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VOL. 121, ISSUE 5

INSIDE

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DANIELLE COOK the collegian

Students piled into K-State’s Student Union to attend the Week of Welcome activities fair, followed by a performance from A Different Spin’s fire tricksters on Thursday night. From 6-8 p.m. students visited tables and booths of various clubs, groups and organizations to learn more about extracurricular activities and ways to get involved on campus. Many groups set up during the activities fair offered students interested in their organizations free parting favors,

Up

5: >> PAGE Darren

Sproles honored in the Ring of Honor

see page

6, “FIRE”

George Walker | THE COLLEGIAN

Andrew Insect, member of A Different Spin, blows fire in Bosco Plaza on Thursday. Union Programming Council brought A Different Spin to K-State for the university’s Week of Welcome.

Juliette Avenue 'rehabilitation' to happen in 2016 City records indicate a nearly $860,000 overhaul. ABDURAHMAN BASHA the collegian

The view of the picturesque red brick road complemented by rows of oak trees on either side appears to come at the cost of comfort and practicality. The bricks on Juliette Avenue have started to once again fall out of alignment, quickly running motorists and cyclists alike out of patience with the historic Manhattan road. According to an Maurice Roberts, Manhattan resident, the street has been a topic of debate as early as 1960, as traffic started to increase in the city of Manhattan, and the bricks slowly started to show shortcomings in terms of durability and practicality. This was all during a time when asphalt had been a fairly upcoming and comfortable solution, and other main streets like Poyntz and Bluemont had already been paved, raising the question of whether or not Manhattan should get rid of its few remaining trademark brick roads. Present-day Manhattan

residents also question why the city has yet to make a move to fix the brick road. A question submitted to The Manhattan Mercury and published last week in an article on the subject described commuting on South Juliette as “driving on a washboard.” The city made an effort to restore Juliette in late 2013, applying for a grant with the Kansas Department of Transportation in November of that year. City records indicate an approval of the grant by KDOT in late 2014 and that the beginning construction date was to be set for either 2015 or 2016. The article states construction will start on South Juliette Avenue in late 2016. The initial total project cost in the application was just under $796,000, but the city budget for 2015 shows an extra allocation of nearly $65,000. The funding sources are grants and the city’s Bond & Interest Fund. The grant money, however, covers only Phase I of the project, which is the 792-foot stretch extending between Bluemont Avenue and Laramie Street. Cheryl Collins, director

of the Riley County Historical Museum, said that the brick portion of Juliette is a piece of historic Manhattan and is a part of the city’s identity that needs to be preserved. She said that laying a new foundation under new bricks should be an almost permanent solution. “The few historic brick roads left are a Manhattan treasure that we need to preserve and maintain,” Collins said. “The problem on Juliette isn’t necessarily the

brick. It’s the base that isn’t sturdy anymore, given that it was laid in 1915. We can’t go back to all brick roads, but if we redo the foundation on this one and keep it a brick road, then we are preserving a piece of history. And we also wouldn’t have to worry about it for another one hundred years, so it would be lasting longer than pavement.” According to papers filed with the grant application from the city of Man-

hattan to KDOT, the historic significance of Juliette Avenue lies within the fact that it is located within a historic environs district. Located on Juliette are properties of historic significance listed on the National Register, two of which are the Wolf House Museum, built in 1868, and the Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, designed in 1924. see page

Evert Nelson | THE COLLEGIAN

TOP: Sunlight reflects off uneven bricks at the intersection of Juliette Street and Laramie Street Monday morning. Constant traffic and weather conditions have made the condition of the road much rougher than when originally layed out in the late 19th Century. ABOVE: Originally constructed in the late 19th century as one of seven streets forming a grid in now downtown, Juliette Avenue features a brick road running from Anderson Avenue through Fort Riley Blvd.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

SHELTON BURCH the collegian

As students return to Manhattan from summer vacation, many will likely flood into Tuttle Creek State Park looking to engage in some late summer outdoor recreation. However, some may find their favorite spots partially closed. Topeka and the surrounding areas experienced a particularly rainy summer this year, according to data provided by Emily Heller, meteorologist at the National Weather Service station in Topeka. “This has been a wetter summer than normal,” Heller said. “We’ve just been stuck in some patterns that were conducive to storms coming into the area. We had a particularly wet August; normally August is when things slow down.” One such pattern has been the El Niño, or the “warm phase” of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle, which is an irregularly occurring series of oceanic climatic changes, according to the National Ocean Service. Heller said these typically last nine to 12 months and occur approximately every two to seven years. Steve Prockish, natural research specialist for the Army Corps of Engineers at Tuttle Creek Lake, said at one point the lake was essentially unusable. Many boat ramps and beaches were submerged, as were various access roads to fishing areas. Floating debris and driftwood were common in the lake, some of which still remain. According to Prockish, most of the driftwood came from the three rivers that feed the lake, including the Big Blue River. Areas that remain partially closed include Tuttle Creek Cove, which is roughly half open. Cedar Ridge, on the east side of the lake, was closed but is now completely open. Prockish said maintenance crews have been working in addition to their other duties to clear driftwood as time has allowed. The Corps of Engineers hopes to have the area cleaned up soon. “The hope is to have the remainder of the driftwood cleanup done by Labor Day,” Prockish said. see page

SOCIAL MEDIA http://www.twitter.com/KStateCollegian

Today in 1953, Audrey Hepburn’s first major Hollywood production, Roman Holiday, premiered in New York city. The film earned Belgian-born star an Academy Award for Best Actress.

3, “JULIETTE”

Remnants of Rain

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WEATHER

TOMORROW:

High: 85°F Low: 63°F

SUNDAY:

High: 90°F Low: 67°F

3, “RAIN”


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The Collegian welcomes your letters. We reserve the right to edit submitted letters for clarity, accuracy, space and relevance. A letter intended for publication should be no longer than 350 words and must refer to an article that appeared in the Collegian within the last 10 issues. 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 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

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Due to a Collegian error, an incorrect photo of Ryan Reed was posted in his column in Wednesday’s edition. Due to a Collegian error, the ASAP article incorrectly stated that holds were placed on Monday. Holds have not yet been placed. If you see something that should be corrected or clarified, please call the editor in chief, Jon Parton, at 785-370-6356 or email news@kstatecollegian.com.

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The Collegian, a student newspaper at Kansas State University, is published by Collegian Media Group. It is published weekdays during the school year and on Wednesdays during the summer. Periodical postage is paid at Manhattan, KS. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 828 Mid-Campus Drive South, Kedzie 103, Manhattan, KS 66506-7167. First copy free, additional copies 25 cents. [USPS 291 020] © Collegian Media Group, 2015

Zits | By Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman

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Use numbers 1-6 in each row and column without repeating. The numbers in each outlined area must combine to produce the target number in each area using the mathematical operation indicated.

THE BLOTTER

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ARREST REPORTS 2015 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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By Dave Green

8/28

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26 Jamie Nickole Berges, of the 400 block of Fremont Street, was booked on two counts of failure to appear. No bond was listed. Kayde Sue Hurley, of the 400 block of Oakley, Kansas, was booked for forgery and obtaining a prescription unlawfully. Bond was set at $4,000. Robert Jacob Jentges, address unlisted, was booked on two counts of probation violation. Bond was set at $4,000. Steven William Dausey, of Junction City, was booked for failure to appear. Bond was set at $1,000. Billie Joel Blair, of the 2800 block of West 56th Avenue, was booked for failure to appear. Bond was set at $250.

Religion Directory MANHATTAN JEWISH CONGREGATION Worship: Fri. 7:30 pm 1509 Wreath Ave, Manhattan Everyone Welcome!

www.manhattanjewishcong.org

In association with HILLEL The Jewish student organization www.k-state.edu/hillel

SUNDAYS Traditional Services 8:15 & 11:15 a.m. Contemporary Services 8:15, 9:45 & 11:15 a.m. www.uccmanhattan.net 2800 Claflin Rd. • 785-776-5440

Christian Science Services Sunday 10:00 a.m. Wednesday 7:00 p.m. in the Reading Room

110 S. 4th St. Reading Room: Tues.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

First United Methodist Church

Worship Service at 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Adult and Children Bible Hour Classes Offered at 10:00 a.m. 785.776.0424 www.gracebchurch.org 2901 Dickens Ave. (2 blks. E. of Seth Child)

612 Poyntz Ave. fumcmanhattan.com @fumcmhk 785-776-8821

Come Join Us Contemporary Worship: 8:35 Fellowship Time: 9:30 Sunday School: 9:45 Traditional Worship: 11:00 Supporters of K-State Wesley

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH ELCA

Community Dinner: Thursday 6 pm Christian Education: Sunday 9 am Worship: Saturday 5:30 pm • Sunday 10 am

Handicapped Accessible • Find us on Facebook!

930 Poyntz Ave. • 785 537 8532 • www.FirstLutheranManhattan.org

You are welcome at

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church LCMS 330 Sunset Ave.

Traditional: Sat. 6 p.m., Sun. 8:30 a.m. Contemporary: Sun. 11 a.m. Live Stream of all Services! stlukesmanhattan.org

News you care about. @kstatecollegian


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THECURRENT friday, august 28, 2015

UPC president found calling in getting involved

Evert Nelson | THE COLLEGIAN Helping Alex Lessard, junior in public relations, and Cody Watson, junior in general management, Megan Varhola, senior in accounting, reacts to “memes” of dinosaurs Lessard adds to an intro video for the featured films Jurassic Park and Jurassic World presented by UPC Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

COURTNEY BURKE the collegian

The Union Program Council (UPC) President, Megan Varhola, is extremely involved on campus and has dozens of wonderful K-State memories she’s more than willing to share if you ask her, but calling Manhattan “home” wasn’t always so easy for her. “(Megan) may refer to herself as ‘boring’, but she always has a planner full of things to do,” Erika Davis, program advisor for the K-State Student Union, said. “She is involved in Alpha Xi Delta, UPC, serves as a representative on Union Governing Board (UGB), works at the UPC front desk, has been interviewing for internships and job positions and is a busy accounting student.” Varhola said she does indeed call herself “boring,” but her busy schedule has proven other-

wise. Being busy has always made her happier and made her feel like she was truly part of campus. “I’m happiest when I have a busy schedule,” Varhola said. “I feel like the more productive I am, the better I can be. I just make sure to keep a planner, prioritize tasks and try to never take on more than I can handle.” Being busy was Varhola’s way to beat the freshman blues. In high school, she was a member of the student council and the spirit committee. She was looking for something similar on campus but didn’t feel very connected and couldn’t figure out where her place was. Varhola said she felt really lost until she heard about the UPC meetings. “My mom actually encouraged me to attend,” Varhola said. “After going to the first meeting I fell in love. I volunteered and applied for a position because of the welcoming and inclusive environment I felt at their meetings and events.”

After serving on the UPC executive team for two years as the After Hours co-chair and campus outreach chair, Varhola said she decided to apply for the position of president. “Megan is a very humble person,” Beth Bailey, assistant director of the K-State Student Union, said. “She leads because it is the right thing to do.” Varhola’s job isn’t always easy or even well-defined. She is a member of the Union Renovation Core Committee and attends UGB meetings as a UPC representative. Varhola also conducts retreats and attends meetings and plans banquets but her main role is to help support her team in any way and at any time she’s needed. “I spend around 10 hours a week in the office or in meetings and then work five more hours a week at the desk,” Varhola said. “Being busy isn’t hard. What’s difficult is the transition each year. There is a huge learning

curve, and you don’t always know your place right away.” Varhola said that she owes her success to “the support of amazing advisers and other students that make everything as seamless as possible.” Despite these challenges, her co-workers and advisers have said that Varhola handles everything with grace. “Megan has an infectious smile,” Bailey said. “She is a lovely person, an outstanding, organized, dedicated leader and she’s a hard worker. I’m very excited to have Megan serve as UPC president this year. Everyone should be inspired to be as involved.” Varhola said she plans to make the most of her year as president and the last year she will spend at K-State as an undergraduate student. Her main goal is to move the UPC outside of its comfort zone and to plan new events, meet new people and truly leave a mark on the campus. Abby Krstulic, senior in hos-

pitality management, works with Vahola as the UPC Forums CoChair. “Planning our events will be a challenge with all of the construction happening around the Union, but Megan is great with being innovative and thinking of new ways to do things,” Krstulic said. “I think we’ll reach even more students than before under her leadership.” Varhola said that the UPC has given her so many things. Because of her responsibilities there, she has gained leadership skills, communication skills and met lifelong friends, but most importantly, Varhola said she has found a home in the UPC. “College is about making memories,” Varhola said. “No one looks back on their lives and tells people about the time they studied. They talk about the memories and that’s what UPC does. It gives people a chance to make K-State more than an educational institution, but a home.”

RAIN | Wet summer helps, hurts crops JULIETTE | Historic brick road to continued from page

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The National Weather Service considers summer as the period of June through August, according to Heller. The rain accumulation in Topeka this summer has been so substantial it has actually caused most of Kansas, including Manhattan, to emerge from drought conditions. Droughts are monitored using a complex system called the Drought Monitor, which is managed by three agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Drought Mitigation Center at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, according to the drought monitor website. Determining when an area is in a drought involves more than just measuring rain or the lack of it. The three agencies involved use soil conditions, climate and hydrologic measurements from over 350 contributors nationwide, according to the Drought Monitor’s website. Counties’ drought statuses can cause the counties to be labeled in one of five categories, from D0 to D4, with D0 meaning “abnormally dry” and D1 meaning the county is experiencing “moderate drought”. Categories D2 through D4 signify levels of progressively more severe drought, with D4 being the most severe and resulting in widespread crop losses and shortages of water in local sources, according to

the classification scheme on the drought monitor website. Each county is color coded on the Drought Monitor based on its current status. At the state level, the week of Aug. 11 marked the first time since Nov. 2, 2010 that at least one county wasn’t at least partially in a drought. “The only conditions we’re seeing are what they call ‘abnormally dry,’” Heller said. According to the Drought Monitor website, Kansas has been at least “abnormally dry” in some county every week since the week of July 13, 2010. The week of April 28, 2015 was the last time any portion of Riley or Pottawatomie county was considered “abnormally dry.” No portion of either county has been in any level of drought since the week of Sept. 9, 2014. From June to August, Heller said Topeka has received 17.37 inches of rain this year, 6.47 inches above the approximately 10.9 inch average. Manhattan is likely similar due to its proximity to the state capital, though exact numbers for Manhattan are not available. Although the rain differences in Riley and Pottawatomie counties may not be identical from year to year to those in Topeka, local farmers have noticed an increase. While drought or dry conditions may be economically devastating, too much rain can also cause problems for local farmers, such as large inflows into the lake, according

to Prockish. “That’s something I think a lot of people don’t realize,” Prockish said. “We have a large amount of land at the north end of the lake project that is leased to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and a lot of it is leased to farmers.” Kenny Duncan, of Westmoreland, said he locally raises beef cattle and farms a variety of crops, including hay. The rain has relieved some problems but has also caused him others, particularly with hay. “We’re 30 days behind on haying,” Duncan said. “We just started putting up our hay a week or 10 days ago, and we should be finishing up instead of just getting started.” Duncan said other crops, such as corn, have flourished because of the extra rain, but it has “been a bear” for him to try catching up on planting hay. Still, Duncan said he welcomes the extra rain as opposed to a drought, enough that he was reluctant to complain about the rain at all. “Anything beats a drought,” Duncan said. “Drought affects everything; too much rain just affects certain parts of the operation.” Duncan farms the land for about 30 landowners and said the biggest surprise for him has been how understanding they have been through the delays this year. “I haven’t heard a discouraging word from anybody,” Duncan said. “It’s all been positive.”

finally be restored through grant continued from page

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More documents obtained from the City state that the proposed Phase I would reclaim the existing brick streets, a process which will include removing all the bricks and then placing them on pallets. After this, a new concrete base would be poured, a bed of sand installed, and then, the reclaim brick be placed back over the top. Linda Glasgow, an archivist with the Riley County historical museum, said that while it may cost more now to restore Juliette, in the long run it means keeping a rare piece of historic Manhattan and a road that should last longer than pavement. “As we embrace progress we also need to assess the longterm implications of our choices,” Glasgow said. “Capital expense now may be greater, but it lasts longer and it is a unique and historic feature of the city.” Glasgow compared Juliette Avenue with another vintage attraction in a different part of the country. “Its rarity, age and beauty make Juliette a historic Manhattan feature, much like the San Francisco cable cars,” Glasgow said. It only took one woman who put her foot down at the time when the mayor of the city wanted to do away with the cable cars to keep them, and they eventually turned into such a unique and vital piece of the city of San Francisco’s

History, and even more so, a tourist attraction.” Tom Logan, professor of architectural engineering and construction science, said part of the problem with bricks coming out of place on Juliette is the high traffic load on the street. “Juliette is a main street in town given its surroundings, and it’s got quite the traffic load on it,” Logan said. “You see these large trucks that weigh in at dozens of tons when fully loaded that use the street, and that eventually ends up sinking the bricks in. One solution to that problem would be the city limiting the traffic flow of (large vehicles), but I don’t know if they would be willing to do that.” Logan also said that building the foundation under the bricks is one of the most crucial

SATURDAY AUG 29

tasks to be done if we are to see a brickstreet that would last a century. “The durability of the new Juliette Avenue will depend entirely on the new base beneath it,” Logan said. “Now, whether or not it will last longer than pavement, again, that’s a matter of how good a job is done, and it’s a difficult one especially since not many people do it anymore and that method of road building is a lost art.” The Juliette Avenue renovation project was proposed and submitted to KDOT by Robert Ott, director of public works and city engineer for the city of Manhattan. Ott has worked with theRiley County Historical Society to research and compile the data needed to present the project and apply for financial help from the state.

CK WELCOME BNAIGHT

IP WORSH CREAM IZES AND ICE FREE PR

WHEN: 6:30 - 8:00PM WHERE: K-State Student Union - Forum Hall WHO: College Students, Young Adults and Manhattan Community


4

OPINION friday, august 28, 2015

Campus psychologist responds to questions

SCOTLAND PRESTON the collegian

THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL FOR MANY STUDENTS IS THEIR FIRST SIGNIFICANT TIME AWAY FROM HOME IN THEIR LIFE. HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST STUDENTS DEAL WITH THIS IN A HEALTHY WAY? Dr. Mailey: "I think a good strategy for new students who might be leaving home for the first time and dealing with homesickness, is to get connected. Get connected to your peers, look for opportunities to meet new people. This first week is a great time to learn about different clubs or organizations. Find people who enjoy some of the same things you do."

WHAT SHOULD STUDENTS DO WHEN PRESSURES START BUILDING BETWEEN SCHOOL AND COLLEGE LIFE, ALL WHILE NOT HAVING THEIR PARENTS WITH THEM?

Mailey: "When the pressure starts to mount, take a look at your priorities, and try to find balance. College is different from earlier educational experiences where your day is highly scheduled/regimented. Now it is the student's responsibility to manage his/her schedule, motivate her/himself to go to class,

etc. I think there are five key factors in helping students (and anyone in general) maintain good balance: 1. Sleep (adequate sleep) is crucial. It's fun having a lot of freedom for the first time, but make sure that you make sleep a priority. Poor sleep means poor attention and concentration and lack of energy, thus making it incredibly difficult to be a successful student. 2. Stay connected to people. I had a minister who often said "humans, by nature, are relational creatures." Part of what brings us energy day-to-day is our ability to connect and interact with others. Even for the more introverted types, it is probably a good idea to have face-to-face contact with a few people here and there. 3. Stay connected with your primary role/responsibility, be it work, or in this case, your role as a student. It is important to stay on top of your classwork, because it is easy to feel overwhelmed when you get behind or miss class. Find a way of keeping track of what is due. Create a task list and mark things off of it. Make it a part of your daily or weekly routine. 4. Get physical activity each week. Try to make it a priority. The Rec Center is a great resource. That doesn't mean that you have to spend hours at the gym or even go there, but try to get about 30 minutes of moderate level physical activity three times a week. If you do something you enjoy, you're more likely to do it consistently. 5. Try to eat relatively nutritious foods, and resist the temptation to only grab junk food. I understand that living on a college budget makes it difficult to consistently buy/eat nutritious foods, but have a plan and try to stick to it. If the pressure continues to get to you, we've got a number of fantastic resources here at CS [Counseling Services] to help students. You can

Nathan Jones | THE COLLEGIAN Dr. Chaz Mailey, psychologist for K-State Counseling Services, answers questions that include how to adjust back into the school year and discuss ways on how students can start off the year in a positive note. call us at 785-532-6927."

A NEW SCHOOL YEAR MEANS A CHANCE FOR NEW HABITS. HOW WOULD YOU SUGGEST MAKING THE POINT TO START GOOD NEW HABITS?

Mailey: "To establish and maintain healthy new habits, it takes motivation, consistency and dedication. Begin with setting smaller, realistic goals about your habits that you can track over time, and try make it something that will actually be satisfying. For example, if you've never studied more than 5 hours a week outside of class, don't set a goal that you're going to study 20 hours

a week. Go smaller and then build. Write your goals down somewhere and then put them somewhere that you'll actually see them. There are a number of great Smartphone apps that can help you keep track of goals, task lists, etc. This probably won't make me popular with some people, but seriously consider the impact that alcohol use could have on your quality of life as a student. I think one of the mistakes that many people, not just students, make is that you can drink excessively, and still be a highly functioning individual. If you are choosing to drink as part of your lifestyle, fine, but try to limit or moderate it. On the weekends, have a few activities in mind that are satisfying,

but alcohol isn't part of the equation. Card nights, movie nights, exploring Manhattan and the surrounding counties, pick up a low-cost hobby (ghost hunting comes to mind), cook large meals with friends (if you have access to the resources)." For more information about Counseling Services, students can go to k-state.edu/counseling. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Collegian.

Scotland Preston is a senior in mass communications. Please send comments to opinion@kstatecollegian.com

Climate change: politics, small gestures of climate change

JONATHAN GREIG the collegian

The issue of climate change is a hard one to fight. But that doesn’t mean we should allow ourselves to be less motivated to address it. It means the opposite, in fact – it is hard to fight and that means it deserves our utmost attention and energy. That is, of course, if you want humanity to survive, which I wouldn’t want to push on you. There are a few factors that make climate change an especially tough issue to garner consensus and adequate group action around. There are more than just these few factors, of course, but I wanted to bring these up specifically to hopefully address either the people who do not agree with me, or those that do, but are feeling unmotivated toward the crisis. First of all, the pace of climate change and who it affects first make it easy to continue ignoring, as well as the culture of denying its effect or even its very existence. Rob Nixon, currently a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Mad-

Illustration by Kent Willmeth ison, spearheaded this idea in his 2011 book, “Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor.” He defines “slow violence” as a “violence that occurs gradually and out of sight, a violence of delayed destruction that is dispersed across time and space, and attritional violence that is typically not viewed as violence at all,” which is the exact medium of the global warming crisis. He also argues that it is ignored because who it affects most violently are the fringes of

modern society, or those that don’t have the power to affect change against it. When the sea rises and devours the land of a tiny, politically unimportant, island culture, what are they supposed to do about it? When geologic landmarks slowly erode and catastrophic natural disasters occur, what are the people of the devastated mountain village supposed to do about it? This idea, as climate change progresses and we do not, is going to be tested. California is burning. How long

can we continue to ignore the affected? It is not our fault that we didn’t fully grasp the planetary consequences our innovation and evolutionary success would cause. It is our fault if we understand it now and still do nothing. Nixon also addresses what he calls the “forces of inaction.” He says that “environmental activists face well-funded, well-organized interests that invest heavily in manufacturing and sustaining a culture of doubt around the science of

slow violence, thereby postponing policies that would help rein in the long-term impacts of climate change in particular.” According to him, these forces are driven by a “coalition of Big Oil, Big Coal, and Big Tobacco, led by ExxonMobil and Phillip Morris,” which has “amassed an army. . . to sponsor uncertainty around climate change.” And this brings me to the culture of doubt in this country relating to this scientifically agreed on issue. I brought up the Pew Research Center in part one of this series, and their Jan. 28 article “Public and Scientists’ Views on Science and Society,” in which their data revealed that 9 percent of scientists agreed that climate change was real because of natural patterns, and 87 percent agreed that it was real, and that it was because of human activity. Well, they did research on another related question posed to U.S. adults: “Do Scientists Generally Agree About Climate Change?” The data gathered earlier showed that the scientists did very much agree, but 37 percent of U.S. adults said that “scientists do not agree.” Those 37 percent are wrong – but why? One of the most glaring, and quite frankly embarrassing, issues with the public’s climate change knowledge is that one of our country’s two major political parties (go ahead and guess which one I’ll say) has a knowl-

edge problem of their own. The site, PolitiFact, who explicitly strives to express no political bias, rates the claims of politicians from both sides on their veracity. In their May 18, 2014 article, “Jerry Brown says ‘virtually no Republican’ in Washington accepts climate change science,” they did their research to determine if this was true. They concluded that it was, indeed, “mostly true.” They looked up stances on climate change that Republican members of Congress have taken. They found that “eight out of 278, or about 3 percent,” of Congressional Republicans have professed to believe climate change is real and man-made. That means that the percentage of House Republicans that believe climate change is real and man-made is the same fringe percent of scientists who don’t believe it exists at all.

Read more at www.

kstatecollegian. com.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Collegian.

Jonathan Greig is a senior in anthropology. Please send comments to opinion@kstatecollegian.com.

Street Talk compiled by Cassandra Nguyen

Q: “IF YOU COULD MEET ANY CURRENT OR FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?”

ABBY HUCK

FRESHMAN MUSIC EDUCATION

“Most definitely Abraham Lincoln because he was a very inspiring president and had a cool beard and hat.”

BRETT BANDY JUNIOR

BRADEN MCUNESTREIT

CHARLSIE FOWLER

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

SENIOR, SOCIAL WORK

SENIOR APPAREL AND TEXTILES

“I’d say Herbert Hoover. He helped make the engineering feat in the United States.”

“Abraham Lincoln. He had a lot of powerful words to topics that weren’t necessarily the most popular during his reign of presidency.”

“I’d like to meet Theodore Roosevelt. He not only pulled the nation out of the horrible depression, but he was a very influential president.”

KRISTIN LONG

FRESHMAN, BIO SYSTEMS ENGINEERING “George Washington because he was the first President and he had a lot of responsibility on his shoulders. So I would ask him how he was able to do what he did while staying sane while having all the responsibility and establishing a good country.”


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SPORTS

friday, august 28, 2015

The Ring of Honor K - S t a t e i n d u c t s D a r re n S p ro l e s t o i t s e s t e e m e d r a n k s

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“Dating back to his childhood, he was told he was too small, and when he was going to the NFL, the question was, ‘Is he durable enough?’ ”

ANDREW HAMMOND the collegian

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The K-State Ring of Honor honors an elite group of Wildcat players who have achieved success on and off the field, have a high quality of character, have represented K-State well, have achieved All-American status or have performed at a “program-transformational level that warrants consideration” and are five-years removed from K-State, according to K-State Sports. K-State will be adding four more Wildcat greats to the ring including Clarence Scott, Michael Bishop, Jordy Nelson and Darren Sproles on Sept. 5 at K-State football’s season opener against South Dakota State. Wrapping up the Collegain’s profile of the Ring of Honor Inductees is running back Darren Sproles.

D. Scott Fritchen, Powercat Illustrated

would’ve been reduced much more initially. “During his recruitment, he told me and his dad told me that he was going to (Kansas) for a visit,” D. Scott Fritchen of Powercat Illustrated said. “Terry Allen had wanted to bring him in as a walk-on, they didn’t think he was worthy of a scholarship.”

WHAT DID HE DO AT K-STATE?

Darren Sproles played at K-State from 2001 to 2004. He’s one of the most decorated athletes in school history. Sproles currently holds 16 rushing records and is in the top 10 on 43 other lists. He holds the school record for career rushing yards with 4,979. To the surprise of many K-State fans, Sproles was not a consensus All-American during his time at K-State. However, he did finish fifth in the 2003 Heisman Trophy vote and was named to the All Big 12 team twice in his career. Sproles was also a star of the first Big 12 championship in school history.

HOW WAS HIS PRO CAREER?

He’s about to enter his 10th season in the league after being a fourth round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers back in 2005. Working primarily as a backup throughout his career, Sproles has amassed over 2,500 rushing yards during his pro career and managed to reach his first

WHAT DO PEOPLE WHO SAW HIM IN ACTION SAY?

courtesy photo | K-STATE ATHLETICS

K-State player Darren Sproles runs a punt return for a touchdown in K-State’s 42-6 win over Kansas on Oct. 25, 2003 in Manhattan. pro bowl in 2014 with the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2011, as a member of the New Orleans Saints, he broke the single season record for all purpose yards in a season with 2,696. In his 10 seasons, Sproles has played with the Chargers, Saints and is currently a member of the Philadelphia

Eagles.

WHERE IS HE FROM?

Although he was born in Waterloo, Iowa, Sproles was a high school legend here in the state of Kansas. At Olathe North High School, he was named to various “All-Kansas”

teams and was named USA Today’s Kansas Player of the Year. On the field, Sproles compiled over 5,200 yards and 79 touchdowns, leading Olathe North to a state championship in his senior year of 2000. Sproles’ road to Manhattan included a stop in Lawrence where his role

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“He’s one of the hardest workers and most determined players I’ve ever been around,” Fritchen said. “Dating back to his childhood, he was told he was too small, and when he was going to the NFL, the question was, ‘Is he durable enough?’ and ‘He’s too small and he can’t do the things he did in college up against the big boys in the NFL.’” Fritchen noted that, even now with 10 years in the NFL, Sproles still continues to disprove his doubters. “Well, you can see that he broke the record for all purpose yards in a single season, so he’s had that determination throughout his career, and he’s had that hunger and determination ever since he was young.”

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friday, august 28,2015

FIRE | A Different Spin feels at home among college crowd continued from page

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such as candy, pens or other small items. Alexis Bruns, freshman in family studies and human services, said that while she enjoyed receiving a few small, free things, the welcome activities fair was also a good experience due to its service as a time to make personal social connections. “It gets you involved in your first year at K-State, and I think that’s important,” said Bruns. “It’s a way to make new friends, and it gives you something to do besides homework because, of course, homework can be boring.” The activities fair also included free fair food like funnel cakes and corndogs and campfire treats like roasted marshmallows and s’mores, along with chances to win prizes. Post-activities fair, performers from A Different Spin, a company of fire jugglers based in Boston put on a show at Bosco Plaza. This is the performers’ second time

performing at K-State and just one of many the group will put on at colleges around the country. The performers from A Different Spin found performing for K-State students refreshing and fun. “The energy a college audience has is so great,” Michael Mucciolo, A Different Spin performer, said. “Every new audience, or even an audience that’s seen us in a previous year, is always just excited for a different thing.” Embracing the spirit of the Week of Welcome activities fair, A Different Spin performer, Andrew Insect, said college life is something the fire-tossing group relates to, which is another reason they enjoy performing for student audiences. “This is how we got our roots - as a college group performing for a college audience before we started touring around to other colleges in the area – so doing this for college students is a taste of home,” Insect said. Directly following A Different Spin’s performance, a free showing of “Jurassic Park” was held just outside the Union.

George Walker | THE COLLEGIAN

A Manhattan Fire Department worker stands watch over the fire show at Bosco Plaza on Thursday.

George Walker | THE COLLEGIAN

Students watch balloon artist Shawn Wake, from Marysville, Missouri, twists a balloon during the 2015 Union Expo and Activity Carnival on Thursday. Wake said he has been coming to the Union Expo and Activity Carnival for more than a decade. Apply at Kedzie 103 or online at kstatecollegian.com/apply

George Walker | THE COLLEGIAN

Alexandria McChesney, senior in conservation biology, holds Pizza, a corn snake, at the 2015 Union Expo and Activity Carnival.

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Andrew Insect, member of A Different Spin, spins flames during the fire show at Bosco Plaza.

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