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The University Daily Kansan

vol. 137 // iss. 25 Thurs., Nov 15, 2018

SEE FRESHMAN • PAGE 10

Students host letter-writing campaign for human rights p. 2

Opera to highlight fears of driving while black p. 3

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Lejuez: We need a new budget model Following the recent $20 million budget cut, University administrators seek to avoid mistakes made in the past NICOLE ASBURY @NicoleAsbury The University of Kansas is expected to roll out a new plan to prevent future budget issues, but administrators are still working out final kinks, Interim Provost Carl Lejuez said. Following the announcement of an estimated $20 million budget cut last spring, administrators began to push for a new model to mend previous problems, according to Lejuez. The previous budget model didn’t include a built-in budget for a number of high-priority expenses, Lejuez said, such as deferred maintenance on buildings and substantial raises for faculty. “If we want to grow the overall resources at the University, then we need a new budget model so we can increase them,” Lejuez said. Regarding the previous model, Lejuez said many of those initiatives — like the construction of buildings in the Central District — were based on the idea the University had enough money. Now, the University knows it doesn’t, he said. “The [new] budget model is more about making sure we’re providing an incentive for being successful and being able to come up

Kansan file photo Interim Provost Carl Lejuez talked about the budget in Eaton Hall on Monday Aug. 27. with new ideas,” Lejuez said. Most universities’ budgets are based on how many credit hours students are taking in each unit, Lejuez said. The University’s new model is a hybrid between the credit hour model and one based on merit. It takes into account how many students are currently in one unit, as well as whether that unit is pursuing other strategic priorities — like diversity and equity, research and more. Units that are meeting those standards will incur more money. “It will start impacting the way we think about things at KU. It will tell

everyone right now, ‘What you do does matter,’” Lejuez said. “We’re coming down on the fact that these things matter. You don’t see these in almost any other model.” Though the future budget model is still developing, certain elements have been warranting concern among faculty, staff and students. “On the surface, they don’t sound good or bad, but we don’t know enough to say, ‘Your unit will be hurt,’ or, ‘Your unit will stay the same.’ That’s what everybody is interested in,” Faculty Senate President Kirk McClure said.

recommended when having to be out in the weather. Pay attention to weather forecast, it’s not always the temperature, but the wind chill temperatures that affect people and pets.” Anguiano said students should make it a priority to pay attention to weather reports and to follow law enforcement and emergency management accounts on social media to get up-todate information. “Any time the National Weather Service posts a watch or warning, there is potential for the weather to change,” Anguiano said. “Look for possible amounts of snow or ice; if you are walking distances, know how long it will take, and be prepared [as] a sidewalk might not be cleared of snow or ice, so watch out for slips or falls.” Lindsey Morin, a sophomore from Long Beach, California, said she was caught off guard and ill-prepared for the wind chill on top of the posted weather reading. “My first impression on winter in Kansas was ‘Goodness, that wind is freezing,’” Morin said. “I had been in 30 degree weather before, but there was no wind, so it didn’t seem too cold to me.”

Arriving to Kansas with a couple thin beanies and a snow jacket, Morin said she had to quickly adjust to the effect of wind chill by stocking up on more winter gear, including rain boots and snow boots, blankets, another winter coat and, for the first time ever, gloves. For additional items to bulk up on this winter, Anguiano said a winter weather kit may be a great investment. Kits include items such as snow socks, a spare phone charger, hand warmers, a wool blanket, LED flashers/ flares, a flashlight, food, drinks, a shovel and a windshield de-icer, he said. Sophomore Esteban Romanos of El Paso, Texas, said he approaches the cold trying to be ahead of the forecast as much as possible, especially when it comes to driving in snow or slush. “I had to adjust completely to the cold,” Romanos said. “I had to make sure that I had an ice scraper with me at all times and to be weary on the road.” Romanos said he often checks the weather to prepare for the next morning. “I also try to look at the next day’s weather

Over the course of the semester, Lejuez has laid out a number of “foundational priorities” he wants to account for in the budget: Allocation for deferred maintenance: The University is facing up to $300 million in repairs. Lejuez said he intends to allocate more money in the base budget to fix deferred maintenance, which will add to the amount the state allocates for the University. Tuition: Part of Lejuez’s plan includes ensuring tuition cannot gohigher up than 2.5 percent for students over the course of the next five years

Accounting for inflation: Previous budget models did not include any account for ongoing inflation, Lejuez said in a previous town hall. As the cost of running business continues to increase, the model will lay that out. Substantial raises for faculty: Per the executive budget summary for the 2019 fiscal year, “The FY 2019 Tuition Proposal did not include salary increase funds.” Lejuez plans to implement a 1 percent raise. Other options are still being deliberated with administrators. With the new model, it’s unclear how staff will accumulate substantial raises in a merit-based system. Staff do not have specific students they teach, so the money service units accrue is primarily on if they’re fulfilling strategic priorities. Staff Senate President Michelle Ginavan Hayes said there’s not as much of a clear route to prove the success of a service unit. “How do you really make this merit-based? You’re going to have to let some people down,” Ginavan Hayes said. “He’s talking about the 1 percent raise, but that’s not going to be 1 percent for everybody.” McClure said that

with the roll-out of this new model, the phrasing surrounding it has been that the new model will have “hold harmless” provision, meaning only improvement can happen, but the budget can’t get worse than it is now. But members of the University community are concerned the same problems will present itself — if not amplify — while the exchange of funding goes underway. Lejuez said the official plan will likely be completed around February of 2019, where some of the lasting questions will be resolved. A bit after February, Lejuez said administrators will share the model. Units will be deciding their base cuts by then, and the new model will be available at their discretion to help them decide how to carry out the cut, according to Lejuez. “We’re going to do everything we can to roll it out in a way that’s humane to our units,” Lejuez said. “It’s already challenging enough with the 6 percent cut, that we’re going to keep units as close to that as possible.” A new budget conversation was announced which will focus on the development of the new model. It will take place on Dec. 5 at 3:30 p.m. in Budig 120.

Winter is coming: How to survive the Kansas cold NICOLE DOLAN @nikkidolan279 Walking on Jayhawk Boulevard this time of year, you might see several University of Kansas students frantically scurrying their bundled-up selves to the bus stop or to class as snow falls. Although the season does not officially begin until Dec. 21, it sure feels like winter has arrived in Lawrence. The University is home to a total of 24,815 students. Of this, 9,735 are out-of-state, which includes 2,114 international students, according to fall enrollment data by the KU Office of Institutional Research and Planning. This suggests roughly 39 percent of students are not from Kansas, and those accustomed to warmer weather may not know how to stay warm this winter. Deputy Chief James Anguiano of the University’s Public Safety Office suggests various tips students may keep in mind as the winter weather starts to move in. “Now is the time to start collecting cold weather gear: coats, hats, scarves,” Anguiano said. “Boots are

Sarah Wright/KANSAN Snow falls on the Jayhawk outside of Strong Hall on Nov. 12. to make sure if I need to put my wipers up so that they don’t stick to the windshield or anything like that,” he said. “I do have to prepare to leave earlier to allow my car to defrost and leave on time for classes or errands.” On winter weather driving, Anguiano said it is better to leave earlier than anticipated to prepare the vehicle properly. “If you haven’t experienced ice or snow when driving, be careful, allow yourself more time, and properly clear your windshield and lights of all snow or ice so you can see

around you,” Anguiano said. “Anticipate what others may do, and slow down. It is illegal to leave your car running while unattended unless your car is equipped with remote start.” However, Rosemary Peterson, a sophomore from Fort Collins, Colorado, is familiar with the colder weather as she grew up in an area that experiences a lot of snow. “It’s pretty cold during the winter in Colorado too, so I was pretty prepared,” Peterson said. “When I’m walking around campus, it is the worst when it is windy. It makes me feel way colder.

I think that my freshman year I had some good gear for the cold, but this year, I’ve done more.” Peterson said she accumulated more weatherproof items like waterproof boots and new gloves that can even maintain warmth up to 20 degrees below zero. Peterson also said it is best to always dress in warmer clothes than you’d think you need. “You can always take layers off, but you can’t just make your jacket appear if you left it at your house that morning,” Peterson said.

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Students to host ‘Write for Rights’ LARA KORTE @lara_korte

This weekend, University of Kansas students and the Lawrence community can take a stand for international human rights, thanks to two letter-writing centers hosted by the student group Amnesty KU. “It’s not a major time commitment,” said Lacee Roe, president of Amnesty KU. “Anyone can stop in and just take action really quickly.” The student group is the local chapter of Amnesty International, a global organization that “works to create a world where human rights abusers are held accountable and where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) can be enjoyed by all the world’s people,” according to the group’s website. Every year, the organization holds a “Write for Rights” campaign where people from around the world write letters on behalf of those who need urgent help. This year, the campaign is rallying around 11 women who have been persecuted by their countries for defending human rights. The women, who come from countries around the globe, including Venezuela, Kyrgyzstan and the U.S., are facing

persecution for defending causes such as disability rights, opposing the death penalty, or speaking out against the government. “In the past, we’ve been able to stop executions and keep people out of prison who shouldn’t be there,” Roe said. “It’s a really excellent cause.” Amnesty KU will set up a letter-writing station in Anschutz Library on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sunday, Nov. 18 in the Lawrence Public Library from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. The group will provide letterwriting supplies, example letters and information on the 11 women. The international letter-writing campaign has seen a number of successes in past years. Most recently a blogger from Vietnam, who faced 10 years in prison, was freed. Tina Wang, a junior from Topeka and vice president of Amnesty KU, said she thinks the campaign is not only helpful for those facing persecution, but also those who participate in letter-writing. “I urge people to care because it’s good to exercise empathy; it’s good to exercise how to care for people and understand where people are coming from,” Wang said. “You’re going to make more friends. You’re going to learn more

Lara Korte/KANSAN The student group Amnesty KU is hosting two letter-writing stations this weekend on campus and at the Lawrence Public Library as part of Amnesty International’s “Write for Rights” campaign. things, more than just staying in your comfort zone.” The international campaign runs through

Jan. 31, and has already received more than 3,500 letters, according to Amnesty International’s website.

“It may not work every time,” Roe said. “But when the case does go through, it can mean life or death for a lot of people.”

macy School. Along with a modification to its curriculum, the pharmacy school incorporated more active learning, including a series of courses where students can learn practice guidelines and disease states and how to manage patients with those diseases. Content like this is what is typically found on the NAPLEX, according to Barnes. Javyn Krenzel, a fourth-year pharmacy student from Chanute, praised the University’s pharmacy program in its successful student preparation.

“We’re taught by some of the brightest,” Krenzel said. “Between the didactic education and pharmacy practice experience we are inherently ahead of our pharmacy cohorts from other colleges.” The six-year training program at the University is designed to prepare its students to pass the NAPLEX and MPJE, and therefore, a career in pharmacy practices. The program requires two years of prerequisite courses followed by professional schooling, where students will receive a bachelor’s degree in science and pharmaceutical studies,

and a doctoral pharmacy degree after completion of the sixth year. In order to take the licensure exams, students must complete these six years of schooling, according to Barnes. “The important thing when studying for the NAPLEX is focusing on the basics and sculpting the additional knowledge around those basics,” said Krenzel, who will be taking the exam in May 2019. From the students who pass the licensure exams, Barnes said the University sees about two-thirds of these students go directly into pharmaceutical practices, most commonly retail pharmacy. The pharmacy school is especially impressed with its students’ performances on the NAPLEX and MPJE, and are looking to retain the numbers observed in the future. “We have taken the approach that our curriculum needs to be incrementally updated and modified,” Barnes said. “We receive feedback from practicing pharmacists across the state to figure out where the profession is going and how we can adapt to that. By being adaptive and paying attention to what’s going on in the profession, hopefully the exam can reflect current pharmacy practice and we can continue to do well each year.”

100% of pharmacy grads pass licensure exam LUCY PETERSON @petersonxlucy The University’s 2018 pharmacy school graduates passed a national exam with flying colors. The North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX) is a national exam required of pharmacy students to receive their licenses following graduation. The University’s Pharmacy School class of 2018 achieved a 100 percent pass rate, while the national average pass rate is only 92 percent. Along with the NA-

PLEX, students must also take the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). At the University, 99 percent of the 2018 class passed. After a revision in 2016 to the NAPLEX regarding structure and content, pharmacy schools nationwide saw significant drops in their students’ scores. “During that time, we realized our curriculum needed to be modified to really reflect clinical practice and the role that the pharmacist is playing, which aligns well with what the exam is assessing,” said Brian Barnes, associate dean of the Phar-

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KU students tour a pharmacy as a part of their annual trip.

Contributed photo

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arts & culture Thursday, November 15, 2018

ARTS & CULTURE

K A N S A N .C O M /A R T S _ A N D _ C U LT U R E

‘Driving While Black’

A one-act opera highlighting the fears of a black mother when her son begins driving will premiere this weekend RACHEL GAYLOR @raegay218 Several University of Kansas School of Music faculty will present “DWB (Driving While Black)” at the Lawrence Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. this Saturday. The one-act opera will highlight the fears of a black mother when her 16-year-old son begins to drive. The feature is somewhat autobiographical. University of Kansas lecturer Roberta Gumbel, the librettist and soprano of the work, has a son, a freshman at the University. “I hope for the community, that it brings a topic that, right now, is in the headlines, to a broader conversation,” Gumbel said. “We talk about it when something bad happens, but then it just simmers, and maybe by giving a musical voice to it, it makes it more universal because people are now listening to it who might ignore the situation, or the status of the way things are in the country right now.” The one-woman show will feature Gumbel performing with cello and percussion accompaniment from University professors Hannah Collins and Mike Compitello, respectively. The music was composed by Gumbel’s longtime friend and composer Susan Kander. “The idea to write

“Driving While Black” chronicles the internal struggle of a black mother while her son learns to drive. about this came out of conversations [Kander and I] had about life,” Gumbel said. “We weren’t even thinking about writing at the time. She knows my son and later said that it would be cool to write about — and that’s how the piece got its start.” Compitello, who performs with Collins in the ensemble “New Morse Code,” said he is excited to perform classical music with a modern theme. “For us as musicians, and especially as musicians who play classical music, it’s great to be able to perform a piece that says something about the times in which we live,” Compitello said.

“It enables me to connect to an experience that I personally as a white man will never have.” Compitello also said he is excited to potentially introduce the opera genre to a wider audience. “Because of the subject matter, it’s possible that we reach people that I won’t have met before, and that’s exciting,” he said. Both Gumbel and Compitello stressed the importance of discussion about the topic of racial profiling and the concept of driving while black. “Personally, we live in a divided time right now and more than ever it’s really important to listen,” Compitello said. “[The

story] is somebody’s life experience — Roberta’s experience as a mom. It’s not trying to say anything bigger or give any prescriptions, but I think what’s really important about it is that it gives us a window into somebody else’s own life.” Gumbel said this feature is personal not just because she gets to tell her story but also because she had a hand in creating it. “I’ve always just been given the music to sing, but this time I have a part in creating it,” Gumbel said. “To be able to collaborate and not just be the performer is amazing. [Compitello, Collins and Kander] are wonderful

me,” Sullivan said. “It’s probably what I think about the most.” Sullivan runs a business called Sullystring, where she sells colorful pillows, wall hangings and paintings, among other things. “Sullystring” is a play on words for many things in her life: her last name is Sullivan and she always

liked being called “Sully,” she uses a lot of string in her art and it’s also similar to the word “silly string.” “I’m goofy, and the art I make is fun and whimsical, so I decided to just roll with it,” Sullivan said. “It’s a lot of things packed into one word.” Sullivan incorporates a lot of color into

her work. She said when making custom pieces for clients, she thinks about how a color or color combination could represent that person. “Color is such a powerful tool,” Sullivan said. Sullivan graduated from the University in 2011 with a bachelor’s in fine arts for textile design. However, when she

musicians and I get the fun of working with them.” Gumbel also discussed the uniqueness of the opera form tackling this subject. Classical music, she said, doesn’t always comment on matters ripped from the headlines. The piece was originally going to be a song cycle, but the term “opera” tells the audience it is a longer, more dramatic form of art. “It expanded and became more theatrical than our original idea of a song cycle, so we call it an opera. But it really doesn’t matter what you call it,” Gumbel said. Gumbel said she hopes audience members come with an open mind to the

Contributed illustration

stylings of contemporary classical music as well as an open heart when discussing the subject matter. “It is part of our American society right now — the fear of driving while black. To have more people have it on their radar, is an opportunity that we have,” Gumbel said. “I would like for them to relate, and if not relate, accept that this is real life.” Tickets are on sale now and are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for students. The opera will also be performed in Kansas City, Kansas, in January.

Vibrant colors brighten alumna’s custom art business RYLIE KOESTER @RylieKoester Colors and patterns were all alumna Sarah Sullivan found she liked drawing when she was young. Now, a textile design artist, Sullivan has made colors and patterns her life. “Color has just always been a huge thing for

Contributed photo 2011 alumna Sarah Sullivan owns and operates Sullystring, a business she uses to sell her original artwork.

“I’m goofy, and the art I make is fun and whimsical, so I decided to just roll with it.” Sarah Sullivan textile design artist

first arrived on campus, she thought she wanted to study graphic design. “I had no idea that textiles was a thing or something you could study,” Sullivan said. She quickly changed her mind and course of study in her sophomore year after discovering the fifth floor of Chalmers Hall, which is home to the textiles department. That’s where she started learning about weaving, dyeing and screen printing. “From there it was just kind of a done deal,” Sullivan said. “That’s what I was going to study.” After graduating from the University, Sullivan lived in France for a year but decided to move back to her hometown, Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she now lives and runs her business. Sullivan mostly works with acrylic paints and weaving, with weaving being the most unusual for an artist, she said. She was able to invest more time into weaving after

she was gifted a used loom from the Lawrence Arts Center as a college graduation present. “I just kind of carted this crazy machine with me wherever I went,” Sullivan said. Mary Anne Jordan, a professor of visual art in textiles, taught Sullivan while she was at the University and still keeps in touch, which includes keeping up with Sullivan’s Instagram page. “She was a positive force in the classroom, and I think she’s just carried that on into the Tulsa art scene,” Jordan said. When Sullivan isn’t making paintings, tapestries or pillows for clients, she turns her attention to other blank canvases s he finds in her life. Whether it’s furniture or a project just for herself, Sullivan said she likes to make things fit her aesthetic wherever she finds them. “I think that it’s important as an artist to have projects that are just for you,” Sullivan said.

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HOLD IT UP WHY WE DO IT When the opposing team is introduced, we couldn’t care less. We’d rather read the University Daily Kansan than pay attention .

HOW WE DO IT 1. Pull out the UDK poster spread. 2. Hold it high while the other team is introduced. 3. Shake the poster.

RIP IT UP WHY WE DO IT When the Jayhawks are introduced, we want to show just how excited we are. Throwing confetti hypes up the team and is an awesome spectacle for the crowd.

HOW WE DO IT 1. Pre-rip the UDK into confetti, but reserve a page. 2. Make a cone with the reserved page and fill with confetti. 3. Thrust the cone upward to launch the confetti.

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HOW WE DO IT 1. Scream as loud as you can. 2. Jump up and down. 3. Don’t stop until the ball has been tipped.

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Thursday, November 15, 2018 Text your Free For All submissions to (785) 289-8351

FFA of the Day: “On a scale of 1-10 how much do you hate yourself” “I mean I’m drinking Mountain Dew code red right now” Don’t get your computer fixed at the union because they will ruin it and tell you it’s your fault Dont’ buy your textbooks at the union because they’re $100 too expensive and you don’t use them and they tell you it’s your fault don’t go to ku because they’ll ruin your life and tell you its your fault Stan Lee died, so it’s my time as well “I only eat taco bell when my mental health is at a severe low” A man just walked past me wearing floral shorts and literally bouncing as he walked and I want what he’s on Ya sex is cool but have you ever tried sticking a blow dryer under your blanket while you’re wrapped up in it? Guaranteed continuous moaning i’m at the library and just saw a man frantically keep whispering “hey siri” into his iPhone while speedwalking “Detective pikachu slept with my wife” What does it mean if I keep hearing kill bill sirens but no one else seems to college isn’t for me, I’ve decided to drop out and pursue twitch streaming and selling my foot pics “1912 Jayhawk was the sexiest jayhawk: change my mind” not to be dramatic but having class until it’s dark outside is slowly killing me I’d like to formally apologize to everyone who saw me sob on the bus to class How many NyQuil will it take to make me sleep until Friday afternoon Can someone hit me in the face with a tire iron? Please and thank you

OPINION

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

Gerrymandering is suppression

AROOG KHALIQ @aroog_twt

One of the most potent arguments in favor of political nihilism in American politics is the idea that an individual’s vote can only be powerful if their voting district is sensibly designed. Gerrymandering, the process by which voting districts are arbitrarily designed to unfairly favor one political party, creates absurdly shaped voting districts that make it nearly impossible for a district to change political colors. Kansas’ historical volleying between, including and excluding Lawrence from the third district (which includes Kansas City and Overland Park) is a subtle example of this, and districts such as New York’s 101st and North Carolina’s 12th are more overt. Politicians on both sides of the aisle criticize this practice, but the political utility of gerrymandering makes it hard to remove, especially with the Republican Party in power. Though the 2018 midterm season could be described as a “Blue Wave,” this designation does not

pay enough attention to the disparity present between popular vote gains and actual seats won by Democrats in highly gerrymandered states such as Texas, Ohio, Michigan and North Carolina. The New York Times reported that in Texas, though nearly every district experienced an increase in popular votes cast for Democrats, the majority of those districts fell short of securing over 50 percent of the vote. The article also reported that in Ohio, Democrats won 48 percent of the popular vote, and in North Carolina, Democratic votes increased 2.9 percentage points. However, in both states, no seats were flipped. The article noted some success was observed in Michigan, where two seats flipped, but the disparity between Democratic votes secured and overall seats won remained. This election cycle, and elections going back to 2012, reflect a clear Republican bias in the current district mapping, but referendums are gradually flipping this trend. Successful independent citizen commissions in Arizona and California redrew dis-

Illustration by Hadley Kubicki/KANSAN This illustration shows an example of how gerrymandering works. It does not reflect real-world results. tricts to avoid gerrymandering, according to the Times article, and winning propositions in Michigan, Missouri and Colorado seek to change their respective maps. The creation of independent citizen commissions has been gaining traction, thanks to the 2015 Supreme Court decision in the Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redis-

tricting Commission case, which deemed it constitutional for citizens to handle redistricting independent of state legislatures. Changes in technology centered around artificial intelligence and game theory have resulted in algorithms from research teams at Carnegie Mellon University and Brown University that compute the most mathematically fair

districts. The future, then, may not be as bleak for our political system as nihilists believe. Restructuring districts to be less politically biased, by citizens’ commissions with or without technological support, is one of many reforms that can ensure voters’ efforts actually result in proportional national change, instead of the “Blue Trickle” of 2018.

Empathy, understanding fuel democracy JOHN HIGGINS @john_f_higgins

The United States has historically been characterized by its vibrant civic life and sense of community. In 1835, Alexis de Tocqueville — a French diplomat and historian visiting the U.S. — praised the civic engagement of Americans. Has this characterization held true through the ages? Considering the current political climate, this isn’t the case. American society has experienced an erosion of civic life in recent decades. Involvement has declined, with Americans participating less and less in community institutions. A fractious political climate and widespread mistrust and disillusionment with the political process suggests that the bonds of community have weakened. Trust, an essential component of democracy, is at a historic low. To make sense of this decline in civic participation, it’s important to understand the concept of social capital. Social capital refers to the byproducts of relationships, groups, organizations and other means of social interaction. By interacting with others, you build social capital. Being involved in a community creates a shared set of experiences, understanding and mutual trust. Social capital has multiple functions. It can form and strengthen bonds within a group, which is an important way individuals

Illustration by Regan Smith/KANSAN obtain a sense of identity. Additionally, social capital can facilitate connections between those of different groups, leading to new understanding. This latter type, which provides an avenue for discourse, is essential to democracy. Robert Antonio, a sociology professor at the University of Kansas, said that for democracy to thrive, it must “support access to key institutions” while also “promoting the ability to communicate across cultural lines.” Bridging social capital and effective intergroup communication are required for vibrant democratic institutions. But there’s an issue: American society has become increasingly individualistic. Across the board, Americans are less engaged with their communities, and individualism is eroding community involvement. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of vol-

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unteering has continually declined in recent years. Rising inequality and diminished mobility have led to large class divisions. These factors act as barriers to community engagement and diminish the ability to build bridging capital. Consequently, it’s increasingly difficult for Americans to interact with those different from them. Technology has also accelerated this shift. People spend more time online and less time interacting with people in real life. Despite the internet’s many useful functions, its role in the decline of community involvement cannot be understated. Online echo chambers, especially prominent in social media, polarize political discourse and impede understanding between political groups. These barriers to political discourse and understanding come at a time where right-wing populism and white nationalism have swept the country. According to Antonio,

these groups maintain “an extreme friend-enemy politic,” viewing themselves as the “true nation” and rejecting other identities. “That kind of position argues that we have a pluriverse where each culture is incommensurate, and we really can’t communicate across cultural lines because they have different values,” Antonio said. Antonio said this form of political ideology “is not a communication model.” This stands in stark contrast to what democracy should be. A democracy needs to be characterized by its ability to facilitate thoughtful discourse and resolve differences peacefully. To accomplish this, it’s necessary for people to have an understanding of what others believe. This is why social capital, particularly the kind that bridges divides and brings people together, is so important. “In a democracy, there should be incredible tolerance of difference,” An-

Baylee Parsons Business Manager bparsons@kansan.com

tonio said. “That doesn’t mean that you have to love everybody, but [that] you’re open to conversing and believing that we should be able to live together peacefully.” We must be able to “play the role of the other” and develop empathy in our daily lives. However, when structural inequality is higher than ever, how do we achieve this? To start, we must become more willing to interact with those we disagree with. While many consider these types of discussions stressful, democracy isn’t easy. It’s a profoundly imperfect institution that’s better than other alternatives. Cultivating empathy and mutual understanding, while difficult, isn’t impossible. Finding ways to engage in your community is an excellent way to begin. By interacting with people of all walks of life, you gain an understanding of their perspectives. This knowledge is key to effective discourse. If we are to re-imagine American democracy, it should start with our own willingness to engage with others. Democracy should be more participatory than merely voting every two years — it ought to be more closely integrated into civil society. By cultivating understanding and engaging in effective discourse, we will assuredly be moving in the right direction.

John Higgins is a sophomore from Olathe studying economics and math.

editorial board

Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Shaun Goodwin, Conner Mitchell, Rebekah Lodos and Baylee Parsons.

SPORTS

K ANSAN.COM

Freshman duo leads Kansas to victory LOGAN FRICKS @LoganFricks

In a battle against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles, Kansas women’s basketball walked away with a 70-58 victory on Tuesday to push its season record to 2-0, but it was the freshmen for Kansas who showed out. After scoring a combined two points against UMKC, the freshman duo of guards Brooklyn Mitchell and Aniya Thomas would stand out for Kansas on Tuesday. Thomas led all Jayhawks in scoring with 17 points, while Mitchell followed suit with 13. The tandem shot a combined 11-for-16 from the field and combined for 7-for-8 from the free throw line. “My mentality was to play lock down defense and contribute to the team as much as I could on offense,” Thomas said. “I just wanted to play my game.” Both Thomas and Mitchell only appeared for seven minutes each against UMKC, as opposed to their combined 39 minutes against Oral Roberts. “In the UMKC game they threw it to the other team too much,” Kansas coach Brandon Schneider said. “In this game, I thought they did a better job taking care

Bettina Bugatto/KANSAN Freshman Brooklyn Mitchell dribbles down the court on Nov. 13. The Jayhawks defeated Oral Roberts 70-58. of the ball and being very aggressive, attacking the basket.” The duo also got up on the defensive end of the court as Thomas would pick off a pass and swipe another ball leading to two wide open layups while Mitchell would also pick off a pass, eventually leading to a Thomas three pointer. Each player would go on

Brooklyn Mitchell

freshman, guard

4-6

FIELD GOALS

scoring sprees of her own in the first quarter as Mitchell scored seven straight points for Kansas followed by Thomas, who would score nine-straight for the Jayhawks. At the end of the quarter, Kansas was leading 29-11. “We’re all confident in [Thomas and Mitchell] and know they can contribute to our team, its great they

MINUTES

REBOUNDS

STEALS

could bounce back from their first game,” sophomore center Bailey Helgren said. On a night which senior point guard Christalah Lyons would struggle with fouls, having four in the game, Mitchell and Thomas stepped up and filled a much-needed role. “I think when [Mitchell and Thomas] play like

they did tonight, obviously I have more confidence in them and I trust them more,” Schneider said. “It’s nice to see them respond from the UMKC game when they didn’t play probably like we would expect them to.” The Jayhawks now be look forward to their matchup against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs, a game

Aniya Thomas

freshman, guard

POINTS

which will see the first appearance of redshirt senior guard Jessica Washington, as Schneider announced she will play on Sunday.

next game

Alabama A&M Sun., Nov. 18 7 p.m.

MINUTES

7-10 2 FIELD GOALS

STEALS

17 POINTS

REBOUNDS

Beaty acknowledges challenge Kyler Murray presents FULTON CASTER @FCaster04 Kansas football coach David Beaty, entering the final two weeks of his tenure as the Jayhawks’ head coach, took time at his weekly media availability to reflect on his relationship with current Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray and the challenges Murray and the Sooners will present this week. Murray, a 5-foot10, 195-pound redshirt junior from Allen, Texas, has close ties to Beaty, with Murray’s father Kevin playing at North Dallas High School, where Beaty began his coaching career. Beaty said he always felt Murray had the potential to be a skilled college player. “He played at Allen for a long time,” Beaty said. “[I] know his dad really, really well. We’ve had a kind of relationship for a long time. He is probably as close to family as we have without him actually coming to our school.” Murray began his playing career at Texas A&M, another previous stop in Beaty’s career where he was a wide receivers coach. In fact, Beaty helped recruit Murray to A&M before he left to take the head coaching job at Kansas in 2014. Murray played only

Chance Parker/KANSAN Coach David Beaty stares angrily at a referee in a game against OSU. Kansas fell to the Cowboys 48-28 on Saturday, Sept. 29. one season at Texas A&M, appearing in eight games with three starts for the Aggies. After the Jayhawks

played against former Oklahoma quarterback and 2017 Heisman Award winner Baker Mayfield last season, Beaty said

Kyler Murray Oklahoma quarterback

70.9 COMP. %

the Sooner was the best quarterback he has ever coached against, but now the Kansas coach knows facing Murray will be a

similar, if not tougher, challenge. “I said it last year — I mean I thought Baker Mayfield was as good a

2018 season stats

10 GAMES

INTERCEPTIONS

3032

TOUCHDOWNS

PASSING YARDS

player as I’ve ever seen, but to have another one that pops up this year, sitting here watching the things that he does, my word, what a great player,” Beaty said. “It’s amazing how fast this guy is, and I know him really well, so I know how fast he is.” That speed Beaty references is apparent in Murray’s numbers. Murray averages 64 rushing yards per game to go along with 303.8 passing yards per game. Murray is a threat both on the ground and through the air, a challenge that Beaty recognizes his team will need to contend with this weekend. As much as a focus is put on Murray’s ability to run the ball, he is also more than capable as a passer. Murray ranks first in college football in passer efficiency rating (212.9), yards per pass attempt (12.3) as well as passing yards per completion (17.36). Beaty emphasized the challenge Murray and this Oklahoma offense poses, even noting the history of the Sooners and how “they can win the league for sure.”

next game

at Oklahoma Sat., Nov. 17 6:30 p.m.

K ANSAN.COM

Football Gameday

SPORTS

Kansas vs. Oklahoma, Saturday, Nov. 17, 6:30 p.m.

Chance Parker/KANSAN Junior safety Bryce Torneden tackles a receiver mid-catch against Kansas State on Saturday, Nov. 10. The Jayhawks fell to the Wildcats 21-17. JACK JOHNSON & MADDY TANNAHILL @KansanSports

Beat Writer Predictions:

Jack Johnson: Kansas 14, Oklahoma 56 Maddy Tannahill: Kansas 10, Oklahoma 47

KANSAS 3-7 (1-6 BIG 12)

OKLAHOMA 9-1 (6-1 BIG 12)

Mike Lee

Kyler Murray

junior safety

junior quarterback

★★★★

★★★★★

Kyle Thompson

Marquise Brown

Coming off a season-high 10-tackle performance against Kansas State on Saturday, Lee currently leads the NCAA in solo tackles per game at 5.67. After temporarily losing the starting job in week seven against TCU, the Preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team selection returned to the starting lineup for the previous two matchups, leading the Jayhawk defense in both solo and assisted tackles last week for the first time this season.

sophomore punter

junior wide receiver

★★★

★★★★

Daylon Charlot

Trey Sermon

In a Sunflower Showdown matchup touting nine combined punts, five of which came in the first quarter alone, Saturday quickly turned into a tale of two punters, a battle in which Thompson held his own, averaging 36.2 yards per punt on the day. A sophomore campaign highlighted by 15 punts of 50plus yards and 22 punts inside the 20-yard line, Thompson currently ranks second in the conference.

junior wide receiver

Nearing the end of a quiet season for the junior, Charlot recorded 32 receiving yards off three receptions for his second highest output of the season on Saturday against the Wildcats. Having transferred from Alabama in 2016, where he saw action in five games and contributed two receptions on the season, Charlot played in 11 games last season, mostly on special teams.

vs. Oklahoma

Brown is the top target for Murray with his 53 receptions for 956 yards and eight touchdowns. Coming off a 142-yard performance in Oklahoma’s win over Oklahoma State, this marked a team-leading fifth time the wideout has gone over 100 receiving yards.

sophomore running back

★★

quick stats

After being selected in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics, Murray has certainly proved he is the best dual-sport athlete in the country right now. His 3,038 passing yards and 32 touchdowns ranks him eighth in the nation among all quarterbacks. In the Big 12, he leads the conference in passer efficiency (212.9) and total offense (367.8 YPG).

★★★

After losing its top rusher from a season ago in Rodney Anderson, second year running back Trey Sermon has filled that void for Oklahoma tremendously. Racking up 846 yards on just 131 carries, Sermon’s success is due in part to his substantial build of 6-foot, 224-pounds. With a halfback of that size and speed, just bringing him down will be a tall task for a team that allows 162 rushing yards per game.

1996

Career 100-yard receiving games recorded by Stevens Sims Jr

Times Kansas has shut out opponents in the first half this season

The smallest margin of victory by Oklahoma over Kansas in the last 13 meetings

Last time Kansas beat Oklahoma in Norman

KANSAN.COM/SPORTS

sports

SPORTS

Thursday, November 15, 2018

K ANSAN.COM

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

Basketball Gameday Kansas vs. Louisiana, Friday, Nov. 16, 7:00 p.m.

Chance Parker/KANSAN Senior guard Lagerald Vick celebrates one of his eight three-pointers on Nov. 12. Vick scored 32 points. MADDY TANNAHILL & BRADEN SHAW @KansanSports

Beat Writer Predictions:

Maddy Tannahill: Kansas 86 Louisiana 70 | Braden Shaw: Kansas Kansas 88 Lousiana 62

KANSAS 2-0 (0-0 BIG 12) Lagerald Vick

JaKeenan Gant

★★★★

Udoka Azubuike

Marcus Stroman

★★★★

★★★

Charlie Moore

Malik Marquetti

★★★

senior forward

senior guard

The clear standout from Kansas’ 84-68 win over Vermont on Monday, Vick, is coming off arguably the best performance of his career. He dropped 32 points, shooting 8-for-8 from three-point range and showing that, when he gets into rhythm, Vick can be one of the greatest offensive threats for the Jayhawks. The next key for the elder statesman will be to maintain some consistency as last season Vick was a streaky shooter, to say the least.

junior center

The Sun Belt Conference returning leader in field goal percentage and blocked shots, Gant has combined for 37 points through the Ragin’ Cajuns’ first two games of the season, dropping 19 against the Virgin Islands and 18 on Tennessee. One of three returning starters for Louisiana, he started the season as a preseason All-Conference second-team selection, after having averaged 13.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game last year.

senior guard

Even though Vick got most of the attention after the home opener, Azubuike also had a memorable night on Monday, scoring 23 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. With his first double-double of the season, Azubuike slowly but surely made his presence in the paint known, and he showed how he can help carry this Jayhawk team.

A veteran floor general for the Ragin’ Cajuns, Stroman returns to Louisiana as the conference’s leader in assist/ turnover ratio (2.2). A preseason All-Conference secondteam honoree, the senior picked up right where he left off in his opening two games of the season, leading the team with 10 and nine assists respectively. Only the 28th player in program history to reach 200 assists in a season, Stroman looks to lead the Ragin’ Cajuns this season, again.

senior guard

redshirt sophomore guard Just looking at his statline from the Vermont game — seven points and two assists in 21 minutes — it didn’t seem as though Moore made much of an impact in the home opener. However, this is exactly the type of role he will need to play this season. He may not be a starter, but the redshirt sophomore will need to provide that change of pace for nights like Monday.

quick hits

LOUISIANA 1-1 (0-0 SUN BELT)

Having come off the bench for the Ragin’ Cajuns’ season opener as a junior, Marquetti quickly transitioned into a starting role for Louisiana, averaging 8.1 points and 3.5 rebounds on the season. A USC transfer, the combo guard returns as one of the squad’s most dangerous offensive weapons from beyond the arc after having finished second on the team last season in three-point field goal percentage.

SOCCER

WOMEN’S BASKE TBALL

MEN'S BASKE TBALL

VOLLE YBALL

Goals out of 27 total that have come in the 60th minute or later

Jayhawks to reach double-figures in win over Oral Roberts

Days since Kansas lost a regular season home-opener

Players named to Academic All-Big 12 Teams for the first time since 2016

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