10.22.21

news: page 04

arts & culture: page 08

sports: page 12

sports: page 14

Hatch adopts K-State way in new position for student well-being

International students provide global perspective into COVID-19 pandemic

Know Your Opponent: The Texas Tech Red Raiders

Big 12 Tip-off: Exclusive with Bruce Weber

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vol. 127, issue 9 | friday, october 22, 2021 | kstatecollegian.com

BIG 12 TIP-OFF Players and coaches discuss the upcoming basketball season at media day

02

NEWS

friday, october 22, 2021

LGBTQ+ Leadership Conference centers queer voices on campus MARGARET LATENSER staff writer

Kansas State’s LGBT Resource Center and the Division of Intercultural Learning and Academic Success hosted a virtual LGBTQ leadership conference on Oct. 8. The conference’s goal was to activate leadership among LGBTQ+ young people and cultivate networks of support, according to the leadership conference webpage. The theme of the conference was “Centering Queer Voices, Working for Our IDEAL.” According to RJ Salmen, sophomore in personal finance, a diverse committee worked together over the summer and formulated the IDEAL acronym, which stands for Inclusion — Diversity — Empowerment — Authenticity — Leadership.

“We felt those different objectives and values cored to what we were looking for in different speakers,” Sal-

men said. “This was a 30-to45 minute discussion we had going from what we wanted the conference to look like to creatively coming up with actual concepts and titles.

This was a good conversation to have, and we had a diverse group of individuals.

It was very well-represented, and the conversation was well thought out.”

Thomas X. Sarmiento, associate professor in the Department of English, said the day-long conference showcased the entire IDEAL acronym.

“I think the attention to diversity in terms of race, geographics, gender identity and expression in the kinds of presentations throughout the day really helped emphasize the diversity within the LGBTQ+ community,” Sarmiento said.

Sarmiento said the conference presenters — along with the breakout sessions —presented the theme well.

“My sense is that having

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all presenters identify as part of the LGBTQ+ spectrum achieved part of that mission of centering queer voices,” Sarmiento said. “In terms of the actual content and what the different keynotes and breakout sessions presented, it was all centered on queer youth in particular.”

The keynote speaker was Tori Gleason, a transgender female who advocates for quality healthcare access.

Working on her Master of Public Health at the University of Kansas School of Medicine Wichita campus, Gleason’s clinical focus is on transgender and gender-expansive patient populations according to the biography on the conference’s schedule.

Michael Larson, graduate student in drama therapy, said the committee chose Gleason to help present IDEALS. He said she gave a beneficial talk.

“Her talk was very impactful and very helpful for people to understand what

she is working for and all the work she has done to help the trans community,” Larson said.

The conference also provided a look into a variety of aspects of being queer, Larson said. The different sessions attendees could go to include: Queer in STEM, being queer in religious organizations, queer healthcare, queer liberation in Kansas, safe spaces for queer youth and LGBTQ+ research.

“We catered to a great amount of people,” Larson said. “I think this is a reason the conference was so successful because we understand people have busy schedules. So, people were able to hop on and join us in many different sessions.”

Sarmiento said that the variety of sessions and speakers aimed to give students the needed knowledge and resources to take the initiative and become leaders.

“The organizing committee was comprised of

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faculty, staff and students,” Sarmiento said. “I think students took the lead on being moderators and introducing presenters throughout, so that was great to see our own KSU students doing that work.”

Sarmiento said the conference was well-attended, with around 30-to-50 active participants in sessions throughout the day, and he said he appreciated the wide range of attendees.

“One thing I appreciated was the geographic range,” Sarmiento said. “So, we are in Northeast Kansas.

But having presenters from Garden City and Fort Hays, the reach across the state, and the contrast between more rural communities versus college town communities was helpful.”

Sarmiento, who monitored the comments, said he saw students from all over Kansas engage in the conference and learn about resources.

“I definitely saw pulling resources together and that support of being able to share similar experiences in different locations,” Sarmiento said.

Sarmiento said that the last session on legal protections taught students that starting a gay-straight alliance is within their legal rights.

To learn about these resources, listen to speakers and join breakout rooms, Sarmiento said all are welcome to attend the next conference tentatively scheduled for April 22, 2022.

“Little Apple pride is scheduled for April 23, 2022, so we are hoping this can be a complimentary event to gather the momentum,” Sarmiento said.

More information about April’s potential conference is available on the LGBT Resource Center’s contact page.

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Kansas State men’s basketball coach Bruce Weber answers questions at the Big 12 Basketball Tip-off at T-Mobile Center, Kansas City on Oct. 21, 2021.

03

NEWS

friday, october 22, 2021

K-State wins HEED award for eighth year in a row, highlights progress still to be made ELENIA HENRY staff writer

Kansas State received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity award from Insight Into Diversity magazine for its eighth year in a row.

According to the publication’s website, the award for the past ten years recognizes universities that display an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Universities may nominate themselves for the award, and the magazine’s publishing company representatives select the winners. The group assesses the level of dedication applicants display creating a campus culture that welcomes and educates all. The application asks questions about demographic percentages, methods of outreach each university employs and strategies used to ensure diver-

sity planning and accountability.

The judging committee selected K-State and 100 other universities from a pool of over 5,000 applicants.

However, this is not K-State’s first run at receiving kudos for fostering a community of acceptance. Besides winning the HEED award every year since 2014, the university also earned the Outstanding University Award for Diversity, Inclusion, and Acceptance from Compete Magazine for the athletic department’s commitment to cultural competency.

Baruc Lombardo, freshman in mechanical engineering who came to K-State from Paraguay, said the university was a good introduction to life in the United States.

“K-State’s programs for international students are making it easier for me to adapt to the American culture and also to its

educational system,” Lombardo said. “I feel that the university is doing a great job with its current programs and should keep doing the same for years to come.”

For many other members of the K-State community, this commitment to inclusivity is less apparent. The award is a testimony to K-State’s efforts to improve. Still, in the wake of several racist incidents on campus in the past few years, some students wonder if winning an award for diversity is antithetical to the actual goings-on of the university.

The past year has seen several racist acts in and around campus, from hateful messages about the Black Lives Matter movement appearing on whiteboards in the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center to white nationalists flooding a KSUnite Zoom event with inflammatory comments. This past year was

filled with the Twitter hashtag #BlackAtKState accompanying stories of insensitivity and ignorance on campus.

President Richard Myers released The Action Plan for a More Inclusive K-State in response to the hashtag’s prevalence. The plan features steps toward progress, such as electing a student ombudsperson and improving the process for discrimination complaint intake.

Other university responses have included apologies and calls for student dialogue.

In a recent Instagram poll of 110 students, 61 Wildcats expressed they do not find K-State a diverse and inclusive space, and 48 others countered that they do.

To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com

Archive photo by Kaylie McLaughlin | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP The Morris Family Multicultural Student Center outside the K-State Student Union.

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friday, october 22, 2021

Hatch adopts K-State way in new position for student well-being ALEXANDER HURLA staff writer

Because of a $10.2 million donation from Charlie and Debbie Morrison promoting student wellness, Kansas State created a new position called the Morrison Family associate vice president for student well-being.

After a national search, the committee selected Kathleen Hatch for the inaugural position.

Thomas Lane, vice president for student life and dean of students, said the creation of the position stemmed from student feedback received both during the COVID-19 pandemic and before. He also said the position fits into the Division of Student Life’s objectives.

“An important part of our student life strategic plan is championing holistic student well-being,” Lane said.

“So, this position fits really well into that strategic goal we have as a division.”

Hatch said the position combined her interests in student well-being with her experiences and background. She served as a leader of student well-being at Washington State University for 25 years and, most recently, as the executive director of recreational sports at The Ohio State University.

“I had a chance in this last seven to 10 years to really be a part of some important conversations in higher [education] in multiple associations’ work,” Hatch said. “That has always been pulling me into this very holistic approach to look at our preventative and restorative and protective factors of culture and environment, and human behavior in ways support the clinical, urgent need.”

Josh Diazdeleon, junior in elementary education, is the Student Governing Association basic needs director and served on the search committee as a student representative. He said the committee had to review many applicants who were interested in the position.

“A lot of folks looked at K-State, and a lot of folks were interested in who we are and what we are,” Diazdeleon said.

“We’ve kind of established ourselves as a pretty prestigious institution in that sense, and a lot of people wanted to join our family.”

Diazdeleon also said the committee wanted to ensure the new hire for the position would build relationships with students.

“I think that’s just something that we’ve kind of established as a university, that we really appreciate folks who

do commit themselves to students,” Diazdeleon said. “I feel like we found the right choice for that as well.”

Hatch said she appreciates that K-State already established its support for student well-being before she arrived on campus.

“At certain times in my career, I’ve been in conversations where you spend all your energy just trying to justify that we should talk about well-being,” Hatch said. “So, the fact that that one’s done and now it’s, ‘OK, let’s move into the work and let’s get busy in the work together,’ is just fantastic.”

She said that influences the way she approaches her new position.

“For me, it’s not coming in and charting a brand-new course,” Hatch said. “It’s building on the foundation that’s been new here, and with that,

putting, hopefully, some air into some new opportunities and some emerging best practices and helping to connect some of the dots.”

Lane, who also served on the search committee, said Hatch’s primary objective is to oversee areas on campus connected to student well-being, such as Lafene Health Center, recreational services, Powercat Financial and Counseling Services. He said she would also build upon existing programs at K-State and connect students with programs outside of the university.

“We’re also wanting to look at how do we scale up our existing student well-being programs,” Lane said. “How do we make sure we’re touching as many students as we can with well-being information, well-being opportunities for students

to strengthen their sense of well-being? So, that’s another goal that we have.”

Hatch said those goals fit in with what she hopes to teach students about well-being.

“If there’s anything to be learned from this pandemic, it is the interdependence of our health, and that’s globally, right?” Hatch said. “That doesn’t end on the border of campus. It doesn’t end in Manhattan or in this great state. We’re all a part of this human experience.”

Additionally, Hatch said she hopes to help students understand that, while there are some things they cannot control with well-being, it is not as difficult to achieve as some might think. see page

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NEWS

friday, october 22, 2021

Kidd for Commission: K-State faculty member Marcus Kidd runs for office KELSEY VOLK staff writer

Courtesy photo provided by Marcus Kidd

Marcus Kidd, assistant director of enrollment management and institutional partnerships for the College of Education, is running for a seat at the Manhattan City Commission.

Kidd said part of the reason he is running is to make sure leaders in the Manhattan community truly represent the people who make up all of the community.

“I definitely think it’s important to be knowledgeable of certain things related to that political realm,” Kidd said. “But it’s never been at my forefront. What’s been happening around the country as it relates to the treatment of people from diverse backgrounds has been an important part of it.”

The other reason Kidd is running stems from his love of Manhattan.

“I was born and raised here,” Kidd said. “I’ve been able to see the community evolve and grow, and not just in the sense of the people being here, but the actual physical infrastructure. I’ve seen that evolve and grow in front of my eyes.”

Kidd said the combination of his background, demographic and experience with Manhattan will help him in the role of city commissioner.

“When I see all the other people that are running, I believe I’m one of the youngest people running for this year’s city commission seat,” Kidd said. “I’m single, I don’t have a family, so there are certain elements of city leadership that I think I would have a different perspective from the norm.”

Kidd has been a part of the Kansas State community since 2009. After earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2014, he completed his master’s in counseling and student development

in 2016. He is now working toward a doctorate in the same field.

Kidd’s history with K-State does not stop with schooling. He worked as a graduate assistant for several departments. Now, Kidd works for the College of Education and also teaches Foundations of College Student Success.

“K-State is very important to the well-being of the community, along with the future of where Manhattan goes,” Kidd said. “Being an employee there, that’s already one experience that I have that I can bring to the table with city commission as it relates to different things, regarding either understanding the governing structure or understanding how different rules and policies work on campus that people who don’t work for K-State may not be aware of.”

Kidd serves as a graduate student senator and has been involved with the Student Governing Association for over seven years. He served on the Allocations Committee, the Tuition and Fees Strategy Committee and the Student Services Fee Committee throughout his SGA career.

“I think all of that translates highly into part of the role of a city

commissioner,” Kidd said. “Really taking a look at the city budget, looking at all these tax dollars and where everything’s going. Looking at different entities that receive money from the city of Manhattan revenue and just examining ‘Hey, what are ways that we can do cost-sharing?’ or ‘What are ways that we can save costs that don’t sacrifice the quality of services?’”

Kidd said true leadership is not based on platforms but on what a candidate decides to do in unprecedented situations. However, he cares about health and safety, the infrastructure of the city dam and economic vitality.

“I care about the health and safety of all of Manhattan,” Kidd said.

“We are still grappling with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, so that is something I think is important to keep in mind at the forefront. On the topic of the safety piece is the infrastructure of the city dam or our levy, that’s something I think deserves some attention, that I would hope to give more attention to if I were elected.”

To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com

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ARTS & CULTURE

friday, october 22, 2021

Sunset Zoo home to only albino wallaby joey in the nation MADDY DANIELS a s s t . a r t s & c u l t u re e d i t o r

Late this July, Sunset Zoo was pleasantly surprised as not one but two baby wallabies from two mothers joined its troupe.

As one of the babies emerged from the pouch, zookeepers realized it was different from the others — it was albino.

Named after an island off Tasmania in Australia, home to 200 albino wallabies, Bruny is about two months old and is thriving with his fellow wallabies.

His albinism is an extreme rarity, and the staff is keeping a watchful eye on him because of the health issues that can arise.

“He really did come through very healthy,” Melissa Kirkwood, Sunset Zoo’s marketing and development officer, said. “We watched through August and September and recently made this announcement. He’s doing really well — he’s outside of the pouch now but still nursing from mom. He is doing well with all the other wallabies, and this is probably a very, very rare occurrence.”

Kirkwood said the zoo has communicated with the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, and there are no other albino wallabies in the nation.

Had Bruny been born in the wild, he likely wouldn’t have survived predators because of his coloring. However, safe at

HATCH continued from page 04

“We think about living a life of health and well-being sounds pretty complicated, or it takes a lot of time,” Hatch said. “I think there are micro-steps every day that can become patterns and almost then instinctive that I’m going to do these things.”

In her first several weeks in Manhattan, Hatch has worked hard in her new position, Diazdeleon said.

“I think Kathleen’s first

Sunset Zoo, Bruny is getting around and connecting with fellow joey Arlo.

“We’ve never had two babies down there at the same time,” Kirkwood said. “We have Arlo too, and age-wise, they’re neck and neck, so that’s really neat to see. And as they grow, we’ll see some more interaction, so that’s really special.”

Bruny has been a star for the Sunset Zoo as visitors come to check out the buzz around this fluffy white joey.

“Bruny gets around the yard a lot, so do all the other wallabies, but he does like to hide,” Kirkwood said. “He’s becoming more acclimated to people and the zoo environment. It’ll be interesting in the wintertime when things get a little bit less green, his camouflage will probably lend itself. We’re wondering how it’ll be when it snows.”

Sunset Zoo has had new and impressive opportunities because of how uncommon an albino wallaby is, including state and national coverage from publications like People Magazine.

However, focusing on Bruny and the rest of the troupe is the true incentive for their staff.

“Anytime that you have a remarkable instance occur, it’s pretty neat,” Kirkwood said.

“It’s not something we expected or bred for, and we won’t breed for, it’s just an anomaly. …

Even if Bruny would have been

albino or not, it’s about the care that they receive from our keepers and staff. We monitor all our animals that are here, not only through their keepers but also

through the vet team, which is part of the Kansas State veterinary medicine program. They have an actual hospital here on site, and then they rotate

week on the job, we were already sitting down as student government and meeting with her and discussing kind of our plans and whatnot,” Diazdeleon said. “So, she wasn’t even entirely moved into Manhattan yet, and she was already meeting with student leaders from student groups.”

Hatch has also ventured out into the community to meet new people.

“I’ve already been out on my bike a couple of times and just trying to find my way to connect in this community,” Hatch said. “No matter who I’ve come across, I’ve just kind of sensed this real warmth and care of one another, right?

Like, it’s really impressive.”

This is also not the first time Hatch has been to K-State.

When Hatch worked at Washington State, she came to K-State with a group of students to tour the K-State’s Student Union for a student union renovation at WSU. “The beauty of this campus had certainly stayed with me, and that was true when I interviewed in August, like, I felt that sense of that this is just something special,” Hatch said.

In all, Diazdeleon said Hatch is a great asset to the K-State community.

“I think we brought on a great hire,” Diazdeleon said. “I

definitely think Kathleen Hatch is the type of person you could send an email and she’d meet with any student any time. She’s here for K-State.”

Lane said Hatch had adopted the K-State way.

“We’re really excited about Kathleen being with us … she’s hit the ground running,” Lane said. “I think we have drowned her in purple, and that’s been great. I think she’s accepted that purple, and I think she’s going to be a great addition to our staff.

More information is on the Division of Student Life’s website.

Elizabeth Sandstrom | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Bruny, a rare albino wallaby, rests in his enclosure at Sunset Zoo. through all of the vet med program to explore and take care of exotic animals.”

Visitors can come to spot Bruny and the other wallabies

at Sunset Zoo daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 31, and in winter hours from noon to 5 p.m. starting Nov. 1.

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ARTS & CULTURE

friday, october 22, 2021

Students, alumni share fall memories, seasonal outlooks GRACE MORRISON staff writer

With autumn underway, the change of seasons brings joy, sadness and all emotions in between among the Kansas State community. This time of year holds emotional significance for many as it buffers the space between the scorching summer and the frigid winter.

Growing up — and while at K-State — fall used to be the favorite season for Lauren Lauffer, K-State graduate with a bachelor’s in human development and family sciences and a minor in conflict analysis and trauma studies. Lauffer said she still enjoys aspects of the season but now enjoys the spring and summer months more.

“I really like fall, but there are a lot of things that I’ve noticed over the years that make me not like it as much,” Lauffer said. “It used to be my favorite, but it’s not anymore.”

Having moved on from college, many of the fall activities that Lauffer used to look forward to as a student —

school, football games, fall-themed events in the residence halls — don’t play much of a role in her life anymore.

“I feel like [fall] just comes with a lot of stress,” Lauffer said. “I like the cool fall days, but it makes me anxious because I know that it’s leading up to winter, and I really hate winter. And I really don’t like when the sun starts to set earlier. … So, I just see all of the things changing as a sign of winter coming.”

Haley Rader, senior in music education, said she also isn’t a fan of winter. She said her favorite time of year is late summer into early fall when neither heat nor cold hinders outdoor activities.

One such activity is participating in the K-State marching band as an assistant clarinet section leader.

“By this point in the year, we’ve gotten into ... more of a rhythm,” Rader said. “Everybody’s kind of on the same page about how to go about things. So we can have more fun because it’s more smooth, and also the weather is not extreme one way or the other. It’s just more fun at that point.”

While technical challenges are going smoother for the band, relationships have also evolved. Rader appreciates the close-knit community forming among musicians within individual sections and the band as a whole.

“By this point, everybody in the band … we’re pretty comfortable with each other,” Rader said. “So a lot more of the inside jokes start happening and the weird random band stuff that doesn’t make sense to other people, and that’s when a lot of closeness happens, is this time of year.”

Before college, Rader spent much of her childhood participating in activities like dance and band, while her brother was heavily involved in football. Dance performances, band concerts and football games would fill the fall schedule to the brim in her family home growing up.

For Rader, there was some give and take during this time. While she loved the activities she was involved in, she held no particular liking for football or other sports. Still, she remembers attending her brother’s games to show support for him.

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The leaves changing color outside Anderson Hall.

“Even though football was never my thing and I usually did not want to go to my brother’s football games,” Rader said. “I look back at that, and

now [fall] reminds me of my family.

Even though I am not a sports person, I can appreciate it for what it is and for the time with my family.”

08

ARTS & CULTURE

friday, october 22, 2021

International students provide global perspective into COVID-19 pandemic GRACE MORRISON staff writer

The fall 2021 semester is the first in nearly a year and a half that sees the Kansas State campus fully open and holding in-person classes. As new and returning students continue adjusting to the “new normal” brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, international students Chahat Sehgal and Jamie Chen share their experiences with COVID-19 living in the United States and its impact in their home countries.

Sehgal, senior in chemistry, grew up in New Delhi, India, where her mother and father raised her. Since coming to the states for her first year of college, she has not returned home or seen her parents.

However, regular phone calls with her family over the years — and throughout the pandemic — kept her in touch.

“My dad … he used to mention [COVID-19], little bit every day … when it was happening a lot in China,” Sehgal said. “He would talk to me about it, and I would just like brush it off and say, ‘Well, it’s not happening here.

Everything is fine.’ And I ac-

tually didn’t realize how … everything is going to change.”

Sehgal lived in the residence halls during the 20192020 school year. After the university notified students in the spring that campus was closing operations and moving online, Sehgal went with her sister — who also attended college and works and lives in Kansas — to move out of the dorms.

“I packed all of my stuff and came back, and, um, that’s when I think the first time, when we went to Walmart and everywhere, that’s when I kind of realized that there was this panic — panic amongst the people — that they were trying to hoard stuff,” Sehgal said. “That’s when I realized, ‘OK, maybe the situation has now increased.’”

A list in the university’s announcement limiting on-campus housing operations displayed criteria of which groups would not be required to move out. The list included international students. However, Sehgal preferred living with her sister during this time and moved out anyway.

“I had the support of my sister, but I think with all other international students

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who don’t have family here, it’s very hard,” Sehgal said.

“I try to put myself in those shoes and try to think of it in that way, that it’s actually very hard to have no family here in the time of COVID.” International students have carried many burdens during the pandemic, including a lack of relational support. In addition to the basic human need for community comes the need for stability.

As an international student, student visa stability — or status — in the U.S. impacts stability. Sehgal’s status is dependent on whether she fulfills specified enrollment requirements throughout the school year.

“I think the very first time I got scared for myself was … because I need to be a full-time student,” Sehgal said. “If I’m taking twelve credit hours, then I need to have nine of those in-person, and that’s how my status is maintained in the U.S. And I think I was kind of really scared when the school made all the classes online because I didn’t want it to be completely online — because I was worried about my status.”

The U.S. government

Elizabeth Sandstrom | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

The International Student Center is located on the northeast side of campus. gave qualifying Americans stimulus checks throughout the pandemic. International students, however, did not receive such aid. In addition, the economic instability within India caused Sehgal’s financial support system — her family — to not provide as much monetary aid as before

the pandemic.

Limited in-person operations on campus hindered Sehgal’s ability to earn an income as well. She had formerly worked in the lab. “[COVID-19] impacted so many people, and as international students … it impacted us financially,” Sehgal said. “You know, ‘cause our home countries got affected … I still struggled to pay for this semester … even though things started getting better here in the U.S. with the vaccine, things were not better in India because they didn’t have any vaccine.”

Chen, sophomore in computer science, was living in New York as a senior in high school when the U.S. government issued a nationwide quarantine. Having grown up in Guangzhou, China, and with family living there now, Chen said she was very aware of the presence of the coronavirus. Her parents had already been dealing with it as a threat for months.

“During that time in China, they ran out of masks and [COVID-19] hadn’t come to America yet, so I sent some

masks home,” Chen said.

With her parents only living about 600 miles from Wuhan — the virus’ place of origin — Chen said she was scared not only of what the virus was capable of but for her family’s safety as well.

“I watched the news, and I saw so many people got it and then died,” Chen said.

“So to me, it means if you got it, then you die soon.”

With no family to stay with, Chen lived with roommates in an apartment off-campus. Chen said even though her first year of college looked different than most, she sees the value in her unique, historic experience unlike most other college stories.

“It’s a different experience, ‘cause everyone just come to America and go to in-person classes and just have friends and study groups and I have nothing,” Chen said.

“Everyone is talking about, ‘Oh, my first year of college is wonderful,’ … and I was like, ‘I stayed at home.’”

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09

ARTS & CULTURE

friday, october 22, 2021

Handmade tacos, tamales hit Aggieville nightlife CLAIBORN SCHMIDT arts & culture editor

Chef Jeffery Zeckser is a professional chef who recently began serving tacos and tamales out of his trailer at the Manhattan Farmer’s Market and outside of Public Hall in Aggieville.

Zeckser has been cooking since he was a kid, working professionally for restaurants in cities like Kansas City and Houston.

During the pandemic, Zeckser decided to move closer to his family. Once in Manhattan and looking for ways to make extra income, Zeckser had the idea with help from a friend to cook and sell food.

“I’ve been a professional chef for a while, so I figured why not make food,” Zeckser said.

After Zackser decided to try out his side gig, he still had to determine what kind of food to sell.

“I was just kind of thinking about what would be something that I can make that people like, there is demand for and it is easy to store for a long time and doesn’t necessarily have to be something easy to make — something you can make in bulk and sell a bunch of — and I came up with the idea of tamales,” Zeckser said.

He then got to work making tamales to sell at the Manhattan farmer’s market.

“I made a hundred dozen of them one time, went to the farmer’s market and almost completely sold out and said, ‘Holy cow, this is cool,’” Zeckser said.

At Public Hall, the partners were talking about ways to expand their business to reach the nightlife in Aggieville. After trying Zeckser’s food, David Sauter, a partner at Public Hall, said they found what they were looking for.

“We have discussed hav-

ing a late-night food truck on the patio,” Sauter said. “I tried Jeff ’s food at the farmers market and flipped out. We then approached him about the idea ... and he was open to the idea of trying,” Sauter said.

As temperatures drop, locals can still enjoy Zeckser’s tacos and tamales comfortably at a table in the warmth thanks to Public Hall’s heated patio.

“Thankfully, Public Hall is letting me use their patio, so they have a heated patio, so if it’s kind of chilly, you can still buy tacos, sit under the heaters,” Zeckser said.

Aggieville is a popular spot for college kids, locals and local businesses.

“I know about everyone and their mother with a food truck wants to do Aggieville, and I am super grateful to have this opportunity,” Zeckser said.

Having an alternative late-night food option in Aggieville has grabbed a lot of attention and excitement, especially since the menu is almost completely handmade.

“I am all about latenight food options in Aggieville, so yes, it will be a great addition. It seems to be a local small business, so that’s also exciting to get to support that in our community,” Benjamin Rost, senior in marketing, said.

Zeckser offers birria tacos, carnitas tacos and carnitas tamales. Everything but the tortillas is handmade, and he

Courtesy photo by Jeffery Zeckser

changes the menu seasonally. “... We are delighted to have an exceptional food operation add to what we are trying to do in Aggieville,” Sauter said.

Locals and college students are enjoying the tacos so far.

“The tacos were good!

Fairly cheap and homemade ...” Rost said.

Zeckser and his trailer can be found at the Manhattan Farmers Market, outside the Public Hall patio and on Guero Loco’s Instagram and Facebook pages.

More information about Public Hall is available on Instagram and Facebook.

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ARTS & CULTURE

friday, october 22, 2021

Jake Wesley Rogers releases theatric, deeply personal EP ‘Pluto’ JARED SHUFF editor-in-chief

From a striped shirt and acoustic guitar on America’s Got Talent to rocking a gold-sequined jumpsuit and keyboard in the middle of a courtroom, the transformation of singer/ songwriter Jake Wesley Rogers into his most authentic self deserves recognition.

The 24-year-old musician from Missouri knew who he was from a young age, coming out to his family in the sixth grade.

However, growing up in the Midwest, Rogers still felt he had

to stay quiet about his true self.

Music became an important, therapeutic outlet in his life.

Just a few years after a stint on season seven of America’s Got Talent, Rogers began releasing music independently, with his first EP “Evergreen” coming out in 2017 and his sophomore EP “Spiritual” in 2019. Rogers was signed to Warner Records shortly after the release of his second EP. Since signing with Warner Records, Rogers has developed a passionate following on TikTok, with just under 300,000 followers since his first video

in 2020. His videos and music gained attention from music legend Elton John, who later interviewed Rogers on his Apple 1 Radio show “Rocket Hour.”

Rogers released his debut EP with Warner Records, “Pluto,” earlier this month to positive reviews — and rightly so. His vulnerable vocals and authenticity blend beautifully with his songwriting skills, packaged together in a six-song EP that feels like a personal journal entry.

The EP opens with “Weddings and Funerals,” a piano ballad about the significance of the little moments in life. The

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simplicity of the verses — reliant mainly on vocals and piano — shift into the more theatrical choruses and bridge, showcasing his powerful vocals and range. He sings in the chorus, “Everything’s always / Weddings and funerals / No room to celebrate / Everyday miracles / Like the sun in the sky / Like your body on mine.”

“Middle of Love,” is reminiscent of Elton John’s work, a bouncy pop ballad full of both fun and deeply personal lyrics.

His performance of the song from his “Live from a Courthouse” sessions has gained over half a million views on TikTok, sporting a golden jumpsuit and a giant “Scales of Justice” earring during the riveting performance.

He sings, “I didn’t ask to melt to the floor / I didn’t ask to even be born / Both those happened when my eyes met yours.”

The title track of the EP — “Pluto” — treats the former planet as a metaphor for his self-doubt, rejection and

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During her time in America, Chen has observed several differences between the way Chinese and American citizens react to their government’s efforts to diminish the threat of COVID-19. One difference is the responses to government-issued quarantine throughout the pandemic.

“When the government told the people to stay inside in China, no one go outside. Like, there ain’t no one. No one,” Chen said. “But here, you know, it’s impossible to happen.”

Chen said she likes how safe it can feel in China because everyone follows COVID-19 safety protocols.

She also said China’s use of an app called WeChat contributes to this sense of security — although it comes at the cost of personal freedom.

WeChat tracks the med-

ultimately as a message to all the haters. The song opens with Rogers reminiscing about when Pluto was still considered a planet and how he still feels sad about its demotion. There’s a feeling of kinship with the tossed aside Pluto, but still a sense of self-worth in the end.

He sings in the chorus, “Hate on me, hate on me, hate on me, hate on me / You might as well hate the sun / For shining just a little too much.”

“Under the Sun” is a more folksy song, with the sounds of birds, light acoustic finger-picking and a simple beat making for a relaxing and enjoyable listen. My initial interpretation is that the song is about normalizing LGBTQ relationships and feelings, which makes sense when he sings, “Swear to God these feelings are ancient / Swear to God it ain’t nothing new.”

Rogers gets the most personal with his song “Cause of a Scene,” a heartbreaking ballad

about hiding his identity for the benefit of others and how much pain that caused him. He sings in the bridge, “Haven’t told my grandpa ’bout you / ‘Cause my parents told me not to / It might be a little too much at the end of his life.” Another emotional piano ballad, you can hear the intense pain in Rogers’ voice during the chorus.

Closing the EP is “Momentary,” a song dedicated to the LGBTQ people — both real and fictional — that Rogers cites as inspirations and heroes to the community. With credit to famous LGBTQ figures like Marsha P. Johnson, Harvey Milk and Oscar Wilde, Rogers sings, “I suppose the yellow brick road / Is easier to navigate than it’s ever been before.”

Rogers will open for musician/actor Ben Platt during his North American tour starting Feb. 23, 2022. “Pluto” and more work from Rogers are available on Spotify and other streaming services.

ical information and whereabouts of Chinese citizens to ensure the physical wellness of individuals trying to enter stores, buses, schools and other places. If medical data says the individual is sick or location tracking reveals the individual has recently traveled to a region of high risk for COVID-19 infection, the code within the app — when scanned — turns red. They are then not allowed to enter any businesses. If the individual is not sick or not considered high-risk, the code is green, and they are free to go on their way.

Now that campus is open again, Chen said she is excited to experience college for the first time in person. She said she believes this will help her better succeed in her classes, improve her time-management skills and develop a consistent schedule. Much of the fear Chen had during the onset of COVID-19 has dissipated after knowing individuals who tested positive for the

virus and fully recovered.

“There’s so many people around me got [COVID-19], and they got better, and they healthy now, so they didn’t die,” Chen said.

For Sehgal, she said the reopening of campus is equally exciting. However, transitioning out of an entire year of isolation and limited in-person interaction has not been a oneand-done deal.

“It took time, I think. I would have to say it took time to … come out of it,” Sehgal said. “But I think I was excited to actually go to the classes, you know, in-person now. Just being with other students.”

Gradually, the world is adapting to the many threats COVID-19 poses, Sehgal said.

“Even though things have opened up now … it’s still not the same as before the COVID happened,” Sehgal said. “It was very normal — things were different altogether before.

But I think now things have changed and … the pandemic has impacted all of us.”

11

SPORTS

friday, october 22, 2021

Big 12 Tip-off: A recap of the two-day event LANDON REINHARDT staff writer

The Kansas State basketball programs sent one coach and two players to Kansas City, Missouri, this week for the Big 12 Basketball Tip-off.

The two-day media event allowed for exclusive interviews and conferences from the Big 12’s top members.

The women started the event on Tuesday, and K-State sent head coach Jeff Mittie and sophomores Ayoka Lee and Emilee Ebert. Lee was the first Wildcat to take the stage in the “Round Table” discussion, where she discussed her summer training, career goals and her role as the team baker.

“Banana bread, yeah, I get a lot of requests,” Lee said.

“One of my teammate’s birthdays is this week, so I’ll be making her some banana bread.”

For more about the summer three-on-three tournament and more, check out the full recap of Lee’s Round Table discussion.

Head coach Jeff Mittie was next on stage, where he spoke on a new year after a COVID-19 plagued season, new faces and the progression of Ayoka Lee. “She just needs to continue to get better,” Mittie said of his star center. “She’s been a great end-of-offense player — the only player in the NCAA to shoot over 60 percent from the field and over 80 percent from the free-throw line. She needs to continue to improve her physicality.”

Mittie’s full Round Table discussion is available on the Collegian website.

Mittie then had one-onone discussions with journalists, where he discussed his goals for the season and what a successful year would look like. The full interview with Collegian reporters as part of the “Collegian Uncut” interview series is available on the K-State Collegian YouTube channel.

Emilee Ebert and Ayoka Lee were the next to answer

questions, where both girls agreed that this season has a new and improved “energy.”

“Our culture has shifted a little bit,” Ebert said. “To watch the pieces get put together in a game is what I’m excited for. I think the energy is better in the locker, practice, off the court, weights, training room. It’s just ten times better than it was. We have a lot of new faces and they came in with a lot of new energy, which we needed, so it’s kind of like a breath of fresh air.”

The recap of the two-onone interview on the Collegian is available online, and the whole

discussion with the players as part of the “Collegian Uncut” series is on YouTube.

This wrapped up day one of the Big 12 Basketball Tip-Off, with the men’s teams ready to take the stage for day two. K-State sent head coach Bruce Weber, super-senior Mike McGuirl and sophomore Selton Miguel to the event.

Weber started the day off with a question-and-answer session, stating his excitement for the incoming transfers and about McGuirl coming back to the program with his COVID-19 extra-eligibility year.

“It was the biggest, best re-

cruit we had, to get [McGuirl] to come back,” Weber said.

The Collegian staff had an exclusive one-on-one interview with Weber, where he answered questions about having former players on the coaching staff, the improvements of Miguel and breakout sophomores Nijel Pack and Davion Bradford and his concern about NIL deals.

“I worry about it, I’ll be honest,” Weber said. “I don’t think nationally the word has got out how well treated our players are. I’ve heard guys on national broadcasts say, ‘The NCAA is abusing these student-athletes.’ That’s wrong.

Ask our guys how many times they’re hungry, they get four meals a day. Not three — four.

They’re treated well, they get cost of attendance. If they qualify, financial aid. They could work jobs if they wanted.”

The full recap of Weber’s conversation is on the Collegian website, and the “Collegian Uncut” interview of the exclusive one-on-one with coach Weber is on YouTube.

McGuirl and Miguel were the last to face the media, discussing Miguel’s time playing for Angola for the Olympics over the summer and McGuirl’s decision to come back

for his sixth season.

“The decision to come back was a pretty easy decision,” McGuirl said. “I knew what I had to do — I had some unfinished business here that I wanted to take care of.”

A recap of the conversation is on the Collegian website, and the entire “Collegian Uncut” interview is on YouTube.

The women’s season tips off at home against Central Arkansas on Nov. 9, and the men’s season starts at home against Pittsburg State on Nov. 4. Catch recaps of every game through the Collegian as the season approaches.

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SPORTS

friday, october 22, 2021

Know Your Opponent: The Texas Tech Red Raiders NATHAN ENSERRO asst. sports editor

Kansas State looks to get back into the win column Saturday morning against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Lubbock, Texas.

The Red Raiders sit at 5-2 with wins against Houston and West Virginia and losses to TCU and Texas.

Texas Tech blew out Kansas in Lawrence this past week despite a questionable performance from quarterback Henry Colombi.

Head coach Matt Wells is in his third year and is in a “prove-it” season after finishing in the bottom three of the Big 12 the past two seasons. He has yet to beat K-State as the head coach at Texas Tech.

Graphic by Marshall Sunner | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

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OFFENSE:

Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Sonny Cumbie returned to Texas Tech in the offseason, bringing his own brand of the Air Raid back to Lubbock. He led the nation in passing and total yards under Mike Leach as a quarterback in that 2004 system.

Cumbie’s offense takes basic Air Raid ideas about lateral spacing and forcing the defense into pressure decisions and adds run-pass option concepts and a little more balance. They love to force a decision from defenders and then take advantage of whichever option the defender didn’t take.

Columbi is running that system after a broken collarbone sidelined starter Tyler Shough during the Texas game at the end of September. It is unlikely Shough is back this week, as initial re-

ports set his timeline for return around mid-November.

Regardless of the quarterback, Texas Tech’s number one threat on offense is running back SaRodorick Thompson. The junior went over 100 yards for the first time this season against TCU and has found pay dirt six times through five games this season.

DEFENSE:

Texas Tech is not a program known for its defense, and this year is no different.

The Red Raiders are seventh in yards allowed per game and eighth in points per game in the 10-team conference.

The Tech defense is another Big 12 school that has gone to a primarily three-man front with three linebackers and three safeties. Unlike other schools that employ personnel grouping, the Red Raiders aren’t a team with a dedicated rushing linebacker.

Instead, they are happy to bring three rushers, and when they do bring four, it can come from pretty much any spot on the field. It’s hard for offensive linemen to figure out who to block, especially when they bring a linebacker up on the edge to look like a blitzer and then drop him into coverage and bring pressure from elsewhere.

The Tech linebacking corps is full of graduate transfer seniors, and SAM linebacker Colin Schooler is fourth in the conference in tackles per game. Riko Jeffers — who ended Skylar Thompson’s season this past year — is listed as a middle linebacker but plays a lot on the outside of the linebackers and on the edge.

KEY MATCHUPS: ‘It’s Thiiiiiiird Dooooooooown’: K-State is bad on third down. The Wildcat defense is the worst non-Kansas defense in the league at getting offenses off the field on third down, and their offense is sixth.

The key to beating this Texas Tech team will be keeping their offense off the field, which necessitates dominating third down on both sides of the ball.

Sound protection: Texas Tech will try to confuse K-State’s offensive line and quarterback with various blitz looks from experienced linebackers. K-State will need to give Thompson the time he needs to find open receivers later in his progression and open holes for the running backs.

Special teams: K-State needs at least one touchdown either directly on special teams or set up by special teams. The team also needs to avoid the field goal-kicking disasters of this past week. With the Wildcats’ demonstrated inability to stop anyone, they’ll need every point they can get.

PREDICTION:

Columbi has a bounceback game against K-State’s bad secondary and Thompson takes advantage of K-State using resources to try to stop the pass. The Wildcat offense moves the ball pretty much at will, but their inability to get off the field on third down dooms them late.

TECH wins 38-35.

@kstatecollegian

GAMEDAY PREVIEW

friday, october 22, 2021

Football looks to break conference losing streak LANDON REINHARDT staff writer

The Kansas State football team (3-3, 0-3 Big 12) looks to avenge a three-game losing streak this Saturday as it travels to Lubbock, Texas, to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-2, 2-2 Big 12).

Coming out of arguably the toughest three-game conference schedule with Oklahoma (7-0, 4-0 Big 12), Oklahoma State (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) and Iowa State (4-2, 2-1 Big 12), K-State takes a slight step back with a Texas Tech team that came into the

season projected to finish ninth in the conference — only above Kansas.

Despite not looking great during the first three conference contests, K-State has kept scores close against solid opponents. Pulling within two scores against Oklahoma State and Iowa State and only six points against Oklahoma is a positive to look at going forward.

To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com

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14

SPORTS

friday, october 22, 2021

Big 12 Tip-off: Exclusive with Bruce Weber NATHAN ENSERRO asst. sports editor

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Kansas State basketball head coach Bruce Weber shared his thoughts on the upcoming season, his roster development and the new name, image and likeness rules in a one-on-one interview at the Big 12 Men’s Basketball TipOff in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Wildcats face a couple of tough early-season tests when they come back to Kansas City for the Hall of Fame Classic, where they will play Arkansas and either Illinois or Cincinnati. They also play Marquette, Nebraska and Wichita State later in the year.

“I think there’s some cool games this year,” Weber said. “You got the former Big 8 team in Nebraska. You got Wichita — we haven’t played them in a lot of years, and you go down there, our fans always like that. Then, Marquette, you got Shaka [Smart] coming back. Non-conference will test us.”

This is a new-look K-State team that said goodbye to five players from this past season’s squad and welcomed in three big-time transfers in what has become a trend of roster turnover in college basketball and for K-State.

One of the players that transferred in is from former Big 12 opponent Missouri.

That transfer is none other than fifth-year senior guard Mark Smith.

“Defensively, the habits [Smith] had — you don’t change habits real easily. He’s got to change those habits. Not that Missouri is wrong or Illinois is wrong, but we just have a different system,” Weber said. “He’s going to pick those up. It’s going to take time.”

Weber also said bringing back Mike McGuirl for his extra year of eligibility from the COVID-19 season is a huge recruiting win. He’s going to look for more leadership from McGuirl as he works to build a legacy.

“He wants to have a

special year. Not only for himself, but for K-State basketball,” Weber said. “He’s been a part of a [Big 12] Championship and an Elite 8, but now he’s in a different role. That was Dean Wade’s team, that was Barry Brown’s team. Now it’s Mike McGuirl’s team. I think he wants to leave that legacy.”

Weber is also looking to his sixth-year senior for leadership on and off the floor.

“Mike is a leader by example,” Weber said. “The thing I’ve tried to emphasize with him is that you don’t have to be loud and cut somebody out, but saying something on the side, in the bus, on the plane. Making sure you hold them accountable goes a long way.”

K-State also has a new face on its coaching staff, with former Wildcat Curtis Kelly serving as a graduate student manager this season.

He joins Shane Southwell as the second former K-State standout returning to help coach this season, something Weber has tried to foster throughout his career.

“It’s important to me that the former players help you, help our program,” Weber said. “I want to give back to them. I want them to be assistant coaches. I want them to help their futures. It’s like being a proud father. It’s important, but it’s also great for the program to have former guys back.”

Coming into this season, K-State brings back a couple of solid returning players, including sophomores Nijel Pack and Davion Bradford.

“I tell [Pack] to add a little pizazz to his game. We need somebody to make plays at the end of shot clocks,” Weber said. “I think that’s where he could take a step.

That and being vocal. He’s a smart young man, really knows the game, really loves school. Now it would help if he used his voice a little bit and helped the other guys.”

Bradford averaged 7.7

points per game this past season but struggled with consistency across his 25 starts.

“He had a great finish.

The last game [at the Big 12 Tournament]. His big thing is consistency,” Weber said.

“He’d have a good game.

He’s just such a good kid, smiling happy. Well, the next game, then he was sad. Then the next game. He just needs to be consistent.”

On top of the on-court opponents, another thing Weber will have to contend with over the next few years is the NCAA’s new rules on players profiting from their name, image and likeness.

“I worry about it, I’ll be honest,” Weber said. “I don’t think nationally the word has got out how well treated our players are. I’ve heard guys on national broadcasts say, ‘The NCAA is abusing these student-athletes.’ That’s wrong. Ask our guys how many times they’re hungry, they get four meals a day. Not three — four. They’re treated well, they get cost of attendance. If they qualify, financial aid. They could work jobs if they wanted.”

McGuirl also said from his point of view that he’s living a great life focusing on basketball and not paying for school — saying they have it “very good” at K-State.

Weber had his own thoughts on how the NCAA can better help student-athletes.

“I’m all for the players.

I’m for the players being treated right. My thing is — help the guys for their future,” Weber said. “I have guys go to Europe, play eight years, come back and say ‘Coach, help me.’ That’s what the NCAA could really do — help those guys. Help them get jobs, give them a future.”

K-State starts its season in just over two weeks with an exhibition against Pitt State on Nov. 4 before its first real contest — Florida A&M on Nov. 10.

Big 12 Tip-Off: Women’s basketball head coach Jeff Mittie NATHAN ENSERRO asst. sports editor

The Kansas State women’s basketball team will have to replace one of its most consistent scorers from this past season and improve its guard play if the Wildcats hope to reach their team goal of making the NCAA Tournament. “[A successful season would include] the NCAA Tournament.

That’s the goal every year, and that’s going to be the goal, that’s going to be the standard of program,” head coach Jeff Mittie said.

The Wildcats have not made the NCAA Tournament since 2019, but Mittie is looking forward to newfound balance and depth on his team.

“I like our team in terms of balance,” Mittie said. “We’ve got a lot of options I think at the [guard] spot. When you look at [Emilee] Ebert, you look at the progress in [Cymone] Goodrich and the addition of the Glenn twins, and you

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SPORTS

friday, october 22, 2021

look at Serena Sundell. I think there are a lot of options.”

Mittie also pointed out sophomore guard Jada Moore as a potential replacement at the point guard position for the Wildcats’ two departing guards from this past year.

“She had a tremendous scrimmage yesterday. She had 20 points,” Mittie said. “Her defense is much better. I think she’s going to make a big impact.”

Despite the depth at the guard positions, K-State’s offense will still revolve around junior center Ayoka Lee. The 6 foot 6 inch Minnesota native was an AllBig 12 First-Team performer in her first two seasons and has already amassed nearly 1,000 points.

“She just needs to continue to get better,” Mittie said of his star center. “She’s been a great end-of-offense player — the only player in the NCAA to shoot over 60 percent from the field and over 80 percent from the free-throw line. She needs to continue to improve her physicality.”

K-State ran into issues this past season when Lee was forced into foul trouble or other teams double and triple-teamed her.

“People are going to bring extra help, they’re employing different strategies to frustrate her,” Mittie said. “They’re going to be extra physical. They’re going to make officials call things, so she has to keep her poise in that. Last year foul trouble was an issue, she got frustrated with some of those things, so she needs to take that growth.”

Mittie calls it a sign of respect that opponents try so hard to take her out of the game through foul trouble. When she is out of the game, K-State will turn to 6 foot 7 inch sophomore Taylor Lauterbach at the five spot.

Lauterbach played just over nine minutes per game this past season and averaged 1.9 points per game.

“She’s a much better player than she was a year ago,” Mittie said. “She needs to be more physical, needs to be stronger in the paint. … I expect her to be able to come in for Lee and not have as big of a drop of as we had her freshman year.”

The Wildcats’ schedule allows them an opportunity to measure themselves against a hectic early schedule and some solid opponents in the non-con-

Landon Reinhardt & Nathan Enserro | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP

Head coach Jeff Mittie participates in a coaches roundtable at the 2021 Big 12 Tip-Off at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. ference. They start the year hosting the Preseason WNIT. “We get going very quickly with the preseason WNIT, so you’ve got a lot of games,” Mittie said. “You’ll have a lot of knowledge of different styles and how your team reacts to that, how quickly you can prepare and turn around for

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the next game. We’ll get basketball IQ , commitment — all those things.”

To read more, visit kstatecollegian.com

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