THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
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INSIDE KU’s availability of menstrual products is lacking compared to other universities p. 2
Emotional senior speeches cap off Kansas basketball’s win over Texas The University Daily Kansan
vol. 136 // iss. 14 Thurs., Mar. 1, 2018
Comedian Pete Holmes turns painful experiences into comedy series p. 5
SEE SENIOR NIGHT • PAGE 7
$25 student fee increase moves forward Student Senate will be voting on a proposed fee increase for next year, including a 25-cent allocation for MSG
Miranda Anaya/KANSAN Constanza Castro, Multicultural Student Government vice president, discusses the passage of block allocation funding at Finance Committee on Wednesday.
SAVANNA SMITH @savsmith20 Student Senate Finance Committee approved funding for the Multicultural Student Government through the campus fee bill and voted to raise the fee by $25.20 on Wednesday night. “We’ve been nickel and diming people for a long time,” Maginness said during the committee meeting about the organizations who request funding every year. This is the highest fees
would have been raised since 2009, making them $482.45 per semester for the 2018-19 school year. The fee increase will move to full Senate next week for a final vote. Part of this bill is funding for MSG, an organization that has seen much turmoil in recent weeks. In the bill, MSG would receive funding via a 25-cent increase to the Multicultural Education Fund, which would allow MSG to host its welcome event in the fall without relying on funding that was in-
“We’ve been nickel and diming people for a long time.” Chance Maginness finance chair
cluded in the Memorandum of Agreement, a contract that is in jeopardy while its validity is being reviewed by the University’s general counsel team. “Our executive team is really focused on making
sure the next executive team is in the best position they possibly can be,” MSG Vice President Constanza Castro said after the meeting. “We don’t want to leave them high and dry.” If the MOA is deemed valid, MSG funding will continue through line allocations at the original $44,270, and the funding granted through MEF will be returned. That increase would then go toward benefiting other multicultural student groups, Finance Chair Chance Maginness
said during discussion. The MEF increase was one of many increases to required student fees voted on in Finance Committee. Major increases included money for Watkins Health Center, the Ambler Student Recreation Center and Student Senate. The rec center’s fee increased by $10. Maginness said this was the fee increase he was the most proud of, as it provides increased resources for maintaining student health. In the long term, this fee would allow
the rec to enter into a third expansion phase. “This affects students’ well being,” Maginness said. “I can’t stress enough to you all the importance of having a good rec center.” The Student Senate activity fee increased by $3.20, and the health services fee increased by $6.25. Maginness said many of the increases were to account for inflation, and he said he hopes the fee will not have to increase again for the next three years.
Anti-trans resolution won’t deter LGBT advocacy SYDNEY HOOVER @HooverSydney After the Kansas Republican Party voted to “oppose all efforts to validate transgender identity,” organizations such as Spectrum KU and the Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity are continuing to push for equity for the LGBT community. Eric Teetsel, the proposer of the resolution, told the Wichita Eagle on Feb. 18 that the decision was reached in an effort to “bring us back to what we know to be true and good.” For Nathan Stucky, a senior from Oregon, Missouri, and transgender man, the decision is nothing new. “Trans people have been around for decades, you know, we have a rich history that has been erased because people don’t un-
derstand it,” he said. “They don’t understand it, and they fear what they don’t understand.” Although the decision of the political party “has no material effect” at the University, according to Director of News and Media Relations Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, Stucky worries it will only promote underlying discrimination of LGBT people on campus and across Kansas. “We don’t have a lot of trans-related resources on campus, there are very few gender neutral bathrooms around, and it’s really difficult to have professors call us by our true names and pronouns,” Stucky said. “The fact that the dominating party in Kansas has come out and stated this, it’s going to make it a lot harder for students, for trans students specifically, to be validated in their
Yusra Nabi/KANSAN Students protest on Wescoe Beach against mistreatment of transgender children in March 2017. class and feel safe.” Kansas College Republicans and the Kansas GOP did not respond to requests for comment on the issue. However, as vice pres-
ident of Spectrum KU, Stucky is hoping to continue making the University a welcoming campus for LGBT students with the help of organizations such
as the Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity, despite the Kansas GOP’s decision. “It doesn’t change what we do. We will continue
doing the work we do every day to make the University more inclusive and more informed,” SGD Interim Director Saida Bonifield said. Spectrum KU has a number of events coming up to celebrate diversity, including “TRANSlation” meetings, guest speakers from the LGBT community and its annual “Gaypril” celebration during the month of April. SGD is involved with these events, as well as others. “The vision is to ensure KU is an environment that represents our national and global society, accepts and values everyone, appreciates our common humanity and understands our multiple differences are the cornerstone of academic preparation, professional excellence and distinction,” Bonifield said.
news
Thursday, March 1, 2018
staff NEWS MANAGEMENT
Editor-in-chief Chandler Boese
Managing editor Erin Brock
Digital operations editor Brady Maguire
Social media editor Nathan Mize
Associate social media editor Emily Juszczyk ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT
Business manager Baylee Parsons
Sales manager Cooper J. Scott SECTION EDITORS
News editor Emily Wellborn
Associate news editor Katie Bernard
Sports editor Shaun Goodwin
Associate sports editor Michael Swain
Arts & culture editor Josh McQuade
Associate arts & culture editor Rachel Gaylor
Opinion editor Danya Issawi
Visuals editor & design chief Gracie Williams
Photo editor Missy Minear
Copy chiefs Gabby Cinnamon Emma Green ADVISERS
Chief financial officer Jon Schlitt
Editorial adviser Gerri Berendzen The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of The Kansan are 50 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at the Kansan business office, 2051A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS., 66045. The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4967) is published on Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year except fall break, spring break and exams. It is published weekly during the summer session excluding holidays. Annual subscriptions by mail are $250 plus tax. Send address changes to The University Daily Kansan, 2051A Dole Human Development Center, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue.
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KU campus lacks menstrual products REBEKAH SWANK @SwankyMamma At Brown University, the student government is distributing free menstrual products in campus bathrooms. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, free tampons are available in both women and men’s bathrooms, the latter to recognize the needs of transgender students. At the University of Florida, menstrual products were made free at several campus locations recently after nearly two dozen students stained their pants with fake blood. Colleges and universities across the country are answering the call of their students to make menstrual products readily available — and often free — in campus restrooms. However, the University of Kansas isn’t one of them. The University has stopped filling feminine product dispensers in restrooms, and all but one of the campus shops that sell tampons are closed by 5:30 p.m. “When you say college and menstruating in the same sentence, I think of being at the library before a test, and I get my period. That’s happened to me a couple times,” said Carley Olson, a junior biology major from Shawnee. “I have to call one of my friends, or call a girl in my sorority and ask one of them to bring me one, or hope someone in the library — a random girl in the bathroom — will have one.” Many women rely on napkin and tampon dispensing machines in public restrooms when they don’t have the products with them. However, visits to 12 women’s bathrooms in five different buildings on KU’s main campus found only one with menstrual products available. Nine bathrooms had no machines and two had machines that were empty. “A while back the University decided not to continue
filling the feminine product dispensers at KU Main. We just haven’t removed the dispensers,” said Vince Avila, director of facilities services. Tammara Durham, vice provost of student affairs, said the University stopped stocking the machines several years ago due to “low demand, irregular usage, coin operation, repeated vandalism for the coins and the product, and the availability at campus convenience stores.” Marissa Gingrich, a junior from Shawnee studying exercise science, said she is never able to find menstrual products on campus when she needs them. “I’m usually in Budig and Haworth a lot of the times, and none of those buildings have anything,” she said. Olson and Gingrich both said they did not know campus convenience stores carried any kind of menstrual products. Most Hawk Shops on the KU main campus offer a limited variety of menstrual products, but getting to one of these stores in a moment of need can be difficult. “If you’re in one building, you’re not going to be like, ‘Oh! I’m in the middle of class, let me just run over to the Union, or let me just run over to the Underground,’” Gingrich said. Although some products are available in certain places on campus, most stores close between 4 and 5:30 p.m. Students who study at the library at night don’t have the option to make a purchase at a Hawk Shop unless they make it to the store inside the Union, which is open until 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Olson said she had been at the library one night during finals week when she realized she didn’t have the products she needed, and couldn’t find any around Anschutz Library. She would have been willing to pay for one, though she feels such products should be available
Schools all around the United States are beginning to supply menstrual products to students in most or all campus restrooms. Many student groups and student governments are addressing this issue with the school administration, creating petitions, peacefully protesting or looking for funding through campaigns and events. Above are some of the colleges and universities across the country that have menstrual products easily available in restrooms and other places on campus.
Graphic by Rebekah Swank/KANSAN for free on campus. “I was just really mad. I just think it’s completely unfair. It makes me mad that they are just trying to make profit off of something that we need as humans. It should be a human right, I think,” she said. The price of menstrual products in campus stores can also be a barrier for some students. At the Hawk Shop in the Underground, a package of eight tampons is $4.09 before tax. That is more than triple the price of tampons at stores such as Target and Walmart, where a package of 36 tampons costs $6.99. “No one wants to buy eight on campus where it’s going to be more expen-
sive,” Gingrich said. Jenny McKee, program manager of the Health Education Resource Office (HERO) at Watkins Health Services, is concerned about the cost of menstrual products to students who don’t have enough money to buy food or eat properly. “Our research shows that, I think almost a quarter of KU students report being food insecure. We don’t ask people, ‘Hey, are you menstrual product insecure?’ A lot of people need menstrual products, so I think it’s really fair to be concerned about it,” McKee said. Many of the universities providing free or readily available menstrual products in restrooms have done
so after a student group brought up the issue. Mady Womack, KU student body president, says nothing is currently in the works, but that “Student Senate is concerned about the lack of availability of these products on campus.” Gingrich thinks the University should be more concerned about the lack of availability of products, and how it affects the health and wellness of KU students. “I’m sure there have been so many times when girls have been like, ‘I have to go home. I can’t keep studying right now at the library. I have to go home and deal with this.’ It’d provide a better environment in general,” Gingrich said.
Anti-death-penalty advocate to speak at KU LINDLEY LUND @lindley_mae98
Next Monday, Jayhawks for Life will be sponsoring Sister Helen Prejean, an anti-death-penalty speaker. She’ll be speaking in the Kansas Union at 7 p.m. about injustice in the criminal justice system — including economic and racial discrimination, alternatives to the death penalty and reasons to fund programs for murder victims’ families. President Maya Hubbs, a sophomore from Evansville, Indiana, studying chemical engineering, has been in contact with Prejean since July to bring her to campus. Hubbs decided to host this event in hopes that it will raise awareness about the death penalty, a subject that she has noticed many people have not thought about. “So if you talk to random people and ask ‘What’s your stance on the death penalty?’ they’re like ‘Well I don’t really know I’ve never put
Hannah Edelman/KANSAN Sister Helen Prejean will speak on the death penalty March 5 at the Union. too much effort, or too much thought, into it,’” Hubbs said. “Maybe they’ve never thought about it, and now they get a chance to hear a perspective from somebody else, or they’ve only been told the death penalty is the only way about it.” Prejean was raised in a wealthy household in New Orleans and later decided to become a catholic nun. In her book and movie, “Dead Man Walking,” she talks about how as a child she was isolated in her community and unaware of many im-
portant topics such as the death penalty. When Prejean became a nun, she began working with communities located in much poorer parts of New Orleans, especially those high in crime. “She thinks it’s so important to give underrepresented communities a voice, because she’s had hands-on experience with it,” Hubbs said. From her time in New Orleans, Prejean believes that the death penalty is not just given to people because they deserve it, that their wealth,
race and location are also incorporated into it. Now, she serves as a voice for the people of these communities, and is more than willing to talk at numerous locations. “If you follow her on Twitter, she’s always tweeting where she’s at. They made her book a movie and then made the movie a play and then made it an opera in Italy, so she went to go see the opening night,” Hubbs said. Marin Brown, the former Pregnant on Campus coordinator for Jayhawks for Life, is planning to attend the event.
“I am attending because I think she presents an enlightening story about death row, which is a topic many Americans want to oversimplify. I hope others attend regardless of their stance on the death penalty, as this will give them an opportunity to look at this debate from a new point of view,” Brown said. Hubbs hopes having Prejean come to the University will make a large impact on students’ thoughts of the death penalty, and suggests students come to the event no matter their opinions. “I just hope that people can listen to her talk and open their eyes a bit. Especially with people who haven’t thought about it, or people who maybe have had to hear that different perspective,” Hubbs said. “If you stand on one side that’s fine, but if you don’t have a reason to believe something, why would you really believe it? So I’m hoping it really gives people a definite ‘This is why I believe what I believe.’”
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Sarah Wright/KANSAN Multicultural Student Government Vice President Constanza Castro explains the new constitution, written by Trey Duran (left), before it successfully passed on Tuesday evening during the General Assembly.
MSG passes long-awaited constitution SYDNEY HOOVER @HooverSydney17
The Multicultural Student Government passed its official constitution, written by sophomore MSG member and student senator Trey Duran, Tuesday evening at a General Assembly meeting. “This is a living breathing document, so this is version one, right? There will be other iterations of this document. It will grow as the organization grows,” said MSG Vice President Constanza Castro during the presentation of the constitution. While the constitution overall followed MSG’s current working structure,
the document outlined a new executive board structure, which included two co-presidents, three vice presidents, a student senator and a Multicultural Board of Advisors representative. It was unclear when MSG would transition to this new executive board structure. This structure, most notably the three vice presidential roles dividing internal, external and financial responsibilities, was based off of the Student Union Activities’ executive board. Duran explained that this structure would allow easier delegation of power, rather than the “strict hierarchy” that executive boards such as that of Student Senate
“I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction. I think there’s definitely far more work to go, I’m just glad that we have a foundation, a stable foundation.” Anthonio Humphrey MSG president
maintain. The executives would also be voted on as a general seven, rather than for individual positions. The board would then negotiate who would serve in each position and present the final board to the General Assembly for approval. “It forces cooperation right away,” Castro said. “If you really care about the
MSG, the position or the title doesn’t matter to you as much as helping the MSG.” The passing of the MSG constitution follows the removal from office of former MSG President Chiquita Jackson and Chief of Staff Andrew Davis. Both were removed from office due to alleged misuse of funds by the executive board during the fall 2017 semester.
“I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction. I think there’s definitely far more work to go, I’m just glad that we have a foundation, a stable foundation,” MSG President Anthonio Humphrey said after the meeting. However, according to Duran and Castro, there are still amendments to be made to the document in the future. These would be dependent on Senate Finance Committee’s decision on a block allocation bill that would take funding away from MSG. The bill failed during full Senate on Feb. 21 and was discussed by the committee Wednesday. The MSG members said
that, depending on Senate’s decision, there would be changes the document would need. MSG is also waiting on a decision from University administration on whether its Memorandum of Agreement with Senate was violated by Jackson and Davis. “For MSG in particular, just moving forward and making sure we stay true to our purpose regardless,” Humphrey said of the future. “Funding, no funding, I don’t think it really matters in the end, because you can’t put a dollar amount on doing work for multicultural and marginalized identities.”
Alumni Association introduces mentoring program MCKENNA PATCHEN @mckennapatchen
The Alumni Association is launching a new program within the University called KU Mentoring, in which students will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the University’s most talented alumni. The organization’s goal is to help students become engaged with professionals in their fields of study and equip them to one day become mentors themselves. It is set to begin in fall 2018. “I would characterize these as some of our most highly engaged alumni, as well as those most successful in their fields,” said David Johnston, Alumni Association vice president for marketing and digital media. “This places some emphasis on the quality of the relationships. We want to make sure that students are getting something out of it, but also that the alumni are able to [offer] their time and talents.” There are two subsets of this program. The first is “flash mentoring,” which allows the mentee to select an
alumni who has volunteered to be a mentor and also to request a one-time meeting (online or in person) reserved for asking questions about the alumni’s profession. The other is “long term mentoring,” a relationship over a semester or longer that involves multiple meetings in which academic or professional goals will be set on the student’s behalf. “More than anything, we have been hearing that there is a demand for professional development and networking opportunities,” Johnston said. “We are choosing to invest in career support services that will compliment KU’s existing efforts in that area.” The School of Business, the School of Architecture and Design, the School of Engineering and the School of Journalism have been the Association’s main partners in orchestrating KU Mentoring. Stanford, Notre Dame, Virginia and Michigan have bought into similar programs by purchasing their own hubs. A hub operates as a small community that is a branch of a larger group of
Ian Dominguez/KANSAN The KU Alumni Association is sponsoring a new program to allow students to be mentored by KU Alumni in their prospective fields. The program is set to begin in the fall 2018 semester. alumni that focuses on the needs of students. These departments will have mentors available for students looking to talk with professionals in their areas of study or expand their networks. Mark Mears, who consults with the Association and is the executive in residence within the J-School to help launch the program’s journalism branch, offered
some insight to what it means to be a KU mentor. “[This program] will benefit both student mentees and alumni mentors in many ways—from incoming freshmen seeking career exploration; to sophomores seeking career direction; to juniors and seniors seeking career application,” Mears said. “This is a powerful tool that will provide a competi-
tive advantage to help us attract the best and brightest students,” Mears said, “resulting in more successful careers that help maximize the return on the rising cost of higher education.” Students or alumni interested in getting involved with the KU Mentoring program can visit the Association’s website and complete the online application. If accepted, they will then be
given the opportunity to connect with others in the program through student programs and networking events. “We’re excited about this program, said Brad Eland, Alumni Association vice president of alumni and student programs, “and we’re hoping it will be quality for the students and for the alumni. We think it is going to be a win-win situation.”
opinion Thursday, March 1, 2018
Text your Free For All submissions to (785) 289-8351
K A N S A N .C O M /O P I N I O N
McBride: We should not arm teachers
FFA of the Day: “We need to make an amendment to the Constitution that every person is entitled to life, liberty and a limea-rita” The only reason I go on campus is to get a whiff of Chick-fil-a. I’m a vegetarian. “I like this. It’s all ergonomic and shit.” My psych professor at the front of a lecture hall hi i just called a fax machine, how’s your monday going? today I bawled while driving around campus because of graduation. then I saw a dog sticking his head out of a sunroof and somehow regained mental stability
Associated Press From left, President Donald Trump, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student students Carson Abt, and Ariana Klein, listen to Carson’s father speak.
“Honestly, steal my identity, I don’t care. I don’t have anything going for me.” guy behind me brought a clear bag just filled with his homework. grind don’t stop. Devonte Graham saying he met his girlfriend at the Hawk is such a 2018 thing to happen and I am LIVING for it “he always buys hard liquor or wine because he’s pretentious” Chick-fil-a is the only reason I came to my Spanish class in Wescoe today. Today I’m going to get my shit together - me, for the past 575 days Want to sign a lease myself. Need good credit to sign a lease. Need to sign a lease to establish credit. It’s the circle of death.
MALLORIE MCBRIDE @malloriemcbride On Feb. 14, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz opened fire in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, using a semi-automatic AR-15 assault rifle, killing 17 and injuring many more. An overwhelming — and much needed — dialogue surrounding gun control emerged after, as this was the fifth school shooting
thus far in 2018. Many Americans are calling for stricter laws to be put in place in the process of obtaining a firearm. President Donald Trump, however, has a different agenda. At the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump proposed teachers “who understand weaponry” should carry guns on them in the classroom and should be given “a little bit of a bonus.” As the daughter of a sixth grade teacher and a student
a girl got out of her uber and dropped her phone, car started to drive over it, and everyone in the basketball line simultaneously screamed for her I’ve started taking notice of how often people blink and now I can’t stop
receive the proper training and a weapon is now in the hands of an unqualified person? Rather than fighting fire with fire, our focus should be on mental health and restricting those deemed dangerous from obtaining weaponry. Studies have shown those who are mentally ill are more likely to commit violent acts. In fact, of the 185 mass shootings that took place in the U.S. between 1900-2017, those who had a mental illness or exhibited signs of mental illness carried out 59 percent of these attacks. Cruz suffers from ADHD, autism and depression, according to his late adoptive mother. In 2016, crisis workers performed a psychiatric evaluation on Cruz after a Snapchat video of him harming himself and proclaiming he wanted to buy a gun was
released. After the evaluation, however, doctors chose not to hospitalize him. More recently, investigators found his Instagram profile to be littered with numerous images of firearms and dangerous weapons. Had people listened to the signs or taken Cruz’s mental illnesses seriously, maybe this horrific tragedy could’ve been prevented. Our government is severely missing the point on gun violence. Trump’s suggestion for school teachers to carry firearms skims over the harsh reality of the situation. We first must understand the root of the problem, which coincides with mental illness and gun control, before we form radical solutions.
Mallorie McBride is a sophomore from Overland Park studying journalism and business.
Kauffman: Mental health demands openness
Who wants to place bets on how long it will take KU to clean up the broken glass on Jayhawk? “I did not mean to call my grandmother a bitch!”
myself, I would feel absolutely terrified knowing both my mother and my teachers would not only be carrying around a deadly weapon, but also carrying the burden of a huge responsibility as well. Giving teachers guns doesn’t fix the problem. It only adds to it. Trump claims 10-20 percent of teachers are “very gun-adept people.” However, only 1.4 percent of America’s school teachers studied security and protective services, and .3 percent studied criminal justice. Teachers go to school to learn how to educate others, not how to operate firearms. If a weapon is readily available in a classroom, what’s stopping a child from finding it and accidentally setting it off? What if the gun gets in the hands of a troubled or upset student? What if the teacher doesn’t
REBEKAH KAUFFMAN @RebekahLodos I heard a story this week about a British journalist who chronicled her misadventures with sex, alcohol and cocaine during her twenties in a memoir. Bryony Gordon, who was a columnist for The Telegraph while routinely intoxicated, later came to realize her destructive behavior was linked to her obsessive-compulsive disorder and her condition as an Addict — capital A. I listened to her talk joy-
fully during an interview about the luck of coming out on the other side, the difference between fun and happiness, and accepting that at 37, married and a mother, she needs Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Her interviewer, Dolly Alderton, said Gordon’s book gave her the liberty to be unashamed of her own struggles. “I suddenly realized I’m allowed to tell my stories, and it doesn’t make me attention-seeking, trivial, silly
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or embarrassing,” Alderton said. In a flash, it dawned on me that open, honest conversation about our struggles has a power we often dismiss. We tend to swing between the extremes of repression or justification when dealing with our deviant behavior and disorders. Both lead us deeper and deeper into the mire. We repress because we desire to meet external expectations. By managing our disorders so they don’t bare their nasty heads around anyone else, we sidestep the shame and humiliation of being exposed. Justification is a more freeing strategy, but it never lasts for long. The road between Instagramming “rosé all day” and not being able to go a day without an entire bottle can be a slippery one, if you’re prone to addiction. Ask me about it sometime. The middle ground be-
The middle ground between repression and justification can only be honest conversation. tween repression and justification can only be honest conversation. Honest conversation does away with shame and protects us from the dangers of turning illnesses into personality quirks. It is not a lack of work ethic that causes that sense of despair when you try to leave your bed; nor is it subversive, anti-social “cool.” It is what it is: perhaps an illness, perhaps hidden trauma, perhaps a bad day. For women especially, there is a narrative to uphold. Since the dawn of time, male writers have written shamelessly about their alcoholism, depression and sexual exploits. But we are pristine flowers, in a position of perpetually proving our worth. We don’t have the luxury of letting the world see our
contact us Chandler Boese Editor-in-chief cboese@kansan.com
Baylee Parsons Business Manager bparsons@kansan.com
weakness. This type of conversation requires that we lift the stigma off the subject of mental health. Men cannot be perceived as good-for-nothing vagrants when talking about their struggles with addiction. Women should not be perceived as crazy, hormonal hens when they’re honest about depression. The National Alliance on Mental Illness reported that over 75 percent of mental health problems start before we even hit 24. We are in the prime age range for the onset of mental illness. Now is the time to start talking. Rebekah Kauffman is a junior from London studying journalism and international relations.
editorial board
Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Chandler Boese, Erin Brock, Danya Issawi and Baylee Parsons.
arts & culture Thursday, March 1, 2018
K A N S A N .C O M /A R T S A N D C U LT U R E
Contributed photo Pete Holmes and his ex-wife (played by Lauren Lapkus) sit and talk about changes in their lives in the new show.
Finding closure through comedy In his semi-autobiographical show ‘Crashing,’ Pete Holmes explores his struggles with infidelity and religion
JOSH MCQUADE @L0neW0lfMcQuade
At the age of 28, comedian Pete Holmes’ life came crashing down, sparking the idea for Holmes’ aptly named HBO series, “Crashing.” Holmes was raised Christian, meeting his first wife through his church and soon marrying her at the age of 22. At the age of 28, Holmes discovered his first wife cheating on him, a violation of the Seventh Commandment. After the revelation of his first wife’s adultery, Holmes dove into his comedy career, eventually working with CollegeHumor and Comedy Central. After earning his place in the world of comedy, Holmes said he pitched his life story to Judd Apatow, who took on “Crashing”
“The story underneath all of that is a guy who’s trying to not lose himself and lose his values, or his soul as he sees it.” Pete Holmes comedian
as director. “The story underneath all of that is a guy who’s trying to not lose himself and lose his values, or his soul as he sees it,” Holmes said. Holmes stars as a fictionalized version of himself, beginning the series as a struggling comedian whose only job is to pay to perform at open mic nights. His wife, played by Lauren Lapkus, cheats on him with a man named Lief, played by George Basil, using the excuse that Pete loves comedy more than her.
From that moment, Holmes’ character begins centering his life on his comedy career, performing nightly and earning jobs as a warm-up or opener. The growth and development of Holmes’ character, both as a comedian and a person, was well done. Throughout the series, Pete explores his religion, other forms of comedy and relationships with a variety of people. “Crashing” is one large flashback to Holmes’ past, to which Holmes said was interesting viewing.
“It’s almost psychologically damaging, in a good way, to relive moments with my parents, to relive moments with my ex-wife that were inspired by real things,” Holmes said. “Crashing” features cameos from several iconic comedians, including Sarah Silverman, John Mulaney and Bill Burr. However, it’s Artie Lange who holds a recurring role on the show, adding his own storyline of struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. Lange appears in several episodes throughout the series, including two episodes titled after the comedian: the pilot episode titled “Artie Lange” and the sixth episode of the second season “Artie.” Both episodes focus on Lange’s fight to stay clean.
One interesting aspect of “Crashing” is the regression of Pete’s spirituality, slowly distancing himself further and further from his church. Holmes’ character drinks, does drugs and has premarital sex, all actions taboo in the Christian church. However, Holmes said he still considers himself to be a spiritual person. “I do consider myself a post-evangelical, but I’m still a spiritual person and when I see people where I used to be, I don’t look down on that,” Holmes said. “I see that as a different approach, and that’s what’s working for them at that moment.” “Crashing” airs Sundays on HBO, but you can catch every episode on either of HBO’s streaming apps.
horoscopes ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19) Relax with people you love. Things may not go as planned. Words and actions don’t align. Stick to tested tricks. Avoid overstimulation. Gentle music soothes.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20) A communications flurry has your focus. Latest news requires adaptations. Don’t react blindly. Consider the facts and reflect on potential consequences. Edit your response.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22) Devote time to solitary pursuits. Wait for better conditions for important conversations. Focus on your own needs and priorities. Don’t over-extend.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22) Collaborate on a team effort by keeping your promises despite challenges. Avoid distractions or idle chatter. Hold meetings later. Focus on doing your own part.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21) Traffic and delays could frustrate travels. Pass on being a party animal. Don’t spend on stuff you don’t need. Avoid misunderstandings by being quietly respectful.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18) Avoid trampling on your partner’s sensitivities. Forgive an outburst or loss of patience. Support each other to pass an unexpected roadblock. Compromise.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20) Handle an unexpected urgency at home. Make repairs, especially where water is concerned. The longer you wait, the more expensive it gets. Teamwork helps.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22) Talk is cheap, especially where money is involved. Maintain a healthy skepticism with a sales pitch. Do your own research and find an equitable solution.
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22) Don’t make expensive promises. Avoid gossip, controversy or stepping on toes. Lay low and contemplate new options after recent changes. Peace and quiet soothe.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21) Work takes priority. Avoid impulsive actions, expense, chaos and interruptions. Postpone important conversations or moves. Lay groundwork and foundations. Get productive backstage.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19) Frugality serves you well with shared accounts. Disagreements around spending priorities could cause friction. Wait for better options. Pay bills and basics first.
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20) Slow down to avoid burnout. Avoid forcing an issue or risk breakage. Peace and quiet soothe and recharge from recent chaos. Stretch and rest.
6
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7
Home season ends in emotional Senior Night
SEAN COLLINS @seanzie_UDK
Devonte’ Graham stood in front 16,300 Jayhawks fans, overcome with emotion. “Everybody talks about how I’m such a good leader and …,” the senior guard said. But then he paused. He bent over with the microphone away from his face and looked up at coach Bill Self on the bench. The senior had tears streaming down his face. Self looked back at Graham, smiling with watery eyes. There wasn’t a dry eye in the building. “Man, [Self] has done so much for me and my career here,” Graham said. “I’m a good leader because of you.” Senior nights in Allen Fieldhouse are always emotional, and the Jayhawks’ 80-70 victory Monday night against the Longhorns was no different. Graham said the day felt different compared to when he woke up. And he knew the waterworks would arrive upon addressing the Jayhawks’ faithful crowd. “I wasn’t going to try and act like a tough guy,” Graham said. Self said Graham’s impact on the University is great, and mentioned before Graham spoke that the guard deserves the Big
Missy Minear/KANSAN Senior Devonte' Graham tears up during his senior speech on Monday, Feb. 26 following Kansas' 80-70 victory over Texas. 12 Player of the Year award for his play and leadership. He mentioned one of Graham’s greatest games of his career, when Graham dominated the Sooners in Norman his sophomore season. But even that couldn’t compare to his senior year. “I think he topped that in Lubbock. We saw a guy carry us. He put us on his
back down there,” Self said. “It just showed how much he cares about us and how highly he thinks of us and what we do for the program,” Graham said of Self’s emotion. Self saw seniors Svi Mykhailiuk and Clay Young come a long way too. Young, who was a junior college transfer re-
covering from an ACL tear, was a relentless leader on the bench as a walkon. Mykhailiuk, Self also called, “the baddest man on the court.” Mykhailiuk couldn’t hold back tears either. When talking about his parents, Mykhailiuk had to take a break from the microphone to gather himself, while the crowd
chanted his name. Then he talked about his father, who still lives in Ukraine. “My dad kept going to practices when I was not there, so he could think I’m still with him,” Mykhailiuk said. Mykhailiuk's recollection of learning to speak English and play for the Jayhawks made his
10-minute speech all the more impressive. But it was clear how much the crowd loved Graham, who talked next for 13 minutes. “I thought Devonte’ Graham could own this place the first time he walked on campus,” Self said. “Basically, he has about as much as anybody had here.”
sports
Thursday, March 1, 2018
K A N S A N .C O M /S P O R T S
Basketball Gameday Kansas at Oklahoma St., Saturday, March 3, 3 p.m.
Missy Minear/KANSAN
Senior guard Devonte’ Graham drives to the basket against Texas on Monday, Feb. 26. SHAUN GOODWIN & MICHAEL SWAIN @ShaunGoodwinUDK & @mswain97
Beat Writer Predictions: Shaun Goodwin: Kansas 79-75, Michael Swain: Kansas 80-67
KANSAS (24-6, 13-4)
OKLAHOMA ST. (17-13, 7-10)
Devonte’ Graham
Jeffrey Carroll
★★★★★
★★★
senior guard
senior guard
It’s near-fruitless to try to pinpoint what exactly Graham is best at nowadays. But against Oklahoma State, count on Graham to get a couple of steals against the second-highest turnover-prone team in the Big 12. He got three against the Cowboys earlier this season and will be a sure bet to turn several steals into points on Saturday.
Jeffrey Carroll is by far the leader for Oklahoma State. The senior was a driving force behind the Cowboys’ win in Lawrence. Carroll has been dominating as of late. In his last three games, Carroll is averaging 18 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4 assists along with 1.7 steals. Carroll could cause Kansas problems if he is taken lightly.
Udoka Azubuike
Kendall Smith
★★★★★
★★★
sophomore center
senior guard
Oklahoma State’s two best big men, Mitchell Solomon and Cameron McGriff, also happen to be the two players who foul the most. If Azubuike can use his size and strength to get the pair into foul trouble, he could be the difference maker down the stretch when Solomon and McGriff are either being careful, or not on the court at all.
Kendall Smith destroyed Kansas when these two teams faced off in early February. Smith notched a game-high 24 points on an efficient 10-of-16 from the field. Yet, as of late, Smith has been struggling. He recently snapped a nine-game stretch where he scored double digits. His past two games, Smith was only able to score 18 points, nine in both games.
Marcus Garrett
Cameron McGriff
★★★
★★★
freshman guard
sophomore forward
Cameron McGriff is another veteran on this Oklahoma State squad. McGriff has been a much better player on the road compared to home though. In 10 away games, McGriff is averaging 11.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists. At home, McGriff is only averaging 7.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. McGriff will need to find his away form at home for the Cowboys to knock of the Jayhawks.
As has been the case for a large part of this season, Garrett has been criminally underrated. With the Big 12 already locked up, Garrett will be sure to get good minutes on Saturday. The Cowboys are poor shooters from beyond the arc, and with Garrett’s highly-active defense, he should gain many plaudits against Oklahoma State.
quick hits
BASKE TBALL
196-41
GOLF
14
BASEBALL
26
BASKE TBALL
6
Kansas’ Big 12 record during its 14 straight Big 12 titles
Kansas women’s golf shot 14-over par in the Westbrook Invitational
Runs scored by KU baseball against Northwestern over three games
Seniors graduating for men’s and women’s basketball combined
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
KANSAN.COM/SPORTS
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