Washburn University
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volume 138, Issue 5 • wednesday, September 19, 2012
1700 S.W. College • topeka, kan. 66621
Author Speaks to Mabee Audience about ‘Our Boys’ AJ Dome
WASHBURN REVIEW
A short story quickly became a lengthy book about small-town life for one big-city reporter. Kansas City native Joe Drape spoke at White Concert Hall on Tuesday night as part of Washburn’s iRead Program. The topic of discussion was Drape’s book “Our Boys,” a detailed cross-section of the Smith Center, Kan. high school football team. Drape, a New York Times journalist, moved his family to the small town in the exact center of the continental United States, and lived there for nine months while documenting and observing the comings and goings of people living in Smith Center (population 1,931). Drape’s journey to Washburn began in 2007, when he was on a train headed back to New York. Upon reading a newspaper, he saw a brief about the Smith Center Redmen, who hold the national record for most points scored in the first quarter of a game (72 points in 2006.) “I love doing stories back here,” said Drape. “I was kind of between things, so I picked up the phone to call the school and see what it was all about.” After getting in touch with the Redmen’s coach Roger Barta, Drape’s curiosity was piqued, and he decided to write a story about the Redmen and the community of Smith Center. He ar-
Photo by AJ Dome, Washburn Review
Listening to a Listener: Joe Drape relaxes with students during an informal interview earlier Tuesday before his lecture that evening in White Concert Hall. Drape’s lecture was about the experiences writing his book “Our Boys,” a feature on the Smith Center, Kan. high school football team. rived in November 2007, with his family in town. “When you go do these things, you go to the center of town to the cafe,” said Drape. “That’s where you find the broad cross-section of the place.” In the cafe, Drape found this cross-section-- “police officers, old farmers, and the Lutheran ladies club”--introduced himself, and explained what he was doing there. “That’s where the title came from, was within that first hour,” Drape said. “They weren’t talking about ‘the team,’
or ‘the Redmen’ or anything else, state with 300 victories to his cathey just kept reer. talking about “The “ I’ve done stories ‘our boys.’” first thing After behe said to like this before, but ing invited to me was this was the most a communi‘what we ty volleyball pleasant experience do here game, Drape ain’t about I’ve ever had met Barta. ” winning or Barta would losing, it’s - Joe Drape go on to win about raisjournalist his 300th caing kids,’” reer game in said Drape. November Ini2009. He is tially, one of three active coaches in the Drape wrote a much shorter
story intended for page space in the New York Times. On his way back to Kansas City, he got a call from the Times. The editors wanted to run Drape’s story on the front page, above the fold with images. “It was a really bad news day, and they were looking for a ‘bright,’ a story that won’t make people really depressed when they read it,” Drape said. After the article was published, Drape received phone calls and emails from random strangers, talking about their small-town lives or expressing
interest in the story. That’s when something clicked for Drape. “On my way home, I called my wife and said ‘you know, there’s probably a good book down here,’” said Drape. After getting the book proposal approved, Drape began the most difficult step--convincing his wife to quit her job and move to Kansas for the sake of the story. Drape’s convincing worked, and then him and his wife moved to small-town America. “It was mind-blowing in a lot of ways,” said Drape. “The silence was deafening. It was just so weird not to hear things.” Over the next nine months, Drape took note of the personal, emotional and cultural nuances of the Redmen and the community supporting them. “I’ve done stories like this before, but this was the most pleasant experience I’ve ever had,” said Drape. White Concert Hall was half-full of people listening to Drape’s stories about his expectations for the book versus what actually happened. “You can never anticipate the direction which a story will turn,” said Drape.
AJ Dome is a junior mass media major. Reach him at andrew. dome@washburn.edu.
Student government election results are in
WASHBURN REVIEW
The freshman elections for the Washburn Student Government Association took place Thursday, Sept. 6, for the 20122013 school year at Washburn University. Kathleen Longhofer, Connor England, Keegan Russell, Kolin Klozenbucher and Damian Barron will be inducted tonight at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 in the Kansas Room by Meredith Kidd dean of students. Freshmen inductees don’t know the process of induction before induction actually occurs. “I am super excited for my induction tonight, said Keegan Russell freshman senator. As can be expected I am a little nervous but only because I have no idea what it will be like.” “The process in itself is actually pretty short. Dean Kidd will speak for a few minutes, and then he will swear the new senators in,” said Shelbie Konkel chief of staff for WSGA. “I’m excited to welcome the new Senators this evening, and I look forward to working with them. We have an awesome group of freshman senators who are already very willing to contribute
to WSGA.” The WSGA was established in 1909 for the purpose of representing and acting in the interest of Washburn University students. “Once the Oath of Office has been administered, they will take their seats among the Senate, and we’ll begin our meeting as usual, ” said Konkel. She also said the aspirations set this year are individualized. “Our goals for this year are
pretty unique. We are working on minimizing programming within the organization, and focusing more on how the organization can help students in a more representative manner,” said Konkel. We are working on initiatives would enable students better communicate with WSGA, and for WSGA to react to students’ wants and needs. This organization has created an academic and extracurricular environment to benefit students through programs and to work to sustain and improve them each year.
Make and Take
Tess Wilson is a senior English major. Reach her at tess.wilson@washburn.edu.
Election Candidates for WSGA 2012 PRESIDENT / VICE-PRESIDENT CANDIDATES: Eric Benedict & Caprice Cortez, 170 PRESIDENT / VICE-PRESIDENT WRITE-IN CANDIDATES:
Michael Kitowski & Jessie McGown, 14 SENATORIAL CANDIDATES: 1. Jessie McGown, 157 2. Brett R. Johnson, 150 3. Cassandra White, 148 4. Shelbie Konkel, 147 5. Anthony Ho, 140 6. Ashley Habiger, 137 7. Josh Rosebaugh, 135 8. Jared Dechant, 132 9. Randi Ann McAfee, 131 10. Micah Offermann, 130 11. Adam J. Fritz, 129 12. Ty Concannon, 129 13. Garrett Fenley, 128 14. David Haase, 118 15. Hayley Strutt, 118 16. Katie Lawless, 116 17. Rosemary Henderson, 113 18. Binbin Wu, 105 19. Chris Bird, 102 20. Betsy Wooden, 101 21. Jon Trotter, 89
SENATORIAL WRITE-IN CANDIDATES: Shea Kirsop, 16 Andrew Boyce, 8
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for freshman senators elected in the fall. The remaining two seats are filled through an open-seat process available in the fall for transfer students. “As freshman they have a different and fresh perspective on matters that older students don’t necessarily have,” said Konkel. “It is that perspective that makes these invaluable to our organization. All of these students have direct contact with other freshmen, which makes them more accessible to this year’s freshman class.” “Students should be involved with WSGA because it’s the most direct student organization on campus, said Konkel. We are fully funded by student activity fees; which means every student on campus has a stake in the decisions that we make, and how our organization operates. We also act as a liaison between the University Administration and the Students, so when questions regarding things like tuition increases are posed, we represents the students on the matter.” For more information about WSGA and all of their activities go to www.mywsga.com.
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“My goal for the semester is to learn as much as I can about the organization and what my role will be as a senator,” said Russell. “Once I’ve created a foundation I will then see what ideas and suggestions I can offer the group.” The way WSGA works is through the balance between executive and legislative branches. “Washburn Student Government Association is composed of 34 Senators, and 8 executive staff members,” said Konkel. “The Senate is made up of four committees- Spirit, Campus Affairs, Allocations and Communicationswhich meet on a biweekly basis. During Full Senate meetings the Senate debates and votes on legislation- such as funding for student organizations.” The executive branch is made up of the student government president and vice president, who are elected each spring, and the executive staff that they appoint. As stated previously, the legislative branch is composed of 34 senators, each serving a one year term. 27 senate seats are elected in general elections each spring, with five seats set aside
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Tess Wilson
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