10-10-18 by Kansas State Collegian

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

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vol. 124, issue 22

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Here’s why some students did not attend KSUnite this year JANELLE MARNEY THE COLLEGIAN

Between midterms, projects and Homecoming week activities, some students said, piled-up responsibilities prevented them from attending the KSUnite rally on Tuesday even though classes were canceled. “I wasn’t well informed of what KSUnite is, plus I have some school work to do tonight,” Jack Behrndt, freshman in kinesiology, said. “I think if more professors talked about it in class or had more students talking about the event that would’ve [helped] with awareness.” Many students, like Bailey Hittle, sophomore in agricultural communications and journalism, said the cancellation of classes was an opportunity to catch up on school work. With midterms just around the corner, Hittle said she had several exams this week and combined with her job, all these responsibilities limited

her free time. “I am disappointed that I’m unable to attend, but I feel working and making the time time to study is a better use of my free time,” Hittle said. Some students who attended KSUnite last year said they did not attend this year because they didn’t feel it was advertised enough, which ultimately resulted in low awareness among students. Matt Davidson, sophomore in biological and agricultural engineering, said he had previously attended KSUnite because he wanted to support campus unity as did many of his friends. “I had no clue that KSUnite was happening today,” Davidson said. “I remember seeing a few things that talked about the event but nothing really stuck out to me for me to realize it was today.” Davidson said he appreciated last year’s rally and felt he took away key points on multiculturalism and unity as a college campus.

04 OP-ED: Conservatives should 07 promote birth control access K-State football gets boost from players-only meeting

Olivia Bergmeier | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

The second annual KSUnite was held on Tuesday in celebration of the university’s committment to diversity and inclusion and how the K-State community can keep working toward its goals.

Second KSUnite a ‘proactive measure’ KAYLIE MCLAUGHLIN THE COLLEGIAN

At 1 p.m. sharp, the bells in Anderson Tower tolled, signaling the start of the Kansas State Unity Walk to the K-State Student Union Ballroom. Students, faculty and community members filtered into the room for the second KSUnite. Close to 1,000 people found seats in the ballroom, with overflow options and a livestream available in spaces around the union.

This year, KSUnite was not a response to a campus crisis, but a proactive measure to continually establish a “diversity continuum” within the K-State family, Bryan Samuel, chief diversity officer, said. The 2017 KSUnite stood against a backdrop of racial tension on campus. It followed a series of events that came to a head after a later-debunked racist car vandalism that took social media by storm. “It was time to stop reacting to unfortunate events and start preventing and moving

the needle forward to become a more inclusive campus,” Paloma Roman, student senator and senior in athletic training, said. President Richard Myers described watching students flood onto Anderson Lawn last year as an emotional experience that brought tears to his eyes. “During those troubling times, the K-State family chose to unite and validate long-standing university plans to pledge focus on shared values and a dedication to foster an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere where everyone is valued and where

everyone can share and learn from one another,” Myers said. Myers said, in unifying, K-State students and faculty were able to “change the dialogue” and ultimately define the identity of the university and shape its future. “Today, we are here under somewhat different circumstances, but our goals are exactly the same,” Myers said.

see page 5, “KSUNITE”

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EDITORIAL BOARD Rafael Garcia Editor-in-chief

Dené Dryden Managing editor Rachel Hogan Deputy managing editor Kyle Hampel Community co-editor Olivia Rogers Community co-editor

Kaylie McLaughlin News editor

Molly Hackett Assistant sports editor

Leah Zimmerli Assistant news editor

Monica Diaz Social media editor

Katelin Woods Culture editor Macy Davis Assistant culture editor Jarrett Whitson Sports Editor

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The Collegian welcomes your letters. We reserve the right to edit submitted letters for length and style. A letter intended for publication should be no longer than 400 words and must be relevant to the student body of K-State. It must include the author’s first and last name, year in school and major. If you are a graduate of K-State, the letter should include your year(s) of graduation and must include the city and state where you live. For a letter to be considered, it must include a phone number where you can be contacted. The number will not be published. Letters can be sent to letters@ kstatecollegian.com or submitted through an online form at kstatecollegian.com. Letters may be rejected if they contain abusive content, lack timeliness, contain vulgarity, profanity or falsehood, promote personal and commercial announcements, repeat comments of letters printed in other issues or contain attachments. The Collegian does not publish open letters, third-party letters or letters that have been sent to other publications or people. CORRECTIONS If you see something that should be corrected or clarified, call editor-in-chief Rafael Garcia 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, 2018

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Ahead of KSUnite, campus leaders facilitate conversations on community DENE DRYDEN HANNAH GREER FAITH LEATHERMAN PETER LOGANBILL TORI WIEGERS THE COLLEGIAN

As the rain drenched Kansas State’s campus, conversations poured throughout the top level of the Union Tuesday morning. In two rounds, running from 10:00 to 11:45 a.m., facilitated sessions on topics pertaining to different facets of community led up to the second KSUnite rally.

CAMPUS SAFETY

Ronnie Grice, assistant vice president of public safety and K-State Police Department chief, led a session titled “Campus safety: Best strategies for safety both on and off campus” in the first round of breakouts in the morning. Grice said the first key tip for safety is being aware of your surroundings. One service he talked about was the LiveSafe app. “You can set one of your friends to track you from point A to point B,” Grice said. The LiveSafe app allows friends to track a student’s phone at their request if they are traveling alone. The user or the watcher can contact the police through the app if an emergency or concern occurs. Users can also send pictures to the KSUPD through the app to report crimes. Grice said an example would be to report someone graffitiing a building. Students and staff members asked questions throughout the program. One audience member asked if dialing 911 will direct them to KSUPD or the Riley County Police Department, depending on their location. Grice said all 911 calls in the area go through the RCPD first, then can be rerouted to KSUPD’s dispatch service. He recommended students to call 785-532-6412, KSUPD’s

non-emergency number, to reach the police department faster. Another audience member asked about sexual assault and if the police department works with the Center for Advocacy, Response and Education on campus. Grice said the police department has a great working relationship with the CARE Office and the Office for Student Life. “Sexual assault across campus is probably one of the most underreported crimes that happens in the university setting,” Grice said. “Sometimes it’s good to have somebody to talk to, somebody to reach out to you.” Grice wrapped up the session by showing the audience KSUPD’s active shooter training video, which informs viewers of different ways to respond to an active shooter situation using the ALICE program. Whitney Hinmon, sophomore in accounting, said she liked all the information that was given because she likes knowing that resources that are at her disposal. “I’m responsible for my own safety as well, even though there are service providers that are around to back me up or anything when I need assistance,” Hinmon said.

FIRST-GENERATION STUDENT SUCCESS

“Empowering First-Generation Student Success” was one of the 10 a.m. sessions before KSUnite meant to highlight the university’s efforts to graduate students who are first-generation college students by meeting their individual needs. This session in particular was held in cooperation with the Suder family. Eric Suder, president and founder of the Suder Foundation, said only four percent of first generation students in the United States will actually graduate. “They are less prepared, have a greater financial need and their success will transform generational patterns,”

Suder said. At K-State, Suder said, the four-year graduation rate of a first generation student is about 28 percent. “We’re about leveling the playing field,” Suder said. “A person can be whatever they want to be.” “I really love to help empower students, to get them to feel that they are excited about being here and exploring what the university has to offer,” Alison Wheatley, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said. “It’s important to help students know that we value them.” Emily Wright, freshman in human development, said she is a first-generation college student and chose to attend because it directly applies to her life and her college experience.

PROTECTED SPEECH

Another first-round conversation was “Free Speech, Diversity and Inclusion,” which was led by Cheryl Strecker, university general counsel, and Mirta Chavez, director of multicultural programming for the Division of Diversity and Multicultural Student Affairs. The session centered around establishing the fine line between hate speech and free speech. Part of the conversation included the definition of laws that establish and limit free speech. They touched on topics such as racially charged hate speech and gender-specific hate speech as well as discussing movements such as the Civil Rights Movement and feminist movements, as well as covering more recent movements like the push for rights for the LGBTQ community. At the end of the session there was a discussion period where several faculty members, including Bryan Samuel, chief diversity officer, were able to weigh in on the topic as well as giving their opinions as to what should be considered to be free speech, mainly on campus.

Alex Todd | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

As part of the “Free Speech, Diversity and Inclusion” discussion in the Big 12 Room on Tuesday, K-State’s chief diversity officer Bryan Samuel discusses some of the issues that we see on campus and what we can do to fix them.

COURAGEOUS CONVERSATIONS

Wildcat Dialogues held a workshop at 11 a.m. titled “Developing Skills for Leading Courageous Conversations.” The facilitators of the workshop had participants sit in circles to have group discussions, as the point of the session was having hard conversations. The session emphasized the importance of intercultural competence. Near the beginning of the presenta-

tion, Aliah Mestrovich Seay, co-facilitator and instructor for youth development, said competence in such fields is marked by one’s ability to adapt to differences within a community. The organization, which hosted an event earlier in the semester, aims to help students take action in developing intercultural learning. During the presentation they displayed the intercultural development continuum, which makes up five steps that move individuals

away from a monocultural mindset. The five stages are denial, polarization, minimization, acceptance and adaptation. During one of the group discussions, Brandon Solari, freshman in entrepreneurship, described what he thinks is a barrier from having these types of difficult conversations.

see page 4, “SESSIONS”

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Players-only meeting boosts morale ahead of Homecoming matchup

Olivia Bergmeier | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Senior team captian and offensive lineman Dalton Risner holds the “FAMILY” block before the game against Baylor University. The Wildcats played the Bears in Waco, Texas, on Saturday. The Wildcats fell to the Bears 37-34.

AVERY OSEN

THE COLLEGIAN

Head coach Bill Snyder and senior offensive lineman Dalton Risner were the only Kansas State football team members to speak to the media on Tuesday. Although K-State is 2-4 overall and is a winless 0-3 in conference play, Risner stressed the fact that the team is still pushing forward and not giving up.

Risner said the players had a 30 minute-long, players-only meeting on Monday night. “I’m going to be honest, I went to Coach Snyder and said, ‘I feel like we need to get together as a team,’” Risner said. “Sometimes you have to get everything out there, positive and negative, and I thought that was needed.” Risner recalled the last players-only meeting during his time at K-State. It came during his redshirt freshman season, when the team was 3-6. As Ris-

SESSIONS continued from page

“Sometimes fear,” Solari said. “Everyone has different views on certain things. You just don’t know how other people are going to respond.”

CIVIL DISCOURSE LANGUAGE

AND

Purple, black and gray shirt-donning students and faculty scattered throughout the Big 12 Conference room for “The Hate U Give: a Public Conversation” session. Tara Coleman, K-State Book Network chair, began by welcoming everyone and said she hoped the session

ner remembers, that meeting “kind of got the train back on track,” and the Wildcats won their last three games of the season to make a bowl game. With the 2015 season in mind, the senior captain said he knew he wanted to do something now before things got worse. “So, I was sitting there thinking, ‘Hey, we’re 2-4, let’s not wait until we’re 2-6 or 3-6,” Risner said. “We came off of a game that we played pretty well offensively, but we have things to build off of.” Risner said he feels that the players-only meeting was beneficial. Why? “The reason it was a good meeting, guys, is because it wasn’t about what can the coaches do different, or what can the community do different or everyone else do different — it was about what we can do different as players,” Risner said. “It was really, really beneficial and gave me a lot of energy and excitement moving forward to later this week.” Snyder’s said if the player’s-only meeting is going to be productive, then he think it’s appropriate. “I trust Dalton, and Dalton wanted to talk with the players and illicit thoughts from the players at the same time,”

could be conversation in a big room and not feel like a lecture. “The Hate U Give Little infants F***’s Everybody” are the words tattooed on the chest of the deceased rapper 2Pac and the inspiration for the title of the K-State Book Network’s choice for students to read. The book “The Hate U Give,” written by Angie Thomas, was the platform in the session for members to discuss race, civil discourse, social media and the power of language. A cornerstone of the conversation was social media and the ability it has to enable boldness in conversations. Coleman said social media allows people to be faceless in a conversation and it is talking to a screen rather than another person.

Snyder said. “I think it went well from what I understand.” After a three-point loss to Baylor last time out, K-State returns home to take on Oklahoma State on Saturday. Risner said he feels that

K-State has always competed with the Cowboys during his time as a Wildcat. “The games are always fun, they’re a prolific offense, they put points up on the board and they’re a good foot-

ball team every year,” Risner said. K-State and Oklahoma State will kick off at 11 a.m. Saturday for the annual Homecoming game, which will be televised on ESPNU.

Multicultural Student Center receives new funding, Myers says BAILEY BRITTON THE COLLEGIAN

The KSUnite rally brought students and faculty together Tuesday in the K-State Student Union Ballroom. After the rally, the room refilled for a final session of the day which featured a presentation by Adrian Rodriguez, associate vice president for student life of diversity and multicultural student affairs, on the plans for the Multicultural Student Center. The Multicultural Student Center is a project that has been proposed time and time again, but for about a decade, no direct action was taken. Following the first KSUnite, more solid plans began to take shape as representatives from the KSU Foundation and campus leaders gathered to form an action team. Many generations of wildcats have been asking for this, Randy Carter, president of the

The group proceeded to talk about how bold use of language, such as 2Pac’s tattoo, brings attention and starts conversation. A member in the audience said 2Pac’s tattoo says something about society that needs to be talked about. “We contribute to the problem, and we can contribute to making it better,” Coleman said.

MICRO-AGGRESSIONS

Led by Doris Carroll, associate professor of special education, counseling and student affairs, one of the later sessions focused on micro-aggressions and how they affect the people that are on the receiving end. Micro-aggressions are verbal and nonverbal insults that are either con-

American Ethnic Studies Student Association, said. “Students have said what they want,” Rodriguez said. “They have asked other students as well. We are trying to actualize their dreams.” Albert Ray, a 1996 Kansas State graduate in interior architecture, is the lead architect for the center. The design plans won’t be finalized until January 2019, but Ray said that what students have asked for, such as conference rooms, a welcoming area and support offices, will be included. “Having students provide input without judgement is my priority,” Ray said. “I just took their vision and transformed it.” The center is projected to cost $5.5 million. At KSUnite Tuesday, President Richard Myers announced that the project received $1.5 million in new funding, bringing the total amount raised about $4.2 million.

sciously or unconsciously distributed in conversation that convey negative messages based on minority identity. The session included an exercise in which the people attending paired up with those around them to discuss micro-aggressions they have experienced or maybe committed. Several individuals, including Pat Bosco, vice president of student life and dean of students, shared their experiences dealing with micro-aggressions. Carroll also shared her personal experiences dealing with micro-aggressions as an educator. Carroll wrapped up the session discussing how society can pinpoint micro-aggressions and how to overcome them, including steps to confront those who commit them in a positive way.

The center will concentrate on five concepts to recognize the students’ vision, Ray said, which will focus on being welcoming, multi-purpose, intercultural, well-positioned and providing a home. The center will be located east of the union, Rodriguez said. If all goes according to plan, the construction process could begin late in the coming spring semester. The project has been approved by the university’s presidential board and the KSU Foundation, but has yet to come to the Kansas Board of Regents. “We have listened to students and advocated for this,” Ayana Belk, student senator and sophomore in landscape architecture, said. “We want everything to be in this building that you want. We are working hard to make sure students are heard. Continue to voice your concern, especially to advocates.”

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KSUNITE continued from page

Myers went on to name a few of the university’s accomplishments since the last KSUnite, including the formation of an action team dedicated to building a multicultural student center at K-State, the hiring of two administrators in the offices of

the president and student life for diversity and multicultural affairs, respectively, as well as a number of honors awarded to the university for its efforts in diversity and inclusion. Such honors, Myers said, are a testament to the continued efforts of the community toward unification. Samuel said a degree from K-State is not only a signifier of a mastery of a field of study, but also that these graduates are able to work “meaningfully” with

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individuals who have stories that differ from their own. In spite of this progress, Samuel said there is still work to be done. Samuel called for the students and faculty to become “advocates” in order to amplify the voices of students who are marginalized. One of four student speakers, Vedant Kulkarni, freshman in business administration and student senator, said coming to K-State was a difficult journey.

He said he realized the only difference between himself and the people he was meeting when he first arrived was the country in which they were born. Bernard Franklin, former special assistant to the university president and K-State alumnus, returned to K-State as the keynote speaker. At length, Franklin discussed his life and his journey from a predominantly black neighborhood in Wichita to K-State in 1971.

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Franklin said when he had nothing, when he came from nothing, K-State gave him everything. Franklin would go on to be one of the first African American student body presidents in the nation and would serve on the Kansas Board of Regents at the age of 24. Additionally, he was invited by President Jimmy Carter to serve on a commission that’s research would give birth to the Pell Grant.

“We have to continue to doing the necessary,” Franklin said. “We have to. We have to figure out how to transform this place. We can’t wait, we must push forward.” Overall, Myers said he is proud of the efforts members of the K-State family have put forth in taking charge to make K-State a home for everyone. “Our work is not complete,” Myers said. “Let’s continue this walk together.”

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EDITORIAL: After KSUnite, K-State must back up lofty words with action EDITORIAL BOARD THE COLLEGIAN

With noble ambitions and some of Manhattan’s most important speakers, KSUnite began as a pro-diversity rally and educational event in fall 2017. This year’s KSUnite is the second ever, and the event’s planning committee has said it wants to make this an annual tradition. The first KSUnite was obviously a response to a string of local events throughout 2017 that left many students feeling uncomfortable — a hanging noose, a series of white supremacy posters, a homophobic slur in chalk, a self-vandalized car and more. However, a question arises from this year’s rally, one that the Collegian’s community editors even discussed: was a second KSUnite even necessary? The Collegian strongly supports the principles of diversity and inclusion — diversity of color, orientation, political affiliation and more — and K-State’s administration clearly values these principles as well. The various speakers at yesterday’s KSUnite event, including university President Richard Myers, reminded listeners of K-State’s Principles of Community and proclaimed the university’s support for “diversity and inclusion” — those words in that order, almost every time. The problem is that KSUnite, both last year and now, is not including its most important demographic: the students who need to hear these words. The KSUnite rally was so important to the administration that the university canceled nearly every class that overlapped with the scheduled rally time. This was to ensure that any student who wanted to attend KSUnite was able to do so, but that’s the issue. Any student who wanted to go, could — but many students weren’t interested in the first place.

Olivia Bergmeier | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

The K-State Student Union Courtyard was one of two locations where the overflow crowd could watch the KSUnite speakers. The second annual KSUnite was held Tuesday in celebration of the university’s commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity. By and large, the attendees of KSUnite were people who already agreed with its central message. While we fully believe in the significance of the topics and speakers at KSUnite, it is not a stretch to think that some of the people who didn’t attend would consider the event a farce — an echo chamber where students, faculty and staff with progressive values pat each other on the back for doing a good job of not being outwardly discriminatory. KSUnite has undoubtedly had a positive impact on students, particularly by helping students in minority groups feel like they’re not alone. But it is not directly confronting any problems or issues, and that in itself is a problem. Students harboring ill will toward people who are different from them see the advertisements for KSUnite and decide to stay home because their classes are canceled and rally attendance is not mandatory. They see the repetitive language — “diversity and inclusion,” “commitment to diversity,” — and they think these useful terms are being recited like buzzwords in a thoughtless, corporate manner. These are the students who need to have their views chal-

lenged and questioned, and KSUnite is not for them. The rally is effectively just a parade, a show of support from a scholastic entity that is socially obligated to support diversity in the modern day unless it wants to cause a national outrage. So, is KSUnite necessary? It’s hard to say no. For many students who come from different countries or minority races, feeling welcomed and supported by the university can be a vital part of their K-State experience. It’s also important for the administration to remind students of its expectations. However, something needs to change. There are still students at K-State who hold negative opinions of other races, religions and so on. They see buzzwords, and they’re confused. They see slogans and they’re laughing. The KSUnite rally itself should probably not be mandatory for logistical reasons, but the administration should consider adding to it or outright replacing it with something that will create an impression on all students and change them for the better.

see page 7, “EDITORIAL”

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OP-ED: Conservatives should push for access to contraceptives EVAN STECKLER THE COLLEGIAN

This opinion-editorial was written by Evan Steckler, a senior in architectural engineering. If you would like to write an op-ed with the Collegian, send us an email at opinion@kstatecollegian.com to get started. “I know the influence of womanhood will guard the home, which is the citadel of the nation. I know it will be a protector of childhood, I know it will be on the side of humanity. I welcome it as a great instrument of mercy and a mighty agency of peace. I want every woman to vote.” President Calvin Coolidge, the often-overlooked, soft-spoken Bay Stater who presided over the roaring twenties, spoke those words in his acceptance speech for the 1924 Republican presidential nomination. Four years after congressional Republicans pushed through the 19th Amendment, which expanded suffrage to women, Coolidge was still tooting the same horn he had been since 1907: Women had always played an irreplaceable role in the formation and maintenance of our republic. It was past time for them to gain access to the ballot box. While Coolidge’s decades-long campaign for expanded rights for women came amid a national movement for the cause, his public views were an exciting change of pace from the White House. Indeed, vehement support for women’s suffrage wasn’t the only issue on which Coolidge stood out. He also held progressive opinions on black Americans, Japanese Americans and Native Americans. Like every president,

EDITORIAL continued from page

Mandatory classes are an option, but lessons in diversity must be taught carefully to avoid going over people’s heads and being dismissed. KSUnite had an impressive

Coolidge had his flaws, including his advocacy for a protectionist trade policy and his anti-immigration stances. However, his record on what at the time would’ve been considered progressive issues is impeccable. Indeed, when a group of women’s rights supporters asked him for more action, Coolidge responded with his famous brevity: “Why not?” What motivates a Republican man of Coolidge’s era to hold such values? I’ve even used the term “progressive” to describe his positions. But, progress toward what? Calvin Coolidge was a staunch advocate for lower taxes, decreased economic regulation and tighter federal budgets. He was indeed a conservative. I argue that Coolidge sought progress toward a fuller realization of America’s founding ideals. Quite famously, the Founding Fathers professed the equality of humankind while the government they ultimately established severely limited the right to vote and allowed slavery. These more-than-unfortunate realities are likely attributable to the political circumstances of the colonies – it’s unlikely that a constitution which explicitly prohibited slavery would’ve been ratified. Consequently, the American experiment has largely been an exercise in slowly but surely marching toward a concrete realization of the high-flying rhetoric of equality and liberty espoused by the Founders. Sometimes this march requires radical progressivism. Other times it requires restraint. It always requires conservatism. We must conserve those things which are good about our republic, and our policy must aim to fulfill and conserve the bold idea that “all men are created equal,” as

proposed in the Declaration of Independence 242 years ago. Calvin Coolidge expressed this sentiment well in saying that “American ideals do not require to be changed so much as they require to be understood and applied.” So, what’s the lesson for us? In the spirit of Calvin Coolidge, I’d like to see the Republican Party and the conservative movement embrace those seemingly progressive measures that advance our society and conserve liberty. Why? “Why not?” Take contraception, for example. In most states, including Kansas, women seeking hormonal birth control pills must first see a physician, who must prescribe the medication. Then, you must head to a pharmacy and pick it up. This is unnecessary, and conservatives ought to fight for a better option: over-the-counter hormonal birth control medication. Several states, including the conservative strongholds of Utah, Idaho and Tennessee, have already taken such action. Beyond that, more than 100 countries already allow pharmacists to prescribe contraceptives over the counter. This is not to say that what’s popular is always

best, however. There are several benefits to over-the-counter birth control. Firstly, doctors visits take time and cost money. While everyone should, of their own volition, visit a physician on a regular basis, removing one step in the process of obtaining contraceptives, and the fees associated with it, will improve accessibility for working women. Secondly, improving birth control accessibility is a promising, if small, step toward ending the practice of abortion in the United States. Although many Americans have no moral qualm with abortion, few honestly believe that abortion is an inherently good thing. It’s not ridiculous to assume that nearly all women who choose abortion would have rather not been confronted with the choice in the first place. In a perilously and seemingly irreversibly over-sexualized society, making it easier to prevent the circumstances that lead to abortion with birth control may even be more effective than touting the very real merits of abstinence when no one seems to be listening. Thirdly, hormonal birth

showing this year, even though it was indoors. Between the K-State Student Union Grand Ballroom and all the other rooms it was being broadcast into, it easily could have had 2,000 people watching. But that’s 2,000 people out of around 20,000 enrolled students. K-State isn’t challenging the students who disagree with its principles,

and the inspiring speeches at KSUnite are failing to have as big of an impact as they should. Leaders in the K-State community said many words about their commitment to diversity yesterday, but many in the student body are waiting for tangible action. Better education on the importance of diversity, better graduation rates for minority students and

the construction of the longawaited Multicultural Student Center are all things K-State needs to work on. Words are a start, but they need to be translated into action. For these reasons, we urge K-State administrators to show us, not tell us, how the university is committed to diversity and inclusion.

Photo courtesy of GabiSanda on Pixabay

control medication has, time and time again, been proven to be safe. Most pills threaten fewer dangerous side effects than aspirin or acetaminophen, and the pharmaceutical industry is continuously improving the pills’ effectiveness and safety. Six years ago, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists officially endorsed over-the-counter birth control pills. Finally, and most basically, women deserve access to safe contraception that more closely matches the access men have to condoms. It’s true that pills and condoms are vastly different, and they should certainly be treated differently. I’m not proposing that birth control pills be available for purchase at coin-operated machines mounted on the walls of dirty gas station restrooms, but we have a very real opportunity to safely and smartly let women make more of their own health care decisions. “Why not” make the most of it?

Employment/Careers

Help Wanted THE COLLEGIAN cannot verify the financial potential of advertisements in the Employment/ Opportunities classifications. Readers are advised to approach any such business opportunity with reasonable caution. The Collegian urges our readers to contact the Better Business Bureau, 501 SE Jefferson, Topeka, KS 66607-1190. 785-2320454. FARM HELP wanted. Fall harvest. 785-5568660.

In Coolidge’s words, “What men owe to the love and help of good women can never be told.” In the era of the “war on women,” it’s time for the Republican Party, especially in Kansas, to embrace its rich history of waging the war for women and their rights. It’s time for conservatives to get back to the basics and push forward in earnest as America, God willing, continues its march towards liberty and equality. To accomplish this, women need men. Even more than that, men need women. I think Calvin Coolidge would agree. Evan Steckler is a senior in architectural engineering and president of the College Republicans at Kansas State. The views and opinions expressed in this letter 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.

Employment/Careers VISTA DRIVE In is looking for part and full time help. We offer competitive wages, flexible hours, discounted food, the possibility of woking in the Vista Food Truck, and the opportunity to work in a family restaurant that’s been in Manhattan for over 50 years. Send resume to andy.vista@sbcglobal.net or ask for an application at Vista, 1911 Tuttle Creek Blvd.

weird roommate? find a new pad in the classifieds.

wednesday, october 10, 2018

K-State alum publishes book on leadership ROWAN JONES

THE COLLEGIAN

Ed O’Malley released his new book, “What’s Right With Kansas; Everyday Citizens Transforming Their State,” with hopes to inspire citizens to take on leadership roles in their communities. The Kansas State alumnus described himself as “somebody that loves the state, and really believes in it, and [wants] to do my little part to make it stronger and better healthier and more prosperous.”

The cover of “What’s Right With Kansas”

The root of his passion for his home state was influenced greatly by the setting he grew up in. Despite being in a family that wasn’t deeply involved in politics, O’Malley reflected on the impact they still had on their communities. “It starts with a belief that we all have to do our part,” O’Malley said. “We all have a responsibility to improve the lives of those around us and improve our community. I grew up watching a lot of people make a big difference in their community, [and] a lot of family members making a big difference in their communities. We were all kind of raised with an expectation to kind of figure out how to do your part.” Taking that ideology, O’Malley went on to be elected twice to Kansas’s 24th House

District. While representing the 24th district, he gained valuable insight into politics. That eventually would lead him to found the Kansas Leadership Center. “I got involved in politics and realized that the only way you mobilize people is by influencing them,” O’Malley said. “You can’t force them to do anything. Leadership is really about influence, it’s not about commanding people.” During his time at K-State, the Johnson County native realized how important connecting to the rest of Kansas was. O’Malley said he felt that many Kansans overlooked the importance of the symbiosis between urban and rural sectors. “Today it’s so much harder to find people in Johnson County who have a natural connection to rural Kansas,” O’Malley said. “There’s just almost a total disconnect now. ... The main thing I want folks of Johnson County to know is that rural Kansas is there, and it’s important. And it is in Johnson County’s self interest for rural Kansas to thrive, and vice versa.” One of the effective results of the Kansas Leadership Center is that it provides a space for both rural and urban civic leaders to collaborate and communicate together, as well as leaders across political spectrums, O’Malley said, opening communication paths between two sometimes-isolated societies. In 2018, O’Malley said, 2,000 Kansans travelled to the KLC for leadership training from various areas of the state. Along with local leaders, the KLC has also attracted the attention of global leaders. O’Malley said he has a hunch that they see the KLC allowing everyday people to improve communities, something that is easily translated across international borders. With the third book, Ed O’Malley said he wanted to focus more on the story of local civic leaders that aren’t necessarily political figures. “I think it’s a huge dose of optimism at a time when national civic life is so disheartening,” O’Malley said. The book follows the story of four Kansas civic leaders and how they navigate the sometimes-treacherous maze of leadership. What was most exciting for O’Malley though, he said, was that this was just the tip of iceberg. “I think people will read it, they’ll be inspired, and it’ll force them to think about how do they live out the leadership principles they are reading about,” O’Malley said. All profits from book sales will go toward scholarships to receive training at the KLC. O’Malley said he hopes individuals and groups alike that want to exercise more leadership in their communities can access the scholarships and grants.

Photo illustration by Abigail Compton | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Counseling Services, area clinics offer mental health care services PETER LOGANBILL THE COLLEGIAN

As flannels and sweaters come out of storage, physical sickness is not the only illness impeding students. The reduced sunlight can hinder individual’s circadian rhythm, causing Seasonal Affective Disorder. With this transition and stress of midterms manifesting in students’ lives, it is important to know the resources available around Manhattan. One of those resources is K-State Counseling Services. Located in the basement of the Lafene Health Center on the far west side of campus, Counseling Services saw 1,296 students over 5,182 sessions during the 2017 fiscal year. The facility offers individual therapy, group therapy, couples therapy and biofeedback training for currently enrolled students. “Biofeedback is when they hook you up to the computer and it senses things such as respiration, perspiration, body

temperature, muscle tension, body responses to stress,” Wendy Barnes, online programs outreach coordinator, said. “You learn by watching your stress levels and working with mindfulness exercises, [so] you can learn to control your stress reactors.” The first four sessions are free per academic year, while sessions five through 10 are $15 each. Any sessions after that are $25 each. Counseling Services also offers online programs with topics such as stress management and academic anxiety. These programs are free and self-paced. The Counseling Services-partnered student organization, P.A.W.S., started a podcast this week called PAWScast, which the organization will use to spread awareness of mental health and give more information on it. “The first episode that came out [Monday] is an interview with the Specht family,” Barnes said. “They are an [alumni] family whose son took

his life by suicide last June. We are co-sponsoring a tailgate event with them on Saturday at the homecoming game.” The crisis hotline, (785) 532-6927, is always available for students in dire situations. Someone will always be on the other line to get a student the help they need. “Our line is staffed 24/7,” Barnes said. “When we’re here, 8 [a.m.] to 5 [p.m.], there’s always a counselor on duty. When anybody calls our number, and they don’t have [an] appointment and they’re in a crisis, then they’ll see our counselor on duty.” Other resources available in Manhattan include the Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic in the Campus Creek Building, Pawnee Mental Health Services and Katie’s Way. Couples who go to the Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic do not both need to be currently enrolled students. The clinic also offers a sliding fee scale to make services more affordable.