University Daily Kansan, Monday, April 29, 2019

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SPORTS Track and field sets

Professor launches online newspaper in local town with students’ help p. A2

personal-bests and earns multiple wins at National

Local nursery takes over old Sunrise Garden Center space p. A3

Relay Championships The University Daily Kansan

vol. 138 // iss. 27 Mon., April 29, 2019

SEE PERSONAL BESTS • PAGE 7

Softball falls on Senior Day

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FULTON CASTER @FCaster04

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Read these stories and more at kansan.com

Home runs and tough bullpen outing hurt KU baseball in loss Looking for backto-back wins for the third time in April, KU baseball gave up three home runs and four runs in the final two frames to fall to Creighton 6-5.

Read more at kansan.com

Chance Parker/KANSAN Senior outfielder Emily Bermel goes for a slap hit against Texas. The Jayhawks fell to the Longhorns 4-2 Sunday, April 28.

Kansas softball was unable to avoid a series sweep on Senior Day, falling 4-2 to No. 11 Texas on Sunday.

In what was her final appearance as a Jayhawk at home, senior Brynn Minor earned the start in the circle and pitched well outside of one bad inning.

Minor began the day with scoreless frames in the first and second, but was unable to avoid the big inning in the third.

The inning began with a single and a double to plate the first run. Three straight singles, along with a passed ball, plated the next three runs and Texas took a 4-0 lead.

Minor settled down and allowed only one hit, and only three baserun-

ners total, the rest of the way.

In her final start at home, Minor went seven innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. She walked two and struckout one.

Offensively, Kansas had its opportunities but was not able to capitalize.

The Jayhawks had a READ MORE ON PAGE A8

We are in the ‘Endgame’ now

KU junior drops latest EP “uni” Sydny August dropped her third extended play record this month which features seven tracks.

KU soccer falls to club squad In its last spring game, KU soccer faced off against the KU men’s club team, losing 4-0.

On the horizon

Student Senate overhaul begins The 2018-19 Student Senate bid farewell last week, as Crimson+Blue took over for 2019-20.

Contributed photo Tony Stark records a goodbye message for Pepper Potts in this still from “Avengers: Endgame.”

RACHEL GAYLOR @raegay218 “Avengers...

Assemble.”

What was left of Earth’s mightiest heroes did just that in Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame” in what has been touted as the final chapter in the original Avengers saga.

After an emotional scene, the film picks up three weeks after “the snap” — the action that villain Thanos did to wipe

out half of the population. Those left, with the help of Captain Marvel, find Thanos for retribution. And that was only 10 minutes into the film.

What followed was three hours of the most action-packed, gut-wrenching, universe-shifting drama that closed the chapters on the storylines of some of our favorite superheroes.

The majority of the film takes place five years after the snap. The origi-

Relax, meditate, pray

nal six avengers, Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor and Hawkeye have all dealt with the aftermath in their own ways, but the return of Ant Man from the quantum realm jump starts the groups’ quest to undo the damage done

by Thanos.

Before, I watched “Avengers” films with certain expectations. But the snap of “Avengers: Infinity War” changed that for me. I came to this movie

with a sense of dread because I honestly didn’t know what was going to happen.

There were a couple of predictable parts, but the theories I had on what would take place were all wrong. I was genuinely surprised by what I saw.

And absolutely devastated.

There were two particular scenes that made me sob uncontrollably.

The first was a back-andforth where I didn’t know

who it would ultimately be. But the choice made sense. The second one, while I suspected before the film, wrecked me even more.

The second scene absolutely destroyed me.

But it was also necessary.

It helped close the chapter in a way that honored the past but provided motivation for the future.

And then there was the READ MORE ON PAGE A3

EMILY BECKMAN @EmilyBeckman7

Two new reflection rooms will be available on campus during finals week, offering a quiet place for people to relax, meditate or pray.

The rooms will be located in Stauffer-Flint Hall room 210A and Fraser Hall room 407. They will temporarily join a number of other reflection rooms at the University of Kansas.

Yvonnes Chen, associate professor of journalism, and Mike Thibodeau, co-president of the KU Mindfulness and Meditation Club, helped make the rooms available.

“Mike and I, we have been thinking about how we can make our student population more mindful,” Chen said.

Chen, who serves as an unofficial adviser to the KU Mindfulness and Meditation Club, said she saw a need for the rooms because of students’ anxiety in general, and particularly as finals week approaches.

“We notice that students have a lot of anxiety toward the end of the semester,

Samantha Hsu/KANSAN A book reading and signing of “Don’t Hide the Madness” took place in the KU bookstore Thursday, April 26.

Book recounts famous friendship RYLIE KOESTER @RylieKoester

Rachel Griffard/KANSAN The University provides reflection rooms in which students can hold practices related to their beliefs. especially during finals week,” Chen said. “And we have noticed a surge of activities on campus to try to ameliorate that anxiety level in our student population.”

Chen said she wanted to use the end of the semester as an opportunity to show students how to READ MORE ON PAGE A2

Imagine William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, two leading American authors of the 20th century, in their pajamas and robes chasing raccoons with their canes outside of Burroughs’ Lawrence home.

Retired University professor of English David Ohle was good friends with Burroughs and said he once witnessed this

moment.

Readers can get a further glimpse into the friendship and lives of Burroughs and Ginsberg in Steven Taylor’s book “Don’t Hide the Madness.”

The book is the transcription of a 16-hour conversation between Ginsberg and Burroughs that took place over a five-day period in Lawrence.

“It’s a primary document. This is not what I

think about Burroughs and Ginsberg — this is what they said to each other,” said Steven Taylor, the book’s editor.

Ginsberg and Burroughs were leading authors in the Beat Generation — a movement that included a group of authors who popularized and published post-war literature in the 1950s.

Burroughs lived in READ MORE ON PAGE A4

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Monday, April 29, 2019

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K A N S A N .C O M / N E W S

KU class launches Eudora newspaper

KYSER DOUGAN @KyserDougan

Real world experiences are critical for students’ learning, as assistant professor of journalism Teri Finneman can attest.

Students in one of Finneman’s classes are working as media for the city of Eudora, about 10 miles east of Lawrence.

Eudora, a town of roughly 6,300 people, lost its newspaper several years ago.

When Finneman learned this — she sprung into action. Eudora would be the obvious partner for her social media class at the University of Kansas.

“I couldn’t believe that a city of over 6,000 people didn’t have its own newspaper. So I decided to do something about it,” she said.

This is Finneman’s second semester teaching at the University. Previously at South Dakota State University, Finneman partnered with a local newspaper to let her class serve as its social media team.

“I’m a professor who really wants my students to get real world experience as much as possible because I know that’s what employers want out of future journalists,” Finneman said.

“They need them to know how to do the job.”

Finneman’s social media class began running the Eudora Events Facebook page to get information out to the citizens of Eudora.

“The people in Eudora really wanted to learn about the people in the community and what they were doing,” Finneman said. “Once I saw that, I realized that I needed to get more students involved.”

Finneman began incorporating students from her multimedia reporting class, bumping the total number of students on the project to double digits.

Finneman then created a website and named the paper The Eudora Times as a place for the community to share stories.

“In the last 12 weeks we have added 140 more fol-

Emma Pravacek/KANSAN Teri Finneman’s social media class helps a Eudora client begin a local paper. Finneman and journalism students created The Eudora Times this semester. lowers to their Facebook page… and then on our website there is anywhere from 60 to 300 people who are reading each of the stories,” she said.

Finneman said she believes the work the students are doing on the project will help show them the ins and outs of journalism.

“I think it’s a way for students to see that what they’re doing really matters. That accuracy is important. That content can have an impact,” she said.

Annalise Baines, a journalism graduate student in the social media class, said she is thankful for the hands-on experience gained during the project. “[The real-world experience] is part of why I wanted to take this class... because in my undergrad and my grad studies, I haven’t really had the chance to do that yet,” Baines said. “This class has provided me the perfect opportunity to do that.”

Riley Wilson, a junior majoring in journalism and a student in the multimedia reporting class as well, agrees. This was the first time Wilson wrote an article for a publication, and

she said the project helped her improve her interview skills.

“I used to be so awkward,” Wilson said. “Now I’ve learned how to become more conversational with people, what questions to ask. Without this experience, I don’t think I would have improved as much as I have this semester.”

The community has received the students and the newspaper well, Wilson said.

ed leading mindfulness activities at the beginning of her classes, she said. The activities can help students slow down and transition from one activity to another, but it’s important to do them correctly, Chen said.

One of the activities Chen leads focuses on breathing, and another focuses on self-compassion.

“I found that it’s a ceremony that brings everyone back to the present moment, regardless of the chatters that may be happening in your head,” Chen said.

Other reflection rooms on campus are located in Anschutz Library, the Burge Union, Danforth Chapel and Watson Library, according to the University Office of Diversity and Equity.

Jennifer Hamer, vice provost for the Office of Diversity and Equity, said in an email the growing number of reflection rooms at the University is a result of

the needs expressed by students.

“Reflection spaces are one aspect of providing a holistic student experience on campus — one that supports their overall well-being and academic success,” Hamer said. “KU Mindfulness and Meditation Club’s efforts to increase reflection rooms during a time in the semester when students are experiencing peak stress levels is a welcome addition to support services on campus.”

Chen and Thibodeau both said they hope the additional reflection rooms will become a long-term part of campus.

“Hopefully, we will be able to broaden it up so that it’s not just a space that’s available only during finals week, but it’s also a space that when students feel like there’s a need for reflection [or] contemplation, that’s a space that’s available for our students,” Chen said.

Teri Finneman KU professor

“They are such a cool community, and they want people to ask about them.

They want people to recognize what they’re doing,” Wilson said. “As a small town, I think, in between Lawrence and Kansas City, it can be overlooked very easily.”

Wilson said the project spotlights the importance of local journalism, as smaller communities like Eudora may not be a top

FROM PAGE A1

Rachel Griffard/KANSAN The University currently has reflection rooms in Anschutz Library.

“Sometimes when you’re really stressed, you just kind of want a place to go sit alone and catch your breath for a minute,” Thibodeau said. “It’s something that’s really helped me at KU is having those reflection rooms for needing to go catch my breath.”

Chen also saw a need for additional reflection rooms because of technology use.

When she walks into the

ered school board meetings.

“Certainly covering the school district in any way has been among our most popular coverage,” she said. “The school system and the newspaper tend to really be the center places that help hold a community together. It really makes sense that the two of them coming together is content that the community would really want.”

Mariah Brown, a junior from Eudora said the community enjoys having local media.

“I can tell that citizens of Eudora really love having an accessible, local news source from the comments, likes and shares on the Eudora Events Facebook page and from the comments on articles written for The Eudora Times,” she said in a text with the Kansan. “KU’s partnership with Eudora students is a great way to give our town a platform to voice the news and events of our community.”

Finneman plans to continue this project longterm. She said the project provides a way to teach students about news literacy and media entrepreneurship, while offering people insight into how news works at a time when “there are so many anti-media attitudes.”

“We are not the enemies of the people,” Finneman said. “We are truly here to try and make a difference so our communities are informed, entertained and educated about what is going on around them at the local level.”

“I couldn’t believe that a city of over 6,000 people didn’t have its own newspaper.”

REFLECTION ROOM incorporate mindfulness practices into their lives.

Chen and Thibodeau plan to curate playlists with soothing music and videos for guided meditation for people to use, she said.

The goal isn’t to get people to use the rooms, Chen said, but to introduce mindfulness techniques to students so they can learn to center themselves and ease their anxiety before final exams.

“I can also see that as a place where people can talk about their own mindfulness-based practices and maybe, is a group setting where people can exchange ideas to lead them to a more centered lifestyle,” Chen said.

Thibodeau, a fourthyear student from Fairway, said the rooms offer a space for people to take a moment for themselves.

priority for larger publications.

“Without the Eudora newspaper that Teri Finneman started, I don’t think people would ever know outside of Eudora — and even the people in Eudora — I don’t think people would know about all the cool things that happen there or the interesting people that live there,” she said.

Finneman said the most popular stories have cov-

classroom, all of her students are on their phones, she said.

“I was like, ‘How can I bridge the sort of personal technology use and then the official start of class time?’” Chen said. “I feel like the line is so blurred because we are using technology in our classroom for, obviously, beneficial reasons.”

So last year, Chen start-

KANSAN.COM

arts & culture Monday, April 29, 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

Local farm, nursery expands operation RYLIE KOESTER @RylieKoester

Lawrence nursery One Heart Farm and Nursery has recently expanded its operation, taking over most of what was once Sunrise Garden Center, located at 1501 Learnard Ave. The business now has nine fully functioning hoop houses, making more room for plants as the business heads into its fourth growing season.

“When people come in here, we want them as soon as they walk in to see how beautiful that this place has become once again,” co-owner Chris Black said.

The garden center has been operated by various nurseries for almost 100 years. Sunrise Garden Center closed in 2013.

Shortly after its closing, co-owners Black and Pete Flory of One Heart Farm and Nursery teamed up after being introduced by a mutual friend. They then moved into the space and began to work on its infrastructure.

Last year, the nursery only had about six-and-ahalf hoop houses, greenhouses, up and running behind the garden center. The expansion to the main greenhouse has also allowed for the nursery to post signage outside of the greenhouse.

Rylie Koester/KANSAN One Heart Farm and Nursery is heading into its fourth growing season. The Lawrence nursery recently expanded its operation.

“It took a lot of work to bring it up to not just be able to grow here but to have it look attractive and feel inviting once again,” Black said.

One Heart Farm and Nursery carries a variety of plants, including houseplants, blooming plants, succulents, annuals, perennials and tropi-

cal plants.

Flory said this year in particular, the nursery has put a focus on tropical plants because that is what Sunrise Garden

Rylie Koester/KANSAN One Heart Farm and Nursery has nine hoop houses. The business is now preparing for Mother’s Day, its busiest day of the year.

Center focused on in its years of operation.

“We carry things that you can’t get at other places here in town,” Black said.

One Heart Farm and Nursery also works with nonprofit organizations in Lawrence. It will work with the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence to do growing projects and workshops with students involved in the organization.

It has also recently started a program called Just Grow. The program will donate produce to Just Food, the nonprofit food bank in Lawrence.

One Heart Farm and Nursery even has a full hoop house dedicated to vegetables and produce to donate to the organization. Just Food currently has satellite gardens that provide much of its produce.

“We’re just trying to make it to where those gardens can be filled up at the beginning of the

year; they get the best production of food out of it, and we just want to make a sustainable farm,” Flory said.

In the future, Flory said he wants to increase produce donations to Just Food. He said One Heart Farm and Nursery plans to start a growing competition in the next few years where community members plant extra produce and donate it, getting a prize if they donate the most.

“I want to get it to where it’s hyper-local,” Flory said.

Spring is a busy time for One Heart Farm and Nursery. There’s one day in particular when a greenhouse gets most of its business that will keep the nursery particularly busy: Mother’s Day. “It’s like five Christmases wrapped up into one,” Flory said.

One Heart Farm and Nursery is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

‘AVENGERS: ENDGAME’ FROM PAGE A1

ending. The ending that neatly wrapped up the storyline of one Avenger.

For me, it was perfect.

The three hour runtime was a little long for me. Though there were a couple of scenes I could have lived without, overall it flowed nicely. It contained the perfect balance of humor and heartbreak with all the cameos you could ask for.

Looking back, this film will be ranked among the best along with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” and “Black Panther.”

And it belongs amongst them.

It was a quintessential superhero film but

felt like it had real stakes.

The problem with some hero films, or action films in general, is that there aren’t stakes; if the bad guy wins, not much will change. With “Endgame,” the stakes have never been higher, and we have never cared about these characters more.

For some of them, we’ve known for 11 years on screen and for decades in our hearts.

The “Avengers” franchise has come a long way since “The Avengers” premiered in 2012. The amount of heroes have has grown exponentially, but this film returned us to our original six and was full of throwbacks to remind viewers how far these characters have

Contributed photo “Endgame” is Captain Marvel’s first appearance in the Avengers series. come since their first moment on screen.

Was “Avengers: Endgame” the best film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? No. But it didn’t

need to be the best film; that wasn’t its purpose.

“Endgame” was crafted as the perfect ending for the last 11 years while also setting up storylines in

the universe for years to come. And if future Marvel films continue with their recent trend, I cannot wait to see what’s in store.

Rating: AP.S. There is no after-credits scene, but the first credits have a nice surprise for young and old fans alike.

KANSAN.COM

4 ARTS & CULTURE Q&A

Hembree lead singer talks new album RYLIE KOESTER @RylieKoester

All of the members of the band Hembree attended the University of Kansas at one point and will return to Lawrence for a show April 27 at the Bottleneck.

The indie rock band formed in Kansas City, Missouri, and is made up of members Isaac Flynn, Garrett Childers, Eric Davis, Austin Ward and Alex Ward. Hembree just released its debut album, “House on Fire,” April 26.

Hembree will also begin a 15-city tour as part of SiriusXM and Live Nation’s Alt Nation’s Advanced Placement Tour starting June 12.

The Kansan interviewed lead singer Flynn ahead of Hembree’s April 27 show at The Bottleneck.

The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Kansan: How did you form the band?

Isaac Flynn: We started playing in bands together right around the time that we all went to KU. Garrett, Eric and I were in a different band together. When that band ended, we weren’t really ready to be done playing music. We were really young at that point in time and started Hembree with some of the people in that previous band.

Then everyone went on their separate life path.

Contributed photo

Each member of indie rock band Hembree attended the University of Kansas.

Some people moved away, but we were like, “Let’s still do the band” because we love doing this, and it’s getting some momentum. It’s something that we’ve really always wanted to do.

At that point, we needed a drummer to tour with, so we called our friend Austin, and his brother Alex plays guitar with us. They’re a package deal — if you get one Ward brother, you get

Contributed photo Indie rock band Hembree’s debut album is titled “House on Fire.”

the other one. Naturally, because we’re such good friends with them, it made sense to bring them into the fold. That was just last year before we started finalizing the lineup for our record. We all became friends throughout that process. It just worked out pretty perfectly to bring them into the band.

Kansan: How would you describe your music and sound?

Flynn: It’s definitely a rock band at its core, but a lot of electronic elements are infused into it.

Kansan: What’s the inspiration behind your debut album, “House on Fire”?

It’s certainly a coming of age album. I started writing it post-college at about 23 or 24. There’s more uncertainty at that age: What is the next move in life? Is it music? Is it a certain career path? Is it back to school?

Where am I at with everything? It was some of my own personal life infused with the world we’re living in.

There’s definitely moments when the record is influenced by the current

necessarily know where the best songs came from or they feel a little beyond them. For me, “Heart” feels that way. I don’t necessarily know how I wrote it — it feels beyond me. It’s my favorite song because I think it’s the best song writing on the record.

Kansan: What is the inspiration behind your music in general?

Flynn: I’ve been obsessed with music my entire life. A big influence on the music that I’m making

through song.

I love writing songs because my personality is very upbeat. I’m a very positive person in general.

I think there’s an expectation of that positivity from me, and so to be able to grapple with darker aspects of life in music has been really good for me — it’s a good outlet.

Kansan: What has been a challenge you’ve come across in your career so far?

Flynn: A challenge has been to take the band from

something with momentum and hype behind it, and turning that into something that’s a full-time job.

We’re at the place in life where we are older than we were when we first started playing in bands. That is really beneficial in some ways, and then in other ways, it makes it more difficult because we’re at a stage in life where we have to survive. We can’t just couch surf and do all the things that were easier in college.

Kansan: What are you looking forward to for SiriusXM and Live Nation’s Alt Nation’s Advanced Placement Tour this summer?

Flynn: I’m really thrilled to be out playing music with my friends. We all live in different places now.

When we get to come together and play shows, it’s a really fulfilling experience because we’re very spread out. Every time we get to play, it’s just a really fun time for all of us because we don’t see each other like we used to in the traditional sense like having band practice every Tuesday night.

was a poet who wasn’t tied to a university or institution, making poetry seem more accessible to the generation of the time.

“He also opened things up by talking frankly about personal matters, including madness and sexuality,” Harrington said.

For “Don’t Hide the Madness,” Taylor first transcribed the tapes of the conversation between Ginsberg and Burroughs in 1992 while he worked for Burroughs.

Taylor transcribed about 300 pages, part of which was to be used for a magazine article.

Taylor first started working with Ginsberg when the author came to speak at his college. After the speech, Ginsberg asked for a guitar player to perform with, so Taylor grabbed his guitar and jumped on stage. After that, Taylor started working with Ginsberg and moved to New York.

“Then I was just

sucked into the vortex of the beatnik underground of the Lower East Side,” Taylor said.

Taylor discovered a transcription of the tapes in his closet in 2014 and had the idea to turn it into a book.

He listened to the tapes again and said the second time around was easier because he had digital copies rather than cassettes, like when he first transcribed the conversations.

One of the conversations chronicles an exorcism Burroughs had performed with a shaman because he believed he was possessed by a demon that had been a

factor in the accidental shooting of his wife years before.

The tapes also allow for a sense of their personal history. The two have relaxed conversations. They talk about their literary influences and quote endless poetry to each other, Taylor said.

The tapes and transcription relay the long history between two friends who also just happen to be leading authors of the 20th century.

“Imagine you had Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson sitting down for a conversation for five days,” Taylor said.

“Wouldn’t you want that?”

political climate. It’s also a very personal record to me and becoming who I am.

Kansan: What’s your favorite song on the album?

Flynn: “Heart.” I think it’s the most personal. I’ve heard a lot of songwriters I really respect say they don’t

is definitely the world that we’re living in. I care deeply for other people. You see a lot of sad things happening right now, and I think it’s a way for me to express and put those feelings of empathy or desire for making the world a little bit better out

“I think there’s an expectation of that positivity from me, and so to be able to grapple with darker aspects of life in music has been really good.”

Isaac Flynn Hembree lead singer

‘DON’T HIDE THE MADNESS’ FROM PAGE A1 Lawrence for about 15 years near the end of his life in a house located at 1927 Learnard Avenue.

Ginsberg often visited his good friend Burroughs in Lawrence.

Ginsberg, best known for his poem “Howl,” and other Beat poets introduced a different form of poetry in the 1950s.

The publisher of “Howl” was arrested and tried for disseminating obscene literature, but the poem was ultimately

ruled not obscene. The trial gained Ginsberg and other Beat poets national attention.

University English professor Joseph Harrington said Ginsberg used a much freer form that differed from previous poetry. Ginsberg also

Samantha Hsu/KANSAN A book reading and signing of “Don’t Hide the Madness” took place in the KU bookstore Thursday, April 26.

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FFA of the day: “I just typed ‘LFK’ into my GPS” Why is it that snapchat can send like an hour long video but my email is like “I’m sorry, that 2 second video is too large of a file” Another day another girl from my high school is pregnant “you can pry my vote for elizabeth warren from my dead, cold hands” “Who’s ready for another old white man vs. other, albeit slightly worse, old white man presidential election!!” taylor swift is dropping new music today and that’s ALL THAT MATTERS “Does meth wake you up?” “this guy is also canadian. I don’t trust him” my favorite part of the day is standing in a scalding hot shower and pretending I don’t exist for 15 minutes.

Cursed memes and chill?

“Spotify premium is great because I can listen to tainted love on repeat for as long as I want without any ads” i’m filling out a health form and have to answer mandatory questions about my sleep habits and stress levels. my poor doctor is gonna be so scared “I asked my mom for cash, so she’s paying for my drinks tonight” buying two drinks at the stadium seemed like a good idea until i saw it cost $23 Sometimes I just sit and think about Endgame and it destroys my soul. “let’s be honest, I was born pathetic”

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K A N S A N .C O M /O P I N I O N

Go outside. It’s good for you.

ALEX CATEFORIS @A_Cat24

Americans, on average, spend 90% of their lives indoors. The human animal has not evolved to live this way.

This spring, and moving forward, spend more time outside to improve your health and happiness and to strengthen your relationship with nature.

The human is a species of animal. We share 98% of our genome with apes, and only recently have the privileged among us discovered the comfort of the indoors, shielding us from nature’s unpredictable forces.

Although comfortable, the indoors can be unhealthy for our minds and bodies that were not designed for this lifestyle, much as our brains are confused by the pace, stress, options and technologies of modern life.

Americans no longer spend enough time in the sun. We are drawn to screens and the electricity that powers them and the soft couch that our bodies sink into with ease. These choices are not healthy.

According to the VELUX group, a company whose goal is to bring fresh air and daylight into homes, “[I]f you’re spending most of your time indoors, you’re probably not getting enough daylight, which leads to lower brain function, sleep quality, and productivity.”

Most of us would love to improve our sleep cycle, focus, and productivity, and by spending time outside, we not only improve our brain health, but we

Huntyr Schwegman/KANSAN Spring has officially sprung on campus with the blooming of flower-filled trees. Kansan columnist Alex Cateforis encourages people of all ages to spend more time outside and reap the health benefits. also become happier.

The 19th-century Romantic writers understood the power and joy in nature. Nature could cure the most miserable afflictions.

Even Mary Shelley’s Victor Frankenstein, the creator of a “monster,” found peace in the outdoors.

Shelley, in her iconic novel Frankenstein, writes of Victor’s journey to Mont Blanc: “Some turn in the road, some new object suddenly perceived and recognized, reminded me of days gone by, and were associated with the light-hearted gaiety of boyhood. The very winds whispered in soothing

accents, and maternal Nature bade me weep no more.”

Our modern day monsters are not superhuman creatures but tests, deadlines, broken relationships, bills, and expenses.

Being outside, taking a walk, exploring the woods, or breathing in some fresh air can help us monetarily disconnect from these stressors and rejuvenate our spirit. As William Wordsworth suggests, at times, “The World Is Too Much With Us.” Losing touch with nature in the modern era has profound consequences for Earth’s environment,

such as global warming, rampant deforestation, and desertification of once fertile lands.

care facilities. Above all else it is crucial for the information the census gathers to be accurate.

Donald Trump has suggested adding a citizenship question to the census.

This question would severely undermine the very function of the census in the first place. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court heard arguments regarding this question, one that three federal judges have deemed illegal, and the

five conservative members seem prepared to allow it to go into effect.

It seems pretty obvious why a question like this on the census would make the results of the census practically unusable. Many immigrants, legal or not, would opt to not fill out the census in order to protect their place in this country. Why wouldn’t they? In a political climate that is unwelcoming to immigrants of any kind, it seems reasonable

to try to keep your immigration status out of the spotlight.

One government estimate states that up to 6.5 million people could sit out the census if this question goes into effect. This could result in states losing federal funding that they need to care for the number of people actually within the state, and even in some states losing seats in the House of Representatives because of skewed population numbers.

The question itself is a thinly veiled political move against immigrants in this country. While conservatives defending the addition of the questions say it could help to combat voter fraud, they don’t specify exactly what vote fraud they’re referring to. There’s strong evidence that voter fraud is rare, almost non-existent, especially voter fraud committed by non-citizens, that it’s negligible when considering results in elections.

By rare, I mean there were 10 credible cases found between 2000 and 2012. This question would be “solving” a problem that doesn’t even

Americans no longer spend enough time in the sun. We are drawn to screens and the electricity that powers them...

We must spend more time outside not only for ourselves but also for our environment, reacquainting ourselves with sunshine, grass, bugs, plants,

birds — the ecological system responsible for life on Earth. When we mend our relationship with the outside, we begin to take care of the natural world.

Start taking walks between classes, observing the changing colors of the trees, and bathing in the sunlight, not only to tan your skin but also to improve your happiness and well-being. The human animal is healthiest outdoors, where our brains and bodies long to be.

Alex Cateforis is a senior from Lawrence studying English, French and art history.

Proposed census question is thinly veiled BRIANNA WESSLING @briwessling

The United States census, held every 10 years, is meant to obtain a count of every person living in the United States. The information it gathers is used in a variety of ways, including in drawing congressional districts, determining funding amounts for federal programs, and determining where to build things like schools, roads, and health

My white suburban mom moment of the day came whenever I cut 2 fingers while changing the water filter for my Brita.

“Avengers tea is that thanos would never have won in the first place if Hillary was President.”

“Thanos is just purple Shrek” Contributed file photo Columnist Brianna Wessling takes a look at President Trump’s latest census question proposal which acts as a thinly-veiled political move.

how to submit a letter to the editor

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contact us Shaun Goodwin Emma Greenwood Editor-in-chief Business Manager sgoodwin@kansan.com egreenwood@kansan.com

exist in the U.S. Adding this question to the census would only prevent the government from collecting actual credible information about the population of this country.

There’s no voter fraud crisis happening that needs immediate and aggressive action. There’s no reason to sacrifice gaining this necessary information.

The addition of this question is nothing more than an attempt to politicize something that should be beyond politics, the U.S. census.

While the ultimate decision is in the hands of the Supreme Court, who will likely make their decision in June, it’s important to remember who put two of those justices on the court in the first place. It’s even more important to consider how many Justices the next president will get to appoint, and what kind of decisions we hope those justices will make.

Brianna Wessling is a sophomore from Omaha, Nebraska, studying English and journalism.

editorial board

Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Shaun Goodwin, Savanna Smith, Aroog Khaliq and Emma Greenwood.

KANSAN.COM

SPORTS

7

ANALYSIS

KU baseball has little room for error JACK JOHNSON @JohnyJ_15

Forty-two games in, Kansas baseball has hovered around the .500 mark for the better part of conference play. Needing a significant push heading toward the Big 12 tournament, the Jayhawks won’t be able to afford any minor setbacks much longer.

In a season that has seen its fair share of ups and downs, mixed in with a ridiculous amount of postponements, the Jayhawks have fared better than most envisioned after replacing a large chunk of their pitching staff.

Led by redshirt sophomore pitcher Jonah Ulane, who posts a 2.96 ERA and eight saves, Kansas has received the most production from a spot that had massive shoes to fill from 2018. Sliding into former closer Zack Leban’s role, who was drafted 357th overall in the 2018 MLB draft by the Miami Marlins, Ulane has been a rock in what has been a shaky foundation of the bullpen.

Perhaps the most intriguing draft target for professional teams is the hard-throwing junior pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn out of Topeka. Holding hitters to an .196 batting average with 78 strikeouts in 11 starts, Zeferjahn has been as advertised for the Jayhawks in 2019. However, his command at times has led to sub-par outings.

In 62.2 innings, Zeferjahn has issued 33 walks and has hit a team-leading 14 batters.

On the offensive side, a pair of juniors, catcher Jaxx Groshans and shortstop Benjamin Sems have paved the way in the lineup’s production.

Groshans, who leads the team in average (.343), hits (49), home runs (11), and runs batted in (35), has molded into one of

the conferences most dynamic hitters. Adding to his impressive resume, his defensive numbers have been stable behind the dish. Showcasing a .988 fielding percentage in 324 chances, Groshans has only tallied three errors in the fields most active position.

For Sems, his .309 batting average ranks second on the team and his 11 stolen bases lead the Jayhawks. One of two players to start in all 39 games, Sems has proved to be a tough out for opposing pitchers and a creator of havoc on the basepaths.

Recording the most double plays in the infield with 20, his reliability on defense has given relief to not only coach Ritch Price, but to the younger pitching staff as well.

With 13 regular season games remaining on the schedule, in which half are on the road, the Jayhawks will look to head into the conference tournament above .500. Fortunately for the Jayhawks, two of the opponents sit under .500 (Air Force, Kansas State) and two of the three schools with winning records sit in sixth and eighth place in the conference (TCU, Texas).

Although sitting in dead last of the Big 12, the Jayhawks will have their fair share of chances to surpass some teams ahead of them in the standings.

If they fail in doing so, the last hope will turn to create a considerable amount of noise in the conference tournament in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Lose there, and the season could stumble on its last legs.

next game

at USAF

Tues., April 30 4 p.m.

Chance Parker/KANSAN Freshman pitcher Jonah Ulane pitches the ball against Missouri State Tuesday, March 27. The Bears defeated The Jayhawks 12-2 at Hoglund Ballpark.

Personal-bests run rampant for KU track & field LOGAN FRICKS @LoganFricks

On the final day of the National Relay Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Kansas track and field set numerous personal-bests along with snagging multiple wins.

Junior distance runner Bryce Hoppel continued his streak of individual victories as he has now gone

325 days without losing an individual race. Hoppel ran a 1:45.87 in the 800-meter dash to set a meet record and put himself at No. 2 in the country.

Sophomore distance runner Ethan Donley set a personal-best in the 800-meter dash, finishing with a 1:52.19 time in the event, placing him in sixth place.

Both the men’s and

women’s high jump teams took the crown with jumpers senior Joel Long and freshman Rylee Anderson both placing first. Long jumped 1.95-meters while Anderson reached 1.82-meters.

In the men’s 400-meter hurdles, junior Cody Johnson ran a personal best 50.73 to finish in second.

Johnson’s time is the fifth best in Kansas history.

Maggie Gould/KANSAN Junior Bryce Hoppel smiles after running the 4x400 meter relay at the Kansas Relays Saturday, April 20.

Sophomore pole vaulter Zach Bradford followed up his record-setting performance at the Kansas Relays with a second place finish.

Bradford cleared 5.62-meters to tie the meet record with the victor of the event, Baylor’s KC Lightfoot.

Freshman hurdler Cordell Tinch ran 13.89 in the 110-meter hurdles to take second in the event.

The men’s 4x800-meter relay team took second in the event, running a 7:44:01. The team consisted of Hoppel, Donley, redshirt freshman Jack Young and junior Marcus Quere.

Senior mid-distance runner Marleena Eubanks took second in the women’s 800-meter run. Eubanks ran a 2:05:12, which is the third best time in Kansas

Junior distance runner Bryce Hoppel continued his streak of individual victories as he has now gone 325 days without losing...

history.

In the 1500-meter run, senior Courtney Griffiths and sophomore Lauren Harrell ran personal-bests.

Griffiths ran a 4:25:62 to take fourth while Harrell ran 4:33:56 to take fifth.

In total, 22 personal-bests were set on Saturday for the Jayhawks.

next meet Ward Haylett Invitational

Fri., May 3 11 a.m.

sports

SPORTS

8

Monday, April 29, 2019

KANSAN.COM

K A N S A N .C O M /S P O R T S

KU baseball claims series vs. Furman

Redshirt junior pitcher Ryan Cyr pitches against Oklahoma State. Kansas was defeated by Oklahoma State 6-27 Friday, April 12.

DARBY HAYS @derbhays11 Following the Jayhawks’ 11-7 win in the series opener against Furman Friday night, Saturday told an opposite tale as Kansas was shut out, losing 3-0 in the process.

The Jayhawks were only able to get two hits, coming from junior shortstop Benjamin Sems and sophomore pinch hitter Tom Lichty. “[Furman pitcher Da-

vid Dunlavey] absolutely dominated our hitters,” Kansas coach Ritch Price said, according to a Kansas Athletics press release. “His ability to pound the zone with that slider was one of the best performances we’ve seen in a while.”

Junior righty Ryan Cyr took the hill for Kansas in the loss, throwing a complete game. Over his day of work, he allowed seven hits and one walk while striking out six Furman

batters.

This isn’t the first time Cyr has struggled to get run support during his efforts on the mound, as the Jayhawks have only scored one total run during his three complete-game performances.

“It was a quality start for him, all we could have asked for, especially after using [Blake] Goldsberry and [Jonah] Ulane last night,” Price said. “For him to go CG and only al-

Rachel Griffard/KANSAN

low three runs, he gave us as good of a performance as we could have asked for.”

In the rubber match on Sunday morning, the Jayhawks rebounded quickly, jumping out to a 12-0 lead in just the fourth inning on the way to a 15-1 win.

Offensively, Sems led the charge with two home runs and five RBI’s, both marks tied his career highs. Following him was junior left fielder Brett

Vosik and junior second basemen James Cosentino, both with three RBI’s on the day.

On the mound, redshirt freshman lefty Eli Davis was called upon and did not disappoint, throwing seven innings of shutout baseball gicing up just four hits. This matched Davis’ best performance of the season when he threw seven shutout innings against Northern Illinois earlier this year.

“It was a really nice outing for him today. If we continue to get starting pitching like this, I like our chances going into the end of the year.”

Price said.

After the road series win for the Jayhawks, moving them to 22-20 on the season, they will travel to play against Air Force in a two game series on Tuesday and Wednesday.

FROM PAGE A1

short.

In the final games at Arrocha Ballpark, Bermel went 1-for-3 and senior outfielder Jennifer Marwitz went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

After the game, Bermel

other people play on this field and then now finally I got to do it for my last game.”

Bermel had an opportunity to tie the game coming to bat with two on in the seventh and down three, but she was unable to put the ball in play and struck out.

However, Bermel still felt like she had a good at bat.

“If you can stay on it then you can hopefully get a hit off of [Elish] and I got one earlier in the game so I was hoping it would turn out the same way and I think I had a good at bat and it didn’t turn out the way I hoped but it was still fun,” Bermel said.

SOFTBALL

Chance Parker/KANSAN Senior pitcher Brynn Minor pitches against Texas. The Jayhawks fell to the Longhorns 4-2 Sunday, April 28.

athletes of the week

chance in the third when senior outfielder Emily Bermel and redshirt freshman infielder Sydnee Ramsey gave Kansas two on with one out, but the Jayhawks were unable to score in the inning.

Kansas finally broke through in the seventh inning as a leadoff double by junior infielder Madison Sykes was followed up by a pinch hit single by sophomore pitcher/utility Tarin Travieso drove her in to give Kansas its first run.

Ramsey gave Kansas some more life as she hit an RBI single up the middle to cut the lead to 4-2, getting the go-ahead run to the plate in the form of sophomore outfielder Brittany Jackson.

Jackson hit a sharp chopper to the pitcher but was unable to beat it out, and the rally fell

Jeff Doty Men’s Golf

Participating in his first conference postseason competition, redshirt freshman Jeff Doty was the Jayhawks’ top finisher at the Big 12 Championships in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.

Tapping in eight birdies over the course of his three rounds, Doty finished the tournament with a score of 214, putting him fourover par for a 21st place finish. As a team, the Jayhawks finished ninth overall.

“It’s just bittersweet, and it’s pretty surreal. It’s been a long time coming.”

Emily Bermel senior

reflected on her last home game as a Jayhawk.

“It was cool. Luckily, our season isn’t over today too so it wasn’t as sad as it could’ve been,” Bermel said. “It’s just bittersweet, and it’s pretty surreal. It’s been a long time coming.

It’s cool to have been here for awhile and watch

next game

at Iowa St.

Benjamin Sems

Fri., May 3 4 p.m.

Baseball For the second time this season, junior shortstop Benjamin Sems cleared the fence twice, propelling the Jayhawks to a 15-1 victory in their season finale against Furman on Sunday. The junior’s first homerun came early in the first inning, setting the tone for offensive showcase put on by Kansas through the remainder of the day. Sems’ second long ball in the fourth kick started an eight-run inning for the Jayhawks.

Day in the Life

HS

2

KANSAN.COM

DAY IN THE LIFE

TOM BABB

Senior adapts to life following severe injury

Johnny Meehan/KANSAN Tom Babb is a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. His brothers assist with a number of daily tasks like eating and going to bed.

COURTNEY BIERMAN @courtbierman The C5 vertebra is located in between the shoulder blades and the skull, a few inches below the nape of the neck. It’s one of seven vertebrae responsible for protecting the region of the spinal cord related to breathing, speech and limb movement. It’s also the spot where Tom Babb snapped his neck.

Three-and-a-half years

within five minutes of talking to someone they understand that my life doesn’t suck and I’ve kind of figured it out. I think most people with visible problems, as I was saying, get pity, and that’s just something you’ve got to live with.”

Babb’s outlook is part of his larger philosophy: No one gets through life unscathed.

“Everyone in life has a problem,” Babb said.

“Maybe their dad died,

“Everyone in life has a problem.

Maybe their dad died, maybe they didn’t do as well in school one semester and that was hard on them. Mine is that I’m paralyzed, and it’s so visible right away.”

Tom Babb Senior

after a freak accident while on vacation with his family, Babb is graduating. He took a semester off after the injury to learn how to operate in his new body and returned to the University in fall 2016 to finish his journalism degree.

“It’s totally different from what it used to be, but I’ve lived this now for three years and I’ve done school this way,” Babb said. “It’s not really tough for me.”

Babb can no longer walk, but he has regained his ability to breathe without a ventilator and move his arms. He has a staff of three nurses and relies on his Beta Theta Pi fraternity brothers for things like eating and getting into bed, but life is good. He’s well on his way to a career in advertising.

He has supportive friends and family. He’s happy, and he doesn’t want pity.

“I just want to be a person at this point. I don’t want to be the inspiring guy,” Babb said. “I think

maybe they didn’t do as well in school one semester and that was hard on them. Mine is that I’m paralyzed, and it’s so visible right away.”

“It’s kind of weird,” he continued. “But for some reason that keeps me happier because I don’t have something bundled up inside that I’m not telling anyone about.”

The injury happened in December of 2015 when Babb was a freshman. His family was on a beach in Maui, Hawaii.

Babb was body surfing and ducked into a wave that pushed him into the sea floor. He said he knew instantly that he was paralyzed.

“I didn’t know what being paralyzed was, so how on earth would I know that I was paralyzed?” he said. “It was just this feeling of like, ‘Oh, shit.’”

He was pulled out of the water and laid on the beach. He was taken to one hospital on Maui and then another on Oahu, where he woke up three

days later.

That was the hardest part of the recovery.

Tubes covered Babb’s body, and he couldn’t speak or breathe on his own. He cried for days.

It wasn’t until he was transferred to Craig Hospital outside of Denver, Colorado — one of the best rehabilitation centers in the country — that things began to seem OK. Babb was placed on a “team” with his family and medical professionals, who spoke frankly about his prognosis but also encouraged him to focus on his recovery.

“They motivated the hell out of me right away,” Babb said. “I got back into the swing of things. I was able to start learning things again, and I wasn’t as sad. It was cool.”

LIFE AS A STUDENT Babb’s day begins at 8 a.m. in the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house on Tennessee Street. A nurse helps him bathe and dress, and another Beta helps him eat breakfast.

Unless the weather is bad, Babb rolls himself up the 14th Street hill and spends the day in journalism and business classes.

And then he’s good for the afternoon. He said he can usually go about eight hours without assistance from a nurse or classmate. One advantage of being paralyzed, Babb said, is he doesn’t have to take notes in class.

He borrows them from someone else. He’s found women have the best handwriting.

“I normally find a girl who I know is organized, and she sends me her notes,” he said. “It’s actually a great perk because I don’t have to take notes, and I get all these color-coded notes. And I’m like, ‘Holy shit.’”

He returns to the

house at the end of the day, where he spends the evening with his fraternity brothers and biological brother, Adam, who is also a Beta.

Adam Babb is a sophomore studying accounting. He was a junior in high school when Tom became paralyzed. The injury put the University on Adam’s radar after he saw how supportive the community was.

Tom’s pledge class went to Colorado to initiate him during his recovery; they spread the word about various fundraising efforts on the Babb family’s behalf and decided to retrofit the house to accommodate Tom’s wheelchair. The Beta Theta Pi brothers even helped found a marathon and scholarship in Tom’s honor, the TomStrong5k.

Adam said helping his brother is a “shared load” at the fraternity house.

“There’s 90 guys in the house that can help out. It’s kind of nice because it’s not necessarily me having to do all this stuff, all the things he needs other people to do

for him,” Adam said. “Everyone’s always willing to help.”

The Betas help Tom eat dinner and put him in bed. They get creative.

Tom said having quadriplegia encourages innovation, such as when he got tired of the long, nightly process of using a special, crane-like machine to place him in bed.

“One day, someone was like, ‘Dude, let me just pick you up and throw you in bed.”

LIFE AFTER COLLEGE Tom wants a workplace environment like he had at his summer internship at marketing agency VML in Kansas City. He’s in the final round of interviews for an advertising job in the area. He likes the vibe there, too — it’s friendly without coddling him for his disability.

It’s easy for Tom to go about his day now, but he’ll have to get used to a whole new routine after graduation.

“I’m scared for that because I got paralyzed in college,” he said. “I did my

three years, and I really do think that I’ve kind of mastered being paralyzed, but I think I’ve mastered being paralyzed in college. So now I’m going to go out into the real world, which is scary for most people after college, but now I have to figure out how to do life in the real world being paralyzed.

I’m excited, scared, motivated and all of the above, really.”

Advances in medical technology are also on the horizon. The Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center is leading the charge of paralysis recovery. An ultra hightech treatment involving electrical stimulation of spinal nerves is in development. It’s in very early stages, but it’s promising enough that Tom said he expects to walk again in five or ten years. But he’s not in a rush.

“It’s funny,” he said.

“All my friends are like...’Dude, that is so stupid. You have to go do it right now.’ I was like, ‘Guys, I’m about to get a job. I’m not sad. Just give me a few years.’”

Johnny Meehan/KANSAN Senior Tom Babb was paralyzed in an accident in December of 2015, while he was a freshman at KU. Next month, he will graduate on time and with his class.

KANSAN.COM

DAY IN THE LIFE

HONG ZHANG

3

Hair-inspired art explores Asian identity

Johnny Meehan/KANSAN Hong Zhang stands in front of one of the paintings in her exhibit that runs from through Friday, April 26 at the Fayman Gallery, 927 1/2 Massachusetts St.

RYLIE KOESTER @RylieKoester Lawrence-based artist Hong Zhang incorporates an important aspect of herself and her identity into her art: hair.

“I always use hair for more meanings beyond the surface,” Zhang said.

Zhang has been surrounded by art her entire life. Her parents are retired art professors and her two sisters are also artists. Zhang said her parents gave her and her sisters art supplies to teach themselves growing up.

“They didn’t really just hold our hands to teach us how to paint,” Zhang said. “We basically learned how to work by just watching them.”

Zhang grew up in China, and at 15, she and her twin sister Bo won

a national competition to attend the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing where she honed her skills. She later attended graduate school in the United States to explore new forms and concepts in her art before moving to Kansas in 2015.

Today, Zhang works primarily with charcoal and ink mediums. She paints in the traditional Chinese fine-style ink painting that is thousands of years old. Her work has been displayed nationally and internationally at places like the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. Elizabeth Schultz, a retired University of Kansas English professor, met Zhang through twin sister. Schultz and Zhang have been friends

since 2007. Schultz said Zhang is an “amazingly kind, good hearted, and generous-spirited individual.” As an artist, Schultz said Zhang is transformative, has an

— it has this long history, and she can make it fresh as today.”

Zhang finds time to balance her daily life as an artist, mother, teacher and friend.

“That’s kind of my trademark.

Hair represents me and my twin sister’s own identity as an Asian woman — as a female beauty in the Asian culture.”

Hong Zhang Lawrence artist

exquisite eye and is connected to place as an idea in her work.

“I think that Hong uses a traditional style that is many thousands of years old to create a new vision,” Schultz said. “She brings a very traditional style of painting which is from a different culture

ART STUDIO Zhang spends about four to six hours a day working in her home art studio. Smaller works made of charcoal often take her about two to three weeks to complete.

Zhang has previously

made larger works, one of which is “Life Strands” that is 5-by-30 feet and took her months to complete.

Zhang is best known for art that depicts hair, which has come to represent a part of her identity. She first got inspiration from hair because she and her twin sister have had long black hair since high school.

She first created a piece inspired by hair as a selfportrait of herself and her sister in 2002.

“That’s kind of my trademark,” Zhang said.

“Hair represents me and my twin sister’s own identity as an Asian woman — as a female beauty in the Asian culture.”

Zhang said she finds inspiration from her art through everyday life experiences, having lived in two different cultures and locations.

She gets inspiration from being curious and paying attention to her surroundings.

She once did a series of art called “Hairy Objects,” where she explored the unattractive and humorous side of hair.

The series depicts hair in everyday items, such as a hamburger, an egg and an ice cream cone.

“I found hair everywhere in my house, so I wanted to address different aspects of looking at long hair,” Zhang said.

CALLIGRAPHY

Johnny Meehan/KANSAN Hong Zhang shows off “Twister,” her main piece in the exhibit that is inspired by her hair and the Kansas landscape.

Another important part of Zhang’s day is teaching a Chinese calligraphy class at the University in the Center for East Asian Studies.

She spends much of her day preparing for the class.

In class, Zhang does step-by-step

demonstrations of how to write Chinese characters, so she practices them herself before class. She goes over the structure, composition and general history. Zhang also helps the students learn to hold the brush in the proper way and learn the right technique.

GALLERY SHOWINGS

Zhang also spends some of her days at gallery showings. She has a gallery in Kansas City where she displays her work. She recently had a show with her two sisters Bo and Ling called “Journey to the West: Works on Paper by Three Chinese Sisters” at the Fayman Gallery in downtown Lawrence.

Zhang and her sisters’ work in the show is inspired by nature. Zhang’s pieces in particular are inspired

by Kansas nature scenes.

Her pieces depict the Flint Hills and iconic tornados, which all also incorporate her signature use of hair.

“The Kansas prairie, when the wind blows, looks like an ocean of hair,” Zhang said.

Zhang’s art often works with hair both literally and figuratively.

While one piece might show a Kansas prairie, at the same time, its many brushstrokes resemble hair. The works show traditional landscapes but have more meaning beneath the surface, she said.

“I wanted to still add my trademark of hair as a line to add another layer in the traditional composition of landscape and create something that’s dealing with Kansas beauty of nature,” Zhang said.

4

KANSAN.COM

DAY IN THE LIFE

ZYRIE BERRY-HENDRICKS

Human relationships the crux of life

Maggie Gould/KANSAN Student Zyrie Berry-Hendricks is a very involved student at the University, working in many different activities and clubs including the Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Center.

KYSER DOUGAN @KyserDougan At a time when so many people are connected to their devices as opposed to other humans, it’s always nice to meet someone like Zyrie Berry-Hendricks.

Berry-Hendricks said human connection is all we have, and he tries to meet someone new at least once a day.

“Meet at least one new person everyday is definitely my goal. There is plenty of people to meet out there, plenty of stories,” he said. “Finding that connection really helps me get through some difficult situations.”

GROWING UP AND CHOOSING KU Berry-Hendricks grew up not far from Lawrence, in Topeka. He started out as an astrophysics major but changed to Social Welfare his sophomore year after volunteering with the Sexual Trauma & Abuse Care Center.

“I definitely love doing that kind of work, and so I fell in love with it. I said maybe social work is the way to go and signed up for a social work class my second semester sophomore year.” he said.

Growing up in Topeka led Berry-Hendricks down the path of social work.

“Topeka has a much larger, diverse population than Lawrence does. Because of that a lot of things like institutional oppression, sexism, heterosexism, things like that, definitely show up in spaces a lot more there than they do here in Lawrence,” he said.

Berry-Hendricks had his college choice narrowed down to three options. Ultimately it came down to being cheaper, closer to family and the campus.

“I love the campus.

When I took my tour for the first time I just loved the way it looked. I love seeing the the people on Jayhawk [Boulevard]. So, I was like, ‘Yeah, this is the place I need to be,’” he said.

CURRENT DAY IN THE LIFE As a student Berry-Hendricks works for the African and African American Studies Department (AAAS), the Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Center (SAPEC) and for the School of Social Welfare on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council (DEI).

Berry-Hendricks currently helps SAPEC with marketing and promotion, as well as engages in conversations with students around campus as a peer mentor. His colleague, Sony Heath, who is a prevention educator for SAPEC, spoke very highly of Berry-Hendricks’ work in the office.

“Zyrie has been such a wonderful addition to my experience as a staff member in the office. He is a thoughtful, intelligent student who cares deeply about advocacy and violence prevention,” Heath said.

Although he’s got several commitments, Berry-Hendricks said his top

Maggie Gould/KANSAN Junior Zyrie Berry-Hendricks is studying Social Welfare with a minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

priority is working to create opportunity for students of color as well as social welfare students.

“I love the work that I do at SAPEC. I love the work that I do at AAAS, but right now my primary focus is definitely DEI, making sure that this school, when I leave, has at least some representation and some policy that helps students of color,” he said.

programming and Zyrie has been a leader in helping us speak to students and guide us to create creative, intentional programming,” she said.

If Berry-Hendricks could change one thing before he graduates, he said it would be making sure the University listens more to students of color.

“There are so many more [students of color] than I

“I think human relationships are so crucial to development, so crucial to your identity, so crucial to just a lot of who you are.”

Zyrie Berry-Hendricks junior

Berry-Hendricks’ favorite thing about the University is the people.

As for a normal day, Berry-Hendricks wakes up at 6 a.m., drives to the Lied Center and walks to his 8 a.m. social welfare classes.

The rest of his day is spent at the various organizations he works at or volunteers for at the University. The other one-third of Berry-Hendricks’ life is just like any other college students’: socializing and meeting new people.

Berry-Hendricks said he is drawn to people and that making human connections is something that has become underrated.

“As silly as that sounds, I think human relationships are so crucial to development, so crucial to your identity, so crucial to just a lot of who you are,” he said.

Heath also said Berry-Hendricks has been very compassionate and charismatic in the programming he has done for SAPEC. “He has been a great representative for our office and has informed other students about what it means to be a peer mentor.

We know that students must be at the center of our

think the University likes to observe, but also too little for my personal taste. I feel like we should enroll a lot more students of color, give more access to students of color, but also make their voices heard,” he said.

Berry-Hendricks also believes the University needs to think about its past and work to create a better future.

“An institution like the University of Kansas is inherently classist, inherently racist, because of the systems that it was built on. We really need to think about where we came from, where we are going and what our real motivations are. Are we only here for money or are we here to give an education? Are we here to give an education to the certain few or to everyone equally?” he said.

POST GRADUATION PLANS After completing his undergraduate degree, Berry-Hendricks plans on earning his Master’s in Social Work and becoming a practitioner or, more likely, school social worker.

“Private practice doesn’t

really speak to me as much as it used to. I really want to be accessible for these kiddos and make sure that they can access someone to talk to when they need it,” he said.

Eventually Berry-Hendricks wants to get his Doctorate to help change policy and do research on sexual and gender-based violence for communities of color, something he is drawn to due to the lack of research that has been done.

“There is no research out there. My motto is unless there is scientific evidence of how we should go about a practice or trauma prevention, intervention and also social work, counseling and things like that, I feel like not having evidence based practice is a slippery slope,” Berry-Hendricks said.

With the research that has been done, Berry-Hendricks said it’s mostly for cis-het-white women.

Through research, practices can be better tailored to the needs of people of color and those in the LGBT community, he said.

“Finding that data to then implement best practices is really important so that we can actually be effectual when we are trying to help these people instead of wasting their time or their money,” he said.

If Berry-Hendricks does get his Ph.D., he said he wants his research on communities of color to be personal. In addition, he said he wants his future endeavors to impact people’s lives.

“I don’t want it to be something that I find out and then don’t apply. I really want to go hands on and make sure that the practices that I’m doing are correct. And then help people.

That’s really what it all boils down to, ‘How can I help people the best in the least amount of time and the least amount of money for them?’” he said.

KANSAN.COM

DAY IN THE LIFE

5

OLIVIA JONES

KU radio DJ paves way for fresh music HAYLEY MICHEL @KansanNews

For Olivia Jones, a sophomore from Waterville, Maine, music is practically her whole life. Between deejaying for the University’s radio station, KJHK, majoring in journalism with a minor history, and organizing the live music events on campus, Jones has spent the year actualizing her passion for the music industry.

Stepping into these roles, Jones didn’t have previous experience beyond her personal interest in music. During her semester in these roles, Jones says she has learned a tremendous amount about herself and leadership, especially in her role as an events coordinator for live music campus.

Benji Bloom, live music coordinator for KJHK, works jointly with Jones, who says their lives are very much entwined.

“We get called the dynamic duo. This job can’t be done alone. No decisions can be made alone,” Jones said. “It takes more than one person otherwise things fall through the cracks.”

Both Jones and Bloom want this to be their careers and shared their biggest piece of advice: “Experience is your greatest asset.”

Jones and Bloom are gaining immense amounts of experience when planning and coordinating every live music event on campus.

While recognizing that they can never satisfy everyone, they work diligently to build relationships and connections in order to offer students the best experiences possible.

“We know that

students are interested in live music, and we are taking live music to the next level. We want to change the way students and the community experience live music on a college campus,” Bloom said.

BEFORE THE SHOW

Jones spends her days in classes, much like most students on campus; however, her days are also always spent working on coordinating a live event or deejaying for KJHK. When her school day is over, she is in the KJHK studio collaborating with Bloom and their team for live music.

Months in advance, Jones and Bloom were reaching out to both local and national production and talent agencies to plan events. Established connections through SUA and KJHK provide the coordinators with working relationships with these agencies.

When reaching out to agencies, dates and budgets vary, and Jones and her team suggest a general genre or vibe.

Then, Jones will hear back from the agency, which provides a list of potential performers.

The process continues as Jones, Bloom and the Live Music Committee consider many factors when choosing performers. The team always aims to sell out a show, but in order to do this every aspect of the show must be considered.

When determining who will perform at the University, Jones and Bloom determine who they are trying to reach as their target audience.

Students on campus are always going to be the audience they consider first.

Contrbiuted photo KJHK DJ and music coordinator Olivia Jones leads a team of radio hosts that helps bring live performers to the University and the Lawrence area.

“There are questions we try to ask ourselves.

What can we do within our budget? How will it work? How can we reach as many people are possible? What are

Contributed photo KJHK DJ and music coordinator Olivia Jones and her team have helped bring in performers to the Lawrence area such as Jesse McCartney.

current trends?” Jones said.

Relevance and timeliness are two of the biggest factors in evaluating potential performers. Jones and Bloom say they are trying to predict future popularity, which they say is the hardest but most fun part of their job.

They want to make sure a performer will still be cool and fit with trends when the show actually happens later.

“Right now nostalgia is the trend. People want to feel like a kid. That’s why we did Jesse McCartney and why he appealed to people when he isn’t really a name you have heard recently. If we tried doing that show in two years, it wouldn’t have worked,” Bloom said.

Once performers are finally booked, Jones works with the agencies and performer’s teams to establish contracts for the show. Details and events are planned and finalized the months following, leading up to the show.

THE SHOW “What can I help you with?”

This has become Jones’ mantra in this position, especially on the day of a show. Leading up to the show, Jones and Bloom are the main point of contact for the performers and

their team. This can be Jones being in contact with a performer’s touring manager, which can be beneficial when a performer has a large team like Action Bronson did, or Jones can be in contact with the performer directly, which happened in the instance of Jesse McCartney.

her team like getting the chance to see the audience truly enjoying a performance.

POST-SHOW

After an event finishes, Jones and her team can breathe easy. Jones closes out the show, making sure all expenses are turned in

“Right now nostalgia is the trend. People want to feel like a kid. That’s why we did Jesse McCartney and why he appealed to people when he isn’t really a name you have heard recently.”

Olivia Jones sophomore

Jones and her team work to make sure everything is happening the way it should be happening, whether with the performers and their team or the venue.

Since working in this position, Jones has learned when she needs to delegate tasks to others and how to keep her cool when things don’t go according to plan.

“You have to be prepared to change. You can plan everything down to the minute, but things can pop up or change on the fly. A performer could cancel or make a different request,” Jones said.

Once the show is happening, Jones and

and performers are paid following the show.

Jones and Bloom also like to make sure people are going to remember the show.

Posting photos on Instagram or getting a review of the show are two common avenues the duo takes in encapsulating a show.

Finally, Jones, Bloom and their team come together to reflect and debrief an event. They consider ways they can improve and determine what worked and what didn’t.

“Every show is a success in some way in that you always learn something,” Jones said.

6

KANSAN.COM

DAY IN THE LIFE

LETICIA GRADINGTON

Making money management ‘plain and simple’ BRAD HARRIS @Brad98Harris

Leticia Gradington is known for more than being the program director of Student Money Management at the University of Kansas. Her engaging, humorous speaking style leaves a lasting impression on students.

“She is so great,” said sophomore Maggie Kovach. “She just seems genuinely dedicated to our individual situations and she is so fun to listen to.”

Gradington said she is happy with the success she has observed in her 19 years of running Student Money Management, but she is still trying to expand the influence of her department.

“The students that come in here a lot and really subscribe to our program do so well afterwards,” Gradington said.

“I think this university doesn’t do nearly enough to teach students about financial literacy even though we make it easy to spend all of your money here.”

Gradington has taken it upon herself, as the longtime director of this department, to branch out

to as many other departments as possible and use her time in the best way to serve the highest number of students. Gradington said she will try anything from having Financial Comedian Speaker Colin Ryan perform stand-up to doing joint events with Kansas State University’s Powercat Financial.

“A lot of people seemed confused that I would work with Kansas State,” Gradington said. “I understand the rivalry, but this is about helping both of our student bodies become smarter with their dollars and I think we can each learn from each other to do that.”

Gradington said putting students in a position to have complete control of their financial situations as soon as they can is what drives her to work hard.

She said students need to be taught to stop living in a spending cycle and start living in a saving cycle.

“It’s plain and simple,” Gradington said. “Life needs to be about more than just paying the bills until you die.”

Gradington also practices what she preaches in her own life. She said, for example, baby show-

“Life needs to be about more than just paying the bills until you die.”

Leticia Gradington Student Money Management program director

Brad Harris/KANSAN Leticia Gradington is the Program Director for Student Money Management Services at the University. Her high-energy speeches at events for students made her well-known around campus. ers in her family are highly organized affairs with financial responsibility in mind. After delegating necessities such as strollers and cribs to grandparents, other family members are encouraged to put money in an envelope which was deposited in a large glass bowl. Then, Gradington would use her financial knowledge to create a

much better gift than redundant onesies or bibs.

“I would take all of the envelopes and count the money,” Gradington said.

“Then, I take that money and put it all into a 529 savings plan for the baby.

When that baby gets to be 21 years old, that $2,000 that we might have collected might be enough to pay for its education by

then.”

She drives cars as long as they stay running and never trades them in. When she sees a new dress, she talks herself out of buying something she has plenty of already.

She has her own financial advising business but still works for the University every day, and she isn’t slowing down in her mis-

sion to help spread her message.

“We are going to take the University by storm in the 2020 school year,” Gradington said. “I have a lot of stuff in store to make our department as widely reached as ever so we can reach more students than before. It will be a fun year for us.”

KANSAN.COM

DAY IN THE LIFE

7

CONNER VANCLEAVE

Pregame routine keeps VanCleave focused

Kansan file photo Freshman left handed pitcher Conner Vancleave throws to Texas Tech batters on Friday, April 6, 2018. VanCleave maintains a ritualistic routine for gamedays.

CARLOS PETERSON @CarlosWritesKU Simple pleasures and solace get Kansas baseball player Conner VanCleave through the day.

A sophomore from Holcomb, VanCleave views his gameday routine as an integral key to on-field success.

VanCleave, who splits time between starting pitcher and first base,

Contributed by Kansas Athletics Kansas sophomore pitcher and first basemen Conner VanCleave maintains a gameday routine to ensure success on the diamond.

said his gameday mornings tend to be fairly mundane.

“Depending on what’s going on school wise, I’ll go to class or one of the tutoring sessions,” VanCleave said. “If I have a little time, I’ll go get in some swinging in the cages before.”

While many college students neglect breakfast, VanCleave makes sure that he fuels his body properly. His favorite dish on gameday is biscuits and gravy.

“We all talk about the biscuits and gravy, the eggs,” Va n C l e a v e said. “They have chicken sandwiches [at the DeBruce Center], just kind of depends on what you’re feeling that day.”

VanCleave’s reliance on habit helps him prepare for each game in the same fashion. He said that repetition keeps him disciplined for his busy schedule, which can include up to six games a

week.

VanCleave has started 25 of Kansas’ 40 games this season, recording 19 hits in 81 at bats. The sophomore has also hit two home runs out of those 19 hits, as well as one double and one triple.

“Love of the game from everyone is just fun to be around.”

Conner VanCleave sophomore

For a player who plays as often as VanCleave does — especially as only a sophomore — one would think he has a superstition or two ahead of games.

Some players wear the same pair of socks every game; others need to eat the same meal. Before every game VanCleave prefers to keep it simple.

“I think [my routine is] more of just getting up at a decent time and getting ready,” VanCleave said.

“I like to get my morning started and get ready to go.”

VanCleave said that staying on track academically can be a challenge given the time commitment that it takes to play Division I baseball.

“Everybody has to put in time with their sport, with going to the weight room, practice, extra time in the cages for us baseball players, extra time throwing, getting yourself prepared,” VanCleave said. “But school is a big thing that we worry about with our school’s GPA, but also just the team’s GPA. School’s a big thing that we look at.”

Once all that is in the rear-view mirror, all that’s left is to play the game.

Sitting behind first base at Hoglund Ballpark is a staple for VanCleave.

“The atmosphere, just being around the people that love the game as much as you do,” VanCleave said. “Coming from a small town not everyone enjoyed the sport that I loved growing up and being in a locker room or facility that enjoys the sport as much as me, if not more, is just a great opportunity. Love of the game from everyone is just fun to be around.”

8

KANSAN.COM

DAY IN THE LIFE

LIBBY STAUFFER

‘Mizzou country’ senior leaves Senate home LUCY PETERSON @petersonxlucy

The University of Kansas turned one Columbia, Missouri, native into a Jayhawk after just one campus visit, and she’s never looked back.

“I know, I’m from Mizzou country,” senior Libby Stauffer said. “I came to KU and things felt really homey to me, I felt really good and I felt really comfortable here, and I haven’t regretted the decision one bit.”

After starting her time at the University as a global and international studies major, Stauffer discovered more of her strengths and interests in college, leading her to change her major to strategic communications.

Stauffer put her journalism skills to use by serving as the Student Senate communications director for the past two years.

“I loved Senate.

I think a really good thing is to get involved outside of stuff you’re super comfortable in.”

Libby Stauffer senior

She first got involved with Student Senate her sophomore year working on the campaign communications team for then-Student Body President Mady Womack and her coalition One KU. After the coalition won, Stauffer became Womack’s communications director and served in that position during her junior year.

Being communications director, Stauffer said, can involve talking to more people than she can sometimes keep track of.

“I really enjoyed talking to everyone during the campaign and as you can tell I like to talk, so I think

the position served me well,” Stauffer said. “But there’s always a lot to keep track of as communications director and a lot of people to, well, communicate with.”

Stauffer worked with former student body president Noah Ries during her junior year while he served as the internal affairs director. The two met in a class their freshmen year and have remained close ever since.

“We actually shared an office,” Ries said. “She always knows how to make a boring task fun. For example filing things on the Senate website — that’s terribly boring — but we’d always have a blast doing it because she’s so much fun.”

During the elections of Stauffer’s junior year, Ries approached her to ask if she would serve as communications director for his coalition, Crimson and Blue. After Crimson and Blue won the 2018 election, Stauffer served as the communications director for the second year in a row.

In her role, Stauffer maintained the Senate social media and website, issued press releases and helped with event planning for different organizations.

She also helps manage whatever seems to be presented to her on a day-today basis, whether it be designing a quick flier or planning a banquet the day of.

“Quick problem solving is kind of my forte,” Stauffer said.

On an average day, Stauffer can be found fulfilling her duties on the Student Safety Advisory Board and Outreach Board or designing fliers for upcoming events.

“It just depends on what Senate throws at me,” Stauffer said. “Genuinely it could be something super easy and simple, or it could be adding a new section to the website, but it definitely depends on

Rachel Griffard/KANSAN Libby Stauffer, communications director for Student Senate, sits at her desk in the Senate offices. whatever is going on that day.”

Winning the election alongside Crimson and Blue, Stauffer said, was one of her favorite moments in Senate and one she’ll never forget.

She also referenced her role in renovating the

trauma-informed interview rooms in the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access with the Student Safety Advisory Board as one of her favorite Senate memories.

Stauffer said the hardest part of her job was balancing 15-18 hours a week

in Senate while going to classes and having internships.

But it is all she has known for three years, she said, and she doesn’t know what to do since it’s over.

“To be free on Wednesdays, I don’t know what that’s like,” Stauffer said.

Rachel Griffard/KANSAN Libby Stauffer, a senior majoring in strategic communications, served as the Student Senate communications director for the past two years. The Columbia, Missouri, native made herself right at home in Jayhawk country.

When asked to describe Stauffer in one word, Ries said “bubbly.”

“She’s this spirit of kindhearted, warm energy that really really cares about everyone, but is also very optimistic, always in a good mood, and she’s always having a good time,” Ries said.

Stauffer will graduate from the University in May and, in the future, she hopes to work in public relations.

“She’s such a strong woman and I think she’s going to kick butt in the real world,” Ries said.

“Even though we’ll probably live in different cities for a while, she can always look forward to a call from me. I have a feeling we’ll be staying in touch.”

Though she does not know exactly where she’ll be working after graduation, Stauffer wants to take the skills she’s learned from Senate and from her journalism background and use them in a job where she can positively impact her community.

“I loved Senate. I think a really good thing is to get involved outside of stuff that you’re super comfortable in,” Stauffer said. “For me that was my sorority, I was so comfy in that and I felt like I didn’t really need to do anything else, but I’m so glad I got pushed into [Senate] because it really helped me grow as a person.”

KANSAN.COM

DAY IN THE LIFE

9

BEN SCHENBERG

Frontman learns Lawrence music scene

Emma Pravecek/KANSAN Senior Ben Schenberg devotes much of his free time to music. He’s a member of local band Glass Bandit with other University students.

WYATT HALL @thewyatthall15 For senior Ben Schenberg, his day is never complete without a little music. Between writing songs, playing guitar or getting up on stage to entertain a crowd, music is a huge part of his life.

GROWING IN HIS ABILITY After hours is when Schenberg’s talent shines.

When he’s not hanging with his roommates in their backyard hammocks or spending time with his girlfriend, he’s playing music.

Schenberg started playing guitar when he was 7 years old and

continued to be involved in music as he got older.

While he played in a band in high school, he started to come into his own as a freshman in college. He got into the Lawrence music scene through playing at Bullwinkle’s Bar his freshman year.

“That was where I really built my confidence to be a proper front-man for a band,” Schenberg said. “I learned how to balance some lead guitar and rhythm guitar with being a singer.”

That confidence is one thing that is noticeable about Schenberg in everything he does, especially with his music, according to his roommate, senior Will Cohen.

“Ben is one of the most

confident people I’ve ever met. I think it stems from his music, because the way he has developed the ability to perform is insane,” Cohen said. “I saw him as he was just starting out as a freshman and now he’s going out and winning contests.”

Cohen has also been committed to music these four years, practicing often and getting increasingly involved in the local music scene.

“I hear him playing from his room every single day.

He has so many music friends that he brings over to the house to jam,” Cohen said. “It’s really cool because it shows he has such a unique personality and has the ability to get along with so many

different people.”

Although a large part of why he plays music is enjoyment, another important factor for him is how writing and playing songs help him emotionally.

“I’m rarely upset or frustrated because I properly channel a lot of that frustration or disappointment into my music,” Schenberg said.

“It’s been a great emotional outlet, keeping me headstrong and consistent throughout life.”

OUTSIDE OF MUSIC Studying business analytics, Schenberg starts off his mornings working as a sales engineer for Overland Park-based software company RSA

Kansan file photo Shoebox Money band members pose after the Farmers’ Ball, from left to right, Ben Wellwood, Patrick Spanier, Ben Schenberg and Dylan McCune.

Archer before heading to his business classes, many of which are senior capstone courses.

Outside of that, Schenberg is heavily

Hours” on all streaming services and plan to work on a full album in the upcoming months.

“It’s so damn fun to play with them. I also love

“It’s so damn fun to play with them. I also love getting to see people getting excited for live music,” Schenberg said. “Seeing all the people smiling and dancing is a magical thing.”

Ben Schenberg Glass Bandit frontman

involved in KU Hillel, one of the main Jewish organizations on campus.

He’s part of the music team that leads guitar-based services.

When he’s not in class or working, he likes to take advantage of whatever relaxation time he has.

“With how busy I am in my day-to-day, I really just like to take it easy and relax with my girlfriend or my roommates and friends,” Schenberg said. “It’s really nice to enjoy not having so many responsibilities as I wrap up college life.”

LIFE ON STAGE Schenberg primarily plays with local band Glass Bandit, whose music is a combination of classic rock, funk and soul, which he describes as “dance music.” The band also has a heavy jazz influence with multiple members being jazz musicians, including well-known drummer Donovan Miller.

The band, of which Schenberg is the frontman, plays mainly at the Jazzhaus and the Bottleneck but is trying to branch out to the Kansas City music scene.

They recently released a three song EP titled “18

getting to see people getting excited for live music,” Schenberg said. “Seeing all the people smiling and dancing is a magical thing.”

His next performance with Glass Bandit will take place on May 4 at the Jazzhaus to celebrate the end of the semester.

LOOKING AHEAD

Schenberg is also working on a solo project that is much more indie than Glass Bandit’s music.

While it’s still in its early stages, he aims to create and release a full album of original music later this year.

Going into the future, he plans to continue practicing his music and stay involved in the Lawrence music scene. He also encourages everyone to get out and enjoy the local music here.

“Take the opportunity to check out some of the live music coming out of Lawrence,” Schenberg said.

“There are some incredibly talented musicians that don’t have a lot of recognition because people aren’t taking the time to explore just how vibrant the music scene is around here.”

KANSAN.COM

10 DAY IN THE LIFE

SHAWN LEIGH ALEXANDER

Working to make student voices heard

Natalie Hammer/KANSAN Shawn Leigh Alexander is a professor of African and African American Studies and the director of the Langston Hughes Center at the University of Kansas.

SOPHIA BELSHE @SophiaBelshe When students walk down the hallway on the bottom floor of Bailey Hall, Shawn Leigh Alexander, professor of African and African American studies, will always have his door open, whether he’s working or not.

“The joke I always make is that if the light’s on, and

to stop by and talk and ask questions. I think that too many of my colleagues shut their doors, or are physically not here, and then I question what our objective is.”

The Langston Hughes Center is another space for students to congregate, study and talk about issues of race and culture.

The Center hosts three events every month. One

“[Students’] questions are legitimate, and they deserve well thought out answers. Sometimes having a faculty member there saying ‘these concerns of the students are legitimate, please speak to those,’ means something.”

Shawn Leigh Alexander Langston Hughes Center director

the door’s shut, I’m coming back,” Alexander said.

Alexander wears many hats at the University of Kansas. In addition to his professorship, he’s also the director of the Langston Hughes Center and president-elect of Faculty Senate, but he said a common theme of all his work is his support of students.

“Undergraduate students and graduate students have legitimate concerns on this campus, and I think sometimes they’re taken for granted, or they’re dismissed out of hand,” Alexander said. “I think that it’s important for a faculty member to show support for their voice.”

He said his open door policy also stems from his goal of getting each student to a degree.

“What does it mean to have a space, that’s supposed to be an educating environment, with closed doors?” Alexander asked.

“We should be welcoming — encouraging students

is a brown bag discussion with a professor, graduate student or distinguished scholar. Another is a seminar hosted with the Hall Center for Humanities called Place, Race and Space. The third is an evening discussion at the public library on the issues of race in the community.

“It’s important to have a space, whether it’s my office, the department, the Langston Hughes Center, to be a welcoming space for students who are interested in the field, but particularly students of African descent on a campus that is predominantly white,” Alexander said. “Interacting with students and trying to give them a space to exist, in often times a very traumatic and difficult campus [is important].”

Alexander studied African American studies throughout his entire educational career. He said it’s very important to him that he has a 100 percent appointment within

AAAS, and not a joint appointment with another unit, which is common for AAAS professors.

“I have a strong commitment to the field and the department,” Alexander said. “The African American experience is central to understanding America.

While it’s always been central to our understanding, now is a moment that it’s maybe even more important to understand our current experience.”

He said he was interested in coming to the University because of the uniquely large number of faculty members dedicated to African American, African or race-focused studies.

“I still think it’s unique, and something that this University probably doesn’t promote and understand as much as they should,” Alexander said.

This semester, Alexander is teaching an honors seminar for the first time on the topic of the Black Lives Matter movement.

He said that teaching the honors class has been rewarding, but that he misses the larger classes.

While it is a current and at times a controversial topic, Alexander said Black Lives Matter doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and that it’s important to look at the historical context.

“Black Lives Matter is a contemporary moment and a contemporary movement, but it’s a movement that has historical roots,” Alexander said. “The idea of Black Lives Matter, when you boil it down to it, it’s asking for recognition of one’s humanity.

That has been part of the African American experience, and the African American struggle, particularly in the United States, since the first slave was dragged upon these shores in 1619.”

Dania Shoaib, a sophomore studying molecular, cellular, developmental biology from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, said he enjoys the class because of how relevant the subject matter is, and that Alexander doesn’t sugar coat important moments of the movement.

“There aren’t many classes that focus entirely on something that we all remember from the very beginning, and Dr. Alexander is clearly very well read on the black experience and often facilitated discussions other professors may be weary to have,” Shoaib said.

Outside of teaching at

the University, Alexander is also the president-elect of Faculty Senate. He said he got involved in University governance to give students, staff and faculty a voice.

“We are a campus that is top-down run,” Alexander said. “We often talk about discussing issues with faculty, staff or students, but ultimately the decision is made by the administration, and is sometimes made with no consultation.

I feel that, in recent years, increasingly so, decisions are made with no consultation. I got involved in faculty governance and University governance to have a voice.”

He said when he got involved in governance, he wouldn’t have predicted the budget cut. He said he tries to represent faculty concerns as best he can to administration, even in difficult times. He also supported the Graduate Teaching Assistant Coalition when they protested at the last budget conversation. “[Students’] questions are legitimate, and they deserve well thought out answers,” Alexander said.

“Sometimes having a faculty member there saying ‘these concerns of the students are legitimate, please speak to those,’ means something.”

Natalie Hammer/KANSAN Shawn Leigh Alexander is a Professor of African and African American Studies and the director of the Langston Hughes Center at the University of Kansas.

KANSAN.COM

DAY IN THE LIFE

11

ZACHARY COPE

Husky cuddles and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ RACHEL GAYLOR @raegay218 University of Kansas second-year master’s student Zachary Cope said every performance day must begin with one thing: dog cuddles.

The Topeka-native currently plays the role of Oberon, the king of the fairies, in the University’s production of Benjamin Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” This opera was chosen specifically because the role of Oberon was written for a countertenor, Cope’s voice part.

“[The role] is a lot of pressure, but I will eternally be grateful for the fact that... the faculty trusted me...”

Zachary Cope second-year master’s student

“[The role] is a lot of pressure,” Cope said.

“But I will eternally be grateful for the fact that ... the faculty trusted me and saw an opportunity to say, ‘Hey we’ve never seen you do a role, but if we choose an opera that features a countertenor, you’ll learn it and be great.’”

Sarah Hennessey is also a second-year master’s student. The Overland Park-native was cast as the female lead of Tytania. She met Cope when they both

arrived at the University in the fall of 2017 and has loved working with him — professionally and personally.

“He’s always prepared, he’s articulate in what he wants to do and he’s very timely,” Hennessey said.

“He knows what needs to happen when, and I think he’s good at rolling with the punches which is really hard to do in a show like this.”

WARM UPS Cope said he tries to keep performance days as close to normal days as he can so he doesn’t get too nervous. However, his one deviation includes scheduling in at least 30-minutes of dog cuddles on his couch.

“It mentally gets me happy, of course because who isn’t happy loving on a husky,” Cope said. “And physically, I am not doing much but sitting there.”

During the hour, Cope is busy warming up his voice by doing lip trills, sirens and slides — normal exercises to help his vocal folds stay warm.

After much deliberation, Cope decides to leave the couch and grab a meal to help fill him up. He said it’s usually at Merchants.

Though Cope has a few “treat yourself moments” as he calls them, he tries to go about the day as if it were any other.

“If, mentally, I prepare myself in the idea that today is different, then I get more nervous and more anxious about what’s coming because I’m treating the day as something special versus treating the day as just a relaxing day off and I

Rachel Gaylor/KANSAN Zachary Cope plays Oberon in KU Theatre’s adaption of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

happen to have an opera this evening,” Cope said.

Cope said this is

because during dress rehearsal weeks, he has a full academic day on

Rachel Gaylor/KANSAN The role of Oberon in the opera, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” requires the voice part of a countertenor, which happens to be Zachary Cope’s voice part.

top of the show. So, if a performance day becomes a 14-hour day, it’s normal.

Normally on Fridays, Cope teaches five voice lessons as a graduate assistant and has his own voice lesson and voice studio class. Opening night, however, Cope canceled his lessons to avoid tiring himself out before the performance.

“I decided [the lessons] might be a little too much speaking before performing an opera that is three hours long at 7:30 at night, so I did cancel,” Cope said.

CALL TIME Call times for the opera depend on the extent of hair and makeup for the characters. Cope has the earliest call time as Oberon, along with the two students that share the role of Puck.

His call is two-anda-half hours before the show opens. However, he must come in already with a make-up base to help speed up the process.

“Right at two-and-ahalf hours before we can be in the [makeup] chair, get our hair done, putting our gold hairspray sprayed in, our glitter everywhere — it’s a lot of work to be a fairy,” Cope said.

Throughout the time of hair and makeup, Cope

talks with the students helping him transform into Oberon.

“I love talking with the makeup people,” he said.

“I’m a big ole extrovert.

I cannot be quiet, and I love meeting new people.”

To finish preparing for a performance day, Cope has a mantra he says to himself — “Opera is an expression of empathy.”

“We sing music to the audience with a cast and crew of people where our main goal is to help somebody through that evening, be it through the sound of the music or through the dialogue that’s said or through the themes of the story,” Cope said. “I think to myself, ‘How can tonight change someone? How can someone who came in here not feeling so great feel really great when they leave? How will tonight alter the way someone feels about music and how will tonight alter the way someone feels in their everyday life?”

After the show, especially when it is a long show like “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Cope likes to go out and celebrate with his fellow cast mates.

“We should all be giving ourselves a pat on the back,” Cope said.

KANSAN.COM

12 DAY IN THE LIFE

BRIAN HANNI

KU grad savors time as ‘voice of the Jayhawks’ DYLAN CUNNINGHAM @dc_cunningham

Before every Kansas men’s basketball game, broadcaster Brian Hanni takes a symbolic lap around the concourse of Allen Fieldhouse, saying a prayer as he goes.

“Usually 30 minutes before I take the air, I walk that circle,” Hanni said. “It helps me realize how lucky we are to celebrate such an incredible tradition like Kansas basketball.”

Hanni has spent the past three seasons as the distinguished “voice of the Jayhawks,” broadcasting everything from men’s basketball to football to baseball. A Topeka native, Hanni graduated from the University in 2002 with a degree in broadcast management with a focus in sports broadcasting and media sales.

While in school, Hanni unlocked his passion for broadcasting when he enrolled in a play-by-play announcing course taught by legendary sportscaster Tom Hedrick, the former voice of the Jayhawks.

“The only A he’d ever given on record was to Kevin Harlan, and he gave me an A-minus,” Hanni said. “I thought ‘Maybe, just maybe if things break right, 20 years from now, I might have a chance to be the voice of the Jayhawks.’”

Much of Hanni’s preparation for each men’s basketball game is completed the day before gameday.

Hanni will often spend four to five

hours putting together spot charts for opposing teams, which include relevant facts, statistics and other “nuggets,” as he fondly refers to them.

Despite calling over 100 Kansas men’s basketball games, there’s one all-time moment in particular that sticks out to Hanni: Kansas’ overtime victory over Duke to advance to the 2018 Final Four.

“Even though our dreams got dashed pretty quickly in San Antonio,

“It helps me realize how lucky we are to celebrate such an incredible tradition like Kansas basketball.”

Brian Hanni broadcaster

just the road to getting there was something I’ll savor for the rest of my life,” Hanni said.

The interpersonal relationships Hanni has built during his time in Lawrence are what he values the most about his position. While he does enjoy working the occasional nationallytelevised college football bowl game, Hanni said there’s nothing quite like getting to know people beyond the box score.

“I’m a storyteller, and I love getting to know student-athletes on a

personal level,” Hanni said. “Over the course of 20-30 years, you develop lifelong relationships.”

Hanni also uses his platform to make a positive impact on the Lawrence community.

In 2009, Hanni founded the annual Rock Chalk Roundball Classic celebrity charity game, which benefits children battling pediatric cancer.

Along with that, Hanni will be receiving the 2019 Hod Humiston Award for sports broadcasting on May 7, which honors those who have made significant contributions to the field of sports broadcasting as well as work in the community. He is also a two-time recipient of the Oscar Stauffer Award for sportscasting from the KSHSAA. While he appreciates all of his personal accolades, Hanni credits the flagship Jayhawk brand as a substantial factor in his success.

“The reach of the Jayhawk brand stretches far beyond the walls of the sunflower state,” Hanni said. “It’s a global thing, and through it, I’ve been given a chance to do a lot for various causes.”

And that helps to keep things in perspective for Hanni, no matter where he’s calling a game.

“Every single venue, whether it’s the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Allen Fieldhouse, or Rupp Arena, I make that trek and lift those prayers up each and every time,” Hanni said.

Emma Pravecek/KANSAN Brian Hanni speaks the opening remarks at the Kansas Men’s Basketball Awards Banquet Tuesday, April 16.

SMACKER MILES

Smacker embraces sharing the field with her father

MADDY TANNAHILL @maddytannahill Few sports reporters can regularly end their interviews with, “Thanks, dad,” but for Smacker Miles, that is exactly the case.

Soon after her father Les was named Kansas football’s 39th head coach, Smacker found an opportunity to make the move to Lawrence a family affair, joining Kansas Athletics’ Jayhawk Insider to report on her dad’s new program.

“Obviously I love to be

around the family, so it was a great opportunity to bring some positive publicity to Kansas and support the football team and get to see the family,” Smacker said.

Making her Kansas Athletics’ debut at the beginning of the spring football season, the former University of Texas swimmer reported on each of the squad’s spring practices, a process she said would begin at around 2 p.m. each day with a discussion with Kansas football sports information director Katy Lo-

nergan.

“I get [to campus] at like two, and I talk to Katy Lonergan, and she would basically help me a little bit because she is such a wealth of knowledge about KU football, and I’m still a little bit new to it,” Smacker said.

While Lonergan and Les would communicate with Smacker about what they wanted to cover that day, she explained that she took a lot of pride in coming up with creative angles and new ideas.

“A lot of it was my cre-

ativity so I could decide within the parameters what I wanted to talk about specifically and then get into

that I noticed that no one else had noticed.”

“I think it’s always valuable to really be into what

“We just have a lot of fun with it, and there’s never any pressure, never anything that was too much of a job. It’s kind of a hobby for me.”

Smacker Miles Kansas Athletics Jayhawk Insider reporter

practice.,” Smacker said.

“And then I would watch practice just to see if there was anything specifically

Contributed by Hannah Bettis Smacker Miles interviews her father, Kansas football coach Les Miles, following a spring practice.

you’re doing,” she continued. “I would never want to just take someone else’s notes and do my work from it so I appreciate the help, but I also like to watch practice.”

After watching practice and taking note of anything else that may have stood out, the real fun began for Smacker — getting to see her dad. The pair were obviously comfortable working with one another, and recording each interview never took more than two takes.

“It’s pretty natural because I would normally ask him how practice is and he’s not like a different guy on camera or off camera, so it’s made my job really easy just because he is really genuine and doesn’t change when a camera is on or not,” Smacker said.

After recording with Les and the players, Smacker edited the video herself using Adobe Premiere, rewatching practice and choosing clips to tie in with

her interviews from that day. Having experience in editing from working in local news, Smacker enjoyed the opportunity to construct the videos herself, wanting to represent the Kansas football program she has grown so passionate about in the best way possible.

Taking much pride in her work, Smacker said the most difficult part of her job is being too hard on herself.

“It’s tough because I care so much I guess,” Smacker said. “You’re hard on yourself when you care about things, and I’ve found that there were times that I was like, ‘Ugh I wish I would’ve been better here,’ or ‘I wish we would’ve talked more about this or that,’ or ‘I wish I had more time on this interview because I would love to talk to this player more in depth about a certain issue.’”

With coach Les Miles’ first season with the Jayhawks rapidly approaching, Smacker has quickly integrated into the Kansas Athletics family, appreciating getting to know everyone who is affiliated with the program and of course getting to spend time with her dad.

“We just have a lot of fun with it, and there’s never any pressure, never anything that was too much of a job. It’s kind of a hobby for me,” Smacker said.