2-23-17

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THURSDAY, FEB. 23, 2017 | VOLUME 133 ISSUE 12

THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904

INDEX NEWS............................................2 OPINION........................................4 ARTS & CULTURE..........................................5 SPORTS.........................................10

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News editor Chandler Boese Associate news editor McKenna Harford Sports editor Amie Just Associate sports editor Skylar Rolstad Arts & culture editor Omar Sanchez Associate arts & culture editor Courtney Bierman Opinion editor Vince Munoz Visuals editor & design chief Roxy Townsend Photo editor Missy Minear Copy chiefs Candice Tarver Brendan Dzwierzynski Ashley Hocking ADVISERS

Chief financial officer Jon Schlitt Editorial adviser Gerri Berendzen

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KANSAN.COM/NEWS | THURSDAY, FEB. 23, 2017

TrueKU seeks to diversify Student Senate DARBY VANHOUTAN @darbyvanhoutan

A

Student Senate campaign launch Tuesday evening addressed the diversity that attendees feel others preach but don’t practice.

The launch, which drew a crowd of almost 40 people to Eaton Hall, established a fourth coalition, TrueKU, and was spear-headed by Chancellor Adams, a junior from Kansas City, Kansas, along with junior Andrew Davis from Chicago. Both Davis and Adams used the launch to discuss the newly formed coalition’s goal of diversifying the University experience.

“When I first came to KU I was quickly made aware of my blackness,” Davis said during the launch. “I would walk into class and be either one of few or the only black student in the room.”

Davis, who hasn’t served on Student Senate but has voting rights in Student Rights Committee, followed his own experiences at the University up with a question to the crowd: “What does it mean to be you at a PWI (predominantly white institution)?”

Answers to this question were similar to Davis’, with many people in attendance saying they were afraid to speak up on issues for fear that the current Student Senate wouldn’t offer any assistance.

Constanza Castro, a sophomore from Raytown, Missouri, and the newly elected

Savanna Smith/KANSAN Junior Chancellor Adams helps kick off the campaign launch for the TrueKU coalition on Feb. 21 in Eaton Hall.

Elections Commission liaison for TrueKU, answered Davis’ question by illustrating what she feels the current Student Senate fails to do.

“I know as a Hispanic woman of color I’ll go to the current senate and say ‘We need you to do this thing’ and the first question I get is ‘Why?’ and the ‘why’ shouldn’t matter because we should care enough about each other as people to say ‘Okay you need this thing so let me help you to get this thing,’” Castro said during the launch.

However, if more people of color were elected to Student Senate, as TrueKU is proposing with their launch,

things would be different, Davis and Adams said.

“

There’s more communities represented in this room than a lecture hall in Budig.”

Chancellor Adams Junior from Kansas City

“There might not be 200 people in this room but the reality is that there’s more communities represented in this room than a lecture hall in Budig,” Adams said during the event. “There’s more

voices in this room than there is currently in Student Senate.”

The coalition, which hasn’t yet announced their platforms or voted on presidential or vice-presidential nominees, will bring a change to the current dynamic on campus, according to Adams, who currently serves as an on-campus senator.

According to Davis, both he and Adams turned to TrueKU after issues with previous coalitions. Adams, who originally helped with last year’s OneKU coalition in its early stages and defended himself against allegations from the Elections Commission involving OneKU, said

‘Heartland Project’ seeks to research college sexual assault through survey

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD Midnight Marauders FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH

Ben Miller Band

HAILEY DIXON @_hailey_dixon

University individuals are looking to improve measures to halt sexual assault and sexual violence cases on campus.

The Heartland Sexual Assault Policies and Prevention on Campuses Project, also known as the “Heartland Project,” is seeking to hear students’ feedback on the topic of sexual assault at the University.

The Heartland Project will send a climate survey to University students via email in the coming weeks, in addition to other schools in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

The project was awarded a grant to implement this research last summer. The goal of the confidential survey is to hear students’ perspectives about sexual assault.

“We are administering a survey with all of our campus partners,” said Alesha Doan, project director and University associate professor. “We will be using the survey for all of them. And it’s a wonderful tool for multiple purposes.

One, to look at not only just the instances of sexual assault and sexual violence on a college campus, but also to help have evidence-based prevention programming.

It’s really hard to treat what you don’t know.”

“It’s incredibly important to have your voice heard,” Doan said.

The survey will be available for about four weeks,

he feels he can do more with his voice in TrueKU. “I feel like people preach diversity but they don’t practice it,” Adams said after the event. “There are some coalitions that do it and so we have to notice them and acknowledge them and we thank them for that. Honestly the truth is that most of the current coalitions, two in particular, aren’t practicing it.”

According to Adams, platforms will be announced at the coalition’s next meeting along with a caucus for both presidential and vice-presidential seats.

Fastfood Junkies Ghost of Grandads Past

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH

Ultimate Fakebook Creature Comforts Berwanger SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH

Smackdown Trivia

Ashley Hocking/KANSAN Dr. Natabhona Mabachi and Nacoya Copeland discuss the Heartland Sexual Assault Policies and Prevention on Campuses Project during a meeting in Twente Hall. Mabachi is the project evaluator and Copeland is a capstone researcher for the Heartland Project.

then the results will be able to help the partnered college campuses prevent sexual assault and sexual violence, Doan said.

“

It’s incredibly important to have your voice heard.”

Alesha Doan Project Director and Associate Professor

Colleges are good at responding to sexual assault crimes, Doan said, but need to improve on prevention and any weaknesses that are found through the survey.

“The idea is to figure out and work with these campuses over the next three years to develop and implement

comprehensive prevention programing,” Doan said.

Along with Doan, several University personnel are implementing this project.

Others include project facilitator Juliana Carlson, project evaluator Dr. Natabhona Mabachi, project manager Natalie Parker and research assistant Mary Quiason.

“I think that we’re really wanting our campus partners, and specifically KU as our home institution, to start using data to make positive change on campus,” Carlson said. “The data from the climate survey is going to both help us understand the breadth and depth of some of the issues related to sexual assault and sexual violence.

But it also is something we really want to see inform our prevention activities.”

Mabachi said they are looking at these issues from a public health perspective.

“This idea of primary prevention is really important to us,” she said. “Addressing an issue upstream before it happens downstream is one of our key pillars.”

At the University, after receiving the climate survey results and information, the project will continue to work with the Sexual Assault Prevention and Education Center and the University sexual assault task force to strengthen the programming even more, Doan said.

“Right now, they [SAPEC] are doing great stuff, like bystander intervention, and consent 101, and they’ve got great programming going on,” Doan said.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH Open Mic @ The Bottleneck

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

Montu FRIDAY, MARCH 3RD

Eric Tessmer Amanda Fish SATURDAY, MARCH 4TH Bagels & Basketball

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Slumgang 777 Both Dom Chronicles & More!

3

NEWS

KANSAN.COM

Ongoing construction brings changes to campus CHANDLER BOESE @Chandler_Boese

S

everal of the construction projects in the University’s Central District are ahead of schedule and the University’s administrators are preparing for the changes it will bring to campus life.

The $350-million Central District project, which broke ground last summer and is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2018, is well on its way. Some of the earliest projects, including a new residence hall and parking garage, are even running ahead of schedule.

The parking garage, which was scheduled to be completed later this spring, finished up construction last month and looks like it will help lighten up parking on the main campus, said Donna Hultine, the director of the Parking and Transit department. Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, the University’s director of news and media relations, said that, thanks to a mild winter and a concentrated effort by the contractor, the garage was able to be finished early.

“The contractor, in partnership with KU staff, recognized that it would be desirable to have the parking garage available for use by the spring semester, and they were able to meet that objective,” Barcomb-Peterson said in an email.

Hultine said they’ve already moved 91 drivers into the new garage. Most of these are employees at the Hilltop Child Development

Andrea Ringgenberg/KANSAN A new apartment building for students is included in the University’s Central District Project. Started early in 2016, the complex will be completed in the summer of 2018.

Center, one of the few buildings in the Central District that is staying operational throughout the construction.

“It’s helped to relieve some pressure,” she said.

Parking is in the process of offering the garage as an alternative to drivers who are on the waiting list for the Allen Fieldhouse garage.

However, parking is not promoting the new garage or widely selling permits for it yet, as there are still some accessibility concerns with the building.

Hultine said the garage itself is fully compliant with the Americans for Disabilities Act, but the construction going on around it

makes entering or exiting the garage on foot difficult.

Logistical concerns, like those seen in the parking garage, are also affecting the timeline for another project in the Central District: the new Union.

The demolition of the Burge Union, the building that used to sit by Allen Fieldhouse and Jayhawker Towers, took place in April 2016. But the construction of the Burge Union will not be completed until the summer of 2018, according to the Central District’s webpage.

Barcomb-Peterson said since the project involves multiple buildings, utilities and infrastructure, it makes

more sense and saves money to do them all at once, rather than individually.

“In addition, if the union building were to be expedited for early opening, it would be surrounded by ongoing construction,” Barcomb-Peterson said. “That would make public access, deliveries, utility services and other operational logistics more difficult, potentially less safe, and more costly.”

However, though students will have to wait for the new union, they will be able to utilize a new residence hall this year. The new dorm on 19th Street and Naismith Drive, behind Oliver Hall, is set to be finished by mid-Ju-

ly, Barcomb-Peterson said.

This is slightly ahead of the target date of being move-in ready by the time classes begin in the fall.

The University’s Department of Student Housing has not yet placed students in their residence halls for next year, so they could not give any numbers as to how

many spaces are taken in the 545-bed hall. Kip Grosshans, Housing’s associate director for administration, however, said interest in the hall has been high.

“As we did when Oswald and Self were new in 2015, we have provided a broad range of information to prospective residents and their families via electronic media, printed materials, and direct mail,” Grosshans said via email. “We expect to be successful in our marketing efforts this year as well.”

The Central District project also includes a new student apartment building and integrated science facility. Barcomb-Peterson said these projects, which began in early 2016, will be completed in July of 2018.

The final campus addition that students will see in the coming months will be the Energy and Environment Center, located at the intersection of Naismith Drive and W. 15th Street. It will be home to the geology and petroleum engineering departments. Barcomb-Peterson estimates that the center will be complete by Aug. 1.

— Edited by Ashley Hocking

Central District Projects Parking garage (Jan. 2017) Residence hall (July 2017) New Union (July 2018) Apartment building (July 2018) Science building (July 2018)

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opinion FREE-FOR-ALL ›› WE HEAR FROM YOU

KANSAN.COM | THURSDAY, FEB. 23, 2017

An open letter to Milo Yiannopoulos

I don’t believe in squeezable anything.

whether we do not rest our hopes too much upon constitutions ... and upon courts. These are false hopes; believe me, these are false hopes. Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women; when it dies there, no constitution, ... no court can save it; no constitution,... no court can even do much to help it.” The courts may be on your side, but public opinion is slowly slipping from your grasp.

I can’t believe you have to have a college degree to drive the Oscar Mayer wienermobile.

I’m going to be laying on the ground if anyone needs me.

When I say, “I love to eat” I don’t know if I’m being cute or being Kevin Malone.

Petition to bring Kleenexes and clocks to this campus.

Just heard a guy run down my hallway and shout “whooo! I love being alive!” thanks for the positivity, random happy hallway dude.

This is a goat, that has fainted… by the way.

I don’t tweet unless I know it’s gonna be a banger.

When I’m sick, I take Emergen-C like it’s cocaine. Just lines.

Mitochondria is the trap house of the cell.

Do you ever read the news and realize we’re in the first chapter of a dystopian young adult novel.

I’m such an infographic hoe.

My barber messed up my haircut. Now I’m a cap guy.

I just asked someone who clearly isn’t in my class what page we needed to read to.

Everyone who’s ever hurt you is a Gemini.

I woke up at 8:42… and called in for my 8:30 shift.

VINCE MUNOZ @vmunoz_18

D

ear Mr. Yiannopoulos, Normally, I try not to devote too much of my mind to people looking for a fight in everything, such as yourself. I hesitate not out of concern I may “lose” a debate; I simply have better things to do.

But something you said recently prompted me to make an exception.

You naively said, “I have probably done more for the image of gays in flyover states” than LGBT advocacy groups.

No, Milo, you gave license to the types of speech that those of us who don’t loathe our own identities have been fighting against. Writing that you gave straight people “permission” to use homophobic slurs isn’t edgy. It doesn’t make you thick-skinned or otherwise enlightened.

While you’re busy tokenizing yourself for the approval of people who bullied you in high school, those advocacy groups you so cavalierly compare yourself to are actually helping people.

And regarding your current predicament, don’t be shocked that your former fans are turning on you. You’re not just guilty of poor word choice or “imprecise language.”

You built an entire career

Can I die now please?

Tyler self would think that Dumb and Dumber is the height of comedy.

I was late to class because I stopped to pet dogs... worth it.

To send in an FFA, text 785-289-8351

READ MORE AT KANSAN.COM @KANSANNEWS /THEKANSAN KANSAN.NEWS @UNIVERSITY DAILYKANSAN

Illustration by Erica Gonzales/KANSAN

on harmful speech. It was only a matter of time before the chickens came home to roost.

Just because you have the right to do something without fear of government prosecution doesn’t mean you should do it. In fact, if you had any sense of personal responsibility you would have never gotten yourself into this position. Instead of being an entitled brat,

you could view “political correctness” as simply caring about people who are different than you.

The “political correctness” you fight is a figment of your own imagination.

It once went by a much simpler name: empathy. “Political correctness” is really just being a mature adult. As most of us were taught as children, “if you don’t have anything nice to

say, don’t say anything at all.” It has nothing to do with censorship from the leftist boogieman and everything to do with not being a jackass.

The irony of all of this is that by engaging in stupid tactics, you inadvertently undermine your own cause. In his 1944 book, “In the Spirit of Liberty,” the late appellate judge Learned Hall said, “I often wonder

The reason that 40 percent of my peers believe that government should be able to limit offensive speech is because they see the rise in hate crimes, fueled in part by the altright movement. And while 40 percent is a clear minority, the trend suggests that the number will only grow with each passing generation.

Words have consequences, Milo.

You, of all people, should know that by now.

Vince Munoz is a junior from Topeka majoring in political science and strategic communications.

— Edited by Erin Brock

Befort: In fighting Trump, focus on policy

“No dorm is better than the others.”Overheard tour guide.

Is this considered an alternative fact?

This is two shots of Dayquil some water and grenadine.

“

It has nothing to do with censorship from the leftist boogieman and everything to do with not being a jackass.”

BRIDGETTE BEFORT @bridgettebefort

Whichever year or party running the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government, the political climate is often filled with uncertainty and, sometimes, chaos. Thus, the only difference for this new presidential administration under President Trump compared to former years and presidents is the level of uncertainty and the rapid escalation of chaos.

With the unconventional nature of Trump’s campaign and election to the presidency, it is unsurprising that the news in Trump’s first thirty days in office has been filled

with unprecedented drama surrounding his advisers and cabinet nominees, discord throughout Congress between Republicans and Democrats, and displays of judiciary prowess in checking the bounds overstepped by this newly inaugurated executive.

Obscured by the often ridiculous revelations coming from the White House nearly every day, which provide the media with endless ratings-worthy stories, many note-worthy and important events have flown under the news media’s — and consequently much of the American public’s — radar. Among these are the many environmental-related events which have happened since Trump took office, of which many would have been reported more widely if they were not overshadowed by juicier stories.

These events include, but are not limited to, new data concerning the great amount of melting within the Ant-

arctic’s ice; “skyrocketing” temperatures on the opposite pole in the Arctic; the reduction of dissolved oxygen in oceans as a result of global warming and its negative effect on marine life; the Trump Administration’s energy plan excluding solar energy despite the fact that it is now the second-largest energy industry in the U.S.; and proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act within Congress aimed at deregulation to promote business interests.

“

It is unsurprising that the news in Trump’s first thirty days in office has been filled with unprecedented drama.”

This short list includes just a few of the significant environmental events which will have a direct impact on

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human and nonhuman lives, and in the past month, have not gotten the attention they deserve. This also includes only what is happening in relation to the environment, not in regards to the economy, foreign policy, education, science, healthcare and many other policies affected by government.

While the media continuously reports first on the latest distasteful remark of Donald Trump, the most recent scandal within the Administration in which a Trump adviser possibly broke the law or was, at least, very unethical, the latest tweet in which Trump defends his or a family members’ business interests, or the latest rumor from behind the scenes of Congress and the White House, we learn very little about whether any action is being taken in the midst of the chaos and whether this action may be against the interests of the American people. While we are distracted, Congress and

CONTACT US Lara Korte Editor-in-chief lkorte@kansan.com

Tucker Paine Business Manager tpaine@kansan.com

Donald Trump are not only ignoring important issues, such as climate change, but are also attempting to destroy laws meant to protect the people and environment of the United States.

We must avoid remaining uninformed and must stop only paying attention to the top headlines. While very entertaining and the source of good ratings, they are not informative as to all government actions affecting our lives. We must be proactive in searching out the truth by getting news from reputable sources and also diving in deeper beyond the front page of the newspaper or website.

It is only then that we will have a much better understanding of what is happening to our country and will be able to take steps to ignore the distractions, and prevent bad decisions in government.

Bridgette Befort is a junior from Topeka majoring in chemical engineering.

THE KANSAN EDITORIAL BOARD Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Lara Korte, Christian Hardy, Tucker Paine and Vince Munoz.

arts & culture HOROSCOPES ›› WHAT’S YOUR SIGN?

Aries (March 21-April 19) Take new professional territory. Watch your step to avoid risky business. An uncomfortable situation could arise. Intense work on urgent priorities pays off.

KANSAN.COM |THURSDAY, FEB. 23, 2017

Lawrence Art Center’s ‘Billy Elliot’ to be choreographed by Broadway vet

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Slow down to avoid accidents, whether or not you’re traveling. Avoid unexpected risk or expense. Hunker down and study your plans.

Resist the temptation to splurge.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Handle financial obligations and pay bills. Changes necessitate budget revisions.

Expensive potholes line the road today. Avoid arguments or breakage. Relax and promote peace.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Obstacles line the road to romance today. Unexpected circumstances could seem upsetting. Avoid arguments with your partner or family.

Relax and enjoy quiet pursuits.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Delegate or postpone scheduled tasks to allow some breathing room today.

Avoid arguments, accidents and irritation by slowing things down. Nurture your physical health.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) A conflict of interests could interrupt your fun today.

Referee a family quarrel.

Hold your temper. Another person may be disruptive.

Don’t force things now.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Breakdowns at home require your attention. Make repairs, especially to plumbing, immediately. Slow down to avoid mistakes and breakage. Practice patience.

Support your family.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You’re especially clever and creative, but don’t show unfinished work. Avoid risk and irritation. Read the small print before signing.

Watch for hidden expenses.

Launch later.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Don’t burn any bridges.

Financial snafus and breakdowns require untangling.

Limits are being tested.

Avoid reactions and outbursts that you’d later regret.

Remember what’s most important.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Don’t let confidence trick you into overspending or making mistakes. Postpone travel or important meetings. Things could get uncomfortable. Assumptions get challenged. Keep your agreements.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Recharge your batteries.

Meditate, rest and consider your next steps. Don’t waste physical energy or assume you have plenty. Peace and quiet soothe your spirit.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Discretion is advised. Don’t take anything for granted... accidents and conflict can arise. Keep to your trusted circle of close friends and family.

Andrea Ringgenberg/KANSAN Marc Wayne helps choreographs the upcoming “Billy Elliot” musical at the Lawrence Arts Center. Showtimes go from February 24-March 5. Tickets can be purchased through the Lawrence Arts Center website, lawrenceartscenter.org.

JOSH MCQUADE

@L0neW0lfMcQuade

C

horeographer Marc Wayne has worked on a variety of Broadway productions: “Shrek the Musical,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The King & I.” But, it may come as a surprise that he draws inspiration from a unique source that many would recognize from their childhood, Bugs Bunny.

“Bugs Bunny was so creative,” Wayne said. “He did everything. He sang, he danced, played all kinds of roles; I thought he was just brilliant.”

The cartoon character reminiscent of many adults’ childhoods assists Wayne with his work, now in entertainment. Wayne in his career has tied together the versatility of the cartoon world and reality to create a balance of imagination and reality, and Wayne is now bringing that balance to the Lawrence Arts Center as a guest choreographer for the upcoming production of

"Billy Elliot."

Wayne has been working on the choreography with the cast of Lawrence Arts Center's “Billy Elliot” since late January, teaching and reviewing the steps and movements for the show.

The "Billy Elliot" production is a musical exploring the life of a boy in a British mining town during the 1984 and 1985 mining strikes. Elliot then decides to turn away from his life as a boxer to a life of ballet.

Wayne said he has worked with the cast on how they should display the physicality of their characters and how they should hold themselves while on stage.

“I have been encouraging folks, as the actor, to disappear so that the only thing on stage is the character,” Wayne said. “The way they deliver their lines, how they go through dialogue and also in the physicality of their bodies. Not being afraid to go overboard with it.”

Wayne said he encourages each actor to explore

their character, to truly understand what their character would do or think in any situation.

This mindset is the same as some of his childhood inspirations who pushed him to enter the world of entertainment, he said, watching and being inspired by the likes of Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Donald O'Connor.

Wayne’s reason for joining the world of entertainment has not changed since first deciding to become a part of it.

“I wanted to be right in the middle of where dreams are made,” Wayne said.

When Wayne was 12 years old, he began taking a mime class in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. One day, the instructor asked Wayne if he could teach the class while he was absent.

Wayne accepted. After the class, Wayne’s mother told him something that sticks with him to this day. “'Son you have a gift,'” Wayne said, remembering his mother's words. “'You have a gift of working with

people, teaching people and inspiring people.'”

Motivated by her words, Wayne found his passion for creating opportunities for others to excel within their gifted talents. He said he believes that no matter what age, one with a talent should always be looking to improve it.

“We’re not done until we’re done,” Wayne said.

The crew of “Billy Elliot” has also enlisted the help of University Theatre history professor Jane Barnette.

Barnette is a dramaturg, which, according to an article on the Lawrence Arts Center’s website, is one who assists the audience in understanding the artistic vision behind a production.

Barnette said she has worked with both the cast and Wayne in order to create a better understanding of the play for the audience come opening night. “[The cast has] a wide range of dancing abilities,” Barnette said. “There are people in the cast that are basically dancers first and

actors second. Then there are equally as many, if not more, who are actors first and dancers second.”

The varying abilities seemed like a challenge when first seen by Barnette, but she said Wayne has connected well with each member of the cast in order to bring out the best qualities in each of them.

“My nugget for life is that you’re here on purpose,” Wayne said. “You’re here for a great purpose. You are not an accident, you’re not a mistake. Regardless of how you got here, whether you were adopted or born naturally, whatever the circumstances surrounding your birth, your life is on purpose.”

“Billy Elliot” opens Feb. 24 and will run through March 5. Tickets can be purchased at the Lawrence Arts Center website for $25.

— Edited by Paola Alor

Hasan Minhaj to perform at Liberty Hall SEAN JESSE @sean_jesse

Comedian and political correspondent for “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah” Hasan Minhaj will perform at Liberty Hall this Friday, Feb. 24 for his Homecoming King stand-up comedy tour.

Minhaj is known for his appearances on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” with both former host Jon Stewart and current host Trevor Noah. He has had his word featured on The Moth Radio hour, and has appeared on Netflix’s “Arrested Development.”

Homecoming King will be a one-man show that provides the audience a firsthand look at what it’s like being a first-generation Indian-American. The show started as an Off-Broadway production in New York City in the fall of 2015, yet the show has grown with Minhaj’s pop-

ularity, and has been touring around the U.S. and Canada, according to the tour’s website.

“

It’s refreshing to see someone who is willing to provide a voice for the oppressed, yet in a humorous way.”

Elie Katz Freshman

The show will address issues that were present during Minhaj’s upbringing in California, as well as today. Minhaj touches on his parents arrival in the U.S. from India, including being bullied while growing up and dealing with racism in America.

Bradley Prust, a freshman from Baileys Harbor, Wisconsin studying aerospace engineering, said that it is important that Minhaj is ad-

dressing the struggles nonwhite youth go through.

“Even in college, I think that there are forms of discrimination, whether or not you want to label them as ‘bullying’ or not,” Prust said.

“It’s especially important that a comedian of color is able to address this, because there are still a lot of kids out there who feel marginalized.”

Elie Katz, a freshman from Peoria, Illinois studying engineering, is excited to see Minhaj bring his political brand of comedy to town.

“It’s refreshing to see someone who is willing to provide a voice for the oppressed, yet in a humorous way,” Katz said. “Hopefully he is able to address some of the problems with the current administration in his show.”

Tickets for the show can be purchased on the Liberty Hall website.

— Edited by Erin Brock

Contributed Photo Comedian Hasan Minhaj will perform at Liberty Hall this Friday, Feb. 24.

ARTS & CULTURE

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University alumnus and Guinness World Record holder determined to win Taco Bell wedding HANNAH COLEMAN @hecoleman33

W

edding bells ringing, ex prowrestler Ric Flair officiating, the smiling couple walking down the aisle of the chapel inside the Las Vegas Taco Bell, clad in a taco bow tie and matching shirts — this is 2011 Guinness World Record holder and University alumnus Dan Ryckert’s dream.

And now, he has a real chance to make it happen.

Ryckert, a New York City local, decided to enter Taco Bell’s “Love and Tacos” contest after he said he received thousands of tweets from his more than 66,900 followers. A big part of Ryckert’s online personality revolves around the fast-food restaurant, it being his well-known favorite food.

Unsure how his fiancée Bianca would react, Ryckert sent the idea to her as a joke — and she was in favor. The two sent the required video to the contest, detailing their love for Taco Bell.

Voting is open to the public, and the winner will be announced on March 1.

Ryckert said he's received tremendous amounts of support from family and friends. None of them were surprised by his enthusiasm for a Taco

Contributed photo Dan Ryckert, left, in the process of breaking one of his two Guinness World Records in 2011.

Bell-themed wedding — including his friend Ben Hanson, video producer at “Game Informer Magazine.”

“I’ve been through this constant cycle having known Dan for six years now, where he’ll say, 'Hey, I think I’m going to do this thing,' and then I’ll just say, 'That is stupid. Do not do that,'' Hanson said.

Despite his initial apprehension, Hanson said Ryckert always ends up succeeding.

"You realize you need to kind of reset your own gauges onto what works and what doesn’t, because I’ve been proven wrong time and time again," Hanson said. "Never bet against Dan's is kind of a constant refrain.”

Formerly a writer for “Game Informer Magazine” and now an editor at the

gaming-news site “Giant Bomb,” Ryckert is a wellestablished voice in the gaming community. He's known for his video game commentary and bringing in celebrity guests to play games and star in his stunts.

“

I look forward to seeing just Dan’s family smiling, seeing his beautiful wife Bianca enjoying the day.”

Ben Hanson Video producer

Outside of his work, Ryckert also holds two Guinness World Records.

In 2011, Ryckert decided to attempt to break the record for "Longest Fighting Game Marathon." After

Contributed photo Dan Ryckert broke two Guinness World Records in 2011. Now, he is entered in a contest to get married in the Taco Bell chapel in Las Vegas.

discussing the rules with Guinness representatives, Ryckert and three other friends spent 30 hours straight playing "Super Smash Bros."

After winning this record, later that same year, Ryckert attempted and succeeded in winning another Guinness World Record for the longest Mario video game marathon, which lasted a total of 50 hours.

Hanson was there to film the process and turn the video into a documentary, titled “Smashed.”

“The [documentary] has a pretty honest portrayal of what it was like,” Hanson said. “It was a lot of Dan complaining, trying to weasel out of it and just kind of get the most out of his laziness, like he would intentionally throw matches

so that he could sit back and rest and not have to actually compete."

Hanson said Ryckert would spend three minutes at a time checking Twitter and leaning back on the couch between matches, but according to the rule book, he was still technically playing the game.

At the end of the day, his name is in the Guinness World Records book, Hanson said.

Ryckert also has six published books. Two are fictional and inspired by the cliche ‘80’s films he grew up watching, he said. “Air Force Gator” and “Air Force Gator 2” are both about an alligator in the Air Force that works to combat evil.

Ryckert's most recent book is about his experiences at the University and growing up in Kansas, titled

“The Dumbest Kid in Gifted Class.”

Despite being known for producing “intentionally stupid” content, Ryckert said, one of his favorite works was a book that he wrote through self-reflection, titled "Anxiety As an Ally."

The autobiographical book speaks about his experiences with anxiety disorders and experiencing panic attacks that began when he arrived at the University.

“I also give him a lot of credit for his 'Anxiety As an Ally' book," Hanson said.

“And I think that entire book is a good reminder that self improvement takes work, and the more that message gets out there, it’s genuinely helping people, so more power to him.”

Before his next project, Ryckert plans on getting married and becoming not only a husband, but the first couple to have ever been married in the new Taco Bell chapel.

“I look forward to seeing Dan’s family smiling, seeing his beautiful wife Bianca enjoying the day, and I’m also looking forward to the double-decker tacos, which is a personal favorite of mine,” Hanson said. “I think those three things together is really just going to be a winning combination.”

Watkins exhibit to show Lawrence’s Cold War connections BRIANNA CHILDERS @breeanuhh3

To highlight Lawrence's connection with the Cold War, specifically in the '80s, The Watkins Museum of History will open an exhibit called "Breaking the Ice: Lawrence, the Soviet Union, and Peace."

Brittany Keegan, curator and collections manager at the museum, said that the exhibit explains the unique relationship and peace building exercises that grew up in Lawrence during the war.

She said that Lawrence residents' fear was overwhelming, especially after the Three Mile Island accident in 1979, in which a nuclear power plant had a partial meltdown. This fear

was then exacerbated by the movie “The Day After,” about the weeks that led up to a fictional nuclear attack on the United States. The film featured real footage of Lawrence and Allen Fieldhouse.

“The people of Lawrence wanted to do something about it, but at the same time they didn’t want to think of people as enemies,” she said. “They built relationships and brought Soviet athletes to compete in the Kansas Relays, and people from Lawrence went to visit East Germany and the Soviet Union.”

The exhibit will include collections of items such as documents from the period, and buttons from the peacekeeping efforts that have been donated over

the past few years, which is what sparked the museum’s interest in the topic.

Keegan said one of the donations is from a local teacher who worked on the letter writing campaign which allowed school groups to write letters to Soviet athletes to get them to come to Lawrence for the Kansas Relays.

“I think everyone we have talked to says that there is personal relevance today and part of the involvement was people deciding they were going to get involved and make a personal change,” Keegan said.

Bob Swan Jr., chairman of US-Russia Foundation, which "promotes the development of the private sector in Russian through direct investment

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and technical assistance to private Russian enterprises," according to its website, said the important thing that they tried to show was the different way that the people in each country looked at each other.

“I think maybe the significance is the work we did really helped break the ice,” Swan said.

Swan added that he thinks this exhibit is great for Lawrence, because the community had such a great impact on helping change the relationship in the '80s between America and the Soviet Union.

“I hope what happens is that people can take some pride in the history making and all the activism with the relays and meeting for peace,” he said. “I hope they

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with a panel discussion at 5:30 p.m. Two talks by University historians will follow at 6:30 p.m., and again at 7:30 p.m.

— Edited by Brenna Boat

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become aware and take pride in that and hope they get involved again.”

The exhibit opens on Feb. 24 and runs through May 6. It's free and open to the public.

On Feb. 24, the doors for the exhibit will open at 5:00 p.m.

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SPORTS

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Kyriacou leads KU to blowout home-opener win WESLEY DOTSON @WesDotsonUDK

S

ophomore infielder David Kyriacou produced red-hot production on a warm Tuesday afternoon in Hoglund Ballpark.

Kyriacou was the star of Kansas baseball’s offense, which contributed 11 runs on 15 hits and propelled the team to a home-opening 11-1 win over Nebraska-Omaha.

The offense received excellent contribution from Kyriacou, who went 3-for5, including a triple and two RBIs. “The biggest key for me at the plate today was to just stay focused and relaxed,” Kyriacou said. “Just trying to help my team get a ‘W.’” After four games this season, Kyriacou already has eight hits, one more than he did all of last season.

“

The biggest key for me at the plate today was to just stay focused and relaxed.”

David Kyriacou Sophomore Infielder

“This offseason the biggest improvement for me has just [been] really trusting in the process and trusting in what all of our coaches are trying to give to us,” Kyriacou said. “Just trying

Missy Minear/KANSAN Freshman first baseman David Kyriacou rounds second base against Omaha on Feb. 21. The Jayhawks defeated the Mavericks 11-1.

to be consistent every day.”

Kyriacou, who started at first base against Omaha (14), said he is still trying to adjust to playing the position, though he did play it a bit last season. Kansas will look to him and junior first baseman Owen Taylor to fill the void after the loss of infielder Ryan Pidhaichuk, who graduated after last season.

“My primary position is middle infield,” Kyriacou said. “I think I’m getting the hang of it. It’s definitely a new position but I’m trying to make the most of it.”

The win marked the second-straight year Kansas (2-2) opened the season with a victory at home in February. The team held a 15-12-1 record at home last season, and is seeking to

improve on that ledger in 2017.

“We have to win at home,” Kansas coach Ritch Price said after the game.

“That’s one of the things we preach to our players.

When teams come in here — especially your midweek games — you have to win your midweek games as a Power 5 conference if you want to make the NCAA

tournament.”

Kansas’ best offensive output on the afternoon came in the second inning, when the team scored five runs. That would prove to be all the Jayhawks would need.

Kyriacou was one of the first to begin the rally when he smacked a two-run single through the right side to extend a Jayhawks lead to

3-0 at the time.

Kansas will next travel to California to take on Stanford over the weekend for a three-game set. When the team returns home to Lawrence, it will host Oral Roberts for a midweek game on Feb. 28. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

SPORTS

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9

Missy Minear/KANSAN Senior guard Frank Mason III motions to the crowd during the first half against TCU on Feb. 22. Kansas won, 87-68.

‘More to come’: Mason eyes further success JORDAN WOLF @JordanWolfKU

In the thick of the postgame celebration of No. 3 Kansas’ 13th-straight Big 12 title, senior guard Frank Mason III grabbed the mic.

No one told him to speak, he just thought he needed to. Donning the brand-new “13 Straight” t-shirt and having just hoisted the Big 12 Championship trophy with his teammates, he was overcome with emotion. His mind raced as he tried to string together his thoughts.

“We’re blessed,” Mason said. “We’re just thankful to have a great coach leading the way for us. We appreciate you [fans]. Jay-

hawk Nation!”

Mason was instrumental in the Jayhawks’ win, an 87-68 drubbing of TCU. He finished with a game-high 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting (4-of-6 from three), and dished out four assists as well.

It’s Mason’s fourth Big 12 title as a Jayhawk. Having come to Kansas in the middle of the streak, the expectations to keep it going certainly lingered.

But Mason knew that, and made sure that it wouldn’t come to an end on his watch.

“Before the conference [season] even started, I was just telling the guys, ‘We can’t be that team to end the streak,’” Mason said. “I like the way the

guys responded, and here we are today, 13 in a row.”

Across his four years contributing to the streak, his role has increased dramatically over time. From being a backup as a freshman to being the team’s leader and receiving consideration for National Player of the Year as a senior, perseverance has been the fuel to his rise to glory.

Even as the accolades continue to pile high for Mason, he’s making sure to stay humble and credit those responsible for his success.

“Coach did a great job of preparing us every day for this,” Mason said. “I think we do a great job of bringing energy to practice and

locking in to whatever our goal is … I’m just proud of my teammates, coaching staff and the fans for the unbelievable energy they bring every night.”

“

Coach did a great job of preparing us every day for this.”

Frank Mason III Senior guard

The last time Kansas didn’t win the conference, Mason was in the third grade. While he probably doesn’t have any distinct memories of the Jayhawks at the time, he joked about where he was at in his ca-

reer to put the streak’s length in context.

“I was playing in the elementary league,” Mason said. “I was going crazy.”

Kansas coach Bill Self was appreciative of Mason’s performance after the game. But with the conference title locked up and the postseason just around the corner, he’s making sure to stay focused. He sees that Mason is too, and commended him for such.

“The thing about Frank is, he was so efficient tonight, I thought he played great again,” Self said.

“But he understands, this is great and we’re happy and everything, but there’s still bigger fish to fry, so to speak. He knows that.”

Mason made sure to let

Washington’s 36 points silver lining in loss SEAN COLLINS @seanzie_UDK

Staring at coach Brandon Schneider, redshirt junior guard Jessica Washington knew what was coming next. Washington, wearing her protective mask, exited the game.

As she jogged over to the sideline to take her seat on the bench, the crowd in Allen Fieldhouse rose to their feet in ovation for Washington’s exit, just a minute before the Jayhawks lost to the Iowa Sate Cyclones, 90-75.

While Washington has exited early in many games this season during a loss, this one felt different.

After sustaining a nose injury on the road, Washington wears the mask, and it may be exactly what she needs. Washington scored a career-high 36 points on 12-of-19 shooting on Tuesday. It was the best game of her college career, and looked fierce doing so.

“She looks like Russell Westbrook, and that’s the way she played,” Cyclones coach Bill Fennelly said.

While the loss was upsetting for the Jayhawks, Washington’s performance offensively was one to behold. She couldn’t miss all night long. From the free-throw line, in the paint and from deep, Washington was on fire.

It was clear the mask didn’t affect her shooting

ability, but she knew that before the game started.

“Honestly, it’s just something that you have to adapt to,” Washington said. “It wasn’t hard and it doesn’t bother me. Our trainers do a really good job of fitting it perfectly to my face and it’s not affecting me in any way.”

Schneider wasn’t happy about giving up 90 points.

The missed assignments had the team running in circles trying to catch up to shooters as they knocked them down from outside.

Washington’s offensive production provided a silver lining. “[Washington] had a terrific night. She was just aggressive and got to the line,” Schneider said. “I know that she was really disappointed in how she played in Ames. It’s nice to see her really respond.”

In Ames on Jan. 8, she went 1-for-9 and scored four points.

While the mask had no effect on Washington, it’s conceivable that it intimidates whoever is guarding her. Washington insisted that the mask didn’t make her better, but it certainly didn’t hurt her. Did it affect her defenders?

“Who knows? It makes me look tough,” Washington said with a chuckle. “I was tough before the mask though.”

The Jayhawks have one more home game left in

Miranda Anaya/KANSAN Junior guard Jessica Washington goes up for shot vs Iowa State on Feb. 21. Iowa State defeated Kansas 90-75.

the season; the sunflower showdown.

Washington

stressed that it is important for her and the team

to get into a defeat-Kansas State mindset.

the fans know that as well.

“We’ve still got more to come,” Mason said over the Allen Fieldhouse loudspeakers.

— Edited by Allison Crist

sports KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | THURSDAY, FEB. 23, 2017

CONFERENCE KINGS

Missy Minear/KANSAN Junior guard Devonte’ Graham celebrates Kansas’ 13th straight Big 12 title after defeating TCU on Feb. 22.

BRIAN MINI

@brianminimum

O

n any other night, individual scoring outbursts, a jersey retirement or a one-handed dunk by a projected topthree NBA Draft pick would have been the biggest story.

Instead, the main story was the same thing college basketball fans have seen for a record-tying 13 years in a row: Kansas won the Big 12 Conference.

Despite carrying just a one-point lead into halftime, Kansas’ offense came alive in the second half leading to a 87-68 win against TCU. “We made an adjustment at halftime and coaches kept preaching, ‘Energy, energy, come out with energy. First five minutes you got to put that foot on their throat,’” junior guard Devonte’ Graham said after the game.

The 19-point win was Kansas’ biggest in conference play and its largest margin of victory since December 22 against UNLV. On the night of his 22nd birthday, Graham momentarily took the season-long

spotlight away from senior guard Frank Mason III with a 20-point, seven-assist game.

“It’s definitely a special thing,” Graham said. “I’m glad we could get the win on my birthday and just being around these guys and being in Allen Fieldhouse with all the fans. Then winning 13 straight, I couldn’t ask for a better day.”

The National Player of the Year candidate wasn’t overlooked for long as Mason still finished with 20 points and four assists.

A nervous hush fell over the crowd as freshman guard Josh Jackson went down with what looked like an ankle injury with less than 12 minutes to go in the first half. He’d end up returning after five minutes of game time and promptly hit a three-pointer.

After the game, Jackson said that he had twisted his ankle a couple of days ago in practice, but feels better now.

“I’m pretty happy with our season and where we are right now,” Jackson said. The freshman star also said he’s the “type of guy

who likes to win more than do anything else.”

The Big 12 trophy presentation wasn’t the only historical event on Wednesday night. At halftime, Kansas retired the No. 25 jersey of NCAA champion and third-team All-American Brandon Rush.

“I’m happy,” Rush said at the presentation. “This is the biggest day of my life.”

Rush ranks 24th in career scoring at Kansas and his 43.5 three-point percentage is currently 4th best in school history.

Rush thanked coach Bill Self and signed off with a “Rock Chalk” to a standing ovation from the sold-out Allen Fieldhouse crowd.

Former championship teammates Mario Chalmers and Brady Morningstar were also in attendance for the ceremony.

In the second half, Jackson would provide one of the games many highlights with a one-handed alley-oop finish after a Graham tip off the rebound and a Mason assist. Jackson finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.

“It was pretty nice,” Jackson said. “I started to

dunk it with two hands, but gave the crowd a little show.”

Prior to the game, Kansas was expected, at least by the Vegas prediction, to win by double digits. What was unexpected was sophomore forward Carlton Bragg Jr.’s impact on the game.

The struggling sophomore had two loud putback dunks in the first half and finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. He also played 22 minutes, his most since Nov. 18 in the third game of the season.

“The last couple days of practice, he’s been shooting the ball really well,” Graham said. “We’re trying to instill that confidence in him. He’s a key player. Coach keeps telling him that. We need him in order to be successful down the road. He’s got that confidence.”

Kansas’ shooting kept them in the game, even when turnovers held the team back and foul trouble limited Jackson and senior center Landen Lucas, who had seven points and six rebounds despite only playing 17 minutes.

As a team, the Jayhawks shot 48 percent from the floor and an efficient 44 percent from three, which is just above their season average.

After the game, the crowd was treated to a video highlighting the past 13 years including former players like Andrew Wiggins, Jamari Traylor, Brandon Rush and Thomas Robinson, among others.

When the video concluded, Self and his team posed for picture with the trophy. Mason, wearing a “13 Straight” t-shirt and hat, addressed the crowd.

“Thank you Jayhawk Nation for all your support,” he said to the crowd. “We still got more to come and we’re just thankful to have a great coach to lead the way for us.

We appreciate you guys.”

The 13-straight conference championships tied UCLA’s record that was started by Basketball Hall of Fame coach John Wooden. After the game, Self was quick to dismiss the comparison.

“Let’s put it in perspective,” Self said. “They won 10 national championships

in 12 years, and we won one in 13.”

Self, who late last week was named as a finalist for the Naismith Hall of Fame, moved ahead of Mark Few’s 2001-2011 Gonzaga teams last year and now matches the UCLA teams from 19671979.

For some, like freshmen forwards Mitch Lightfoot and Udoka Azubuike, this is their first taste of a conference championship. For others like senior guard Tyler Self and Lucas, this is their fifth ring of their Kansas careers.

“I think every year is special,” Mason said about his fourth and final Big 12 championship. “I’m just glad I was able to be part of all four years. Like I said, I’m proud of my teammates, coaching staff and the fans for the unbelievable energy they bring every night.”

Kansas will be back in action against Texas in Austin on Saturday.

— Edited by Allison Crist