Page 11
Page 4
The Big 12 is no longer the best college basketball conference
Thursday, February 13, 2020
WHAT’S NEW AT KU News on deck at kansan.com
KU and Lawrence establishments host Valentine’s Day events
The Student Voice Since 1904
Vol. 140/Issue 8
Heteronormative holiday KU students and faculty criticize Valentine's Day
Student Senate contends over impeachment proceedings
Allicyn Burns @AllicynBurns
Grace Centeno @GL0105
Emma Bascom @EBascom3 UDK file photo
Transportation from CAPS to Bert Nash
KU Transportation Services worked with Student Senate and the Academic Achievement Access Center to create a pilot program providing transportation for students from CAPS to Bert Nash in Lawrence.
Women's basketball
The Texas Red Raiders dominated the Jayhawks, who now move to 11 conference losses. The final score of the game was 72-89.
Emma Pravecek/UDK
Human trafficking awareness
Two Lawrence organizations worked to spread awareness of local human trafficking during Human Trafficking Awareness month in January.
Professors in the University of Kansas department of women, gender and sexuality studies have evaluated the expectations and traditions tied to Valentine’s Day to encourage inclusion and representation in a diverse, modern society. Marta Vicente, a KU professor who specializes in the history of gender and sexuality, said Valentine’s Day has failed to evolve despite society’s growing acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. "Valentine's Day needs to be revamped,” Vicente said. “While I know that many members of the LGBTQ+ [community] celebrate Valentine's, the way this holiday has been marketed is very much towards heterosexual cisgender relationships." According to the UCLA Williams Institute School of Law, there are almost 650,000 samesex couples in the United States. Vicente said each year Valentine’s Day novelties and traditions neglect the acceptance of all relationships, and that the holiday should become more inclusive. “If it is a celebration of love, it must embrace the diversity that our society represents,” Vicente said. “In a way, if we do need to have Valentine's cards, they must be crafted to include everyone: the diversity of gender, sexuality and social experiences of each one of us."
Nicole Asbury/UDK
Lucy Peterson
@PetersonxLucy
Nicole-Marie Konopelko @NicoleKonopelko Illustration by Emma Praveck/UDK
Lyndsie Harper, a sophomore from Olathe studying global and international studies, agreed that Valentine’s Day is not inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community. “It’s typically a hetero-dominated holiday, and that’s how it is proposed. You go out with your husband," Harper said. "It’s not terrible- you can make it work, but in all the ads and all the pictures and like what you see, it’s a prime time for proposals, and that’s usually a hetero thing that happens."
“It’s typically a hetero-dominated holiday, and that’s how it is proposed.” Lyndsie Harper KU sophomore
KU professor Katie Batza acknowledged the antiquated nature of Valentine’s Day as well. “I think celebrating love is never a bad idea in my opinion, but spending lavishly and reinforcing outdated gender roles need not
be a part of it,” Batza said in an email to the Kansan. Some feel this heteronormative marketing bleeds into the greeting card industry, too. According to Time Magazine, Hallmark introduced its first two cards targeted toward same-sex relationships in 2014. However, Danielle Rahto, a pre-nursing major from Overland Park, said one of the reasons Valentine’s Day is an exclusive holiday is because of the cards. “If you see any commercials [for Valentine’s Day], it’s always a man and woman," Rahto said. “Then a lot of cards are also tailored that way, and I think we could do better as a society to fix that.” That said, not all University of Kansas students dislike Valentine’s Day. Pierce Giffin, a senior from Leawood studying theoretical physics, said it is simply a day for love. “I think it’s just a reminder to show the people that you love that you love them, whether that’s a relationship or just the people close in your life,” Giffin said.
KU Jeeva club fuses Bollywood culture with competitive dance Tatum Goetting @TatumGoetting
On the horizon
Chance Parker/UDK
Jayhawks to compete at the Iowa State Classic
Kansas track and field travels to Ames, Iowa, for its competition Friday, Feb. 14, at noon.
When the lights came up at the 2019 Norman Nachle national competition for Bollywood dance, the audience saw University of Kansas students dressed in “Harry Potter"themed clothing with ties, sweater vests, leggings and no shoes. Quidditch goal posts lined the back curtain with the Hufflepuff, Gryffindor, Slytherin and Ravenclaw crests hanging above. KU Jeeva, a Bollywood-fusion dance team performed its Harry Potter-themed number at the 2019 University of Oklahoma Norman Nachle national competition for Bollywood dance teams in Norman, Oklahoma. Following tryouts last semester, the team is now preparing for the upcoming competition season. KU Jeeva has combined Bhangra, hip-hop, Bharatanatyam, modern, contemporary and Bollywood dance styles for 12 years to create original dances. The team competes around
Audrey Kesler/UDK
KU Jeeva dancers practice for their upcoming competition.
the country in tournaments and competitions and is the only Bollywood-fusion team in Kansas. “When I got to college, I didn’t think I would do the team because I didn’t think I was the best dancer,” said co-captain Nehal Sutariya, a senior from Parkville, Missouri. “I thought it would just be more stress on myself but I couldn’t have been more wrong.” Sutariya said she started as a manager her first year so she could get more comfortable with
it. Her second year, she tried out and made the team. Co-captain Srishti Sharma, a senior from Overland Park, said she has been doing Bollywood-style dancing since she was 5 years old. She said the style of dancing she grew up with was similar to Bollywood fusion and incorporated modern dancing aspects. “Over the last four years, I’ve seen [the team] grow a lot and become more known,” Sharma said. Continue on page 3
In the same week that student senators are debating how to allocate $22 million in student fees, they’re also grappling with a call for impeachment of the individual responsible for organizing and maintaining communications between the entirety of Student Senate. A group of 20 senators sent a bill to Student Body Vice President Seth Wingerter Monday morning, alleging that Student Senate Chief of Staff Zach Thomason advocated for the removal of different executive staff members for his own political gain. The bill goes further on to say Thomason allegedly threatened a student senator and yelled at senators during a University Affairs meeting. The bill has caused polarization among Senate committee chairs and members of the executive staff. Thomason said he believes the impeachment charges are unfounded, but he won’t try to put an end to the impeachment process. “I refuse to call the impeachment a sham because I think that disrespects the political process,” Thomason said. “But with that being said, I believe that my arguments, my record and my support base more than drown out any arguments that have been made by opposition.” This would be the third Senate executive officer to depart from their role in the past month. Last week, Senate Government Relations Director Grant Daily was fired from his role, and he is currently going through the University’s appeal process. Graduate Student Body Vice President Chris Brown also resigned last week. The threshold for following through with an impeachment has always been high. In the past five years, Senate has only called for its executive officers to be impeached twice. The first happened in 2016 when then-Student Body President Jessie Pringle, then-Student Body Vice President Zach George and then-Chief of Staff Adam Moon refused to resign after the Student Executive Committee called for their resignations due to a lack of action from the three executive members on multicultural and minority issues on campus. But senators never followed through with it. They thought at the time there wasn’t sufficient evidence to move forward. Continue on page 2
2
News
The University Daily Kansan
NEWS MANAGEMENT Editor-in-chief Nichola McDowell Managing editor Corey Minkoff
SECTION EDITORS News editor Lucy Peterson Associate news editor Emma Bascom Sports editor Jack Johnson Associate sports editor Jakob Katzenberg Arts & culture editor Rylie Koester Associate arts & culture editor Liam Mays Opinion editor Sarah Grindstaff Visuals editor & design chief Philip Mueller Photo editor Sarah Wright Associate photo editor Rachel Griffard Copy chiefs Lauryn Green Brianna Wessling Audience engagement editor Natalie Gibson Social media editor Emily Doll
ADVERTISING MANAGEMENT Business manager Grace Fawcett
ADVISER General Manager
Rob Karwath
Tristan Allen
@TristanAllen129
It’s midnight on a Friday, and University of Kansas freshman Suzi DeLay is on her way back home. Not able to drive, she pulls out her phone and taps on the SafeRide app. Her wait time? Anywhere between 10 to 40 minutes. SafeRide, a university program contracted through First Transit, picks up students from anywhere in Lawrence and takes them home any time between 10:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. seven days a week. All students have to do is provide their KU ID and schedule a ride either by calling the SafeRide number or through the KU SafeRide app. SafeRide started in 1986 “to decrease drunk driving and to provide a safe way home for all students,” according to the website. It has come and gone since then but has existed in its current form since 1989. “We do SafeRide to cover late night transportation needs for students, such as going to the library, bars and other events,” Student Transportation Coordinator Saige Killion said. The main complaint about SafeRide is the wait time, which can vary greatly according to passengers and drivers. Currently, there is no data available regarding wait times. SafeRide driver Brady Stoy said some students will book rides before they are ready to go, resulting in a driver getting “no-showed” after waiting five minutes at the
pickup location. “It’s not a service to book a ride in advance. You book the ride for now, and we tell you how long it’s going to be,” Stoy said. To determine how many drivers work on a certain day of the week, which is a factor in wait time, SafeRide uses ridership statistics from previous semesters to determine how many drivers are assigned. For example, based on ridership data from previous semesters, the program added a fourth driver on Sundays. SafeRide drivers average 20 to 30 rides a night, said KU Parking and Transit Analyst Margretta de Vries. But those rides are not always spread out evenly. Instead, there may be a sudden influx of
Coming soon: The University Daily Kansan app to be available on iOS and Android. Have feedback? Email editor@kansan.com.
KANSAN MEDIA PARTNERS
109 Stauffer-Flint 1435 Jayhawk Blvd. Lawrence, Kansas, 66045 editor@kansan.com www.kansan.com Newsroom: (785) 864-4552 Advertising: (785) 864-4358
Rachel Griffard/UDK
Despite ongoing impeachment proceedings, Senate Chief of Staff Zach Thomason said he believes he has done his job well.
Chief of staff From page 1
The second happened in 2018. Senators called for the impeachment of then-Student Senate Chief of Staff Daniel Lee for an alleged violation of the student code. Sources said the allegations revolved around sexual misconduct, the Kansan previously reported. But Lee resigned before an actual impeachment occurred. Student senators who wrote the bill said they reached that threshold with Thomason. University Affairs Chair Max Schieber said while Thomason has been passionate in his role, yelling at senators during a meeting crossed a line of professionalism.
UDK file photo
There are 11 vehicles in the SafeRide fleet.
The University Daily Kansan (ISSN 0746-4967) is published on Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year except fall break, spring break and exams.
KJHK is the student voice in radio. Whether it’s rock ‘n’ roll or reggae, sports or special events, KJHK 90.7 is for you.
kansan.com
KU SafeRide struggles with weekend wait times
The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The paper is paid for through student fees.
Check out KUJH-TV on Wow! of Kansas Channel 31 in Lawrence for more on what you’ve read in today’s Kansan and other news. Also see KUJH’s website at tv.ku.edu.
Thursday, February 13, 2020
“There’s things that are just inappropriate and not acceptable for Senate chambers,” Schieber said. “Ultimately, we can’t function as a Student Senate without respect in our chambers.” Schieber is joining the other committee chairs on the investigation committee. Finance Chair Andrew Moore Student Rights Chair Derek Dunn, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair Humberto Gomez-Salinas will also be a part of the committee. Five randomly selected senators will join after a lottery happens Thursday this afternoon. Scheiber, Moore and Dunn are all authors of the bill. “I think there are important things [the legislation] brings to light,” Dunn said. “I’m excited for the investigation to make sure that the actual truth of ev-
calls after a certain time which may increase wait times. “We might [be] quiet for an hour or two where every driver would have only picked up only one or two people, and then all of a sudden...we have 50 calls that just came in, and we’re really busy for two hours,” Stoy said. No more than 10 drivers are assigned on any given night de Vries said. This is the most the SafeRide budget can do, because there are 11 vehicles in the fleet. “That’s just what we’re able to do with [the] budget,” Killion said. “We’ve been able to purchase that many vehicles and pay the drivers. Since it’s not a for-profit business, there is only so much service we can provide.” SafeRide actively takes initia-
tive to improve wait times without adding new drivers. “To improve wait times, we traditionally don’t add more drivers, we try to improve efficiency,” Stoy said. One way of doing this, said Stoy, is stacking calls that are from similar locations, and going to locations that are close to each other. “[It’s] similar to buses: Don’t send out another bus, but try to make a more efficient route,” Stoy said. Students can download the SafeRide app for free or call 785864-7233 to use the service.
erything and all parties involved can have their moment to explain everything.” Student Body President Tiara Floyd said she was sad about a bill calling for Thomason’s impeachment was brought forward. She said she thinks the call for impeachment was based more on personal feelings and debate events. “I don’t want to delegitimize [the writers’] experiences with Zach,” Floyd said. “That’s just not my experience with him. In the meantime, senators are preparing for the impeachment process.” A lottery to assemble the impeachment committee was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but was canceled. Wingerter said “due to extenuating circumstances,” the lottery was moved today, at 4:30 p.m. Wingerter declined to share what led to the delay. After the committee assembles, they will have five days to conduct an investigation and submit a report, Wingerter said. The report will be presented in front of full Senate. Members will then vote if there is enough evidence to move forward with the process. The process should be complete within two weeks, Wingerter said. Regardless of the claims made against Thomason, he said he believes he has done his job of chief of staff to the best of his ability and has done more in his role than what is expected of him. “I’m not saying I’m the best chief of staff there’s ever been, but with that said, I’ve done this for two years, and I think I’ve done it well,” Thomason said.
Week in crime
For breaking news, visit kansan.com
Paul Samberg @PhSam16
Assault on Tennessee Street An unknown suspect punched someone near the intersection of 14th and Tennessee Streets on Feb. 9 at 1:39 a.m., according to police records. The case is open. Breaking and entering at 1800 Naismith Drive Someone entered an unlocked vehicle at 1800 Naismith Drive without permission and took several items on Feb. 7 at 4:57 a.m., according to police records. The case is open. Property damage at Downs Residence Hall Someone damaged a handicap sign in Downs Residence Hall, resulting in a loss of $150, on Feb 6 at 6:25 p.m., according to police records. The case was cleared by arrest. Trespassing at Kansas Union Someone was sleeping in a building from which they had been banned on Feb. 11 at 12:24 a.m., according to police records. The case was cleared by arrest. Criminal damage to property at the Central Utility Plant Someone damaged sheetrock in the women’s restroom at the Central Utility Plant on Feb. 7 at midnight, according to police records. The investigation is ongoing.
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Arts & Culture
kansan.com
The University Daily Kansan
3
KU students perform with alternative rock band in Lawrence venues, college campuses
Alana Washington @askalanalovely
A local band composed of three University of Kansas students spends their weekends performing and chanting their name, “Not All There,” along with the crowd. Brett Gilgus, a junior studying marketing at the University, is the lead singer of the all-male alternative rock band, as well as the founder of the group. “It’s been my life long dream to have a band,” Gilgus said. “I never had one growing up, so I just wanted to do something I really enjoy.” Four other artists along with Gilgus make up the band, including Will Padek and Jake Bjorseth, and University students Max Meininger and Jimmy Bolamperti. The band performs both original pieces and hits from the 2000s. “Brett bothered us until we all agreed, and I’m so glad I did,” said Meininger, a junior studying supply chain management who plays lead guitar. Since May 2019, the band has performed in venues like the Jazzhaus, the Wagon Wheel and Bullwinkles Bar. Their target audience is college students or anyone who just wants to listen they said. Not All There has also played at Oklahoma State Univer-
Bollywood From page 1
“People often think this is just an Indian team, but that’s not true. We have people of all backgrounds, races and ethnicities.” Sharma said the team’s diversity is essential because it allows them to learn about different cultures and incorporate them into choreography. She said their competitions have different themes,
Contributed photo
Alternative rock band Not All There plays original work and 2000s hits.
sity and plans to travel to more college campuses over the next six months. A tradition for the band during performances is to chant their name — “Not All There” — with the crowd. They love to engage with their supporters and meet
unfamiliar faces, they said. “When people are chanting my name and going wild during my guitar solo, it’s so fun,” Bolamperti said. Not All There manages themselves but plans to get professional help in the future. For the
moment, they are focusing on academics and making time for their talents, they said. “I always find time to sit back and strum my guitar,” Bolamperti said. “Even if it’s not practicing all together as a group, I always find time to improve myself.”
Not All There plans to release original songs on streaming services in the near future, they said. But until then, they will perform live March 17 at Bullwinkles Bar and April 4 at the Jazzhaus.
and diversity helps them bring in fresh ideas. “With our theme, we have to tell the story through dance and short voiceovers in between each piece,” Sutariya said. “If it’s a powerful scene, we will incorporate Bhangra, as it’s a very powerful Indian dance form, and if it’s a sad scene, we will dance contemporary to really get the audience feeling what we are feeling in that scene.” The team said it choreographs its own dances because it is most aware of its own stylistic capabil-
ities. Sutariya and Sharma said they try to include every team member’s individual talents and strengths as best as they can. The team has performed in the competitive circuit and has been active in the Kansas community, performing at talent shows and cultural galas. Last year, they placed third at the 2019 University of Oklahoma Norman Nachle competition. “We’ve met some of the best people at these competitions,” Sharma said. “This is such a unique opportunity and some-
thing you can’t really put into words.”
co-captains said they believe it’s all worth it. “I hope the dancers on the team learn that college is more than just studying and books,” Sutariya said. “[College] is also about finding who you are as a person and what you want in your life. Jeeva has taught me that.” The next Jeeva competition is at the end of February in Louisville, Kentucky. The team is also preparing for the Holi and Bollywood Bash. Dates are not finalized,but they will be posted on KU Jeeva’s Facebook and Instagram.
“We’ve met some of the best people at these competitions.” Srishti Sharma Co-captain
Although Jeeva can be a time-consuming activity, both
KU Jeeva dancers get in formation. Their next competition is in Louisville, Kentucky, at the end of this month.
Audrey Kesler/UDK
THINGS TO DO AT KU Art
Food & Dining
Movies & TV
Music
Theater
“Atmosphere” interactive art installation up at The Lawrence Arts Center until Feb. 22
The Mexican Scramble at Global Cafe located at 820 Massachusetts St.
“The Photograph” releases to theaters on Feb. 14
Kye Colors performs at The Bottleneck on Feb. 14
“As You Like It” starts on Feb. 21 at Crafton-Preyer Theatre
For more Arts and Culture stories, visit kansan.com
4
The University Daily Kansan
Arts & Culture
Thursday, February 13, 2020
kansan.com
Lovely celebrations in Lawrence this weekend Sarah Wright/UDK
One of the most popular Valentine’s Day menu items at McLain’s Market is the heart-shaped red velvet macaron.
McLain’s prepares special V-Day menu Alicia Marksberry @AliciaMarksb
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, McLain’s Market is preparing a special menu along with its usual treats and dishes. McLain’s is serving Valentine’s Day macarons, cakes, cupcakes, truffles, cookies and chocolate-covered strawberries to celebrate the festivities. As a popular location for University of Kansas students and faculty alike, McLain’s has to plan ahead to make sure they are ready for Valentine’s Day orders. Kat Bryant, manager of the Lawrence location’s cake department, said the shop started prepping a week before. “We probably made 10 dozen just of our different flavors of macarons on Monday,” Bryant said. “But that’s not including the ones we were making last week as well.” McLain’s comes out with new designs for holiday specialties every year, but this year it kept the designs consistent across the three locations in Lawrence, Overland Park and Waldo. On this year’s menu, McLain’s
is offering heart-shaped fondant cookies with messages written on them to resemble conversation hearts and royal iced cookies with messages such as, “I like you a latte.” Bryant said so far the most popular Valentine’s Day treats have been the heart-shaped macarons and the chocolate-covered strawberries. McLain’s was also taking custom orders. However, because of the increase in demand for Valentine’s Day, the bakers needed at least a 48-hours notice before the holiday to complete the order. “I would guess normally we probably get maybe five to six cakes or miniature dessert orders a day,” said Christian Kettler, the front of house manager of McLain’s. “And with Valentine’s Day, it’s usually 30-ish.” McLain’s is also offering box sets of some of the special treats as well as free on-campus delivery Friday, Feb. 14. Bryant recommended the chocolate-dipped macarons, and Kettler recommended anything on the special holiday menu. “The desserts speak for themselves,” Kettler said.
Illustration by Rylie Koester/UDK
University of Kansas organizations and Lawrence establishments are hosting several Valentine’s Day events this year.
Rylie Koester @RylieKoester
University of Kansas organizations and Lawrence establishments are putting on an array of Valentine’s events this year, including a make your own Valentine’s Day card event and a doggie photo shoot. Here are some of the events taking place this Valentine’s Day: Galentine’s Day | Feb. 13 The Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity, Student Union Activities and KU IWA are hosting Galentine’s Day todayFeb. 13 from noon to 3 p.m. on the fourth-floor lobby of the Kansas Union. The celebration will have activities, waffles, mocktails and more. Valentine’s Day Cards | Feb. 13 Create your own Valentine’s Day cards at this event hosted by
SUDOKU
the KU Bookstore. It takes place on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union today Feb. 13 from noon to 3 p.m. Sex in the Dark | Thursday, Feb. 13 Watkins Health Services is again hosting “Sex in the Dark,” a Q&A event where sex experts answer anonymous questions. The event includes prizes and pizza, and takes place at the Black Box Theater in Hashinger Hall today Feb. 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. You can text relationship or sex questions to 785-371-9243. Friends of KU Theatre’s Love Is Love: Dinner & Songs | Friday, Feb. 14 KU students, faculty and alumni will perform in Friends of KU Theatre’s Love Is Love: Dinner & Songs on Friday, Feb. 14 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Maceli’s Banquet Hall. The event’s proceeds go toward
theater scholarships. Tickets can be purchased online. The Guild Theater’s Valentine’s Dial-A-Show | Feb. 14 The Guild Theater, an improv group, is hosting Valentine’s DialA-Show at Ecumenical Campus Ministries from 8 to 10 p.m. Maria the Mexican performs at The Jazzhaus | Feb. 14 Kansas City, Missouri-based band, Maria the Mexican, will perform love tunes at the Jazzhaus on Friday, Feb. 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. Valentine’s Day Photo Shoot at Woof’s Play and Stay | Feb. 14 Take your dog to have its photo taken at Woof’s Play and Stay, located at 1519 W. 23rd St., during its Valentine’s Day Photo Shoot Friday, Feb. 14.
CRYPTOQUIP
CROSSWORD
CROSSWORD
Want to peek? Answers can be found at kansan.com
For more fun, visit kansan.com
Thursday, February 13, 2020
FREE FOR ALL Text us what you hear around campus to (785) 260-0518, and we’ll publish the best stuff. FFA of the Day: “I think Kermit the Frog’s a Republican.” “Would it be inappropriate to write an opinion piece about how Paw Patrol is state-sponsored police propaganda?” “The guy who was supposed to be my date just kept doing more coke.” “When I was 12, I starved myself for two days because my dad said I couldn’t marry Niall Horan.” “Suck his dick or hold his hand and avoid premarital sex.” “I don’t know, a crunchy chicken cheddar wrap at 11:30 p.m. while you’re drunk is kind of exquisite.” “I just tried to ghost my inhaler. I think I have a problem.” “My professor: so.... anyone play Minecraft?”
Opinion
kansan.com
“She was basically like, ‘what is going on?’ and I was like, ‘you’ve been working with Satan.’” “What, I cant be hot just because it’s Wednesday?!” “I only eat aged, Italian Nutella. And only of a vintage of at least four years.” “My professor pronounced Budig as ‘boo-dig’ and my head is about to explode.” “I am a tank when it comes to pasta.” “Sometimes I feel like that guy who collects cans from 1950s
9
Even if you’re single, celebrate OPINION
Sarah Grindstaff @SarahGrindstaf5
Valentine’s Day: It’s either your most romantic night of the year or your worst nightmare. With all the cynicism surrounding V-day, it’s easy to forget this Friday is simply a day devoted to the oldest human feeling-love. Even if you’re single, you can still enjoy your day by doing it your way because there are plenty of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day. If you are bored and don’t want to go out, consider taking your other single friend on a Target run. Buy out all of the half-priced candy test out your bad pickup lines on the cute cashier because, hey, it’s Target. You don’t even want to leave the house? Well, you can still enjoy your evening. Put on “The Notebook”(now available on Netflix), call up one of your friends and let her vent about that excuse-fora-man Chad who didn’t take her out. Letting your friends vent out about their bad relationships will
UDK file photo
Opinion Editor Sarah Grindstaff outlines all the ways for single Jayhawks to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
help them out on this day, as well as help you remember why you’re lucky to be at home right now. Single and want to leave the house, but don’t want to spend any money? Dress up in your cutest dress, pack up a white tablecloth and your finest cutlery, then head on over to the Studio
on Daisy Hill. For the small price of whatever dining plan your parents bought you, you can pretend that the barely-a-meal Chicken Cheddar Wrap resting on your from-home plate is fine dining. All it takes is a little creativity and imagination. Whatever you do, whether
you’re single or otherwise, you deserve to celebrate your day your way, with no qualms about it. If all else fails, there’s always the Hawk. Have a great Valentine’s Day, everyone. Sarah Grindstaff is a sophomore from St. Louis studying political science.
Kansas legislators must protect constitutional right to abortion OPINION
Brett Knepper @KnepperBrett
“Comfort Inn? debatable. The Studio? Oh hell nah.”
The University Daily Kansan
A great tragedy to women’s rights occurred when Kansas lawmakers attempted to amend the state constitution by adding a “Regulation of Abortion” clause. “Because Kansans value both women and children, the constitution of the state of Kansas does not require government funding of abortion and does not create or secure a right to abortion. To the extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States, the people, through their elected state representatives and state senators, may pass laws regarding abortion, including, but not limited to, in circumstances of pregnancy resulting from rape or incest, or when necessary to save the life of the mother,” the amendment read. Citizens would have had the opportunity to vote on the amendment in August, rather than November when a larger audience would be drawn; therefore, should it have passed, this would have confirmed for Kansas that “abortion isn’t constitutionally
protected — and that legislators can regulate abortions, including when a pregnancy results from rape or incest or threatens a woman’s life,” according to KCUR. Luckily, this didn’t even make the ballot and was struck down on Feb. 7. This proposed amendment reflects a backward attitude among some Kansans at a time when the state has begun moving in a more progressive direction. Just last April, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled favorably for the protection of women’s right to an abortion.
We live in a postmodern society, yet laws such as these return us to a premodern world. According to the New York Times, the state supreme court “blocked a law that would have banned the most commonly used procedure for second-trimester abortions, arguing that the state constitution protected the right of women to ‘decide whether to continue a pregnancy.’”
Many Republican state legislators backed the shot-down legislation that would, in effect, limit the reproductive rights of women even after the state supreme court’s recent ruling, which supported freedom of choice on abortion matters. Some politicians want to infringe upon not only a precedent set by the highest level of state and federal law but the overall rights of women. The state already limits access by not allowing abortion funding under Medicaid. This bill would be another injustice. Not only does it oppress a constitutional right set in place by Roe v. Wade in 1973, but it also opens the door to future laws that could cross into the rights of victims of rape, incest and endangerment to the life of the mother. And yet, even after the vote last Friday, according to ABC News, “top Republicans vowed they would keep pushing for the proposed anti-abortion amendment’s passage.” These politicians continue to make excuses for their behaviors, claiming they are “not trying to ban abortion but trying to return to the status quo on abortion before the Kansas Supreme Court’s decision [last April].” Legislators who supported
this bill are wrong. And their attempt at taking away a constitutional right of women — set forth by both the U.S. and state Supreme Courts — is wrong. We live in a post-modern society, yet laws such as these return us to a pre-modern world. After years of struggle and women fighting for an equal place in society, it is a shame that there are some in Kansas working to hinder that right. The issue of abortion is deeply personal, as it is between a mother and her body. She must live with her decision for the rest of her life, whether it be choosing to keep the fetus or abort it. However, it doesn’t seem right that state lawmakers can attempt to instill his or her personal beliefs onto another person. We have the choice daily of whether or not to follow a deity of our choosing and that’s where right or wrong on the issue should remain — in the possession of the person and not the governing body. Should this failed amendment return, societal regression will return to the state of Kansas. Brett Knepper is a sophomore from Newton studying English.
bomb shelters and then opens them up for YouTube.” “can cereal be a salad?” “if you’re brave enough”
Contact us Sarah Grindstaff sgrindstaff@kansan.com Grace Fawcett gfawcett@kansan.com Members of the Kansan Editorial Board are Sarah Grindstaff, Nichola McDowell, Corey Minkoff and Grace Fawcett.
Sarah Wright/UDK
Opinion columnist Brett Knepper argues if a failed abortion bill returns to the capitol, Kansas will move back to a “pre-modern society.”
To learn more about what KU is talking about, visit kansan.com
10
The University Daily Kansan
Sports
Thursday, February 13, 2020
kansan.com
KU track and field to compete in Arkansas, Iowa Kylie Hanna
@KylieHanna4
Kansas track and field is gearing up for a competitive weekend as they will be competing in two different meets on Feb. 14-15. The team will split, half will compete in the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the other half will travel to Ames, Iowa for the Iowa State Classic. Those traveling to Arkansas will run on the 200-meter indoor track of the Randal Tyson Track Center. Home to eight SEC Championships and 12 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, it is considered to be the fastest indoor track in the world.
Kansas has made quite a showing already this season. Both the men’s and women’s Arkansas track teams are ranked in the top 20. The men’s team holds a No. 20 ranking, just behind the Kansas men’s team at No. 19. The Arkansas women, however, hold the No. 2 spot in the NCAA, putting up a wide margin between them and the Jayhawks, who are unranked. The competition will start Friday, Feb. 14 with the women’s long jump at 1 p.m. Track events will start with the men’s 60-meter qualifying hurdles at 3:00 p.m. Both track and field events will run simultaneously throughout the day. Friday is scheduled to finish with the finals of the women’s
Junior middle distance runner Erin Sermons recovers after her race during the Jayhawk Classic Friday, Jan. 24.
400 meters at 6:50 p.m. The schedule will run very similarly on Saturday, with the women’s pole vault starting at 11:30 a.m. and the men’s 200 meters at 1 p.m. The last event, women’s 4x400 meter relay, is scheduled for 3:55 p.m. In Ames, athletes will compete in the Lied Recreation Athletics Center on the Harry Hoak Track. This is a 300-meter track known to be best suited for middle distance
and distance events. Iowa State carries a renowned men’s team, holding the No. 8 ranking in the NCAA. The competition will begin at 12 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14 with the men’s long jump and the women’s 60-meter prelims starting simultaneously. The last event on Friday is scheduled for 7:50 p.m. with the men’s 3000 meters. The competition will pick up again on Saturday at 12 p.m. with the
men’s triple jump and the women’s 60-meter hurdles prelims. Those will run until 4:15 p.m. with the start of the men’s 4x400 meter relay. Kansas has made quite a showing already this season. At the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational, sophomore Zach Bradford set the school record at 5.71 meters in the men’s pole vault. At the Jayhawk Classic, senior
Chance Parker/UDK
Gleb Dudarev set the school record at 24.38 meters in the men’s weight throw. Additionally, many marks have been made in the top 10 NCAA spots and numerous athletes have been given NCAA honors. Live scoring updates from the Iowa State classic will be shared through FloTrack, as well as a livestream of the event through FloTrack’s subscription-based service, FloPro.
Emphatic late run leads Kansas men’s basketball’s tenth conference victory Jack Johnson
@JohnyJ_15
Sophomore forward David McCormack loses his handle on the ball against Iowa State.
Chance Parker/UDK
For more Sports visit kansan.com
Dating back to 2013, WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, West Virginia has been a brutal environment for Kansas men’s basketball. In seven games there, the Jayhawks had won just twice. Of the five losses, Kansas was the higher ranked team in all of them. Coming into Wednesday, that record in a seven-game span was the worst mark for Kansas against a team in the Big 12 on the road. With 13:28 to go in Wednesday’s game, the Jayhawks appeared destined to keep that ugly trend going. After West Virginia freshman guard Miles McBride drained a jumper from the left elbow, Kansas coach Bill Self burned a timeout to slow down the Mountaineers 11-2 spurt. Trailing 41-32, the Jayhawks needed to find a spark. With sophomore guard Devon Dotson and senior center Udoka Azubuike limited to seven first half points on 3-of-10 combined shooting, the offense found itself sputtering and showing few signs of life against the defensive pressure of West Virginia. The spark the Jayhawks needed came in an area that has given the Kansas backcourt fits all year. Down by seven points with 9:30 left, Dotson fired a 3-pointer from the corner. Though he shot just 28.1% from three coming into the night, Dotson buried the attempt and cut the deficit to four points. Not only would the 3-pointer inch the Jayhawks closer to reclaiming the lead, but it would ignite one of the best runs Kansas manu-
factured to close out a game this season. Just over four minutes later, senior guard Isaiah Moss would give the Jayhawks their first lead since the 14:28 mark of the first half at 49-48.
The spark the Jayhawks needed came in an area that has given the Kansas backcourt fits all year. Moss pushed Kansas out in front for good on his third 3-pointer with 4:54 left. The Chicago native finished with a team-high three 3-pointers and 13 points off the bench. When the final horn sounded, the Jayhawks had closed the game on a 21-5 run. Azubuike, Dotson, and Moss were the only players to score during that span. The Mountaineers last field goal came with 5:59 left in the game. The 49 points allowed by Kansas was the third time its held a conference opponent to 50 or less points. Additionally, the 49 points was West Virginia’s lowest total of the season. In all, the Jayhawk defense limited the Mountaineers to 32% shooting and forced 19 turnovers. Up next, Kansas will return home for a brief two-game homestand. First up is the Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. on ESPN.
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Sports
kansan.com
The University Daily Kansan
11
Big 12 is no longer the top conference COLUMN Sam Lance
@SamLance_ With the madness that March brings and conference tournaments right around the corner, it’s crunch time for many teams across the college basketball landscape. Each conference this year has been competitive and five include teams that have held the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll. But, as the question that usually arises this time of year begs, which league is the best in the country? The Big 12, Atlantic Coast Conference, Southeastern Conference and Big Ten all have great teams at the top. However, the Big Ten separates itself as the deepest and best conference all around. There are currently 11 Big Ten teams projected to be in the NCAA Tournament, according to Joe Lunardi’s bracketology from Feb. 7. That is five more teams than any other conference and six more than both the Big 12 and Pac-12. Granted, there is no clear dominant force at the top. Michigan State, the preseason No. 1 team in the AP Poll, has been streaky all season and dipped out of this week’s AP Poll. The highest ranked team in the Big Ten is the young Maryland Terrapins at No. 9, and three other Big Ten teams join them in the top 25 (Penn State, Iowa and Illinois). The only conference with more ranked teams is the Big East with five. The only other conference with four squads ranked in the top 25 is the Big 12. Teams like Michigan State, Ohio
State and Michigan have all been ranked in the top five this season. Recently, these teams have started to struggle because conference play has been so competitive. This shows how good the Big Ten is from top to bottom. Leadership at the point guard position is widespread throughout the league. Senior guards Cassius Winston of Michigan State, Xavier Simpson of Michigan and Anthony Cowan Jr. of Maryland are leading their teams in points or assists. The guard depth across the conference is unique and will be key come March when elite guard play is essential.
The Big 12, ACC, SEC and Big Ten all have great teams at the top. However, the Big Ten separates itself as the deepest and best conference all around. Strong and skilled big men are also a feature of the Big Ten this year. Iowa’s junior center Luka Garza is currently leading the conference with 23.1 points and adds 9.9 rebound per game. Other notable big men include Michigan’s senior center Jon Teske (12.9 points), Penn State’s senior forward Lamar Stevens (17.6 points) and Minnesota’s sophomore center Daniel Oturu (20.1 points). The Big Ten also holds four teams (Penn State, Michigan State, Maryland and Purdue) in the top 20 of strength of schedule and six teams in the top 25 of BPI. With talent oozing around the conference, there’s no doubt that the Big Ten has been the best in the land this year.
Emma Pravecek/UDK
Columnist Sam Lance argues that the Big 12 has been dethroned as the best conference in college basketball, replaced instead by the Big Ten.
Former KU forward Marcus Morris to have jersey retired in Allen Fieldhouse
Former forward Marcus Morris celebrates the Kansas win over Texas in 2011.
UDK file photo
Jack Johnson @JohnyJ_15
Former Kansas men’s basketball player Marcus Morris will have his jersey retired Monday, Feb. 17 when the the Jayhawks host Iowa State, Assistant Athletics Director of Communications Chris Theisen confirmed to the Kansan. Coach Bill Self told Kansas Athletics that he expected this to happen after Morris declared for the draft. “We knew when [Morris] left school in 2011 that his jersey would be retired,” Self said. “When you say Marcus, you have to include his twin brother, Markieff, because they did everything together. It’s amazing to see the growth they had from when they got here.” During his three-year career at Kansas, Morris earned nine accolades, including Big 12 Player of the Year and Consensus All-Amer-
ica second team in the 2010-11 season. In 109 career games with the Jayhawks, Morris averaged 12.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Morris told Kansas Athletics that he’s honored to have his name in the rafters. “To have my jersey up there with other great players like Wilt [Chamberlain,] Danny [Manning,] and Paul [Pierce] is an honor,” Morris said. “I look forward to coming back to KU where I have so many great memories.” Morris was drafted 14th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets. He’s played for five teams since and was most recently traded from the New York Knicks to the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 6. The Philadelphia product is currently averaging a career-high in points (19.6) and 3-point percentage (43.9).
Morris currently plays for the Los Angeles Clippers.
For more Sports stories, visit kansan.com
UDK file photo
12
Sports Men’s Basketball Gameday The University Daily Kansan
Thursday, February 13, 2020
kansan.com
Kansas vs. Oklahoma Sooners, Saturday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m.
Maggie Gould/UDK
Freshman guard Christian Braun follows through after shooting. Kansas defeated Texas 69-58 Monday, Feb. 3.
Jakob Katzenberg @KatzWriteSports
Jack Johnson @JohnyJ_15
Beat Writer Jack Predictions: Johnson
74-60
Kansas Jayhawks
Jakob Katzenberg
71-56
Oklahoma Sooners
Marcus Garrett
Kristian Doolittle
Junior guard
Senior forward
Through 24 games this season, Garrett leads the Big 12 in assist to turnover ratio and ranks seventh in steals. In a three-game span from Jan. 11 to 18, Garrett tallied 39 points, 16 assists and 16 rebounds. On Jan. 14 against Oklahoma, he totaled 15 points, five rebounds and five assists in 38 minutes.
After he was named the Big 12’s Most Improved Player last season, Doolittle is back for his senior season and has become one of the Sooners’ best players. Listed at 6-foot-7, 232 pounds, he enters the game as the team’s leading rebounder. In Oklahoma’s upset win over West Virginia last week, the Edmond, Oklahoma, native garnered 27 points and 12 rebounds.
Ochai Agbaji
De’Vion Harmon
It has been a hot and cold season for the sophomore from Kansas City, Missouri. After collecting 16 points and four 3-pointers at Iowa State on Jan. 8, Agbaji only averaged 5.8 points and shot 9% from beyond the arc over the next four games. In the win at Oklahoma, Agbaji notched seven points on 3-of-11 shooting and grabbed five rebounds.
Rated as the Sooners’ best recruit this season by 247 Sports, Harmon has made an impact as a true freshman. In the first matchup with Kansas, he tied a team high with 13 points and added two steals. The former four-star recruit is a streaky shooter but has been hot lately, knocking down just under 50% of his 3-pointers in the last six games.
Christian Braun
Jamal Bieniemy
The local kid from Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park has transitioned from a bench role to a starter in his first season at the collegiate level. In his first career start at Oklahoma State on Jan. 27, Braun knocked down 4-of-8 from three and totaled 16 points in 33 minutes. Braun snagged six rebounds in the meeting with the Sooners.
Much of Bieniemy’s production doesn’t appear on the stat sheet. He is a valuable player in the Sooners’ starting lineup due to his defensive prowess and hustle. However, the Katy, Texas, native has had a rough season shooting the ball, sitting around 33% from the field this season.
Sophomore guard
Freshman guard
Sophomore guard
Freshman guard
QUICK HITS
.533 Softball
Slugging percentage for Brittany Jackson this season
1.8
3
Soccer
Men’s Basketball
Goals per game
AP ranking
16 Baseball
Doubles for Skyler Messinger last season
For more Sports stories, visit kansan.com
733 Football
Total offensive plays run last season