PGS. 26-27
BROAD CASTING The Military Life
WITH DAVION BOWENS
PGS. 22-23
PGS. 10 -13
MOVING ON AFTER BUTLER:
THE ISSUE FEATURE
THE COVER PHOTO BY RODNEY DIMICK
4-5 true life: i’m obsessed with netflix 6-7 BUCO band 8-9 on that book grind 10-13 moving on after butler 14-15 once a grizzly, always a grizzly
Table
THE
CONTENTS Issue 2. Volume 19. Butler community college
OF
16-17 gettin’ jiggy with it
lois johnson poses for a photo illustration.
18-19 sing like you mean it
THe staff
20-21 basically professionals
EDITORs//
22-23 the military life
Cami bremyer Darah Howe
24-25 well oiled machine
DESIGNERS//
26-27 the behind the scenes team 28-29 the other side of sports 30-31 godspell 32-33 physically educated 34-35 art thou creative? 36-37 on the fast track 38-39 studly sluggers 40-41 Division Domination
CAMI bREMYER DARAH HOWE WRITERS// mikki deters DARAH HOWE JANAE EVANS SAVANNAH BLY rodney dimick PHOTOGRAPHERS// CHEYENNE SANDERSON kayla duarte mikki deters RODNEY DIMICK ADVISOR// MIKE SWAN TABLE OF CONTENTS
42-43 national competitors
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true life: i’m addicted There is a moment in every film or television show where you need to be hooked. It is a moment of adrenaline rush drawing out your connection to fear, laughter and heart. For many, it is why we spend so much of our time staring at a screen. Netflix is a cheap way to get hooked on some of the latest TV shows and movies. It is something that I have and use quite often. Like many young adults, my family had Netflix when I was in high school. Instead of a family night out to a movie, it was a family night in with many movies. All that was needed was a subscription and Internet access. Going to the movies or buying them at the store costs a lot of money and it can eventually add up. Netflix is basically $8 a month, which is the average price to see a movie in the theatre. Of course, this price goes up if you choose to get the DVD plan and rent movies that are unable to be streamed over the Internet. The price can also go up if more than two devices are accessing the same account at the same time. This is becoming a very popular part of Netflix, as roommates and families split the cost and share an account. One of the newest features includes adding profiles. This gives the opportunity for everyone on the one account to have their own instant queue and their own suggestions based on movies they watched and liked. I decided last year that I would get my own Netflix account, as this feature had not been added yet. As a college student, it was a cheap way to watch all of my favorite movies and shows the site provided. Later, I let my great-grandfather on my account as well. Between reading the newspaper and spoiling his grandkids, he has a lot of free time. I think it is funny to go to his profile and see what he is currently SPRING ISSUE
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watching based on the titles Netflix suggested to him. If you are caught up on school work and have the weekend or break for free time, binge watching is common. Sometimes, you can get through an entire season of a show in a single day. If you have enough free time, this can become both addictive and fun. Many college students binge watch Netflix. I do it, even my great-grandfather does it. Over spring break, my grandpa made it through all five seasons of “Breaking Bad,” while I made it through four seasons of “The Office.” It was kind of fun because we were sitting next to each other, with our headphones on, watching Netflix on two separate devices. There were times where we looked at each other, and were laughing at the same time, but for two separate shows. “Laziness” should only go so far. So, doing other activities and not binge watching for multiple days in a row is probably a good idea. For those on campus, accessing the Internet while also accessing Netflix, can cause trouble if many are on at the same time. Netflix is Internet based, so buffering does play a key factor. Sometimes it buffers so much it is almost laughable. You could almost say it’s its own comedy show. Many people tell me I am an expert on Netflix because “I watch way too much TV.” I actually use Netflix as a study tactic. No matter what your taste in movies is, everyone has that selection of those few that annoy them. Those over-the-top movies that you saw thousands of times in middle school and high school that now just annoy you, I watch one every day. It blocks out the noise of the rowdy neighbors and becomes great background noise because I’ve seen it a million times and know every line. At the same time, that
can be very annoying so it motivates me to get my work done so I can do something else, while still allowing me to concentrate on something other than distracting neighbors. It annoys me when I see many customers complain on reviews about how their favorite movies aren’t on there or how the latest season isn’t added on yet. But I think many people overlook the business side of Netflix. Netflix has to pay for billions of people to have the opportunity to watch a movie or TV show, all at the same time. So obviously it will take a while. In addition, they need to cycle out movies not getting attention and add new movies and shows everyone wants. Even with all this, offering a rate of only $8 is pretty amazing. As long as there are still paying customers and no new Internet laws that can deduct the amount of paying customers, that flat rate will be here to stay. Being a Netflix addict is not something everyone can relate to but everyone has their reasons for their use and need of their obsessions. Netflix can be used as a tool to learn with its documentaries as well as its relatable titles and it can be used as entertainment when you are in need of it. It is there for each individual to decide how they will use it for them. That is why many students, young adults, and generations so easily get hooked. With the mass media culture we live in, Netflix successfully captures our generation into an adrenaline rush of characters’ lives by hooking us to our seats and gluing our eyes to the screen, while also providing the same for the younger generation and the old duffers of the generations before us. Story by Savannah Bly Photo by Cheyenne Sanderson
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still enjoy the bond music creates,” says Thomas. Faux Reality uses music as a form of communication. Music is an outlet for them to speak and share about who they are and what they think. “We use music to show others our ‘true skin,’” says Thomas. “We aren’t the most extroverted individuals and music helps us to be able to communicate with people and the great thing about it is that these people all enjoy the same thing we do – music.” Thomas is currently taking guitar lessons from Butler instructor Roberto Bernardinello. Prior to these lessons, most of his playing was self-taught. “My dad let me borrow his guitar and guitar book and he said, ‘Learn these chords.’ That was the extent of my lessons until recently,” says Thomas. “In short, I have missed out on a lot of musical knowledge throughout the years, but it’s been helping me tremendously in writing, performing and creating.” James started out playing the trumpet in a school band in 2004. He later played bass with Thomas for fun and continued playing bass through middle and high school pep band. “I now have the honor to play in the Jazz band at Butler,” says James, a sophomore. “Having these experiences enhance my creative potential while writing and composing songs.” Garret began taking drum lessons in 2004 and he hasn’t stopped playing since. He also plays for Butler Jazz band and Concert band, while taking private lessons from Steve Hatfield.
“When I was first born all I wanted to do was play the drums,” says Garret, a sophomore. “I was told that my mom had a hard time sleeping because I was playing drum solos in the womb. I was always hitting something with something else. Instead of rattles like most regular kids, I was playing with drumsticks.” Most financial earnings for Faux Reality come from their merchandise sales of T-shirts and CDs. Sometimes they will receive an allowance based on the amount of people coming to their show if they are playing at a bar. Faux Reality advertises mainly through social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. Mostly though, they advertise through their official website: fauxreality.org. “We spread the word about our shows through word of mouth and personal invites as well across campus,” says Thomas. One of Thomas’ favorite quotes that inspires him in his music is from “Pokémon: The First Movie” from 1998. Mewtwo said, “I see now that the circumstances of one’s birth are irrelevant; it is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are.” Faux Reality came up with their own personal inspiring quote for their fans: “It doesn’t matter where you came from or where you are now, it’s all about what you do with it that makes it quality. We come together from different backgrounds in order to create music we enjoy. Our fans also come from different backgrounds to enjoy our music. It’s one big melting pot of Faux soup.” Story by Janae Evans Photos by Kayla Duerta
photo courtesy of faux reality
FAUX REALITY
Faux Reality is a band consisting of three members: Thomas Hays, James Hays and Garret Armstrong—all Butler students from El Dorado. Their music is a mixture of progressive and indie rock. They have been playing music as a group since 2007. All three participate in vocals, but each plays a different instrument alongside: Thomas plays the guitar, James plays the bass and Garret plays the drums. “James and I had been playing together for about a year before we met Garret,” says Thomas, a sophomore. “In early 2006, Garret got his first drum set and we started jamming together.” When the band first started out, they were inspired by blink-182 and Green Day. They wanted to be the next big pop punk band. “Nowadays we are inspired from about anyone,” says Thomas. “Specifically we like music from Bon Iver, James Blake and Dismemberment Plan.” So far, Faux Reality has released 5 CDs and is currently working on writing the sixth one. “In the meantime, we have been producing cover videos and putting them on YouTube and just enjoying the creative freedom,” says Thomas. Faux Reality has occasional gigs at places such as Mead’s Corner in Wichita and the Brickyard Bar in Emporia. They have also performed in Lawrence, Kansas City, and even Oklahoma and Missouri. They are planning to go on tour this summer. “We started the group to be able to simply play music and have fun with it,” says Thomas. “We all have a mutual liking for music and it’s great to be able to express ourselves. Having other people listen to and even buy our music is an honor.” Faux Reality loves everything about music. Music is not only fun for them, but they also enjoy creating, performing and analyzing while they play. “Even if no one likes what we do, we
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to Singapore, Italy, Germany, the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Greenland, Japan, Portugal, Malaysia, Indonesia, and even military bases such as Guam and Midway on a military contract.”
Did you go to college? If so, how did you get through finals? “Yes. From ’77 to ’79 here at Butler. I guess like everybody, just study hard. Study. Study. Study.”
whatever job that you’re doing, will go a long ways for you in the future and will be acknowledged. Be the best that you can be. It will show and it will pay off. Don’t complain; complainers don’t get anywhere. Write handwritten thank you notes; they go a long way.”
What jobs have you had?
“While getting my Associate’s Degree, my goal was to be an Air Traffic Controller, but I didn’t pass. It was my first failure and it hit hard, so I took flying lessons, moved to Florida, became a scuba diving instructor and modeled for underwater photography, and flight attendant. I ended up How should a college student getting married and moving back go about catching their dreams or here and opened up my bookdesired career? store.”
everything i wish i would have known how to survived butler and become successful with sandra emlet “You just gotta go for it. You can dream, but you have to do your footwork. People go in and think they just deserve stuff. Enable yourself to get your dream. “No matter the course you’re Nothing’s impossible. If it’s a taking, there are a lot of turns reasonable goal and it’s a dream and bends along the way. Don’t that you want, there’s nothing be afraid to venture and go down that you can’t obtain if you work those roads. It’s not set in stone. hard enough at it.” Life’s an adventure.”
What advice would you give college students who are about to enter the world?
What do you think is the most important thing for a college student to focus on at this point in their life? “Respect and hard work, for
Where all have you traveled?
“I was a flight attendant for a time, so I traveled to almost all major U.S. cities when I first started. Then I started flying international, so I’ve also been
Did anyone inspire you to make the life choices that you did?
“No. I am very independent. I met a lot of great people, did a lot of interesting things. I have no regrets because that’s what life’s about.”
Do you wish you would have done anything differently?
“No, because I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Questions by Janae Evens Answers from Sandra Emlet Photos by Cheyenne Sanderson
after the fame of college sports and colege partying is over it's time to get real and put on your big boy pants.
When you make your resume you’re going to want to stand out. Most of us add the “great at computer skills” or “works well with others”, but you need something else; something that others don’t have. It’s a good idea to add in those times you shadowed someone in the career you’re heading into, if you have. But there’s something that we need to get straight, if you’re in college don’t put past high school experiences, if you’re out of college; don’t add in your college experiences. You want to look professional, not young.
the
dream
job
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your resume It’s all in the details; about what makes you
from everyone else. We all know our dream job, what we’d like to do for the rest of our lives. Some of us have real goals, like becoming a doctor, other just want to sit around and watch TV. But for those who are looking for real jobs, keep in mind that right out of college you’re not likely to land that job. You’ve got to work your way up and you need to start talking to people now. Get your name out there, make yourself known. It’s about networking and being confident.
the place
When you’re looking for a place there’s not many things that you need to watch out for, but there are a few. First, you don’t need a roommate after college. It’s time to get it together and find a place for you. Second, know who you’re renting from, ask around and make sure they’re good landlords. The last thing you need is backed up pipes with no one to help you out. Lastly, don’t ever, ever, ever rent a house without seeing it in person. I know you’re busy, but trust me; you don’t want to live next to some crazies. There are many places out there that look great in pictures, but you better make sure you check out the whole street and the house before renting.
After college having roomates isn’t cool.
There are about 515,463,132 things that you don’t want to do during an interview, but let’s get this straight if there’s one thing you do need to do its look nice. Don’t go out and buy a whole new outfit, but save the ripped jeans for a different occasion and wear some decent shoes, maybe even brush your hair; if you want to get real fancy. Appearance is a big deal, whether we like to admit it or agree with it, so take it seriously. Oh, and practice for your interview. It may sound weird now, but when you’re sitting there sweating like crazy and they tell you “tell me about yourself”, you’re going to be happy you did.
acin g the interview “It is about what you wear and your professionality,
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SHE DID IT, SO CAN YOU. BUTLER ALUMNI mrs. kim
If you were to walk into Kimberly Stringer’s home on any given evening, you would probably think that her house was just like any other. There’s some bedrooms, a kitchen, couches; it just feels like a home. But if you were to walk through her kitchen and down the “1 2 3, A B C” stairs, you’d be placed in another world. You’d smell crayons and glue; you would feel the warmth of the carpet beneath your toes and you would hear Daisy Mae, the class chinchilla, jumping around in her cage. And maybe most importantly, you’d see Stringer in the classroom, reading a Dr. Suess book to a group of children. Stringer, who graduated from Butler in 1988, established Kreative Kids Preschool in 1995. Kreative Kids is a preschool that is run by Stringer, straight out of her home. After graduating from Butler, Stringer knew that going into childcare was inevitable. “I always knew I wanted to work with kids,” Stringer said. Stringer, or “Miss Kim” as her students call her, has been involved with early childhood care for nearly 29 years, with Kreative Kids taking up 19 of them. Kreative Kids is a hands on learning environment, complete with a playground in Stringer’s back yard. She runs a friendly and caring environment, keeping the happiness and safety of the children in mind. “I only have one rule,” Stringer said. “Never hurt anyone on the inside or on the outside.” Story by Mikki Deters Photo by Cheyenne Sanderson
Top Photo : Pictured is Mrs. Stringer’s basement, where her classes are held. Each class is aproximately ten children and is held on Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to noon. Bottom Left Photo : The class pet Daisy, a chinchilla, sits in her cage. The kids practice responsibility by feeding her everyday. Bottom Right Photo : These are the stairs leading to the classroom from Stringer’s kitchen. She personally hand painted all the wall art throughout the classroom.
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RONnY FRIAS WINTER ISSUE
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Dance is important to a lot of people. For many it is even inspirational and, for some, they start at a very young age. Ronny Frias, Omaha, Neb. sophomore, began dancing at the age of three. Frias has been told by many that he has a natural talent and he has never stopped dancing. He knew he wanted to dance after a 7th grade talent show because the rush of energy he felt afterwards. Since then, Frias has leaned and danced to different music styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, modern and contemporary. He was even part of his varsity show choir in high school. One of my favorite things about dancing is meeting new people and getting to know the different aspects of music,” Frias says. At Butler, Frias maintains that as he finishes up his fifth semester here. While maintaining a vocal scholarship, being a part of the Headliners, participating in some of the theatre productions at Butler, and taking many dance classes as well, Frias has also taught a hip- hop class. He likes to keep all aspects of dance, but his personal style does lean more towards hip-hop. Frias is self-taught and says that he will keep training to be the best dancer he can be because this is his passion. Dance is his motivation. During the summer, Frias does shows at Worlds of Fun and plans to do that for his second summer in a row this year. As far as the future is concerned, Frias plans to eventually move to LA and audition for movies and music videos as a dancer. Putting himself out there in the dance community, he believes, will help him become a better dancer while also showing the world why he loves to dance and why it is his passion. “Find your inspiration, and make that your motivation,” Frias says. Dance tells a story. It is music and movement. It is something that takes a while to learn but for those who are passionate enough, they should never give up because you have to keep pushing yourself. No one can expect to become a dance expert overnight. Those who dance do it because it is what they love to do. The nerves, the performances, the story is all there. Dance is their passion, inspiration and motivation. That is why Ronny Frias is a dancer. Story by Savannah Bly Photos by Cheyenne Sanderson FEATURE
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If you haven’t noticed Butler’s music program, you may need to come out from the rock you’ve been living under. One walk through the 700 building and you’ll see and hear the products of the Butler vocal programs. There are students sitting at the piano, working to get that note just right. There are packs of students walking through the halls, sheet music in hand, with sheer determination in their eyes. With eight different ensembles on campus, it’s more than likely that you’ve run into a vocal student at some point or another. Concert choir is the largest group, with over a hundred voices. This is the only choir that is not scholarship based and anyone with a love for singing can join. They sing music from all over the world, both more traditional choral music and even music from today. “Here’s the greatest thing: not everyone is a music major. Even if they aren’t going to head down the music route, they at least get to be a part of something that they love,” says Henry Waters, Chambers director. “We have kids from all different walks of life and all different majors.” This is Waters’ second year at Butler, and you can tell music is something he’s very passionate about. “I love doing what I do,” says Waters. The Chambers singers have 20 voices, all directed by Waters. This is the most traditional choral ensemble at Butler. “I think of an ensemble as a blank canvas and I get to paint pictures with their voices,” says Waters. “No two sounds are the same.” Next comes the A Capella choir, composed of 11 singers. This choir sings pop music, arranged in different styles by the students and Mr. Udland. No instruments are used in these performances; every sound you hear is made by
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someone’s mouth. The Headliners are a mixed show choir, directed by Mrs. Mack. There are over twenty-five voices that sing different pop and jazz songs, complete with tough choreography. The Butler Ladies is the all-female show choir at Butler, singing pop songs and doing choreography of their own. There are also two quartets at BCC, the Smorgaschords and the Notables. The Smorgaschords are made up of four male voices and the Notables are made up of four female voices. They both follow the traditional barbershop style, making for great performances. Every one of these ensembles work extremely hard, and that can be partially credited to what the director puts these students through. “With every director, one thing we really teach, other than proper rhythms and pitches and facial expression and choreography and this and that and the other, is we really teach that hard work pays off,” says Waters. “I know I push. But I also know that every ensemble director here does push, and we push our students very hard and they meet us. And that’s wonderful. They learn that when they get on stage and perform and hear the roaring applause and excitement in the audience or tears in the audience or even the silence from the audience. It’s because they’ve worked so hard to get to that point that their reward might be the audience’s silence in awe or roaring applause or a tear, but there is always that reward at the end.” Story and photos by Mikki Deters
Top: Butler’s Chamber Singers perform one of their many rehearsed songs. The Chambers stick to more traditional music when they perform. Left: The Butler Headliners perform a number themed with airplane stewardesses and pilots. The Headliners are known for their up beat routines with complicated choreography. Right: The Butler A Cappella group performs a song without the use or any instruments. All of their music is arranged by the students and the director.
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Zachary Dziadul and Janae Evans go over their DECA presentation. Both Dziadul and Evans are attending the DECA conference in Washington D.C. this April.
Many have heard the name DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) floating around, but they don’t really understand much about it. DECA is basically a business club. Its members study business and marketing and test their skills at competitions. Jared McGinley, the club director, says, “DECA is an international association of high school and college students and teachers studying business in general and marketing specifically. School chapters engage in social events, business meetings, fundraising, community involvement and competition.” This club is connected and growing through friendships. Club members inspire their friends to attend a meeting and find what they are interested in. “A year ago, my friend Kadrae Smith was absent from school for almost a week. When I asked him where he was, he told me he was in California for a DECA competition,” says sophomore Zachary Dziadul from Macon, Ga. “This got me interested and after attending an informational meeting at the beginning of last semester I ended up joining.” Joining any club can be a learning experience, but with this club, it is a guarantee. DECA helps students and teachers to understand how business
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works so it can be used as a life skill. “These events allow me to learn how to network with potential employers and teach me communication skills and problem solving skills,” says sophomore Jacob Powell from Basehor. Hands on experience can provide different skills than just learning from a textbook. Learning requires research, but it takes practice to master certain skills. “Procrastination will kill any project,” says Dziadul. “I learned the key components of starting your own business and some aspects of marketing.” A few Butler students have been in DECA previously, but this is the first time for most of them. The competition experience was different than expected by first time DECA member Dziadul. “I expected it to be very enlightening and I expected the events to be more difficult than they actually were,” says Dziadul. “I did not expect our judge to have a mustache.” The International Career Development Conference is located in Washington, D.C. this year. Students compete against the state schools that were successful at the state level competitions. “Students competing in prepared events spend their time creating a document and a presentation for their chosen event,” says McGinley. “Students competing in role plays practice that experience by role playing in chapter meetings.”
Students get results the day after competing. After practicing during weekly meetings, the students are more confident about their performances. “I feel like I did an amazing job,” says sophomore Smith from Derby. “I went in there after studying and practicing. It was like second nature to me.” Confidence is beneficial while performing, but it is not the only skill needed to receive a high score. Dziadul says, “I feel like I did well; however, I didn’t expect to receive as low of a score as I did. It really opened my eyes to the fact that I have a lot to learn.” Depending on how well the students perform at nationals, they have the opportunity to accept awards. “You win pride,” says McGinley. “And a spiffy medal if you finish in the top 20 in the nation. Another if you finish in the top ten and a plaque if you crack the top 3.” DECA usually raises money to attend these competitions by having bake sales or writing letters to businesses, but they have also put on concerts and dances in the past. McGinley says, “DECA is way more fun than it sounds. It’s hard to describe if you’ve never seen it before.” Story by Janae Evans Photos by Kayla Duarte
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M
A
Choosing what you want to be when you grow up isn’t easy and for a lot of people, their dreams fall short. When you get older, you realize your dreams of becoming an astronaut, a doctor, or professional athlete require a lot more than just wanting to do that. You have graduate high school with pretty good grades and eventually be able to find a way to pay for the college necessary to accomplish your goals. Many people decide to either enter the workforce right out of high school, or go onto college, and others choose to try to enter the military. Freshman Davion Bowens of El Dorado is doing both military and college here at Butler. Bowens is a Private First Class in the Army National Guard. “Enlisting was a way to be part of something bigger than myself and as well as giving me an opportunity to go to school,” Bowens says. In order to become a part of the military, Bowens had to take many steps. He knew a man that was already part of the military and looked to him for advice on how to join. He got in touch with a recruiter, did a lot of paperwork, when to MEPs for processing and was sworn in. It took Bowens less than one month for him to be recruited and sworn in, which doesn’t always happen so quickly for some. “It’s a good feeling knowing that what you do, whether active or reserves, actually means something,” Bowens says. Because Bowens is just in the reserves for right now, he only has to work one weekend a month and two weeks straight once a year. For Bowens, being in the reserves makes it easier for him to be a student while in the military. He gets credits from the military experience and is not required to take a physical education course. Other than that, he is your typical college student. “[The military] makes it a bit easier as far as benefits go,” Bowens says.
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ilitary
LIFE
Bowens speaks highly of the military and urges anyone who is interested to look into it. He encourages people to really know what they are interested in and make sure they are aware of what they’re getting into. “Be prompt, be professional, on time and don’t get in trouble with the law,” Bowens says. Bowens plans on working at least 20 years in the military, working his way up towards a sergeant, and eventually becoming a Warrant Officer. “I wanted to better myself and try to set down a foundation for what my future would hold,” Bowens says. “The Army National Guard was the perfect place to start.” Story by Darah Howe Photo by Camille B remyer
“Enlisting was a way to be part of something bigger than myself...”
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For those of us that aren’t from El Dorado, one of the first things we noticed in moving here was the refinery. We notice the glow; we notice the steam rising into the air against the Kansas sky and the occasional smell of burning fuel. But many of us aren’t taking the time to educate ourselves on what exactly goes on in that plant across from campus. Did you know it’s considered one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Commerce? The El Dorado Oil Field and Petroleum Industry was deemed this honor because when the El Dorado field was discovered, not only did it change the economy of the local community, but it changed petroleum exploration technology forever, due to the use of science and geology to pinpoint location. World history was changed as well. The El Dorado Oil Field and Petroleum Industry was the largest producer and supplier among single fields in the United States during World War I. It can also add spurring the aviation industry in Wichita with the investment of oil field dollars, and currently impacting the local and state economy to its resume. The El Dorado field was first discovered on October 6, 1915 at a depth of 2,497 feet. This was the first discovery to use scientific methods. Drilling contractors were shocked at how accurate this method was, with oil found in every acre of the area recommended by geologists. Geologists were able to pinpoint location and depth, something that was unheard of. This field covers 34 square miles (22,320 acres) and by 1918, was producing nearly 29 million barrels of oil a year. The
population of Butler County doubled by 1920 and more and more employment opportunities opened up. For example, Jacob Melvin Moellendick was a very successful oilman working in the El Dorado field and is credited as the father of aviation in Wichita. Gathering investors, he established the Laird Aircraft Company in Wichita in 1919. While this company eventually failed, many of the well known aircraft companies, such as Cessna and Beech, were formed by former employees of Moellendick. The rush of oil and excitement ended around 1930, and while the production has slowed to a more modest level, the oil field is still very successful to this day. Today, the refinery produces around 135,000 barrels of crude oil per day, according to the Holly Frontier website. Not only that, but the work ethic of the employees is simply uncanny. “I didn’t know what overtime was until I worked here,” says John Sherman, the technical trainer of the refinery. Sherman has been at the El Dorado refinery for 35 years, and has a new appreciation for the gas prices. “When you think about how much it costs to make the gasoline compared to something like a bottle of water, it doesn’t seem as bad. Everything here costs a lot of money.”
In addition to keeping the refinery running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the company is big on safety. “Safety is highly regarded,” says Sherman, “We spend a ton of money. There’s millions and millions of dollars put into satisfying regulations.” Employees are required, at the minimum, to don flame retardant jump suits, a hard hat, safety glasses and to wear an H2S monitor, to be sure they are working in a safe environment. There is a nurse on site with an exclusive fire department across the street. Every firefighter is either already trained as an EMT or is in the process of being trained. There are also weekly safety meetings to make sure everyone is staying on the same page.
A lot of hard and, at some points, hazardous work goes into the processes that take place in El Dorado, so the next time you look across Haverhill road and see the puffs of smoke and steam floating across the sky, don’t scrunch up your nose at the smell. Instead, realize what a huge piece of history we have the opportunity to see every day and smile at that thought…even if you have to occasionally hold your breath. Story by Mikki Deters Photo by Rodney Dimick
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FEATURE
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The passion for sports is something that is hard to put into words. The amount of passion athletes have for their sports is one that makes it possible for them to endure pain and sadness and anger all at once for an entire game, in hopes of beating their opponents when they have a lot of catching up to do. Athletes are not the only ones passionate about sports, however. You have the coaches who devote most of their time towards a sport, you have the parents traveling with their athletes wherever they go, the fans who are their for support no matter how much of a rut they’re in and then you have the broadcasters, bringing the game to individuals who cannot physically be there to watch. For sophomore Nicole Feyh of Topeka, sports is a way of life. “I knew I wanted to be in sports media ever since I was little. Watching the KC Chiefs with my mom on Sundays was what really inspired me and made me realize that this was something I really loved and could pursue,” Feyh says.
The Sports Media department at Butler is one that many students strive to be in. They travel with both basketball and football to away games and call both home and away games about 75 times a year. Whether the sports media students are at the games or not, they will cover the stories. “Sports media honestly takes as much time as you’re willing to devote to it. Writing a sports column for every paper always puts a lot of pressure on myself to make the columns perfect,” Feyh says. “Sometimes I do play-by-play reporting of the football and men’s and women’s basketball games which can be grueling because Butler is no stranger to winning which can make for some boring games.” A big part of sports media is traveling with the football and basketball teams in order to call their games. “Calling” is another word for broadcasting, which is used quite often in sports media. There are typically two students calling the games and other students tag
along in order to be able to thoroughly write a report on the game, while other students are taking photos of the courts. “Whenever I call games over the radio I try to describe to the listener what telling the score and action of the game cannot. I find myself putting my opinion in there as well, which isn’t necessarily the best thing to do because from the point of view of the listener, they want to feel like they are at the game and not in the mind of Nicole,” Feyh says. “But that’s where having two people broadcasting comes in handy. We feed off of each other and can really mesh because we are just a big family of fans.” There is more to sports media than broadcasting. Photography is a major part of it as well. Photographers not only “work” for sports media, but they also take pictures for the Magazine and Lantern staff too. “My favorite part of being a photographer is the end results. It’s really cool to see the players reactions when they see my pictures,”
freshman Mikki Deters from Wichita, says. The sports media department here at Butler opens up many alleys for future endeavors that many students hope to pursue. Internships, scholarships to 4 year universities and jobs right after Butler are very common when a student finishes up his or her time at Butler. “Butler gave me this opportunity and I will forever be grateful for the teachers here and the media program that gave me my start,” Feyh says. Story by Darah Howe Photo by Kayla Duarte
THE HOME OF OUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONS &
THE HEART OF ATHLETICS Far left photo : Pictured is the Strength and Conditioning Center in the Champions Trainging Center building. Students that are in athletics at Butler work out and train here. It’s equiped with part of a football field and lifting equipment. Right page left photo : Pictured is the production room located in the newly built BG Products Veteran Sports Complex. The complex broke ground in October of 2011 and is now used by football, soccer and track and field athletes. The complex came in right at $12 million to build. Right page top photo : Pictured is the viewing room for the men’s basketball team. The team meets here to go over film of upcoming opponents and past games. Right page bottom photo : Pictured is the another section of the CTC. The CTC is also used by some of Butler’s classes; archery is offered and given in this building.
Behind every great musical there is a director, many actors, a stage crew, and weeks of preparation. “We wanted to make it modern and relevant, keeping an open mind on how to build it and what we could do to make it different,” Sam Sparks, Assistant Professor of Theatre, says. To do that, Sparks experimented with props and stage design. He wanted the stage to feel like a playground. In addition, he also relied on the cast a lot for creative input. The character and cast aspect of the show is a lot different than most of the musicals people have seen. “Godspell” is less of a full-on script. There is more freedom on the direction the musical can take because it can be characterized as more of a creative interpretation musical. “The characters have become more personas of each other. We are basically actors playing ourselves,” Valerie Gray, Wichita sophomore, says. Rehearsals were full of creative change, design and ideas. A vast variety of props were explored and many made it into the show. There was also a stage built into the audience as part of the setup because they wanted the show to be audience interactive and that is easier to do if you can move to their level of sights that the audience is on.
Each rehearsal began with a game or rather a focusing exercise. Everyone has their own distractions and worries outside of the musical, the focusing exercise helps the cast to focus, rely and work with each other. This becomes useful in both rehearsals and performance. Many members of the cast have a fine arts scholarship with the theatre or vocal department. They also have practicum, like many other scholarship students do, for their area. Oftentimes they are able to get some rehearsal work during that time. “I have a vocal scholarship, and being in this production is great because I get to see a different side of theatre,” Tyler Isbell, Wichita sophomore, says. Thad Alexander, Mulvane freshman, says, “It is very difficult trying to find what each member of the cast will wear for their costumes sometimes.” Some of the actors may get a chance to run a few lines. But mainly, it is an opportunity for the stage crew to work on the set or with props and costumes. “The technical part of the show is comprised of so many elements,” Arthur Reese, Valley Center sophomore, says. Logan Wohlford, Valley Center sophomore, says, “I like seeing the new aspect on it that I get to experience with this
show. Usually I am an actor but for ‘Godspell’ I am the stage manager.” Everyone has their favorite part of a performance but for cast members, some of their favorite parts come from the rehearsals and backstage experiences. Over the years there have been funny cast moments that can never be recreated. One recalled such an occasion of last semester and the difficulty with breaking a bottle in “The Government Inspector.” Kevin Norfleet, Wichita sophomore says with a wink, “I like the ending.” “I like the music of ‘Godspell’,” Nikiya Green, Wichita freshman, says. Haylee Couey, Wichita sophomore, says, “I like the abstract ensemble aspect that this musical brings, mixed with our thoughts and creative imagination on how to bring that all to life on stage.” Working together to create the show, the cast and crew really got to know each other and the director very well. “I’ve learned a lot from Sparks when it comes to character work and analyzing different aspects of theatre,” Wohlford says.
godspell:
Alexander says, “It’s different. Sparks cares and really works to get to know each of us on a personal level so we can put that in our work.” Bob Peterson, Theatre Professor, gets to see the process of creating “Godspell” from an observer’s view. “This is a talented group of kids and it is exciting to see them over the entire theatre season. Not directing ‘Godspell’ means I can be surprised when they bring it to the stage. It is going to be real exciting to see it. I am prepared to be amazed,” Peterson says. That is what many people prepare for when it comes to Butler theatre, and the theatre program doesn’t disappoint. “With this cast, I’ve laughed so hard, I’ve cried. It has brought me to tears seeing what we are bringing to the stage for this production and what we are creating,” Sparks says. From the beginning, “Godspell” was sure to be a hit with the workings of the cast, crew and director. Every unforgettable show has audiences and performances but with this musical, it was the process of creating that became its own unforgettable experience for this cast and crew. Story by Savannah Bly Photos by Cheyenne Sanderson
behind the
scences
Logan Wohlford and Kevin Norfleet spray paint wooden books to use as props for Godspell. Fellow students Emma Schauf and Larry Berry work on the fog machine for the set of the play Godspell during their Practicum class.
Adam Kriwiel helps with the set work for Godspell. Kriwiel has worked on stage to help with wiring and other things needed for the finishing touches of the set work.
let’s
GET
p h y s ica l archery
I’m taking archery right now, during the spring of 2014. It’s a class of 10 students and it’s a nice size for learning and not feeling judged for not having expert skills. We shoot 2 types of bows during the course of the class: we shoot long bows and recurve bows. Towards the end of the semester, those of us that have our own bows are allowed to bring and shoot with those. I wanted to take this PE credit because I had taken archery classes in the past and I had also taken private lessons. I’m glad the class started out at a beginners pace, because I had become rusty. It also helped to gradually move up in difficulty for those who had never shot before. You have to go into the class knowing, however, that great upper body strength is needed and if you don’t have it at the beginning, you’ll sure have it by the end. Overall, I think archery will be an exciting and fun experience. I’m getting to know new people and have a fun time shooting with my friends. Review and photo by Kayla Duarte
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PILATES I was enrolled in the 2014 Spring semester of Zumba and loved it. Our instructor, Vicki Taylor, was full of energy and helped my uncoordinated self overcome the obstacles of Zumba. The beginning of the class was hard, but eventually I learned all of the routines by heart and it became my favorite class. It was a way to relax but feel good about myself for getting out there and doing something! Even better, it was for a grade which gave me even more excited to go. Review by Darah Howe Photo by Kayla Duarte
I enrolled for the beginning Jazz dance class the first semester of my freshman year. I had been involved in a dance team before so I thought it would be a fun and easy way to get my PE credit out of the way. I quickly learned that for me, this class was difficult. I had a hard time getting the routines memorized and, since I had been out of practiced for a while, I didn’t look to graceful doing them either. We were required to perform at the dance recital but because I was so terrible, I was given the option of something else. I ended up performing two of the songs from the recital in sign language to get my grade. Even though this class was difficult for me, I still had a lot of fun trying! Review by Cheyenne Sanderson Photo by Mikki Deters
SPRING ISSUE
I took Pilates in the 2013 Fall semester and I loved every second. It was such a relaxing break in my day, and since my class wasn’t until 6:15 in the evening, it was a great way for me to de-stress. While it is comparable to Yoga, they are very different. I am by no means flexible enough to do Yoga correctly and while Pilates had its own set of challenges, I was able to comply much easier. Taking Pilates is something I recommend to everyone, especially if you’re looking to make those abs come out of hiding! Review by Mikki Deters Photo by Cheyenne Sanderson
ZUMBA FEATURE
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Top: Rachel Huffman paints in John Oehm’s Painting 1 and 2 class. Bottom: Katlyn Downey trims a foot in the bottom of her bowl that she threw on the pottery wheel. Many students have taken pottery and other art classes as a way to relieve stress. Right: Charcoal drawing by Zachary Ledbetter. Ledbetter was a student in Valerie Haring’s Drawing 2 class.
Future
Butler has many great programs that allow students to get experience and transfer to a university afterwards, if they so choose. The Butler art program takes students with many different imaginations, creations and talents. It is noticeable when you walk into the art building that there is talent; all the newest art pieces are hanging up on the walls or in display cases. Art is unique in each individual piece and perspective. Some see art in poetry, others in image, and there are others that see it in their surroundings. Art, to these students, is more than just a hobby to do when they are bored and decide to doodle. Art, to them, is a passion. It is a way to express what they feel and what they see. For some, art is what they’ve been doing all their life, since finger-painting in pre-school. Art is a way of connecting, through brush strokes and colors. “The thing I like most about art is that it is a timeline of memories that I can look back on and remember where I was, who I was with and the thoughts that flowed through me while I create,” Garrett Swearingen, Wichita sophomore, says. “Anything seems to be accepted as art even if it is pretty, ugly, or just random. I love how you can copy something or come up with something using your imagination. Art can be used with any mediums and is inspirational for the artist and the onlookers,” Shai Winzer, Augusta sophomore, says. The art program also offers students a variety of classes to learn different forms of art that they may not know of or have never learned. “I am definitely enjoying drawing a lot more than I thought I would. I would have never thought that I could have created the drawings that I have done so far,” Kelsey Pracht, Wichita sophomore, says. Different jobs and opportunities can come with the art program. Many students’ future plans involve transferring to a university. “I am going to be transferring to KU and starting in the fall as a junior. At the moment I am going for my BFA in Mixed Media Art so I can go on to do museum studies to become an art curator. Right now I am just trying to mix all my passions of art, writing, innovation and human interaction into one
in the
concentration,” Swearingen says. Pracht says, “I am looking forward to seeing what classes I will be taking at Wichita State. I know the Graphic Design program is not going to be easy, but I want to see what more I can learn with art and how far I can push myself.” Another great attribute is that students are able to find what art they enjoy the most and can apply themselves to that type of field after Butler. “I have been told I am a pretty good painter but the thing I like to do the most is ceramics. Getting your hands dirty and creating an object that can withstand time,” Swearingen says. Some have already started getting their name out there and selling their art work. Winzer has started selling her art work through her Facebook page. She sells tiles, earrings and even does special orders. Many of the students have a lot of nice things to say about the program here at Butler and how it has helped them. “Although, I have only had Valerie Haring as a teacher, I have learned that all of the professors in the art department are willing to help whether or not the student is in their class. They want the students to learn as much as they can while they are taking art classes at Butler and they really strive to help students be the best that they can be,” Pracht says Winzer says, “I love that they really take in perspective for the beginning artists, and the learning capabilities of students. I love the instructors of all the studios.” Swearingen says, “The teachers’ guide you in the directions you need to be going in and also push us students to question the process.” The Butler art program and the instructors here have helped pave the future of these students and guided them throughout their practice and skill of art creation. It is clear that wherever these students go, it will be in the art world. Their talents, experience, and goals will help them as they continue in their field, long after Butler. Story by Savannah Bly Photos by Kayla Duarte
arts
track & Field running new york
Freshman Madison Wedekind, Valley Center, strides out to finish 11th in the 800 meter run at Emporia. She was a late edition to the team that made a big impact.
The men’s and women’s track and field team’s outdoor track season is underway, the first meet for the team was the Butch Reynolds Invitational which took place on Saturday, March 22, in El Dorado. Butler had three had athletes who qualified for outdoor nationals during the first meet. Alfred Larry, St. Louis, Mo., the 400 meter indoor national champion, qualified in the 400 meter dash, Steven Calloway, Wichita, qualified in the 200 meter dash, and Ashanna Hodge, Barbados, qualified in the 400 meter hurdles event. Butler had other athletes and events qualify for nationals during the Texas Relays. Both the men and women’s 4x400 team qualified and the men’s 4x400 team nearly broke the school record and placed third in the event. On April 11-12, the teams participated in the K.T. Woodman meet at Wichita State. Larry and Calloway had a strong outing in the 400 meter dash. Larry won the event with a personal best of 47.02. Calloway finished third in the event with a time of 48.22. Larry and Justin Breaux, Donaldsonville, La., finished fifth and sixth in the 200 meter dash. For the women, their 4x100 team ran a season best 49.60 seconds. Kiarra Baker, Mira Loma, Calif., improved her 200 meter dash time, Jonelle Reinert, Cassoday, ran a personal best in the 400 meter dash, and Janell Kidd, Wichita, ran a personal best in the 1500 meter run. The track teams have three remaining meets left. The Kansas Relays in Lawrence are on April 18 is their last meet before the Region VI Outdoor Champions. The NJCAA Outdoor Championships will be May 15 in Mesa, Ariz.,. Story by Damien Akao Photos by Rodney Dimmik
FEATURE
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baseball a whole new ball game
Freshman Brady Holcomb, Chandler, Okla., throws a pitch during a Butler baseball game. Holcomb has pitched 42.2 innings so far this season, with 37 strikeouts. SRING ISSUE
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As baseball season comes to an end, the Butler Grizzlies have many things to be proud of. The men have a conference record of 17-11 and an overall record of 30-19. Not too shabby. Coach McVay had high expectations at the beginning of the season. In an interview before the start of the season, McVay says, “My expectation every year is that be pretty good. I like what we’ve got. We’ve got a lot of arms back from last year that threw a lot of innings for us last year. We’ve got a core group of hitters back and our top two hitters are back from last year.” Hitting has proven to be something that the Grizzlies are excelling at this season. As a team, they’ve had 393 hits out of 1,342 at bats. They’ve scored 309 runs, with 29 of those being home runs. Seventy-three doubles and 12 triples help to make more hitting statistics. The men have gained 281 RBI, and stolen 121 bases out of the 615 total bases they have gained this season. The team has a batting average of .298 and an earned run average of 5.31. In particular, Evan Koehler, Wichita, has significantly contributed to the teams’ success. Koehler is currently ranked second in the NJCAA Division I baseball rankings for RBI, with 64. Dalton Wheat, Augusta, has also been a big leader on the bases, currently ranked fifth in the NJCAA Division I baseball rankings for the number of stolen bases this season, with 36. As far as fielding goes, the Grizzlies haven’t done too badly either. With a total of 55 errors this season, the Grizzlies have a pretty tight defense for the most part. “I would say our hitting has been consistent all year, minus a couple of games,” says Koehler. “We are a good hitting team and there is always room for improvement, but I think overall, top to bottom, we have been pretty good.” Story and Photos by Mikki Deters FEATURE
GRIZZLY MAGAZINE 05
softball TAKING TOP TEN
As freshman Sydnee Eck, Andale, Kansas, touches home base, the team celebrates. The women are now ranked no. 7 on the NJCAA poll.
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Butler Grizzly Softball was ranked No. 1 in the nation for most of the season. The recently fell to No. 7 but they will climb back up before post-season. They have two conference double headers left. “I expect Region VI and District E championships and to go back to the World Series” Head Coach Doug Chance says. Last seaon Butler won Region VI and Disrict E to reach the World Sieries and the Final Four. With just four sophomores on the team, freshman have had to step up a lot this season. Syydnee Eck, Andale, has stepped uyp so much Chacne says. She has been a great addition to the tam he continued: she has stood out in the pitching and hitting aspect of the game. “ I knew she could hit, but the power she ahs really has surprised me” Chance says. Eck is now just one home run behind sophomore Kate James who has 11. Aujanae McCoy, a feeshman from Wichita, has improved immensely over the course of the season. Chance is very impressed with her improvement. Butler is looking for their fourth straight Jayhawk West Conference Championship and Region VI Tournamnet and their fourth straight appearance in the NJCCA Division I World Series. The Grizzlies have been the World Series five out of the last seven years. Story and Photos by Nicole Feyh
womens basketball 1st national appearance
In any college sport, the main goal for every team is to win championships and build dynasties, as well as build the athletes into better people. The Butler Grizzlies women’s basketball team started what could be a great legacy as they made it to the NCJAA National Women’s Basketball Tournament for the first time in school history. The Grizzlies faced many challenges, but they rose above most of them to do something that no other team has done in Butler history, and that’s to make an appearance at the NJCAA National Tournament in Salina. Head Coach Mike Helmer’s team faced adversity early in the season in possibly the most controversial game of the year. In Oklahoma, against Murray State, officially the Grizzlies lost the game by a margin of just one point. But in the coach’s scorebook, Butler had actually scored one point more than Murray State. Barring that “loss,” the Grizzlies never fell in regular season play. The Grizzlies at one point went on a 30-win streak, which shattered the previous record, which was 20 by the 2001-02 team that started 20-0. The Grizzlies weren’t exactly worried about extending the streak, as they were focused on winning the Jayhawk East title. They did that in convincing fashion as they went undefeated in conference play. The No. 6 ranked Grizzlies reached the Region VI Tournament at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita with a No. 1 seeding in the tournament, and that was surprising as the Hutchinson Blue Dragons, who were ranked No. 3 in the Nation, came into the tournament with the No. 2 seed. The Grizzlies blew through the field in the Region VI Tournament, with wins over Cloud and Barton. The Championship Game of the Region VI Tournament saw a rivalry that hadn’t been able to take place in the regular season, and that was the Butler Grizzlies vs. the Hutchinson Blue Dragons. The game was fought tooth and nail by both teams, with the Blue Dragons barely able to squeak out against the Grizzlies, 54-52. The win gave the Blue Dragons the automatic berth into the NJCAA Tournament, and Butler received an at-large bid. The Grizzlies started their first ever National Tournament appearance in style by drilling the Southwest Mississippi Bears, then running over the Shelton State Buccaneers in the
Sweet 16. In the round of the Elite Eight, the Grizzlies saw their toughest opponent yet in the Chipola (Fla.) College Indians. In an incredibly low scoring first half the Grizzlies were trailing the Indians at halftime by a margin of 22-16. The Grizzlies then made a heroic second half charge to try to overcome the Indians but their efforts were just not enough to take down Chipola, and the Grizzlies ended their season at Nationals with 64-54 loss. In an interview after the game, Helmer could not have been more appreciative and proud of what his players had done throughout the season. He expressed how he felt that he wasn’t going to have to do the season-ending interview until after the championship game, but he could not be more proud of his players and their efforts both in the tournament and throughout the season. The Grizzlies’ numbers throughout the season were nothing short of dominating. In the combined three losses of the season, they lost by a total margin of just 13 points. The Grizzlies averaged 79.6 points per game, while only allowing an average of 51.4. That means that the average Butler women’s basketball game was a 28 point win. Individually, the Grizzlies had three players that averaged double figures in scoring, and all of the starting five averaged over five points per game. Sophomore standout Te’era Williams, Oklahoma City, Okla., averaged an astounding 19.4 points per game and 9.9 rebounds per game. Ashley Gibson, Edmond, Okla., was the freshman sensation as she averaged 12.8 points per game, followed by Teanna Reid, Oklahoma City, Okla., with 11.3 points per game, Ashlee Ivy, Wichita, with 9.8 points per game, and Shayla Williams, Oklahoma City, Okla., with 6.8 points per game. Te’era Williams’ efforts over the season were enough to garner national attention as she was named to the NJCAA Second Team All-American squad. At press time, only three Grizzlies had signed with D-1 programs, Te’era Williams and Reid with Tulsa University, and Ashlee Ivy with Wichita State. Story by Tyler Darrah Photo by Matt Lacy
FEATURE
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