well as on the field for graduate use,” Goos said. “No handshaking will occur as graduates cross the stage. There

will be central entrances and exits to the stadium to encourage a one-way traffic flow. Gathering on the concourse of the venue will be discouraged. All precautions are set forth to assist in mitigating the spread of the coronavirus.”

The committee is working with university emergency management and Riley County officials to make preparations in the event of inclement weather, Goos said.

“Ceremonies may be delayed, but in the case of a cancellation, ceremonies will not be rescheduled,” Goos said.

Savanur said his parents won’t be able to see him graduate because they are in India and international borders are closed because of COVID-19.

“After I graduate, I’m planning to have a small celebration with a very close bubble of friends who all have been vaccinated,” Savanur said. “I’ve been taking protocols seriously, such as wearing masks outdoors and following all social distancing rules.”

Savanur said he encourages any K-State student to get vaccinated if they haven’t yet.

“Also make sure that their parents and their grandparents or anybody in their family and within their friend network who might [have a] pre-existing condition or might be vulnerable to COVID get their vaccines ASAP — and make sure that they celebrate their graduation and have fun,” he said.

02

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friday, april 16, 2021

Truth, Racial Healing, Transformation Committee to address equity on campus BAILEY BRITTON editor-in-chief

Soon, Kansas State students will begin to see the fruits of the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation Framework Committee’s labor. Healing circles and the “Cats For Change” podcast will be available for students sometime in May. Adrian Rodriguez, associate vice president for student life, said Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation is part of a national movement to create sustainable changes in communities.

The TRHT committee focuses on co-curricular equity initiatives — things that happen outside the classroom — to make the experiences more equitable.

One trend in the United States is the creation of truth, racial health and transformation campus centers.

“That’s where we’re kind of jumping in to say, ‘OK,

let’s look at how we can utilize a similar approach and a model for what’s already being done nationwide at some colleges and universities and how might we do that here at K-State and in our local community,’” Rodriguez said.

The K-State campus center will be located in the K-State Student Union where the Multicultural Student Center office was previously located — that area is now unused. It is located at the entrance to the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center connected to the Union.

Additionally, Rodriguez said a DREAM Zone — a space for DACA students to receive assistance — will be in that space. Both are “likely” to be in place this May. “You’ll see we’ve got some programming that’s happening as a part of the scheduling, such as facilitating racial healing circles that’s happening as a part of our Safe Zone,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said a majority of the changes will be available in the fall.

In addition to the changes visible to students, the Office of Student Life has made some internal changes.

The committee has three subgroups — a model subgroup which includes the DREAM Zone and healing circles, an equity subgroup and an institutional barriers and biases subgroup.

Kerri Keller, Career Center executive director and TRHT equity subgroup committee member, said each department in the Office of Student Life made equity plans for more equitable and inclusive hiring and training practices.

“One of the things that we are in the process of planning right now is a special training session for Student Life department supervisors that will take place in July,” Keller said.

Other departments made

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

specific plans to meet goals related to their areas of concern.

“For example, my department — the Career Center — wanted to be sure that we had a place on our website where students could go and report any concerns about employers to us,” Keller said.

The institutional barriers and biases subgroup focuses on identifying and removing co-curricular barriers around campus. Ronaldo Lopez, senior in mechanical engineering, said the group distributed a survey in early April and will begin analyzing results as they are returned.

The survey focused on: • Transparency & perceived communication gaps across the university.

• Faculty/staff training on instruction and classroom management around issues, such as, diversity, equity and inclusion; mental health; campus climate concerns; and improving

representation of all student identities.

• Student development in areas of DEI. • Accessibility • Policy • The term “K-State Family” “We know some of the data that we’ve received before, but we really want to know how are things going right now,” Lopez said.

Lopez, one of two students on the committee, said he tries to chime in with a student’s perspective when he can. He also serves as the Student Governing Association Multicultural Affairs director.

“A lot of us students are spread thin in a way,” Lopez said. “We’re in a bunch of different committees which is fine, but the thing is, it makes it hard on us because we’re still students and we’re trying to help and make campus better, but it’s hard sometimes because being on different committees and stuff takes up a lot of our time.”

He said, however, being on the committee is rewarding and he has grown close to the faculty he works with.

“We’re students but meeting with faculty and staff really helps us solve the issues that K-State has,” he said.

Lopez said faculty felt the pressure students put on them this summer and have worked to make changes.

Rodriguez said these changes will likely be ongoing for years to come.

“We’re going to be doing programming each year, we’ll have the space on campus to have continued dialogue but then also create some longitudinal change,” Rodriguez said. “So it’s really an entire framework in which we can be focused on truth, racial healing and transformation at Kansas State University.”

The committee is part of the Action Plan for a More Inclusive K-State. Progress can be seen on the action plan dashboard.

ON THE COVER Sophie Osborn COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Sophomore pitcher Jordan Wicks pitches the ball during K-State’s 17-1 loss to Texas Tech on April 1, 2021.

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03

NEWS

friday, april 16, 2021

Volunteers help maintain uncontrolled brush fires in Riley County SEAN SCHAPER news editor

Earlier this month, volunteers of Riley County Fire District No. 1 kept busy with several brush fires. Some who regularly battle the flames offer their advice on fire prevention for Manhattan residents.

Riley County Emergency Director Russel Stukey said for a homeowner, keeping yards maintained and mowed can help prevent wildfire damage.

“Keep thick underbrush trimmed back from the house several feet, like a minimum of 50 feet, if not farther,” Stukey said. “The farther back you keep the trees and brush and combustible material, the better off you are.”

An unmaintained lawn could allow any nearby fire to continue its path and ultimately lead to structure fires.

State forester Jason Hartman said those now wanting to do a prescribed burn should have started planning in the fall. Having good

firebreaks is one of the most important things to have, Hartman said.

Those wanting to burn typically create a firebreak between the home and the burn area. The firebreak creates gaps between combustible material like vegetation to the brush- or wildfire and acts as a barrier to slow or stop its progress.

However, controlled fires can get out of hand in an instant.

Stukey said the department gets calls for fires that take five minutes to put out, while others take days to extinguish or neutralize.

“Typically if we only have one fire to deal with, we have enough resources with our own fire district to handle it,” Stukey said. “Usually when we have to call for help, it’s either one of a couple of things.

Either it’s just an extra-large fire or we are dealing with multiple fires at once at multiple locations.”

A call for help is exactly what happened earlier this month.

“While crews were battling the fire on Condray Road, a call came

in for another brush fire, this one on 18055 Bjorling Rd,” Alice Massimi, county public information officer, said in a news release on April 5.

“Crews were rerouted to this fire, and Olsburg Fire Department in Pottawattamie County assisted.

Roughly 20 acres were affected. ... Later in the afternoon, another fire was reported in northern Riley County. Knowing that Riley County Fire services were busy with the other fires, Marshall County Fire services responded.”

Riley County Fire District No. 1 has only a few paid staff positions.

Over 120 members of the fire department are volunteers. Strapped with pagers and willingness to help the community, the volunteers are also one call away.

“Our volunteers come from many walks of life. They’re students at local colleges, they are military personnel, they are everything from ... farmers and mechanics,” Stukey said.

Cole Lanning, junior in aeronautical technology, volunteers for

Consolidated Fire District No. 1 in Douglas County and is no stranger to battling wildfires.

“When it comes to wildfire response, we use brush trucks and UTVs with gas-powered pumps to put them out,” Lanning said. “We also use hand tools and sometimes even leaf blowers to control small ones. In my first year, we had 29 fires, I think, altogether. This year just in a six-day span we had 67 fires — the busiest day being 17 fires.”

He said that is when support is usually needed.

“It’s not uncommon for us to call in support from cities like Olathe for fires,” Lanning said. “What usually happens is units from all around come to our station, and it is used as the command center. It can also happen the other way around where we get pulled to places like Hutchison or Dodge City like three hours away for the task force.”

Lanning said volunteering is vital for the job and is a great way to build experience for becoming a

Sean Schaper COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Flames from a prescribed fire lick the side of K-13 highway. career fireman. He plans to continue volunteering for his department even after he becomes full-time.

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04

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friday, april 16, 2021

Local advocacy groups look to solve housing issues facing Manhattan residents KAYLIE MCLAUGHLIN staff writer

When Noah Rude first made plans to move out of the dorms and rent a space off campus with some friends, he said he was “disgusted” by some of the options he encountered. Some properties had obvious signs of repeated flooding, others were contaminated by animal feces.

“I’ve noticed [some] houses here aren’t really kept up very well,” Rude, a senior in architectural engineering who took a semester off, said.

“It’s just sort of the bare minimum, as long as they’re standing kind of thing.”

He ultimately found a space to live that was relatively “decent,” he said, but other places he’s lived in since have had mold problems and repeated issues with ants.

April is National Fair Housing Month, which marks the anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968. But beyond that, local advocacy organizations look to solve housing issues currently facing Manhattan residents in different ways.

For Renters Together MHK, a group made up of tenants and allies, advocacy wasn’t the original goal.

“We started the organization really just to allow people to share stories, and those stories began to kind of create an awareness of some key structural and institutional problems that were happening in our community,” Jessica Kerr, a member of Renters Together MHK, said. “We started to see ... some patterns.”

The basis of the conversations centered primarily on issues with housing affordability and safety.

“A safe and affordable housing community is kind of all our work,” Kerr said.

From there, the group identified a few key areas it wanted to address, specifically honing in on one common problem: a lack of routine rental inspections. As it sits now, Manhattan requires

Photo Illustration by Kaylie McLaughlin | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

landlords to register their rental properties with the city and property inspections can be requested if there is an issue, but they are not mandatory and do not occur on a regular basis.

“Without that regulation, we’re trusting just random people who own a house or own an apartment ... to provide a safe space for people to live in,” Rude, a lead organizer with Renters Together MHK, said. “Unfortunately, not everybody can provide that.”

These inspections would help weed out unsafe properties and could also protect renters from potential health risks, like pest infestations and mold. Renters Together MHK spent the last couple of years lobbying city officials to legislate that change but to no avail.

But it’s not “rocket science,” Rude said. Other cities in Kansas with similar characteristics, like Lawrence, have mandatory, routine rental inspections.

There’s also been a recent push to establish a Housing Advisory Board connected to the city commission. This board’s primary function would be conducting a housing survey to “analyze the recent, past and

present housing situation in Manhattan and surrounding communities,” according to a memo from the city written in December 2020.

“That will give us some real data, not just anecdotal stories,” city commissioner and executive director of the Manhattan Housing Authority Aaron Estabrook said. “Everybody has an opinion about housing, but we don’t have a universe of facts that we can agree to.”

A similar survey was conducted by the city in 2000, which created a five-year housing plan. The goals and needs outlined in that plan echo in the items Renters Together MHK and other groups are asking for today, like better access to affordable housing that is safe.

But progress on establishing a housing advisory board has “stagnated,” Kerr said.

“We need to take action, and without that pressure on our elected officials, I think that big things like this can kind of sit around,” Kerr said.

Part of the slowing is pandemic-related. According to the city memo, Manhattan had set in motion a plan to conduct a Housing Market Analysis and Policy Strategy study beginning in March

2020, but that was put on pause when COVID-19 hit.

Another group took matters into their own hands, however. With the help of a grant from the Kansas Health Foundation, a grassroots organization conducted a two-year housing study in Manhattan called Community Solutions to Affordable Housing.

“The city didn’t tell a group of us to do this,” Donna Schenck-Hamlin, an associate with the Center for Engagement and Community Development, said. “We took it on our own initiative after an informal group of people who regularly got together for coffee and conversation on the problem of affordable housing said, ‘Well, maybe we can find some grant money,’ and we found the grant.”

The findings from that study, presented to the city commission over a year ago, highlighted three key areas of improvement for housing at all levels, including renting and homeownership.

The first focus is neighborhood revitalization. The purpose of those initiatives would be to ensure that infrastructure in each neighborhood meets the direct needs of its residents. It’s about “looking at neighbor-

hoods as a whole, and trying to collectively determine what would make for a safer, more welcoming, healthy neighborhood district-by-district,” Schenck-Hamlin said.

This looks like ensuring there is adequate aTa bus services where necessary or that there are sidewalks in areas near K-12 schools.

The second and third findings emphasize safe and affordable housing in different types of arrangements. Specifically, ingraining inspections into the rental process and increasing access to workforce housing or more moderately-sized family homes. “[It’s] getting people into housing, who otherwise — despite the fact that they are working — are so stressed by a mismatch between their income and the market value,” Schenck-Hamlin said.

This goal of establishing more affordable housing in the community does align with a plan from the city of Manhattan. In November 2020, residents voted on and approved a sales tax increase. Some of the funds created from that increase will be allocated to establishing more workforce housing in Manhattan, but that increase won’t take effect until 2023.

“The taxpayers have said, ‘We want that money to go towards workforce housing,’” Estabrook said. “None of that would have been possible without those discussions that began with facilitations about safe and affordable housing.”

For Schenck-Hamlin, establishing safe and affordable housing in the community is a “moving target.” After all, the needs of the community and the people who live in it change over time.

“Part of the problem is in a person’s cycle of life, from childhood to old age, they have different kinds of needs for housing,” she said. “If there’s a decline in the student resident population, that’s going to have an impact on the whole array of housing alternatives here.”

CARE commemorates Sexual Assault Awareness Month, co-hosts discussion panel with Counseling Services JOSIE WHITAKER assistant news editor

Kansas State’s Center for Advocacy, Response and Education recognizes the 20th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April by providing virtual opportunities for students to learn about the topic.

Jessica Henault is the center’s first sexual and relationship violence prevention specialist. While Henault began her position in the fall of 2019, she said CARE has always been active with SAAM. Before COVID-19, the center would have in-person affairs like the “What Were You Wearing?” survivor art gallery held in the K-State Student Union.

“Since I have begun my role, obviously, we have been able to do a lot more,” Henault said. “However, we’re still a little more limited because of COVID.” While the National Sexual Violence Resource Center started SAAM two decades ago, Henault says efforts have been raised towards sexual assault awareness for over 70 years.

“It is important to know that even before the official national proclamation, this work was extending far back within the civil rights area primarily led by black and trans women of color,” Henault said. “So this work stems farther than 20 years.”

NSVR provides a theme for each year’s commemoration. This year’s theme is “Together We Can Build Safe Online Spaces.” see page

05, “CARE”

CARE continued from page 04

The theme highlights technology, technology-assisted sexual abuse and shedding light on the realities of these circumstances.

“This year, we are focusing on online abuse and trauma, online community prevention, digital consent and boundaries, how we can keep minors and kids safe and begin fostering safe online behavior at a young age,” Henault said. “And then always — as we do — really calling upon the Wildcat community to become active pro-social bystanders, ways that we can support victims and survivors of violence.”

Archive photo by Hannah Hunsinger COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

CARE — the Center for Advocacy, Response and Education — is located on the second floor of Holton Hall.

For this year’s commemoration, CARE and Counseling Services will introduce a sexual assault awareness discussion panel facilitated by Henault and Nicole Knapp, intern in health service psychology for Counseling Services. The panel is at 3 p.m. on April 27.

Knapp said the panel was created as her internship outreach project.

“In working with CARE, I wanted to collaborate on a discussion panel for sexual assault as an area that is typically not openly talked about — as a way to help raise awareness on campus,” Knapp said.

The panel will include 10 members of the K-State and Manhattan community, including Riley County

05

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Police Department’s victim advocate and Student Governing Association’s sexual assault and prevention awareness director.

“We plan for our panelists to help in sharing their knowledge in hopes of increasing awareness for all at K-State and begin to break down stigma surrounding sexual assault and barriers to seeking resources like those who will be represented on the panel,” Knapp said.

Henault said the discussion will focus on topics of sexual violence relating to bystander intervention, including defining consent and sexual violence and discovering how these definitions perpetuate different myths and misconceptions.

Students and staff that would like to join the discussion can register and submit their questions online.

Among the SAAM events CARE is providing, they will also be tabling in the Union next week from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

“We’re going to be talking about consent,” Henault said. “We have a ton of T-shirts and a bunch of other really cool swag that we have been collecting that we will just be freely giving out to folks who come up and interact with us. I’m really excited for that as well.”

CARE’s Twitter page has more information about all of the upcoming events.

Nicole Knapp said attending the various SAAM events CARE is conducting — along with the SAAM Discussion Panel — is a great way for students, faculty and staff to learn more about sexual assault and increase awareness.

“In addition to attending these events, open communication about what we learn or take away from the events is a great way to increase awareness with those who are not able to attend and can help in creating safer environments for survivors,” Knapp said.

CARE provides free year-round voluntary and confidential advocacy and other support services to K-State students, staff, faculty and administrators who have experienced sexual violence, dating or domestic violence or stalking and sexual harassment. This includes situations before attending or working at K-State, Henault said.

“Survivors of sexual assault are welcomed to speak with Counseling Services and CARE for resources and support in processing and moving forward after an assault,” Knapp said. “Both centers have caring and supportive individuals who are ready to support survivors when they are ready.”

Manhattan’s new finance director welcomes challenges, change in her new role WENDY BARNES staff writer

Breezing down the hallway with a smile on her face and a “good morning” to everyone she encounters is how most co-workers have recognized Manhattan’s new finance director for years.

Rina Neal, who is only 40 years old, began working for the city of Manhattan following her graduation from Kansas State in 2002. She began as a senior accountant and, over the years, took other positions within the organization, eventually emerging as the city’s new finance director — a position she said she is excited to tackle.

Undaunted by the previous director’s success, Neal said she is determined to create her own legacy and to create an environment of teamwork and inclusion.

She said she constantly looks for opportunities to change for the better, especially when providing services to internal and external entities.

“We try to serve as a one-stopshop in our customer service department,” Neal said.

However, doing so was challenging at the start of the pandemic, so Neal and her team worked on updating several projects involving automated procedures, such as payroll, remote positions and employee tracking. Those changes, Neal said, made it easier for the organization to function during the pandemic.

“I like a challenge. I like change,” Neal said.

One challenge she faces is staffing. She said the department is understaffed because of COVID-19 and a lack of competitive pay. But she works closely with Tammy Galvan, director of human resources and risk management, to resolve the situation.

“In 2020, [Neal] was doing four different people’s jobs when I joined the department,” Galvan said. “She was completely buried, and it felt good to help her dig out and add extra staff, and give her the room to breathe, and then, you know, the opportunity to become our next director.”

As she’s starting to fill staffing needs, Neal is looking to institute more changes and says the city’s strategic plan will guide those changes.

“We have to balance the needs of the community and internally, as

well as our elected officials, to prioritize what is needed to move the city and organization forward for the next five to seven years,” Neal said. “I know that it’s a challenge, but I’m also excited about that because it will give us some focus and direction.”

Neal’s work colleagues agree focus, direction, approachability and knowledge are all strengths Neal brings to the position.

Deputy City Manager Jason Hilgers said he is impressed by her breadth and depth of financial-technical knowledge.

“I just have such an appreciation for the depth of knowledge that she has and her ability to manage all that information in her brain,” Hilgers said. “It is just impressive to me what she has accumulated and brought professionally to this organization from a technical standpoint.”

Hilgers said Neal is an asset to the community and the organization and hopes she serves the rest of her career with the city.

Suzy Mullin, customer service supervisor for the department, agrees Neal is an asset and sees her as a good director because of her knowledge and personality.

“I feel like she’s going to be a really well-rounded director,” Mullin said. “She’s got all that knowledge and background; she’s had her hands in pretty much anything we do in the finance department, but she’s still, like, approachable and easy to talk to.”

Neal’s approachability extends outside of her office, Galvan said. She is involved in various organizations and says she is a “servant leader” — a quality instilled by her grandparents who helped raise her and who are big advocates of education.

Neal shares her grandparent’s advocacy for education. In 2017, Neal ran for the Geary County USD 475 school board. She now serves as a board member and credits her job as part of her success.

“Working here has given me so much of a foundation to be able to serve in that capacity,” Neal said. “I am a servant leader at heart. I know that other people see that as well …

I want to do what’s best for any organization that I work with, whether it’s our school district in Geary County or the city of Manhattan.”

A lifelong resident of Junction City, Neal still resides there since

Kaylie Mclaughlin COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Rina Neal was recently promoted to the city of Manhattan’s finance director. Neal has worked for the city for nearly 20 years in varying roles, most recently as assistant finance director. board members must live in the county they serve; however, she is enthusiastic about Manhattan and all it offers.

She said the mall was her favorite place before the pandemic because she loves shoes, but other locations around town are also dear to her, especially Frank Annenberg Park because it helps her build a bridge between her two neighboring communities.

“Our quality of life, the recreational aspect also is something I like to help share with the leaders in Junction City also when we’re talking about things,” Neal said. “We’d have joint city/county school district meetings, so we’d talk a lot about quality of life and what the families are wanting. So having that ‘something’ to compare to and understanding how it’s financed, I’m able to share with the leaders in Junction City as well, and hopefully, we’re able to build our community and build those environments as well.”

While moving to Manhattan isn’t possible at this time, her family spends a lot of time in Manhattan because they like the quality of life, and her two children play sports at Annenberg Park. Neal attends their games when her schedule allows.

Between her kid’s activities, work commitments and service to her church and other organizations, Neal keeps busy. But she says it’s who she is, and she enjoys it.

06

THINK LOCAL

friday, april 16, 2021

Think Local: EatStreet dishes up four ‘survival tips’ for the semester’s last four weeks RACHEL SEIFFERT marketing

Editor's note: This article is sponsored content and part of the Think Local ad campaign.

Spring has sprung, marking the countdown to finals week. With the pressure of last-minute assignments, the phrase "burnt out" circulates the campus.

EatStreet has provided four tips to help finish the semester strong.

DRINK CAFFEINE.

Caffeine has become fuel for last-minute cram sessions and bouts of late-night writing, and coffee shops are a universal home-base for students.

One beloved Aggieville coffee shop is Bluestem Bistro.

Located at 1219 Moro St., it offers dine-in seating, take-out

and delivery via EatStreet.

“Bluestem always has the ability to customize their drinks exactly how you want it,” Shelby Harvey, freshman in sociology said.

The company motto, “Eat the good life,” continues to pay homage to their diverse menu.

“They go beyond the expected drinks and have some really great ones like my favorite, the Cuban,” Harvey said.

“Bluestem is the best when I need to stay motivated.”

Finals go hand-in-hand with comfortable clothing and stacked paper barricades, making it difficult to leave the house. EatStreet delivers Bluestem coffee directly to people’s doorsteps for easy access.

Use code ‘KSUSPRING’ and get five dollars off your next EatStreet order from April 16 to April 23.

GRAB A LATE NIGHT BITE.

Another essential for late-night study sessions are midnight snacks. Varsity Food Truck operates Thursday through Saturday from 9 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., making it a popular spot for night owls.

The Varsity Truck has become a hub for Kansas State students being one of the few hot spots open into the nighttime hours.

“I love Varsity because they stay open late,” Brett Scholes, sophomore in psychology, said. “Being a student, I end up having late nights and cravings for food a lot.”

One of the truck’s most popular items is the grilled cheese mac n’ cheese, often served up with bacon. Many visit the food truck in pursuit of the iconic sandwich. see page

07, “LOCAL”

Dylan Connell | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

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07

NEWS

friday, april 16, 2021

Committee chooses Dr. Kimathi Choma as new student ombudsperson ANTHONY GORGES staff writer

The Student Ombudsperson Selection Committee chose Dr. Kimathi Choma, assistant dean of diversity, recruitment and retention and diversity point person for the College of Arts and Sciences, to serve as the new Kansas State student ombudsperson.

Choma graduated from K-State and has worked at his alma mater for over 15 years.

He has filled many roles at the school throughout that time, but Choma said he is excited about adding this new responsibility. Choma will serve as the student ombudsperson while continuing in his other positions.

An ombudsperson is someone students can contact and express their concerns to whenever situations arise.

Ombudspeople address student concerns of equity, harassment and discrimination.

As the ombudsperson, Choma will be an impartial person, while still providing a safe space for students to talk and get resources for the help they need. He will provide a professional experience that provides support for any concerns a student might have.

“I am excited about this role because students will understand the good resources that are here at Kansas State and will get them the help that they need,” Choma said. “I see it from the vantage point of helping students be retained

LOCAL continued from page 6

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here at K-State.”

Choma said he’s known for retention, and how, no matter the student or situation, he always wants to make students feel welcomed and stay on track to get a degree from K-State, and that it was part of why he was chosen for this role.

“It really hurts my heart, in a sense, when students come to Kansas State University and be retained for three or four years and then not graduate,” Choma said. “This is another way that I can assist students in the graduation effort. Not just at the college level, but at the university level.”

The university created the position of student ombudsperson to meet the first goal of the 11-step Action Plan for a More Inclusive K-State.

Bryan Samuel, chief diversity and inclusion officer at K-State, served on the selection committee that chose Choma.

Samuel said it was important to get this position established so students did not have to go to multiple different places just to talk to someone about their issues.

“Dr. Choma has an unsurpassed passion for taking care of students and making sure students are introduced to the appropriate resources and get what they need to be successful,” Samuel said.

Previously, K-State had three ombudspersons: two at the Manhattan campus and one at the Polytechnic cam-

Fresh air and mental health breaks are as important as the study process itself.

The Konza Prairie offers peaceful hiking trails and beautiful scenery for those looking to re-energize. Three trails are available to walk, all varying in length.

“My favorite part of the Konza is the walking trails and the prairies because I love being in the outdoors and especially like to go during the nice weather,” Emma Blackwood, sophomore in fisheries, wildlife

Bailey Britton | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

The university created the position of student ombudsperson as part of the first goal of the 11-step Action Plan for a More Inclusive K-State. pus. However, all three only serve faculty and unclassified professionals, including administrators. Choma will serve students specifically.

Trumanue Lindsey Jr., director of diversity and multicultural student life and member of the search committee,

has worked with Choma before and said Choma already does great work for students.

“Dr. Choma has been here quite a while,” Lindsey said.

“He knows the ends and outs of the campus and does tremendous work while working with students. He is a very huge ad-

vocate and is very resourceful.”

Stefan Yates, special assistant to the chief diversity and inclusion officer, also had high praise for Choma and the work that he does.

“Dr. Choma has a passion for working with and helping students, and it is very

evident in everything that he does,” Yates said.

The ombudsperson role that Choma filled was first on the list of nine action step goals that President Richard Myers planned for a more inclusive K-State. The entire action plan can be found online.

and conservation biology, said.

The Konza has become a serenity for K-State students looking for some time in nature.

Blackwood said she uses the Konza to destress and escape reality. It is a way for her to get away from all of the school stress.

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Rolled Ice Cream, said. “If you can get your preparations for final exams done one hour earlier, why not reward yourself with an ice cream or boba tea freshly made to your favorite tastes.”

Lee said she wanted to contribute to the diverse food and dessert culture in Manhattan by serving handmade specialty boba teas, rolled ice creams and crepes.

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Pandora Rolled Ice Cream serves unique, cold desserts which makes it a treat for students eagerly awaiting summer vacation.

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friday, april 16, 2021

Museum curator makes art education part of the Manhattan community WENDY BARNES staff writer

Twenty-six years ago, a young woman left her museum career on the east coast to become a part of Manhattan history. She joined the staff at the Beach Museum of Art before its opening on Oct. 13, 1996, and has advocated for art education in the area ever since.

Katherine Schlageck, associate curator of education, never really saw herself returning to the Midwest to settle down, but the prospect of creating something from scratch appealed to her.

“The idea of being in on the ground floor of a project and really building an education department that I totally believed in, using interactive ideas and stuff like that,” Schlageck said, “…it was a chance to really build a vibrant program for an art museum.”

Schlageck arrived in January 1995 and began building a burgeoning art education program that 26 years later resonates with museum-goers, campus and the local community.

However, working in a museum was not something Schlageck considered when she majored in history at Stanford University in the mid-eighties. Though museums were always a part of her life, she thought working in one was not a practical way to make a living; however, her perspective changed her junior year of college when she worked in Washington, D.C., for Kansas Senator Nancy Kassebaum.

A tour of the Capitol opened Schlageck’s eyes to museum work as something practical when she saw the art curated by Clement Conger in the staterooms. The experience stuck in the back of her brain and planted the seed for an idea that continued to flourish her senior year of college.

The idea became a reality when she went home for Christmas break her senior year.

“I think my father sort of sensed that I was lost a bit and I was a history major, so I started thinking, ‘Well, maybe I’ll go

into the education program and get my master’s in education,’” Schlageck said. “He said, ‘If you could do anything you wanted to do and didn’t have to be practical about it, what would you do?’

And I said, ‘Work in a museum,’ and he said, ‘Well, then do that.’”

Two years later, she graduated from the College of William and Mary with a master’s in museum studies and began her career.

After graduation, Schlageck accepted a position at the Nantucket Historical Association creating educational programs for the Nantucket schools. Her following positions focused on education and fostered her passion for objects.

“I think by that time, what I really understood about myself is I loved objects, but the reason that they were important to me was what I could share with people and make connections,” Schlageck said.

Making connections between people and artworks became a reality when she accepted a position in Connecticut that had both an art collection and a historical objects collection. The constantly-changing exhibits excited her and ignited her passion for working with art. Her experience there eventually led her to the Beach Museum because she enjoyed the challenge of constantly creating something new for people.

The Beach Museum’s art education programming is Schlageck’s brainchild, but its growth and sustainability developed with help from a cadre of others — student workers, volunteers, other professional education staff and her team.

Kim Richards, an education assistant, started at the museum in 2004 as a docent.

Over the years, the two have worked closely to develop art education programs.

Richards said Schlageck is supportive no matter how busy she is during the day and works on helping her team develop their ideas and make them work.

“There’s always just this bouncing and this feedback,” Richards said. “She’s kind of there; we bounce in-and-out, and

she keeps us organized and always busy. She’s always supporting and fostering the new ideas.”

Schlageck also values ideas presented by students who work or volunteer at the museum and provides them with growth opportunities.

Former student Rachel Lord, who worked at the museum when she was studying for her bachelor’s in fine arts, said Schlageck offered her an opportunity to teach in the Young Artists program. That opportunity changed her life.

“The role she played in my life during that two months was really pivotal to me cause before I always thought ‘I’m just gonna be an artist,’ gonna paint, you know, sell, all those types of things,” Lord said. “But when I started teaching in the classroom, it just like opened a whole new thought in my head and doors opened, and I got really passionate about it … I probably wouldn’t even have that thought to this day if it wasn’t for Kathrine offering me that position.”

Other people in her life also notice Schlageck’s generous spirit and her willingness to reach out to provide support or recognize the strengths and talents of those she meets.

“She just takes everything to the next level,” Smith said.

“She wants [you] to know you are seen that you are recognized [and] that what you are doing makes a difference. And having that quality in both a friend and a colleague has just been really phenomenal over the years.”

Kevin Wanklyn, teaching associate professor for nuclear engineering, whose children Lilla and Jonah attend the art education programs, agrees Schlageck’s interest in others is genuine.

Wanklyn said Schlageck greets him whenever they cross paths in Dillons.

“She would see me, and she would say, ‘Hey, say hi to Jonah and Lilla,’” Wanklyn said. “This is not a job for her. It seems like it’s a passion for her, and she wants to keep connecting to people. It’s not like, ‘Well, I’m not in my Beach Museum, I’m not wearing my Beach Museum hat,

Kaylie McLaughlin | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Kathrine Walker Schlageck is the associate curator of education for Beach Museum of Art on K-State’s Manhattan campus. Schlageck has worked at the museum since it opened in 1996 and has been recognized for her commitment to integrating art and STEM through educational opportunities. so I’m sorry, uh, you’re not part of my life here,’ She brings it all together and tries to make you feel like you’re part of her orbit or existence wherever you are.”

Richards said Schlageck’s openness and generosity with her time, support and resources amazes her.

“She’s just been a great mentor,” Richards said. “And I’m just always amazed at her graciousness with sharing all these things.”

However, Schlageck’s generosity reaches beyond the museum. She leads Monday sessions at the Flint Hills Summer Fun Camp for children on the autism spectrum, developed an online art program for childcare workers and does extensive outreach in the local schools.

Courtney Smith, art teacher for USD 383 and K-State alumna, said Schlageck is a “phenomenal” resource for USD 383 art educators.

“I’ve had her for like three years, not since COVID, but for three years in a row she would pick a day and she would come teach my classes all day long,” Smith said. “She’d be like,

‘What grades do you have?

Okay, I’ll bring some stuff. Do you want to do this? Does this sound fun? Have you ever done this?’ And she just brings all the supplies, and we team-teach together, and the kids make the connection because they’ve seen her at the museum.”

Schlageck strives to make connections in everything she does for the museum, and the people aspect of her position is key to her job enjoyment.

“I guess what makes me feel good is when I can help somebody see something new or understand something a little bit differently,” Schlageck said.

“I like to share those experiences with people.”

Schlageck shares art experiences with a wide range of campus and local community members.

“I think one of the wonderful things about this museum is there’s really a place for everybody,” Schlageck said. “We kind of joke in my department that we work with ages 2 to 102.”

Serving such a wide range of museum-goers makes her job challenging, exciting and busy.

Richards said Schlageck is constantly busy and works on a variety of projects at once. Most days, she is already in her office for a couple of hours before Richards even arrives.

Juggling meetings, exhibits, classes, tours for the current semester, Schlageck also spends her days working on projects six to nine months in the future.

“There’s always just this cacophony of just activity happening around her, and I do my best to dive in and keep up,” Richards said. “I told someone the other day that I just feed off the energy from her turbine. I mean, she’s just constantly going.”

Schlageck’s busy pace extends outside of the museum walls into her personal life. Outside of work, she said she enjoys cooking, reading, gardening, “stopping and starting” various creative projects and listening to music. She likes to experiment in the kitchen and enjoys making up dishes and trying new dishes.

To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com

REVIEW: ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ is exactly what I needed BAILEY BRITTON editor-in-chief

I was eight years old when Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” came out.

Eight.

Now I’m 21 and have some life experience under my belt. I loved this album as a child — I made my mom listen to it every time we got in the car — but I don’t think I understood the weight of the lyrics then.

Swift rerecorded this album — as well as additional songs — to regain control of the rights to her music. Swift signed with Big Machine Records towards the beginning of her career, who eventually sold her masters to music manager Scooter Braun. Neither would sell the masters back to Swift.

Now, she takes back her songs and appropriately named them “Fearless (Taylor’s Version).”

Back then, this was an album filled with love songs. Listening now, I find other meanings in the lyrics. And boy, it hurts my soul but also makes me look back fondly at how, frankly, inexperienced I was.

My current favorite song on the album, “Fifteen,” makes my soul hurt in such a good way. I am transported back to being fifteen and

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feeling love for the first time.

The lyrics, “And your first kiss makes your head spin round / But in your life you’ll do things greater than dating the boy on the football team / But I didn’t know it at fifteen,” really hit home for me.

I remember thinking all that mattered at the time was having a boyfriend, and when we broke up, I thought it was the end of the world. Now, I have accomplished some pretty great things. When I am a mother in the future, I might just make my children listen to this song to get some quality life advice.

If they’re anything like me though, they won’t listen to advice. Dad, I finally know what you meant when you said, “You’ll understand when you’re older.”

Another favorite of mine, “Fearless,” applies to my life right now. I won’t go into details, but the lyrics “’Cause I don’t know how it gets better than this / You take my hand and drag me head first / Fearless / And I don’t know why but with you I’d dance in a storm in my best dress / Fearless,” make me happy.

My favorite song from age eight has been “You Belong With Me.” I don’t know why, but it was. Now, while I appreciate it, it’s more of a

scream-at-the-top-of-yourlungs song when you feel unrequited love. How much time have I wasted pining over someone who won’t pay attention to me? Probably more than I would like to admit.

Also, I kind of relate to being the girl who wears sneakers and sits on the bleachers — which is perfectly fine and makes me happy.

Some girls wear short skirts, which is also cool. I’m not here to judge.

This album gives me the chance to reflect on things I have experienced and understand I am not alone. It’s perfect, just as it was 13 years ago, but has a different meaning now.

Long story short, I feel old. It’s like watching “The Little Mermaid” now and yelling at the screen, “Listen to your parents!” when Triton tells Ariel no.

Bailey Britton is the Collegian’s editor-in-chief and a junior in mass communications and English. 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.

REVIEW: Briston Maroney, Brockhampton release absolute bangers JARED SHUFF culture editor

While I decided I was going to review Briston Maroney’s debut album “Sunflower” back when he announced it in February, the sudden release of Brockhampton’s sixth studio album “Road Runner: New Light, New Machine” left me fighting an internal battle. In the end, it was too difficult for me to choose so — in the famous words of that little girl from the Old El Paso commercial — “Why not both?”

Rather than break down the albums track-by-track, I’ll point out some of my favorite songs from each one and give my overall reactions. While both albums sound spectacular in their entirety, some specific tracks might easily stay my favorites of 2021.

While “Sunflower” is Briston Maroney’s debut album, this isn’t the indie-rock artist’s first time in the spotlight. The 23-year-old gained viral attention with his 2018 release “Freakin’ Out on the Interstate,” which became one of my favorite songs after I found it during quarantine.

With two beautiful EPs already released, the announcement of his debut album back in February had

me excited for more of his guitar-driven production, contemplative lyricism and crooning vocals. As expected, Maroney did not disappoint.

Songs like “Bottle Rocket” and “Rollercoaster” showcase Maroney’s killer vocals and heart-pounding energy, while “Cinnamon” and “Say My Name” take deep dives into his tender, melancholic soul. Overall, the 10-track album feels both nostalgic and prophetic, longing for the past while embracing what’s to come.

Brockhampton apparently took advantage of quarantine and produced what I believe is the best project they’ve released so far. That leaves me wondering what they have in store later this year since founding member Kevin Abstract announced the group’s next album would be their last.

Since taking on the name Brockhampton in 2014, the group has cranked out album after album — including all three “Saturation” albums in a single year. With “Road Runner,” the group tackles serious issues like racism, police brutality, homophobia and suicide.

Songs like “Chain On” and “Don’t Shoot Up the Party” focus on the current

climate surrounding racism and gun violence in America. “The Light,” “Dear Lord” and “The Light Pt. II” offer group member Joba an outlet to grieve after his father’s suicide.

“Dear Lord” is a gospel-inspired hymn dedicated to Joba, asking for God to light his way through the darkness. Various members of the group join together, primarily led by vocalist Bearface. The emotional weight and beautiful production of this song easily make it my favorite on the album.

In addition to Joda using “The Light” and “The Light Pt. II” to grieve for his father, Kevin Abstract opens up about his experiences with homophobia and the strained relationship he has with his family in the songs, commenting on the difficulty he has even telling his mother about who he loves.

Brockhampton’s whole album seems like a group therapy session for the unconventional boy band, allowing everyone to get things off their chest after a year of distress. With features from artists like Danny Brown and JPEGMAFIA, “Road Runner,” is packed with insane talent and important messages.

St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center

Religion Directory

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.

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Worship Service at 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. or livestream our services online.

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785.776.0424 www.gracebchurch.org 2901 Dickens Ave. (2 blks. E. of Seth Child)

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friday, april 16, 2021

Participants share their experiences competing in the 48-Hour Film Festival CLAIBORN SCHMIDT staff writer

Editor’s note: Bailey Britton, Julie Freijat and Jared Shuff, contestants in the 48 Hour Film Festival, are also on the Collegian’s Editorial Board.

This year’s 48 Hour Film Festival red carpet event was a little bit different, much like the competition itself. The teams ran into some snags during the competition — both with themselves and with mother nature.

During the virtual red carpet event, viewers took part in a Zoom poll to pick their favorite film before the winners were announced.

First place went to the film “All the Same,” created by the Sharp Shooters, a group composed of Norea Menold, junior in fine arts; Cassie Wefald, senior in history and anthropology; Jackson Berland, sophomore in theatre; Skyler Lindquist, senior in English; and Maria Apel, junior in psychology.

Second place and audience favorite went to the film “Character Development,” created by Maple, Milo and Misty Productions, a group composed of Brooke Biasella, senior in communication studies; Julie Freijat, junior in mass communications; Bailey Britton, junior

in journalism and English; Jared Shuff, junior in secondary education; Connor Balthazor, senior in political science; Kylie Ledford, senior in mass communications; and Bernard Giefer, junior in mass communications.

The festival committee puts together three elements that participants must include in their film: a prop, a phrase and a location. The prop chosen this year was a loaf of bread because it was relevant with the current COVID-19 times, Katherin Karlin, English professor and 48 Hour Film Fest committee chair, said.

“We [the] committee came together and put our heads together and floated some ideas for the prop. We wanted to do something that everybody had access to, so I didn’t want something ... that might be inaccessible to students,” Karlin said.

“Bread seemed kind of vaguely pandemic-related because a lot of people [were] baking bread at the beginning of the pandemic.”

Both the committee and the participants had difficulties with the required phrase. The committee eventually settled on, “Welcome to the new normal.”

“The trick with the line is to make it specific enough for it to be a challenge for students to

figure out how to incorporate it into their script,” Karlin said.

Some competitors just had a hard time fitting the line into their scripts and the film in general.

“I think there were great elements this year. They were easy to include,” Biasella said.

“The line was a little tough just because when we were writing our script, we were struggling on where to put it, but everything else was very easy.”

The groups had 48 hours to write a script, film footage and edit the film — some groups were running on empty. For the Sharp Shooters, the lack of sleep gained them the top prize.

“We wrote, wrote, wrote from Thursday to Friday afternoon, took a little bit of a break, started filming that night at around 5 p.m. and didn’t stop until around 2 a.m.,” Berland said. “We came back, edited till 6 or 7 a.m., went out to Aggieville and got the shots we needed there, came back around noon and edited until 6 p.m. In total, I think that all of us collectively got maybe three hours of sleep the entire weekend.”

The time limit and the three elements weren’t the only challenges participants faced.

An unexpected rainstorm put a

damper on some of the groups’ filming plans.

“We gave them their elements and said ‘Okay, you have 48 hours to create your film,’ and [then] we had the biggest thunderstorm of the year,” Karlin said. “I was just thinking, ‘Oh no. This is going to be miserable,’ but I was so impressed how some of them just worked that into the movie and really made it work for them.”

Many groups reworked their outdoor shots to keep themselves and their equipment dry.

“It rained on Saturday all that night, and we had a lot of shots outside, so that was tricky,” Daniel Lopez, senior in mechanical engineering, said.

“We had a tarp over the camera to prevent it from getting wet.”

Lopez’s group — Chimps With a Camera — created the film “The Thesis.” Other group members included Kyle Simons, senior in public relations; Caleb Penrod, senior in chemical engineering; and Haley Nelson, sophomore in humanities.

Other groups ran into location issues, like getting locked out of buildings and stuck in the rain, waiting to get let in.

“We showed up to Chapman Theatre when it was pouring outside, and we had to waste an hour of filming trying to fig-

ure out how to get into the space in the first place,” Berland said.

Maple, Milo and Misty Productions ran into another challenge right away, as several group members were recently vaccinated and dealing with symptoms from the shots.

“Our biggest challenge was probably [COVID-19],” Biasella said. “Four of the seven of us got vaccinated, so people were really tired and not feeling 100 percent, and I remember that I made the executive decision to make it so that we had times to sleep. It put us on a time constraint because people wanted to sleep, but we only had 48 hours.”

Some teams weren’t even built until the competition started. Lopez had a few people lined up to take part in his film as soon as the prompts were released that Thursday, and continued adding to his team as the weekend progressed.

“I joined pretty much right at the buzzer,” Lopez said. “I was trying to figure out people that would want to do it and from there we had a real quick brainstorming sesh. That Thursday I started texting some friends to see if they’d want to participate and just be in the movie.”

Some groups were basi-

cally composed of strangers, like Maple, Milo and Misty Productions. Despite barely knowing one another, they used each person’s experiences and skills to benefit them in the competition.

“We were a bunch of people who wouldn’t normally hang out, but we made an awesome film,” Biasella said.

Other groups had never worked on a project like this before, but they used their individual skillsets to strengthen the group as a whole.

“I have been on a lot of creative teams, and this was the most seamless one I’ve ever been on,” Berland said. “We all knew our strengths and weaknesses and we all knew how to work with each other well.”

Encouraging others to take part in competitions like this, Biasella said they aren’t as difficult as one might think and it’s easily accessible to anyone with a camera or a phone. It doesn’t even have to cost much.

“This was super fun, and people don’t realize how easy it is to make a film and how you can do it on no budget … all you need is a camera or even a phone,” Biasella said.

“We maybe spent five dollars on our film.”

AASU hosts two-week Taste of Asia event through Konza Student Table LORI LEISZLER assistant culture editor

Kansas State’s Asian American Student Union held its first Taste of Asia event this Wednesday at Konza Student Table.

Volunteers served pancit, a Filipino chicken, noodles and vegetables dish, as well as aloo gobi, an Indian curry entrée with potato and cauliflower.

AASU usually hosts Foods of the World tasting events in the spring to help students and communities better understand different cultures and expand their palates. However, the

event looked a bit different this year.

“In the past, we’ve had to collect volunteers from our own organization and outside, which makes it a little bit more unsafe, especially with COVID going on,” Sabine Hoff, AASU vice president-internal and junior in bakery science and management, said. “We were worried it was a concern. We found out about the Konza Student Table — the organization we’re collaborating with this year — through Dr. Thurston from the International Student Center, and it’s been really nice.”

Konza Student Table, a program serving warm weekly

meals to K-State students and community members in need, started last September and is held at St. Isidore’s Catholic Church from 5:30 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday. Konza Student Table provides meals via contactless drive-through and walk-up service.

Students in the hospitality department — under hospitality management instructor Ericka Bauer’s supervision — usually prepare the meals for Konza Student Table. Bauer ensures everyone making, distributing and receiving these meals stays safe during the pandemic.

Bauer said AASU took the initiative last fall, asking how it

could still host the event.

“They approached me and asked, ‘How can we still put our food out there?’” Bauer said. “And that’s exactly what they did. They organized the whole thing. I gave them some guidelines, but they came up with the recipes and the ideas.”

Michelle Le, AASU secretary and junior in civil engineering, said Konza Student Table has a budget for each week’s meals. AASU leaders worked with Bauer and the hospitality department to plan great-tasting, authentic foods without going over budget.

Hoff said she had fun making the food for Bauer and the

hospitality students.

“Ericka was super interested in learning our cooking techniques, with all of us, and she was just genuinely interested in how the dishes were prepared, and she made certain she was always trying to pronounce the dishes correctly too,” Hoff said.

Le said they are very organized.

“While all of this is new, all that they’ve done for us is very appreciated,” Le said.

The Bakery Science Club is also involved, with members preparing the sandwich rolls for next Wednesday’s banh mi.

Bauer said she was excited when AASU initiated the part-

nership with Konza Student Table.

“Konza Table was initially for students that were of the international variety, as well as those struggling on campus to find food sources,” Bauer said.

“It was a perfect match, and I said, ‘Please, come over.’”

Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) missionary Stephie Teffeteller said she has volunteered at Konza Student Table from the start. She enjoys distributing the meals because it gives her an opportunity to serve. see page

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Kansas State Alumna Wins Kansas School Counselor of the Year BLAKE CRAWFORD staff writer

As the recipient of the 2021 Kansas School Counselor of the Year award, Lyndsey Brown, a Maize South High School counselor, exemplifies qualities wanted by the American School Counselor Association.

School counselors don’t just make sure students are on track to graduate and help them with college. Student counselors are also trained mental health professionals, ideally spending 80 percent of their time building relationships with students and offering social and emotional support, the ASCA says.

Each year, the Kansas School Counselor Association selects one counselor based on each counselor’s innovations, effective school counseling programs, leadership and advocacy skills and contributions to student achievement.

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Four of the last six winners of this honor earned their graduate degrees from K-State.

Brown said she was unaware she won the award when she entered a seemingly normal staff meeting. School staff members surprised her and presented the award. Her family and friends also secretly joined the Zoom call to celebrate.

Brown thanked the other counselors at her school and said she was honored to be recognized alongside the other phenomenal counselors in the state of Kansas.

“It was a really great way to see that our work matters,” Brown said. “The biggest reward of being a school counselor is the small things, like when a student invites you to their graduation party or when you get a text from a person who graduated a couple years ago.”

Next year, Brown will assume a new position as an as-

sociate professor at Emporia State University.

Along with her new job, Brown will become the new president of the KSCA in July. Brown said she wants to increase membership in the program and to increase comprehensive programs everywhere in the state of Kansas.

Comprehensive programs were a focus of Brown’s during her tenure at Maize South, Adam Melichar, Brown’s current counseling department head, said.

Melichar said Brown implemented a plethora of programs into the school, such as high-five Friday’s, which allowed community members to greet kids when they walked in the door, letting students make connections with their community.

“There’s an old adage: ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ Well, she would try to bring the village here,” Melichar said.

Photo Courtesy of Lyndsey Brown

Lyndsey Brown (right), was named Kansas Counselor of the Year. Brown spent a lot of time around school before and after class when she was growing up, and she said she wanted to be a teacher because she wanted to spread her positive experience in school to others.

Melichar also spoke highly of Brown’s people skills with students.

“Her ability to empathize with someone and walk a path with them in a hard time is next to none,” Melichar said. “What she does goes well beyond the counseling in the office.”

Melichar shared a story that a pregnant student came to Brown for guidance, with Brown being a mother of four herself. “(Brown) became one of the strongest resources she had,” Melichar said.

Eventually, when it was time to have the baby, the student wanted Brown around for support.

“It was an honor that she trusted me enough to be in the room for such a big thing,” Brown said. “It was really empowering to see the strength of a young woman.”

Born in Hutchinson, Brown has been around teaching her whole life. Her mother teaches kindergarten and her father is a superintendent.

She spent a lot of time at school before and after class and said she wanted to be a teacher because she wanted to spread her positive experience in school to others.

“I’ve basically been in school forever,” Brown said.

Brown earned her bachelor’s in elementary education, her master’s degree in counseling and student affairs and recently received her doctorate in counselor education and supervision from K-State after defending her dissertation on March 29.

Brown’s doctoral dissertation examined the correlation of student rapport with counselors to student connectedness with the school.

Brown said she wanted to show with research that hiring more student counselors causes students to feel more connected to the school.

Judy Hughey, associate professor of special education, counseling and student affairs, served as Brown’s adviser for her dissertation.

ASSU continued from page 10

“I think it’s a great opportunity to bring the community and the campus together and serve those people who are in need,” Teffeteller said.

Bauer said she tries to give students a “taste of home” through the meals she and her students prepare.

“Konza Table is one of those things that just makes you happy each week that you do it,” Bauer said. “Even though it takes a lot of your time and a lot of your effort, it’s one of those things that’s very rewarding for everyone that’s involved and everyone that receives the product in the end.”

Students and community members can return to St. Isidore’s from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21 for the second Taste of Asia night featuring banh mi, a Vietnamese sandwich with beef or chicken and pickled vegetables, as well as bún thịt nướng, a vegetarian Vietnamese cold noodle dish with vegetables, peanuts, impossible meat and mild chili sauce.

“I have seen her professional skills grow as a teacher,” Hughey said. “She will be an amazing counselor educator.”

After finishing her undergraduate degree, Brown said she didn’t know which path to take for her master’s degree until she found more information on school counseling.

“While I was a teacher I realized that there was a lot going on for kids outside of school,” Brown said. “I feel like my passion is building relationships with students.”

After getting her master’s degree, Brown became a counselor at Clay Center Middle School, where she developed a close bond with co-counselor Nick Brummet.

“She guided me and helped my development in the things I still do today at this school,” Brummet said. “Her drive and determination has been a great model for me as a counselor.”

Brummet said Brown has done a great job of advocating for the emotional and social support for students as well as the academic and career side.

He also said he commends her ability to do so many things as a counselor while still raising four children.

“She’s like the Energizer Bunny,” Melichar said. “She has something she wants to do and she does it.”

Brown recently spoke at a Kansas House Education Committee meeting about student-based mental health and the role of a student counselor and its evolution.

“School counselors used to be looked at and called guidance counselors,” Brown said. “Career guidance is part of our job, but a lot of people don’t realize is that we’re mental health professionals as well.”

In her testimony to the education committee, she said counselors often are tasked with administrative duties and, combined with the 431:1 average student-to-counselor ratio, which is well above the recommended 250:1 ratio, counselors don’t have enough time to build rapport with students.

“When the role of school counselors is inconsistent or contradictory, it creates a barrier to the trusting relationship and an impossible mission for school counselors,” Brown said. “School counselors can’t discipline a student, and then the next day try to establish a trusting and non-judgemental relationship.”

12

CULTURE

friday, april 16, 2021

Beach Film Club dissects gender, politics, culture in visual-centric film JARED SHUFF culture editor

Art often acts as a form of protest, an outlet for political and societal statements. Iranian visual artist Shirin Neshat embraces artistic protest through her film “Women Without Men,” the story of four women whose lives are dramatically changed during the 1953 American-backed coup in Iran.

As part of the Beach Film Club’s series focusing on perspectives, Shannon Skelton, assistant professor in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance, broke down the film’s background, message and unique use of imagery.

The film is an adaptation of Iranian author Shahrnush Parsipur’s 1990 novel of the same name. It began as a visual installation piece created by Neshat a few years before the film was made.

“If you look at some of

the images from the video installation, [they’re] images that you would recognize from the film, some of the iconic images,” Skelton said.

While the film is set in Tehran, the capital of Iran, it was actually filmed in Morocco. Neshat, Parsipur and many of the main actresses are exiled artists no longer welcome in their home countries. The novel is banned in Iran and the film was never shown there.

The four main women — Munis, Faezah, Zarin and Fakhri — face varying struggles surrounding their forced roles and places in the world, all while trying to navigate political unrest and government takeover. Religion, politics and sexual autonomy are major elements in the film.

“I was thinking … the film was about all the restrictions that a particular culture and religion impose on a woman,” Aileen Wang, curator at the Beach

Museum, said. “It seems to me that the four female characters explore the different ways of resisting control.”

A large portion of the discussion was dedicated to imagery within the film and the surreal effect it has on the viewer. From faceless figures to baptismal rebirths, attendees were left discussing the beauty and meanings of the visuals.

“I really liked the shot of Zarin in the water,” Nicole Derr, accountant for the KSU Foundation, said. “That was very beautiful, and I thought immediately of an ‘Ophelia’ painting. I thought that was just gorgeous.”

“Women Without Men” is available through Amazon Prime. The next Beach Film Club discussion takes place at 7:30 p.m. April 28. It will focus on experimental short films, all of which will be available to watch on YouTube at the viewer’s convenience.

Archive Photo | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

K-State’s Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art lies on the far south side of campus, serving as a consistent location for students to view different types of artwork.

Collegian Media Group would like to congratulate all the students who won a total of 54 awards at the

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13

OPINION

friday, april 16, 2021

OPINION: Marginalized students should acquire leadership roles across campus VEDANT KULKARNI staff writer

Charter for Compassion defines a marginalized community member as someone who is undeserved, disregarded, ostracized, harassed, persecuted or sidelined in the surrounding community.

These include, but are not limited to: • Immigrants • Refugees • Migrants • Women/girls • Victims of human trafficking • Children/youth • People of differing sexual orientation and genders (LGBTQ+ community) • People of differing religions • Developmentally delayed • Physically disabled • Mentally ill • Incarcerated people and their families • People released from Incarceration • People of low socioeconomic status • Unemployed people • People of a particular ethnicity or country

of origin People with a differing political orientation At Kansas State, we have members of each of the communities mentioned above, and even more. K-State prides itself on being an inclusive and equitable university.

However, throughout the last few years, there were numerous instances of bigotry and hatred on campus that argue otherwise.

From white nationalist posters posted across the campus in 2017 to the vandalization of the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center in February, there have been many cases where students in marginalized groups have felt unwelcome at K-State.

Unfortunately, every time these instances happen, the only response marginalized students receive are shallow words from the administration, governing bodies and organizations at K-State. Strict actions are never taken to ensure student safety, especially when it comes to students in marginalized communities.

The pressure to solve all these problems while figuring out college falls on students of marginalized identities. Fight•

ing these battles on campus is not something these students do for fun, but because their lives depend on it — it is a fight for rightful survival.

Nevertheless, the question arises — though students have already done so much, what more can they do to bring a substantial change?

The answer is simple — get involved.

Unfortunately, we have reached a point where marginalized students need to seize, snatch and obtain higher leadership roles across the campus — either by hook or crook. It is time all of us who fall into the aforementioned marginalized category get ourselves involved in every ISO, DSO, governing body and committee across K-State.

A majority of K-State’s President’s Cabinet is made up of Caucasian people, heterosexual people and people over 45. Some cabinet members always make an effort to connect with students on a grassroots level, for which we love and appreciate them. However, we never see the others.

No matter how much the members deny it, implicit bias and being oblivious to millennial and Gen Z students’ current situation clouds their judgment.

There is nothing wrong with it; these are facts. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that students, especially students from marginalized groups, take power across campus.

We have a decent amount of students from marginalized groups at K-State and we need to utilize our numbers for our benefit. All students from marginalized groups should start applying to various organizations at K-State.

When it comes to Student Governing Association — students from marginalized groups should start a coalition of supporting each other’s causes. We can run to be a student senator in student senate, a director position in the cabinet, the position of the attorney general and deputy attorney general as well as other positions in the judicial branch of SGA. Multiple students from marginalized communities should not only run for these positions next year, but also run for Student Body President.

Students from marginalized communities should overwhelmingly apply for organizations such as the K-State Student Alumni Board, Student Foundation, College Ambassadors, College Councils, etc. If all of us apply, surely a majority of us would get

selected in the organization. We could bring a progressive change around inclusivity and equity in these organizations.

Marginalized students should also rush for Greek life and make their presence heard in the part of university life that essentially controls the majority of our university. Many organizations have a bias for choosing Greek life individuals over others. Therefore, if marginalized students become a part of Greek life, a door of opportunities to get involved on campus can be opened.

When it comes to honorary organizations, marginalized students should again apply overwhelmingly and ensure they get selected. Whether it’s a freshman, sophomore, senior or junior honorary society, it is time we believe in ourselves and apply to all these organizations. We are brilliant enough and involved enough to get selected in these organizations.

Marginalized students should also create new organizations on campus that can act as safe spaces of inclusivity.

Along with that, making sure we support each other’s organizations is extremely important.

Whether it’s in academics, community service, academic competitions, fraternities,

sororities, honorary, political or sports clubs, marginalized students need to make their presence felt, visible and heard.

When choosing to fill any vacant position, even the administration should specifically market to members of marginalized communities and encourage them to apply to said positions.

A quote from the popular tv show “Game of Thrones” says, “There is no justice in this world, not unless we make it.”

It is time we create our justice. It is time we acquire and seize power and leadership across campus and bring much-needed reformative change to make our campus more inclusive and equitable.

French poet Victor Hugo once said, “not being heard is no reason for silence.” It is time we make ourselves heard, loud and clear.

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.

OPINION: Debra Bolton should become the next CDIO VEDANT KULKARNI staff writer

Bryan Samuels, chief diversity and inclusion officer, dropped a bombshell on Kansas State when he announced his departure from the university. With the announcement, the question now arises — who will take on the position?

The Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer is a senior leader who serves as a catalyst to leverage best practices and resources across

K-State’s campuses. They work to promote a culture of inclusion where individuals from all racial and ethnic identities, ages, nationalities, social and economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religion, political and ideological perspectives and physical and mental abilities can thrive and stay engaged.

The CDIO provides strategic and programmatic leadership for diversity and inclusion initiatives, advancing diversity as a critical component of social,

academic and intellectual life at K-State.

This position is extremely crucial for K-State’s success.

As we have seen at K-State recently, the university truly needs to invest its heart and soul into inclusivity and equity across campus.

In my opinion, the only person prepared to take up this position and steer the university in the right direction for improved inclusivity is director of intercultural learning and academic success Debra Bolton.

For the last 15 years,

Bolton has performed social research focusing on minority-majority communities. Her office works to address issues of inequity in student success at K-State.

Anyone who has ever come across Bolton can testify to her capabilities. She is the best teacher for intercultural learning and a true ally of students in the K-State higher administration. She has fabulously advocated for students and amplified student voices, especially marginalized student voices across our campus.

Whether it’s a student protest for equity or an event promoting diversity and equity, one is sure to see Bolton there. She is the cutest grandmother of every K-State student. She loves the students as her own and makes sure every student on campus — especially those affected by inequity on campus — feels welcomed, belonged and loved at K-State.

Whether you’re an international student, LGBTQ+ student, Black student, Hispanic or Latino student, or even a student from the dom-

inant community on campus, Bolton is always there to help you grow and learn. With one email, she will schedule a one-on-one session with you to teach you more about intercultural learning.

She listens to students and stands firmly with all of them.

Bolton’s professional experience makes her more than capable of serving as the chief diversity and inclusion officer.

To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com

14

SPORTS

friday, april 16, 2021

Nate’s Notes: Baseball’s toughest stretch is behind the team NATHAN ENSERRO assistant sports editor

The Kansas State baseball team sits at 19-14 and 2-7 in Big 12 Conference play with 19 games left and the toughest stretch of the schedule behind the team.

After sweeping a midweek series against Northern Colorado, the Wildcats get its first non-top-25 in-conference opponent with Oklahoma coming to town this weekend.

The Wildcats will play in front of a 50 percent capacity Tointon Family Stadium starting this week. The season began at 25 percent.

“We get a great atmosphere at Tointon. Even with 25 percent, I thought it was really good,” manager Pete Hughes said. “Our guys are excited. Our fans have good knowledge, they bring energy to the park. I know for a fact our kids play better in front of our fans.”

Hughes is right — the Wildcats are 14-4 at home and 1-8 on

the road. Some of that is surely because of the quality of opponents, but there is something to be said for home-field advantage.

K-State had one of the toughest starts to conference play possible with road series against then-No. 13 Oklahoma State and then-No. 3 Texas on either side of a home series with thenNo. 3 Texas Tech. The Wildcats got swept by the Cowboys and Longhorns but stole two from the Red Raiders in their first home series win over a top-5 team in program history.

“The first three we played and started the season off was a difficult task and we didn’t answer the call,” Hughes said.

The Wildcats’ season is about where one would expect it to be at this point — the team has mostly taken care of business against teams it should beat and lost to teams that should beat the Wildcats. The next stretch — against good, but not amazing Big 12 teams — should define the season.

“We went through the toughest

part of the Big 12 scheduling right out of the gates,” Hughes said. “Wish we stole one or two more games, but we didn’t. Now it’s time for us to play well at home and play better against some of the other teams in the Big 12. Everyone’s good in the Big 12.”

K-State’s starting pitching was perhaps the most exciting element of the team coming into the season.

Sophomore Jordan Wicks is lined up to be the squads’ ace with a solid pair of young arms behind him to form the starting rotation for the weekend series.

Wicks, who is currently projected to be drafted 18th overall in the MLB draft by Baseball Prospectus, is actually outshined in Big 12 play by the other two weekend starters.

Sophomore Carson Seymour and freshman Connor McCullough both boast better in-conference ERA’s and opponent batting averages than Wicks.

Sophie Osborn | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP see page

15, “NOTES”

Sophomore pitcher Jordan Wicks pitches the ball during K-State’s 17-1 loss to Texas Tech on April 1, 2021.

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No one comes close to 66 total and 24 Big 12 strikeouts, owing in part to Wicks’ ability to follow mid-90s fastballs with low-80s changeups, all while hitting his targets.

Behind them, Hughes likes to put the ball in the hands of juniors Tyler Eckberg and Jaxon Passino, as well as sophomore Eric Torres to eat innings and finish out games. Eckberg has recorded four saves on the bump for the Wildcats.

Senior Kasey Ford provides double service for the Wildcats, serving as a midweek starter and a spot reliever with great effectiveness. He ranks fourth on the team — behind the three weekend starters — in innings pitched and has an ERA of 1.69, by far the best on the team among pitchers who have pitched more than 10 innings.

On offense, the name of the game is power: the Wildcats rank seventh in the nation with 49 home runs and have jacked at least one in each of the last 11 games.

Among players who have appeared in 75 percent

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Kokoska is slashing a blistering .344/.438/.721 and Phillips is right around those numbers with a line of .363/.442/.661.

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draws to a close.

“You can’t get swept on the road,” Hughes said. “We had our opportunities to win games in Stillwater and in Austin this weekend and we didn’t do it. You gotta move forward. You can’t try to do something superhuman, you just gotta win series. That’s all I’m asking our guys to do is to win series against people that we’re matched-up well against.”

The Wildcats will finish out April at home by hosting three games against Oklahoma, three against West Virginia, a one-off against Missouri and a weekend series with Texas Southern.

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16

SPORTS

Emily Starkey shares her journey from high school photographer to K-State Football creative DREW GALLOWAY staff writer

Kansas State football’s social media presence has taken off in the last two years. While part of that coincides with the hiring of head coach Chris Klieman in 2018, another part is the person behind the team’s creative media, Emily Starkey.

Starkey, a 2019 K-State graduate with a degree in journalism and mass communications, is the coordinator of football creative for K-State Athletics. While social media plays a major role in her job, photography helped her break into the field.

“When I was in high school I didn’t know what I wanted to do, all I knew was I liked taking pictures of football,” Starkey said.

A graduate of Wamego High School, Starkey was the editor-in-chief and main photographer for the yearbook. Taking photos throughout high school, Starkey said that there is one particular photo that stands out.

“I had a classmate who was one of my dearest friends. His dad passed away on the day of a football game,” Starkey said. “I knew he had written on his wrist tape, ‘Rest In Peace KH’ which was his dad’s initials. So my goal was to get a photo of that, and I got an amazing photo.”

That one photo introduced Starkey to her love for sports photography and led to an internship with the Smoke Signal, Wamego’s newspaper, while she was still in high school. After her internship, Starkey still didn’t know what she wanted to do or where she wanted to go for college.

“I thought I was going to KU to be a nurse which is crazy because that kind of stuff freaks me out,” Starkey said.

A day in government class changed her mind from nursing at KU to photography at K-State.

“We were looking up stuff on Barack Obama and I was looking at the photos of him and

thought they were so cool. Eventually, I looked at the byline and it said Pete Souza, so I clicked on the link, which took me to his bio and it said Kansas State University,” Starkey said. “At that point, I decided I was going to go to K-State and become the next Pete Souza.”

Taking photos of the Wildcat football team was her first goal when she decided to attend K-State. Before stepping foot on campus, Starkey started working for the Kansas State Collegian as a photographer.

“I worked so much that summer that they let me start shooting football as a freshman,” Starkey said. “After my first semester, I was named photo editor.”

From the Collegian, Starkey got an internship with GoPowercat.com, the 24/7 Sports affiliate for K-State Athletics. That experience eventually turned into an internship with K-State Athletics during her senior year of college.

“I was the creative intern, so I was not just taking photos,” Starkey said. “I was doing some graphics, video and social media.”

As an intern for K-State Athletics, Starkey learned about the creative media position in sports from Spencer LaHaye, the recruiting graphic designer for K-State at the time.

“Once I figured out that was a career, I decided I wanted to do it. Who wouldn’t want to make cool stuff for social media and take photos of the team?”

Starkey said.

Her time as an intern at K-State Athletics included working heavily with the football and men’s basketball teams. During her time, Starkey was part of the 2019 men’s basketball Big 12 Championship and even helped market the hiring of Chris Klieman.

“I cannot say enough good things about my internship,” Starkey said. “It was the best year, and I don’t think there’s a better internship out there.”

After her internship with K-State Athletics, she transi-

tioned into the role she has now with the Wildcats — as the coordinator of football creative.

“My favorite part of the job is building brands,” Starkey said.

“I love building relationships with the staff and the student-athletes and being able to promote them and tell their story.”

Her energy is something that her co-workers notice about her.

“She is a ball of energy,” director of social media and digital engagement Jay Moline said.

“I almost don’t have to worry about football social media because of her. We have our best person in charge of our highest revenue sport.”

Her job puts her in charge of the social media platforms for the football team, as well as taking photos for the team. The social media accounts not only help build the K-State brand for the fans but potential recruits as well.

“She does a great job and is on top of things that are trendy in a timely manner,” K-State football scouting analyst Chuck Lillie said. “She makes sure K-State is a valuable social media page for fans and recruits.”

As of April 8, the K-State football Twitter account has over 100,000 followers.

“She does a phenomenal job of capturing stories and lives of people involved with K-State football,” Lillie said. “She is very highly skilled at storytelling.”

One example of the creativity that Starkey brings to the table for K-State Athletics is the 2021 schedule release video on the K-State Football social media accounts. In the video, football players played the game “Heads Up” to guess the teams they would be playing on certain weeks of the season.

“Heads Up was really fun to do and the guys had a lot of fun with it too,” Starkey said. “I was really worried about how it would go over but seeing all the

To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com

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