10.16.20

K A N S A S

S TAT E vol. 126, issue 15

friday, oct. 16, 2020

kstatecollegian.com

ELECTIONSEASON Everything you need to know to make your vote count in the general election

BALLOTS Sales tax on ballot to help pay for infrastructure, economic development

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KSUnite Zoom bombings were beyond administration’s expectations, chief diversity and inclusion officer says

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ON THE COVER

FALL EDITORIAL BOARD Archive Photo by Kandace Griffin

The sales tax on the ballot in Riley County this fall would help pay for infrastructure and economic development if it passes.

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friday, october 16, 2020

INTERRUPTIONS EMMA WITTER news editor

The fourth annual KSUnite was met with attacks from several alt-right infiltrators Wednesday.

Several "Groypers" — a group of vocal alt-right provocateurs — Zoom bombed several sessions on diversity and inclusion throughout the day with profane and distracting interruptions.

“In all honesty, they just hijacked the technology well beyond anything that I knew to even think about or prepare for,” Bryan Samuel, chief diversity and inclusion officer, said. “We all had knowledge and understanding that we

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should be prepared for some disruption. What we didn’t understand was the volume, the scale, the pace, the technological capabilities with which it would happen.”

Samuel said the event began with little to no incident.

The pre-recorded welcome video was shown without interruption. Then, the first plenary presentation featuring Bunky Echo-Hawk, a visual artist who worked on a painting for the Multicultural Student Center in his presentation, went “pretty well,” Samuel said.

The interruptions began when Clint Smith, a poet presenting on systemic racism in America, began speaking.

Groypers flooded the Youtube Livestream attached to Smith’s presentation with profanity, sexually explicit comments and generally disruptive statements. When the comment section was disabled, the instigators moved to the Zoom conference call and continued their comments in the open chat space.

In the sessions after Smith’s, Samuel said Zoom bombings continued to occur with screens and audio taken over in some cases while those involved continued to disrupt comment sections and Zoom chats.

Samuel said while it had been discussed among the facilitators of KSUnite that

KSUnite Zoom bombings were beyond administration’s expectations, chief diversity and inclusion officer says

some individuals may attempt to distract from and disrespect the event, the magnitude of the attacks came out of left field. He attributed the opportunity for disruptions to the open nature of KSUnite.

“We’d like to have our programs and activities open to all at Kansas State University because we believe we are both a community and a university,” Samuel said.

“Therein lies the conundrum ... because we opened it up ... and we didn’t ask for EIDs and passwords ... some people took advantage of that. Next year, we’ll figure out some ways to keep that from happening."

Despite the Zoom bomb-

ings and distractions, Samuel said he hopes the fourth KSUnite will be remembered for the quality of the presentations and conversations that took place.

“It’s important to acknowledge that we had a very powerful and meaningful event,” Samuel said. “Our speakers were scholarly practitioners ... they had the lived experience. Much of the information I am receiving from students, faculty, staff and administrators ... they’re focusing on how great the presentations were.”

The distractions were unfortunate, Samuel said, but adversity will not stop the diversity and inclusion office

from doing its job.

“Our role as a state university is to prepare students for growth and being able to contribute in a global world to solve problems,” he said.

Samuel said those participating in KSUnite showed great resilience in the face of opposition from those intending to detract from the event.

“Our students, faculty and staff persevered through it with their heads held high,” he said. “I think that deserves some recognition. It’s important to us that we continue the journey to grow, to learn, to appreciate differences and capitalize on the learning opportunities that differences can create.”

VOTE HERE!

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TO THE POLLS JULIE FREIJAT copy chief

KEY POINTS

There might be a pandemic disrupting the usual flow of election season, but that doesn’t mean you cannot vote in person. Polling places across the country will still be open and ready to count ballots on Nov. 3, and during the weeks prior for advanced voters.

In Kansas, you must have a valid photo ID in order to vote in person. This can be a driver’s license or another form of identification. All polling places must open at 7 a.m. on election day and close by 7 p.m., according to state laws. Riley County adheres to these times, though

other counties in Kansas may open earlier and close later.

If you want to avoid the crowds on election day, but are not voting by mail, you have the option to participate in advance voting. In Kansas, voters are able to cast ballots up to 20 days before an election. This means advanced voting started on Oct. 14.

Kansas State students have the option to fill out an early ballot at the K-State Student Union or the Riley County Office Building. You are still required to show a valid photo ID in order to participate in advance voting.

If you don’t have a valid

photo ID or end up forgetting yours, you can fill out a provisional ballot, but it will not be valid until you provide a photo ID. If you have a disability, you can still vote in person.

By law, the election process must be accessible to all. Every polling place is required to have at least one voting machine that provides access to disabled voters. Additionally, the polling place must have ramps, handrails and wheelchair accessible booths for voters to use.

Be sure to contact your county officials if you have any questions about in-person voting, or the voting process in general.

Polling places open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Some Kansas counties may open earlier or close later.

A valid photo ID is required for in-person voting.

You can use a driver ’s license or state-issued ID, a passport, a military ID, among others.

If you have a disability, polling centers are required to have accessible voting machines.

Advanced in-person voting is available at the Riley County Off ice Building or at the K-State Student Union.

VOTING BY MAIL Deadline approaches to request mail-in ballots JOSIE WHITAKER staff writer

With Election Day just around the corner on Nov. 3, it is important for voters to ensure their votes are counted. This year, voters in Kansas can request a mail-in ballot.

To request a mail-in ballot in Riley County, registered voters must fill out a mail-in application.

The form must be filled out correctly for approval.

Voters who request advance ballots by mail must submit either

a valid driver’s license number or copies of photo identification.

This identification, along with the application, must be submitted and delivered to the Riley County Clerk's Office by Tuesday, Oct. 27. The county will also accept ballots via fax to the Election Office at 785-537-6394 or by email at voterinfo@rileycountyks.gov.

Mail-in ballots and in-person voting begin Wednesday, Oct. 14. The sooner a ballot is sent in, the better chance of it being counted.

In order to be counted, completed ballots must be delivered in

person to the Election Office by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3, delivered to any polling place in Riley County or mailed and postmarked by Election Day. Even if ballots are mailed-in and postmarked on Election Day or before, they must be received by Friday, Nov. 6, in order to count.

Voters can track their ballots' status after mailing it in or dropping it off on the Voter View website.

For more information on voting in advance and by mail in Riley County, visit the advance voting page on the county website.

Student Price Index shows increases in housing costs, decreases in all other categories BAILEY BRITTON editor-in-chief

The Kansas State Economics Club's annual Student Price Index shows a 1.5 percent decrease in student's cost of living in Manhattan compared to 2019. The SPI uses textbook prices, housing costs, the price of leisure items such as beer and pizza, among other things, as data.

In 2019, the SPI increased by 0.4 percent.

The club said COVID-19 and the slowed economic activity in the United States contributed to the decrease in prices.

“I was surprised to discover that the SPI had fallen from last year, even considering the current economic situation," Brock O’Brien, senior in economics and club president, said in a

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press release.

The largest increase was in Greek housing at 6.4 percent.

Non-greek housing increased by 2.8 percent.

“Housing prices were down overall a year ago, so even in a deflationary environment, it is not surprising to see an increase in housing prices this year," Suzanne Roggenkamp, sophomore in economics and club vice president, said. "Generally, someone in Manhattan has discovered that their dollar has more value than it did in previous years.”

The price of gasoline decreased by 20.1 percent, the largest of the categories the economics club tracks.

“I enjoyed working on the SPI this year and the steep drop in fuel prices was something that was not surprising to see," Cody Murphy, sophomore in

engineering, said. "Across the board, travel has been down since March which has massively reduced demand for gas. This drop is also despite a recovery in oil and gas prices since April of this year.”

For the second year, tuition remains steady.

The National Consumer Price Index increased by 1.4 percent from 2019, the club reports.

"The last time we had a lower SPI was 2009 and that was a year, similar to 2020, which was very challenging for our students and our nation at large,” Dan Kuester, club adviser and director of economics undergraduate studies, said.

Since 2002, when the club began tracking the SPI, the index increased by approximately 130 percent.

Mail-in ballot requests spike in Riley County, other Kansas counties SEAN SCHAPER assistant news editor

This election year, an influx of mail-in ballots is expected as many Kansas counties saw an increase in requests caused pandemic concerns.

Election Day is approaching and the voter registration deadline for Kansas has passed. Early voting has begun. Until Nov. 3, registered Kansas voters can vote in person or by mail.

Rich Vargo, Riley County clerk, said 9,810 ballots have been mailed out for this election so far.

“In the 2016 general election we mailed 1,764 ballots,” Vargo said.

Other counties, where many Kansas State students reside, also saw a spike in mail-in ballot requests.

Jamie Shew, Douglas County clerk, said there really is no comparison when

it comes to the numbers this year.

“In 2016, we mailed 7,948, and we received 7,330 back,” Shew said. “Yesterday we mailed 29,200, and I think we’re getting ready to mail another 1,000, so we’ll be over 30,000.”

Shew said the most the Douglas County Clerk’s office ever mailed before the pandemic was 13,000 in 2018 and 19,000 in the primary election.

Nancy McCarter, Pottawatomie County clerk and election official, said mail-in ballots are not new in her county. “[Mail-in ballots] have increased over the 23 years that I’ve worked in this office,” McCarter said in an email. “In 2016, I mailed 1,207 ballots and had 1,259 walk-ins. As of today, 2020, I have mailed 3,727 and [had] 88 walk-in voters.”

The Johnson Coun-

ty Election Office issued 190,939 advance ballots in 2016 with 180,657 returned.

For 2020, the election office has mailed out over 150,000 ballots just on Oct. 14.

Even if ballots are mailed in and postmarked on Election Day or before, they must be received by Friday, Nov. 6, in order to count. Riley County will also accept ballots via fax to the Election Office at 785-537-6394 or by email at voterinfo@rileycountyks.gov.

Voters can track their ballot’s status after mailing it in or dropping it off on the Voter View website.

For in-person voting, in order to be counted, completed ballots must be delivered to the Election Office or to any polling place in Riley County by 7 p.m. on Nov. 3.

For more information on the voting process, visit the advance voting page on the county website.

Alex Todd | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Party at the Polls was hosted on Nov. 6, 2018 in the KSU Foundation building. Hosted by the K-State Student Governing Association, it was open to the public and encouraged students to vote at the nearby voting location inside the Manhattan Fire Station.

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Local election poll workers stepping up amid pandemic uncertainty ALEXIS LETTERMAN staff writer

Poll workers' demographics for the upcoming election are shaping up to look a little different due to COVID-19.

This year has already been out of the ordinary, Riley County Clerk Rich Vargo said in an email, with approximately 90 regular volunteers choosing to not assist this year because of COVID-19 concerns. As a result, Riley County had to recruit a large number of new election board workers to fill these vacancies.

“We are seeing new volunteers and some younger volunteers,” Vargo said.

This younger volunteer turnout seems to be a trend, not only in Riley County, but across the surrounding coun-

County institutes in-person election precautions COLIN SETTLE staff writer

With election season approaching, the Riley County Health Department and County Clerk’s office are working to ensure the safety of residents planning to vote in-person on Nov. 3.

“We just ask people to comply with the regulations we have set up, not only for themselves, but for others as well,” Riley County Clerk Rich Vargo said.

“If someone forgets a mask, we do have some there for them.”

Vargo, who has served as Riley County Clerk for the last 24 years, said he wants to ensure the health and safety of all those voting in person in the upcoming election.

“It’s not a requirement where we can deny them the right to vote,” Vargo said. “If people show up not wearing masks, we can’t turn people away, we just ask that people comply.”

ties as well.

“This is the first year there were 50 and below [volunteers] this time — before it was mostly older ones that retired,” Genille Gaskins, a four-year veteran or election volunteering in Geary County, said.

Some volunteers are stepping up out of concern for the more vulnerable age groups, who often fill the positions.

“I mean part of the reason I volunteered is because of coronavirus, I’d rather I be there than someone older,” Adam Miner, a 26-year-old volunteering for the first time in Johnson County, said.

However, volunteer demographics are not the only thing that will look different this upcoming election season.

Polls are setting up Plexi

glass for protection, requiring masks and providing hand sanitizer at the voting stations.

Contact precautions have also been implemented so voters will be the only ones who touch their papers. Volunteers will disinfect screens in use between each voter. All of these changes aim to increase voter safety, as well as the safety of volunteers and workers.

"We are lucky to live in such a great community in which it was possible to find individuals willing to assist us during these times," Vargo said.

Archive Photo Rowan Jones COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Voting this November may look a little different than in years past.

VOTINGINPERSON Local health officer Julie Gibbs echoed Vargo’s request.

“Treat this the same as when you go anywhere in the community,” Gibbs said. “I would remind people to wear a mask and wash their hands right after.”

Gibbs said the expectations for in-person voting are no different than that of any other public outing during the pandemic.

“Treat this like any other event,” she said. “Masking, social distancing and stay home if you’re sick.”

Vargo said the county has already begun sending out mailin ballots for voters to send in to lower their risk of contracting COVID-19 at the polls.

“If they did not receive a [mail-in] ballot, and they need to go to the polls, wear your masks, use the hand sanitation stations and utilize social distancing,” Vargo said.

Cameron Minihan, sophomore in kinesiology, said as a

first-time voter, he’s concerned not knowing how the in-person voting process normally looks.

“I’m nervous just doing it for the first time, just not knowing what to do and just trying to figure it out, I guess,” Minihan said. “I’ve voted in the primaries, but not in the main election.”

Vargo said first-time voters like Minihan don’t have as much to worry about as they might think.

“The biggest thing for firsttime voters is not to be intimidated by the process,” Vargo said.

“Everyone will have to have a photo ID, everyone should be educated enough to know we require masks and it’s a very simple process that will probably take less than five minutes.”

For questions regarding the voting process, COVID-19 precautions or any other issues that arise, Vargo said voters can contact the County Clerk’s Office or the Riley County Health Department.

E LE C T ION R E S ULT S Influx of mail-in ballots could lead to delay between Election Day and final results EMMA WITTER news editor

In 2016, Riley County sent out 1,764 mail-in ballots.

As of Wednesday, the county had sent 9,810 ballots for the general election, and Rich Vargo, Riley County clerk and elections official, said that number increases daily.

Many voters assume that election results are final on Election Day, but Vargo said this was never the case. This year in particular, with a surge in the number of mail-in voters, many ballots might not be counted until after Nov. 3.

Vargo said there’s always some variation between the unofficial results that come out on Election Day and the final election results released at the canvas of the election. This year, the canvas in Riley County is on Nov. 16.

“We will have preliminary, unofficial results on Nov. 3 for mail-in ballots and those submitted on Election Day,” Vargo said.

“Throughout the week, we will add to those totals.”

Vargo said mail-in ballots can be thrown out for various reasons. One of the largest casters of thrown-out ballots in Riley County is unregistered college students, he said.

“I was in college — it’s not always on the forefront of your mind,” Vargo said. “[Students will] be in class on Election Day, and professors will tell them to go vote, but the problem is they didn’t take care of business and get registered.”

The registration deadline to vote in the general election in Kansas was Tuesday.

Hayley Spellman, founding member of the nonpartisan group Wildcats Vote and graduate student in teaching, cast her ballot early this year in Riley County.

Choosing to vote by mail

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Voting by mail has gained popularity nationwide because of safety concerns related to COVID-19. was a difficult decision for Spellman, who said she normally loves voting in person.

“I’m usually the first one that shows up when the polls open,” Spellman said. “I get a huge adrenaline rush that I just ride for the rest of the day.”

This year, Spellman said voting by mail felt like the safest option.

“With COVID and the unpredictability, it’s hard to know where things will be a week from now, let alone three weeks from now,” she said. “What if you’re quarantining on election day?”

Though voting by mail isn’t ideal for Spellman, this isn’t her first time. She also mailed in her ballot for the August primary for similar safety reasons and to figure out the process ahead of the general election.

Spellman’s advice to fellow mail-in voters is to vote early and ensure their information is marked correctly on the ballot.

“It’s very straightforward,” she said. “There are a couple things people should look out for though.”

For instance, voters should make sure their signature matches that on their voter registration forms. Signatures that

don’t match could result in an invalid ballot.

The deadline to request a ballot for the general election is Oct. 27. Once received, mail-in ballots must be completely filled out and postmarked by Election Day and received by Friday, Nov. 6.

Spellman also recommended creating a voting plan to figure out the how, the where and the when of how you’ll vote.

• Details to consider when formulating a voting plan, Spellman said, include: • Whether a ballot has been requested.

• When to fill out the ballot.

• When the ballot will be sent back in.

• If voting in person, where to vote, and how to get to the polls.

“Voting always takes time to plan out all those little details, and for this election, it’s insanely critical to figure out those details ahead of time,” Spellman said.

For Kansas voters to check their registration status, request a ballot and more, Spellman recommends the Kansas Votes website.

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ELECTION GUIDE

O N T H E B A LLO T BAILEY BRITTON editor-in-chief

In addition to voting on national and local government officials on Nov. 3, Manhattan residents will vote on a sales tax continuance.

City manager Ron Fehr said the sales tax — if it passes — will help pay for economic development, infrastructure and property tax relief.

“The Riley County sales tax basically provides a little over $3 billion a year for the

city,” Fehr said.

The sales tax on the ballot, however, only applies to the city of Manhattan. This includes the portion of Manhattan in Pottawatomie County.

“One of the main reasons that the city would like to have a citywide sales tax is because we’re leaving part of city of Manhattan out at the Pottawatomie County line,” Fehr said. “Which is a big retail participant. So, it will generate significantly more revenue.”

The sales tax would go into

effect on Jan. 1, 2023 — the day after the current sales tax is set to expire.

In 2018, Fehr said a 0.3 percent increase to the sales tax was voted on, but failed. He emphasized that this 0.5 percent continuance keeps the sales tax in the Riley County portion of Manhattan level at 8.95 percent, but in Pottawatomie County, it will increase to 9.45 percent.

The city estimates the sales tax will generate $6.5 million each year from 2023 to 2033.

Additionally, if the sales tax

Candidates and issues up for the Riley County voters to decide EMMA WITTER news editor

This general election, voters in Riley County have some key contested races on their ballots. Here are the candidates they could be deciding on.

RILEY COUNTY COMMISSION

In District 2, Fanny Fang (Democrat) and Greg McKinley (Republican) are running to fill Marvin Rodriguez’s seat as Riley County Commissioner.

In District 3, Kathryn Grace Focke (Democrat) and John E. Matta (Republican) are running to fill Rob Wells’ seat as Riley County Commissioner.

KANSAS STATE SENATE, DISTRICT 22 Craig Bowser (Republican) is running against incumbent state Sen. Tom Hawk (Democrat).

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM KANSAS, DISTRICT 1

Kali Barnett (Democrat) and Tracey Mann (Republican) are running to replace Michael Houser (Republican) as the

District 1 representative in the House of Representatives.

KANSAS U.S. SENATE Barbara Bollier (Democrat) and Jason Buckley (Libertarian) are running against Rep. Roger Marshall (Republican) to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate following current Sen. Pat Roberts’ decision to retire.

U.S. PRESIDENT

Presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris (Democrat) and Jo Jorgensen and vice presidential nominee Jeremy “Spike” Cohen (Libertarian) are running against sitting President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence (Republican).

UNOPPOSED RACES

This year, there are five unopposed races on the Riley County ballot, including: -Rich Vargo (Republican) for reelection as County Clerk.

-Shiloh Herger (Republican) for reelection as County Treasurer.

-Amy Manges (Republican) to replace Debbie Regester as Register of Deeds.

-Barry Wilkerson (Republican) for County Attorney -Deena Horst (Republican) for the District 6 seat on the Kansas Board of Education.

-Sydney Carlin (Democrat) for the District 66 Kansas State House seat.

Voters must also select (yes/no) whether Kansas Supreme Court Justice Eric S. Rosen should remain in office.

The same yes or no vote is up for the Kansas Court of Appeals judges Sarah E. Warner, David E. Bruns, G Gordon Atcheson, Karen M Arnold-Burger and Kathryn Gardner and Judicial District Court Judge Kendra S. Lewison.

Kansas voters can find a sample ballot for the county in which they are registered on the Kansas Secretary of State website as well as a breakdown of the candidates they have to choose from on the VOTE411 website.

friday, october 16, 2020

Sales tax on ballot to help pay for infrastructure, economic development

passes, the city can begin using current funds to help with COVID-19 relief. Fehr said this is because funds expected to be generated by the sales tax in 2021 and 2022 are already pledged to “debt service and infrastructure projects.”

“That really isn’t available to be able to utilize for other initiatives,” Fehr said.

“So by redoing it now, the revenue that comes in after 2023 will replace those pledges to free up that money for immediate availability in the community to target anything we need for recovery or other initiatives that the community feels will be important.”

The Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce endorses the sales tax, chamber president and CEO Jason Smith said.

“I think we’re extremely concerned about what we have seen over the last several years in terms of stagnation of job growth and also the inability to

Archive photo by Kandace Griffin | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

The sales tax on the ballot in Riley County this fall would help pay for infrastructure and economic development if it passes. retain and attract professionals to the community,” Smith said. “We realized about three years ago ... we went through a community strategic planning process, and there were a number of activities that were outlined as part of that. So we

understand and have supported, historically, the importance of economic development.”

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NEW VOTERS CLAIBORN SCHMIDT staff writer

First-time voters have a lot of decisions to consider before Election Day on Nov. 3. Researching what to vote for as well as the voting process itself are necessary steps new voters may want to take before casting their ballots.

“The biggest deciding factor for me is authenticity and for someone being their own self and are not saying what people want to hear,” Jessica Shriver, junior in communications, said.

Carter Dimarco, sophomore in agribusiness, said the more research he did on this year’s political candidates, the easier it was

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to make his decision.

Shriver said her experiences in politics, gender studies and leadership courses at Kansas State have helped shaped her political beliefs by encouraging deep conversation on political topics.

“I’m using all the information I have learned at K-State, through the classes I’ve taken,” Shriver said.

Personal experiences over the last four years as well as the current political climate heavily influenced Dimarco’s choices, he said, and Shriver echoed this perspective.

“All the crazy things that have happened in 2020 have really solidified not

only mine, but everybody’s opinions on who they are voting for,” she said.

Anita Austin, program director for KSVotes, said first-time voters don’t need to be overwhelmed by the voting process.

“There is a lot to learn, but there is a lot accessible. ... There are a lot of resources to help get you informed, so don’t be intimidated,” Austin said.

Shriver said she’s been doing her best to stay informed in the weeks leading up to the election, and she recommends her peers do the same.

“I watched the presidential debate and the vice presidential debate, and honestly, I think that is the

First-time voters prepare to mark their ballots in the general election

best thing that you can do right now,” Shriver said.

Like many first-time voters, Shriver said she’s trying to avoid information from the media to prevent being misinformed.

“The debates are the best representation of who you are voting for,” she said.

Dimarco said he’s also focusing on more objective representation of political candidates and avoids getting his news from social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram.

“I do my own research,

look up each candidate and decide based off that and the debates,” he said.

To avoid biased opinions, Dimarco also uses an app called Drudge Report which he said provides multiple articles on various issues from reliable news sites.

Austin said it’s been encouraging to see an upward trend in voter engagement in Kansas.

This kind of data shows the state of Kansas that voters are taking their civic duty seriously, she said.

“With first-time voters,

we want to make sure they have more education than just being registered,” Austin said. “It is important to be registered, but if we really want people to show up at the polls, we need them informed.”

Both Dimarco and Shriver said they’re looking forward to casting their first ballots on Nov. 3.

“It is my first time,” Shrive said. “It’s honestly something that is really cool, and we are so privileged to think of it as just a right in America.”

R I L E Y C O U N T Y C A N D I D AT E F O R U M SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2:00-5:00

RILEY COUNTY COMMISSION DISTRICTS 2 AND 3 (2 P.M.) KANSAS HOUSE DISTRICTS 51, 64, 66 & 67 (3 P.M.) KANSAS SENATE DISTRICT 22 (4:20 P.M.)

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Photo Illustration by Hannah Greer | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Voting for the first time comes with a lot of considerations, and many Kansas State students are beginning to make these decisions on or before Election Day.

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Student living in alleged unsafe situation breaks lease, calls for universal code inspections BAILEY BRITTON editor-in-chief

The basement apartment Audrey Wilson, senior in animal science, previously rented through Frontier Property Management was home to more than just her and her pets. Another tenant that didn’t pay rent flew around the apartment at night, leaving a mess everywhere.

Wilson’s apartment had bats — a hazardous roommate — Wilson said. Before moving out, she worried about her and her pets getting bitten and needing treatment for rabies. Wilson said she didn’t sleep well for weeks.

“It’s literally three months

that I’ve had this apartment and it’s just too much, it’s affected my mental health,” Wilson said.

When Wilson signed her lease on July 1, she started hearing noises in the walls within the first couple weeks.

Concerned, she called Frontier to ask for an inspection.

Wilson said they told her to reach back out in a couple of weeks if the problem persisted.

After sending more emails to Frontier and receiving no reply, Wilson said a pest control company showed up at her apartment.

“Two random men without masks showed up to my

207 Holton Hall 1101 Mid-Campus Drive North 785-532-5352 lgbt@k-state.edu Open M-F 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

door, they didn’t even have company clothing on,” Wilson said. “They just showed up.

And they were like, ‘We’re here for the bats.’ They literally just showed up as I was leaving for a work trip because I traveled the weekends for work. So I was literally on my way out the door. It was such a bad time.”

Wilson said they inspected her apartment on Aug. 12, the same day she caught a bat.

“I’ve caught two total,” Wilson said.

Despite the fears Wilson has, all pest control companies can do is put bat houses up.

Bats are federally protected and have to be removed from

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an area humanely.

“Because bats are federally protected, they cannot be harmed or killed in mitigation and neither can their habitat be disturbed, even if the habitat is the tenant’s home,” Bianca Valdez, Frontier portfolio manager and director of marketing, said. “To complicate the process further, bat remediation is a highly specified task that has to be done in a series of steps. The entire process for bat mitigation is regulated and can be very time-consuming.”

If everything goes as smoothly as possible, Valdez said removing bats can take up to 12 weeks, but it could take years to effectively resolve the issue.

Bats are small and can get into a crack as small as threeeighths of an inch. Valdez said all cracks and crevices must be filled, which can be difficult on older houses.

At Wilson’s apartment, pest control only covered one vent with mesh. A vent in Wilson’s bathroom, a poorly sealed window and other vents in the apartment were left alone.

Additionally, the flying creatures drop guano — bat poop — everywhere in her apartment. While there isn’t a danger of getting rabies from the guano itself, it has other health hazards if inhaled or ingested.

Guano can spread histoplasmosis, an infection caused by a fungus, that can cause flu-like symptoms and longterm health consequences.

Wilson said her cat ate some guano and then started vomiting. Though the cat is

Bailey Britton | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Senior in animal science Audrey Wilson lived in the basement unit of a house on Moro Street. Wilson rented the apartment through Frontier Property Management.

fine now, Wilson said she worries about her pets. If any of them — Wilson included — were to be bitten, she knows she would go into debt to pay for rabies treatments.

“They say they have no liability,” Wilson said. “They told me they weren’t paying for any rabies vaccinations for me or my pets. Like if I got bit, and that’s like $3,500 I can’t afford when I’m already working multiple jobs and going to school.”

Zachary Perez, student director of Off-Campus Housing Support and junior in journalism, said liability is on a case-by-case basis.

“I won’t name any specific situations, but I can say right now I’m working with multiple students who have had to start rabies treatments because of bats being found in their apartment or housing,” Perez said. “Honestly, I think there’s a really good argument to be made that the property management company or the landlord does owe that kind of money because it was their negligence and their inaction that specifically led them to

being exposed to those bats.”

Perez said bat bugs, which Wilson’s neighbor discovered in her apartment, also pose a problem.

While the situation can seem bleak, Perez said renters can fill out a 1430 form that informs the landlord or property management company they are taking legal action.

“What the form essentially allows tenants to do is say, ‘OK, here is the issue that I am facing. Here is this form, that I am delivering to you and I have signed and I have stated all these grievances that I have. I’m giving you 14 days to completely resolve everything on this list or show me physical, hard evidence that you are making a good faith effort to resolve all issues. If you cannot do that within 14 days, within 30 days from the last day that I paid rent, my lease is void and I am moving out,’” Perez said.

To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com

A N A LY S I S

Wildcats still a strong team after loss of two key players COLIN SETTLE staff writer

It’s true — Kansas State’s Big 12 Special Player of the Year and sophomore wide receiver Joshua Youngblood entered the NCAA transfer portal. The announcement added insult to injury after the news broke on Monday that senior starting quarterback Skylar Thompson will be out for the rest of the season with an unspecified “upper-body”

11

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friday, october 16, 2020

injury.

The question that remains: Will the Wildcats be able to continue their hot start after losing two of last season’s biggest playmakers?

Although losing Youngblood to the transfer portal after what he was able to do last season may seem troublesome at first glance, his contribution this year says otherwise.

Throughout the 2020 season so far, Youngblood only

played in two of the team’s first four games, contributing just one rush for three yards and three kickoff returns for 54-yards, all against Oklahoma.

With the Wildcats sitting at 3-1 right now, it doesn’t seem that his absence was felt through the first quarter of the season.

Thompson, on the other hand, poses a much larger issue for the Wildcat offense.

Leading the team since 2017, Thompson racked up a total of 6,104 yards during his time as the starting quarterback for the Wildcats, ranking him fifth all-time in total scrimmage yards for K-State players.

Thompson is also one of only four quarterbacks in school history to throw for 4,000 yards and also rush for 1,000 yards. The question then remains, who will run this team without the impact of their star quarterback?

True freshman quarterback Will Howard looks to be the starter going forward for K-State.

Howard came in for the injured Thompson in the second quarter of the game against Texas Tech, lead-

ing the Wildcats to a 31-21 victory. In his first career start, Howard helped the Wildcats hang on in a tight 21-14 victory over TCU. Over the course of those two games, Howard threw for 314 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

In addition to Howard, the emergence of another true freshman at running back Deuce Vaughn has taken the Big 12 by storm. Vaughn, a three-star recruit out of Round Rock, Texas, has already drawn comparisons to K-State great Darren Sproles.

Vaughn reflects Sproles in both stature — sitting at a measly 5-foot-5-inches — and playing style. He’s small and shifty, but not afraid to take a

hit and has the ability to break tackles with ease.

Vaughn racked up 248 yards on the ground and 279 receiving yards, leading all other running backs in the nation in that category and earning the nickname, Jitterbug from Fox Sports announcer Gus Johnson.

Along with the two true freshmen making plays on offense, the defense looks better than ever with help from returning senior linebacker Justin Hughes. Hughes missed all of the 2019 campaign because of an injury sustained in practice.

To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com

Defensive end W yatt Hubert continues to help K-State’s defense be disruptive ADAM MEYER staff writer

Kansas State’s defense struggled early in the 2020 season, giving up 35 points in their first two games against Arkansas State and Oklahoma. However, the Wildcat defense stepped up in the meeting with the Red Raider, allowing the team to score 21 points.

In a conference like the Big 12 where offenses put up wild numbers, it is vital for the defense to make plays.

Junior defensive end Wyatt Hubert, one of the biggest playmakers on the K-State defensive line, recorded seven sacks last season. Hubert emphasized at the beginning of the season he wanted to improve on those numbers from last year. He tallied two sacks in the Wildcats’ first three games.

While only recording one tackle in K-State’s game against Texas Tech, Hubert still played an active roll in

slowing down the Red Raiders’ high-powered offense.

“My main goal is to go out there and do my job, stay disciplined to my gaps and rush the passer when I need to,” Hubert said. “[Us defensive] ends didn’t come up with any sacks, but obviously we need to keep getting pressure on the quarterback. It makes it a lot tougher when the quarterback is a dual-threat guy like [Texas Tech’s] backup was.”

These dual-threat quarterbacks in the Big 12 aren’t rare, and the future for the Wildcats isn’t going to get any easier as they continue to battle against the many high-powered offenses of the Big 12.

After recording one tackle against the Red Raiders the rest of the season for the 6-foot-3, 270-pound Hubert is somewhat of a redemption game, as he looks to improve on his numbers.

K-State moves into its second bye-week this weekend before taking on in-state rival Kansas at home on Oct. 24.

File photo by Dylan Connell | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Defensive end Wyatt Hubert tackles TCU quarterback Max Duggan in the meeting between K-State and TCU at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Oct. 19, 2019. The Wildcats defeated the Horned Frogs 24-17.

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VOLLEYBALL SET FOR TOP 15 SHOWDOWN, SOCCER RETURNS HOME, CROSS COUNTRY GOES ON THE ROAD CAMERON BRADLEY sports editor

In a week without football, soccer and volleyball take on opponents at home and cross country heads to Stillwater, Oklahoma, for a Saturday morning invitational.

VOLLEYBALL

After a week hiatus, the volleyball team is back in action this weekend, squaring off against the top-ranked team in the nation: Texas.

K-State recently made the hop into the national rankings after an impressive 3-1 start to the 2020 season. With the Wildcats sitting at No. 13, this weekend’s doubleheader is a crucial Top 15 showdown.

The last time K-State was on the court was Oct. 2, taking down West Virginia 3-2 for the second straight match.

Texas comes into the weekend series as one of the most dominant teams in college

volleyball. The Longhorns are 6-0 and dropping just one set throughout the entire season.

The Longhorns come off of a weekend series against Iowa State that saw Texas demolish the Cyclones, winning both matches 3-0. Iowa State is the only team that’s defeated K-State this year, knocking off the Wildcats in their first match of the season 3-2.

The Top 15 matchup will be featured on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. on Friday. The second match between the Big 12 foes is at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and will be streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

SOCCER

After Texas dismantled the soccer team 7-0 Friday evening on the road, Kansas State will return home to take on Oklahoma this week.

K-State (0-4) and OU (0-21) both sit at the bottom of the Big 12 Conference standings as two of the three teams who

Sophie Osborn | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

The volleyball team huddles during the match against Iowa State in Bramlage Coliseum on Sept. 26, 2020.

have yet to record a win this season.

Though Oklahoma remains winless this season, they have had one draw, taking Texas Tech to two overtimes on Oct. 2, with the match ending at 2-2.

Both the Wildcats and the Sooners enter Friday evening’s match coming off of a loss.

Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. Friday at Buser Family Park. It’s available live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+ or 101.5 KROCK.

CROSS COUNTRY

Both men’s and women’s cross country teams had unprecedented success to start off their 2020 season’s, with both team’s taking second at the Bob Timmons Classic in Lawrence, Kansas, on Sept. 19 and third place at the Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Oklahoma, on Oct. 3.

Looking to ride that momentum into the Big 12 Championship in just under three weeks, the Wildcats have one more opportunity to tune up before the all-important conference meet in late October.

That last opportunity will be in Stillwater, Oklahoma, once again this weekend as the Wildcats prepare to compete in the OSU Invite this Saturday.

It’s still uncertain how many teams will be competing alongside K-State on Saturday.

The men’s 8K is set to start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, with the women’s 6K set to start at 9:50 a.m.

friday, october 16, 2020