University Daily Kansan 11/29 by University Daily Kansan

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INSIDE

SPORTS More wrong than right occurred for KU football in another disappointing season

The University Daily Kansan

vol. 137 // iss. 28 Thurs., Nov 29, 2018

SEE FOOTBALL • PAGE 11

Theft, drugs and the Texas State flag make appearance in Thanksgiving police reports p. 2 Jane Lynch brought Christmas joy to Lied Center on Tuesday p. 3 Read more at kansan.com

The graduate student mental health crisis DEASIA PAIGE @deasia_paige

Margarita Nuñez Arroyo’s road to a doctoral degree is a lonely one. Nuñez Arroyo, from Compton, California, who just started her first semester of American Studies program at the University of Kansas, said the rigorous academic workload contributes to her isolation and amplifies her depression, anxiety and eating disorder. “When you get lonely, you think a lot,” she said. “I think that’s part of it — this loneliness that creeps on me, and I start to like uncover and move beyond my flesh and all these bad things and bruises I don’t want to think about just come to the surface.” Nuñez Arroyo certainly isn’t alone with the burdens of graduate school and managing her mental health. Graduate students are six times more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than the general public, according to a study from Nature Biotechnology from March. The study, based on a survey sent to graduate students via social media and email, revealed that 39 percent of the respondents scored in the moderate-to-severe depression range compared with just 6 percent of the general public who were previously surveyed. About 90 percent of those graduate respondents were doctoral students. Tyler Allen, who’s a master’s student at the University in the museum studies program as well as the African and African-American Studies program, said she’s not surprised that graduate students are significantly challenged with their mental health. Allen said she often struggles with anxiety and adds pressure on herself to be successful. “Along with going to school, a lot of graduate students, if not all of them,

DeAsia Paige/KANSAN Margarita Nuñez Arroyo, a Ph.D. candidate at the University, tries to maintain her mental health issues while becoming more adapted to the work load from graduate school. live on their own,” said Allen, a Denver native. “You have to have a job and be able to pay your bills. Just jumping into this adult life really quickly while trying to accomplish all your goals and dreams can be really overwhelming.” Allen said the mental health issue also could stem from the pressure to be perfect. “I think it’s from this preconceived notion of adult life and wanting to have it all together,” Allen said. “It’s almost like people are making it seem as if you’ll be OK as long as you have this and that, but that’s not the case. You can have a way to get around, a way to pay your bills or not have to worry about paying for your classes, and still suffer from depression just because grad school is a lot to tackle and manage.” For Nuñez Arroyo, her main struggles with being in graduate school stem from her not taking the traditional route to getting a doctorate, she said. She went straight into her doctoral program from getting her bachelor’s degree. She was never an American

Studies major. “It’s a little daunting going from an environment where there are lectures to going into a class that’s two or three hours, and you’re expected to do the readings and discuss with your peers and your professor,” Nuñez Arroyo said.

I’m coming from a bachelor’s, and I had my focus in journalism,” Nuñez Arroyo said. “But I think it’s also normal when we think about how the imposter syndrome hits all students, but it hits students of color the most,” she said. “So sometimes

“I think it’s from this preconceived notion of adult life and wanting to have it all together.” Tyler Allen Museum studies master’s student

Nuñez Arroyo said sometimes she experiences the imposter syndrome – trying to prove to herself and everyone else that she belongs in her graduate program. For instance, during the first week of classes, she bought five books on Marxism that weren’t assigned just to get ahead in classroom discussions. “I do sometimes feel overwhelmed because I feel like I’m not up to the standard because I wish I knew more about my program, considering that

I think about how I have to prove myself in those classes, but I have to stop myself from doing that. I have to be nice and kind to myself and understand that I’m not going to know everything, and that’s OK because I’m here to learn.” Graduate students struggling with their mental health also could be linked to the burden of applying for a program, said Nuñez Arroyo, who applied for 12 graduate programs before choosing the University. “The application pro-

DeAsia Paige/KANSAN For senior Jamie Treto, applying to law school has taken a toll on both her mental and physical health.

cess is hard, and you doubt yourself, and you criticize yourself, so there’s that aspect messing with your mind,” Nuñez Arroyo said. “Then there’s this notion that you could be a great applicant, but if your research isn’t focusing on research that the faculty is doing in that department, then you might not be accepted. So even before you get into graduate school, the whole process is really exhausting.” Jamie Treto, a senior who’s applying for law school, echoed Nuñez Arroyo’s sentiment about exhaustive graduate school applications. For Treto, achieving her goal of attending the University of California, Berkeley’s law program includes many nights of studying for the four-hour Law School Admission Test (LSAT), writing her personal statement, paying for applications fees and getting letters of recommendation. “There’s too much stress that’s kind of been all building up from normal classes and homework and having to prepare for the LSAT,” Treto said. “It’s just too much right now.” Treto, whose parents immigrated from Mexico, is a first-generation college student. She said she’s under a significant amount of pressure to make her parents proud by going to law school. “My parents didn’t even go to middle school,” Treto, who’s from Garden City, said. “They only went to sixth grade, so being first-generation, not wanting to disappoint my parents and trying to figure out how to pay for law school…is a lot for me right now.” For Treto and other students, the University offers resources to help balance stress. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides therapy appointments for $15 and psychiatric evaluations for $40.

Yet, even $15 can be too much. “When you’re in college, $15 is gas money or grocery money,” Treto said. Although Nuñez Arroyo is currently seeking help from CAPS, she had to pause her sessions to save money. But she’s finding other ways to cope with anxiety and loneliness. “When I feel those feelings coming, I know that I need to get out of my apartment,” she said.“I swim a lot now when I start getting those feelings. I’m getting better at doing that now. I think, before, I used to, like after something would happen, I wouldn’t eat or I would seclude myself. Now, when I feel it, I think about going to study at Watson [Library] or going somewhere where there are people.” CAPS social worker Sharee Mims said her office provides graduate student group therapy. CAPS also offered a dissertation distress group, but it’s not active this semester. Mims said the mental health issue for graduate students is very nuanced. “When you look at a traditional graduate student, they’re often times in a different phase of life,” Mims said. “There are different dynamics that are going on, and they may be under different forms of pressure, and they may have family systems that they are trying to care for. They may be responsible for their livelihood, from an economic standpoint, so working and attending graduate school poses a significant challenge.” Students interested in seeking mental health services on campus can either call CAPS at 785-8642277 or visit its office, which is located in room 2100 of Watkins Health Services at 1200 Schwegler Drive.

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Thursday, November 29, 2018

staff NEWS MANAGEMENT

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Downtown bar Tonic announces closure HAILEY DIXON @_hailey_dixon A popular Massachusetts Street bar among University of Kansas students has closed its doors after nearly nine years of business. Tonic, located at 728 Massachusetts St., announced its closure on Facebook and Instagram on Tuesday, Nov. 27. “A place where dreams came true, where the lights were bright and the drinks were cold,” the Facebook post said. “A place were you could party hard, or casually drink with your friends. A place were relationships were made and friendships grew. We are sad to announce that Tonic is officially closed.” Tonic did not respond immediately to requests for comment from the Kansan by time of press, but students told the Kansan they would be sad to see the Mass street hotspot close its doors. Although University junior and Overland Park native Sara Yeganeh said she heard the bar was closing last year, she said she saw the closure on social media on Tuesday. She said she will cherish the memories she had with her friends at Tonic. “I was just really sad about it,” she said.

Sydney Hendin/KANSAN Tonic, a popular bar located in downtown Lawrence, announced on Tuesday, Nov. 27, is closing.

“A place were you could party hard, or casually drink with your friends. A place were relationships were made and friendships grew. We are sad to announce that Tonic is officially closed.” Tonic bar via Facebook

She said Tonic was a great venue because it offered both a relaxed environment as well as an upbeat space for those wanting to hit the dance floor. “It was overall a really great environment and bar,” she said.

While in business, Tonic hosted several parties throughout the years for University students, such as Christmas and back-toschool parties. “It was [one of the] only night clubs on Mass Street,” Yeganeh said.

University senior Hannah DePriest of McLouth said she will miss the atmosphere at Tonic now that it’s closed. “I am still sorta surprised about it,” she said about Tonic closing. She said she enjoyed

meeting new people while visiting the bar. Now that the bar is closed, Yeganeh said she and her friends will probably visit bars closer to campus. “We’ll probably bounce around the Triangle more,” she said. The Triangle includes the Jayhawk Cafe, Bullwinkle’s and The Wheel. According to the Lawrence Journal-World, a new bar, Logie’s, will replace the space Tonic left behind.

Student senator focuses energy on equity

NICOLE ASBURY @NicoleAsbury

When Trey Duran first came to the University of Kansas, it was a definite culture shock. Growing up in El Dorado, he’d grown up in a mainly white, small community. Just the campus population at the University is twice the size of the population of his hometown. “KU is the most diverse place I’ve ever lived,” he said. But he knew there was still work to be done for a more equitable environment at the University. Duran is the director of the Diversity and Inclusion for Student Senate, as well as a member of the All Scholarship Hall Council. He’s pursuing a degree in political science with a focus in law and a possible communications minor in just three years. Duran takes online classes every other day to ensure he can focus on issues related to underrepresented students, he said. “Senate definitely has a bad relationship with a lot of student organizations, but we’re always out there trying to reach out,” Duran said. “The difficult thing with Senate is that the election season the spring semester always alienates people. It makes it seem that our concern is superficial, but I would say Student Senate — and the senators thereof — really

Chance Parker/KANSAN Trey Duran, junior from El Dorado, is director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Student Senate. do care about students. At the end of the day, we’re students too.” When Duran was a freshman, he studied in the libraries on campus late at night with his friends. One night, he spotted a student asleep at a table. The security guards came by, and it became evident this was not the first time this girl had done this. And then again, the issue came up when he saw another student sleeping underneath a bench behind Strong Hall. “Homelessness is defi-

nitely an issue that drew me to realize marginalized students and underrepresented students sometimes get forgotten,” Duran said. “That pushed me toward my role in advocacy at the University.” Student Body Vice President Charles Jetty has worked closely since he was Student Senate’s Chief of Staff last year. At the time, Duran was a College of Liberal Arts and Science senator, Jetty said, but Duran stuck out to him then as well.

“It was clear from the start that Trey is not only someone who is very intelligent and articulate, but someone who is not afraid speak out when he thinks something is wrong,” Jetty said. “He’s got a great moral center, and he’s great at translating his value systems and belief into action.” This year, Duran wants to increase transparency and accountability for Student Senate. He’s rolling out an internal demographic survey, which

shows exactly how diverse Student Senate is. In the future, he wants to work on gendered language policies in residential areas, and ensure units at the University implement diversity and equity as a focal point in their policies. “Here at KU there’s definitely issues facing marginalized students and underrepresented identities,” Duran said. “I think there’s an issue of fairness and how we ought to be treated as students on campus.”

K ANSAN.COM

arts & culture Thursday, November 29, 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

Jane Lynch brings holiday joy to Lawrence COURTNEY BIERMAN @courtbierman Jane Lynch, Kate Flannery and Tim Davis brought an early Christmas to Lawrence last night with “A Swingin’ Little Christmas.” The trio performed at the Lied Center to a quiet crowd Nov. 27. Their short set of Christmas songs (and one Hanukkah song) included selections from the public domain as well as original tunes penned by bandleader Tony Guerrero. Many of the songs performed can be heard on the group’s 2016 album, also titled “A Swingin’ Little Christmas.”

The clean vocal harmonies and jazzy takes on classic holiday songs made “A Swingin’ Little Christmas” a genuinely funny delight. Lynch, Flannery and Davis don’t have professional vocal training. This made their performance even more impressive. The clean vocal harmonies and jazzy takes on classic holiday songs made “A Swingin’ Little Christmas” a genuinely funny delight. The Tony Guerrero Quintet, the show’s traveling accompaniment, kicked off the night with a few songs to warm up the crowd. Guerrero himself put on an excellent Louis Armstrong impression for his rendition of “White Christmas.”

Contributed photo Jane Lynch, Kate Flannery and Tim Davis performed songs from their album “A Swingin’ Little Christmas” at the Lied Center on Nov. 27. The lights dimmed for Lynch and company to take the stage. They entered with an a cappella rendition of “Coventry Carol,” transitioning into the catchy Guerrero original “A Swingin’ Little Christmas Time” when Flannery pretended to get impatient with the first song’s slow tempo. The audience welcomed the singers

with a warm round of applause — at which point Lynch gave thanks to Kansas City. Flannery corrected her. “We’re in Lawrence,” Flannery said. “We’re not in Kansas City.” All was quickly forgiven. Lynch immediately set the tone for the night’s light banter with her fellow performers.

Flannery threw out a punchline about her character Meredith Palmer from “The Office.” “You know, I don’t drink anymore since ‘The Office ended,’” Flannery said. “I don’t drink any less either.” The joke was punctuated accordingly with a rimshot. “We are all Christmas and all music with a little

locally source produce when it is in season. “Calling it E Barn Farm just kind of made sense for us,” Elmer said. E Barn Farm Bakery and Market, located on 18 East 8th St., had its official opening and ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 20. Elmer has been a pastry chef for about 15 years and has sold produce and pastries at the farmer’s market after

previously owning and operating a bakery. Elmer said she noticed most of her farmer’s market customers stopped buying the produce from her farm and bought her pastries instead. She said she also constantly received comments from customers at the farmer’s market about reopening the bakery, so she did. “The farm wasn’t keeping me busy enough,

so we just decided to reopen,” Elmer said. One thing that could set her bakery apart, Elmer said, is that it’s completely familyoriented, especially with its daytime hours and because it doesn’t serve alcohol. The bakery also makes all of its food from scratch, Elmer said. “We try to locally source as much of our produce and products as we can,” Elmer said. E Barn Farm Bakery and Market sells European-style pastries, most of which are French. Some menu items include macarons, quiches, croissants, and many others. Elmer said the bakery also accepts special orders for pies and cakes. The bakery also recently started serving lunch, which includes soups, salads and sandwiches, and it also has a coffee bar where it serves J & S Coffee from a local coffee shop. “We love our friends over at J & S,” Elmer said.

buffoonery,” Lynch said. Lynch played the straight man for the night, while Flannery mostly performed as an extension of her “Office” character. Davis, who arranged more than 800 songs on “Glee,” held his own on stage with the two comedy veterans, but his strength was more in his smooth voice. One of the show’s

highlights was Flannery’s performance of a parody of “Good King Wenceslas,” in which she pretended couldn’t remember the name Wenceslas. Lynch also paid tribute to her early career with the song “Blood on the Coal,” first heard in the 2003 musical mockumentary “A Mighty Wind.” The song is about a fictional train wreck that occurred in a coal mine on Christmas Eve — the three themes the song’s writers claim are the most popular in folk songs. “This next song was written by The Folksmen, aka Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer,” Lynch said to a smattering of clapping. “Your tepid applause proves my point. They do not get the respect that they deserve in the folk music world.” Lynch, Flannery and Davis were kind enough to take photos and sign autographs in the lobby following the show. They were in good spirits and seemed genuinely delighted by everyone who lined up to buy their Christmas album. But before taking to the lobby, the trio invited the audience to sing along to their rendition of “Jingle Bells.” Then they lay on their backs for the penultimate encore, “Carol of the Russian Children.” “We’re still in the process of learning it, but it sounds really good when we’re flat on our backs,” Lynch said. “Hallelujah Chorus” was the final song of the night. Lynch, Flannery and Davis received a standing ovation.

New French bakery specializes in local ingredients RYLIE KOESTER @RylieKoester

E Barn Farm Bakery and Market, a new French-style bakery downtown, aims to locally source most of its ingredients, according to owner and pastry chef Samantha Elmer. Elmer and her family live on and operate a farm less than two miles from the bakery where they

Sydney Hendin/KANSAN E Barn Farm Bakery at 18 East 8th St. serves French baked goods.

Sydney Hendin/KANSAN E Barn Farm Bakery is owned by local pastry chef Samantha Elmer. Justina Gonzalez and her family recently stopped by the bakery for the first time and ordered macarons, cream puffs and a pear tart.

“We try to locally source as much of our produce and products as we can.” Samantha Elmer Owner, E Barn Farm Bakery

“We like supporting local bakeries,” Gonzalez said. “We’re just excited that there are more options downtown.” E Barn Farm Bakery and Market also offers a 10 percent discount on all items for University students if they show a student ID. E Barn Farm Bakery and Market is open weekly Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

K ANSAN.COM

ARTS & CULTURE

TV STOCK

‘The Voice,’ ‘Warrior’ will get you through finals JAYA CHAKKA @jaiyaofthebees

It’s the last TV Stock of the semester, and I’ve got some marathon-worthy picks to get you through this dreary weather.

“THE VOICE,” SEASON 15: Trending UP Season 15 of “The Voice” premiered its first episode on Sept. 24 and will run until its finale on Dec. 18. Current episodes are available to stream on Hulu. Now, I’m a bit of a sucker for reality television talent competitions. I usually stick to YouTube compilations to get my fix — but on occasion, I immerse myself in the full series experience. Over Thanksgiving break, I turned on an episode of “The Voice” just to enjoy the singing and ended up hooked. Unlike the most recent season of “American Idol,” watching the judges in “The Voice” banter was as entertaining as watching the contestants sing. Judges Adam Levine, Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson return from the previous season, with former judge Jennifer Hudson returning to replace Alicia Keys. Notably, a fifth guest judge makes occasional appearances for the first time in the show’s history. Judge Kelsea Ballerini hosts a segment within the show called “The Comeback Stage,” in which certain contestants who do not elicit a chair turn are given a second chance. The talent is incredible this season, making elimination rounds incredibly suspenseful and heart-wrenching for everyone involved. Singers span from a multitude of genres and styles, and they only become stronger vocalists when

Contributed Photo “The Voice” judges Adam Levine, Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson and Blake Shelton watch a singer perform during the newest season of the television show. grouped with other contestants. At its core, “The Voice” still represents what I think a vocal talent show should be — a competition in which contestants are judged not by their stories or appearances, but solely by their musical ability. With the season finale less than a month away, now is a great time to catch up on past episodes.

special focus on the feuds and plots of organized crime gangs. With two local Copenhagen gangs escalating toward all-out war, Louise realizes that

the only way to take the groups down is to have a man on the inside. Louise propositions CC, who has offered to help her in any way he

can to atone for her husband’s death. The two hatch a plot for CC to infiltrate the Wolves, one of the gangs involved. He works his way into the

Wolves by befriending low-level member Mads (Marco Ilsø) and completing tasks to gain the gang’s trust. One thing that makes “Warrior” such a nail-biting show is the fact most of Louise’s colleagues are unaware CC has infiltrated the Wolves. He must not only maintain his cover with the gang, but also avoid the law — which proves difficult, given Mads’s incompetence. There’s also something powerful about the guilt that has taken over CC’s life. His perceived debt to Louise and lack of connection to his own life makes him willing to push boundaries most wouldn’t dare, and that makes him a fascinating character. With only six episodes, “Warrior” makes a quick (though perhaps not emotionally easy) watch.

“Warrior,” Trending UP This compelling Danish drama premiered in full on Netflix on Nov. 13. The series opens with the funeral of a soldier named Peter (Jakob Oftebro), who leaves a grieving wife and young son in his wake. His best friend and commanding officer, CC (Dar Salim), is wracked with guilt as well as grief, believing he caused Peter’s death. Newly-widowed Louise (Danica Curcic) works as a police detective, with

“Warrior” is a heady Danish drama distributed by Netflix.

Contributed Photo

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CONTINUE THE

TRADITIONS ONLY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

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.

GET LOUD WHY WE DO IT Getting loud creates a moment of pure anticipation just before tipoff. Jayhawks do this best, and hold the Guinness World Record for the loudest indoor stadium at 130.4 decibels. T H E U N I V E R S I T Y D A I LY K A N S A N

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.

PUZZLES

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Cryptoquip

Crossword

Sudoku 2 4 6 4 2 3 1 3 9 8 1 3 5

4 6 5 3 7 8 1 2 5 4 6 7 2

2018 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

By Dave Green

11/29

Difficulty Level

F I ND T H E A N SW E RS A ND OT H E R GRE AT CO N T E N T AT

K A N SA N .C O M

By Dave Green

8 8

8 2

6 1

4 2

5 7

4 Difficulty Level

3 1

2018 Conceptis Puzzles, Dist. by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

11/30

H AVE ANY IDEAS FO R UPDAT I N G THE PUZZLE PAGE ? E M A IL ED ITO R@ KAN SA N.C OM WITH ID EAS FO R N EW G A M E S , STYL E CHA N GES, A DD I N G ANSW ER S, ETC.

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ARTS & CULTURE

opinion

OPINION

Thursday, November 29, 2018 Text your Free For All submissions to (785) 289-8351

FFA of the Day: “Let’s put the ‘ass’ back in ‘Christmass.’” McDonald’s french fries reign supreme professors better watch out it’s course eval szn People who hold hands on public transportation need to be put to death my kink is old people on facebook who sign each comment with their full name Spending the day with 21 seven-year-olds. I’m terrified. “The musician of our generation — John Oliver” Today I learned an ex of mine from six years ago has my Instagram notifications on I’m watching someone eat Chick-Fil-A tots out of the box with chopsticks and I’m... kind of in awe tbh “They say all smoking is bad, but when I smoke weed, I don’t think of that.” One Underground worker to another: “you don’t have to sweep under the tables. The manager never looks under there” The office is ten times funnier while drunk, and that’s saying something Trying to craft a message so passive aggressive that it isn’t passive, just aggressive I think about chicken tender day at Mrs. E’s a lot Looking back, I realized there was a lot of screwed up shit that went on in my high school

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

Is the internet killing Black Friday? AROOG KHALIQ @aroog_twt November is dedicated to one of America’s greatest holidays. No, not Thanksgiving, but the day after: Black Friday. This singular day encapsulates American ideals at their most fervent: a belief in capitalism over all other comforts. As online and brick-and-mortar retailers advertise sales so steep that prices across the board fall to nearly half their original cost, wallets are opened and emptied all across the country. Yet this year, the postBlack Friday and Cyber Monday news coverage looked markedly different. Though fewer stories were broadcast of physical altercations over a flat screen TV, or of frighteningly dedicated shoppers camping outside Best Buy, this day still remains one of America’s most lucrative. Where, then, is the money at? In comparison to last year’s Black Friday weekend, physical traffic at stores declined 6.6 percent, according to CNN Business. Still, sales estimates for the day this year clock in at approximately $23 billion, which is 9 percent higher than we saw in 2017. Cyber Monday, however, is the moneymaker to watch, as more and more shoppers pivot to the convenience of online shopping, especially given the ever-expanding

Associated Press Customers at Walmart’s Black Friday shopping event on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015 in Rogers, Arkansas. influence of online retail giant Amazon. Sales in this sector are expected to climb a whopping 19 percent this year. Statistics aside, these trends reflect truths already known about the human condition: a love of shiny, new things that don’t break the bank is good in its own right, but not having to leave one’s bed when acquiring those goods is a benefit that shoppers of all ages value. Will Cyber Monday eventually overtake Black Friday entirely?

Monday’s online price cuts are often superior to the in-store ones, yet the cultural importance of Black Friday immortalizes it even as advances in technology expand ever onward. Regardless of the actual amount of money saved by consumers during these arbitrary sales, or the potential of purchasing faulty derivatives instead of fully-functioning appliances and electronics, Black Friday as a social phenomenon cements it deeply into the American consciousness.

Shopping with friends and family, being around other excited shoppers and even the idea alone that one is saving money make this commercial marathon an enduring one. Capitalist ploy it may be, but the exhilaration of Black Friday is an excellent complement to the sedentary nature of Thanksgiving. Its social importance alone makes it enduring in the face of growing online markets and sales that every year claim to render this holiday obsolete. If the advancement

of Cyber Monday results in less physical traffic in stores and in turn, less embarrassing shoppers’ rage incidents, then so be it. Retail workers will suffer less, and shoppers will continue to stock up for the holiday season. Those who view Black Friday as an excellent way to usher in the holidays among family and friends will continue the trek through slush and snow and keep this absurdly American tradition alive.

ed mental illnesses and learned about the symptoms that accompanied them that my journey with acknowledging depression began. No one believed me when I told them I felt like I had depression, but once I learned the definitions and symptoms, everything started making sense. I had poor appetite, I slept a lot, I was not interested in social events and I was often sad for no reason at all. At first I thought I was being dramat-

ic. I told myself that maybe I was just going through a rough time. Eventually, I was able to grow out of this mindset and convince everyone in my life that I needed help. But not everyone is able — or willing — to do that. As a black person dealing with mental illness, I’ve noticed conversations about our mental health are extremely stigmatized. Mental illness is not seen as something medically wrong with us, but instead as something that a lot of black people think can be prayed away or cured with time. If your depression is causing you to sleep all day, or causes you to lose interest in things, then you are seen as lazy instead of fatigued. Mental health is viewed as something that can be fixed with sleep and time instead of therapy, or potentially, medication. As a community, we are not open to discussing our potential psychological issues. Out of the 45.7 million black people in America only 6.8 million have been diagnosed or sought help for any mental illnesses. As previously stated, many black people do not come forward with their struggles because they do not want to be seen as weak or let their mental issues take over their lives.

“It’s something that is very real for a lot of black people, but we’re told to put on a strong face and don’t let anyone see us weak because we’ve fought for so many years to not be seen that way,” said Tamiah Coffee, a junior from Topeka. This is common among black people, but it should be understood that this perspective is damaging and dangerous in the long run. When discussing her experiences with therapy, Mecca Corbin, a sophomore from Philadelphia, said a negative experience she had when she was younger has kept her from pursuing it further. Her parents didn’t believe in her struggles, and now she’s dealing with the consequences of neglecting her mental health, she said. These situations show the importance of education about this issue, and not just for the younger generations, but the older as well. We need to have people to lean on for help when we don’t know what to do. Although our own beliefs, or lack of belief, when it comes to mental illnesses hinder us from getting the help that we need, that’s not the only thing standing in our way. People who are trying to seek help often hit a lot of roadblocks. Medi-

cally, black people are not always given the resources that we need to be healthy and safe, and mental health is not excluded from this. Mental health is not seen as something that can ruin a person’s life. It is not taken as seriously as a broken leg or heart attack. In reality, mental illnesses are not only just as important as our physical health, but can have physical repercussions. If the black community — in my opinion, one of the strongest groups of people on Earth — educated themselves about mental illness and realized that admitting something’s wrong is not a weakness, then we would be completely unmatched. If there were more black people attempting to get help for their mental health and actually speaking up about it, we could also take steps toward proper healthcare that will evolve and protect our future mental and physical well-being. As a young black woman who just wants her people to thrive and be healthy, I highly suggest and encourage we put aside the need to always be percieved as strong. Our minds are powerful, and if we take care of them properly, then black people will continue to change the world — as we should.

Black mental illness does not mean weakness KELSI WILLIAMS @kiwi_writes Depression is known as the silent killer. It’s taken the lives of friends and actors we love. It exists in the souls we least expect. Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in this country. But I didn’t even hear about depression until my freshman year of high school. It was only when we studied all document-

It’s that horrible time of the year when I just come home and practically bathe in lotion That “I just finished a class for a semester” feeling when you turn in the final paper i’m so busy i had to spreadsheet my hourly schedule for finals, so i’m looking for a nice roof to jump off of nothing quite like gossip to get your heart rate up during the winter time Did someone say tea?

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Illustration by Phillip Mueller/KANSAN Kansan columnist Kelsi Williams argues the stigma in the black community surrounding mental illness needs to stop so those affected can live healthier.

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SPORTS

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More wrong than right for KU football JACK JOHNSON @JohnyJ_15

Moral victories are never something that a team wants to define its season. The games you lost, you lost. The games you won, you earned. However, as it goes for Kansas football each year, the decade of embarrassing defeats becoming a national farce, along with continually being a comical talking point on radio shows nationwide, made fans yearn for when the Jayhawks were simply respected by their peers. Scanning the 2018 Big 12 standings, Kansas once again sits at the bottom for the ninth consecutive year: the only team that didn’t stand a chance of being bowl eligible heading into the final week of play. Only, this last place finish in coach David Beaty’s final stand didn’t mimic what the previous eight seasons had exuded. Just looking at 2017, the Jayhawks didn’t record a single win against an FBS opponent and were beaten by more than 30 points five times. Not to mention the closest they came in a defeat was by a margin of 10 points against Kansas State. Although the outcome remained identical in the win and loss column, not one time this season was Kansas utterly humiliated in a single game. Its lone loss of more than 30 points came against one of the conference’s most dynamic offenses in Texas Tech. Other than that, the Jayhawks tallied three total wins,

tripling their number from a season ago. Not universally impressive, but an improvement nonetheless, which is really all they can ask for at this point. The defense ranked third in the country in turnover margin (plus16), freshman running back Pooka Williams Jr. became the first Jayhawk to rush for over 1,000 yards in his first year since Gale Sayers and senior quarterback Peyton Bender threw 13 touchdowns, which marked the most by a Kansas quarterback since Todd Reesing. Also, the Jayhawks ended two baffling streaks after winning on the road against Central Michigan for the first time since 2009 and winning a conference game over TCU for the first time since 2016. But, what goes unnoticed and may come as a shock to most, is that this bottom dwelling Kansas team had the capability of recording six wins this season if it wasn’t for some hiccups along the way. In the season opener against Nicholls State, the Jayhawks were upended by an FCS program 2623 in overtime. One key contributor to the defeat, which may be long forgotten now at the end of the season, was that Williams was held on the sidelines for that game for reasons still unknown. With Williams arguably being the best player in all phases on offense, if the season were to be replayed, a different outcome may have had Kansas heading

Chance Parker/KANSAN Senior quarterback Peyton Bender throws the ball against Iowa State. The Jayhawks fell to the Cyclones 27-3 on Saturday, Nov. 3. into conference play at 3-0, its best start in a decade. However, that loss is still a loss on paper. The defense struggled mightily in stopping the Nicholls State ground game and on the offense failed to muster any consistent production out of Bender. Another “could’ve had it” game was against rival K-State in the Sunflower Showdown. Leading 17-14 with possession of the ball and just over eight minutes to play, junior running back Khalil Herbert busted through the line and scampered 74 yards, making his way deep into Wildcat territory.

However, a backbreaking holding call negated every single yard gained and then some to push the Jayhawks right up against their own goal line. Not soon after, Williams duplicated nearly the same run Herbert just had taken from him with a 60yard run of his own, but faced the same result in a “phantom” second holding call that forced the offense to retreat even further. A poor punt facing the wind and a game-winning drive by K-State moments later left Kansas on the losing end for the 10th straight time in the Sunflower Showdown.

If one of those flags sits on the waist of the officials during either of those plays, the Jayhawks had all the momentum to either put the game away with a score or burn out the clock. Unfortunately, that’s not how this game works. There are no second chances and instead of sitting at 5-7, Kansas earned its 3-9 record, despite being competitive in the majority of their outcomes. No one outside the University believes that Kansas succeeded in 2018, and honestly, most of the staff likely feels there are things that prevented them from feeling fully satisfied.

Wrapping up the season, nothing indicates that the Jayhawks can turn it around immediately under new coach Les Miles. But, as opposed to Beaty, building on this season’s stepping stone will be his first action, whereas Beaty was simply instructed to work with the little that he had. More wrong than right occurred on the football field for Kansas this fall. However, if Athletic Director Jeff Long hired the right man for the position, those days of empty bleachers and poor product could slowly warp into just a bad memory.

Tough non-conference slate prepares KU for Big 12 play DYLAN CUNNINGHAM @dc_cunningham Last week, Kansas men’s basketball impressed on a national stage with key wins over Marquette and thenNo. 5 Tennessee as the Jayhawks took home the NIT Season Tip-Off championship. Redshirt junior forward Dedric Lawson performed to his preseason All-American standard, posting a combined 50 points and 25 rebounds in the two contests. The Jayhawks were also anchored by solid performances from senior guard Lagerald Vick and freshman guard Devon Dotson, who each finished in double figures against the Golden Eagles and the Volunteers. Kansas’ matchup with Tennessee played much like a Final Four preview and will likely serve as a signature win for this young squad. However, finishing non-conference play undefeated remains a tough task for Kansas as it will face the likes of Stanford and Villanova at home and Arizona State on the road. Although Kansas will benefit from playing five of its remaining seven non-conference matchups at Allen

Chance Parker/KANSAN Senior guard Lagerald Vick runs by the Tennessee defense in the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament in Brooklyn, New York. Kansas defeated Tennessee 87-81 in overtime to win the tournament. Fieldhouse, its biggest test will come from a true road game in Tempe, Arizona, against Arizona State on Dec. 22. Just last December, the Sun Devils stunned the Jayhawks at Allen Fieldhouse with a scorching 14-for-28 three-point shooting display on the way to a 95-85 upset victory.

This loss proved to be a defining moment for the Jayhawks’ season last year, as Kansas coach Bill Self declared the 2017-18 squad the “softest” team he had ever coached at Kansas. As any Jayhawk fan will fondly remember, that team went on to clinch a memorable Final Four berth later on that

season in March. Arizona State freshman guard Luguentz Dort will likely be a handful for the Jayhawks come December, with the Montreal, Canada, native currently averaging 23 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. Dort has also shot the ball very well thus far, including 46 percent

from the field and 44 percent from threepoint range, an area that Kansas has struggled defending this season. That was put on full display in the first half of Kansas against Marquette last Wednesday, as the Golden Eagles lit up the stat sheet with 11 threepointers. Despite a jaw-dropping

22-0 run by Kansas to begin the second half against Marquette, the Jayhawks’ suspect threepoint defense remained, and still remains, a question mark heading into the final stretch of non-conference play. The key factor to Kansas making it through this stretch unscathed will be whether itsbig men can contain hot shooters such as Dort. Junior center Udoka Azubuike and forward Mitch Lightfoot both experienced issues with hedging on guards during the Marquette game, which resulted in plenty of wide open looks for the Golden Eagles. The Jayhawks will need to make a planned effort to communicate and rotate on defense, otherwise teams like Arizona State will be able to exploit them with ease from the three-point line. Despite the Jayhawks’ defensive shortcomings, they remain unbeaten and are the current No. 2 team in the nation behind Gonzaga. The final seven non-conference games will be the ultimate test of this team’s chemistry and resiliency, and will prepare the Jayhawks for what is to come once conference play tips off on Jan. 2 against Oklahoma.

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SPORTS

Thursday, November 29, 2018

K ANSAN.COM

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

Basketball Gameday Kansas vs. Stanford, Saturday, Dec. 1, 4:30 p.m.

Chance Parker/KANSAN Freshman guard Devon Dotson drives the ball against Tennessee during the NIT Season Tip-Off in Brooklyn, New York. Kansas defeated Tennessee 87-81. MADDY TANNAHILL & BRADEN SHAW @KansanSports

Beat Writer Predictions:

Maddy Tannahill: Kansas 86 Stanford 72 | Braden Shaw: Kansas 89 Stanford 76

KANSAS 5-0 (0-0 BIG 12)

STANFORD 3-3 (0-0 PAC 12)

Lagerald Vick

KZ Okpala

★★★★

Dedric Lawson

Cormac Ryan

★★★★

★★★

K.J. Lawson

Oscar da Silva

★★★

With sophomore guard Marcus Garrett announced unavailable against Tennessee due to concussion protocol, K.J. stepped up for the Jayhawks to fill the void, contributing a season-high 19 minutes in the 87-81 overtime victory. Shooting 2-for-4 against the Volunteers, the Memphis, Tennessee, native dropped eight points for Kansas.

Last season as a freshman, da Silva set a Stanford freshman record by shooting 55.8 percent from three-point range, averaging 25 minutes a game. However, that hasn’t exactly translated to this season, as the 6-foot-9, 225-pound sophomore forward from Munich, Germany, has shot just 1-for-10 from beyond the arc.

sophomore forward

senior guard

Okpala is averaging a team-high 16.8 points per game, including standout performances against Seattle (29 points) and North Carolina (16 points), shooting 42.7 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from beyond the arc. On top of that, the 6-foot-9, 215-pound Orange County, California, native averages 6.6 rebounds a game.

Trailing midway through the second half of play to the Volunteers, it was two consecutive threes by Vick that gave Kansas the 59-56 edge in the championship matchup. Averaging a team-high 19.6 points per game on the season, Vick remained consistent beyond the arc in Brooklyn, New York, shooting a combined 50 percent from three-point range after knocking down 12-of-24 attempts.

redshirt junior forward

freshman guard

In an outing worthy of NIT Season Tip-Off MVP honors, Lawson recorded a combined 50 points against Marquette and then No. 5 Tennessee — 26 points and 24 points respectively. Earning his second Big 12 Player of the Week recognition so far this season, the redshirt junior additionally contributed 32 rebounds to the cause.

Ryan has scored in double figures in all but one contest this season, as the freshman put up just two points against Wisconsin on Nov. 21. A four-star recruit out of New York City, New York, the 6-foot-5, 190-pound guard has been immediately thrown into the starting lineup, averaging 30.2 minutes per game. With that added playing time, Ryan is averaging 11.6 points per game offensively.

sophomore forward

redshirt sophomore guard

quick hits

MEN’S BASKE TBALL

BASKE TBALL

WOMEN'S BASKE TBALL

VOLLE YBALL

Times redshirt junior forward Dedric Lawson has earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors this season.

Number of schools, including Kansas, with undefeated men’s and women’s teams.

Senior guard Christalah Lyons’ conference-leading assist to turnover ratio.

Players named to All-Big 12 teams.

KANSAN.COM/SPORTS

3.5

KANSAN.COM/SPORTS