THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
INSIDE
SPORTS
The accusations that came out during MSG’s first general assembly meeting this semester p. 3
How a small Kansas team continues to take down giants The University Daily Kansan
vol. 136 // iss. 6 Mon., Jan. 29, 2018
University lecturer inspired to write poetry by father’s illness p. 5
SEE BASKETBALL • PAGE 7
Illustration by Gracie Williams/KANSAN
Tax cut prompts Westar to reduce rates RYAN LISTON @RyanListonUDK
Westar Energy, the sole provider of electric services for residential and business properties in Lawrence, intends to pass along around $65 million in tax benefits to its customers by reducing its electricity rates, according to a press release issued on Jan. 18. According to the press release, the plan comes as a result of the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which took effect on Jan. 1 and reduced the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. However, updates
in electricity, natural gas, liquid pipeline and telecommunications utility rates must be approved by the Kansas Corporation Commission, a state regulatory agency. State law specifies that the commission has 240 days after the rate change request is filed to complete the approval process and issue a decision. “In those eight months, we’ll have the commission staff and interested interveners who usually represent customers all review our case and maybe put forward other decisions or other alternatives, maybe
ask us for more information in other areas and really go through a complete litigation process where we have to make sure we’re really making the case for the prices that we’ve proposed,” said Gina Penzig, Westar’s media relations manager. Once Westar files its plan with KCC, a specific plan to adjust prices, based on the cut and on how much revenue Westar needs to fund its operations, will be developed, Penzig said. Westar also plans to factor into its updated rates its tax savings
from the time of the implementation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act until the new electricity rates take effect, according to Penzig. She said another important step to the process is holding a public hearing a few months into the approval process to get input from customers who do not have a legal team engaged in the formal approval proceedings. “They also have different means for people who maybe aren’t able to attend in-person to submit their comments to the commission for their consider-
ation as well,” Penzig said. “Typically it’s by either a traditional mail letter or by email. I think maybe even sometimes there’s opportunities to do it by phone as well.” If the new rates are approved, college students living off campus who pay for electricity will see their bills reduced. “Unfortunately for the past several years, since we’ve been in a building phase, usually when we go to the commission and ask for prices to be reviewed, it’s a request for an increase,” Penzig said. “So this
is actually kind of a nice change of pace for us.” Penzig said Westar expects the plan to be approved and implemented by next fall. “We, of course, provide the commission with the best information and important documents that we can, so they can make an informed decision,” Penzig said Representatives for KCC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Student expelled over tweets comes back to KU
TIANNA WITMER @KansanNews
Editor’s Note: Mark Johnson, who is quoted in this story, is the chair of the Kansan Board of Directors. Navid Yeasin, engineering student at the University, was expelled in November 2013 as a result of an ongoing domestic dispute between him and his ex-girlfriend. After going through a years-long lawsuit as a result, he is currently enrolled this semester. Yeasin was expelled after tweeting inappropriate comments about his former girlfriend after they broke up. After winning both appeals to return to the University after expulsion, Yeasin took it one step further by suing Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Tammara Durham, for violations of his First Amendment rights. Yeasin lost the lawsuit, but not because of the First Amendment. “He started out initially as a domestic dispute, [Yeasin and his former girlfriend] break up and he didn’t take the break up very well, and on at least one occasion she was in his car and he wouldn’t let
her out,” said Mark Johnson, lecturer in both the journalism and law school. Johnson is also a practicing lawyer. It was after the incidents in the car, Johnson said, that Yeasin “started tweeting about her and a friend of hers pointed the tweets out. She wasn’t aware of it until a friend told her about it.” Upon returning to the University from summer break in fall 2013, Yeasin’s ex-girlfriend reported the incident to the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access. “At that point, she filed a complaint with the IOA, and they investigate, and eventually this gets up to Tammara Durham. She makes the decision that he should be expelled for what he wrote,” Johnson said. Yeasin challenged his expulsion in the Douglas County District Court on grounds that the University doesn’t have jurisdiction to discipline him based on off-campus activity. The University expelled Yeasin due to violation of the school’s Title IX policy, which strictly prohibits sexual harassment. “The idea is that KU has
Photo Illustration by Andrea Ringgenberg/KANSAN a rule saying that you can’t intimidate somebody, students can’t intimidate other students,” Johnson said. “So the question in the lawsuit became, does that rule extend to students in their off-campus activities? And the courts eventually said it does not, and they reversed Durham’s decision.” The student returned to the University this semester, but not without further action. After the repeal of the University’s decision by the Douglas County Court, Yeasin sued Durham directly.
“His argument is that ‘I would have graduated in 2015 and I would have been out in the workforce making money, and because I’m going to graduate three years later than I normally would have, I am losing that money.’ So, he sues Durham personally in a totally separate lawsuit,” Johnson said. “He argues that ‘I have First Amendments rights to say what I want about my ex-girlfriend.’” During the second trial, the court observed that the University had not established a rule dic-
tating whether or not it could punish students for off-campus activities. “They didn’t reach the question of whether it violated the First Amendment. So, in the lawsuit, the court said [Durham] had immunity because the constitutional rule which she was alleged to have violated isn’t established,” Johnson said. Due to Durham’s immunity, the case ended without ramifications. It was determined that the rule that led to Yeasin’s expulsion didn’t apply off campus.
According to Richard E. Levy, a distinguished professor of constitutional law at the University, there are a few regulations that the University could change in the aftermath of the lawsuit, specifically the University disciplinary code regarding off-campus activities. “Do you change the KU disciplinary code to more clearly allow discipline for activities that are off campus, not part of a KU program, that don’t use KU facilities or property, but that have an impact on the educational environment for a student at the University?” Levy said. Although Yeasin lost the third lawsuit, it had no impact on his enrollment and he is currently registered for classes this semester. However, because he was not successful in his suit against Durham, Johnson said there are questions that still need to be answered as to what power the University has when it comes to the First Amendment.
news
Monday, January 29, 2018
staff NEWS MANAGEMENT
Editor-in-chief Chandler Boese
KANSAN.COM/NEWS
Self OK with unknown fan’s ‘advice’ After a man visited McCarthy Hall last week to offer the basketball team some suggestions on freethrow shooting, KU PSO still can’t identify the man, but coach Bill Self isn’t too worried
Wednesday 3:25 p.m.
Managing editor Erin Brock
The first call came to KU PSO from McCarthy Hall. A man, who was reported as an “older gentleman” wearing a red and blue windbreaker, approached the residence hall’s front desk and asked to speak with the players. “That was the first time that we heard about this man,” Anguiano said, “and they didn’t say if he’d been around before or anything like that.” They had asked him to leave, but he was still outside the residence hall. The dispatcher was taking information on the situation from the front desk attendant.
Digital operations editor Brady Maguire Social media editor Nathan Mize Associate social media editor Emily Juszczyk ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT
Business manager Baylee Parsons SALES MANAGER Cooper Scott SECTION EDITORS
News editor Emily Wellborn Associate news editor Katie Bernard
3:35 p.m.
An officer was dispatched and arrived three minutes later.
Sports editor Shaun Goodwin Associate sports editor Michael Swain Arts & culture editor Josh McQuade
Missy Minear/KANSAN Following Kansas basketball’s loss to Oklahoma, an unidentified man entered McCarthy apartment complex in an attempt to offer “free-throw advice.”
Associate arts & culture editor Rachel Gaylor
SHAUN GOODWIN & EMILY WELLBORN @KansanNews
Opinion editor Danya Issawi
Less than 24 hours following Kansas basketball’s road 85-80 defeat to Oklahoma, a man entered the McCarthy Hall apartment complex, asking to speak with some of the men’s basketball players. “He just wanted to talk to the players about freethrow advice,” said Deputy Chief James Anguiano with the KU Public Safety Office. The man’s “advice” was most likely aimed toward Kansas sophomore center Udoka Azubuike, after the Nigeria native shot just one-for-eight from the free-throw line in the final
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minutes of the game on Tuesday night. Oklahoma coach Lon Kruger employed a tactic commonly known as “hack-a-Shaq,” in which his team consistently fouled Azubuike, knowing his poor free-throw percentage of just 41 percent heading into the game. The tactic allowed Oklahoma to outscore Kansas 9-2 in the final three minutes of the game. KU PSO was called to McCarthy Hall after the man was seen hanging around the lobby. But despite the apparent concern, Kansas coach Bill Self was lighthearted on the issue. “If it’s Rick Barry I’m all for it, or Mark Price,” Self joked, referring to both
Barry’s and Price’s high career free throw percentages in the NBA. “I didn’t have a reaction, because apparently he said he was going to see me next. As long as it’s not Freddy Krueger, I’m OK with it,” Self laughed. “I’m sure it was good intentions. What he’s probably saying is no different to what many others have told me what we should do.” However, McCarthy Hall staff appeared to have been worried, since they called KU PSO officers twice. According to Anguiano, as of Thursday morning, the man hasn’t reappeared at the residence hall since the second call was placed Wednesday evening. Al-
though this was the first time that KU PSO had been called to McCarthy Hall for this kind of situation, trespassing calls are not uncommon according to Anguiano. “I couldn’t even guesstimate on how many, how many buildings we get called to,” he said. Even though Anguiano said these kinds of situations aren’t anything that basketball players or other students should worry about, he still encouraged the public to report anything suspicious that stands out. “If you see something suspicious, call us,” he said. “We’ll come check it out.”
3:38 p.m.
The officer arrived and searched the area, but the man had already left. Since the man had already left, the officer determined that a crime hadn’t been committed, so a crime report was not filed.
4:52 p.m.
A second call came to KU PSO after the gentleman appeared outside of the building again.
4:56 p.m.
Another officer was dispatched.
5:03 p.m.
The second officer arrived and searched the area again, but couldn’t locate the man. Because he wasn’t found, he has not been identified.
Abandoned gun in Wescoe inspires bill HANNAH THURMAN @KansanNews
A Kansas state legislator pre-filed a bill Dec. 28 that would make it illegal to leave a firearm in a public place based on an incident at the University last fall. Boog Highberger, D-Lawrence, told the Lawrence Journal-World that he created this bill in response to the incident last September at the University where a loaded handgun was left in Wescoe Hall’s fourth floor bathroom, and not in response to a representative who had left his loaded handgun in the committee room. “I introduced the bill because of my concerns about firearms on university campuses,” Rep. Highberger said over email to the Kansan. “It is my understanding that we are the only state in the country that allows concealed carry on university campuses without a permit or any training.” This bill would make
abandoning any firearm in a public setting a class C misdemeanor. However, if any person is injured or killed in result to the firearm being left, the charge would be moved to a “severity level 10, nonperson felony.” The Journal-World reported that Highberger prefiled the second gun-related bill in the 2017 session for this 2018 session. Pre-filing a bill before the next session is a way to introduce the bill before everyone reconvenes. If this bill goes through, there could be possible changes on how a situation like that of Rep. Willie Dove, R-Bonner Springs, would be handled. He left his handgun in a committee room during the 2017 session. The gun was loaded. “If and when the legislature takes action on a specific topic,” said Officer Drew Fennelly of the Lawrence Police Department, “we will then internally look at any possible changes in our policies and pro-
Caitlynn Salazar/KANSAN Rep. Boog Highberger (D-Lawrence), is pushing for a bill that would make it illegal to abandon a gun. This comes after a loaded gun was found by a student in Wescoe Hall last September. Last July, a mandate took effect allowing concealed guns inside public buildings, including buildings on college campuses. cedures to determine if a change needs to be made.” Since July 2015 there have been no training or permit requirements for concealed carrying in Kansas. One must be at least 21 years of age in order to be
able to legally carry a concealed weapon in Kansas. When asked what the outcome of this bill would be, Highberger said, “Unfortunately, I think it is extremely unlikely that the chairman of the House fed-
eral and State Affairs committee will let the bill have a hearing this session.” There are no other sponsors on the bill.
NEWS
KANSAN.COM
3
Tempers flare during MSG assembly
SAVANNA SMITH & HANNAH THURMAN @KansanNews
There was yelling, there was confusion, but more than anything there was frustration in the Divine Nine room on Thursday night. What started as an attempt to pass constitutional bylaws for Multicultural Student Government quickly turned into a war of words between current leadership and the founder of MSG, Trinity Carpenter. Thursday was the first General Assembly of MSG this semester. After leadership presented its president, Chiquita Jackson, with a notice for impeachment on Sunday, articles were presented to the General Assembly outlining the circumstances for removal of executives. The proposed Article V Section I lists the following as grounds for removal: • Dereliction of office duty • Intimidation of other members of MSG • Clear deviation from MSG preamble and organization vision • Poor management of MSG funds and resources • Present conflict of interests with other organization/professional positions the individual holds Vice President Anthonio Humphrey said he wants these articles, which had previously been passed by the legislative committee, put in place specifically to impeach Jackson. As tensions ran high and
Sarah Wright/KANSAN Thursday night’s Multicultural Student Government General Assembly was called to pass bylaws that, if approved, would likely allow for the impeachment of President Chiquita Jackson, which is being sought by the organization’s leadership. members asked for more specific language, the articles were tabled. For example, some members questioned how “intimidation” would be defined for impeachment purposes. “Everyone sees intimidation differently,” one member said during debate. During this discussion, Carpenter called for the resignation of all leadership, excluding the new treasurer. She said that leadership
has failed the multicultural community. “You need to resign,” Carpenter said to Jackson. “You all need to pull it together,” she said to the leadership. After being restrained, Carpenter said MSG’s executive board is putting itself before its constituents. She again called for the members of leadership to resign. Humphrey responded, yelling at Carpenter to ask “your president why she’s
using student-funded money to fund her own things.” The two began shouting indecipherably as they moved toward each other. Both were held back by members of the assembly. “I do not endorse Chiquita Jackson … I endorse the integrity of MSG!” Carpenter said. When given the floor to address allegations against her in the impeachment notice, Jackson said she did
not understand the accusations. She spoke to the Kansan after the meeting. “I’m disappointed in this meeting,” Jackson said. “I’m disappointed that people weren’t being transparent. I’m disappointed because it wasn’t truthful up there.” A poll was sent out to MSG’s legislative committee in order to schedule a meeting and settle the issues raised at Thursday’s meeting, as well as discuss
revisions to the proposed bylaw. “At the end of the day, no one at this University can question whether or not the students care for MSG,” said Andrew Davis, chief of staff. “People care. You don’t care about something if you don’t act that way.” Legislative committee meetings will be on Monday and Tuesday night.
Call outs, monologues: students discuss free speech
CHIHIRO KAI @ChihiroKai98
Eight University students exchanged their thoughts on the state of campus dialogue in a Community Conversation event hosted by Vice Provost of Student Affairs Tammara Durham on Wednesday evening. The event is a part of Durham’s goal to seek student opinions of campus life. Though the intended subject of discussion was meant to be freedom of speech, Erika Northcutt, a third-year doctoral candidate in pharmacology and toxicology, summarized the ultimate theme of the panel early into its start. “I wonder if maybe some of it isn’t necessarily a free speech issue, but rather an ability to speak? A talent?” she said. Northcutt acknowledged a previous statement made by fellow attendee Dylan Jones, the chair of University’s College Republicans chapter. Jones had noted that conservative students close to him have expressed feeling pressured to speak or write on topics congruent with the University’s liberal atmosphere, rather than those they wished to tackle. Northcutt suggested students perhaps did not necessarily know how to engage with an idea different than their own. “So instead of engaging with it at all, they just state their own opinion. Rather than a discussion, you have
Kansan file photo Tammara Durham, vice provost for student affairs, hosted the conversation on Wednesday night to understand students’ opinions on free speech. people just, here’s opinion A, opinion B, it just popcorns,” she said. “A series of monologues, instead of a dialogue,” Durham said following Northcutt’s statement. The panel collectively analyzed whether this penchant for monologues stemmed from the fear of “call-out culture,” as phrased by Justin Kim, chair of the University’s Young Democrats organization. “I think it stops conversation. People are scared to engage and interact in
things they do not understand, being afraid they are going to come down on the wrong side of something,” he said. Emily Depew, a sophomore triple majoring in political science; history; and women, gender and sexuality studies, further shared her fear of making a comment in class that could come across as offensive to her fellow students. “It just petrifies me sometimes to think that I’m going to say something wrong that’s going to offend someone,” Depew said.
“Because that’s the last thing I want to do.” Kim offered as a potential resolution to this issue, the practice of being “ragged in conversation.” “If you’re not sure of your point, or you’re not sure of your ideas, having an
agreement within a space to put it out there, to discuss it, and it be okay that you don’t 100 percent know where you come down on something,” Kim said. Jones offered a slightly different solution: changing the way social justice
is taught at the University. He said that social justice “is taught as the way of the land, and it’s well, you have to believe in it if you want to fit in in the University of Kansas. And the fact is that there’s people that disagree, and there’s people that don’t always agree with what is being taught at our university.” Though he does acknowledge that diversity and inclusion are the goals of the University, he remarked that there exists a difference in opinion. “Just because they disagree with social justice doesn’t mean they are white supremacists or something. They’re just looking at it as a different viewpoint, and they may not agree with the way that it’s all going about,” Jones said. The remaining panel attendants were Harneet Sanghera, president of the Memorial Union’s Corporation Board; Ashley Reece, a pre-law senior majoring in political science and minoring in journalism; Conner Mitchell, former editor-in-chief of the University Daily Kansan and Dylan Fox, KJHK programming director.
opinion Monday, January 29, 2018
free-for-all Text your FFA submissions to 785-289-8351 or in the Free For All section on Kansan.com
Van Dyke: We need identity politics
FFA of the Day: If I put gin in kombucha is it still healthy Me when I woke up this morning: “oops” “that girl is waaay too pretty to be in this Arby’s” I accidentally looked to my left and saw the girl next to me’s phone screen and all I saw was a text saying “I’m gonna fight her” WHY CANT I DRINK COFFEE ON A BUS I don’t even know why I trick myself into thinking I can make it from Dole to Fraser in 5 minutes. If I were about to die, the final thing I wanna eat is chick fil a sauce. “Girls, ima eat a pizza then I’m gonna f--- it up.” “Basically we got belligerent at the Hawk from 3 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.” All I want is Chick-fil-A BUT ITS SUNDAY “The best part of going out is going home.” “My fidget spinner just fell out of my fanny pack at first watch. That is the most 2017 thing I could have said, oh my god.” Y’all im on K-State’s athletics website AND IT F---ING HOWLED AT ME I CAN’T
MAX VAN DYKE @StealYoRedbull As the Democratic Party seeks to rebuild itself after losing an election to the political equivalent of Archie Bunker with a reality show, discussion has risen regarding the concept of “identity politics.” To some within Democratic circles, identity politics are everything that’s wrong with the party and needs to be immediately jettisoned, becoming obsolete in the way of the flip phone. To others, however, identity politics are not only important for the party, but also the country. In an age where white nationalists march openly on college campuses and protesters are mauled and killed with cars, the Democratic Party cannot afford to not include identity politics as a core feature. Yet while identity politics have become the topic of much debate in the past year, too often those who discuss it, don’t truly understand what identity politics are. To most critics of identity politics, it’s the rabid fixation on one’s identity above all else. University of Columbia professor Mark Lilla, just ten days after the 2016 election, penned a critique of identity politics in an oped for the New York Times, asserting that it’s what cost
Hillary Clinton the election. He called it “disastrous as a foundation for Democratic politics in our ideological age.” Lilla’s objection to identity politics is that it forces people to develop a selfish approach to politics, asserting that identity politics at the University level has “produced a generation of liberals and progressives narcissistically unaware of conditions outside their self-defined groups.” The problem with these critiques is that people are not critiquing identity politics, but rather their own falsely construed notion of what identity politics are to them. Coined in the 1970s by a group of black feminist scholars, “identity politics,” in its original sense, was nothing like what critics such as Lilla describe. The original purpose of identity politics was to fight for the liberation of black women against their oppression. The group believed that the liberation of black women in society would demand the liberation of all oppressed groups, working from the bottom up to end systemic oppression. They believed that they, as black women, were best suited to fight against their own oppression, not as an accessory to someone else’s. From
“I’m so hungover I can’t even sleep” It’s that time of the semester when I just give up on school
Sometimes I feel bad that guys don’t really get to wear leggings but then I remember they also don’t have to buy tampons. Music Ed professor found out what Hella meant and has now used it in 3 emails today Anyone else hate the word “boho”?
there, they sought to form coalitions with other groups, fighting for liberation, with an emphasis on one’s own identity and their own struggle. In a statement released in 1977, the Combahee River Collective Statement, the group explains exactly what they mean by “identity politics.” They wrote, “This focusing upon our own oppression is embodied in the concept of identity politics. We believe that the most profound, and potentially most radical, politics come directly out of our own identity, as opposed to working to end somebody else’s oppression.” What folks like Lilla push back against is a perversion of identity politics, not the essence of identity politics. Weaponized identity politics, as it is sometimes called, is what happens when someone insists that one is racist if they do not support “black candidate x” or that someone is sexist if they do not support “female candidate y.” This is the no-
tion that we need to elect black folks, women, Hispanics etc., based on their identity above all else. Often we see the phrase “elect women” or “elect people of color.” This is a problematic way to proceed, and would no sooner lead to a President Kirsten Gillibrand or President Cory Booker than it would a President Nikki Haley or President Tim Scott. However, that’s not what identity politics are. Identity politics is the recognition of the systemic oppression of minority communities, and people within those communities fighting against their own oppression, to later form coalitions and dismantle the structural oppression resulting in liberation for everyone. How someone like Lilla, a professor at Columbia, misses the mark so hugely on this is perplexing to say in the least. What critics of identity politics do is take the part that states that everyone has different experiences based on their identity, and then they stop after that. They
call it “pandering to minorities” rather than to “all Americans.” The reality is that identity politics, while initially focused on one’s own identity, are meant to then form broader coalitions to fight oppression together, which is where intersectionality comes into play. The entire point is to dismantle systemic oppression. It does not lead to the selfish and unaware generation of progressives who have no idea how other people live that Lilla warns about. It actually does the opposite. When the president of the U.S. says that neo-Nazis are “fine people” and calls African countries “shitholes,” it should be abundantly clear why identity politics are crucial in achieving liberation from oppression.
Max Van Dyke is a senior from Saint Paul, Minnesota studying religion and communications.
Associated Press Recognizing identity politics helps people to see that everyone has had different experiences throughout their lives and can help minorities come together to fight oppression.
Landolt: U.S. gun policies are killing us
I literally want ranch funneled into my mouth.
I think my Psych360 TA served me at Buffalo Wild Wings last night.
K A N S A N .C O M /O P I N I O N
MOLLY LANDOLT @mollylandolt Mass shootings in the United States are running rampant while nothing is changing to protect citizens. How many people have to fall victim to gun violence before gun laws drastically change? This week, a school shooting in Kentucky killed two 15 year-olds and injured 18 other students. According to the New York Times, it was the 11th school shooting of 2018. It was Jan. 23. It seems after every horrific mass shooting, gun reform is brought up in a heated debate, but there is no
change. So, what will finally put an end to horrific mass shootings? There might not be a definitive answer, but with stricter gun laws and more extensive background checks, gun violence in the will surely decrease. U.S. citizens should protect their constitutional rights, but the Second Amendment is a threat to the safety and well-being of citizens. It was written in 1791, a time when, according to Business Insider, the guns available to citizens were single-shot muskets. Also in 1791, only 3.9 million citizens inhabited the and it was still legal in some states to own slaves. One can
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only hope that the country’s moral compass has drastically shifted since then, but gun legislation has not proved that to be true. In 2018, it is legal to purchase semi-automatic guns that have the ability to hold high-capacity magazines that contain more than 10 rounds. In some states, civilians can legally purchase an AR-15 in under an hour; only nine states impose a waiting period on gun sales. It is also legal to carry a handgun out in the open in some states. These facts are extremely troubling — the U.S. should impose a waiting period on gun sales and employ more extensive background checks. There is no reason that a citizen should be able to purchase a gun with the power to cause so much harm in under an hour. According to the Library of Congress, in Spain “the bearing of arms by civilians is not considered a right, but a privilege that may be granted by the government if legal conditions are met.” In 2011, the death rate from
firearms in Spain was 0.63 per 100,000 people. The Second Amendment states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” In 2010, the death rate caused by firearms was 10.2 per 100,000 people. The key difference between Spain and the United States is that Spain views carrying firearms as a privilege, not an inherent right. This highlights that the concealed carry policy at the University is extremely problematic. Although the University is only following Kansas law, this policy puts the safety of students and faculty at risk. In September, a loaded .38-caliber revolver was found unattended in a bathroom in Wescoe Hall. Shell casings were also found outside of Strong Hall in October, and University public safety officers believe the perpetrator was trying to “make a statement.” These incidents are extremely un-
contact us Chandler Boese Editor-in-Chief cboese@kansan.com
Baylee Parsons Business Manager bparsons@kansan.com
settling in light of the recent changes to University gun policy. While civilians using a concealed weapon have intervened in shootings, according to Stanford, states that have allowed concealed handguns experienced a “13-15 percent increase in violent crime in the 10 years after enacting those laws.” Stricter gun laws will not solve all of our issues, but it could make a drastic difference. Stricter gun laws and more extensive background checks will make it more difficult for dangerous weapons to get in the wrong hands. Don’t we want to protect children in schools? Aren’t we tired of living in fear of gun violence? How many people have to die before lawmakers realize that the right to bear arms is causing unnecessary harm in America?
Molly Landolt is a freshman from Labadie, Missouri, studying strategic communications.
editorial board
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Chandler Boese, Erin Brock, Danya Issawi and Baylee Parsons.
arts & culture Monday, January 29, 2018
K A N S A N .C O M /A R T S A N D C U LT U R E
Book details what Alzheimer’s ‘takes away’
After seeing his father struggle with the illness, KU lecturer Brian Daldorph wrote a book of poetry about the experience
Brian Daldorph, a senior lecturer in the English Department, describes his father’s battle with Alzheimer’s through poetry in “Ice Age.” EMILY BECKMAN @emilybeckman7 In his latest book of poetry, Brian Daldorph, a senior lecturer in the English department, shares stories of his late father, who struggled with Alzheimer’s disease. Published in 2017, “Ice Age/Edad de Hielo” centers on Daldorph’s father, Ted, who developed Alzheimer’s in his eighties and passed away in 2012. It is the sixth full-length book of poetry Daldorph has published. Throughout “Ice Age,” Daldorph compares Alzheimer’s disease to winter, a comparison that he said is a “perfect, sort of terrible metaphor” for what he witnessed happen to his father. “It’s kind of like, you know, the way that winter kind of takes away things from us, and it seemed to me that that’s what was happening with this illness,” Daldorph said. The book is split into two parts. The first half focuses on his father prior to developing Alzheimer’s, while the
second half focuses on his father’s struggle with the illness. Daldorph chose the poems in the first half of the book — which were written over the course of about 30 years — based on what he thought best represented his father. Poems in the second half were primarily written during the last five years of his father’s life. Showcasing the “good years,” was important, Daldorph said. “I wanted to have half of the book as a celebration of his life, and, you know, looking at the kind of more positive side of things and try to describe his character the best that I could,” Daldorph said. “I mean, I thought he was a really interesting guy in so many ways.”
Daldorph described his father as logical, well-organized and deliberate. That’s part of what made watching him develop Alzheimer’s so hard, he said. “This disease is always horrible, but it just seemed particularly devastating for somebody who was used to being in control and then loses that control and couldn’t understand what was going on around him and all of that,” Daldorph said. Daldorph said writing “Ice Age” helped comfort him and better understand his father’s experience with Alzheimer’s. He hopes it will help others who are affected by Alzheimer’s “understand a little better what they’re dealing with,” Daldorph said. “Even though the details
of the book would be very different from other people’s experience, I think the general concept is pretty similar with how most people experience this, and perhaps that could be helpful in some way,” Daldorph said. Ray Mizumura-Pence, a lecturer in the American studies department, is one of the co-directors of the Disability Studies Seminar at the Hall Center for the Humanities. Mizumura-Pence said, in an email with the Kansan, he met Daldorph through a seminar in 2015, where Daldorph shared poems from “Ice Age” and spoke about Alzheimer’s. “The book opens up so many dimensions of the disease’s impact on bodies, hearts and minds, and this impact is strong across gen-
“The book opens up so many dimensions of the disease’s impact on bodies, hearts and minds, and this impact is strong across generations.” Ray Mizumura-Pence facultiy member in American studies and disability studies
Miranda Anaya/KANSAN
erations,” Mizumura-Pence said. While Mizumura-Pence said he has not yet read the book, he said he learned from Daldorph’s presentation at the seminar. “His poems about his father living with Alzheimer’s and the consequences for his family members taught me so much about the condition, and about the strength of people with Alzheimer’s and their loved ones,” Mizumura-Pence said. “Ice Age” is bilingual and was translated to Spanish by Laura Chalar. It is available for purchase at the Raven Bookstore, located at 6 E. 7th St. In an email with the Kansan, Danny Caine of the Raven Bookstore said the business always carries Daldorph’s work and is “really committed to supporting local authors.” The book is also available from Coal City Press, a publication in which Daldorph is the founder and editor, and Amazon.
horoscopes ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) Conditions are changing. Work could disrupt domestic plans. Focus on urgent priorities and clean up later. Ask family and housemates for support. Everything works out. TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) Communication breakdowns require attention. Creative solutions arise in conversation. Rely on your local networks. You can get what you need. Focus on short-term objectives.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) Cash flow limitations could threaten your plans. Defer what you can and stay in communication. Get creative with sourcing. Hold out for the best deal. CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) You could feel especially sensitive. Take care of personal matters. Lay low and avoid fuss or expense. Tidy up loose ends and recharge batteries.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) Choose privacy over publicity. Consider where you’ve been and what’s ahead. Strategize for shifting objectives. Meditate on it and discover a brilliant solution.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) A professional challenge has your focus. Someone important is watching your performance. A bonus is available. Consistent efforts win over the long run.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) Get together with friends behind closed doors. Work out your team strategy to handle immediate necessities. Together, you can make things happen.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) Keep following a productive thread to expand your frontiers. Research and study the possibilities. Tap into hidden assets. Learn from an experienced guide.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) Collaborate with family to grow shared accounts. Determine what’s needed and who can provide it. Find efficiencies and savings. Keep contributing. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) Compromise and collaborate. Proceed cautiously with your partner. Listen and make quiet inroads. Treat each other kindly. Take care of urgencies and clean up later.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) Cutting corners with your work could get expensive. Follow rules scrupulously. Maintain standards for health, fitness and excellent service. Invest in your performance. PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) Relax and spend time with people you love. Handle responsibilities and stay out of someone else’s argument. Family fun and romance are possible.
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Youngs: Your silence will not save you
The Michigan State and USA Gymnastics officals who allowed Larry Nassar's abuse to continue cannot be exempt from repercussions, columnist Raeley Youngs argues
RAELEY YOUNGS @raeleyy Seven days of stories. More than 150 women. Over 20 years of abuse. A maximum of 175 years in prison. These are the numbers in the trial against former USA Gymnastics doctor and Michigan State faculty member Larry Nassar, who was officially found guilty Wednesday of sexually assaulting gymnasts and other female athletes. But these numbers are not nearly enough to explain how Nassar was able to go unscathed for decades. Behind Nassar and in front of those women were countless bystanders who blatantly enabled Nassar through their silence throughout his entire career. “Adult after adult, many in positions of authority protected you (Nassar), telling each survivor it was OK, that you weren’t abusing them,” said Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman in her testimony against Nassar on Jan. 19. “In fact, many adults had you convince the survivors that they were being dramatic or had been mistaken.” Those women who were victimized did not stay silent. They came forward and told people in positions of power, people who they thought would do something about it. But, those trusted adults, coaches and leaders repeatedly dismissed the claims of abuse, assault and molestation for years. According to the Washington Post, “victims have said they complained about Nassar’s conduct to Michigan State Athletics officials
Associated Press Dr. Larry Nassar is seated during the seventh day of his sentencing hearing Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018, in Lansing, Mich. Nassar has admitted sexually assaulting athletes when he was employed by Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics, which is the sport's national governing organization and trains Olympians.
as far back as 1997.” Twenty-one years ago, this could have been stopped. Twenty-one years ago, if just a single person in power had spoken up, mountains of anguish could have been evaded. USA gymnastics staff, coaches and Michigan state officials, this is not solely on Larry Nassar, no matter how strongly you may believe it is, this is also largely on you. Though not as responsible as Nassar, those who enabled Nassar’s actions are to blame, guilty of standing by in complicity as a manipulative monster took advantage of women, over and over again. But now, your silence
will not save you, nor will condemning Nassar, believing that it makes you any less responsible. It will not save you, Chairman Paul Parilla, Vice Chairman Jay Binder, Treasurer Bitsy Kelley, the USA Gymnastics board members who resigned last Monday, or Michigan State President Lou Anna Simon, who resigned Wednesday. It will not save you, Kath-
ie Klages, former Michigan State gymnastics coach who retired in February 2017 and had allegedly discouraged her gymnasts from reporting concerns about Nassar. And it most definitely will not save you, Steve Penny, former president and CEO of USA Gymnastics who resigned in March 2017, and whose organization officials admitted they routinely dismissed sexual
Those who enabled Nassar’s actions are to blame, guilty of standing by in complicity as a manipulative monster took advantage of women, over and over again.
abuse allegations. This is on those leaders and the many others who stood in silence as Nassar continued to be employed by USA Gymnastics and Michigan State and as he continued to prey on woman after woman. Regardless if these people only had an inkling of what was happening or blatantly knew about it, they still chose to look away until it became too large to hide anymore. “If over these many years just one adult listened, and had the courage and character to act, this tragedy could have been avoided,” Raisman said. Nassar was finally fired
from USA Gymnastics — albeit very quietly — in 2015 after the organization learned of “athlete concerns.” He was not fired from Michigan State until August 2016, but again, in a discreet fashion. But still, both of the organizations took no actions of substance until after Nassar was officially sentenced on Wednesday. Despite overwhelming evidence and direct reports from athletes to authoritative figures in both organizations for years prior to Nassar’s charges, USA Gymnastics and Michigan State once again chose to turn a blind eye, as they have done for years, until finally they were pressured to the furthest extent. While Michigan’s attorney general promised a full investigation of Michigan State and the entire USA Gymnastics board has agreed to resign, it is still not enough. Empty statements of sympathy, empty promises to fix problems and a few forced resignations are not enough to mend the epidemic of sexual assault across the sports world. Now is the time to hold those guilty of complying with Nassar responsible, and make them accountable for what they didn’t do to help these women. Now is the time to trust victims, put an end to abuse of power and most importantly, stop ignoring the massive problem of sexual assault, so that fewer people will have to say "me too."
KU proves speed defeats size in win over A&M MICHAEL SWAIN @mswain97 “Speed beats size every time,” senior guard Svi Mykhailiuk said before Kansas defeated Texas A&M on Saturday evening. This was the mantra for Kansas as it went against a team in Texas A&M that has four players who are 6 foot 9 or taller and play more than 20 minutes a game. Despite only playing one Jayhawk over 6-9, Kansas did an amazing job mitigating the production of Texas A&M’s bigs. This has been a consistent theme, not only in the Texas A&M game, but also throughout the season as a whole. Despite being criminally undersized, Kansas continues to prohibit other teams from taking advantage of its lack of height. The ability to somehow match up with bigger teams despite being smaller all starts with Mykhailiuk. At 6-8, Mykhailiuk would have played the three if Billy Preston had ever become eligible to play. Without the 6-10 freshman, Mykhailiuk has been tasked with guarding the opposing team’s four — usually someone who is 6-9 or taller.
For Mykhailiuk, the key to guarding bigger players is getting your work done early. “Don’t let them catch it at first,” Mykhailiuk said after the game. “Even if they do catch it, just try and push them out of the zone, so even if they do a post move, they will be far from the rim.” Mykhailiuk is not the only Jayhawk who has been forced to play bigger. Junior guard Lagerald Vick has also done his fair share of guarding big men. Against Texas A&M, Vick guarded Robert Williams, a 6-10 forward. Despite a five-inch height difference between the two men, Vick was able to hold Williams to 11 points and six rebounds, two fewer points than Williams' season average. Offensively, playing smaller only helps Kansas. Playing four guards around one big man allows Kansas to drive and score or drive and kick with precision. “Coach is always saying ‘speed beats size at the end of the day.’ That is what we try to play to," redshirt sophomore Malik Newman said after the game. “Whoever the bigs are, we just try to drive past them and
Missy Minear/KANSAN Senior guard Svi Mykhailiuk catches a pass at the rim against Texas A&M on Saturday, Jan. 27. The Jayhawks defeated the Aggies 79-68. make other people help so we can get shooters open.” With such an athletic group of guards, anyone can beat their man and get to the rim and finish or kick it out to a shooter in the corner. When going up against bigger teams like Texas A&M, Baylor, and even
West Virginia, to some extent, Mykhailiuk is usually guarded by a bigger player, thus creating a mismatch on the offensive end. Mykhailiuk has become a great finisher around the rim and has improved his first step drastically since arriving in Lawrence in 2014.
“Svi has become the best driver of the ball without question,” coach Bill Self said. Despite his team playing well and beating bigger teams, Self isn’t completely satisfied with his team’s performance. “It is hard to get too excited when you are mi-
nus-seven in rebounding. It doesn’t matter who you play, we had opportunities to not be in that [position],” Self said. In Kansas State, who Kansas will face Monday at 8 p.m. in Manhattan, the Jayhawks will come up against a bigger team.
sports
Monday, January 29, 2018
K A N S A N .C O M /S P O R T S
Basketball Gameday Kansas at Kansas State, Monday, Jan. 29, 8 p.m.
Missy Minear/KANSAN Redshirt sophomore guard Malik Newman brings the ball up after a steal on Saturday, Jan. 13, against Kansas State. Kansas defeated K-State 73-72. SHAUN GOODWIN & SEAN COLLINS @ShaunGoodwinUDK & @seanzie_UDK
Beat Writer Predictions: Shaun Goodwin: K-State 74-73, Sean Collins: Kansas 71-68
KANSAS (17-4, 6-2) Malik Newman
Dean Wade
★★★★
★★★★
redshirt sophomore guard
junior guard
The redshirt sophomore guard came into his own these past two weeks, scoring over 20 points in three games and dropping 15 in the Jayhawks’ recent victory over the Aggies. Newman came into the season with high expectations and struggled to find his place. But Newman has become a vital piece to Kansas’ offensive juggernaut and rebounds the ball as well as any Jayhawk.
Junior guard Dean Wade is a leader at K-State, being one of four players to have started every game this season. With an extremely impressive 57.6 percent field goal percentage, don’t be surprised if the Wildcats revert to Wade for a potential game-winning shot like they’ve tried in the past.
Devonte’ Graham
Barry Brown Jr.
★★★★★
★★★★
senior guard
junior guard
Senior gaurd Devonte’ Graham hasn’t shot with the same efficiency as of late, but that won’t last forever. The guard is still the most important player on the roster. He’s played 40 minutes in four-straight games because the Jayhawks can’t afford to see what happens without him on the court. Graham’s health is crucial.
Junior guard Barry Brown Jr. didn’t have the best game against Kansas two weeks ago, and will be remembered by Kansas fans for messing up K-State’s potential game winning play. But the junior still poses a huge threat, evident by his 34 point rout of Baylor earlier this week. Brown Jr. is an active guard who leads the team with 43 steals, and his stamina and speed will be a tough match for any Jayhawk guard.
Marcus Garrett
Cartier Diarra
★★★
★★★
freshman guard
Kansas State is playing its best basketball and that is led by its star, Dean Wade. Freshman guard Marcus Garrett will likely have the task of guarding Wade in his 20-25 minutes on the floor. Coach Bill Self was pleased with Garrett’s defense against the Aggies, so we will see the freshman more on the road.
athletes of the week
K-STATE (16-5, 5-3)
Lauryn Parrish
Swimming and diving Despite a close loss to Arkansas, freshman Lauryn Parrish swam incredibly well in front of the home crowd. Parrish used the crowd’s energy to help push her to a victory in the the 200-yard freestyle. The freshman completed the race in a solid 1:50.89.
redshirt freshman guard
Redshirt freshman Cartier Diarra has been a reliable scorer for the Wildcats, taking his chance as a starter by the horns, following the injury of Kamau Stokes. With the ability to score from anywhere on the floor, Diarra always poses a threat. His only downfall is his lack of awareness, with Diarra second on the team in turnovers (36) and averaging just 1.8 assists per game.
Svi Mykhailiuk
Men’s basketball Senior guard Svi Mykhailiuk carried Kansas through the last week. Mykhailiuk scored a game-high 24 points Saturday in a victory over Texas A&M. He also scored a team-high 24 points in a close loss to Oklahoma on Tuesday.