K A N S A S
S TAT E
vol. 125, issue 68
monday, aug. 3, 2020
kstatecollegian.com
LIFE AS WE KNOW IT Latest local health order tightens rules on bars, extends existing limitations Page 6
Tuition won’t be refunded if classes revert online midsemester, Provost says Page 5
Legal battle between former K-State students, statehouse leadership ends in changed policies Page 8
Multicultural student leadership respond to Myers’ statement on racism, free speech Page 9
Former K-State baseball players reflect on cancelled minor league season Page 10
THE NEW NORMAL
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ON THE COVER
SUMMER EDITORIAL BOARD
Photo by Bailey Britton | Collegian Media Group
Kaylie McLaughlin Editor-in-Chief
Olivia Rogers Community Editor
Madison Daniel Staff Writer
Dene Dryden Managing Editor
Gabby Farris Design Chief
Paige Eichkorn Staff Writer
Julie Freijat News Editor
Sarah Unruh Designer
Lexi Garcia Staff Writer
Rebecca Vrbas Culture Editor
Angie Moss Social Media Editor
Emma Witter Staff Writer
Andrew Lind Sports Editor Cameron Bradley Assistant Sports Editor Dalton Wainscott Multimedia Editor
Sean Schaper Staff Writer Hallie Everett Staff Writer Lexi Garcia Staff Writer
Bailey Britton Staff Writer Abigail Compton photographer Dylan Connell photographer
Illustration by Abigail Compton | Collegian Media Group
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR KAYLIE MCLAUGHLIN editor-in-chief
This virtual paper is the last installment of Collegian volume 125. The next paper will be the annual back-to-school guide, which signifies the beginning of a new school year and a new volume of Collegians with it. Hopefully, the next Collegian you read will be a physical copy you can hold in your hands. Nothing about volume 125 went the way I had imagined it — for starters there were far fewer than I anticipated. But I’m also more proud of the work we did in volume 125 than I could have ex-
pected this time a year ago as I was making plans for it. For one thing, the Collegian didn’t stop fulfilling its role when the pandemic shut us out of our offices after spring break. If anything, we proved how vital a campus paper can be when crisis comes knocking at our door. We remained dedicated to doing our duty to the students of Kansas State. As promised at the beginning of this pandemic, the Collegian is committed to providing accurate and timely updates as information becomes available regarding the local impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and other important issues related to student life. This
will not change no matter what the next few months have in store. As I noted in January when the spring semester was beginning, social media and technology, at its finest, connect us to each other in ways that were unthinkable less than 20 years ago. As a staff, the Collegian will continue to search for ways to best serve our mission as the independent voice of the student body, albeit remotely. In addition to our Monday, Wednesday and Friday emailed newsletter, the Collegian plans to publish online regularly. This virtual paper you are reading right now is an interactive PDF. Clicking
The Mission of the Collegian Media Group is to use best practices of journalism to cover and document life at Kansas State University from a diverse set of voices to inform and engage the K-State community. The Collegian welcomes your letters. We reserve the right to edit submitted letters for length and style. A letter intended for publication should be no longer than 600 words and must be relevant to the student body of K-State. It must include the author’s first and last name, year in school and major. If you are a graduate of K-State, the letter should include your year(s) of graduation and must include the city and state where you live. For a letter to be considered, it must include a phone number where you can be contacted. The number will not be published. Letters can be sent to letters@kstatecollegian.com or submitted through an online form at kstatecollegian.com. Letters may be rejected if they contain abusive content, lack timeliness, contain vulgarity, profanity or falsehood, promote personal and commercial announcements, repeat comments of letters printed in other issues or contain attachments. The Collegian does not publish open letters, third-party letters or letters that have been sent to other publications or people.
CORRECTIONS
If you see something that should be corrected, call editor-in-chief Kaylie McLaughlin at 785-370-6356 or email collegian@kstatecollegian.com The Collegian, a student newspaper at Kansas State University, is published by Collegian Media Group. It is published Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the school year and on Wednesdays during the summer. Periodical postage is paid at Manhattan, KS. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 828 Mid-Campus Drive South, Kedzie 103, Manhattan, KS 665067167. First copy free, additional copies 25 cents. [USPS 291 020] © Collegian Media Group, 2019
Looking toward the future of the Collegian, reflecting on these last few months
on the headlines, photos or body copy of each story will take you to an easier-to-read version of the article published to kstatecollegian.com. If you do not already, follow the Collegian on Twitter @kstatecollegian for regular updates. The Collegian will continue to accept news tips through news@kstatecollegian.com and letters to the editor via letters@kstatecollegian.com. This period of time is difficult, and it’s only the beginning of what is certain to be a tough road to recovery. At this time, I wish you all health and safety. Please, take care of yourselves and take care of each other.
Olivia Bergmeier | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Kaylie McLaughlin is the editor-in-chief of the Collegian. For the second half of the spring semester, the Collegian was unable to make a print paper because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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COMMUNITY
Together we can meet this challenge
File Photo by Dylan Connell | Collegian Media Group
RICHARD MYERS
guest contributor
When Kansas State made the decision to move to in-person and hybrid teaching beginning Aug. 17, the state of Kansas was making progress in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Since that time, the situation in our state has been reversed, with a significant increase in cases. Just last week, the city of Chicago added Kansas to the list of states from which travelers will require quarantine. As we’ve stated all along, the ability to reopen our campuses depends on being able to preserve health and safety on our university property and in our host communities. Throughout
this pandemic, we’ve paid close attention to what the medical experts and our epidemiologists tell us, including many of our own excellent scientists at K-State. What they tell us right now is that trends are in the wrong direction. As we re-evaluate our decisions in light of the most recent data, the compelling question becomes, “Can we bring 20,000 students, faculty and staff to campus, knowing cases are sure to increase?” The answer depends on many factors, and we are preparing for many contingencies. If we can collectively mitigate the spread of the virus, the campus can reopen and the economic rebound will continue for the communities we serve. However, the university cannot do
this alone. Our community partners must use the same playbook. The science is clear that wearing face coverings, hand hygiene and enforcing physical distancing can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. But these efforts are only as strong as the weakest link. It takes just one exception to cause a superspreader event, in which case we would probably have to stop in-person classes and go to distance learning. At this time, K-State is considering several options, including opening on Aug. 17 as planned, delaying the on-campus opening with an online start, or moving completely online for the fall semester. Now is the time for community policymakers to get be-
hind a plan that allows the whole community to move forward. This means consistent rules with regard to the use of face coverings and physical distancing, and consistent enforcement of those rules across our communities. For our Manhattan campus, we are asking the city of Manhattan and Riley County to establish policies requiring the use of face coverings through the end of the fall semester. In addition, close attention must be paid to how, when and where people gather. This virus does not stop at the campus borders, so we need consistent measures throughout the entire community for this to work. Historic challenges take historic measures, and we have not faced a pandem-
ic of this scale since 1918 when many of these same issues surfaced. We rallied together then, let’s do it now. We all take pride in knowing that our university and communities are nationally respected for our town-gown relationships. Let’s show America that we deserve that respect. Richard B. Myers is the current president of K-State. From 2001-2005, he served as the 15th chair man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was the principal military adviser to the U.S. president, secretary of defense and the National Security Council. T he views and opinions expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Collegian. Please send comments to opinion@kstatecollegian.com.
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MAKING CHANGES
As faculty prepare for a hybrid semester, course schedules change KAYLIE MCLAUGHLIN editor-in-chief
Changes are bing made to student’s schedules as some classes pivot to distance learning models to accommodate the guidelines in place for COVID-19 prevention on campus. Marissa Peaslee, junior in kinesiology, said she noticed at least one of her classes and the accompanying quiz section had been shifted to distance learning in her KSIS student center. She said she feels conflicted about it. “For this semester and considering how [COVID-19] cases have been rising, I think I’d be more comfortable with hybrid or online classes,” Peaslee said. “I’m torn because I know I benefit more from being in person to have discussions and talk to the professors face-to-face.” Faculty were given the choice of whether or not they wished to teach in person for the fall, but whatever decision they made individually had to comply with university restrictions on class sizes, room capacity and other public health-minded rules. Lisa Tatonetti, professor of English, said she’s grateful the university gave faculty the chance to select their
“ I feel like, just as we’re given the choice, students should be
given the choice.” Lisa Tatonetti professor of English
own teaching paths for the semester. One of her courses will be exclusively online, but the other is tentatively planned to have some in-person meetings. That course, a senior capstone, is expected to have no more than nine students enrolled in it, and at least two have already expressed an interest in doing distance-only education. “I feel like, just as we’re given the choice, students should be given the choice, and so if there’s going to be an in-person component of the class, that should be either streamed or have some equivalence to make that possible,” Tatonetti said. If face-to-face meetings work at all, Tatonetti said, it won’t look anything like previous in-person classes
did pre-COVID-19. As is university policy, social distancing and mask-wearing will be required. “I feel like that when students, and me, imagine going back into the classroom, you know you imagine these things that you love, and they will not be there in the same way,” Tatonetti said. Brian Niehoff, associate provost for institutional effectiveness, said at least 20 percent of Kansas State’s courses in the fall are being shifted to online or distance learning models. A lot of the classes are lecture-style classes, but for the most part, the decisions are being made based off each instructor’s comfort level, Niehoff said. Traci Brimhall, associate professor of English,
is teaching a K-State First course — a class only open to first year students. The course will be hybrid, but all in-person components will be completely optional. “I’m still going to create those opportunities but I don’t want to attach points because I don’t want people to feel like ‘Well, I’ve got a little bit of a cough, but maybe I’ll just go because I need these points for class,’” Brimhall said. This wasn’t what Brimhall had first planned for the fall. When planning begin, she planned for all in-person classes, but said she watched the local COVID-19 situation deteriorate and more people get sick as reopening started. “I didn’t feel like it would be safe to do watching the
numbers rise,” she said. Both Tatonetti and Brimhall said online classes have offered a kind of flexibility as well. They open the doors to innovations in instruction and make way for different types of assignments. Faculty who don’t opt to teach an online or hybrid course are still expected to develop some kind of online component to prepare for the possibility that classes might need to go fully remote if the local and state situation breaks down. “We just want to make sure people are aware that if this pandemic would take off again, which the predictions are all there that it’s likely to do so, that we may have another shutdown ... and who knows what the possibilities are,” Niehoff said. Niehoff said the goal is for every student to know what they are getting into by the time they get their fall semester bills so they have time to make changes to their schedules to fit their needs. “The health and safety of the students, as well as faculty and staff are number one. And number two, just trying to continue to put high quality education in front of whoever it is will be our students in the fall,” Niehoff said. “There’s just a lot of challenges that everybody’s facing right now.”
monday, aug. 3, 2020
Tuition won’t be refunded if classes revert online mid-semester, Provost says
TUITION
LAWSUIT
Two recent graduates file lawsuit over tuition reimbursement JULIE FREIJAT
but the students paid for them. Jeff Brown, an attorTwo recent Kansas ney at Leeds Brown Law State alumni have filed P.C., said he was optimisa lawsuit against Kansas tic about the lawsuit, and State and the Kansas said he equates the situaBoard of Regents regard- tion to booking a flight. ing tuition reimburse“If you book a flight ment. and for whatever reason Joseph Hollander and the pilot or the plane Craft LLC is joined by can’t leave, you get a reattorneys from Sultzer fund and get your money Law Group P.C. and back — or at the minLeed Brown Law P.C. in imum you get another representing the plainflight,” Brown said. “In tiffs. Noah Plank and this situation, the univerJohn Garfolo, who grad- sities and colleges do a uated in the spring, were phenomenal job promotnamed as plaintiffs in the ing and touting the colcase. lege experience — they The two students alhave brochures, websites, lege they did not receive commercials, recruiters. the services they paid for They invite students to in their tuition and fees come and visit prior to as a result of the way attending the college so K-State responded to they can get a feel for COVID-19. The univer- campus life. And due sity closed all campuses to no fault of their own on March 12 following — I’m talking about the spring break temporarily. students, or the college Later on, K-State opted — that contract or that to remain entirely online understanding was imfor the remainder of the possible to perform due semester. to the pandemic. And as The class action lawa result of that, we besuit says the students lieve that students should are suing for breach of be entitled to some type contract, conversion and of refund for the goods common law unjust enand services that they did richment. It also alleges not receive.” that K-State did not proThe university declined vide in-person amenities to comment on any onfor around 58 percent going litigation. of the spring semester, copy chief
Photo Illustration by Kandace Griffin | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
BAILEY BRITTON
only pay for half the privilege fee, Taber used as an example. Online tuition and fees Kansas State won’t remains constant this fall refund tuition if all classes as well: The university will return to distance educause the same $70 per credtion partway through the it hour fee as this summer. semester “since students While Taber said some are able to make progress students may feel they are towards their degrees with missing out on quality edthose courses,” Provost ucation on campus, online Charles Taber said. classes can provide many Tuition and fees will benefits to students remain at the same rate as “There is this broad the 2019-2020 school year. myth that online eduThe campus privilege fee cation does not provide will be capped at six credit educational opportunihours of face-to-face or ties that are equivalent hybrid classes. to or that are as good as “The guidance is that face-to-face,” Taber said. they’ll pay the privilege “There’s actually been fee only on the credit a lot of research on this hours that they’re taking showing that online edeither fully face-to-face or ucation in many cases is hybrid,” Taber said. more effective than faceIf a student takes three to-face.” credits in-person, but nine Taber said classes such online, the student would as labs and studios aren’t staff writer
as efficient online. Students require hands-on experiences in those classes which the university will try to accommodate. Professors and instructors were given the chance to change the mode of instruction for classes in KSIS to accommodate campus guidelines for COVID-19 prevention. “We’re really just trying to make it as easy as possible for students to continue their progress towards their degrees,” Taber said. “We understand what kind of hardship students are having both financially and in terms of the anxiety that comes with this crisis. We really are trying to minimize the difficulty that students would have in making progress towards their degree with these decisions.”
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GUIDELINES
wednesday, january monday, aug.22, 3, 2020
Johnny Kaw’s tentatively plans for Fake Patty’s Day equivalent in November
Latest local health order to tighten rules on bars, extend some existing limitations
PARTY ON?
KAYLIE MCLAUGHLIN
• Six feet of distance between seated parties The Riley County “Business requireHealth Department ments focus on bars released a new local and restaurants behealth order that took cause those establisheffect last Thursday ments are high-risk and will last indefiand are still a source nitely. of virus spread in the The new local community,” local order continues some health officer Julie of the existing polGibbs said in a press icies established by release. “We want to the previous order, give them the opporincluding gathering tunity to continue size limitations, but providing service in a institutes some more way that also protects strict guidance for public health.” restaurants and bars. Businesses with Local Health Orquestions about best der No. 16 requires: practices should • Gatherings to call the Manhattan be limited to 50 Chamber of Compeople merce at 785-776• Gatherings 8829 or email info@ that exceed 50 manhattan.org. Adpeople to have a ditional resources for permit reopening local busi• Large meeting nesses are available at spaces to remain regionreimagined.org. closed Individuals with Specific rules for symptoms are enbars and restaurants couraged to call the include: screening line at • Employee 785-323-6400. The screenings at the screening line is availstart of each shift able weekdays from 8 • Maintenance a.m. to 8 p.m. People of an employee with non-emergent screening log questions about • Closure of all COVID-19 in Riley standing room County should send only areas and all an email to rileycoundance floors tycovid19@gmail. • Closing to the com. public at midnight editor-in-chief
File Photo by Logan Wassall | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP
Citizens from Manhattan and surrounding areas come to Aggieville to celebrate Fake Patty’s Day with their family and friends. With games, food, and music, there are plenty of things to keep people coming.
MADISON DANIEL staff writer
Fake Patty’s Day is usually one of Aggieville’s biggest events, drawing crowds in by the thousands each year. However, plans for Fake Patty’s Day in 2020 were foiled by a mounting pandemic and a nearly vacant campus in March. Most Aggieville businesses dropped out due to concerns for public health related to the outbreak.
The Aggieville Business Association also announced it did not support the actions of businesses that tried to put the event on anyway. Johnny Kaw’s is trying to create a new event in lieu of Fake Patty’s Day called Fake Givings Day, owner Brett Allred said. The bar has several locations in Aggieville, including Yard Bar, Bomb Bar, Shot Stop and House Party. The concept for
Fake Giving’s Day is similar to that of Fake Patty’s Day, but will take place on Nov. 20, 2020 — the last day of the semester where in-person instruction could occur at Kansas State. Students will not return to campus for classes following Thanksgiving Break, but will instead have an online dead week and finals week. Allred said he is excited for this new addition to Aggieville’s list of events. “Just like that
another legendary Aggieville event is born,” he said in an email. Johnny Kaws is hoping to have the support of the community and city officials before going through with plans. The event will only happen if it is safe by the set date, Allred said. At the time of publication, more than 1,200 people had indicated that they are going to the event or are interested in it.
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PUBLIC HEALTH
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Riley County Health Department hopes to avoid quarantine violations through education EMMA WITTER staff writer
In a time defined by the word “quarantine,” what does it actually mean to quarantine? What happens if you choose not to? Manhattan officials say while legal procedures exist for dealing with COVID-19 quarantine violations, the city is leading with education rather than legal action. Local health officer Julie Gibbs said quarantine is defined as two weeks with no contact outside one’s home. If a patient is waiting on a test result or has tested positive, Gibbs said, they are required to be isolating. “Anyone who has been in close contact with a positive [COVID-19] patient is required to quarantine for 14 days,” even with a negative test, according to the Riley County Coronavirus Q&A page. Gibbs said those in contact with known patients will be notified by the contact tracing team that they need to quarantine. If this individual is then caught in violation, the Riley County Health
“ Those who are asked to quarantine are just that: asked .” Kurt Moldrup RCPD assistant director Department can make an official quarantine order. In this situation or in the event that the health department’s contact tracing team learns that an individual is not planning to quarantine, Gibbs and an officer from RCPD deliver the order. Kurt Moldrup, assistant director of the Riley County Police Department, said no one has needed to be charged for a violation of quarantine yet, but procedures exist if necessary. “Those who are asked to quarantine are just that: asked,” Moldrup said. “If they violate that, which we don’t monitor, then contact is made again, and they are asked again and educated on the need and what quarantine actually means.”
Moldrup said if an individual were to continue to violate quarantine, “they could be charged with the violation, and that could come in the form of a ticket, but most likely would be a report to the County Attorney’s Office for review and a determination of charges.” Charging individuals for a violation of quarantine hasn’t been necessary so far, and Moldrup said those who have violated orders have simply been “unaware of what [quarantining] really meant.” Moldrup said that most people who have had quarantine rules explained to them have been pleasant and appreciative. “A few have been less appreciative,” Moldrup said, “but they still even-
tually cooperate.” The city of Manhattan also began enforcing the wearing of masks in all public areas on July 9 with fines as punishment for offenses. Similar to the education-first approach for quarantining, Manhattan mayor Usha Reddi said citations are an option if necessary, but they are being treated as a last resort to enforce the mask mandate. “The enforcement component is to assist in reducing the spread of the virus,” Reddi said. “A donation of 1,000 masks was made to RCPD to pass out in lieu of a citation.” Moldrup said the goal of the RCPD is to avoid issuing tickets if at all possible and instead, ed-
ucate the public in order to “gain voluntary compliance.” At the time of this story’s publication, no one in Riley County had been fined for violating the mask ordinance. While RCPD has received calls complaining of possible violations of quarantine or mask orders, Moldrup said officers have been able to diffuse these situations without much of an issue. “Some complaints have been the result of misunderstandings by the complainant, and some have been a misunderstanding of the target of the complaint,” he said. “This is in line with any new ordinance.” Moldrup had no comment as to whether current measures are enough to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Manhattan or whether greater action may need to be taken in the future. For more information on rules and regulations regarding COVID-19 in Riley County, visit the COVID-19 updates page on the county website.
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LEGAL BATTLE
Year-long fight between former K-State students, statehouse leadership ends in changed policies KAYLIE MCLAUGHLIN editor-in-chief
Following about a year of litigation, statehouse demonstration rules will look different going forward after three former Kansas State students sued officials. The case was dismissed, a press release from the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas says. In March 2019, Katie Sullivan, Jonathan Cole and Nate Faflick were detained at the statehouse after they unfurled banners calling out Republican legislators who were holding up Medicaid Expansion, saying they had “blood on their hands.” The former students were three of the five individuals involved in hanging the banners, but were the only ones detained by Capitol Police. Thea Perry and Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan were involved, but were not detained. They were also briefly banned from the statehouse for one year, facing trespassing charges if they didn’t comply. That ban was later revoked. Backed by the ACLU of Kansas, Cole, Sullivan and Faflick sued three statehouse officials in federal court — admin-
istrative secretary Duane Goossen, administrative services director Tom Day and superintendent of the Highway Patrol Herman Jones. The case didn’t pertain solely to the punitive action, but related to the policy that resulted in the detention. “This case is about Kansas’s scheme of rules and practices that collectively suppress virtually every method of speech and expression at the Kansas Statehouse building,” the complaint document says. “Official rules and regulations adopted by the Department of Administration and enforced by the Kansas Capitol Police impose prior restraints on assembly and speech by limiting the right to protest to people who have the support of an elected official, pass the Secretary of Administration’s standardless [sic] approval test, and wish to speak about an issue or event that is not spontaneous. “…[The Defendants’] standardless policy permitting Capitol Police to impose indefinite premises bans on members of the public for Statehouse policy violations, regardless of the severity of the violation, is vague, overbroad, and unconstitutionally suppresses
core petitioning activities without due process of law,” the document continues. At the time the suit was filed, Cole said the goal was ultimately to have the policies that limited freedom of expression overturned and “replaced” with new rules that don’t impede First Amendment rights in the Statehouse. Lauren Bonds, legal director for the ACLU of Kansas, said that’s exactly what the plaintiffs got. “Our clients got essentially everything they’d sought through the lawsuit,” Bonds said. “We are happy with the outcome, and we are happy that Kansans can fully exercise their right to protest in the people’s house.” Under the new statehouse rules, permits aren’t necessary anymore to protest, gather or demonstrate in the capitol building, legislator sponsorship is not required for citizens seeking to reserve space in the building and signs aren’t prohibited in the building. Additionally, the Kansas Highway Patrol — under which Capitol Police falls — do not have the authority to ban people from the statehouse unless they violate a law.
Photo Courtesy of Katie Sullivan
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‘NOW IT IS UP TO K-STATE TO TAKE ACTION’
Multicultural student leadership respond to Myers’ statement on racism, free speech MADISON DANIEL staff writer
Last month, President Richard Myers, released a statement addressing current national events regarding racial injustice and the #BlackAtKstate movement that swept social media. Myers’ 11-step plan outlined how Kansas State plans to counteract racial injustice on campus and punish it if it does occur. Leaders from the Multicultural Students Union created and signed a letter addressed to the administration praising the statement and requesting that additional steps be added to the plan. Myers’ statement includes eight student-related action steps and three faculty-related action steps. He emphasized that while the university believes there should be consequences for
do not feel welcome, heard, or safe on campus and in the environment that “ We, the people of color,
we call ourselves ‘ family.’ ”
Lisa Fang junior racist actions or comments, it must still fall in line with the law and respect constitutional rights. The goal of the statement is to prevent these things from ever happening and monitoring more heavily for them. The letter, written and signed by leaders of the multicultural student body, states that they are in full support of Myers’ action plan, but would like to see a few more things added to the list. Lisa Fang, junior in
operations management, said that the multicultural student body created this letter to acknowledge that Myers’ statement was a good first step, but with their suggestions, it may be easier to implement the plan. Fang said that while she was not a part of the writing process, as soon as she read it she knew it was something she wanted to be a part of. “When I read over it, I was in full support of it because these
changes should have happened years ago and it should not have taken a series of racial injustices to occur for change to happen,” Fang said. The letter includes five additional steps, including a zero-tolerance policy, increasing authority and resources for chief diversity and inclusion officer Bryan Samuel to ensure implementation, create consequences for acts of intimidation or violence that are racially-charged, a plan
to spread all inclusion and diversity actions to all students and redefine “racism” based on the assessment of a workgroup. While they appreciate Myers’ plans, they believe adding these steps will further the cause and help emphasize to individuals that not only are they actually implemented, but the university will not ease up on them after any period of time. Fang said students of color often feel forgotten and this was big for them. “We face devastating news around the world and in our community, with no consequences given for people’s words or actions. We, the people of color, do not feel welcome, heard, or safe on campus and in the environment that we call ourselves ‘family,’” she said. “We have spoken up and put our foot forward, and now it is up to K-State to take action.”
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Former K-State baseball players reflect on cancelled minor league season GLENN KINLEY staff writer
Major League Baseball announced in late June that it would move forward and play a 60-game season. However, Minor League Baseball games would be cancelled for the entire season. This decision has left many young players unemployed and has forced them to find other ways to generate income. Will Brennan and Josh Rolette played baseball together at Kansas State for one year before Rolette was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2017. Two years later, the Indians also selected Brennan. As Wildcats, the two were highly decorated, taking All-
Big 12 honors — and for Rolette, All-American honors. The two found themselves together yet again during 2020 training camp in Arizona, and that’s when they learned that the 2020 season had been suspended indefinitely. This was a moment both players remembered vividly. “I remember Will was on the bike, and I was in like the same area,” Rolette said. “We were all just doing some prep work to start our day.” “It was the day after we played our first game,” Brennan said. “We were watching MLB Network and it just popped up across the screen.” Then there was a waiting period when players didn’t know if the season they had
prepared for was even going to take place. “I was hoping that we were gonna be able to play; they’d figure something out,” Brennan said. “Then, the country shut down ... and it was just like all hope went out the window.” That’s when reality struck — the former K-State duo found out there would be no baseball played this year for minor league players like themselves. When the nation shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brennan said he had to get creative in finding ways to work out at home. “I bought some workout bands, and [I’m] fortunate enough that my grandparents live close by and they had a dumbbell set, so I
went over there and grabbed that.” Now, Brennan has been able to put in work with a group of other minor league players in the Kansas City area, while Rolette is training and giving lessons at a facility in Knoxville, Tennessee. Rolette has also had the opportunity to spend time with and learn from a fellow catcher and brother-in-law, the Washington Nationals’ Yan Gomes. Both Rolette and Brennan have tried to maintain a positive mindset, despite their cancelled season. “[I’m] trying to look at this as more of like a positive, to where, taking this year to just kind of hone in on some of the stuff that
Then-junior Will Brennan served as the starting pitcher during the baseball game against Cowley County on Oct. 4, 2018.
needs to be worked on, and getting that stuff ironed out so that when we come back it’s like I’m in the best shape of my life and I’m playing the best ball,” Rolette said. “I just look at it as another off-season,” Brennan said, “and just another way I can develop myself, on and off the field.” They said they hope that when they do return to playing baseball games next year, they’ll see each other in the dugout. “I love Will,” Rolette said. “Will is an awesome teammate, awesome guy to be around in the clubhouse, he’s always been that way. Kind of got a little taste of that [in spring training] and it was awesome.”
Archive Photo by Alex Todd | COLLEGIAN MEDIA GROUP