February 19, 2020
Volume 146, Issue 18
washburnreview.org
Step Show stomps the yard again Understanding a difficult disease Leah Jamison Washburn Review
WASHBURN REVIEW - Eriko Hiranoi
Handclaps dance: This performer uses handclaps to make dance beats. She used the percussive sound to make a unique routine.
‘I Dream a World’ exhibit showcases humanity Savannah Workman Washburn Review
The Mulvane Art Museum presents an opening reception for the late photojournalist, Brian Lanker. The exhibition consists of portraits of 76 black women who changed America. “I Dream a World,” located on the 2nd Level South Gallery in Garvey Hall narrates what it means to be human, as people in the community learn about each woman’s story of compassion and suffrage. Washburn acquired this collection of photographs by bringing Lanker’s art “home.” Lanker’s art shines a light with voices that extend borders and tells stories with photograph. This opens a new chapter of knowledge for many of us to feel braver and more human by capturing 76 black women’s triumph and perseverance. “It was ready for a home,” said Connie Gibbons, Director of the Mulvane Art Museum. “Topeka is the right place for it. The university’s history as an interest, passion for supporting equity, civil rights, diversity and inclusion: for all those reasons, it seemed like the right thing to do.” The Corcoran Art Museum in Washington D.C. previously housed the portraits. According to Collections Manager, Rebecca Manning, the “I Dream a World” exhibition set a record attendance Feb. 10, 1989. “I have to keep pinching myself. Lanker was a force,” said Gibbons. “He had a real vision and a passion for telling a story with photographs. Lanker would spend two days with each woman. He would first go in and interview, get to know them. Then going back the next day, he would think of where and how to photograph them.” Activists, politicians, artists, writers and lesser known
women across the country show individual stories that accumulated into a two-year collection of experiences, according to Lynda Lanker, Brian’s wife. Lanker received his first Pulitzer Prize for a work titled “Moment of Life” at the Topeka Capital Journal. Brian met Lynda while he was photographing her giving birth, calling it “Moment of Life.” “I realized that my husband had a big vision,” said Lynda Lanker. “Once he was a freelancer, his community grew into the nation’s borders – and beyond. His view of the world was big. He read ‘The Color Purple’ by Alice Walker. He had never delved into or known anything about the lives of black women.” According to Lynda Lanker, his vision of forming connections with 76 women across the country was supported by the efforts of his freelance work for publications such as Life Magazine, Sports Illustrated, and National Geographic. “I think these women can teach us more about what it means to be human than anybody,” said Gibbons. “The women, their stories, their lives are more relevant than they ever were. They’re contemporary. It’s a story that still needs to be told. There’s a whole generation of people who don’t know their stories who now get a chance to experience that.” Change is the accumulation of ideas and efforts. Everyone has a message, a voice. Reading and experiencing the individual efforts of these women’s lives questions us to think inwards about what all of us can do to contribute to change. “What are you willing to sacrifice to do the right thing?” Gibbons asked. “Would I have the courage to do that? It creates a new bar for how we think about ourselves. I think all these women have those kinds of stories and every one of them speak for us. We should be listening.”
About 1.6 million Americans live with T1D, which includes about 200,000 people younger than 20 years old, according to jdrf.org. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease. In T1D, the pancreas ceases insulin production. Insulin is a hormone that allows the body’s cells to absorb glucose. Without insulin, glucose can’t get into the cells and instead remains in the bloodstream, causing numerous health issues and complications. Insulin must be administered to T1D patients through some type of injection. Injections can include an insulin pump or manual shots. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is usually diagnosed later in life and is primarily due to insulin resistance. Insulin becomes unable to bind to the body’s cells which renders it useless. Generally, the pancreas still produces insulin, but over time can stop this function. Through dietary changes and weight loss, some individuals can reverse their T2D. Oral antidiabetic medications can be used to treat T2D. Hailey Houser, a sophomore radiology major, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 12 years old. “I got sick out of nowhere. Luckily my mom noticed something was wrong. She took me to an express care and they thought I had Type 2 diabetes. My mom didn’t agree, so we went to my doctor. They sent me to the hospital, took tests, and diagnosed me with Type 1. I became insulin dependent since that day,” said Houser. Although you can be diagnosed with diabetes at any age, onset is often in the teenage years. According to jdrf.org, it is estimated that by 2050, 5 million people in the U.S. will have T1D. Continued on page 7
Low turnout for AGT comedian raises questions about campus involvement Leah Jamison Washburn Review
The Campus Activities Board brought Canadian stand-up comedian D.J. Demers to campus to perform, but the turnout was disappointing. Demers appeared on season 11 of America’s Got Talent, has performed on Conan three times, and is a regular at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal. Despite Demers’ credentials, there was only a turnout of about 20 people Thursday, Feb. 13. “I thought it was pretty good and he was really funny. I think a bigger crowd would have helped though,” said Daija Coleman, a sophomore education major. The Campus Activities Board, also known as CAB, is a student organization responsible for student events at Washburn. “We like to bring campus activities to get
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people involved, educated, and give a sense of community at Washburn. We chose this artist because we go to a convention every semester called NACA, [the National Association for Campus Activities], where a bunch of artists perform. We thought he would work well with our campus and the vibe that we have here,” said Caylee Lind, student success director of CAB. The low turnout at the event raises the question: Why didn’t more people come? “Weather has a huge impact on our attendance. People are more inclined to be out of their rooms when the weather is nice, but when it’s rigidly cold, no one wants to leave their place,” said Erasmo Nunez Baeza, marketing director of CAB. Although the reason for the lack of students is unknown, it should create a discussion about what can be done to increase community in-
Podcast: Pass the Mic: Brandon M. on DACA and exposure to cultures
Gallery: Track and Field at Pitt State
volvement on campus. “Truly, word of mouth is a huge help to get people to our events. We can post hundreds of flyers and post tons of things online, but when we invite people personally is when people want to come,” said Nunez Baeza. Despite Demers’ disappointing turnout, he still gave his all for the performance and was even able to interact with the crowd on a more personal level. Demers walked among the tables during some of his performance and asked the attendees questions. “He was able to interact with the small group very well and create a fun and stress-free environment,” said Alex Baldwin, a sophomore history major. Visit djdemers.com to learn more about Demers, listen to his podcasts, and watch his videos.
Gallery: WBSU educates with Don’t Touch My Hair
Gallery: Step Show stomps the yard again