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vol. 138 // iss. 13 Mon., Mar. 4, 2019
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Nine statues to be built at Burge Union plaza p. 2 Kansas musicians highlighted in new weekly column p. 4 Opinion: Kansas legislature parody bill is homophobic and regressive p. 6 Read more at kansan.com
Swim & dive breaks records JORDAN VAUGHN @JVSmoove14
Kansas swim and dive ended the 2018-19 season with a second place finish at the Big 12 Championship while senior Vicky Xu took home the title in three-meter diving. Xu is the first ever Jayhawk diver to win a Big 12 title. Her 380 score on the three-meter platform
sealed her short, but very successful, Kansas career. “A few years ago, Chelsie Miller won the 400-yard individual medley and she was our last conference champion since Vicky,” Kansas head coach Clark Campbell said, according to a Kansas Athletics press release. “You will never forget that night, this was a special night as well.” The Jayhawks finished
with a program record of 754.5 points, falling short of Texas’ 1073.5. The previous team high was 683.5 points. Freshman Kate Steward set a school record in the prelims for the 200-yard breaststroke on Saturday morning. Junior Haley Downey broke it again in READ MORE ON PAGE 7
Emma Pravecek/KANSAN Teammates sing the KU Alma Mater before beginning the dual against Iowa State.
For the price of ‘two McChickens’
Kansas women’s basketball seniors fall in emotional final game at Allen Fieldhouse.
Student Senate has developed plans for a new student engagement center in the Burge Union that will add $3.25 to student fees. The center will be equipped with study lounges, an esports lounge and a new KU Info desk.
Lawrence Girls Who Code branch aims at closing gender gap in STEMM fields
Student Senate is developing a new center in the Burge Union with hopes it will be the new hub for KU Info and various other student resources. The space will be called the Student Engagement Center. It will cost about $3.25 per student per year in student fees for maintenance costs and funding for KU Info for the first fiscal year. Initial construction costs will be about $2, which will be a part of the $3.25 student fee. However, after the first fiscal year, the fee will be reduced to $1.25 per year. “Students are getting all of this for literally the price of two McChickens per semester, once,” said Student Body President Noah Ries. “It’s one fiscal year and then they’re done with the construction costs.” Chief of Staff Zach
National nonprofit organization Girls Who Code has recently opened a branch in Lawrence.
Interim dean of CLAS, vice provost of diversity and equity to leave KU by end of year Clarence Lang and Jennifer Hamer head to Penn State after Lang accepted a dean posittion.
LUCY PETERSON @lucyxpeterson
Chance Parker/KANSAN Coach Ritch Price talks to the press during Media Day on Wednesday, Feb. 13.
KU baseball coach earns 500th victory DYLAN CUNNINGHAM @dc_cunningham Another brilliant pitching performance led Kansas baseball to its first series sweep of the season, a 3-1 victory over Northern Illinois. This series also marked the 500th win at Kansas for coach Ritch Price, who is in the midst of his 17th season with the Jayhawks (8-3). To open the series Friday, March 1, riding the
momentum of its first series win of the season, Kansas looked dominant early in the series as it won both games of its doubleheader against Northern Illinois. The Jayhawks (7-3) took home the early game by a score of 8-1, with junior left fielder Brett Vosik and Messinger each leading the way with multi-hit games. READ MORE ON PAGE 7
Contributed Illustration The new student engagement center will be the new home for KU Info and have a secondary Student Senate office, along with other features. Clark | Huesman will be the architect for the project. Thomason and Ries created the idea of the completely student-driven engagement center with help from the Union and other offices on campus. Both Thomason and Ries said they hope to unveil the center to celebrate 50 years of Student Senate. The new KU Info desk will be at the entrance of
the center. There will also be study areas, a graduate student grading and recreation area, an innovation space with desktop computers and white boards, a seminar space, an esports lounge and a secondary office for Student Senate. “We knew that KU Info was getting elimi-
KYSER DOUGAN @KyserDougan
Reconciliation. “In my courtroom I have always asked, ‘What did you want me to know?’” she said, also stating that it helps with restorative justice. Aquilina discussed how she lets both sides to speak, allowing them to face each other. “I’ve had defendants who understand [they] actually hurt … and didn’t know [they] cut that deeply, and I’m terribly sorry. I also have defendants who will never be sorry and they go to prison, as you watched with Mr. Nassar,” she said. Throughout the event, Aquilina frequently discussed the importance of letting every victim speak. “I always let every single victim talk because victims, survivors … need to talk,” she said. Aquilina added she also allows family members to speak because they are also affected. “I let everybody talk. I get grief for this. I’ve always gotten grief for this. Thankfully, because the world was watching in the Nassar case… many judg-
nated from the Union, so we knew that, no matter what our priority for the space was going to be that KU Info has a presence in here,” Thomason said. Thomason and Ries said their goal with the engagement center was to make a place that served all students across campus. While they were
making the plans for the engagement center, they consulted graduate students, students from KU Esports, business students and others to get an idea of what it needed. “We really wanted to make sure that we were READ MORE ON PAGE 2
Larry Nassar judge speaks at KU Allowing victims and families to speak during legal trials can be beneficial to victims and defendants, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said at the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy Symposium over Restorative Justice Friday morning. Aquilina, who presided over former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar’s trial, spoke at the University of Kansas’ Green Hall on Friday about restorative justice. Joining her as keynote speaker was Trinea Gonczar, a former gymnast. Over 50 people attended the event in Green Hall. The speakers discussed their views on restorative justice in a Q&A format led by Paula Bustamante, the managing editor of the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy. Aquilina started by saying restorative justice in the courtroom is not what it should be. Restorative justice is meant to “[repair] the harm caused by crime,” per the Centre for Justice and
Sarah Wright/KANSAN Judge Rosemarie Aquilina speaks at the Restorative Justice Symposium along with Trinea Gonczar. es contacted me and said, ‘I watched what happened and I’m going to rethink what I do,’” she said. Aquilina said other judges ask, “How dare you?” when she lets everyone speak, but she said she will continue to do so. “I am always going to let everybody speak. I know that it works because when defendants hear, not always, but usually [they] feel something, and they change,” she said. Gonczar was one of the many survivors to testify in Nassar’s trial, but Aquilina believes she was the one
who really got to him. Gonczar said Nassar was her friend. He was her trainer, and she saw him often at Twistars USA Gymnastics Club and at the Michigan State University Sports Medicine Clinic. “He was my friend. I was at his wedding. I know his wife very well. I watched his children grow. I wanted him to know that I was there as that person,” Gonczar said. “When she spoke to me, and understand I listened to 169 [victims] ... her voice READ MORE ON PAGE 2
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Monday, March 4, 2019
staff NEWS MANAGEMENT
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New Divine Nine plaza
Editor-in-chief Shaun Goodwin
Managing editor Savanna Smith
Digital operations editor Zach McGrath
Audience engagement editor Grant Heiman
Associate audience engagement editor Arman Alhosseini ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT
Business manager Emma Greenwood SECTION EDITORS
News editor Sydney Hoover
Associate news editor Juliana Garcia
Investigations editor Nicole Asbury
Sports editor Maddy Tannahill
Associate sports editor Braden Shaw
Arts & culture editor Josh McQuade
Contributed Photo The University will place the nine pedestals between the Integrated Science Building and the Burge Union. The University has yet to announce an anticipated date of completion for the monument. TORI HILL @torioreo32 Donations from across the Lawrence community have allowed black Greek letter organizations at the University of Kansas to meet their goal of building a monument on campus. In 2018, the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) started a campaign to fund the Divine Nine Plaza. According to the LaunchKU website, it is a plan for the nine black Greek letter organizations to have a permanent monument on campus near the Burge Union. The campaign raised $53,929, surpassing its goal
Associate arts & culture editor Courtney Bierman
Opinion editor Aroog Khaliq
Visuals editor & design chief Huntyr Schwegman
Photo editor Sarah Wright
Associate photo editor Chance Parker
Copy chiefs Raeley Youngs Nichola McDowell
General Manager Rob Karwath
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of The Kansan are 50 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Kansan business office, 2051A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS., 66045. The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4967) is published on Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year except fall break, spring break and exams. It is published weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Annual subscriptions by mail are $250 plus tax. Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 2051A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue.
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of $50,000 by the time it was closed last June. According to NPHC President Kendrick Jackson, the monument will be made of marble. Each of the nine organizations will be represented by their own pedestal. On the front of each pedestal, the respective organization’s shield, coat of arms or crest will be featured. On the top of each pedestal, there will be information about the organization. The information will include the year the organization was chartered on campus, the organization’s national founding date and more. The nine organizations included in the monument are Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Delta Sigma Theta, Phi Beta Sigma, Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho and Iota Phi Theta. Jackson said the monument is important because the nine organizations should be recognized for the hard work and dedication they put into their academics and communities. Jackson also said it’s important for them to honor all the people who came before them. More than 10 University organizations donated to help the nine fraternities and
Contributed Photo The University’s Office of Facilities Planning and Development says this is an example of what each of the nine completed pedestals will look like.
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sororities meet their goal. These organizations include donations from other fraternities and sororities outside of NPHC. Jackson said the nine organizations are extremely grateful for the donations made by the other fraternities, sororities and organizations on campus. According to the donor wall on the LaunchKU website, about 10 donations from across Lawrence gave $1,000 or more. According to Michelle Tevis, senior editor of media relations for KU Endowment, the fundraiser is complete, and the project is fully-funded. “The pedestals for the nine organizations already have been placed in the courtyard between the Integrated Science Building and the Burge Union,” Tevis wrote in an email. According to Tevis, the University is waiting for the final approval on the graphics of the monument. The images will then be sent to the stonecutter, who will place them on the pedestals once they are completed. Jackson said they received approval for the project from the final Greek organization Friday, Feb. 15. However, according to Tevis, as of now, there is no date for completion. Jackson said the leftover money raised will be returned to the University for scholarships, so that they can give back to the community that helped them reach their goal.
NASSAR JUDGE
Gonczar responded about how her experiences have taught her about restorative justice. “For me when I went into the courtroom, I didn’t understand that restorative justice was kind of happening for me. I went in basically wanting to have a conversation with him,” Gonczar said. Gonczar said Nassar’s reactions to speakers before her was not like him. She said she knew if he reacted the same way to her that he “was already dead.” Nassar reportedly listened to the testimonies with his head down, and he occasionally cried, according to NBC News. He later wrote a letter to Aquilina, saying the testimonies were too difficult to listen to and accusing her of turning the
proceedings into a “media circus.” “When I went in there I had written a letter to him, basically what I would want to say to him. To be honest, I still think about what he would have said back to me. I think about it all the time. I could see in his reaction that he was very upset because this was between me and him,” Gonczar said. She said she did get a reaction out of Nassar. “I could see he was already sobbing hysterically to me and mouthing, ‘I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,’” she said. Gonczar said she has been approached to have a conversation with Nassar. “Somedays I think, ‘Oh hell no.’ Somedays I think ‘bring it on.’ Somedays I think, ‘What would I say? Would I believe him? Would anything that he said change anything?’” she said. “I’m open to the idea because ... he might truly say something to me that might be real because we’ve been real.” Both speakers also spoke about the role of forgiveness “I think forgiveness is needed for both sides to go forward. When a defendant comes to a survivor and says, ‘I’m sorry’... it goes a long way,” Aquilina said. Gonczar agreed, saying forgiveness is important, even though she isn’t there yet. “Before I spoke he mouthed to me ‘I’m so sorry,’ and I often wonder what that meant … What was he sorry for?” Gonczar said, “I’ve gone through that in my mind a lot, about what that meant. Have I forgiven him? No. Would I like to? Yes.” Although Aquilina said she continues to face pushback in her courtroom, she said she has no plans to change how she currently conducts her trials. “I’m just going to keep doing what I do because it works,” she said.
Ries said. “The space is 5,000 square-feet, but its reach is all across campus.” Ries and Thomason anticipate the student engagement center to open by Aug. 26, the first
day of the 2019-2020 school year. A ribbon cutting ceremony is projected to take place on Sept. 18, the 50 year anniversary of Student Senate’s first meeting.
FROM PAGE 1 resonated so profoundly with me, but also with the defendant. Because what she essentially said was almost biblical. It was, ‘My friend, what have you done?’” Aquilina said. The first question Bustamante asked during the Q&A session was how each of the speakers defined restorative justice and who it is for. “I think restorative justice is for both the survivor and the defendant, their families and the communities because when we get people talking they start to heal,” Aquilina said, “Restorative justice hopefully is that both sides heal, and in the courtroom, I like to talk to both and tell them they matter, and this shouldn’t define them.”
“Have I forgiven [Nassar]? No. Would I like to? Yes.” Trinea Gonczar former gymnast
ESPORTS LOUNGE FROM PAGE 1 getting the furthest reach of feedback because we wanted to make sure that this could be a space used by all students,” Thomason said. They said they hope to make the space a seamless integration of the needs of all students — undergraduate and graduate. The seminar space will allow graduate teaching assistants to practice teaching before they enter the classroom. The space will also allow different groups across campus to host seminars such as resume building
“The space is 5,000 squarefeet, but its reach is all across campus.” Noah Ries Student Body President
workshops and KU Information Technology seminars. The engagement center will also have desktop computers available for students and other technology resources. Students will be able to check out Macbooks, laptops and iPads that will be preloaded with different softwares, such as Adobe Creative Suite. Ries and Thomason said they decided to include an office for Student Senate in the engagement center to allow more flexibility for the Senate staff to work in between classes if they can’t reach the Union. “We want student senators to think they can be independent from [the executive staff],” Thomason said. “I want student senators to feel empowered to come up with their own initiatives and collaborate under the guise of Student Senate.” Ries said the engagement center is unique because it was developed by students and
meant for each student across campus. “It’s called the student engagement center for a reason, and it really started with student engagement which is really powerful,”
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arts & culture Monday, March 4, 2019
ARTS & CULTURE
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K A N S A N .C O M /A R T S _ A N D _ C U LT U R E
Kundiman fellow to speak at Liberty Hall RYLIE KOESTER @RylieKoester
Poet and performer Hieu Minh Nguyen will speak at Liberty Hall next week as part of a lecture series sponsored by The Commons and the Raven Book Store. Nguyen is a Kundiman fellow, the recipient of the 2017 National Endowment for the Arts fellowship for poetry, and a poetry editor for Muzzle Magazine. Nguyen will speak Tuesday, March 5 at 7 p.m. “I’m really interested to hear what he’s like as a person, to meet him and hear him present to an audience because I think that his book is so revealing and intimate in so many ways that it’ll be very interesting when he’s right in front of us,” said Emily Ryan, the director of The Commons. Nguyen is the author of “Not Here,” his second collection of poems, which was published last year. Nguyen’s poetry explores his identity as a queer VietnameseAmerican. Danny Caine, the owner of the Raven
Book Store and a 2017 University graduate, said Nguyen also discusses the trauma he’s faced in his poetry collections. Last year, The Commons and the Raven Book Store started a campus and community speaker series in which they invited authors and speakers to perform at Liberty Hall. The mission of the series is to invite people from underrepresented backgrounds and identities whose work will resonate with the University and Lawrence communities. “I love to do what I can to help raise the profile of poetry in Lawrence and in the world,” Caine said. Caine said after reading Nguyen’s second collection of poems, he’s excited to see how Nguyen performs on the stage. “I love to see how these poets work on the page but also on the stage,” Caine said. The event is also sponsored by several offices across campus, including the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Center for Sexuality
and Gender Diversity, the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity, the Office of Research, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Office of the Provost. “I think that him being here will connect with communities and groups of people who don’t always feel welcome on campus,” Ryan said. Ryan also said she thinks Nguyen’s message will resonate with those of underrepresented identities. Throughout the campus and community speaker series the past year, Ryan said people have come up and said to her, “It’s so powerful for me to see somebody who looks like me on the stage.” “I think that’s something I can’t hear loud enough,” Ryan said. Doors will open one hour before the event. The event is free, but tickets are required and available at no cost. Nguyen’s books will be for sale at the event, which will be followed by a book signing.
Contributed photo Hieu Minh Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American poet and performer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
School of Music to join prestigious education league RACHEL GAYLOR @raegay218 The University of Kansas School of Music has a new platform on the global stage. The school received an invitation in December to join the Global Music Education League, courtesy of the recognition of University professor Scott McBride Smith. GMEL is a nongovernmental organization established in 2017 that promotes the development of music education teaching across the globe. The University joins the likes of Stanford and Northwestern in the league, composed of 30 member schools from 14 different countries across four continents — North America, Asia, Australia and Europe. McBride Smith, a piano pedagogy professor, received the verbal invite from the China Conservatory of Music, one of the best-known conservatories in China. While GMEL is in its infancy, Robert Walzel, the dean of the School of Music, is excited about what the new partnership could mean for the piano program, the School of Music and the University as a whole. The exact details of the partnership are still being worked out, but Walzel said the notoriety of the China Conservatory is important at this stage. “For us, it’s an incredible affirmation that China Conservatory thinks so much of our faculty and our programs and our School of Music and the University of
Contributed photo The China Conservatory of Music in Beijing is regarded as one of the leading music education institutions in the country. Kansas to invite us to be a member,” Walzel said. “They believe that each [school] brings something unique to the table in the discussions and the perspectives.” “We see this as an opportunity for us to not only build opportunities for collaboration and cooperation with all of the institutions within GMEL, but to further strengthen our ties with China,” Walzel said.
“[The invitation] puts us on the international stage in a great way.” Scott McBride Smith piano pedagogy professor
McBride Smith was visiting the China Conservatory in October when he reached out to the head of the piano department, expressing
interest in strengthening ties. That is when McBride Smith received the invitation to join GMEL. “I think [the invitation] is long overdue recognition of the excellence of our music program,” McBride Smith said. “It puts us on the international stage in a great way.” Walzel said he also sees this as an opportunity to promote the University as a whole — strengthening ties to the institutions in the league. “Just like in the School of Music, it’s not enough [for the University] to have one good program,” Walzel said. “[The partnership can] extend the reputation of the school so that it adds value to the degrees of those who graduate from here and adds value to the experiences students can have here.” The School of Music already has ties to another school in China: Shanghai Normal University, which will allow the direct
exchange of students and faculty. GMEL hopes to do something similar — allow for direct exchange — but with institutions around the world. The plan moving
forward is for Walzel and McBride Smith to attend the GMEL meeting in October to discuss future plans for the University. “Right now, on the KU side of it, we’re in a
learning curve of, ‘What are the possibilities and how can we work this out?’” McBride Smith said. “[China Conservatory] said they are excited we are a part of [GMEL] and it’s going to be great. So now we’ve got to work out, ‘What’s the great thing going to be?’” McBride Smith also said strengthening ties abroad can help the University with preparing students for the world outside of the college bubble. “It’s part of our job as professors — we have to get students ready for the world the way it’s really going to be,” he said. “International things aren’t going to go away. Technology isn’t going away. While you are students, we have to do our best to get you ready for that.”
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4 ARTS & CULTURE LOCAL LISTENS
Midwestern music scene filled by KU, KC artists DEASIA PAIGE @deasia_paige
The inaugural “Local Listens” features music from Halle Alice, The Royal Chief and Cuee. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Halle Alice is a junior at the University of Kansas. The Royal Chief is a rapper based in Kansas City, Missouri, and Cuee is a Chicago-bred rapper and University graduate
who currently works at the University Career Center.
“KEHLANI” BY HALLE ALICE This is Halle Alice’s first single of the new year. Released around Valentine’s Day, “Kehlani” is the perfect postbreakup song that reflects on a past relationship. Throughout the song,
Alice sings about how she’s moved on from her ex and would never date his type again. Comparing her ex to R&B singer Kehlani, Alice sings about how he’s pretty, but has a lot of issues that ultimately affect their relationship. Alice’s sound is a soothing blend of soul and alternative R&B, which is heard throughout the song “Kehlani.”
“3 PACK” BY THE ROYAL CHIEF
The Royal Chief’s most recent EP offers a vivid glimpse into the type of artist he is. The 3-track EP was released in August of last year and each song provides a different aspect into The Royal Chief’s artistry. “Pipe Dreams” illustrates the theme of ambition that’s presented throughout the rest of his
Illustration by Philip Mueller/KANSAN “Local Listens” is a weekly column in which Kansan columnist DeAsia Paige highlights new releases from local artists.
music. “Best of Things” shows the rapper’s loveydovey side while “High Stakes” flaunts his hardhitting flows and clever lyricism.
“SHAMELESS” BY CUEE This is the third project from rapper Cuee. “Shameless” was released toward the end of last year, and the 10-track
mixtape is the rapper’s longest project. It’s clear the project marks a new page in their growth as an artist. On “Shameless,” Cuee raps about a variety of issues that invite listeners to learn more about who they are, like being black and queer, being from Chicago and moving to Lawrence, and being a hardworking artist who won’t give up on their dreams.
Samantha Hsu/KANSAN Cuee is a Chicago-native rapper based in Lawrence who graduated from the University.
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FFA of the day: No, Jonas Brothers. I’m a sucker for you. “Oh no, I got sausage on the scissors” my roommate took a bath last night, and now the water won’t drain, so I had to give myself a bird bath this morning. I was then 25 minutes late to work can’t sleep on chickfil-a breakfast. it’s the best. My sociology gta had us all “shower him in hatred” today. We basically got to write everything he’s done so far that pissed us off, crumple it up and throw paper balls at him. * hits the juul in disbelief *
“I’m afraid of wealth. That’s why I’m a democrat.” I’m watching late night tv shows alone in bed. I’ve finally reached adulthood. I wish I was Wiz Khalifa Spring officially started today * looks at forecast * oh but does it even count as spring if it’s going to snow tonight May is a whole season for me “i don’t know who, but i’m reporting one of you to HR” This is the craziest thing to happen to my high school since the prostitution ring “You’re panicking at the wrong disco.” “You’re like Donald Trump, but not an asshole” “Sometimes it’s just stressful to talk to people.” -my mom on her birthday “spicy food is just BDSM for your mouth” getting real tired of these Oklahoma state 3-pointers Watching Neighbors for the sole purpose of watching Zac Efron Nothing is more comedic than watching a cop try to remember how to spell “receipt”
K A N S A N .C O M /O P I N I O N
LGBTQ rights ignored in Kansas bill GRACE BRUNNER @Gracebrunner4
A bill that seeks to prevent same-sex marriages in the state of Kansas was introduced in the Kansas House Wednesday, Feb. 13. The bill defines any marriage that is not strictly between a man and woman a “parody marriage” and claims sexual orientation is linked to the “secular humanism” religion. Furthermore, the bill asserts that recognizing LGBTQ identities is allowing the government to show preference toward and enforce the “secular humanism” religion, making any state policy that allows the recognition of LGBTQ rights and samesex marriage a violation of the first amendment. Currently, the bill has seven sponsors, including Rep. Randy Garber from Sabetha, who introduced the bill. However, Rep. Ron
Contributed photo John Becker, 30, of Silver Spring, Maryland, waves a rainbow flag outside of the Supreme Court in support of gay marriage. Highland of Wamego has recently claimed regret for his actions in co-sponsoring the bill, recognizing the hateful language and ideology within the legislation after his own daughter published a letter in response to the bill, condemning his actions. The bill claims “the government’s endorsement
“twink chuck e cheese” my grandfather keeps sending my mom bonsai trees on random occasions.
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The bill outlines provisions along with other restrictive policies that would prevent: “Parody marriages” Transgender people from changing their gender identity on their birth certificate The recognition of any policies that “respect a person’s unproven belief that they were born the gender that does not accord with the anatomy with which the individual was born” The banning of conversion therapy practices
of LGBTQ ideology has amounted to the greatest sham since the inception of American jurisprudence.” This bill follows Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order reinstating protections for LGBTQ individuals in the workplace, a protection previously removed by former Gov. Sam Brownback. Another bill has also been introduced in the legislature that would further extend the protections granted to LGBTQ individuals, introduced by Rep. Brandon Woodard and Rep. Susan Ruiz, Kansas’s first two openly gay legislators. Currently, the bill has 36 cosponsors, and a mirroring bill has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Barbara Bollier with 17 co-sponsors. Although a strong partisan divide is nothing new in the legislature,
both on national and state levels, this reaches a whole new level of mockery. The “parody marriage” bill is not an attempt at legitimate legislation to benefit anyone in the state of Kansas. Rather, it reveals the abandonment of public service by our legislators and a growing trend of our leaders utilizing the legislature as a platform to engage in their own personal power struggle. Legislators should not be using the basic rights of Kansas citizens as bargaining chips in their own political battles for personal gain. The extremely hateful language in the bill denies any basic arguments of comparison between the civil rights movement and the movement for LGBTQ rights, claiming that “there are no ex-blacks, but
there are thousands of ex-gays,” an ideology the bill further supports as it outlines preventing any state policies from banning conversion therapy. This is an incredibly harmful and dangerous ideology to spread. According to the Human Rights Campaign, conversion therapy has been discredited by the American Psychology Association, as well as an overwhelming majority of prominent medical organizations. Research has proven these practices cause extreme mental health risks to individuals who have undergone the so-called “therapy,” and youth who experience such programs and high levels of rejection are eight times more likely to attempt suicide. While the state of Kansas is facing what some have called an “epidemic” of suicide rates among young people, according to 435 Kansas City’s Magazine, these legislators seem less interested in protecting the futures of vulnerable youth and more interested in further endangering them for purposes of their own political gain. It seems the only parody in our legislature is the lawmakers themselves.
Grace Brunner is a sophomore from Overland park studying English and political science.
‘Green Book’ did not deserve Best Picture ALEX CATEFORIS @A_Cat24 Good movies tell stories that allow people to understand the world in a different way or to consider an idea or theme that expands from the screen to the real world. The 2019 Best Picture winner “Green Book” is a movie worth seeing, but the story did not deserve the Oscars’ most prestigious award. In the film, based on a true story and set in 1962, tough-guy, Italian-American Tony Vallelonga drives AfricanAmerican musician Don Shirley around the South, protecting him and making sure he arrives to each tour performance safe and sound. By the movie’s end, Don and Tony learn and grow together. Tony learns to shed a layer of his racism, and Don learns to love himself and connect to the black community. Since its release, “Green Book” has been accused of cultural appropriation, dishonesty and white saviorism. These criticisms are accurate. “Green Book” is a black man’s story skewed by white men for a white audience. The movie was written
by Brian Hayes Currie, Peter Farrelly, and Nick Vallelonga, the son of Tony Vallelonga. The writers never consulted Shirley’s family about their version of the story. “I wish I could reach out to Don Shirley’s family,” Nick Vallelonga said in an interview with Deadline Media. “I really didn’t know they existed until we finished the film.” Vallelonga’s professed ignorance resulted in dishonesty in the story and led Shirley’s family to speak out against the film. Maureen Shirley, Don Shirley’s niece, felt particularly insulted by the way the film revealed Shirley’s homosexual identity, according to an interview with Fox News. “If you know anything historically of the Deep South… black people were not going to be caught in the YMCA at night, after dark,” she said. “My uncle’s sexuality was never a question for any of us. We were well aware of what his sexual preferences were. And for them to be portrayed as inaccurately in that movie as they were is a huge slight.” The film has many more historical and cultural inaccuracies that serve to make racism digestible and
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entertaining. Violence and racism in the Jim Crow South was truly terrifying and lifethreatening, a reality which the film fails to capture. Despite these inaccuracies and the blatant cultural appropriation, the story is entertaining. Monique Judge, a columnist for The Root, wrote, “I’m not here to make excuses for this movie. I actually enjoyed it, despite all of its flaws. It was funny in the right places, touching in the right places, and even as it erases the true ugliness of racism in its depiction, it provides something of a starting point for white people to wake up.” This starting point leads down many paths. “Green Book” shows that black and white people do not fit into stereotypical boxes; it reveals the problems of a white man telling a black man’s story; and the film reveals that racism is alive and well today. Digest the film’s beautiful moments, but learn from the ugly. Awarding Best Picture to “Green Book” over films such as “BlacKkKlansman” and “Black Panther” was the wrong choice, but it wasn’t surprising.
Contributed photo “Green Book” stars Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen in the true story of friendship between black musician Don Shirley and his white chauffeur. Matthew Jacobs, in his article for HuffPost titled “What Does It Really Mean to Win Best Picture?” wrote, “[T]he Oscars create more phony narratives about popular culture than perhaps any other institution.” “Green Book” may have been a good movie, but the story was told
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without honesty. When watching this film and others like it, remember the power of a story and question who has the privilege to tell it.
Alex Cateforis is a senior from Lawrence studying English, French and art history.
editorial board
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Shaun Goodwin, Savanna Smith, Aroog Khaliq and Emma Greenwood.
KANSAN.COM
SPORTS
Sitting Ducks: KU tennis sweeps Oregon DIEGO COX @x0lotl After suffering a loss Friday, Kansas women’s tennis needed to bounce back to close out nonconference play — and they did. The Jayhawks defeated the Oregon Ducks in a clean sweep on Sunday afternoon, beating them 7-0. Starting off the day’s matches, the No. 3-ranked duo of seniors Nina Khmelnitckaia and Janet Koch came back from a tough performance on Friday to win their match versus Daniela Nasser and Paiton Wagner, 6-2. The Jayhawks then claimed the doubles point after the tandem of senior Anastasia Rychagova and freshman Sonia Smagina defeated Allison Mulville and Rifanty Kahfiani, 6-3. Following up on a successful doubles point, the team got off to a quick start as freshman Malkia Ngounoue, starting in place of junior Maria Toran Ribes, won her match by forfeit, quickly putting the Jayhawks up 2-0 over the Ducks. The first singles win of the day came from Smagina over Tayrn Fujimori, 6-4, 6-2, to put the Jayhawks up 3-0. The No. 49-ranked Rychagova, after her hard fought performance on Friday, defeated her opponent soundly, 6-1, 6-4. For the final two matches of the day, first was sophomore Plobrung Plipuech, who moved up courts for Sunday’s match. After dropping her second set, the third and final set came down to a super-tiebreaker and she managed to close out her match, 6-2, 5-7, 10-7. Finally, Khmelnitckaia put on a strong performance after
Emma Pravecek/KANSAN Seniors Janet Koch and Nina Khmelnitckaia celebrate after winning a match against Tulsa. Kansas won 6-1 against Tulsa on Saturday, Feb. 16. dropping her first set to win, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 ending the match with a score of 7-0. After a strong end to non-conference play, head coach Todd Chapman is already
looking ahead to the beginning of conference play and starting the second half of the season strong. “Today marks the end of a successful nonconference schedule,”
coach Chapman said according to a Kansas Athletics press release. “We now have a week to prepare for the start of Big 12 conference play and the second half of our season.”
ferjahn and redshirt junior Ryan Cyr looked right at home in their respective starts. Zeferjahn worked through five innings of the Jayhawks’ first matchup, allowing just one earned run and recording six strikeouts. After Zeferjahn exited the game with 99 pitches, redshirt junior reliever Blake Goldsberry slammed the door on the Huskies with four perfect innings to close out the game. Cyr responded with a
stellar performance in the nightcap as he scattered six hits and four strikeouts over a career-high six and two-thirds innings on the way to his first win of the season. The game ended 7-2 in favor of the Jayhawks after redshirt sophomore Jonah Ulane worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth to pick up his third save of the season. Offensively, freshman right fielder Casey Burnham led the Jayhawks with
a perfect 3-3 showing from the plate as he drove in a run and scored a run. Vosik and Messinger continued to impress with their bats as Vosik finished with two hits and an RBI, while Messinger led all hitters with two RBIs. Saturday’s win was largely thanks to redshirt freshman pitcher Eli Davis’ strong seven-inning start in which he struck out four and allowed an unearned run due to a throwing error by sophomore third baseman Skyler Messinger. Junior second baseman James Cosentino continued his strong start to the season as he roped a 2-0 pitch into right field for an RBI single in the third inning. Cosentino also scored
next meet
at Oklahoma State Fri., March 15 5 p.m.
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SWIM & DIVE FROM PAGE 1
the evening trials, then Steward claimed the record once again with a first-place finish Saturday night. “It seemed like as the meet got going, we were finding our speed,” Campbell said. “I think that as the meet has rolled on the girls have gotten more confident, faster and really stepped up their level.” Campbell was named Big 12 Coach of the Meet after the Jayhawks’ stellar performance. “The thing about coaching awards is that it really should have been team of the meet,” Campbell said. “Really good people on your team and the staff, they make each other look good.” Kansas saved its best performance for last as many swimmers set personal bests throughout the weekend. Junior Elizabeth Amato-Hanner came in second in the 200-yard backstroke with a 1:55.49 mark that qualifies as an NCAA “B” time. To wrap up her spectacular junior campaign, Jenny Nusbaum finished seventh in the 100-yard freestyle and set a new personal record. “As far as top to bottom, every single swim and every single dive, this has been the best we’ve had,” Campbell said. After taking third in last year’s conference championship, Kansas improved tremendously and will look to challenge for the top spot next year as it will only lose three seniors from this year’s team. “We set a new standard for our program this weekend of scoring over 700 points,” Campbell said. “That has been a work of ours for 17 years now, we finally did it.”
BASEBALL FROM PAGE 1 Junior shortstop Benjamin Sems continued his hot streak as he knocked in a two-run single in the seventh and scored on a wild pitch later in the frame. Messinger also added two stolen bases on the day, a career-high. After failing to find a consistent rhythm in their first few starts, Kansas pitchers junior Ryan Ze-
Kansan file photo Then-redshirt sophomore pitcher Ryan Cyr throws a pitch against Murray State on Friday, Feb. 16. The Jayhawks defeated the Racers 5-3.
a run on a throwing error by Northern Illinois in the eighth after Messinger hit into a fielder’s choice.
Saturday’s win was largely thanks to redshirt freshman pitcher Eli Davis.
Sophomore designated hitter Nolan Metcalf hit his first career home run to lead off the fifth inning, which effectively ended the Huskies’ hopes for a rally. Freshman relievers Hunter Freese and Stone Park-
er combined for a perfect eighth before redshirt sophomore closer Jonah Ulane nailed down his third save of the season in the ninth. The series sweep marked the first for the Jayhawks since March 9-11, 2018, when they bested then-No. 20 St. John’s at Hoglund Ballpark.The Jayhawks will continue the season in Port Charlotte, Florida, March 8-13 for the Snowbird Classic.
next game vs Saint Joseph’s
Fri., March 8 12:30 p.m.
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sports
SPORTS
KANSAN.COM
Basketball Gameday Monday, March 4, 2019
K A N S A N .C O M /S P O R T S
Kansas at Oklahoma, Tuesday, March 5, 8:00 p.m.
Freshman guard Quentin Grimes plays defense against Kansas State. The Jayhawks defeated the Wildcats 64-49 Monday, Feb. 25. MADDY TANNAHILL & BRADEN SHAW @KansanSports
Beat Writer MADDY Predictions: TANNAHILL
KANSAS 22-7 (11-5 BIG 12)
72-68
67-65
OKLAHOMA 18-11 (6-10 BIG 12)
Dedric Lawson
Christian James
★★★★
★★★★
Ochai Agbaji
Brady Manek
★★★★
★★★★
In a performance coach Bill Self deemed “the best” of the day according to a Kansas Athletics press release, Agbaji scored 11 points against Oklahoma State, including a lategame three-ball to bring Kansas within two and a couple of free throws in the final seconds to put the game out of reach for the Cowboys. Agbaji was the third and final Jayhawk to reach double figures behind Lawson and Grimes.
Manek fits the classic Big 12 role of a spot up shooter who knows how to get open, shooting 48 percent from the floor in conference play and 45 percent on the season. His 6-foot-9, 222-pound frame also makes him a mismatch forward who can stretch the floor for the Sooners. Manek dropped 16 points and 11 rebounds against Kansas on Jan. 2, shooting 46 percent from the floor.
Quentin Grimes
Kristian Doolittle
★★★
★★★
redshirt junior forward
Despite a slow first half for the big man, Lawson recorded a team-leading 20 points on Saturday against the Cowboys, tacking on 15 rebounds to pick up his 18th double-double of the season. A down-to-the-wire matchup for the Jayhawks, Lawson’s performance on the free throw line played a key role for Kansas down the stretch.
freshman guard
freshman guard
In one of his strongest outings of the season, Grimes contributed 17 points to the cause on Saturday, falling only behind Lawson on the stat sheet. Posting a 6-of-11 clip from the field, including 4-of-7 from the beyond the perimeter, the freshman picked up his second consecutive double-figure scoring game, having recorded 12 points against Kansas State earlier in the week.
athletes of the week
BRADEN SHAW
Chance Parker/KANSAN
Vicky Xu
Swim & Dive Making program history, senior diver Vicky Xu claimed a first-place finish at the Big 12 Swim and Dive Championships on Saturday, scoring 380.00 in the three-meter dive to secure the victory. With her performance, Xu becomes the only Jayhawk to ever win a conference diving individual championship, and the first of any Kansas swimmer or diver since 2014 to become an individual champion.
senior guard
Even with the Sooners having a rocky conference season, James has been the veteran leader for this Oklahoma team. James leads the team in scoring at 15.1 points per game and is shooting 45 percent from the floor on the season.
sophomore forward
junior forward
Despite James seemingly getting most of the praise this season, Doolittle actually leads the Sooners in scoring during Big 12 play at 13.3 points per game and is shooting 49 percent from the floor this season. It took Doolittle awhile to get going, but once conference play started, the 6-foot-7, 232-pound forward really settled into a groove.
Jonah Ulane
Baseball With the Jayhawks leading 7-2 in the ninth inning over Northern Illinois, the Huskies loaded the bases with no outs. Redshirt sophomore pitcher Jonah Ulane then took over on the mound and struck out three-consecutive batters to close out the win for Kansas and record his third save on the season in what coach Ritch Price called a special performance for the young pitcher.