‘We celebrate those who fought’: Candlelight vigil held for Transgender Day of
Remembrance
transgender people.
BY MALEAH EVANS maleah.evans04@gmail.com
In the United States, more than half of all transgender and non-binary youth have seriously considered killing themselves. More than a quarter have attempted suicide.
Wichita State’s student group Spectrum: LGBTQ & Allies observed Transgender Day of Remembrance on Wednesday evening. Attendees recognized more than 400 transgender and gender non-conforming people whose lives were lost in the past year in front of the chapel on WSU’s campus.
The annual day of memorial and mourning started in California in 1999. Now, it is recognized across the country.
“This is a day of mourning and reflection and renewing our commitment to stand together against hatred and violence and discrimination,” said Madison Porter, Spectrum’s community outreach chair. “We honor those whose lives were cut short because they dared to live as their true selves in a world that has yet to fully accept them.”
Porter stressed the need to remember that despite the progress made in awareness and visibility, there is still a danger posed toward people who are transgender or gender-nonconforming.
Some of the danger can come from laws and policies; recently, there has been fear about Project 2025 amongst members of Spectrum over what its policies mean for transgender youth.
Project 2025, a document created in 2022 by members of President-elect Donald Trump’s first administration to outline goals for a second Trump term, calls for the removal of the terms
BY ALLISON CAMPBELL &
SMYTH
&
Wichita State University has confirmed that Aaron Mitchell, the senior vice president for administration, finance and operations, has resigned from his role after less than two months at the university.
The departure was initially mentioned at a Staff Senate meeting on Tuesday by Senate
We must recognize that the fight for trans rights is not only the responsibility of trans people, but rather it is the responsibility of every decent human being ... When one group’s humanity is denied, all of humanity is diminished.”
MADISON PORTER Community outreach chair of Spectrum: LGBTQ & Allies “
“sexual orientation” and “gender identity” from “every federal rule, agency regulation, contract, grant, regulation, and piece of legislation that exists.”
It would also create restrictions on genderaffirming care, and supportive parents and health providers would be engaging in “genital mutilation” and “child abuse.”
At a rally in Madison Square Garden the week before the election, Trump promised he would “get ... transgender insanity the hell out of our schools, and we will keep men out of women’s sports.”
“It makes it even more important that we have to do this in times where we are facing additional adversity,” Porter said. “If we don’t do things like this, then nobody will. We have to stand up and be seen in order to just slow things down.”
While Trump said he hasn’t been involved in Project 2025’s development, his election has raised concerns amongst Spectrum members regarding the potential dangers these proposed laws and policies may present. Porter said everyone must play a role in ensuring the safety of
“We must recognize that the fight for trans rights is not only the responsibility of trans people, but rather it is the responsibility of every decent human being,” Porter said. “When one group’s humanity is denied, all of humanity is diminished.”
At the ceremony, Spectrum executives read a list of names of those who died in the past year, and audience members were encouraged to place a pebble in a jar of water to represent each person. A moment of silence was held in memoriam of those who had passed on.
In the wake of increased numbers of suicide and mental health crises, Spectrum invited speakers from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), GLSEN, M-Care, The Center of Wichita and the Wichita Two-Spirit Society to discuss the services that they offer both LGBTQ+ students and community members.
Several speakers stressed the importance of reaching out to the community when struggling, and for allies to help in whatever ways they can.
Amanda Mogoi, the owner of M-Care, said that allies should use their voices to help, as it is often safer for them to do so.
Brent Kennedy, the chairman of the Center of Wichita and the Wichita Two-Spirit Society, said that those who were pioneers and fought back should also be celebrated during the Transgender Day of Remembrance.
“It sucks and it’s going to get worse,” Kennedy, an anthropology lecturer at WSU, said. “We can’t stop the fight. We mourn those who were in pain, but we celebrate those who fought and we join them in that fight. I’ll definitely remember them tonight.”
Vice president for administration, finance and operations resigns after two months in role
President Kennedy Rogers. When asked for clarification, Rogers directed The Sunflower to speak with Strategic Communications. Additionally, Mitchell and his executive assistant, Lisa Pappas, did not answer calls for comment on Tuesday.
WSU communication director Lainie Mazzullo-Hart confirmed Wednesday morning that Mitchell is no longer an employee with WSU.
“After careful consideration, Dr. Mitchell determined that this
decision is what is best for his family and his long-term goals,” Mazzullo-Hart wrote in an email to The Sunflower. “The university appreciates Dr. Mitchell’s service to Wichita State and wishes him all the best.”
Because the nature of Mitchell’s departure “is a personnel matter,” Mazzullo-Hart wrote that WSU will “not be providing further details or making any additional comments.”
According to the MazzulloHart and the WSU website, David
Miller has been named the interim vice president for administration, finance and operations. Miller could not be reached by phone for comments. Mitchell took over as senior vice president for administration, finance and operations in August following Werner Golling’s retirement.
Mitchell previously served as the associate vice president for financial services at Montana State University.
Candles are lit in honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance in a vigil hosted by Spectrum: LGBTQ & Allies. Transgender Day of Remembrance began in 1999 to honor the 1998 death of Rita Hester, a Black transgender woman who was murdered as a result of an alleged hate crime. |
Photo by Mya Scott / The Sunflower
Aaron Mitchell, former senior vice president for administration, finance and operations, poses for a photo in Morrison Hall on Sept. 26, 2024. | Photo by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
‘AWAKENED’
Students in History 519 have been studying Wichita’s history. Now, they’re teaching others to do the same.
BY AINSLEY SMYTH news@thesunflower.com
History professor Jay Price said researching local history presents a unique challenge, since information can be hard to find. But, it can also be uniquely fulfilling. It gives people a connection to their location and community.
“I think we tend to think of history as big and important things and big cities and all that,” Price said. “We forget that there’s an awful lot of history right around us that connects us to (a) place. The more you understand who you are and where you are … you connect to a location and … you can appreciate sort of why things are the way they are. I think people usually think that history is about looking back. It’s really about looking around.”
Price and Seth Bate, a program manager in WSU’s Center for Organization Development,
co-teach History 519, Local and Community History, at Wichita State. Instead of taking the usual global or national approach, the class is specifically focused on studying history through the local lens, often by talking directly to the community.
Price’s students have been diving deep into the history of Wichita. As a part of the class, they share what they’ve learned by organizing community events.
The group held a presentation at MakeICT on Nov. 15. They invited guests and MakeICT members to not only learn a bit about the history of South Wichita — where MakeICT is located — but also to learn how to study and research history on their own.
“Over the last several weeks, we’ve been working with the MakeICT members and community to put together a program to bring some of South Wichita history to them, so that way, we can spread awareness for
a region in Wichita which does not get a lot of attention from either news or in history,” said Kian Williams, one of the students enrolled in the class.
The students guided the group through research techniques like using academic databases and refining search terms to find accurate information.
For Williams, who uses they/ them pronouns, an interest in local history runs deep, even though what is “local” to them has changed.
“My mother is a public historian,” Williams said. “She used to work for the Reno County Museum when I was in high school. And so local and community history just kind of means a little bit more to me. It’s a lot more personal. And so taking a class to learn about Wichita community history, since I did not grow up here, has been very interesting to me.”
MJ Jacobs, another student in
the class, isn’t from Wichita either. So learning about its history was new for her. She said that sharing the history with others was an even more unique experience.
“When I got into the class, I was awakened that I was not just learning local community history, I was engaging,” she said. “Honestly, it has been a challenge because I come from a more digital (background). I like to work by myself a lot on my projects and this has definitely been a team effort.”
But despite the challenge, Jacobs and her fellow archeology grad student, Hannah Forker, both said that understanding local history is important, and talking to the community is crucial for that.
“There’s history everywhere,” Forker said. “It’s just kind of knowing where to look. The more you see that history, the more you know about where you are, the more you can kind of understand about who you are.”
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF WICHITA HISTORY?
MJ JACOBS
“Back in the days when Wichita was rapidly expanding after Chisholm Trail closed down and the railways were being implemented, the cowboys who used to come through town would always try to bathe in the river. There is a Wichita ordinance saying that, ‘Hey, we know you guys are gross, you smell and you’re disgusting, but you cannot bathe in our river anymore. We are tired of seeing naked cowboys.’ It’s my favorite thing. They literally told them to bathe somewhere else.”
KIAN WILLIAMS
“I think one of the most interesting things that we’ve come across … are the islands that were in the Arkansas River and were dredged up in the 20th century. So they no longer exist. But it’s interesting; if you graduated from West High, there used to be an island in that spot.”
HANNAH FORKER
“With the islands, there (were) a lot of land exchanges … It was a ton of different things. They had a baseball stadium, I think they had an amusement park. There was a jail, it was … a quarantine island. It was just this tiny spit of land that just got overrun over and over again.”
JAY PRICE
“The thing that people find fascinating about history are the ‘meanwhiles.’ Things happen concurrently and to realize that these things we think of in a timeline as separate are in fact, tied.
“So, in 1958, we had Pizza Hut launch in the summer of 1958, an icon of fast food. But at the same time, that same summer, the Dockum sit-in happened. Students did one of the first sitins in the country at the Dockum Drug Store downtown.”
Graduate students put their theses to the test — in three minutes or less
BY TALIYAH WINN podcast@thesunflower.com
Doctoral and master’s students at Wichita State went head to head in an academic competition to present their research in three minutes to a general audience.
Participants had to craft their speeches to fit in the time frame, while also communicating their research to the audience. They were allowed to have a single static PowerPoint slide in the presentation.
Students first presented their speeches in smaller groups, then the finalists shared with the whole group for a chance to go to a regional competition.
Coleen Pugh, dean of the Graduate School, gave the final remarks at the event.
“It’s my favorite event of the year,” Pugh said. “It’s so interesting to see how students are able to capture the gist of their research and put it in a language that everyone can understand.“
MISSION
FIRST PLACE WINNER: MARY PETERSON
Faculty adviser Visvakumar Aravinthan
Peterson is a first-year graduate student in electrical engineering focusing on the systems that distribute power to different communities.
Part of the reason she chose this topic was the power outages she experienced living in Shocker Hall during her freshman year at WSU in 2021. Peterson recognizes the importance of reliable energy in everyday life and sees solar as a more reliable and financially secure energy source.
“It’s so essential to the way that we live into a modern society, and making sure the power systems
The Sunflower — both in print and online — will be a timely resource of information about the Wichita State University community. It will report on news, issues, activities, academics and athletics, in addition to offering a forum for discussion, reviews and commentary. It will also be an effective learning experience for students, who will have the final authority over what is published.
The Sunflower is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Association and the Wichita Journalism Collaborative.
are operated equitably is just an important next step in our energy market,” Peterson said.
Peterson said that she enjoyed hearing about her peers’ research. Now, her next step is to prepare for the regional competition.
“I’ll have to learn more about that,” Peterson said. “I’m just excited to be here. Well, thanks to God and to my adviser, Dr. Aravinthan.”
SECOND PLACE: REILLY JENSEN
Faculty adviser Kim Cluff
Jenson is a second-year student pursuing a master’s in biomedical engineering. He grew up in Buhler,
Kansas, and came to WSU for graduate studies. His thesis covers early detection and classification of strokes to procure better outcomes for stroke victims.
“In my thesis, I address two critical factors,” Jensen said. “One, reduced time to treatment. For every hour after the onset of stroke, the risk of death and disability is increased substantially. And two, continuous monitoring of cerebral hemorrhage because a 10% increase in cerebral hemorrhage volume correlates to a 5% increase in mortality.”
Last year, Jensen’s grandmother had a stroke. She became another source of inspiration for Jensen to research measures for stroke recovery.
“I chose my thesis topic because my grandmother experienced an ischemic stroke, and I thought maybe I could help,” Jensen said. He described his experience presenting his thesis as “nervous and sweaty.”
Faculty adviser Laila Cure Ercolani’s thesis explored the workload in Emergency Medical Services. It modeled an opportunity to “improve health care with engineering and data analysis” to reduce rising levels of burnout and demand of EMS workers.
“Just since 2019, their burnout has increased from 35% up to 58%,” Ercolani said. “And also turnover and demand rates are rising, leading to a critical shortage in the United States of paramedics.
“This is why it’s important to be able to accurately measure their workload, so they’ll be able to ... make informed decisions.”
Kian Williams, a student in Local and Community History, shows Wichita on a map, while explaining its history. | Photo by Ainsley Smyth / The Sunflower
University moving forward with new pickleball courts, starting date soon
BY AINSLEY SMYTH news@thesunflower.com
Wichita State will have pickleball courts again, as soon as this fall.
After the Student Government Association voted against allocating $137,000 for new pickleball courts last week, staff from Student Affairs and Campus Recreation “went back to the drawing board,” according to Teri Hall, vice president for Student Affairs.
Hall said project money was borrowed from another pool within Student Affairs, with plans
to pay it back over time.
The $137,000 fills the gap in funding that Student Affairs said was due to a combination of costs, such as SGA requesting a sculpture be moved from the future site, as well as permitting and fee costs.
The new courts will be built on the lawn between Lindquist Hall, Hubbard Hall and Heskett Center.
According to the university’s master plan for its campus, the courts will likely expand in the future.
The master plan details the university’s goals for the next 10 years, including new construction
and the demolition of some older buildings.
Some students previously expressed concern about building courts where decades-old trees have grown on campus. As of right now, those trees will remain standing, but long-term, Hall said they will have to be removed as the courts expand.
“They’ll have to come down,” Hall said.
Hall said construction will start as soon as possible.
“The goal is to have it be done before it starts getting too cold because we can’t work in frozen ground,” she said.
WSU office aims to address faculty needs and professional development
BY SOPHIA BEST
sophiadapbest@gmail.com
Wichita State recently opened a new office dedicated to helping faculty advance professionally: the Office for Faculty Advancement, Retention and Excellence (FARE).
The office will be directed by Janet Twomey, a professor in the College of Engineering.
FARE will also support programs and services to further help WSU become a Hispanic Serving Institution.
“My focus with FARE … is to help our faculty to be more culturally responsive in how they teach, and being more aware of our students, and the diverse background in which they come from,” said Sara Mata, the executive director of Hispanic Serving Initiatives at WSU.
FARE held an open house in
their new office, located in room 112 of Jardine Hall, on Monday to explain the resources they provide, as well as welcome faculty.
“I think it’s just exciting to have some renewed focus on faculty,” Kimberly Engber, dean of the Cohen Honors College, said. “I think they have some fantastic people attached to (the office), too. So I’m excited to see what they pull off.”
University President Richard Muma also attended the open house to show support.
“I think it (FARE) is a great space and a great environment to help faculty to develop,” Muma said.
FARE has plans for future events, resources and tools. The office is currently working on a website and researching how they can better assist faculty.
“We’re trying to see if we can gain an insight into faculty perspectives on how WSU is doing, how we can uplift faculty and how we can do better,” said McKenzie James, a graduate teaching assistant who works in the office.
The FARE office does not have set hours. Any faculty interested can contact Twomey at janet. twomey@wichita.edu.
New research hub presents opportunities for student and faculty research collaboration
BY MYA SCOTT mds.200624@gmail.com
For years, a dedicated team of faculty has worked on creating a program that will help bridge the gap between faculty and students. They aimed to enlighten students on the joys of research that are often hidden behind the negative stigma surrounding the word. And with these goals in mind, the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Hub has been officially created and opened for business.
The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Hub, a part of the Dorothy and Bill Cohen Honors College, is designed to foster and support undergraduate research across campus and to build skills, not just for the research but for future opportunities.
“What we have found is that many employers … tell us that it’s not necessarily the degree they’re interested in,” director Michael Birzer said. “It’s the ability of students going into the job place that have worked as members of teams, that have solved complex problems and have good communication skills. And those are things that we think undergraduate students can begin to capitalize on as part of a research team.”
Dean of the Honors College Kimberly Engber, who helped write the proposal for the Hub, said this program was beneficial because it allowed for more opportunities.
“To have some unit that really is dedicated to making more of these opportunities visible would be really critical on our campus,” Engber said.
Birzer said it’s important that Wichita State begins to engage its undergraduate students with faculty in more joint research endeavors.
According to a survey done by the Office of Undergraduate Research, more than 90% of the 179 faculty members who completed the survey said that undergraduate research would be at least moderately useful as a
teaching tool.
The hub plans to hold many different sessions where students and faculty alike can discuss the research they’ve been working on.
“Some of the things we have planned for students (is) to bring faculty members from all different disciplines together for a lunch and learn,” Birzer said. “Faculty members will tell them about the types of analytics they’re doing in their fields.”.
Engber said they want to focus on their positive efforts not just on the undergraduate students but on the faculty who participate as well.
“We want to reward our faculty for engaging in undergraduate research,” Engber said. “And be part of thinking how we can better reward and recognize our faculty because it’s really joyful work, (and) it’s also work that takes a lot of time.”
The Hub is currently working on extending its resources beyond the campus to reach other locations that have an interest in research. Birzer said that he is planning on reaching out to Exploration Place to join in on their annual research symposium and is contacting high schools.
“If we can get seniors or juniors to come in and we create a symposium for them at Wichita State, the likelihood of those students maybe choosing Wichita State for studies increases quite a bit,” Birzer said. Birzer said that the Hub is available to provide many different opportunities for students who want to be involved in research, no matter what year of school they’re in.
“Oftentimes, when you think about research, we’ve always focused that towards graduate students,” Birzer said.
“And I don’t even like that term ‘undergraduate’ because I think every student has the potential.”
For more information, students can go to the Office of Undergraduate Research in room 125 at Ablah Library.
New online group offers support for Wichita State students who are
BY SOPHIA BEST sophiadapbest@gmail.com
The Office of Online and Adult Learning has recently launched the Students Who Are Parents (SWAP) group.
SWAP is currently an online-exclusive group hosted on Blackboard for any student who is a parent or caregiver to a relative, with plans for in-person events in the future.
The group currently has more than 40 members. It offers discussion boards to share academic and life resources, as well as provide support for
Gene Stephenson honored in WSU baseball complex name
BY JACOB UNRUH sports@thesunflower.com
Wichita State’s baseball complex is now known as “Eck Stadium, Home of Tyler Field at Gene Stephenson Park.”
The Kansas Board of Regents approved a request from Wichita State to honor Gene Stephenson, the National College Baseball Hall of Famer who coached at WSU from 1978-2013, in the stadium name on Wednesday.
“By naming the proposed facility ‘Gene Stephenson Park,’ WSU has the opportunity to honor Stephenson as a distinguished individual, and more comprehensively, his dedication to advancing WSU and college baseball well into the future,” WSU President Richard Muma said during KBOR. Stephenson led the Shockers to their only College World Series championship title in program history in 1989. Under his leadership, Wichita State won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season
The number 10 worn by Stephenson is the only baseball
“We are grateful to the Kansas Board of Regents for their support of this important honor,” WSU Director of Athletics Kevin Saal said in a press release. “Gene Stephenson developed Wichita State into a national baseball power, advanced one of the top facilities in the country and even today, continues his loyal support of this beloved program.”
parents
students at all hours of the day.
Amber Anderson is the associate director of enrollment and retention in the Office of Online and Adult Learning. She helps lead SWAP.
“It’s really hard to connect with adult learners,” Anderson said. “They’re working full time, and their hours are different … So we hope to build a community.” SWAP also highlights non-WSU resources, such as a resource page for other parents who are students.
SWAP is open to any WSU student who is a parent or caregiver.
The Wichita State pickleball courts on Sept. 12, 2023. The courts were demolished to make room for a new indoor practice facility for softball. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
Eck Stadium will now be known as “Eck Stadium, Home of Tyler Field at Gene Stephenson Park.” | Photo by Nithin Reddy Nagapur / The Sunflower
The Faculty Advancement, Retention and Excellence sign in Jardine Hall. |
Photo by Sophia Best / The Sunflower
Corey Washington’s late heroics send men’s basketball past Monmouth
BY OWEN PROTHRO
owenprothro@gmail.com
For the second consecutive game, heroics from junior forward Corey Washington were essential to giving Wichita State men’s basketball a win.
Tied at 59 with Monmouth University with less than two minutes to play, Washington was called for a foul that sent the Hawks to the free-throw line and the home fans into a fit of rage.
After Monmouth missed at the charity stripe, Washington splashed a 3-point transition shot followed by a forceful slam on the next possession, helping send Wichita State past the Hawks, 70-66.
“I feel like those plays gave us a big amount of energy,” Washington said. “And that’s what started flipping the game for us.”
The Shockers started the season off at 4-0 for the second straight campaign. With the loss, Monmouth dropped to 0-5 to start its season.
“I thought we played our best when our best was required,”
head coach Paul Mills said. “That’s actually a really good win. Your team needs to know how to find some resolve when it matters.”
Comfort was a virtue throughout the first half. Each team played stifling and aggressive defense without allowing baskets as the Shockers shot 9-27 from the field and 1-8 from deep. Monmouth converted 13-31 attempts, including two from deep and three at the free throw line.
After fifth-year guard Justin Hill capped off a 12-2 run, opening up a 15-11 advantage for Wichita State, the home team’s offense fell flat on its face. For the next 10:52 of game time, the Shockers failed to convert all 10 of their shot attempts, relying on free throws to score any points.
Senior guard Harlond Beverly snapped the field goal drought to give Wichita State a slim, 28-26 advantage with a little more than a minute left in the half. Hill and Beverly later connected on an alley-oop, but the Hawks ended the half making a jumper in the paint to go into the break with a 31-30 lead.
Monmouth led the rebound
battle during the first half, 27-17, with a plus-eight margin of victory on the offensive glass. The Hawks’ bench was more involved, scoring 10 points from non-starters to the Shockers’ two.
Monmouth came out of the locker room with more fire and better halftime adjustments as the Hawks quickly drained two 3-pointers to go up, 40-34. Despite answers from Beverly and senior center Matej Bošnjak, Monmouth took its largest lead of the game, 45-38, after knocking down a midrange jumper.
Wichita State went on another long scoring drought, this time nearly three minutes in length, allowing the Hawks to keep a 6-point cushion, 50-44. Trailing 52-44, the Shockers found a rhythm on offense and ripped off a 10-2 run that was capped off by dunks from Beverly and Washington. Hill assisted Beverly and Washington on both plays.
Washington’s offensive explosion and late free throws proved the turning point as the Shockers scrapped for the win.
Mills said to win close games
like the one against Monmouth, the team needs to be battle-tested.
“We could have been pretty disappointed about allowing a 0-4 team to come into our gym and get their first win,” Mills said. “We’re not going to lose sight of that reality, but we have to be a lot better (going forward).”
Washington ended with a game-high 20 points, adding eight rebounds to his stat line. Beverly trailed Washington in points with 15, grabbed six rebounds and made four assists.
Beverly said Washington’s confidence to step up at the end of the game was impressive.
“I just saw a killer kill,” Beverly said. “I’m used to it. I see it every day (in practice) so I’m glad you all (the fans) got to see it, too.”
Bošnjak started his first game this season in the absence of senior center Quincy Ballard, who was a game-time injury decision. Bošnjak finished the game with a season-high 12 points on 4-4 shots from the field and 4-5 from the free throw line.
Wichita State will hit the road for a three-game neutral-site
WASHINGTON’S
Junior forward Corey Washington started his season slow against Western Kentucky University, scoring six points in 13 minutes.
Since then, he’s had an increase in minutes and points scored in every game. In the win against the University of Northern Iowa on Thursday, Nov. 12, Washington scored a then-season high 19 points, including 10 in the first four minutes of the second half to give WSU the lead.
“I picked it from the start; it was going to get a little physical,” Washington said after UNI the game. “I love those games.”
stint beginning on Friday, Nov. 22, when it faces off against Saint Louis University in Kansas City, Missouri. The Billikens lead the all-time series against the Shockers, 41-24. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. at the T-Mobile Center.
Women’s basketball shows fight but ultimately blown out by #9 Oklahoma
BY JACOB UNRUH sports@thesunflower.com
The University of Oklahoma’s head women’s basketball coach, Jennie Baranczyk, frequently yelled, “This is not JV,” at the referees during the team’s game against Wichita State on Tuesday evening.
The Shockers looked like a junior varsity squad to the #9-ranked Sooners at times, showing tons of fight but ultimately losing, 79-49, in Charles Koch Arena.
“We don’t look at moral victories,” WSU head coach Terry Nooner said. “You either win the game or you lose the game … I think for us, it just shows that when we’re locked in, when we’re playing together and we’re playing as a team … I think we can play with anybody.”
WSU dropped to 2-3 on the season, while Oklahoma stayed undefeated at 5-0.
Last year, Wichita State kicked off its season with a 92-68 loss at the Sooners. Baranczyk said the Shockers are “headed in the right direction.”
“I think they’re going to have a really good year,” she said. “Obviously, it’s early. But they’re (scrappy), and they’re a very good
basketball team.”
The Shockers created 24 turnovers, the most they’ve forced all season and the most given up by Oklahoma.
“They’re not a high-turnover team,” Nooner said. “They take care of the basketball. They’ve got great guards, they’ve got great ball handlers … So I think we were very disruptive. But when you create 24 turnovers, you’ve got to get more than 18 points out of it.”
Oklahoma simply out-shot Wichita State. The Sooners made 47% of their buckets from the field and a scorching 48% from 3-point range. Meanwhile, the Shockers shot just 30% from the field.
“I was pleased with the fight, because it wasn’t the type of game where we were close because we shot (and) made 20 threes or we shot 80% from the field; it was a tough and rugged game,” Nooner said.
Wichita State kept the game competitive for the first five minutes, maintaining a tie, 9-9. However, the Shockers went cold for the final three minutes of the quarter, failing to score a basket as Oklahoma went on a 13-0 run to open a 25-11 lead.
WSU showed mettle in keeping the deficit the same at the end of the second quarter, 48-34. For the
second consecutive game, graduate student guard Taylor Jameson ended the half with a buzzerbeating 3-pointer.
Nooner said it took a while for the team to adjust to Oklahoma’s pace but was impressed with the second-quarter effort once they did.
“I don’t think players sometimes understand the speed and pace until you’ve actually been out there for the first time,” Nooner said.
The teams traded cold stretches in the third quarter.
The Sooners scored the opening bucket of the second half, and then went scoreless for the next four minutes of game time. That run was broken on a thirdchance 3-pointer that became a four-point play when the shooter was fouled.
Nooner isolated that play as a turning point in the game.
“If you come up with that rebound, just, you know, how different does the game look with, we’re giving them some more game pressure and that kind of stuff,” Nooner said.
The Oklahoma score led into a four-minute scoring drought for Wichita State where the Sooners ballooned their lead to 24 points, 63-39. By the middle of the fourth
quarter, Oklahoma was cruising with backups in the game as the energy and intensity that kept Wichita State in the game for the first half dissipated.
Junior forward Jayla Murray led the Shockers in points with 14, a new season-high. She added six rebounds, three coming on the offensive boards.
Murray said the team “couldn’t keep up with the pace” in the second half.
“I feel like going into the next
Junior forward Corey Washington finishes off a fast break with a dunk on Nov. 18. Wichita State beat Monmouth, 70-66, as Washington scored a game-high 20 points.
Photo by Mack Smith / The Sunflower
half, we knew it was down by 14, and we tried not to let up … but things happen,” Murray said. With the loss, Wichita State ended a five-game homestand to open the season. The Shockers will take the road for the first time at the Emerald Coast Classic on Nov. 25 and 26, in Niceville, Florida. The first of two games for the Shockers will be against Creighton University, on Monday. Tipoff against the Bluejays is set for 7:30 p.m.
Salese Blow dribbles the ball past an Oklahoma defender on Nov. 19. Wichita State lost the game, 79-49. | Photo by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower
SENIORS’ LAST SETS
‘No answers’: WSU closes regular season with loss on senior night
BY EVAN TONG evantong3@gmail.com
Wichita State volleyball’s seniors Sarah Barham, Annalie Heliste, Morgan Stout and Izzi Strand took the last serves of their regular season careers at Charles Koch Arena on Sunday afternoon against the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).
Despite being second-to-last in the conference, UTSA upset the Shockers, 3-1 (25-23), (21-25), (20-25), (24-26). This ends the Shockers’ regular season with a 15-13 record, dropping to 10-6 in conference play.
“I just felt like this was a week of being in a daze, in a cloud,” head coach Chris Lamb said. “It’s hard to get through all of that and everybody’s looking for answers, but sometimes, there’s no answers.”
The loss was Wichita State’s second in a row and third in the last four games. The Shockers are the fourth seed in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) heading into the conference tournament.
Senior middle blocker Morgan Stout drew first blood on senior night, the first of a new career-high 23 kills.
“Having them all here, and playing somewhere I love, it doesn’t get much better than that,” Stout said.
The first set stayed neck and neck as any run by both teams was answered. The Roadrunners went on a 3-0 run to make it 15-13,
taking their first lead of the set. It was quickly answered back as a kill by freshman outside hitter Alyssa Gonzales and a bad UTSA set knotted it up at 15.
Missiles off of Stout’s right arm provided the scoring punch for the first set with seven kills.
“Their scouting reports, I’ve heard, are ‘Just stop me,’” Stout said. “And I’m like, ‘Yeah, good luck, it’s not happening.’”
Stout continued her streak of double-digit kills dating back to Oct. 20 with her 10th of the game to start the second set.
After Stout’s explosive performance in the first set, the Shockers struggled to score points in the second. UTSA used a 5-0 run to take a commanding 15-8 lead. Despite a WSU comeback tying the period at 19-19, it was too late as UTSA took the second set.
“Point-scoring has been an issue for us all year,” Lamb said. “If (junior outside hitter) Brooklyn (Leggett) is out, we’ve got to figure out where we can find some points. And it’s not easy.”
The Shockers hit an abysmal .105 percentage in the second set.
Despite improved hitting by the Shockers with a .226 percentage in the third, they struggled to generate offense early once again.
Wichita State took the first point but were unable to lead or tie at any point in the set as a kill sealed a Roadrunner win.
UTSA went on a 4-0 run in the fourth set to take a 12-7 lead as the Shockers looked out of system.
However, Stout quickly fired back with five kills and a rejection to make it 15-14.
The drama continued as both teams struggled to get away from each other, but UTSA continued to gain the advantage with two crucial service errors given away by the Shockers.
A service error by Stout gave the Roadrunners match point, 24-23. Another service error by the Roadrunners tied the set, but a UTSA kill and attack error by Gonzales sealed the upset.
Heliste got eight digs on her senior day, while Barham only played in two sets. Strand’s 48 assists was a game-high.
“I was just telling (Strand), ‘I think that you make me look better than I’m supposed to,’” Stout said. “That is a selfless teammate. That is a leader. That is somebody who I would love to play with for the rest of my life, but that’s (not) really going to happen.”
The Shockers will face the University of Tulsa in the first round of the AAC Championship in Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers defeated Tulsa in four sets twice in a row earlier this year.
“We’re going to mash this ball on the floor,” Stout said. “We’re going to make them question why they chose volleyball in the first place as their Division I sport.”
The first round of the AAC Tournament will take place on Friday, Nov. 22. Wichita State will face off against the Golden Hurricane at 7:30 p.m.
Sixth-year runner gets second wind at Wichita State
BY EVAN TONG evantong3@gmail.com
A master’s degree was not in the cards for graduate student Adam Rzentkowski when he earned a scholarship to run for Central Michigan University.
“When I first started college, I just wanted to be four years and done,” Rzentkowski said.
Rzentkowski transferred to Wichita State last year from Central Michigan, where the men’s track and field program shut down in 2020. He continued to run cross country for Central Michigan.
“When the program got cut, I thought cross-country was cut too,” Rzentkowski said. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to run again — period.”
As the program sank around him, he worried not only about himself but his teammates and new friends he made during his freshman year, some he already knew were transferring.
“I didn’t know if I was going to transfer out, but nonetheless, it was a very weird and difficult time during COVID,” Rzentkowski said. “At this time, I didn’t know if I was able to ever run or compete in college sports anymore in the NCAA.”
Rzentkowski transferred to Wichita State with one year of cross-country eligibility left, and a second chance at track-andfield. He was impressed by the team’s first-place finish in the 2022 AAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
“I didn’t know anybody,” Rzentkowski said. “It was a weird time for me to be (a) transfer, being 22 years old and not knowing a single kid on the team, but yet I’m one of the oldest.”
Despite not knowing anyone on the team, he found himself in a leadership role for the other Shocker runners.
“Give him a freshman or
someone coming in, he is going to give them advice,” said WSU head cross country coach Kirk Hunter. “And when other people have adversity, he’s been through it; he can give them advice on how to handle that.”
When Rzentkowski isn’t laced up for running, he can be found in his dorm room with junior runner Jacob Meyers watching “South Park” or “River Monsters.” When he isn’t at school, he prefers to be outside.
“I’m a huge hunter and a fisherman,” Rzentkowski said. “One of my favorite hobbies is getting on a boat with my brothers and dad, and just to go fishing late at night or early in the mornings, even.”
Growing up in rural Wisconsin, Rzentkowski had free range to roam around.
“I like the feeling of running out on (a) dirt road and not seeing big skyscrapers or cities,” Rzentkowski said. “That’s another reason why I wanted to pick a place like Wichita.” Although he has found himself at home with new friends, he still frequently calls his family back in Wisconsin to catch up.
“I miss the restaurants most of all, like Culver’s,” Rzentkowski said. “Going to Kwik Trip every Sunday after a long run in high school, I’d get Glazers donuts. My mom would always bring back those donuts.”
Rzentkowski saw his experiences at Central Michigan as an opportunity to think about his passion for running, an activity he has done for 13 years.
“Running has been one of the most important things to me that happened in my life,” Rzentkowski said. “It brought me to college, it brought me a lot of friendships (and) brought me lots of work opportunities.”
Cesar Ramirez continues a family legacy of running
BY MACK SMITH mackred22@gmail.com
Redshirt junior Cesar Ramirez competes in cross country and track and field for Wichita State — but he’s not the only decorated runner in his family. His second uncle, Aaron Ramirez, ran the 10,000 meters at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics.
Cesar said he checks in with his second uncle every few months.
“I have asked him a couple of times for some tips on how to become a better runner and a better person,” Cesar said.
Aaron ran at Texas A&M University and the University of Arizona. At Arizona, he won the PAC-10 and NCAA cross-country championships in 1986.
Cesar has raced in a Wichita State Shockers uniform for the past three years. He placed first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2023 Wichita State Herm Wilson Invitational, 2024 Friends University Spring Invite and 2024
Kansas Relays.
“The biggest thing for me was just believing in myself,” Cesar said. “I always knew that I could run with the guys at this level. It was just more believing in myself and believing in the coaches, which I kind of started believing when I first got here because the program was just such a good program.”
Head cross country coach Kirk Hunter said Cesar’s strengths are his endurance as a runner and his ability to sustain a fast pace over a long period of time.
“And he’s also, over the last couple of years, become much smarter in his training, which has led to much better performances,” Hunter said. Cesar said he hopes to continue running even after he is done competing for Wichita State.
“We’ll see where running takes me in the next couple years, but I do hope that I can run at a high level for a long time,” he said.
Cesar Ramirez runs toward the finish line during the JK Gold Classic at Clapp Park. Ramirez finished 11 in the race, and scored nine points toward the Wichita State total. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
Fifth-year setter Izzi Strand scrambles to pass the ball during the game against UTSA on Nov. 18. Strand recorded seven digs during the game, her final regular season appearance in Charles Koch Arena. | Photo by Aubri Baker / The Sunflower
Illustration by Sascha Harvey / The Sunflower.
Therapy is a leap of faith.
Therapy, for some, is a word representative of healing. For others, it’s a taboo subject.
According to a study conducted by OnePoll, a market research company, there are still stigmas surrounding the treatment of mental health. About 47% of people still think treatment is a sign of weakness.
But, therapy can be so much more than “fixing yourself,” if you let it.
Therapy is a process aimed at relieving emotional stress or mental health problems through the process of talking to a licensed therapist.
According to a survey done by BestColleges in 2022, 46% of college students said their mental health status was fair or poor, and of this percentage, only 20% of students sought mental health assistance through their school.
Despite this small percentage, 81% of those students knew that their school offered mental health programs.
To say the least, a lot of people are drowning, yet barely anyone takes the buoy.
Wichita State offers its own mental health programs such as Counseling and Psychological Services, commonly referred to as CAPS, as well as Health, Outreach, Prevention and Education (HOPE) Services.
HOPE is focused on promoting mental wellness and preventing suicide, sexual violence and substance misuse.
CAPS offers multiple therapy services such as couples therapy, group therapy and individual therapy. Not only are these services available to students directly on campus, but they’re also priced at a reasonable rate, especially when compared to some of the alternatives.
The online service BetterHelp ranges from $70 to $100, per week according to their website. Many private practice therapists can also
be expensive. In 2021, the average cost of one session was around $150 in Kansas.
Wichita State offers group therapy for free and individual therapy for only $10 per session, and oftentimes, students can discuss lowering that price if needed. The best part of this arrangement is that the university allows students to pay over time. Students can pay some of the cost before and then pay the other part at a later date.
Despite all of these benefits, only 6.4% of students on campus took advantage of these services last fiscal year.
I, myself, have been one of those people who have avoided scheduling a session. I feel myself succumbing to the pressures of life and school but put off getting help for what seems like no reason. But there are reasons — just subconscious ones.
One is the stigma that surrounds therapy. There’s the idea
that something has to be wrong with you to warrant going, but this just isn’t true. Therapy is a helpful tool for anyone, even if you think your life’s perfect. (Although, who really thinks that?) Being able to talk out miniature or gigantic problems with someone who has no stake in your life can be freeing. Getting that outside voice can not only unburden you but help you see a perspective on an issue or problem you didn’t think of.
Another reason I have put off therapy is the mentality of minimizing problems or reasoning that someone has it worse than I do.
And guess what? Someone probably does.
But just because someone has it worse doesn’t mean you deserve to suffer. Different lifestyles breed different problems, which all still need solutions in the end. Talking out your problems instead of bottling them up is not only healthy for you but for those around you so they don’t feel like you’re a ticking time bomb just waiting to explode. Lastly, I’m just scared. In my experience, it’s hard to be
vulnerable, especially with a stranger. Some of us are used to being strong — never letting a crack show in our facade for fear of disappointing others or letting people in.
Therapy is a leap of faith. You throw yourself in entirely, knowing it’s best for yourself and others. It’s terrifying and exhilarating at the same time, but if you really put yourself out there, it can be the most beneficial decision you can make.
Don’t get me wrong, I know therapy isn’t for everyone. Opening up to strangers isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, but you should try it out at least once, especially when an appointment only costs $10. You never truly know until you try.
According to HelpGuide, data shows that 75% of people who receive psychotherapy saw improvements in their emotional and psychological well-being. In this upcoming year, resolve to take that leap of faith. Be a part of the 75%.
Horror movies are never scary enough, and gore is not the solution
Editor’s note: This article contains some mentions of torture, sexual assault and other topics that might be triggering to some readers.
Horror in itself is many things. From the psychological analog horror you can find on YouTube to big productions from companies like Blumhouse or Dread Central, there is always something new and scary to enjoy.
Recently, there has been an uptake in the production of horror movies, and it feels like everywhere you turn there is a new one coming out. Just recently we have had: “Smile 2,” the 2024 “Beetlejuice” reboot, “Terrifier 3,” “The Substance,” and “Alien: Romulus.”
Due to how saturated the genre is, there are a lot of different types of horror. My least favorite genre, one I think is only gaining in popularity, is gore or slasher movies.
While gore can be a great storyteller, it can also be a movie’s greatest downfall if overused. Gore is used very commonly in horror movies, and there are many reasons why it may be implemented. In its most basic form, gore can be shocking or gross, which equates to fear in some people. Although it can also be used to show the depravity of a killer or entity, it can also invoke fear as the viewer watches their favorite characters break down both mentally and physically
and can add personality to an antagonist.
TOO MUCH SHOCK VALUE?
There is such a thing as too much shock value.
Creating shock horror can be great if used in limited supply, but the second I am sitting through scene after scene after scene of just absolutely brutal murders, it becomes mundane. (I’m looking at you, “Terrifier.”)
In contrast, the “Scream” franchise is full of outrageous murders and gore but still continues to be praised as one of the best horror movies ever made. But these movies do not fully rely on that shock value to be good, allowing enjoyable characters (and antagonists), funny moments and horror that breaks away from being a “slasher” movie. Personally, the constant twists and brutality can be great in short bursts but becomes annoyingly expected as time goes on. Many argue the “Saw” movies have begun to fall into this repetition, and I honestly find myself agreeing.
THE NEED TO BE EDGY
I’ve had countless experiences of walking out of a horror movie and the first thing I hear or see is “That wasn’t scary.” Even when watching it online and hearing others talking about it later saying “It was barely a horror movie.” I feel like I hear it every single time. For some reason, people love telling everyone how “unscary” a movie was, which I think is part of the reason many companies have pushed into more graphic content.
TikTok, for example, is one of the most popular social media platforms, often generating conversation about pop culture.
A year or so ago, the indie project, “Megan Is Missing,” got super popular. I remember seeing video after video about how scary it was. While the concept itself was inherently scary, I would not use that word to describe the following conversation about online safety and predators.
DISTURBING FEELS MORE FITTING.
The movie has an intense and drawn-out torture scene that just seemed entirely unnecessary, as it did not move the plot forward at all and was put late in the movie. Due to its placement, it serves almost nothing to the movie besides just being revolting.
Movies like these just hinge on being edgy, which just makes them feel hollow, without a fulfilling plot or lore-filled backstory.
ROMANTICISM
There has been this odd trend of people romanticizing brutality, gore and the “wrong people” in the movie.
This has been around for quite some time now. There are many people who become obsessed with serial killers, to the point of gaining romantic feelings for them and then continuing to defend their unforgivable, yet fictional actions.
People who romanticize murderers, rapists and overall terrible criminals in these films need to gain a hobby, take a walk and investigate why this feeling is there in the first place.
In horror movies, gaining crushes on antagonists is not that big of a deal, as they are fictional characters committing fictional crimes. But, I have noticed that the brutality itself has become the part that is targeted instead. With “Terrifier” specifically, the amount of times I have seen
people call him a “cutie” or suggest that it was so “girly pop” of him to commit insanely heinous crimes is increasing. It gives me an icky feeling, even if it is just played off as a joke.
Horror movies do not need drawn-out assault and torture scenes to get the point across and still be scary. Yet, time and time again I see these movies receive praise for being “actually scary” or being the best.
These companies are pushing this margin because so many people seem to be genuinely asking for it. If we, as viewers, stop romanticizing and celebrating these types of films, then they will start to decline in numbers.
At the end of the day, a production team is trying to create a movie that people will watch, so all of us have the power to change where that market goes. Using that responsibly, like making an honest review or posting about the problems in this industry, can make a difference.
Illustration by Preston Caylor / The Sunflower
Illustration by Wren Johnson / The Sunflower
ARTS & CULTURE
African Caribbean group unites nearly 100 regions at United States’ center
BY ALLISON CAMPBELL editor@thesunflower.com
Whhen Lucy Mungarevaani, an aerospace engineering sophomore from Zimbabwe, began studying at Wichita State University, she said she struggled to understand who she was and where she belonged in the context of a new country.
“Coming here, it was kind of hard,” Mungarevaani said. “I, personally, kind of struggled a little bit, (wondering) like, ‘OK, who am I?’” Mungarevaani, like more than 100 other African and Caribbean students at Wichita State, found the community she was searching for in the African Caribbean Student Association (ACSA). The group, comprised of students from more than 50 different African countries and 30 different Caribbean regions and countries, hosted its annual Afro Karibbean Night on Nov. 16 to share this spirit of community and help students feel more like themselves.
BY MYA SCOTT mds.200624@gmail.com
As a middle schooler, Mina Estrada found a new passion through her time as a gymnast. Estrada fell in love, not with the balance beams and springboards, but with the choreography of the floor routines. Despite challenging her parents’ ideals of what a college degree was, she now pursues her dream of dance.
“Dancing has been my life,” Estrada said. “It is the thing I love most. Me and dance are best friends — we never stopped.” Estrada, assistant professor and director of the dance program at Wichita State University, has created a dance, entitled “Inside the Dream Machine,” inspired by the Ulrich Museum of Art’s fall exhibit “Dream Machine.”
“I spent a lot of time in here (the Ulrich),” Estrada said. “I spent a lot of time just looking at the art, learning about the artists, and getting a sense of how I feel about what’s happening, and then creating small phrase work based on these ideas. I do not walk in with some really rigid structure, and especially for something called ‘The Dream Machine,’ like I’m going to keep it loose.”
“The Dream Machine” is full of artworks that play on the dark, surrealist world of art. Estrada said that she connected with the display because of her childhood
“It’s mostly for us to celebrate our culture,” Mungarevaani said.
“It’s a reminder, more or less, while you’re here, away from home, (to just) embrace it … (and feel) like, ‘Yeah, this is me.’”
More than two dozen students waved their nation’s flags, showcased traditional dance moves and displayed their pride in the flag walk that kicked off the evening’s activities. From Morocco to Zambia, students paraded in a blend of traditional and blacktie dress. Karabo Ndahura, the treasurer of ACSA, said the flag walk, followed by fun facts about each country, helped increase awareness of the many diverse African and Caribbean countries.
“It puts all the cultures out there,” Ndahura said. “Because there’s so many African countries that we know like Nigeria (and) Ghana, but there’s more to Africa than just those two countries. And also, like, the Caribbean (is) more than just Jamaica.”
After the flag walk, students wore their best traditional garb and strutted down the center of the Beggs Ballroom in a cultural
dreams.
“Almost all of these pieces, they’re riding that really beautiful surrealist edge,” Estrada said.
“Like, I am one foot in a place that feels ‘normal,’ and I’m one foot inside a dream. It’s really easy for me to fall into that place of dark and whimsical, but also I’m a vivid dreamer.
“I would tell my mom, ‘I wish I could record in my head because it’s so hard for me to tell you my dreams because they’re disjointed and surreal.’ And so I think for me, finding the essence of this show and put it into movement is what I’ve already been doing as an artist, because I’m always riding the fine line of being real and surreal.”
Estrada said this is the feeling she wanted the audience to walk away with — that blur of reality.
“I wanted everyone in this space to feel like perhaps maybe they had been hypnotized or fallen asleep, but not out of boredom,” Estrada said. “I think I was just hoping that you would get sort of coaxed into a state dream while inside of it.”
The performance was not done in a typical dance scene; it was performed inside the Ulrich in the middle of “The Dream Machine” exhibit. Estrada said this brought its own set of unique challenges.
“We can’t always rehearse in this space,” Estrada said.
“Knowing that we would have a giant sculpture in the middle, not
It’s a reminder, more or less, while you’re here, away from here, (to just) embrace it ... (and feel) like, ‘Yeah, this is me.’”
“(And) one thing about Africans,” Mungarevaani said while laughing, “is that we like to dress up.”
After a dinner of traditional African and Caribbean dishes, attendees competed in a musical chairs-styled scavenger hunt game “brought back by popular demand.” Contestants had to find an item in the audience, such as gold watches, brown shoes, trilingual speakers, Toyota car keys and even wigs. Then, they’d have to return to their chairs as another chair and player was eliminated from the competition with each passing round.
Hope Ndabaga, a freshman from South Africa and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, won the game and a DoorDash gift card. She credited her win to the friendships she’s made with different members of the group — including the wearer of the wig she nabbed to win the final round.
“I just think (I get) the feeling of belonging (from being a part of ACSA),” Ndabaga said. “I feel like every other club I tried, I’ve just felt alone. And I feel like here there’s people who get me and rely on me and understand me … You need your people.”
The final activity of the evening saw the “African Queen,” Kelly Matahwa of Zimbabwe, take her throne at the front of the room to judge seven groups of students for the event’s talent show. Contestants sang and danced to the cheers, chants and ululations of the eager audience to win the favor of the queen and be named the “diamond of the season.”
Jeremiah “Jerry” Serugo and Jordan Kayemba, a duo from Uganda, snagged the win and complementary title after their performance which saw Kayemba play the keyboard and Serugo
throw his jacket and dozens of fake $100 bills into the crowd.
Mercy Umeri, the faculty adviser for ACSA, said that, while she’s never experienced a night quite like Saturday’s Afro Karibbean Night, the purpose of the event has remained consistent — to create a sense of belonging for students to help them feel at home.
“When you travel over 6,000 miles or 7,000 miles … and come to a place like this, it's good to know that you have a community,” Umeri said. “This association has become a second home and a family for so many other students.” Umeri said anyone is welcome to join this family, regardless of background.
“When we look at the association, I don’t want you to ever feel like it’s for them,” Umeri said. “It is for us. This association is for us.”
ACSA regularly hosts meetings and events on campus. Additional information about the group can be found on Instagram, Facebook or ShockerSync.
knowing where the musicians would be. There’s a lot of technical things that felt like obstacles. Those are all these really deep things you have to take into consideration as you’re formulating an immersive, interactive work.”
Despite the challenges the work presented, Estrada said it was an easy choice to choose this artwork as the inspiration for her latest dance.
“We have a gorgeous museum on campus so I
wanted to do something that felt interdisciplinary in that we were using art as the influence or impetus for the work,” Estrada said. “The curator contacted me and was like, ‘Would you have any interest?’ And as soon as I heard what the title was and then saw the work, I was like, ‘Yes, a thousand times yes.’ It wasn’t a hard decision to make.”
The exhibition of “Inside the Dream Machine” didn’t stop with this initial performance. Estrada and the School of Digital Arts
are collaborating to create a film version of this dance.
“We’re using a space where they built a small pool of water with fog,” Estrada said. “I hate to use the pun, but it’s really dreamy. But because of that, we’re having to piece together, or we’re deconstructing this piece and then reconstructing it as a film.”
The dance film will premiere on April 19, 2025, at Welsbacher Black Box Theatre in the Hughes Metropolitan Complex on 29th and Oliver.
Jeremiah “Jerry” Serugo sings along to Jordan Kayemba’s piano playing and a pre-recorded track during the Afro Karibbean Night talent show. After showering the audience in fake $100 bills, Serugo and
Kayemba won the contest and took home a gift card prize.
Photo by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
Students from the WSU dance program prepare to begin the “Inside the Dream Machine” performance at the Ulrich Museum of Art on Nov. 15. The performance was choreographed by program director Mina Estrada in collaboration with the dancers founded on foundational dancing knowledge. | Photo by Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower
African Caribbean group showcases talent and traditions in yearly celebratory event
MONDAY MELODIES
MONDAY, NOV. 25
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Rhatigan Student Center
Starbucks Lounge
Join the latest installment of Monday Melodies in the Starbucks Lounge. Monday Melodies takes place on the last Monday of every month.
CHOREOGRAPHY 2
COLLABORATION GROUP
PROJECT
MONDAY, NOV. 25
2 p.m.
Ulrich Museum of Art, Beren Gallery
Experience the collective and individual response of students from a Choreography 2 class to the Ulrich Museum of Art’s exhibition “[RE]POSE: Leisure Bodies and Empowered Postures.” This group work focuses on crafting movement as previously learned in Improvisation and Choreography. This event is free and all are welcome.
APPLIQUE BEADWORK
CLASS
MONDAY, NOV. 25
5 - 7 p.m.
Rhatigan Student Center, room 265
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, the Indigenous Student Collective is hosting a class in applique beadwork taught by Michelle Conine, a local beadworker. Applique is a technique that, along with methods like lazy stitch and loom work, different sects of Native Americans have employed throughout history. RSVP is required via ShockerSync. Drinks and snacks will be provided.
IMPULSE PERCUSSION GROUP CONDUCTED BY
GERAD SCHOLL
MONDAY, NOV. 25
7:30 - 9 p.m.
Miller Concert Hall
Both a large ensemble and a platform for smaller chamber ensembles, the Impulse Percussion Group brings to light the world of percussion music. Partnered with WSU’s media and stage crews, each concert is a “sensory journey” with collaborative visuals and sounds. WSU students get in for free.
FRIENDSGIVING AT GROW
MONDAY, NOV. 25
GROW Giesen Plant Shop
320 S. Market St. Suite 120
Enjoy festival cocktails and flex your creative side with DIY terrariums and other crafts at Friendsgiving at GROW. More information can be found at growplantbar.com.
BLACK FRIDAY & SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY AT CLIFTON COLLECTIVE FRIDAY, NOV. 29 & SATURDAY, NOV. 30
Clifton Collective
3700 E. Douglas Ave. #80
Support local businesses by finding unique products and gifts made by local crafters. $50 gift card purchases are granted a free $10 gift card with other Black Friday specials to be announced. Clifton Collective features apparel, jewelry, bath and body care items among other locally made pieces.
SMALL BUSINESS
SATURDAY AT GROW SATURDAY, NOV. 30
9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
GROW Giesen Plant Shop 320 S. Market St. Suite 120 Enjoy plant deals and bar specials all Saturday at GROW Giesen. The first 30 customers will receive a free plant. There will be a pop-up market from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring Yahya
HAVE AN EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED?
CONTACT THE ARTS EDITOR: arts@thesunflower.com CONTACT THE NEWS EDITOR: news@thesunflower.com
Knowel Taylor sings “Diamonds” by Rihanna during the talent show. Taylor asked to be identified as an “angelic voice sent from heaven” while competing to be named as the “diamond of the season.”
Jayda, a Wichita Stata University student, shares a fun fact about Kenya during the flag walk at Afro Karibbean Night. Jayda later sang a duet in the event’s talent show on Nov. 16.
Students proudly display the items they collected, like a pair of glasses, during the Afro Karibbean Night scavenger hunt. Ten participants had to find various items from
the audience, like gold watches and Toyota car keys, as a chair was removed each round. | Photos by Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
Lucy Mungarevaani, a sophomore aerospace engineering student, introduces herself as a volunteer with the African Caribbean Student Association (ACSA). Mungarevaani, a Zimbabwean student, helped coordinate and set up the event.
Afro Karibbean Night attendees model traditional dresses and outfits during the annual cultural event. Students wore their own traditional garbs, as well as gowns designed by Kapinga Victoria Tshianyi, the owner of LadyKay Boutique.
Afro Karibbean Night attendees eagerly wait for the next scavenger hunt item to be announced. The musical chairs-styled scavenger hunt game was “brought back by popular demand.”
A WSU student models a dress designed by Kapinga Victoria Tshianyi, the owner of LadyKay Boutique. Several students-turned-models took to the runway during the Afro Karibbean Night’s fashion show.
Two Moroccan students pose for a photo after modeling traditional Moroccan wear during the Afro Karibbean Night fashion show. Attendees paraded in a flag walk, ate traditional African and Caribbean foods, danced and participated in a talent show at the annual cultural event.
