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T H E I N D E P E N D E N T V O I C E F O R K A N S A S S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y
vol. 125, issue 12
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monday, september 23, 2 0 1 9
Community members gather in solidarity with global climate strikes
REBECCA VRBAS THE COLLEGIAN
Triangle Park was bustling with a crowd full of Kansas State students, faculty and other members of the Manhattan community on Friday, Sept. 20. The group gathered in solidarity with climate strikes occurring around the globe. The rally was spearheaded by Hannah Jones, a veteran who is currently a nursing student at Manhattan Technical College. “I first heard about the international climate strike through Greta Thunberg,” Jones said. “She was talking about how on Sept. 20 — actually through this whole weekend — people from around the world are going to be striking for the climate. So I thought, ‘Well, why not take the initiative and start a project here?’ I was about to collect my things and drive to Lawrence, but then I thought, ‘That just seems kind of silly. Why would I burn fossil fuels when I can engage my community here?’” Jones organized the rally with the help of Tim Herrman, a Manhattan resident and graduate from Fort Hays State. They publicized the strike using a Facebook event. Jones began the rally with an impassioned speech detailing her experience in the Army where she saw how the government treats the environment. “My experience as a veteran taught me that the government
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Dylan Connell | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Hannah Jones, leader of the Veterans Against War organization, hosted a climate change strike at Triangle Park, Sept 2, 2019. doesn’t care,” Jones said. “It’s more profitable to consume and do what we’re told instead of going against the grain or starting over again from scratch. To fight the climate catastrophe, it’s going to be uncomfortable. It’s going to require confrontation to the highest echelons of power. It means redistributing land and wealth to the people whose labor we exploited and whose land we stole.” Herrman spoke after Jones, voicing frustration with the waste of the retail system and inadequate adaptation to renewable energy. “We need to dedicate ourselves to renewable energy and stop burn-
Career Guide: Tips and tricks to get the job
ing things,” Herrman said. “It’s the future. There’s things that we can do, we’re not powerless in this — but we need to hold our leaders accountable.” Jones invited community members who wished to make a statement to come forward and address the crowd with a megaphone. Ian Boyd, senior in political science at K-State, came forward to go up to speak during the rally. “Each and every one of you has the ability to make more change than anything else before because this is a large movement,” Boyd said. “This is one of the biggest movements in
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history because this is not just about one nation, this is not just about one ideal. This is about our future, our future as a planet. And what we can do is continue to do things like this. We can stand together — we can demand that action be taken.” Boyd, a member of the Sunrise Movement — a youth-led movement dedicated to stopping the climate crisis — advocated for change at a national level and specifically voiced support for the Green New Deal. Matt Sanderson, professor of sociology at K-State, elaborated on the conflict that surrounds the discussion of climate change. “It’s very uncomfortable to have talks about climate change because climate change deals with fundamental questions of identity and who you are and where we’re going,” Sanderson said. After a march through Aggieville, many people stuck around and continued to engage in discussions sparked by the event. “I’m really happy with the turnout,” Jones said. “Honestly, the turnout was larger than I was anticipating. And I was also very pleased with how many people came up and just spoke on a whim and shared themselves with the group, because that’s what we need. We need individuals in the community collaborating together. And I’m really looking forward to the next time we can come together under an issue as a community and make our opinions and voices known.”
See how the director of the Beach Museum fosters learning
NEWS
Here’s everything you need to know to give blood this week by Kaylie Mclaughlin This week, students and faculty will be able to donate blood in the annual Kansas State Red Cross fall blood drive. The Red Cross is hoping to collect 500 donated pints of blood this year. Jan Hale, communications director at the American Red Cross, said if K-State meets that goal, it will become the biggest blood drive in Kansas.
WHEN AND WHERE DO I DONATE?
Monday- K-State Student Union Ballroom from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Tuesday- K-State Student Union Ballroom from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Putnam Hall lobby. Wednesday- K-State Student Union Ballroom from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Putnam Hall lobby. Thursday- K-State Student Union Ballroom from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Putnam Hall lobby.
WHAT DO I NEED TO DONATE?
K-State students and faculty interested in donating blood this week need to bring a blood donor card or a driver's license with them. If donors don't have those forms of identification, they can bring two other types of identification. Proof of identity is required to check-in.
see page 3, “BLOOD DRIVE”
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monday, september 23, 2019
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EDITORIAL BOARD Kaylie McLaughlin Editor-in-Chief Molly Hackett Managing Editor Sports Editor
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The Mission of the Collegian Media Group is to use best practices of journalism to cover and document life at Kansas State University from a diverse set of voices to inform and engage the K-State community. The Collegian welcomes your letters. We reserve the right to edit submitted letters for length and style. A letter intended for publication should be no longer than 600 words and must be relevant to the student body of K-State. It must include the author’s first and last name, year in school and major. If you are a graduate of K-State, the letter should include your year(s) of graduation and must include the city and state where you live. For a letter to be considered, it must include a phone number where you can be contacted. The number will not be published. Letters can be sent to letters@ kstatecollegian.com or submitted through an online form at kstatecollegian.com. Letters may be rejected if they contain abusive content, lack timeliness, contain vulgarity, profanity or falsehood, promote personal and commercial announcements, repeat comments of letters printed in other issues or contain attachments. The Collegian does not publish open letters, third-party letters or letters that have been sent to other publications or people.
CORRECTIONS If you see something that should be corrected, call editor-in-chief Kaylie McLaughlin at 785-370-6356 or email news@kstatecollegian.com
The Collegian, a student newspaper at Kansas State University, is published by Collegian Media Group. It is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the school year and on Wednesdays during the summer. Periodical postage is paid at Manhattan, KS. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 828 Mid-Campus Drive South, Kedzie 103, Manhattan, KS 66506-7167. First copy free, additional copies 25 cents. [USPS 291 020] © Collegian Media Group, 2019
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monday, september 23, 2019
Got an interview? Here's a few tips and tricks to succeed
Archive Photo by Hannah Husinger | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Michelle Allison, then-junior in human resources, talks to Jasmine Phillips, student manager from Southwestern Advantage, about internship opportunities at a career fair in the K-State Student Union ballroom.
KAYLIE MCLAUGHLIN THE COLLEGIAN
Whether you’re interviewing for your first internship or you’re looking for your first job post-graduation, here are a few tips to help you keep it cool during your interview and make a good impression.
1. PRINT OUT YOUR RESUME ON NICE PAPER.
There are two parts to this tip: bring your resume with you and don’t print it on regular printer paper. Bringing your resume, even if you’ve already sent one in, shows that you thought ahead and gives your interviewers something to reference while they’re speaking with you. Printing it on sturdier paper not only prevents you from bending it up while you hold onto it, but also shows a little extra effort.
2. DRESS UP.
This might seem like a no brainer, but it’s important. Even if your interview is over Skype, make sure you are dressed all the way for it. (That means no blazer and pajama pants ensembles.) In general, dressing up shows that you’ve thought ahead and that you are professional.
3. IT’S OKAY TO MULL OVER A QUESTION.
If you get asked a question that stumps you, don’t blurt something out. It’s okay to say “Wow, that’s a good question. Let me think about that for a second.” It not only gives you time to think it over, but it allows you take a breather and collect your thoughts.
4. MAKE EYE CONTACT.
This is so important. Even if you’re nervous, keep eye contact. Show them that you not only respect them, but that you have interpersonal skills. Also, resist the urge to fiddle with your clothes or mess with your nails. You might be crazy nervous, but messing around with something and avoiding eye contact will make you come across as rude or disinterested.
5. BRING A ‘THANK YOU’ NOTE.
This one is kind of a bonus. When I was practicing interviewing in high school in my Career and Life Planning class, my teacher said bringing something that shows your appreciation for your interviewer’s time will put your resume at the top of the stack. It shows that you are interested in the job and the company. Also, everyone likes opening mail.
These K-State on-campus resources can help you nail your next interview JULIE FREIJAT
THE COLLEGIAN
The All-University career fair is on Tuesday. There, students will be able to meet with a multitude of professionals and employers. It’s possible some individuals will end up pursuing a position with a company at the fair. Kansas State offers resources to help students to be prepared. Career Center: The Career Center is located inside the Berney Family Welcome Center. Here, students can get help with their resume, connect with potential employers, develop skills and find the right career path. The Career Center also offers resources for multicultural students, international students, students with disabilities and LGBTQ students. Students can also get assistance building their personal brand, managing their online reputation and get tips for using social media as a career tool. Multiple classes are offered by the Career Center in an effort to help students with their career development. Career Closet: Within the Career Center is the Career Closet, a place where students can find profession-
Alex Todd | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Carson Avery, junior in industrial engineering, gets some fashion tips from Laura Wiebe, a former senior in apparel and textiles. The Career Closet has about 100 student visitors every day. (Alex Todd | Collegian Media Group) al attire that has been donated by others. Its free and available to all K-State students. Donors include faculty, alumni and more.The Career Closet is open weekdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. WildcatLink: K-State students can get connected with other students, faculty,alumni or others who are interested in networking
BLOOD DRIVE continued from page
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To donate, you must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health. If you are below the age of 18 but would like to donate, you must show parental consent.
HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?
Though appointments aren’t required to donate blood in the drive, making one in advance can help save some time. To make an appointment, visit the American Red Cross website, download the Red Cross Blood Donor app or call 1-800-733-2767.
with the K-State community through WildcatLink. The website allows students to find mentors and professionals who may be helpful in providing career opportunities or professional skills. Students can also apply to be a part of the mentoring programs WildcatLink offers. Your academic advisor: Students can always email
their academic advisor with questions or concerns regarding an upcoming job interview or their current career path. Academic advisors can help guide students through tough decisions by providing knowledge and support. Students can get in touch with their advisor to share their thoughts about their future career path.
Check out our website at
kstatecollegian.com Keep an eye out for new features and content.
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monday, september 23, 2019
Director of the Beach Museum of Art educates, creates experiences EMMA WITTER
THE COLLEGIAN
Linda Duke is in the business of educating, but that doesn’t mean her own education is over. For the last eight years, Duke has been director of the Beach Museum of Art, and her time at the museum has taught her a lot. “One of the things that I love about working in an art museum is that it’s like a never-ending education,” Duke said. “Every exhibition, every public program we work on, we’re in touch with new creative ideas and histories.” Working at multiple art museums before the Beach Museum, Duke said she was drawn to educating though museum work more than classroom teaching because of the informality and lack of structure. “It didn’t involve tests and grading, and I found that very
exciting,” Duke said. Duke’s educational focus is something Luke Dempsey, exhibition designer at the museum, said he admires about his colleague. “Linda has fostered an environment that is focused around telling a story,” Dempsey said. “She has an obvious hunger to educate and share her passion for art.” Most exhibitions that go on display at the museum are several years in the making, and Duke said that all the organizing keeps her busy. Dempsey adds Duke takes an active role in planning each exhibition that comes to the museum. “Each exhibition is unique and always requires discussion to finely tune the methods for constructing our narrative,” Dempsey said. “Linda is always deeply involved in this process, providing important insights and instilling our teams with confidence.”
Most recently, Duke finds inspiration by her work on a future exhibition, a collaboration with Microsoft that will open in fall 2020 called “Four Worlds.” The exhibition has been in the works for over a year and will allow visitors to utilize technology and augmented reality to explore ancient archaeological objects from different cultures. Duke likens her job to that of the host of a tea ceremony, a custom she studied as a college student. “[The host’s] job is to prepare ahead of time for the guests to have a really extraordinary aesthetic experience,” Duke said. “The word aesthetic means things that we learn through our senses, so to really think about the tea room, the garden path that they take to get to it, the fragrance of the incense, the painting that’s hung on the wall, the flower arrangements, the way you make the tea and serve it to them, the taste of Transportation
the tea — all of those things.” One of the rules of tea ceremony is that topics outside the tea room are off limits. Duke said she hopes to create a similar environment in the Beach Museum. “You don’t talk about politics, you don’t talk about religion — you just talk about the taste of the tea, the texture of the tea bowl, the painting that’s displayed on the wall,” she said. “You keep it right there. It’s a kind of meditation. I feel like by some kind of good fortune, I have a job where that’s my responsibility everyday — to think about what kind of experience we offer our visitors when they come in the door of the museum.” One way Duke has worked to create this experience for museum guests is by hiring student greeters and gallery attendants to provide information and direction. “When I first came here, there wasn’t any kind of student greeter in the front lobby,
so people would come in the door and be like, ‘Where are the galleries?’ ‘What’s going on here?’” Duke said. “Those kind of things really matter, and how we receive guests matters to have people feel welcomed.” Heather Kolb, senior in art education and lobby host at the museum, is often the first person visitors see when they visit. Kolb said that while there’s a range of things museum staff aim to accomplish, one is to provide guests with a break from their everyday routine. “I think the museum is able to create a unique calming experience because it draws you out of your regularly scheduled to-do list to really connect with artists and their work,” Kolb said. “It’s something a lot of people aren’t able to do every day.” Not everyone is an art connoisseur, but Duke said you don’t have to understand art to learn something from it. “You could say all art through time has expressed
something about the experience of being human, so when we look at works of art, it sometimes helps us imagine or empathize with what it was like to be human in some other time or place, situation, culture,” Duke said. “I think a lot of important things like that happen in museums.” Duke said liking art isn’t necessarily the point either. “‘Why is this in the museum? It looks like a piece of junk to me.’ I think being open-minded enough to ask that question instead of just getting angry or frustrated sometimes leads to interesting discoveries,” Duke said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that you end up liking that artwork. You may think it’s just appalling, but it’s still useful, for your own sake, to understand why you think that.” Art lovers and art haters alike are welcome at the Beach Museum, Duke said, as long as they’re open to learning something.
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Abigail Compton | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Linda Duke, the director of the Beach Museum of Art, pictured on Sept. 20, 2019.
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monday, september 23, 2019
K-State tennis claims several victories at Marliss Gruver JULIA JORNS
THE COLLEGIAN
Kansas State tennis started its season with five victories in singles competition on the first day of the Marliss Gruver Invitational Sept. 20 to Sept. 22. The Wildcats recorded three wins in the first round from junior Rosanna Maffei and sophomores Karine-Marion Job and Ioana Gheorghita. Maffei and Job won in three set and Gheorghita was able to claim her victory in two sets. In the second round, Maffei beat No. 5 seed Anna Vrbenska of Ole Miss. Gheorghita advanced to the semifinals after claiming a three-set win over No. 1 seed Alexa Bortles from Ole Miss. Job fell in the third set of
her match against No. 7 seed Tereza Janatova of Ole Miss. Senior Ines Mesquita lost both her matches to Julia Deming of Kansas in three sets and against Samantha Smith of Penn State in two sets. Day two brought the last part of singles competition and started doubles play. In the start of doubles play, Job and Mesquita were able to defeat their opponents 6-2 against Wisconsin. Maffei and Gheorghita claimed their victory over Wisconsin with a 7-6 win. Job and Mesquita faced off against the 17th ranked pairing in the country in Bortles and Sabina Machalova of Ole Miss where they fell 5-7 in the set. Maffei and Gheorghita were not able to win against Raissa Lou and Rhea Shrivas-
tava from Yale. In singles play, Maffei beat Madeline Meredith in the semifinal round and advanced to the title match. With this win, K-State went 2-2 in doubles competition and recorded one win in singles competition. On the final day of the invitational, K-State claimed three singles victories. Maffei claimed a three-set win over the No. 6 seed Selin Ovunc of Auburn. Maffei went undefeated over the weekend while beating the No. 4, 5, 9, and 6 seeds. Job finished in seventh place and Gheorghita claimed third after they both won their final matches. K-State Tennis will compete in the SMU Invitational in Dallas, Texas starting Friday, Sept. 27 for their second tournament of the season.
Night of celebration
Katelin Woods | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
On Saturday, Sept. 21, SPICMACAY and the Union Program Council hosted the first Garba and Dandiya Night at Kansas State in almost to eight years in the K-State Student Union Ballroom. The event, also known as Dandiya Rass, is an Indian folk dance that celebrates Navaratri, which marks the victory of the goddess Durga over a demon. The festival celebrates the battle of good versus evil and is meant to promote unity.
K-State falls to undefeated BYU 5-0 on Saturday
Luis Villarreal-Reyes | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Freshman Carly Mcconville dribbling the ball while BYU players attempt to defend on September 21, 2019. BYU won 5-0. LUIS VILLARREAL-REYES THE COLLEGIAN
Seventh-ranked Brigham Young University handed Kansas State their biggest defeat in the program’s three-year history. Five minutes into the game, BYU junior Cameron Tucker stunned senior goalkeeper Emma Malsy with a shot from 23-yards out, sending the ball to the lower right corner. Besides Tucker’s solo goal at the half, much of the action came after the forty-fifth minute of the game. “We were down one to zero at half, which I thought was a positive,” head coach Mike Dibbini told K-State Sports. “Once they scored their second goal, then the wheels kind of fell off, but we kept trying.” Tucker struck yet again three minutes into the second half. Tucker received the ball on the right side
of the goalkeeper box from freshman Jamie Shepard. Once she made contact with the ball she shot to the left to get the ball past Malsy. With two goals under her name, Tucker wasn’t finished. The junior would go on to finish the game with five attempts and three shots on goal. All three of her shots found the back of the net allowing her to record an impressive hattrick. Her third and final goal of the night came in the fifty-eighth minute of the game with an assist by senior Lizzy Braby. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, BYU was not finished. The Cougars would go on to score two more goals before the final whistle. In the sixty-ninth minute, senior Ella Ballstaedt would get BYU’s fourth goal of the night with a header off of a corner kick. BYU’s final goal came in the eighty-fifth minute
after being awarded a penalty kick. Freshman Kendell Peterson took the challenge and was able to get the ball passed Malsy. The Wildcats were only able to record nine shots and only two of those were on target. BYU had 29 shot attempts with 13 of those shots being on target. Although Dibinni did not get the results he would have hoped for, he had high praise for BYU’s team. “That was a really good team there,” Dibinni told K-State Sports. “I’ve got to give them credit. They’re undefeated and have only given up one goal for a reason — you saw it right there. But that was a really good team there, probably the best I’ve seen since we started this program.” The Wildcats will play again on Thursday against defending-Big 12 champions, Baylor. The game starts at 7 p.m. at Buser Family Park.
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monday, september 23, 2019
RESPONSE: The Multicultural Student Center is a step forward, not backward On Friday, Sept. 20, another student submitted an opinion piece for publication in the Collegian. In it they criticized Kansas State’s decision to build a multicultural students center. I want to place my opinion about the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center on the record and discuss its importance to students like me. I am a non-caucasian, international student at K-State. Every day, I come on campus and attend my lectures. Throughout my time at K-State, I have been the only international student in a few of my classes. There have been times when I was the only non-Kansan student in my class. This demographic led me to adopt a fake identity. I was a different person in my classes and a different person when I was with my friends.
The same thing happens with me when I am at Student Governing Association and Student Foundation meetings: I adopt this fake American identity in a quest to try and fit in, but I end up lying to myself. I have been suffering through this feeling ever since I have been here at K-State. I am sure that just like me, there are many more students on campus who fall under peer pressure and adopt a fake identity to fit into their classes and on campus. The writer in the previous opinion piece mentions how the Morris Family Multicultural Students Center somehow promotes racial segregation, discriminates against caucasian students and that it goes against the principles of the great Martin Luther King Jr. This argument could not
be more far from the truth. To begin with, the writer does not seem to understand the definition of the words “multicultural students.” It seems that he is confused between the word ‘multicultural’ and ‘multiracial.’ In the words of Bryan Samuel, chief diversity and inclusion officer, “…diversity and multiculturalism are so much broader than race alone.” Similarly, the MSC is not just for students of different races, but also a student center for students of different nationalities, students of the LGBTQI+ community, students of different religious backgrounds, students with accessibility issues, first-generation students and so on. The MSC has been specifically defined and designed to accommodate all students who identify themselves with
presenting
Steve Lerner Film screening of Strangers in Town followed by discussion with the filmmaker.
Tuesday, September 24 7:00 pm Forum Hall, K-State Student Union Co-sponsors with UFM Community Learning Center: KSU College of Arts and Sciences Diversity Lecture Series and the KSU Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work For more information visit www.tryufm.org or contact UFM at info@tryufm.org or 785-539-8763.
different identities. The primary mission of the MSC is to promote and improve cultural competence among students. This means engaging students in a meaningful dialogue about celebrating our differences by having events that explore our intersectional identities. It will act as a resource center to students like me who at times do not feel like our voices are being heard on campus or feel unwelcome. It does not mean the students who do not identify with different identities or students from the majority community are prevented from being a part of this fabulous project. Quite oppositely, the MSC would welcome all students to have better participation and help students understand how to be accepting, tolerant and more accommodating towards other students. The Morris Family Multicultural Student Center would provide students like me with an opportunity to be ourselves. The center is designed to make students feel comfortable in their skins. Along with that, it will be a learning opportunity for students to understand diversity, equity and inclusion in the 21st century. Students like me do not always feel comfortable everywhere. We need a space to be ourselves and that should not just be our apartments. If we do not feel comfortable anywhere on campus, then we deserve to have a space where we feel relaxed, reassured and confident about ourselves. It is easy for students like the writer of the previous opinion piece, who feel comfortable anywhere in this country due to their existent privilege, to say that the MSC is useless. They have never been through what we have to suffer every day. The writer of the previous letter also compared the MSC with segregation. This argument is very shortsighted and ill-advised. The MSC
John Chapple | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Vedant Kulkarni, junior in management information systems and mass communications, is the Student Governing Association international affairs director. is not segregating students. Segregation would mean having different colleges and classes for students with different identities. That is not the MSC. The MSC is being constructed to make students, who identify differently than the majority community, to feel more welcomed and encouraged on campus and to be a resource for student success. It is of paramount importance that all students understand that the Morris Family Multicultural Students Center is going to be a center for inclusivity, not a means to any crackbrained segregation. President Richard Myers at KSUnite 2018 talked about K-State’s goal to create worldready students that understand the power of inclusion and diversity: that goal is what the MSC represents. We are one united campus and we are united in our diversity. Hence, saying that the MSC is a step backward is not just ignorant, but outright futile. The presence of a Multicultural Students Center on campuses is a show of strength, campus-harmo-
ny and progressiveness. The Morris Family Multicultural Students Center is a step towards better student integration at K-State. It will ensure that all student voices are encompassed keenly. The writer of the previous opinion piece should understand that diversity is a strength, not a weakness, and the Multicultural Students Center will be a place to demonstrate that strength. It is not some “student fantasy” to feel great, it is a platform to feel included at K-State. To quote Audre Lorde, “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” Vedant Deepak Kulkarni is a junior 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.
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monday, september 23, 2019
Conference play starts this week for football, volleyball and soccer ADAM MEYER
THE COLLEGIAN
WOMEN'S GOLF
The women’s golf team will be playing in the East and West Match Play in Madison, Wisconsin. This invitational began on Sunday and will go through Tuesday. This will be the third invitational the women’s golf team will be participating in this season.
MEN'S GOLF
The men’s golf team will be competing in the Trinity Forest Invitational in Dallas, Texas, at Trinity Forest Golf Club. This invitational began on Sunday and will go through Tuesday.
TENNIS
The tennis team will be competing in the SMU Invitational in Dallas, Texas. This is the second competition the Wildcats will be competing in this season. This invitational will begin on Friday and will go through Sunday.
SOCCER
The soccer team (2-52) will begin Big 12 play on Thursday hosting the Baylor Bears. The match will begin at 7 p.m. and can be watched on ESPN +.
VOLLEYBALL
The volleyball team (5-7) will see their first conference opponent on Saturday in Fort Worth, Texas, against the Texas Christian University Horned
Frogs. This match will begin at 4 p.m. and can be heard on 1350 AM KMAN.
FOOTBALL
The football team (3-0) is coming off their bye week and will begin Big 12 play in Stillwater, Oklahoma, against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will air on ESPN +. Logan Wassall COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Junior quarterback Skylar Thompson runs out onto the field before K-State’s football game against Nicholls State in Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Aug. 31, 2019. The Wildcats took the Colonels 49-14.
Pretend like youʼre taking notes and do the SUDOKU
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monday, september 23, 2019
Minute in my shoes: Engineering a passion for a sustainable future REBECCA VRBAS THE COLLEGIAN
Carly Byrne, junior in mechanical engineering, didn’t always know she wanted to go into engineering. “My mom’s an artist. I grew up in a very creative family and everybody thought I was going to do something super creative,” Byrne said. “And then I went [with] engineering and kind of shocked everybody. [I] chose it last minute.” Byrne said she hopes to end up putting her own
creative flare on her future career. “I hope to make it my own,” Byrne said. “[I want to] make the most of what I want from my job, so look for something that has sustainability in it.” She said as an engineer she wants to build buildings that eliminate greenhouse gasses. For Byrne, engineering is a way to pursue her logical, creative and sustainability passions in a productive way. “I just feel like [engineering] hits all like my core pieces of myself,” Byrne
said. “It gives me security, it gives me range to be creative in some ways and I like to use my brain and problem solve, so I’m very logical. It kind of just encompasses my multifaceted personality.” In an effort to begin pursuing her passion of a sustainable future, Byrne co-created K-State’s new Sustainability Club with her friend Kaitlyn Smallfoot, junior in mechanical engineering. The two are now co-presidents. “We met freshman year in ME101, [and] became best friends right away,” By-
Manhattan climate strike
Dylan Connell | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Students and community members alike gathered for a climate change strike in Triangle Park on Sept 20, 2019. Pictured here is a little boy who attended the strike. He marched with other participants through Aggieville with a sign that says “Save her for my generation.”
rne said. “We study together all the time — we’re super supportive of each other.” So far, the group has attracted about 50 members after just a few meetings. They also gained a couple hundred followers on Instagram. Though the co-presidents come from the College of Engineering, Byrne said they want to make a club open to all majors for diverse opinions. “Everybody’s been really supportive, which I was kind of blown away by,” Byrne said.
Abigail Compton | Collegian Media Group
LETTER: SGA has a lot of work to to to be inclusive to all students Camila Segura Rivera is a graduate school student senator and a graduate student in architecture. 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. Kansas State is not a globalized campus. Our makeup includes many people from rural communities mixing in with those from urban communities, which means for the first time, we have to learn how to interact with each other. The opinion piece written against the multicultural student center is a very good indication of just that. As a previous undergraduate student at University of Missouri-Kansas City, I worked in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs there. When I told my adviser I was coming to K-State to pursue a masters of architecture, she said “Be careful out there. It is going to be a culture shock.” Unfortunately, I quickly learned that she was correct. I was one of five people of color in a class of 250 people.
Shock was an understatement—I felt fear. After not being able to receive a paid position in our Multicultural Student Office due to its small size, I took a position in the Union Program Council. If Student Governing Association had not presented legislation to cut the UPC budget last semester, I would have never known about the organization and the power they possess. My first SGA meeting, I was lost. I didn’t understand the jargon and the speed was incredible. I thought they were having a discussion when they were actually voting, and legislation was passed left and right. I felt like an ignorant person of color in a room full of white people — not a new feeling at K-State. This experience is not unique to me. I can only imagine what it’s like for other people who walk into the organization for the first time. Based on an SGA demographic survey filled out at the beginning of the current term, 100 percent of the people of color in SGA are employed and are heavily involved with on-campus extracurriculars. The outside demands lead to a lack of representation
within SGA as well as a perception that these students are not as invested in the organization compared to those who can focus solely on it. I now serve as a student senator for the Graduate School and am aware of how powerful my voice is in the room. Though I originally did not know the norms of the organization, I quickly realized that the things I did know were of great contribution. While the aforementioned opinion piece was discouraging, there is a real effort in SGA to create a diverse and inclusive student governing body that moves beyond buzzwords and empty promises. For example, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee was created to bridge the gap between SGA and underrepresented students. I sit on this committee and I’ve learned how accessible it is despite how inaccessible it seems. Committee meetings are open, senate meetings are open and live-streamed and I can only speak for myself and my committee in saying we are more than happy to have you. Bring your questions, ideas, and challenges to the room. Make your voice heard we’re listening.