4-6-17

DAY IN THE LIFE SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 | VOLUME 133 ISSUE 22

THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904

Senate establishes Multicultural Student Gov. EMILY WELLBORN @EmWellborn

A

fter three years of compromises, Multicultural Student Government was established and funded Wednesday night during full Student Senate.

The first bill, which adds MSG to the Student Senate Rules and Regulations, passed 36-3. The bill went through committees last week, and was voted on Wednesday with amendments. One of the main amendments defined the student groups MSG would help.

“This is a really, really great compromise between senior members of our executive staff with MSG leadership,” Connor Birzer, the communications director, said.

“We’re really happy about the compromises that both side have made and to pass it off to the next year.”

MSG received funding on Wednesday through the fee bill, which passed 40-3.

Savanna Smith/KANSAN Trinity Carpenter tears up as she speaks about MSG’s part in the bill to include them in Senate bylaws claiming the bill was forced and reinforces the status quo.

This was the second time that Senate has funded MSG. Last year, Senate gave MSG $2 of funding, but the bill was vetoed

by Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little.

The funds earmarked for MSG within the

Multicultural Education Fund total $44,270.

This money will fund programs such as Cultural Competency Education to help better educate fellow students on social justice and multiculturalism.

Another funding item was

a multicultural student welcome that would take place during Hawk Week.

“I think that they worked very hard on their compromised bill,” Law Senator Jonathan Ehrlich said. “I happen to disagree with them. The reason

I disagree is because I think that while MSG has their own purpose, the reason they gave us, I think that is potentially discriminatory.”

Trinity Carpenter, the MSG chair, advocated for both bills, but said that

some of the compromises made were not in the best interest of multicultural students.

“It’s progress, just not the progress we were looking for, ” Carpenter said. “We asked for one thing, and as marginalized students we were forced to compromise to accommodate what was already standing and a lot of the accommodations we gave should have been more reciprocal and accommodated to us.”

Some of these compromises included representation in MSG

by Student Senate and a four-year memorandum of agreement that may not be sustainable.

The entire fee bill has to be approved by the chancellor before into effect.

Carpenter says that figuring out whether to have elections, appoint positions or go through a hiring process is next for MSG.

Redo Your U banned from referendum campaigning

Andrea Ringgenberg/KANSAN A crowd gathers on Wescoe Beach to protest the concealed carry law going into effect on July 1, 2017. Associate professor Cécile Accilien from the department of African-American Studies speaks during the protest.

Faculty, students protest campus concealed carry Miranda Clark-Ulrich/KANSAN Lev Comolli argues at a hearing on April 5 that the Redo Your U campaign used bribery and campaigned prematurely.

NOLAN BREY @NolanBrey

At a hearing Wednesday night, the Student Senate Elections Commission cleared the Redo Your U group of bribery, but mandated that it cease all campaigning for the April 12 and 13 election.

The group can no longer campaign in favor of renovating and expanding the Kansas Union (via a referendum) as punishment for premature campaigning efforts. As a result, the group must remove all campaign materials, in good faith,

by April 7 at 5:00 p.m., which includes the group’s website.

Even though the group violated 7.7.2.3.5 of Student Senate Rules and Regulations (SSRR), which says premature campaigning will result in disqualification, the Elections Commission decided not to remove the Union renovation from the ballot due to the fact that the referendum was ordered by Student Senate.

“The Elections Commission feels that it is not our place, or within our power, to remove the referendum from the ballot,” said Harrison Baker, Elections Commission compliance chair, during the hearing. “We were

INDEX NEWS............................................2 OPINION........................................4 ARTS & CULTURE..........................................5 SPORTS.........................................8

directed by Student Senate to administer the referendum, and we are going to administer the referendum.”

Moreover, the commission cleared the union group of bribery, as their campaign materials do not fall under the SSRR’s definition of “campaign materials,” referring to “any paraphernalia or property with the primary purpose of promoting or opposing the election of any candidate or group of candidates to any Student Senate office,” according to section 7.2.13 of SSRR. SEE UNION PAGE 2

CHANDLER BOESE @Chandler_Boese

Rainy weather and the Kansas House’s decision not to discuss the issue did not stop an anti-campus carry protest on Wescoe Beach on Tuesday.

The protest, organized by advocacy group Faculty for a Safer Campus, included a crowd of about 40 faculty members and students with signs like “Guns Don’t Belong Here” and “No Campus Carry.”

Participants were protesting against the upcoming implementation of concealed carry on college campuses. The change, which takes effect July 1, is a result of a 2013 law allowing anyone over 21 years old to carry a weapon

KANSAN.COM SPECIAL SECTION Check out more Day in the Life and Night in the Life stories at Kansan.com.

in public buildings.

After several attempts to pass bills through the committees of the Kansas legislature that would extend the exemption, legislatures in the Kansas House were hoping to bring the debate to the floor Tuesday by introducing a measure to a related bill. However, the measure to debate on Tuesday failed, 44-81.

But the Faculty for a Safer Campus group held the protest anyway, braving the rainy weather to do so. Darren Canady, one of the organizers of the protest, said he hoped the event not only got the attention of legislators in Topeka but also the attention of those on the University’s campus.

Canady said he wanted the protest to “reinvigorate the debate on campus.”

“Even if the exemption is extended or if we get guns, we know this cannot be the end,” he said after the event.

During the protest, around a dozen speakers, mostly faculty but also a couple students, spoke about their objections to guns on campus. The speakers brought up concerns of mental health, violence against LGBT+ people and free discourse in classrooms.

Cécile Accilien, the associate professor in the African and AfricanAmerican studies department, said she SEE PROTEST PAGE 2

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Editor-in-chief Lara Korte

University freshman enrollment increases EMILY WELLBORN @EmWellborn

D

ADVISERS

espite a decrease in Kansas high school seniors' enrollment in higher education, the University has still seen an increase in freshman enrollment.

During the February Board of Regents meeting, the Regents discussed how the number of Kansas high school seniors has decreased by 10 percent since 2012.

“We were aware of that,” said Lisa Pinamonti Kress, the director of Undergraduate Admissions.

“Anytime there is just a trend of high school graduates being on the decline, that means that’s even more competition for all of the universities.”

The Regents cited “an improving economy, rising tuition costs, and higher admission standards” in their Feb. 15 meeting's minutes as possible reasons for the decline.

The total number of in-state, first-time freshmen at the University decreased by 108 students in those five years, but overall the total number of first-time freshmen has increased by 462 students since 2012, and by 46 students in the past year.

Pinamonti Kress said this is because of increased recruitment for out of state students.

“Because we knew about that we definitely did some initiatives,” Pinamonti Kress said. “We also knew we needed to go out of state and recruit students out of state just because there was a decline with the high school

Chief financial officer Jon Schlitt

UNION FROM PAGE 1

Managing editor Christian Hardy Digital operations editor Matt Clough Social media editor Emily Johanek Associate social media editor Emily Juszczyk ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT

Business manager Tucker Paine Sales manager Mitch Tamblyn SECTION EDITORS

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

Editorial adviser Gerri Berendzen

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KANSAN.COM/NEWS | THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

The charges against Redo Your U were brought

by Lev Comolli, the cofounder of KU Against Rising Tuition (KUART).

Comolli accused the group of bribery and campaign violations.

However, the Elections Commission also suggested that KUART eliminate or at least scale back their campaigning against the referendum.

Tommy Finch, a sophomore from Lawrence who argued with Comolli on behalf of KUART, viewed this as unfair.

“I do think it is a little unfair that these sanctions are supposed to apply to both groups, even though only one of them is accused of actually violating the rules and has been found guilty of violating the rules,” Finch said.

Finch said he wishes the commission would have removed the referendum from the ballot but is pleased that the commission punished the Redo Your U group for premature campaigning.

“It’s good to see that the Elections Commission was able to find them guilty of early campaigning,” Finch said.

Kassandra Valles, a senior from Mission, and Collin Cox, a sophomore from Alliance, Nebraska,

Ashley Hocking/KANSAN KU student ambassadors Allie Melendez and David Stine lead a campus tour for incoming freshman and their parents outside of the KU Visitor Center on Nov. 11. Melendez is a junior from Los Angeles, California and Stine is a senior from Olathe.

graduating classes in Kansas.”

Pinamonti Kress said that some of these new initiative included increasing the number of out of state representatives from two to eight across the country. These representatives are University graduates located in Chicago, Dallas, Omaha, Nebraska, Denver, Minneapolis, St. Louis and San Diego who meet with potential students.

She said that Undergraduate Admissions had worked on focusing more on out-of-state students to help with the decline.

“We’ve always wanted to make sure they know what KU can offer,” Pinamonti Kress said. “We want to make sure we’re competitive amongst all state universities. We re-

argued on behalf of Redo Your U. “I’m glad that we stayed on the ballot because I think if we’d have been removed, it would have been a disservice to the student population,” Valles said.

“It’s unfortunate that we were requested to cease our campaigning, and we will be seeking an appeal for that."

Cox said students deserve to have information on the Union renovation that will be removed as a result of the Elections Commission’s decision.

“I think that the students deserve to have access to that information because if it comes down to it at the end of the day that good faith doesn’t go through, and it’s just KUART campaigning against us, then we have no support,” Cox said.

Though the Union group was not charged with bribery, KUART offered evidence to show that they did. KUART accused the Union group of bribing students with items such as candy, tacos, money and other goods.

“We need to disqualify them,” Comolli said.

“We need to remove them, and at the very least we need to make it publicly understood that their coalition has been practicing nontransparent, fallacious

ally want students who are going to be successful here choose KU.” Breeze Richardson, the director of communications for the Regents, said the report would affect more community colleges than the University.

“43.5 percent of high school seniors enrolled in these institutions in the Fall of 2012, compared to just 35.8 percent in the Fall of 2016,” Richardson said in an email. “A smaller decline was reported in high school senior enrollment in the state’s public universities (state universities and Washburn), reporting 30.0 percent enrolling in the Fall of 2012 compared to 27.1 percent in the Fall of 2016.”

In the same February meeting, the Regents dis-

means and briberous (sic) means to advocate for a marketing campaign that the students do not truly and genuinely want.”

Valles said the actions of Redo Your U were completely legal.

“We have been using incentives as a means of outreach and information, and there’s never been a quid pro quo or a yes to vote for any of this,” Valles said.

The commission debated for nearly an hour to discuss the matter that the Redo Your U called unprecedented.

“I feel deeply disheartened that we are just now finding out about this,” Cox said. “Being a week prior to the day of the vote, I feel it was though this was a blatant and malicious attempt to try to swallow the Redo Your U from advancing,” Cox said.

Redo Your U will attempt to appeal the decision. In contrast, KUART will continue to persuade students not to vote for the Union renovation, Cox said.

"We plan on getting this message out that, yes, Redo Your U did violate campaign rules and was found guilty of violating campaign rules and then just bringing people back to our arguments," Finch said. "Hopefully, we can get some more attention and more votes."

cussed a new task force to look into how to reach out to first generation college students, a project that they believe will indirectly help with the decrease in admissions.

“The Board responded by establishing a task force to explore how first-generation students are navigating the postsecondary world,” Richardson said.

“In March they formally charged the task force and named its membership.”

The Regents decided that admissions factors — “like affordability, proximity to their home, and programs offered,” according to the minutes — were similar between first-generation students and other students that might not be interested in higher education. The

PROTEST FROM PAGE 1

often challenges students by conducting difficult discussions in her classes.

“If there were guns on campus, I would feel much more scared to have discussions that pushed and challenged my students,” she said during the event.

Students both in support of and against campus carry watched the event and participated in discussions following.

One student, campus carry supporter Scott Johnston, said he appreciated hearing what the protesters had to say, even if he didn’t agree.

“I believe Second Amendment rights should be consistent,” Johnston, a sophomore from Berryton, said.

Johnston said having concealed carry banned on campus when it’s allowed off campus is not fair to gun carriers.

Senior Joseph Shelton from Lawrence disagreed, saying that there is no logic to the argument for allowing guns on campus. He said he hopes the protest helps show state legislators that they should take action on the still-pending efforts to stop campus carry that is currently stuck in committee.

— Edited by Casey Brown

task force will be looking into these admissions factors.

It includes presidents and student body presidents from Kansas colleges and universities, including University Student Body President Stephonn Alcorn.

— Edited by Mara Kubicki

3

NEWS

KANSAN.COM

KU women gather to work against pay gap DARBY VANHOUTAN @darbyvanhoutan

A

n event hosted Tuesday evening brought women at the University from varying backgrounds together to discuss one unifying topic — the salary differences between men and women. More than that, the event provided knowledge to women on negotiating future salaries in an attempt to close that gap.

“Closing the Gap: Salary Negotiation Skills for Women” was hosted by the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity, as well as the KU Career Services Alliance, which is made up of three different University career centers. According to the event’s planners, the discussion had the main goals of educating, equipping and motivating women.

Rhiannon Racy, assistant director of the University Career Center, said she hoped the event not only informed those in attendance on the numbers surrounding this issue, but more importantly to her, provided individuals with tools to negotiate their future salaries.

“We felt like this was an area that we could really connect with a lot of folks and really help support women of all different backgrounds and identities, and really try to help encourage confidence as well as provide some practical skills that women can take with them after they graduate,” Racy said.

The almost two-hourlong event consisted of a panel of five women who discussed the history with their own salaries, as well as

provided tips to attendees on how to responsibly negotiate their own.

Members of the panel included: Olivia Jensik, who works for management consulting at RSM consulting firm; Julie Berkhart, talent acquisition manager for the University’s Human Resources; Aramis Watson, associate director of residence life for Student Housing; Rita Holmes-Bobo, president of Niles Home for Children and Kelly Tyler Burns, who works for culture and employee management at Voyage Consulting.

During the discussion, members of the panel focused primarily on simple tips women can use when discussing pay with employers. Each panel member provided examples from their own experiences of salary discussions with their higher-ups.

“

We felt like this was an area that we could really connect with a lot of folks and really help support women of all different backgrounds and identities,” Rhiannon Racy University Career Center assistant director

These tips included not negotiating pay until after a job has been offered, keeping track of praise you receive during employment to leverage yourself for a promotion

Baxter Schanze/KANSAN “Closing the Gap: Salary Negotiation Skills for Women” was held in The Commons in Spooner Hall on Tuesday, April 4. The panel consisted of Kelly Tyler Burns, Rita Holmes-Bobo, Julie Berkhart, Olivia Jensik and Aramis Watson.

and also taking into consideration negotiating not only salary but things such as sick leave and signing bonuses.

Provost Neeli Bendapudi was also in attendance at the event, kicking off the panel with a jarring statistic. If the current gap between men and women’s salaries continues to close the current rate it’s at, it will take over 120 years before men and women receive the same pay, Bendapudi said. She hopes that discussions like these will help to shorten that life span.

“This is a very important topic because if you do nothing, if you don’t participate

in things like this, all of us are going to be gone by the time we see some change, and that’s not acceptable,” Bendapudi said during the event.

The event, which was held at Spooner Hall Commons, drew a crowd of around 25 women.

Aoesta Mohammed, a Ph.D. student and graduate teaching assistant from Sulaimani, Kurdistan, said that she was not prepared, after leaving a country she said treats women much differently than men, to see issues of inequality in the United States, including salary discrepancies. She attended the

event first and foremost, she said, to get educated on the topic.

“I’m here to listen and learn all the principles of those differences and how we can fix that,” Mohammed said.

Mohammed, who recently applied to a new job, said she hopes that the knowledge provided by the women on the panel will assist in the inevitable conversations she will need to have with desired employers.

“I want to have an idea of how I’m going to negotiate with them,” Mohammed said. “I don’t want to get less than, because my work ethic

and my skill set aren’t less than my male colleague.”

Priscilla Flores, a freshman from Dodge City, said she is fairly new to the job market but understands the wage and gender issues surrounding her major, chemical engineering, and attended the event in an attempt to become more prepared for decisions regarding her pay in the future.

“I know that with female engineers, if you let people walk all over you, they’re going to do it,” Flores said. “I really want to learn how to be ahead and show people what my worth is without being overbearing about it.”

opinion FREE-FORALL ›› WE HEAR FROM YOU

KANSAN.COM/NEWS | THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

I should have stopped while I was behind.

Some days you have your shit together, and some days you wake up 8 mins before your bus comes. That day is usually Monday.

Raincoats without hoods are the most pointless fashion accessory ever invented.

Sylas and Maddys?

More like Sylas and Daddy’s.

It’s a great day to be a Jayhawk.

Please don’t light shit on fire the next time we win the championship thank you.

To biochem GTA, I see you checking me out.

I’m ready whenever you are.

I took a bus an hour early to my class, I’m not even close to being late but the bus is running 3 minutes behind and that’s stressing me out.

Illustration by Erica Gonzales/KANSAN

Shondell: Omitting LGBT questions is harmful

*gets seven minutes into class* “F---, I should have skipped” Saw a guy on the bus reading Harry Potter.

The world is still good.

My goal in life is to be rich enough to be a sugar daddy. what ever happened to rebecca black???

I saw some ants in my trash can the other day so I just sprayed some Pledge on it and went to class.

I just found $40 I forgot I had in an old wallet and I actually cried. *at work* “Catch me in aisle 10 taking a nap”

JOSEPH SHONDELL @jshondy

R

ecently, the Trump administration quietly removed LGBT identity questions from a number of federal surveys. One of the agencies involved, the Census Bureau, removed LGBT questions from the first draft of the 2020 Census.

This is a direct, “you don’t count, you don’t matter” move by our government.

Members of the LGBT community do not deserve

I’ve been trying to write this paper for three hours and my boyfriend is snoring away in bed. Can I kill him?

“Everyone’s here, it’s a Christmas miracle” my English professor

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

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

Americans.

Both have seen no other additions or deletions except the LGBT oriented questions.

“

Members of the LGBT community do not deserve to take discrimination and prejudice that is sneakily directed towards them, especially in the forward thinking society we strive for.”

The LGBT orientations were added in 2014 after groups pushed for the change. The questions on the surveys were simple, directing the survey taker to disclose their sexual orientation. Another survey

on LGBT homelessness was completely removed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Kelly Mack, the spokeswoman for Health and Human Services (HHS) said that the deletion of the questions has to do with ending the “pilot test” for the new general sexuality questions. To rebut that claim, Kathy Greenlee, the assistant secretary for aging for HHS under President Obama, said, “I view this as a policy change, not the end of a pilot.”

She elaborates on how each survey question is approved on a three-year basis, which displays that the LGBT identity questions were thoroughly thought over and never intended to be pilot or test questions.

The deletions come after Trump promised on his campaign trail to, “do

everything in my power to protect LGBTQ citizens.”

This “promise” is now another claim the new president has seen fall through.

The deletions might seem like a small blow, but it ends up being much more than that. They single handedly undermine the principles of equal rights and reverse progress. The normalization of the things Trump says are starting to become a reality. The administration is already waging a war against the rights of Americans.

The deletions have given the American constituency a preview of the administration’s policies to come.

Joseph Shondell is freshman from Roeland Park studying journalism and environmental studies.

Sanchez: Follow your calling, not others’

I talk to my laptop more than people.

“I always make a statement, and if I cannot yell, my shoes will” –my professor

to take discrimination and prejudice that is sneakily directed towards them, especially in the forward thinking society we strive for. For every group of people that are marginalized, shut down or left out of the American conversation, these new “minor” deletions raise more red flags that the Trump administration does not care about their daily lives.

Gay rights groups view the decision to omit the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) questions as a slap in the face from the Trump administration.

Surveys that have seen the new deletions include the Older Americans Act participant survey and the Health and Human Service’s form for people who help care for disabled

SANDRA SANCHEZ @sssanchez26

Recently, I had a conversation with a professor about graduate school, and while I expected a healthy dose of cynicism, I was surprised by their negativity. Ever since I decided to study history, I’ve heard it all: the job market is terrible, prospects for humanities studies are poor and salaries are practically on destitute levels.

These statements are certainly not wrong — since 2007, job postings for grad-

uate history students have dramatically decreased, while Ph.D.’s have increased, creating a bloated market with little growth.

If you can complete the degree and find an assistant professorship, the average salary is barely $50,000.

This year, people I personally know that applied to programs were outright rejected from all their schools. Given that the University only accepted a handful of history graduate students, presumably, programs are becoming more and more restrictive — further stagnating my hope.

I get it. I really do. And while I understand this bleak outlook, it appears that when I tell people of my dream, everyone — from my professors to parents — is happy to remind me that there is no future for me, and I should turn back.

On one hand, I think this is rather irresponsible. Encouragement is paramount for students’ success, and especially from mentors.

For my parents, their concern lies in how little money they believe I’ll make. But when I’ve imagined myself as a teacher, an expensive lifestyle has never been the backdrop. Instead, I was heartened to think of the knowledge I would learn, and inspired to know that I could share it with others.

I am not so naïve to think that I won’t have to worry about money, but I am reassured that this future teaching role will bring me happiness.

After all, isn’t being happy all that matters?

I recognize that in many ways, being able to pursue a degree in higher education is a privilege, and my outlook in life is tainted by

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my optimism. But I strongly believe that students in today’s economic system have more opportunities than ever before, and they should accordingly choose what they want.

“

Instead, I was heartened to think of the knowledge I would learn, and inspired to know that I could share it with others.”

I know that if my plans to go to graduate school fall through, or if I suffer from a poor job market, then the other skills I developed along the way will certainly render me employable. It may not bring me fame nor

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

Tucker Paine Business Manager tpaine@kansan.com

fortune, but it will be a job.

Everyday new opportunities arise and challenge us to be creative by adapting. I don’t care that it seems as if my dream is unsustainable — if I try hard enough, I can adapt it to what I encounter. Whatever shape it takes does not matter to me; it is only that the end result is something I can be proud of.

I think more students should push against the pessimism of our age. Fight for what you want, if you really want it. Develop a backup plan, but don’t lose sight of your original goal, even if others tell you otherwise.

Sandra Sanchez is a junior studying global and international studies, history and Chinese.

— Edited by Allison Crist

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) Fortune’s in your favor today. Practice a game you love. Relaxation and recreation restore your sense of humor and fun.

Learn a new trick.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Household issues demand attention. Slow down and listen. Good news comes from far away. Actions taken now have long-term impact. Clean an old mess.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Share information, data and facts. Research, write and keep communications current. Your words go farther today. Back them up with action to take major ground.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Your efforts get especially profitable. Take action for long-term benefit. Upgrade your equipment if it will increase productivity. Monitor cash flow. Love gives you strength.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Use your power and confidence for good. Friends help you make a valuable connection. Pour energy into action to realize a personal dream.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Make plans for an inspiring future. Decide where to put your energy. Create a ritual to initiate this new stage. Find an answer in a dream.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Strategize with teammates.

You’re especially productive. Create lasting impact for your project together.

Determine who does what, and get moving. Go the distance.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) A professional challenge has your focus. Put in extra effort for extra gain. Your quick action draws praise.

A bonus is possible. Exceed expectations.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Expand your frontiers and get farther than expected.

Dream big! Travel and fun are favored. Remain open to shifting circumstances.

Make long distance connections.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Make payments and reconcile accounts. Long-term investments gain value. It’s a good day to buy or sell.

Take stock of what you’ve hidden away.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Collaboration produces long-term benefits today.

Pour energy into a shared endeavor. Brainstorm and share ideas and resources.

Spark some action. Together, you’re an unbeatable team.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Physical action reaps long-lasting rewards. Get your muscles moving! Act quickly and make a good impression. A long-term prize is within reach.

KANSAN.COM |THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

Writer and activist Nikki Giovanni visits University, speaks about campus carry BRITTANIE SMITH @britters_smith

N

ikki Giovanni, a renowned writer and activist best known for her writing during the Black Arts and Civil Rights movements, gave a talk about her work and life in Woodruff Auditorium on Tuesday, April 4. The event was presented by the Project on the History of Black Writing.

The talk included her opinions on social issues such as concealed carry, stories about her life and a few poems. Giovanni has published over 30 books in multiple genres such as poetry and non-fiction, and has another called "A Good Cry: What We Learn from Tears and Laughter," which will be out in October 2017.

According to the Hall Center website, “[She is] recognized for her poetry on race, gender, family, and issues of social relevance.”

During her talk, Giovanni was witty, humorous and knew how to push the envelope. She kept the packed auditorium — which consisted of a variety of audience members, such as students, adults and even young children — on their toes throughout the evening.

She discussed the poems "Tennessean by Birth," "Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day," "Ego Tripping," and closed with "Deal or No Deal (for ENGL 4714 CRN 16937)."

The big takeaway was that people shouldn’t write to please others — that writing that has the biggest impact and isn’t written for that reason.

“Painters paint for themselves and it’s not selfish," Giovanni said. "If you’re writing for yourself, some truth will come out."

She added that she never intended for her books to be best sellers; she just wanted to write genuinely good books. She explained that the poems, "Cotton Candy on a Rainy Day" and "Deal or No Deal," came from real life situations that she then reflected on.

Maryemma Graham, a professor at the University and the founder and director of the Project on the History of Black Writing, said that Giovanni was asked to speak at the University because of her stance and history with the concealed carry issue on college campuses. Also, the speech resonated, as April 4, was the 49th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination.

Giovanni has been teaching at Virginia Tech since 1987. She was there for the mass campus shooting on April 16, 2007, where 33 people were murdered.

“She was a very outspoken advocate for not having guns on campus, but also understanding students and what culture we have," Graham said.

A longtime professor,

Yusra Nabi/KANSAN Author and activist Nikki Giovanni at her book signing after her speech and poetry event at Woodruff Auditorium.

Giovanni said she is reluctant to give up teaching. She said that the best thing about teaching is the students because, in a moment of humor on Tuesday night, they keep her connected to their generation.

“If someone asked me

who my favorite rapper was, well, I don’t know any beyond Tupac," she said.

After her speech, Giovanni said that she has no advice for today’s generation of activists because she is proud of the stances they're taking, and standing up for their

beliefs.

“My joy in watching as an old woman, it’s a pleasure to watch the youngsters out there. I certainly wish all of us well on the gun law because guns have no business being in college,” Giovanni said.

First-ever University jazz studies director returns Friday to perform ‘The Langston Hughes Project’ OMAR SANCHEZ @OhMySanchez

On Friday, April 7, the School of Music will welcome a musical multimedia performance by acclaimed jazz musician and professor at the University of Southern California Ron McCurdy. The presentation, entitled "The Langston Hughes Project" is inspired by social activist and Lawrence native Langston Hughes, and is embedded with themes of overcoming social strife and looking for equality.

McCurdy, the University's first-ever jazz studies director, is the current director of the Grammy Vocal Jazz Choir and Combo, as well having served as director of the Walt Disney All-American Summer College Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Singers in Orlando, Florida, for seven years. He was also recognized by the University in 2001 with the KU Distinguished Alumni Award.

"This work is designed to get people to think and be entertained," McCurdy, who received his masters and doctorate at the University, said. "I hope people are emotionally stirred by what they saw and heard.

Enough to reexamine who they are and what they believe in."

Contributed photo Acclaimed jazz musician and professor at the University of Southern California Ron McCurdy will perform the multimedia concert, The Langston Hughes Project, this Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The performance will encompass a live jazz quartet, led by McCurdy, as well as a live reading of Hughes' poem "Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz" and a video montage that will help contextualize the dense vocabulary used by Hughes.

The message of "Ask Your Mama" along with the multimedia component transcends the civil rights issues of the 1960s, when Hughes' originally wrote the poem. With the current Black Lives Matter

movement and notions of systemic mass incarceration recently examined by the Oscar-nominated documentary "13th," the power of the jazz music and the stories detailing the struggle for freedom by Africans and African-Americans can still touch those in the audience.

"Langston was about bringing people together rather than dividing people," McCurdy said. "Right now, given our political climate today, we need

Langston more than ever.

These words are more relevant today than they probably were in the 1960s."

Dean of the School of Music Robert Walzel helped bring McCurdy back to the University for the performance. He said those in attendance will be able to experience a heightened level of connection to the work and its message.

"By taking the read poetry of Langston Hughes and then playing jazz while it's being read — being reactive

to the words of Langston — it creates an incredible opportunity for cross-discipline type of creativity that is really pretty unique," Walzel said.

McCurdy put together the Langston Hughes Project after moving from teaching at the University to the University of Minnesota in 1990. He was invited to come up with a piece that would encapsulate Harlem Renaissance themes for the opening of their very own Wiseman Art Museum in the years following.

McCurdy said the opening reception was overwhelmingly positive, enough to continue performances and tour the piece across the nation. In addition to the performances, McCurdy as an educator and artist takes the time to teach students about artist entrepreneurship and the social implications of Hughes' work, which he will do at the University as well.

"By having him here to talk about how you make your way into a professional music opportunity, how you take care of business, how you build relationships, how you create networks, that's super exciting," Walzel said.

The performance is free and will be held at Swarthout Recital Hall in Murphy Hall starting at 7:30 p.m.

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Piano professor releases 16-CD box set ‘Dedications’ JOSH MCQUADE

@L0neW0lfMcQuade

I

Contributed photo Steven Spooner is an associate professor of piano at the University who has recently recorded his own professional box set called “Dedications.”

n 1991, he found himself in the war zone of the Georgian Civil War. Today, University associate professor of piano Steven Spooner has recorded a 19-month project: a 16-CD set.

Spooner, an associate professor of piano at the University, is also a professional pianist that has performed internationally.

The professor decided to come to the University because of the reputation that precedes it for pianists.

Although Spooner is successful in the world of piano today, the road to get there took a turn when Spooner was 18 years old.

When traveling as a part of a Russian exchange program to the Tbilisi Conservatory in Georgia, a country that was still under communist rule, Spooner found himself trapped. The Georgian Civil War had begun.

“Because it was a civil war, the army destroyed the main airport, so there was no flying in and out,” Spooner said. “All of the people were trapped there for about six months.”

The budding pianist was without heat in the middle of the Middle East winter, and found himself starving for food that his host family could not get.

“When you’re put in situations like that, you realize truly how adaptable

the human is,” Spooner said.

When Spooner was able to return home, he said his mother did not recognize him when he stepped off the plane due to the amount of weight he had lost.

Despite the struggle to recovery, that did not stop the pianist from returning to the Tbilisi Conservatory to complete his studies.

“

When you’re put in situations like that, you realize truly how adaptable the human is,” Steven Spooner Associate professor

Spooner has been playing the piano since the age of 9, but it was not always his decision. Spooner said his parents decided to sign him up for piano lessons.

“I grew up in the old days where kids didn’t get to choose their extracurricular activities,” Spooner said. “We had a piano, and everyone [in my house] would go learn how to play it.”

Although Spooner at first was uninterested in the piano, a few years later, he was asking his parents for a separate room for the piano and a stereo, he said.

Spooner has worked with a variety of people due to his travels across the world.

One person is Massimiliano Baggio, the associate director

of the Milan Conservatory.

Baggio said he first met Spooner in 2010, when he invited Spooner to conduct a Master class at the Milan Conservatory in Italy.

“Both students and professors were enthralled by his natural and musical approach to music and teaching,” Baggio said.

Baggio has performed alongside Spooner on the same piano, performing a piano four hands piece.

“Above all, I would put his ability to convey the inner meaning of music, which is proper only of the greatest musicians,” Baggio said. “His playing is never conventional and goes always straight to the heart of the listener.”

Spooner recorded a 16-CD box set titled “Dedications,” a project which is normally seen at the end of a pianist’s career, he said. The box set includes a CD that is dedicated to a pianist that inspired Spooner.

“My heroes, like Sviatoslav Richter, that guy played more music than anybody,” Spooner said. “I felt like if I was going to properly honor him, then I had to do a lot of music.”

Spooner said the box set was one of the hardest things he has done in his life, spending many days either recording or producing the music. He said to this day he still tackles each day with the same motivation seen while surviving the Georgian Civil War, and he tries to instill that in his students.

Weekend in KC: Comedy, film, ballet and music JOSH MCQUADE

@L0neW0lfMcQuade

Kansas City Film Fest @ Cinemark Palace The Kansas City Film Fest will hold over 50 showings of various local, national and international films Wednesday, beginning at 7 p.m., until Sunday, ending at about 8 p.m.

According to Visit KC, the Kansas City Film Fest is the largest festival in the Kansas City area. This year, the festival will not only show various submitted documentaries, feature films and shorts, but it will also screen short films featuring dogs, with 50 percent of all ticket sales going to the KC Pet Project. The festival will also feature “The Tree,” a film in which University senior Cedric Houle is featured in. Houle said “The

Tree” was his favorite project to date, and will be making its second film festival appearance.

Tickets and the schedule are available at the Kansas City Film Fest website. Tickets are either $45 for a Gold Pass, allowing the viewing of all movies, or $10 for a single film.

Comedy’s Most Wanted @ The Midland A five-person comedy tour is stopping at the Midland on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

The show will feature the comedy stylings of JJ Williamson, former Comedy Central’s “The Nightly Show” correspondent and “Breaking Bad” star Lavell Crawford, Dominique, Corey Holcomb and DC Young Fly. According to the Comedy’s Most Wanted website, three

entertainment companies came together to create the tour: AEG Presents, Peachez and the Silent Partner.

DJ Traci Steele will also be performing music to keep the crowd going during the show. This will be the second performance of their tour.

Tickets are available for purchase at the Midland website, starting at $47.75.

Kansas City Ballet Presents: Sleeping Beauty @ The Kauffman Center The Kansas City Ballet is performing its rendition of the Disney classic “The Sleeping Beauty” at the Kauffman Center Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

According to Kansas City Ballet, the show will stick

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to the same plotline as the original “Sleeping Beauty.” It will feature Princess Aurora being put to sleep by wicked godmother Carabosse, with Prince Désiré having to wake the princess up. The story will be told through dance and music, featuring the Kansas City Symphony. Ticketholders can also show up to the show an hour early to listen to a Pre-Curtain Talk about the makings of the show they are about to see.

Tickets are available for purchase at the Kansas City Ballet website, starting at $60.50.

Chris Tomlin @ The Sprint Center Christian music star Chris Tomlin is stopping at the Sprint Center Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. while on his “Worship Night in America”

housing

Contributed photo The Kansas City Ballet will perform five shows of “The Sleeping Beauty” this weekend.

tour.

According to the Sprint Center, Tomlin is a Grammy award-winning artist and will be joined by artists Big Daddy Weave, Phil Wickham, Zach Williams, Mosaic MSC and Jason Barton. Tomlin is best known for his recordings of “I Lift My Hands” and “Whom Shall I Fear,” both

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sports KANSAN.COM/SPORTS | THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017

McLaughlin, Denzer come up clutch in KU baseball win MITCH GEORGE @MitchLGeorge

W

ith dark skies and lightning descending upon Hammons Field in Springfield, Missouri, Kansas baseball fans hoped that the impending weather wasn't a metaphor for the end of the game against the Missouri State Bears.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, with Kansas playing the field and Missouri State runners on both first base and second, this metaphor flirted with fruition.

Kansas had recorded two outs in the inning, but the runner on second base represented the tying run.

Due to the severe weather quickly approaching, they needed to swiftly retire the opposing batter to avoid the possibility of extra innings.

Newly-anointed saves record holder Stephen Villines manned the pitching mound, and he proved that he was the right man for the job.

By striking out the Bears’ left fielder Alex Jefferson, Villines clinched the game for Kansas by a final score of 4-2 while adding another save to his program-leading total to 33.

To counteract the fore-

cast of poor weather, first pitch was moved from 6:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Freshman right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn received the starting nod for Kansas, but he was limited to an undisclosed pitch count as he is scheduled to start in place of injured starting pitcher Sean Rackoski on Sunday.

Zeferjahn pitched three scoreless innings while allowing one hit and two walks. He was replaced by junior left-hander Jeider Rincon in the fourth inning after throwing 55 pitches.

“

Guys came out of the bullpen and did exactly what we asked of them, and I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Ritch Price Kansas coach

"After [Zeferjahn’s] three innings of work, it was a complete team effort,” Kansas coach Ritch Price said in a Kansas Athletics news release. “Guys came out of the bullpen and did exactly what we asked of them, and I couldn't be more pleased with how that

Missy Minear/KANSAN Freshman pitcher Ryan Zeferjahn throws a pitch on Feb. 21 against Omaha. The Jayhawks defeated the Mavericks 11-1.

group has pitched the last two games."

Zeferjahn gave Kansas a solid outing given his parameters, but the Jayhawks received their biggest boost from junior shortstop Matt McLaughlin.

McLaughlin, who posted his 10th multi-hit game on the season, went 4-for5 at the plate, including a double and a home run. He drove in one run and scored twice as he contributed half

of the team’s total hits.

McLaughlin put forth Kansas’ most consistent effort on the day, but the most important clutch atbat of the game was credited to sophomore utility player Ty Denzer.

With two outs in the eighth inning and runners on first base and second, Denzer stroked a single up the middle that plated the runner from second base, junior catcher Tanner

Gragg. On the game-tying play, freshman outfielder Brett Vosik advanced to third. The ensuing pitch from the Missouri State pitcher was thrown to the backstop, and Vosik was able to dash home to score another run and put Kansas up by a score of 3-2.

Gragg was again a factor in the ninth inning when he was asked to lay down a bunt and execute a safety squeeze with McLaughlin

on third. After bunting the ball toward the first base side of the diamond, McLaughlin scored the insurance run to increase the Jayhawk lead to two.

The Jayhawks (13-15 overall, 3-3 Big 12) will look to build on their threegame winning streak when they travel to Morgantown, West Virginia, for three games against the West Virginia Mountaineers on Friday.

Maicke: Stephenson’s layup was great, stop complaining about it MIKE MAICKE @MJ_Maicke

Oh no, it’s happened again! A basketball player having to apologize for playing basketball.

Just in case you weren’t watching Tuesday’s matchup between the Raptors and the Pacers, Indiana guard Lance Stephenson was confronted by multiple Raptors players and called out in the locker room for going up for a layup at the end of a game that the Pacers were already winning, 106 to 90.

Stephenson gingerly trotted to the uncontested Toronto basket and peacefully laid the ball in.

I thought it was hilarious.

I thought it was great, but the Raptors surely and visibly took objection.

DeMar DeRozan and P.J. Tucker immediately got in Stephenson’s face and gave him a few gentle shoves.

Stephenson, in vintage Stephenson fashion, looked like he had absolutely no idea what was going on and why they were upset.

After the game, DeRozan called the play “disrespectful to the game,” while PJ Tucker followed suit saying the layup was “tasteless” and “classless.”

Oh boo-hoo.

This is the same garbage that Kansas coach Bill Self and Kansas State were complaining about last year when Brannen Greene dunked the ball at

Miranda Anaya/KANSAN Bill Self and Frank Mason III walk off the court after Senior Night.

Frank Mason III wins NABC Player of the Year award; Bill Self given Champion Award Associated Press Indiana guard Lance Stephenson celebrates after the Pacers beat the Raptors.

AMIE JUST the end of a game where the Jayhawks were ahead.

If you don’t want someone to score, stop them from scoring.

“

I didn’t mean no harm, the crowd was chanting me on and I just wanted to do it for the fans.”

Lance Stephenson Indiana guard

I’m sorry, Self and DeRozan, but I, for the life of me, can’t find the part of Dr. Naismith’s rules that state “the ball must be held in your hand and not scored if you are winning, as to not hurt the feelings of other college and professional

athletes.”

After the game, Stephenson came out and said, “I didn’t mean no harm, the crowd was chanting me on and I just wanted to do it for the fans.”

I’m not buying that either, Lance. This is the same Raptors team that knocked the Pacers out of the playoffs last season.

The layup was malicious and all of the Pacers appreciated it, I’m sure.

And that’s just fine!

But god forbid athletes show emotion when it could hurt the feelings of the competition.

There is no sort of code that Stephenson violated here. It’s not Greene’s fault K-State walked off the floor before the game was over.

As an athlete in any

level, you are taught from a very young age to fight with everything you’ve got until you hear the whistle, not to give it your all only when you won’t somehow offend the team you’re playing.

Was it necessary?

Technically no. Not at all.

Indiana was seconds from victory and the game was out of reach. But was it something that I, as a coach, would appreciate?

Absolutely.

So thanks, Lance, you’re a beacon of emotion and competition in a dark era of postgame hugs and participation trophies.

— Edited by Frank Weirich

@Amie_Just

Mere hours after winning the James Naismith Trophy, Frank Mason III walked away with another player of the year honor on Sunday.

This time, Mason won the top award from the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Mason finished his senior campaign averaging 20.9 points, 5.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds. He finished his career at sixth in the Kansas program leaderboards in both points and assists.

Mason is the fourth Jayhawk to win the award. Kansas legend Danny Manning won the NABC's top honor in 1988. Drew Gooden and Duke's Jay Williams tied for the award in 2002 and Nick Collison took home the award in 2003.

Mason wasn't the only

Jayhawk honored at the NABC Guardians of the Game Show on Sunday.

Coach Bill Self was given the Champion Award, an honor bestowed on a college coach who "has shown extraordinary leadership and a commitment to the American Cancer Society's mission of saving lives against cancer through fundraising, education, and promotional initiatives." The Champion Award, according to the NABC, is the highest honor within the Coaches vs. Cancer program.

Mason is en route to a possible clean sweep of national player of the year awards. There is one more national player of the year award left: the Wooden Award. He's also a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award, an accolade given to the best point guard in the country.

THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN

DAY LIFE IN THE

2

I

KANSAN.COM

DAY IN THE LIFE

As owner of the Lawrence The Burger Stand at the Casbah and bistro establishment BonBon, Simon Bates

has

established

himself as a staple in the Lawrence food community.

SIMON BATES

by Omar Sanchez • @OhMySanchez

mmediately, his mind is racing at a blistering speed. His elbows perched on the Australian timber oil stained table in one of the many booths at The Burger Stand. His hands are gesturing with a swagger like he’s prepped for this moment his entire life. Words like “spicy harissa barbecue,” “rough chopped tender duck,” and “watermelon radishes” shoot from his mouth as if they were locked and ready, sitting patiently on the back of his tongue. His mouth a smoking gun.

At around the age of 15, Topeka native and owner of The Burger Stand at the Casbah, Simon Bates worked his first cooking job at a neighborhood steakhouse.

Bates was eager to get as much experience as possible, but it wasn’t just for his love of food.

“It had this little mafia family vibe,” he said. “The owners were so fancy. I was like, ‘That’s cool. I want to drive around in a limousine.”

Bates looked up to the poise and class he saw in the owners. It was a level of respect he said he aspired to attain. Now years later, as

Bates explained his special duck spring roll he would make later that day for his bistro establishment BonBon, his charisma demanded the attention he once yearned for.

He isn’t riding to work in a limousine, but it’s because he doesn’t have to.

Bates and his wife Codi opened the popular Massachusetts Street restaurant The Burger Stand in 2009.

Originally the restaurant was a temporary project after Bates got word that the job waiting for him at a Topeka bakery was no longer available. He had just moved after working in Chicago.

“I opened The Burger Stand on the fly, and it was just my wife and I working the first day,” he said. “We had about 60-70 customers.

Then every day since, we’ve just gotten busier and busier. We’re still growing.”

With extensive experience as a line cook and sous chef, Bates saw the growing popularity of the location as an opportunity to introduce to Lawrence a new food palette while still delivering an American staple. His initiative included bringing in fresh, local produce with an

eccentric twist.

“Why would you pair dates with cauliflower? And on a burger,” Bates said.

“Why would you do that?”

The answer, it seems, is simple.

“We’re trying to introduce people to new flavor combinations that work really well,” he said. “I know how combinations work together in fine dining, and we’re trying to bring that flavor to the mainstream.”

“

I know how combinations work together in fine dining, and we’re trying to bring that flavor to the mainstream.”

SIMON BATES

Bates has built the knowledge to execute this mission by going to culinary school in New York, in addition to working over 20 jobs in the food industry and traveling across the globe.

Liz Tally, a longtime kitchen manager at The Burger Stand — or as Bates likes to call her, “the kitchen mom” — sees Bates’ ability to cultivate new and exciting fla-

Miranda Anaya / KANSAN Simon Bates, from Topeka and co-owner of The Burger Stand, uses experiences from travelling to integrate new flavors into his dishes. Bates also recently opened Bon Bon, a cafe in Lawrence.

vors as a main player to the restaurant’s success.

Bates said they currently average about 1,000 burgers a day.

“I love cooking with him because I learn flavors that I would never put together myself, and he puts them together and “I’m like, ‘Wow that’s so amazing,’” she said.

“I love watching him cook and tasting all his food. I’m not trying to brown nose him.”

But not everything can be a guaranteed hit. To ensure quality for the Lawrence community means a morning to night commitment even to this day. Days will often begin for Bates at around 7 a.m., when, as he puts it, he has to go and, “put out all the fires.”

“I have a lot of areas where I have to be and where I want to be,” he said.

“There’s times when I end up plumbing a toilet, where I rather be making a duck roll.”

Meetings with upper management in his company take up another good portion of his morning.

These meetings usually take place in their recently opened downtown office.

This is where he’ll often find the managing director, director of operations and kitchen director. This hub oversees all their locations, including The Burger Stand in Topeka.

When not on the go, Bates spends time at BonBon, which opened last year, making sure things are moving the way they need to and also dipping his hand in fine dining again by making the specials, like the duck spring roll.

Bates said he usual-

ly heads home around 8 p.m., or whenever he feels exhausted. Then, he gets to spend quality time with Codi, or as Bates likes to call her, “the real boss.”

“We have a lot of boundaries, a lot of rules that help us through our marriage,” he said. “We don’t talk a whole lot of work talk at home.

This is one of those jobs that you don’t ever turn off.

It’s like 24/7, so it’s hard for us to be able to focus on our marriage sometimes and treat each other like a couple rather than business partners. We actually opened Burger Stand a couple months before we got married, so we’ve been through a lot.”

— Edited by Frank Weirich

KANSAN.COM

Kira Stahly, a freshman studying elementary education, met Roxy her sophomore year of high school.

Roxy is Stahly’s service dog and companion.

A

fter finally finding an organization that would fit her needs, Kira Stahly’s application to get a diabetic alert dog was accepted at the very beginning of her sophomore year of high school.

Roxy, a 4-year-old basenji and terrier mix, arrived to her home in Lincoln, Nebraska shortly after that. At first, Stahly recalls, the transition

KIRA STAHLY & ROXY

by Angie Baldelomar • @AngieBaldelomar Stahly is now a freshman at the University pursuing a degree in elementary education. Leaving her hometown for the first time was both exciting and intimidating at the same time, she said.

“I stepped out of my comfort zone,” she said. “I met a lot of people right away, and they helped me adapt.”

But the transition to college was difficult for Roxy.

Missy Minear / KANSAN Roxy, Stahly’s service dog, helps her manager her Type 1 diabetes.

was hard for Roxy. She was rescued from a shelter by the organization and then trained for three months.

“She was really stressed out for weeks,” Stahly said.

“Then, we started getting a connection and now it’s just this craziest bond that I have with her.”

3

DAY IN THE LIFE

Stahly said Roxy was really nervous, but that fortunately, after a while, they both felt comfortable.

Stahly was originally diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes — a disease in which the pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone needed to get people energy from

food — when she was two.

Her mom had noticed the symptoms and pressed the doctor to test Stahly.

Now, Roxy helps her manage her blood sugar.

She will paw at Stahly if she smells in her breath that her blood sugar is either dropping or rising too fast.

Having Roxy by her side everywhere she goes attracts a lot of attention.

They both get stared at a lot, Stahly said. Many people will come up to her with questions or even try to pet Roxy, even though they’re not allowed to.

“Sometimes it can be kind of frustrating because if I’m in a rush or I’m not in a great mood, and people try to come and try to pet her even though it says on her vest ‘do not pet her,’” she said.

But Stahly hasn’t let this — or anything — hold her back.

At the beginning of her freshman year, she even rushed a sorority. Stahly saw it as a great opportunity to meet people, and her high school cheer coach had been a mom in a sorority house, so she would talk a lot about it.

“It seemed like a really

Missy Minear / KANSAN Kira Stahly is a freshman at the University of Kansas pursuing a degree in elementary education. Stahly has a service dog, Roxy, who helps her manager her Type 1 diabetes.

great idea because it was a way for me to not only make lifelong friends, but also a way for me to get involved in the community and KU,” she said.

She ultimately joined Delta Delta Delta, which she felt was the best fit for her.

“

We started getting a connection, and now it’s just this craziest bond that I have with her.’’

KIRA STAHLY

“It’s been really nice having people who I know are there for me all the time,” she said.

It was during rush that Stahly met Kiauna Garman, her best friend and now roommate. By the fourth day of meeting each oth-

er, they were already close friends, Garman said.

Over winter break, Garman, a freshman from Salina, spent a week at Stahly’s house in Lincoln.

“Her family was so welcoming and kind,” Garman said. “I can see where she gets it from.”

This could also be why Stahly enjoys helping and working with people. She’s involved with the Big Event, volunteers a few hours a week at Central Elementary School and is always looking for other ways to help those who need it.

“I think that kind of stems from me having type 1 diabetes all my life, and me educating people about that, educating my friends and my family about it,” Stahly said.

Stahly also volunteered

at an elementary school while in high school, tutoring second graders. Despite always wanting to be a teacher, it’s here that she realized she liked working with children and decided to pursue a degree in elementary education.

While this decision led to a few initial hardships for Stahly at the University, Garman said Stahly’s good at dealing with the difficult situations that come with having Roxy by her side.

“She has her diabetes, but she really doesn’t let that get to her,” Garman said.

“She ignores the stares and makes it seem like it’s not a problem.”

— Edited by Allison Crist

4

KANSAN.COM

DAY IN THE LIFE

LESLIE SODEN After a career in IT, Leslie Soden went after her dream of owning a home, a dog and a garden. She found herself in Lawrence, where she’s now the mayor.

by Nolan Brey • @NolanBrey

T

en years ago, Leslie Soden never imagined that joining the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association would lead to her becoming the mayor of Kansas’ sixth-most-populous city.

Soden, a Topeka native, moved to Lawrence in 1999 to settle down after having lived in Topeka, Kansas City, Kansas, Phoenix and San Francisco.

“I’m going to have my own house, and I’m going to have a dog and a garden.

That was the extent of my dreams,” Soden said.

At the time, Soden worked with computers, and she got her wish of owning her own home in 2003 — which inadvertently led her to City Hall.

“I bought my house in 2003, and then I joined the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association,” Soden said. “That’s where I first started learning about zoning, neighborhoods and how City Hall works. It just kind of came naturally to me. I understood the legalese. I understood the hierarchies, so I was able to learn how to get things going. I just liked it.”

By 2015, Soden became a city commissioner, and in January she became mayor.

However, much of her daily

activities are entirely unrelated to her duties at City Hall.

When she’s not working for the citizens of Lawrence, Soden manages her pet-sitting company Pet Minders, which she founded in 2006.

Since becoming a city commissioner, Soden said she’s slightly dialed down Pet Minders. However, after attending a National League of Cities conference in Pittsburgh, she became interested in another service: Uber.

“I’d been with people that used Uber before, but I’d never really used it myself,” Soden said. “So, it was just like I need to figure out how to do this: I could totally do this. So, I came back and did it.”

Soden drives for Uber a few times a week, which she says is a nice change of pace compared to her other duties.

“It’s very part-time,” Soden said. “I don’t even have to think about it when I go home, which is nice because when you own your own business, you think about it constantly.”

As mayor, much of her time is spent communicating with Lawrence citizens, where she helps to decode the often-arcane workings of City Hall for constituents.

Miranda Anaya / KANSAN Leslie Soden is the mayor of Lawrence. Mayor Soden became involved in politics 10 years ago when she joined the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association.

“Acting as the funnel is really helpful because it shouldn’t be a requirement for the average citizen to understand all the departments of City Hall and what they do,” Soden said.

“

The city is not partisan. What we do is not partisan.

Streets are not partisan.”

LESLIE SODEN

Additionally, one of Soden’s most important jobs is leading the City Commission meetings. Soden said her style contrasts from others, and that allows her to see the bigger picture.

“I’m different,” Soden said. “Sometimes, I’ll lapse, and I’ll call people by their first names. I’m not as annoyed when people start railing against something,

and I don’t take it personally.

I’m better at not taking things personally.”

Soden also said that her style is more outward and informal.

“I also tend to kind of think out loud more, which some people really like because they want to follow what you’re thinking or your decision-making,” Soden said.

“Some people don’t like that, though. Some people want this kind of formal distance between themselves. Some people prefer a banker look, but I’m not a banker.”

Furthermore, Soden said making decisions can be difficult, but trust plays a key role in decision-making.

“You have to have faith that legal knows what they’re talking about,” Soden said.

“You have to have faith that [the] DA knows what he’s talking about and then try to somehow give everyone

what they want without making it worthless. It’s really hard.”

Diane Stoddard, Lawrence’s assistant city manager, has known Soden since her days at the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association and says she’s good to work with.

“She’s a very enthusiastic person,” Stoddard said. “She is driven by causes and her interests in neighborhood issues, which is how she really got involved in working with the city in the first place, and I think that really drives her.

I think she cares about how things affect the regular person in Lawrence and cares about Lawrence and the community.”

Stoddard said that Soden’s unique background serves her well in many ways.

“I think she does have an interesting perspective with her life background, her

view of issues and it’s always helpful to have those different viewpoints when people are looking at an issue,” Stoddard said.

Despite the stress, Soden said she enjoys working for the people of Lawrence and talking about issues. She especially enjoys the nonpartisan nature of city issues.

“The city is not partisan,” Soden said. “What we do is not partisan. Streets are not partisan.”

Moreover, Soden said she hopes that citizens feel connected to their officials.

“I’d like people to think that they’re connected and that not everyone here is just a professional that’s not interested in what they think, and I know from personal experience that there’s a really high bar that feels unachievable in understanding issues,” Soden said.

KANSAN.COM

University omelet chef Paul Baker serves up breakfast and plenty of jokes to students and faculty three days a week.

I

t’s 8:30 a.m. on a Wednesday. Climbing the steps of Strong Hall, you can hear the laughter coming from the crowd surrounding Paul Baker before you smell what’s cooking in his pan.

“What do you call a mushroom that goes into a bar and buys a drink for everybody?” Baker asks, as steam billows from the lobby floor to the ceiling. “A fungi.”

At the same time the punchline lands, he drops a handful of mushrooms into one of his two sizzling pans.

Chef hat in hand, Baker spends his Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings making omelets for anyone with $4.96 and an appetite. Tuesdays are spent on the third floor of Anschutz Library, Wednesdays are in Strong Hall and Thursdays at spent at the Engineering building.

“I have a lot of fun. It’s so nice meeting the students and talking to staff,” Baker said. “Everyone is so creative and friendly.”

However, the interactions that occur over omelets are only the start of Baker’s day. After breakfast hours end, Baker, who is “officially” retired, prepares tax returns for H&R Block, ushers at the Lied Center

5

DAY IN THE LIFE

PAUL BAKER

by Hailey Dixon • @_hailey_dixon

and works security at football games. Preparing tax returns is his second favorite thing to do with his day, Baker said. His first?

“What do you call a cow with no legs?” asks Baker as a new customer approaching his table eyes the chorizo meat. “Ground beef.”

The students.

Senior Andrew Avila, a finance and marketing major from Derby, discovered the omelet chef three years ago as a freshman.

“

“What do you call a mushroom that goes into a bar and buys a drink for everybody?” ....A fungi.”

PAUL BAKER

Avila said he recognized the scent of the omelets after visiting Anschutz after a class in Strong Hall.

“One day I finally figured out where the smell was coming from when I saw him whipping out some omelets in the middle of Strong Hall.”

According to Avila, Baker’s enthusiasm for his interactions with students is mutual.

“He just kind of always comes in clutch if I hadn’t

had any breakfast that day,” Avila said. “He always makes conversation with me as he works his magic in the pan.”

As far as Baker’s go-to breakfast? Omelets sometimes get old, he admits, but there’s one omelet in particular that he can’t turn down.

“I’m very plain. I have the Denver Omelet, [a] ham and cheese omelet,” Baker said.

“I’m a good midwestern boy.”

The Iowa native’s sense of humor always remains intact despite waking up at 4 a.m., something he has enjoyed for as long as he can remember. He likes the mornings, he says, noting his wife is likely still at home herself in bed as he stands behind his grills, ingredients and hungry fans.

He has been waking up this early to serve breakfast from the table as an employee of KU Catering for the past 11 years. Before that he worked as a Certified Public Accountant and before that he earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in physics from Iowa State as well as an MBA from Stanford.

“What’s a deer with no eyes?” asks Baker, turning down the grills for the final omelets of the morning.

“No eye-dear.”

Missy Minear / KANSAN Chef Paul Baker spends three days a week making omelets for students on campus. Baker has been making omelets and cracking jokes to go with them for 11 years.

Regulars hurry by as Baker rattles off their orders without a hitch, checking to see if they want to make any changes to their usual order and making sure they know it will be waiting for them after their meeting or class with a lid on the top to

keep it warm.

“Yeah, I have groupies that follow me around,” Baker says as he finishes the last of the 90 eggs he began the morning with. “Just kidding,” he adds humbly with a laugh.

Another joke. However,

this one is different than the rest.

The punch line? He’ll bring fresh eggs and new jokes on Thursday, but loyal fans — groupies — as well as new ones will no doubt be waiting.

6

KANSAN.COM

DAY IN THE LIFE

RAYFIELD LAWRENCE

Student activist Rayfield Lawrence contributes to the community by tackling a variety of social issues on campus.

by Hailey Dixon • @_hailey_dixon

“Q

ueen of all trades” is how Chloe Secor describes Rayfield Lawrence.

“He’s very sharp, in so many ways,” said Secor, a graduate assistant with the Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity and an advisor of SPECTRUM KU. “A lot of times you see people who are just book smart, or just street smart or just one smart, but he balances all of that so well. He’s so socially adept and he’s so sharp and on top of the really academic side of things as well.

Instead of being like a jack of all trades, not to make a joke, but because he does do drag, like a queen of all trades.”

Lawrence, a sophomore studying sociology from Kansas City, Kansas, and SPECTRUM KU president, calls himself an activist, dancer, Buddhist, lover, warrior, fighter and a feminist.

“I don’t really think that I could ever say, ‘this is what I am,’” he said. “But that encompasses everything that I am.”

Prior to arriving at the University, Lawrence engaged in activism at his high school when they refused to allow him to be on the dance team.

“They said that boys

couldn’t be dancers and we had an argument there,” he said.

Although Lawrence has been an activist across campus for awhile now, he said he was not always aware of it like he is now.

“Activism was never a thing that I ever thought I would do,” he said. “I wasn’t aware of protests, I wasn’t aware of social movements, I wasn’t even really aware of the different waves of feminism. But once you start educating yourself, and you start learning, and you begin to see there are things that are not okay that still happen, it’s like you have to do that work.”

“

But once you start educating yourself, and you start learning, and you begin to see there are things that are not okay that still happen,”

RAYFIELD LAWRENCE His activism became stronger within the last few months as he participated in discussions of free speech and safe spaces on campus.

“Activism is more of just a way of life and a mindset,” he said. “You can’t just wake

up one day and be like, ‘I’m going to do activism today.’

It’s just something that is always going to be a part of your life and is always going to be that way. I guess I’ve always been an activist. It just wasn’t clear to me what that meant until I came to college and how to deal with that.”

One attribute that makes Lawrence stand out is his compassion for others, Secor said.

“I think that one thing that we a lot of times associate with college students is we assume that they’re very apathetic, or they’re very single-minded, or they’re very into themselves, and I think that with Ray, you don’t see that,” she said. “He’s very passionate about activism.

Specifically, I’m referring to like his big campaign with Trans Lives Matter and Black Lives Matter, and the big protest on Wescoe. I would never, ever describe him as an apathetic person.”

Not only is he proficient in activism, he also excels in his academics, Secor said.

Recently, he was named one of the University’s Men of Merit.

When Lawrence is not on campus, he works at Chipotle, volunteers around the community, shops and

Miranda Clark-Ulrich / KANSAN Rayfield Lawrence, sophomore from Kansas City, Kansas, works at Chipotle while studying sociology. He enjoys participating in drag shows, dancing and spending times with friends and family.

socializes with friends and family.

“The thing about being queer, being intersectional, you get to pick your family,” he said. “And so being with my friends is basically a family time.”

One of Lawrence’s favorite activities is participating in drag shows, which he has done for about two years.

“Drag, as an art form, is essentially there to familiarize or to make audiences

more comfortable with gender performance,” he said.

After Lawrence leaves the University, he hopes to make changes that are going to last and make a positive impact for others.

“I want to make changes that can make everyone equitable and comfortable on campus,” he said. “Why do our Hijabi women not have equality on campus? Why do our brown bodies get disrespected on campus? There’s

broader issues that do affect me. But I can do work to where it stops affecting others as well.”

Secor said that Rayfield has brought a lot to the University in the past two years and she believes he will continue to do so until he graduates.

“KU is really lucky that he is choosing to spend his four years here,” she said.

“KU is gaining a lot from having four years of Rayfield.”

KANSAN.COM

A

DAY IN THE LIFE

Kathryn King, a senior film student, dedicates herself to singing and songwriting while exploring her passion in film.

7

KATHRYN KING

by Rachel Gaylor • @raegay218

s a child, learning Mozart and Beethoven on the piano, Kathryn King couldn’t have imagined where her love for music would lead her. From playing 100-year-old pieces to creating her own, King has spent her four years in Lawrence breaking into the music scene as a singer, songwriter and collaborator.

King, an Osage City native, has a schedule that includes work in the morning at the warehouse Sophia Global, classes in the afternoon, work again in the late afternoon and then home-

work.

Rarely does King have time outside of school and work, but on Monday nights she makes time for band rehearsal.

King is a film and media studies major as well as a religious studies minor, but what she really loves about Lawrence has more to do with its thriving music scene.

While King is a solo artist, she lends her talent for guitar, piano and back-up harmonies to the band Spencer Mackenzie Brown. King described her sound as an indie-pop sound and the band

as a folk-rock type.

“I actually knew them in middle school and we reconnected when I came to KU and they asked me to join. I joined them about two years ago,” she said.

John Benda is an Atwood native who serves as the drummer for Spencer Mackenzie Brown.

“Kathryn is one of those people who can actually play everybody else’s instruments just as well as they can,” Benda said. “It is incredibly easy to work with her because she speaks everyone’s language.

She also has a real knack for

Yusra Nabi / KANSAN Kathryn King, a senior at the University, is pursuing her passion for music as a singer-songwriter.

arranging someone else’s songs, which plays a huge part in the band.”

Writing with Spencer Mackenzie Brown is a collaborative effort. The band contributes to the melody or the song structure and write until they are satisfied. Personally, King said she writes the most when she needs to express her emotions.

“I will usually start by playing my guitar and something will come to me and I just roll with it,” King said. “Rarely do I sit down to try and force myself to write a song. I just kind of let it happen.”

“

She also has a real knack for arranging someone else’s songs, which plays a huge part in the band.’’

KATHRYN KING King said she feels the most motivated to write after a hard day or after something bad happens to her.

She is able to use writing as a form of self-care and starts writing how she feels and then adds the music.

She said her mother, also a songwriter, is her biggest

Yusra Nabi / KANSAN Kathryn King, a senior majoring in flim and media studies, talks about her experiences as a singer-songwriter and how she pursues her passion.

influence. Musicians she listens to daily include Regina Spektor, Paramore, Tallest Man on Earth and Chance the Rapper. Her biggest influence is Brandi Carlisle.

Though getting through school and graduating is her main focus right now, her long-term goals mean more to her.

“Realistically, I see myself in Kansas City and hopefully I will continue with Spencer’s band,” King said. “If things keep picking up like they have been, I’d love to maybe go on a tour. I could see us getting asked to be an opener for someone.”

She said a vision for herself is being able to combine her love for music and her

love for films.

“Hopefully I can get a following in Kansas City.

And also, I will hopefully be working in some kind of documentary company for my real job,” King said.

Whether music ever becomes her career or not, King is already following her dreams with a clear vision for what she wants.

And her go-to karaoke song? “‘Sunday Morning’ by Maroon 5 and ‘Airplanes’ by B.O.B.,” she said. “Oh, and ‘Hips Don’t Lie.’” But, only when she’s feeling ambitious, she said.

KANSAN.COM

8

NIGHT IN THE LIFE

OUSMANE SY Ousmane Sy spends four nights a week parking cars for residents of the HERE apartment complex. Born in Mauritania, Sy speaks for refugees in Senegal.

by Hailey Dixon • @_hailey_dixon

“H

ave a blessed day,” isn’t a typical catchphrase, but for Ousmane Sy, it captures his friendliness in just the right way.

“I think his trademark is he always tells everyone to have a blessed night,” his co-worker Quentin Aker said.

Sy and Aker are both valet drivers at the HERE apartments, located near the Oread Hotel on Indiana Street. Sy has worked with SP+, the valet driving company at HERE, since April 2009. Sy said that he has never once called in to

miss work. “[SP+] knows I work hard,” he said. “I like to work, never be late, never call in.”

As a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, Sy commutes to Lawrence four days a week, and works nights from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. parking cars and interacting with residents.

Aker, a Dec. 2016 graduate from the University, often works nights with Sy. “[He is] always in good spirits,” Aker said. “We always laugh together and have such a good time together, even if we don’t say a lot. Just how he acts,

Ashley Hocking / KANSAN Ousmane Sy is a valet driver at the HERE apartment complex. Sy is known at HERE for his catchphrase, “Have a blessed day.”

as like a co-worker, very compassionate, very funny, very friendly, just someone you’d want to be around.”

When Sy clocks in on a typical night at work, he works with one other person, like Aker, or just by himself. He will not only park cars, but also pull cars down when residents request to have their car.

On his off time, he watches Nigerian movies, according to Aker.

When he clocks out, he travels home to Kansas City for some much needed rest.

Sy is from Mauritania, a country in West Africa.

He has lived in the United States since December 2000 and has been working here since February 2001.

Sy speaks many languages, including French, English and his native language of Pulaar.

In Mauritania, Sy served as an elementary school teacher and even wrote his own book in the 1980s.

“When I was at Senegal, I didn’t stop. I tried to help the refugees,” he said. “I created, with the help of

Ashley Hocking / KANSAN Ousmane Sy works the night shift as a valet at the HERE apartment complex on March 30. Sy is from Mauritania. Sy takes pride in his work, and he has never once called in sick.

other teachers, we created one school, with teachers and refugees. I taught there.”

“

When I was at Senegal, I didn’t stop. I tried to help the refugees.

I created, with the help of other teachers, we created one school, with teachers and refugees. I taught there.’’

OUSMANE SY

As a result of a war between Mauritania and the neighboring country of Senegal, Sy was deported to Senegal in 1989. Sy lived

there until December 2000, before he moved to the United States.

Sy said his family has always motivated him to work hard, especially his four sons, who live in the United States. He also assists his nephews and nieces following his older brother’s death.

“Now, I don’t work for myself, I work to help other people back home,” he said.

Outside of work, Sy enjoys reading, studying and assisting others by donating clothing and shoes. Sy said that he has donated close to 1,000 pairs of shoes recently to people in need.

“I like to help,” he said.

While at HERE, Sy

emphasizes the importance of customer service.

“Any kind of job, is not for the owner … no customers, no job,” he said. “Because [clients] don’t park here, no cars, no job … [clients] give you the job. You have to respect them.”

He always enjoys greeting his customers, and making sure they are happy.

“I know I have a problem with languages, to talk to people, maybe they don’t understand me,” Sy said.

“But, however, I try to make them happy ... when they are happy, I am happy.”

— Edited by Erin Brock

KANSAN.COM

Sophomore Rachel Kim is a desk assistant

W

at Corbin residence hall. Kim balances her school work with her 2:30 a.m. shift on weekdays.

hile many University students struggle to wake up for an 8 a.m. lecture, sophomore Rachel Kim starts her day much earlier: 2:30 a.m.

A double major in math and music, Kim began working night shifts at the all-girls dorm Corbin during Thanksgiving break of last year. This semester, she’s enrolled in 19 credit hours and has had to develop a rigid routine to manage her packed schedule.

“It’s not really the most ideal combination, but it works out more or less,” she said.

Kim said her most difficult days are Thursdays. After getting out of her Wednesday lecture at 7:30 p.m., she returns home to Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall and goes to sleep right away. She then wakes up between five and six hours later to make it to Corbin in time for her three-hour shift, she said.

“She definitely has to plan out when she sleeps,” said Taylor Webb, a fellow music major and friend of Kim’s. “It’s crazy. I always

9

NIGHT IN THE LIFE

RACHEL KIM

by Libby Flood • @libbyflood13

ask her how she does it.”

Kim said she generally spends her shifts trying to keep up with schoolwork, a trend Webb noticed as well.

“Every time I’ve ever gone to see her there — which is not a lot of times, because she works at three in the morning — she’s always doing her homework,” Webb said.

Though Kim said resident traffic is scarce on weeknights, her front desk responsibilities include watching the entrance and

“

It’s not really the most ideal combination, but it works out more or less.”

RACHEL KIM

checking in guests and residents.

Desk workers aren’t allowed to take phone calls or leave the front desk, but are otherwise generally able to choose how to pass the time during their shifts, she said. Corbin desk staff are even allowed to stream Netflix as long as they remain aware of their

surroundings at all times.

“As long as we look up when we hear the door open and know what’s going on, we’re pretty much given free range,” she said.

Desk workers rarely have to deal with crisis situations, Kim said, and are much more likely to face troubles such as hectic crowds returning from a night out and the occasional fake ID. Kim hasn’t dealt with much late-night drama in her months at Corbin, but said the most difficult part of the job is balancing her work schedule around her rigid school schedule.

After working until 5:30 a.m., for example, Kim returns home to sleep for a few hours before her 9 a.m. class. The real trouble comes when work and exams fall on the same day, Kim said.

When an early-morning exam was recently scheduled for the morning after her usual middle-ofthe-night shift, she asked to switch to the more preferable 5:30 a.m. shift.

“I’d rather start my day early than have my sleep schedule disrupted [on

Savanna Smith / KANSAN Rachel Kim is a sophomore dual major in math and music. Kim works nights part-time as a Corbin desk attendant.

exam day],” she said.

Kim, who has an emphasis in flute and piccolo, hopes to work as an actuary after graduation and eventually return to school to study music at the graduate level. She has also considered getting a Ph.D. in math to study the “fascinating” relationship between music and math.

“There’s a lot of talk about that, but there’s not a lot of actual research,” she said. “You really have to kind of tear it apart and really understand both of them.”

With two years remaining as an undergraduate, though, Kim said she’s not planning on continuing night shifts

after this year. Next fall she begins working as food board manager in the University scholarship halls.

“I probably wouldn’t have continued either way, though,” she said. “Just with my schedule, it’s not sustainable.”

10

Chris Cantwell balances class commitments with dedication to his comedic material.

KANSAN.COM

DAY IN THE LIFE

CHRIS CANTWELL

by Gus Hunninghake • @gushunninghake

F

rom sketch writing, acting and doing his own stand-up routines, junior Chris “Big Chris” Cantwell has done it all in comedy. He recently finished working on a slapstick comedy film, and regularly goes to open mic nights at venues in Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City.

To Cantwell, performing comedic routines are much more than a hobby.

In a world filled with negativity and struggle, he said he uses these issues to connect people with one another in a way only comedians can.

“People have problems," Cantwell said. "You have problems, and I have problems. We go to shows to get out of the house. It gets you out of your life to go see something like a comedy show. You can forget about all your problems and hear this guy or girl talk about their problems or something relatable. Like, ‘Why do people treat their dogs like children?’”

Cantwell also thinks that comedy is one of the

last remaining lines for people to truly speak freely on any issue that they see fit.

“You can’t do anything these days," Cantwell said.

"Like Colin Kaepernick taking the knee. He’s a football player. Why do people care about his social stance on the anthem? These days, you can’t say anything. But you can go onstage ... and you can talk about this and that as long as it’s in a relatable, funny way.”

Like all the other students around him, Cantwell recognizes that life in college involves balancing tasks that seem impossible. But unlike others, he said he feels like he has a good grasp on his studies and the rest of his life.

“My spare time [involves] doing stupid stuff, you know?” Cantwell said.

“I’m a goofy individual at heart, so I just like to spend time thinking of dumb or just observational stuff.

Not like Jerry Seinfeld observational, but I do my own stuff, and essentially it’s like an outlet. It’s really like a natural thing. I think I

balance it decently.”

Not only does Cantwell notice his dedication to his own craft, but others have taken notice, including the Department of Theatre graduate teaching assistant Rachel Blackburn.

She first met Cantwell last year after he decided to tag along with her and comedian Josh Blue, who had just finished performing at the Lied Center, for dinner.

“

I know how combinations work together in fine dining, and we’re trying to bring that flavor to the mainstream.”

CHRIS CANTWELL

“I went to see his performance, and afterwards I wanted to interview him,” Blackburn said. “So, he told me to meet him at this restaurant, and when I showed up there, it turned

Caitlynn Salazar / KANSAN Chris Cantwell is a stand-up comedian at the University of Kansas. He also does theater and improv.

out Chris had been listening in and showed up there hoping to sit down with us all.”

Soon after, Blackburn invited Cantwell to enroll in the comedy class she planned on teaching in the following school year, which he accepted right away.

Blackburn sees Cantwell’s dedication to listening and taking in all kinds of people’s advice not just in comedy, but in his classwork as well.

“He really cares about the way his work comes across to others," she said.

"I think he’s a lot more concerned with that than some of the other students. I had a friend of mine who’s a professional sketch writer and performer, and in that instance Chris was taking

notes on what he had to say and really taking his advice to heart more than other students.

For Cantwell, when not performing at night, his typical days start off with a 35-minute commute to Lawrence from Topeka.

His commute differs from others in that he spends that time listening to up-and-coming standup comedians, taking in as much as he can before starting the daily grind.

“I like to hear new material from new artists,” Cantwell said. “Right now, the field is so saturated with these big names. There’s so many people doing comedy and they're doing it differently. They all have their individual takes, so I like to hear the new stuff.”

Cantwell’s love for lis-

tening to material from new comedians, even if for short periods at a time, is a reflection of his devotion to his own work on comedy.

At the end of a long night, Cantwell said he remembers what he loves about performing comedy is more than just going up onstage.

“It’s like the Wild West,” Cantwell said. “You’re just staring down hundreds of barrels of eyes, and everybody’s like, ‘Make this worth my money.’ It’s a game, it’s a challenge.

You’ve got to break the ice, set the tone, set the pace, keep it rolling. It’s like a constant battle. You versus the room. It’s adrenaline, and it’s a rush. It’s just awesome.”

KANSAN.COM

11

NIGHT IN THE LIFE

TATE BREMENKAMP Tate Bremenkamp turned a love of going out into a love for bartending at Quinton’s.

by Hailey Dixon • @_hailey_dixon

P

op, fizzle, clink: these are the sounds Tate Bremenkamp hears on a daily basis at work.

Quinton’s, a popular bar at 615 Massachusetts St., is where Bremenkamp, a senior studying chemical engineering from Lawrence, spends his nights, serving customers drinks and refreshments as a bartender.

“I absolutely love it,” he said.

From being a Subway sandwich artist, to a KJHK DJ, to a Starbuck’s barista, a Hy-Vee cook then a Quinton’s bouncer, Bremenkamp has worked his fair share of jobs. But his current job as a bartender is definitely his favorite.

“Being a bartender is making a job out of going out with your friends,” Bremenkamp said. “I’d say as a bartender, you usually don’t have to directly deal much with that [craziness].

Worst thing, as a bartender, is someone puking on the bar.”

Bremenkamp said that his favorite drink is called the “horse feather,” which is a bourbon cocktail.

The most popular drinks requested by customers include beers, a whiskey

Coca-Cola or a vodka cranberry, he said.

Bremenkamp said that he loves to play with recipes and create unique cocktails based on customers’ tastes and preferences.

Even though there is a focus on making drinks, there are a lot other activities that a bartender does, he said.

“I would say 50 percent of bartending is customer service, just being personable,” he said.

“

I would say in general there’s a really good sense of camaraderie between all the bar employees, especially along Mass Street.’’

TATE BREMENKAMP Organization skills are also important — keeping a clean bar space and putting things back where they go, especially when working with another bartender on a busy night.

While at work, Bremenkamp is valued for his cheery personality and ability to go above and

beyond, according to one of his supervisors.

“His personality is just one of a kind,” said James Stephenson, assistant general manager and the director of bar operations of Quinton’s. “I can see a customer that would come in, sit down, not knowing Tate and Tate will just interact with that person.

By the time that person leaves, they will be on a first-name basis, basically almost friends.”

Stephenson, who has worked with Bremenkamp for about two years, said that Bremenkamp stands out from other bartenders and individuals his age because of his positive and upbeat attitude, ability to bring new ideas to the bar, and reliable work ethic.

“He always puts a smile on someone’s face,” Stephenson said.

When Bremenkamp is not serving drinks at Quinton’s, he said he is either sleeping, studying or catching up on schoolwork.

“Working evenings and nights really completely changes your schedule,” he said.

He said he is working to pay his way through school, on top of paying

Andrea Ringgenberg / KANSAN Senior Tate Bremenkamp is a bartender at Quinton’s Bar & Deli on Massachusetts Street. Bremenkamp is known for his positivity and upbeat attitude.

for rent, utilities and other expenses. So bartending at Quinton’s is essential for his livelihood.

“I don’t have a choice to just not work during the week,” he said.

Since he works on Massachusetts Street,

Bremenkamp said that the bars and bartenders on that street, in particular, have formed a bond.

“I would say in general there’s a really good sense of camaraderie between all the bar employees, especially along Mass.

Street, but in Lawrence as a whole too,” he said.

“Between bars, it’s really friendly … Everyone knows we all share the same pains.”

— Edited by Brenna Boat

THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN

NIGHT LIFE IN THE