‘Bods pay it forward at The Big Event
Grace Foiles WASHBURN REVIEW
Students gathered at Yaeger Stadium on the morning of Saturday, April 25 to get ready for a day of service around the community.
The Washburn Student Government Association, in collaboration with Learning in the Community and the Bonner Leader Program, hosted the fifth annual Big Event at Washburn. This was the third time the WSGA had partnered with LinC and the Bonner Program to put on the event.
Students signed up for service sites and volunteered their time helping at sites doing mostly cleaning and beautification efforts.
“First and foremost I just want to get as many people out to help today just doing whatever community service we can to help out Topeka after that I would love if like ten people could find a site that they could volunteer at regularly throughout the year. Obviously I want more than ten but that’s the minimal goal,” said Dalton Hane, service director for the WSGA.
There were several service sites around Topeka that students were bussed to, including Shunga Nature Trail, the Topeka Zoo and Harvesters.
put a fresh coat of paint on the nursery and installed a tractor tire on the site’s playground.
“We have Hope and Healing Academy which works with, I believe, horses which is really cool and they’re going to be doing some beautification up there. We have a lot of Keep America Beautiful sites this year, which are working around the community just brightening up the place and we also have several different organizations that
work with empowerment like the YWCA, we have the Kansas Youth Empowerment Association, just a lot of different really cool projects to work on,” Hane said.
There were 335 students preregistered for the event and several others who registered that day.
“We’ve become much more efficient this year than it has been in
the past, the Bonner Leaders have done their part very well in getting the sites and number of placements and the WSGA has done a really good job of rounding up students,” said Richard Ellis, the LinC director.
The LinC and Bonner Programs are programs at Washburn University focused on human services and volunteerism in Topeka.
“Hopefully some of these students will get excited about volunteering,” Ellis said.
While there were some difficulties in the execution of the Big Event, including miscommunications over busses and other issues, students had the opportunity to help out the community.
Students wishing to find a site to volunteer at can visit the LinC or Bonner webpages at washburnengage.com. There are service opportunities in the arts, environment, healthcare outreach, political involvement and more.
“There are 60 - 70 partners who have signed up on the site, looking for volunteers,” Ellis said.
Grace Foiles, grace.foiles@ washburn.edu, is a freshman theater major
WU professor named Poet Laureate of Kansas
Daniel
Haws WASHBURN REVIEW
The spring semester of 2015 is proving to be an eventful and rewarding season for recently tenured Associate Professor Eric McHenry. The Kansas Humanities Council has announced McHenry will ascend to the position of Poet Laureate of Kansas.
One of the many duties that will be required of McHenry includes fostering the development and sustention of the humanities and poetry across the great state of Kansas.
“I have an enthusiasm for poetry, which I try and share in the classroom. I want to take that enthusiasm and infect people across the state with it,” McHenry said.
Faculty and students alike share the excitement for McHenry’s newly appointed role as well. Assistant professor Vanessa Steinroetter says she was delighted to hear the news.
“Professor McHenry is not only a very talented poet, but also a beloved and engaging teacher. I am happy to know that, in addition to his students and colleagues at Washburn, other readers and writers across the state will benefit from his talents as he travels to readings, workshops, and other engagements,” Steinroetter said.
Senior English major Märtha Custis states that her interactions with McHenry were among her most positive and influential experiences as an undergraduate student at Washburn.
“He never acknowledged
his own superior expertise and knowledge in writing, but rather was incredibly humble. I learned more in his classes than I had ever imagined possible. I am indebted to him forever,” Custis said.
“The currency of writing is ideas, and Eric has ideas. He practices what he preaches. He is precise with language, while not all poets are, and I respect that,” said Associate Professor Corey Zwikstra. “Good writing has to be about language, not just feelings and emotions. People forget that. Eric does not. He is mindful of language and form.”
Peter S. Rocha, senior English major, agrees that McHenry is exceptional in his craft, and in conveying that craft to his students.
“Everyone who enters class is treated as a fellow poet. He finds the gold that hides in every poem. He is an expert in his field, but still makes every person who walks through his door feel like part of the world of poetry,” Rocha said. “It is that type of enthusiasm that inspires good poetry.”
While the achievement is an exciting benchmark in McHenry’s career, he says that he won’t be resting on his laurels. Instead, he feels invigorated in his future ambitions as Poet Laureate.
“This isn’t a time to relax, and cease being productive. I feel more like, okay, GO!” McHenry said.
Daniel Haws, daniel.haws@ washburn.edu, is a senior English major
Calendar
Briefs
Summer concert series starts Friday
Hate crime awarness
Wednesday, April 29
Prints by Charles Capps and Tom Huck
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Washburn University Art Department Student Exhibition
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Washburn Student Government Association
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Non-Traditional Student Organization Meeting
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Thursday, April 30
Prairie Printmakers from the Collection of the Mulvane Art Museum
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Travel to India for Winter Break
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Beta Gamma Sigma Induction Dinner
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Friday, may 1
Chicanitas: Small Paintings from the Cheech Marin Collection
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Prairie Printmakers from the Collection of the Mulvane Art Museum
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Washburn Art Department Student Exhibition
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Philosophy Club Meeting
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Saturday, may 2
Faculty and Staff: Strawberry Breakfast
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Chicanitas: Small Paintings from the Cheech Marin Collection
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Country: Prints by Charles Capps and Tom Huck
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Prairie Printmakers from the Collection of the Mulvane Art Museum
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Washburn University Art Department Student Exhibition
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Film screening: Everything Comes from the Streets
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Planetarium Open House
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
On Friday, May 1, Downtown Topeka, Inc. will begin its free community outdoor concert series.
The concert series includes concerts during the First Friday Art Walks and every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The 2015 First Friday Summer Concert Series and the Noontime Brown Bag Concert Series will feature local as well as regional artists.
FFSCS is sponsored by Strathman Sales, BUDWEISER, COX Communications, The Celtic Fox, The Office Bar and Lounge, and downtown annual sponsors. The event will be hosted in the one hundred block of SW Eigth St. in down-
town Topeka.
Some seating will be available, but it is recommended that participants bring their own seating. There will be outdoor beer gardens and dancing as well as music. Jarrod Guth will kick-off the festivities at 5:30 p.m. and Monk’s Wine will headline around 8 p.m.
The current schedule for FFSCS is: Monk’s Wine (May 1), Aaron Kamm and the One Drops (July 3), and Top City Ramblers (August 7). Performers for the June 5 show will be announced shortly.
NBBCS will begin on May 13 and end on August 26.
These events will be on the
PT’s announces new cold brews for the summer
PT’s Coffee Roasting Company, a local coffee brewing company, has announced the release of several new cold brews that will be sold exclusively at PTs at College Hill and PT’s at the Crossroads. The brews will be sold as singles and in four-packs called “Quadzilla.”
The brews will include the Cold Front, PT’s signature brew,
April 22
21:36 - Alcohol Violation, Living Learning Center. Report Taken: Alcohol Seized & Destroyed: Referred to Vice President For Student Life.
April 23
22:16 - Criminal Damage To Property Door Window, Garvey Fine Arts Center. Report Taken: Investigation Into How And Who Broke The Window Continues
and three other brews using the Kyoto method, which is steeping coarsely ground coffee beans in cold water for twenty-four hours. The Cold Front will sell for $3.75 per bottle or $15 in the Quadzilla. The other brews will be sold for $4.50 per bottle and $18 in the Quadzilla. The brews will only be available for a limited time only.
WApril 24
west lawn of the Topeka Preforming Arts Center at 8th and Quincy.
Some seating will be provided, and participants are encouraged to grab lunch at nearby restaurants. NBBCS is sponsored by Mize Houser and Company, TPAC, and downtown annual sponsors.
Acts scheduled to appear over the summer include: CS Luxem, Chris Aytes, Monzie Leo and The Big Sky, Slow Ya Roll, Kirk Drager, Tyler Gregory, KID JAM on TPAC LAWN, Big Harry and the Back Alley Blues, Nicolette Paige, Jacob Hodge, Judd Henry Mason, Ryan Willis, Greg Fox, Jessica Paige Band, Ashley Reynolds from Monk’s Wine and The Waterdog Nation.
Downtown annual sponsors are Capitol Federal, Clayton Financial Services, Parrish Hotel Corporation, Downtown Topeka, Inc., and Capital Business Improvement District.
For more, visit www.downtowntopekainc.com.
On Thursday, April 30, KTWU will air an episode entitled “Faiths in Action,” which will deal with hate crime aimed at people of faith. This episode will be in response to the recent shooting deaths of three Muslim students in North Carolina and three people at Jewish facilities in Overland Park, Kansas.
Guests will include Rabbi Debbie Stiel of Temple Beth Sholom in Topeka; Bassima Schbley, associate professor of social work at Washburn University; Ali Kahn, professor of law at Washburn School of Law; and Rabbi Moti Rieber, director of Kansas Interfaith Power and Light.
The episode, a part of KTWU’s “I’ve Got Issues” series, will air at 7:30 p.m. on KTWU-HD, Digital Channel 11.1. KTWU’s “I’ve Got Issues” series is hosted by Janet Thompson Jackson. More information about KTWU can be found on their website, ktwu.org.
Washburn hosting end-of-the-year water balloon fight
Washburn University is hosting a water and paint balloon fight on the practice field next to the Art Building on May 2nd at 3 P.M. The event is the first of its kind, and is a new idea made to end the semester in a fun way. The balloon fight will also have multiple features and activities sponsored by Tribods Video and Productions Crew and WSGA, including snacks and drinks at the site of the event. The Tri-
bods Video and Productions Crew will also be filming the event, so students are encouraged to participate not only to have fun, but also to have the chance to feature in a Washburn video. Students are advised to wear appropriate clothing they are comfortable staining, due to color paint balloons being used in the fight.
ashburn Campus Police Report
April 24
9:10 - Motor Vehicle Accident, Parking Lot 4. Report Taken: Photos taken. April 24
10:02 - Criminal use of a Financial Card, Morgan Hall. Report Taken: Investigation Into The Criminal Use Of A Financial Card Continues.
17:23 - Theft/Personal Property From A Building, Petro Allied Health Center. Report Taken: Investigation Into The Theft Of Personal Property Continues.
April 25
00:16 - Intrusion Alarm, Washburn Institute Of Tech. Report Taken: Probable Cause Decorations Hanging From Ceiling: Alarm Cleared And Reset.
April 25
09:21 - Fire Alarm, Washburn Village. Report Taken: Accidentally Set Off By Contractor: Alarm Cleared And Reset.
Nepali students discuss earthquake Brownback vetos Uber bill
Marissa Coyle WASHBURN REVIEW
The Himalayan area was struck with disaster April 25 when rocked by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake.
The largest nation affected by the disaster was Nepal. According to national media, 3,954 people were confirmed dead as a result of the earthquake and aftershocks in Nepal, China and India as of April 27. At least 7,000 Nepali were injured.
knows people who are “staying in temporary centers outside.”
The International Programs will raise money to help the Nepali people recover. One way they will fundraise will be to have a fundraiser at Washburn’s Celebration of Cultures in the fall. For those in the community who want to provide immediate help, donations can also be taken to the International House.
Vogel believes that Washburn students and the Topeka community will make a positive im-
pact by fundraising.
Parixit Dahal, a Nepali Washburn student, said that “the capital city is completely destroyed with all the ancient cultural heritages blown into smithereens.” However, the rural villages are even worse off. Up to 90 percent of some villages have been destroyed, Dahal said.
Washburn has nine students from Nepal, according to Andy Vogel, International House student recruiter. None of the students’ families was harmed.
Rajeev Shrestha, a Nepali student from Kathmandu, the country’s capital, said that he
by Ryan Ogle
“Topeka knows tragedy, with the 1966 tornado and the flood [of 1951]”, but was able to recover and rebuild thanks to cooperation and compassion from the community. He hopes that Topeka will support the Nepali people as they rebuild their lives and communities.
Money that the International Programs raise will be combined and sent Washburn’s partner institute, the International School of Travel and Learning in Kathmandu, Nepal. The school will directly distribute funds to rural villages that have been affected.
“Photos will be taken of the school disbursing the money and information will be shared with donors about how the money is spent,” Vogel said. These measures ensure that donations are not misused or wasted, “as they were in Haiti” or other recent disasters, he continued. The goal is for as much of the money raised to go toward the villagers who need it most.
“If in the case that we are not able to give the money to villagers, we will send the money to other organizations such as the UN or Doctors Without Borders who will help in the area’s recovery.”
Utshab Niroula, another Nepali student, said that the students were searching for a secure website for people to donate online while knowing that their money will be put to good use. Niroula said that anyone wanting to donate could also donate to the Red Cross or WFP “so that people could reach out quickly and help via donating”.
The Nepali students also “are planning to organize candle light mourning and trying to reach out to other Nepalese in the vicinity to join us and make a collective effort,” Dahal said. The vigil will be at bell tower on campus at 5 p.m on April 29. Attendees will pray and hope for “casualties and trapped people to withstand this disastrous situation,” Niroula added.
Stephanie
Cannon WASHBURN REVIEW
A bill that would have required the ride-hailing service, Uber, to perform driver background checks passed with a wide bipartisan majority through the Kansas legislature but was vetoed on Monday, April 20 by Kansas governor, Sam Brownback.
The bill also would have fixed an insurance coverage gap that leaves drivers vulnerable in the time between when the drivers check in to the Uber mobile app but before they pick up their client.
In a statement, Brownback decreed the bill as anti-free market and stated that Kansas should be known as a state that embraces economic growth and innovation.
Bipartisan supporters of the bill from the Kansas legislature spoke to the benefits for riders and drivers alike, as the bill would have promoted a safer ride for both. With background checks, drivers that fail would not have been able to connect with Uber’s service and if the insurance gap were covered then drivers would be less susceptible to accidental loss.
When asked about their opinion on the issue, the Washburn students who were familiar with the ride-hailing service expressed their concern.
“I think its cool that it’s coming to Topeka but I’ve heard some bad things that have happened to women when they’ve used it so I don’t particularly know if I would particularly use
the service,” said Megan Smith, a member of the Washburn organization STAND.
Smith stated that she believed that the way the law stands she currently would not use Uber’s services.
“There should definitely be background checks on the drivers,” Smith said.
Vanessa Nuñez, senior mass media major, shared Smith’s sentiment.
“I’ve never used the service. I don’t think we have a big enough town to really need it. I mean, I have heard things about a few issues, I guess regarding sexual assault and rape towards women through the Uber service. So, I guess I’d say not a lot of positive towards Uber-that would be my feelings towards it.”
Nuñez also wasn’t pleased to hear about Brownback vetoing the bill that would have required Uber drivers to pass background checks.
“I think that definitely maybe amps up that fear because you don’t know who’s possibly giving you a taxi ride. You don’t know if you’ll really end up at your destination or somewhere completely different, so I think that’s a little scary. Especially when you consider there have been reports of rape and sexual assault,“ said Nuñez.
Overall, Nuñez remained uncertain about Uber’s services. “I would definitely say maybe I wouldn’t use the service,”said. Nuñez.
Stephanie Cannon, stephenie. cannon@washburn.edu, is a junior mass media major
As storm season approaches, preparation matters
Derek Richardson WASHBURN REVIEW
The months of May and June are typically when the most severe weather occurs in Kansas, so knowing what to do when wind starts sweeping down the plains are critical.
“Severe weather season can be a scary time of year,” said Paul Knightly, a certified storm spotter. He follows severe storms to photograph them and uses social media to help keep people, as well as the National Weather Service, aware of what is happening on the ground.
Knightly said the best advice for people not from the region is to read up on what weather phenomenon affects their area and to understand the relative risks and safety measures that the should take if they are in danger.
“Most severe weather precautions revolve around getting inside a sturdy structure and keeping away from windows,” Knightly said.
Knightly urges that people take the threat of storms seriously. He said there have been a number of events where people lash out at meteorologists for not getting a forecast exactly correct.
“A lot of variables can affect whether or not a severe weather event happens,” Knightly said.
“While enormous strides have been made in forecasting, there are still a lot of unknowns.”
Knightly said that when the weather service calls for a severe weather outbreak in the area, pay attention regardless of the previously forecasted event’s outcome
“Staying weather aware is your responsibility, and it could someday save your life,” Knightly said.
According to the National Weather Service, a thunderstorm is considered severe if it produces hail at least one inch in diameter or has wind gusts of at least 58 miles per hour. These thunderstorms can produce heavy rain, which causes flash flooding. While wind and hail can be extremely dangerous and damaging, more deaths are caused each year by flooding and lightning.
The NWS advises people to head inside if they hear thunder or see lightning, since they are close enough to be in danger. Lightning strikes about 25 million times a year, and kills an average of 51 people in the United States.
Additionally, flash flooding can quickly cause rivers to overrun and cause street flooding. NWS advises to never walk or drive into a flooded roadway.
If you are driving, and severe weather strikes, NWS advises that you safely leave the roadway, park
and stay in the vehicle. If you are outside and are unable to reach a safe building, avoid high ground, water, isolated tall trees and metal objects. Structures such as picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are not safe.
Tornadoes can occur anytime, anywhere, but most develop in the Central Plains and southeast United States. Tornadoes have been reported in all 50 states.
Knightly said some of the biggest persistent weather myths are that geography or geographic features keep storms from affecting an area, causing some people to become complacent when weather is threatening their area.
“Just because storms seem to always avoid your town or weaken before reaching it doesn’t mean that they will always do so,” Knightly said. “Even if you think you’re safe, make sure that you are. If there is a warning, take appropriate measures and seek shelter.”
It is important to note that there is a difference between a weather watch and a weather warning. When a weather watch is issued, it means conditions make it possible for severe weather to generate over the next several hours. A warning is issued when a storm is present and impacting a specific area. If a warning is issued, an area can expect to
be impacted within 30 minutes to an hour.
Knightly said storm chasing has become more popular in recent years, especially in light of hit TV shows that glorify storm chasing and the advent of mobile Internet access that puts Doppler radar in the hands of anyone with a phone.
“The reality is that it can be a potentially very dangerous hobby and those interested in taking it up should do their homework first before jumping in,” Knightly said.
Knightly advises those interested in storm chasing to go with someone who is more experienced, or to go on a storm chasing tour. He said it is important that a chaser under-
stand the variables that can affect a storms course and intensity and be able to identify those factors while in the field.
“In that sense, it is not enough to just know what a Doppler radar is saying, but to recognize changing environmental conditions that can alert you to potentially dangerous scenarios before radar even picks it up,” Knightly said.
Knightly posts his weather images on Instagram at instagram.com/ paulknightly.
Derek Richardson, derek. richardson@washburn.edu, is a junior mass media major.
WSGA responds to Big Event concerns, vows to do better
Stephanie Cannon WASHBURN REVIEW
The 2015 Big Event, in which Washburn students took to the streets to help local non-profit organizations, was successful in many of its goals but for some of the students who participated, the organization of the event failed to live up to expectations.
Some of the logistical issues experienced included volunteers being sent to sites other than the sites originally indicated, some had too many volunteers, some didn’t have enough volunteers and one didn’t receive any at all. Some sites didn’t get the right supplies and some didn’t get fed, but Washburn Student Government Association (WSGA) sees opportunity to learn and improve with communications and logistics in the future.
“We just had some issues logisti-
cally. For instance, at one point the bus drivers disappeared. I wasn’t too happy about that,” said Dalton Hane, this year’s Big Event service director.
“But we’ve planned for next year to assign people to be with the buses all day. Honestly so that we can communicate more easily and get people to sites faster and more efficiently,” Hane said.
Student Activities and Greek Life (SAGL) advised WSGA during the Big Event and provided further insight into the situation.
“I would say that this year was sort of an anomaly,” said Jessica Barraclough, director of SAGL.
“This is an event planned by students and so every year is going to be a new learning opportunity and it’s a great event for the community,” Barraclough said.
“The incoming community service director on student govern-
ment already has plans in place to address some of the issues we faced this year so that, from a logistical standpoint there will be a little bit more organization and success for the event, for all that are involved,” Barraclough said.
Though there were issues, Hane feels that the current WSGA administration has learned from this year’s issues and he believes next year will be diferent.
“I think if we’ve learned anything it’s that there can never be too much preparation and we need to really analyze any event that we’re planning to make sure that we have every base covered. We need to make sure that bus drivers can’t go missing for half an hour. We need to make sure the food run is on time and that it is actually good food,” Hane explained, acknowlding the opportunity to improve the event for future volunteers.
“And I think above all else that we just really need to make sure that we pay attention to what students are looking for and what they want out of events like this,” Dalton said.
The Big Event happens yearly and is organized by WSGA and is supported with on-site coordination by the Learning in the Community (LinC) scholar/Bonner Leaders, the Leadership Institute and any other student organizations that wish to pledge their help.
For the last few years the partnership between the WSGA and Bonner has worked smoothly. However, this year many of the onsite coordinators had concerns with how the event was organized and implemented.
Barraclough emphasized the need for further cooporation between all organizations involved.
“I think that with Megan and her
position with student government I think that we’ll be fine. We’ll partner with the Bonner program again and work with those students and I think on both sides we have to learn and tweak things every year —that’s a part of the student experience.”
Barraclough also wanted to emphasize the fact that the Big Event was an overall success and students shouldn’t take some logistical errors to mean that the event isn’t worth attending in the future.
“It’s a great way for our students to connect with different organizations in the community and learn a little bit more about giving back to Topeka.”
She also pointed out that sometimes students find a site they enjoy and stick with it.
Stephanie Cannon, stephanie. cannon@washburn.edu, is a junior mass media major.
As I type my editorial swan song for a publication I have proudly been a part of in one form or another of since becoming an Ichabod in 2011 before stepping into the captain’s chair a year ago, I find myself lost in a moment of sentimental reflection.
Over the course of the last two semesters, I become more immersed in campus life than I had ever imagined or intended. As a non-traditional student with a family, I never saw myself taking on any extra responsibilities during my time here. Fortunately, I wasn’t given a choice. After spending the majority of last summer earning a few ex-
tra bucks in the Student Media office, I was informed by our faculty adviser, Regina Cassell, that I had been promoted from part-time contributor to Executive Editor. I had no clue what I was doing and little room on my plate, but I knew that resistance would be futile. It didn’t matter if I wanted the job, Cassell planted my butt firmly in the chair and put me to work. And I cannot thank her enough for forcing me to step outside of my comfort zone and realizing my full potential. I cannot thank her enough for putting me in room with a group of strangers who would quickly become some of the best friends
and colleagues I’ve ever had. And I cannot thank her enough for believing in us.
The last few months at Washburn have been an action-packed roller-coaster ride. It seemed that every silver lining was countered with a dark cloud. For every one of my fellow ‘Bods that rose to new heights, it seemed another would reach new lows. I’ll blame the nature of my job for the fact that those less than spectacular moments are the ones that stuck with me.
As my time here comes to an end, I’ve come to the realization that none of the drama will matter. Ten years from now, nobody will care about frat boy texts or
Farewell from the editor - Ryan Ogle Farewell from the editor: Chelsea
This is the last printed issue of the Washburn Review I will be art director, cartoonist, and graphic designer of. I leave my position in the hands of whoever wants to be the next art director for Student Media. The position definitely isn’t easy. Heck, when I took the position I had no idea what it meant.
I was initially hired as a cartoonist, for I had been developing a comic strip in my head for several years.
“Apathetic Wannabe: Because I wish I didn’t care.” The Washburn Review gave me the opportunity to develop it in the real world, but that was not all.
I hit the ground running as art director, working on newspaper design and layout, Bod Magazine design and layout, and, my biggest project for the last two semesters, the 150th
yearbook.
During Student Media last semester, our group met together for the first time. I didn’t know anyone. I had honestly never put any effort into knowing who did what and how student media worked in the past two years doing various things for the organization.
We were super small in the beginning. The entire first semester working together we maybe had a team of 10 people total. On production nights, it was only about six or less of us trying to put together a paper.
I didn’t know the first thing about any of the stuff we were trying to produce. I ended up studying professional publications and even got to represent Washburn at a mass media conference in Philadelphia. It wasn’t until we
met actual professionals when Ryan and I clicked at where we needed to go with our paper. By that time, we worked very hard to produce a few good issues for the Kansas Collegiate Media Conference in Wichita where I swept a total of six awards. There was even a judge who found me to chat about my work since my name was called so often. That was an amazing feeling. There was also a student from another university who contacted me to view my art to figure out what he can do better for next year.
Unfortunately and fortunately at the same time, one of my entries he wanted to see was a comic I did over college pregnancy. I thought to myself, “I don’t know how he can possibly learn anything from looking at my work other than to
WSGA’s squabbles. If you do, then you’ve wasted your time. For everything I’ve picked up here, the most important things I’ll take with me came from the support of an instructor like Regina Cassell, from the camaraderie and friendship of those listed in the masthead a few inches to the right of this sentence. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all. And thank you to everyone who showed their support (and even to those of you who didn’t). To all of you, good luck and good night. Thanks for tuning in...
just read and hopefully laugh.” He did laugh and we chatted for a few days about the process of making a comic and Calvin and Hobbes Being on the newspaper has been fun and has also been not so fun. Whoever is selected to take this fascinating and frustrating position will have some of their best and worst college experiences. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. I thank the entire editorial board, fellow staff, and the many people who have chosen to pick up this publication and read my comic every week for the last three years. Currently, I do not wish myself an apathetic wannabe, because, at this moment, I am glad I do care.
Note from the editor: Adam
At the beginning of the school year, I was thrown into a job with which I had no experience - from a leadership standpointwith people who were virtually strangers to me and was expected to work together to run one of the most prominent organizations at the university.
My first semester at The Review, in the spring of 2014, I simply came into the office on Monday’s got my assignment, and then emailed them on by Friday. Taking on a role as part of the executive staff forced ke to become much more involved
than I had ever been. But I could not have been more fortunate with who I would take this journey with.
I had no idea when I started at the beginning of this school year, but it didn’t take long for me to realize I had been surrounded by an incredible amount of talent.
The two graduating executive members, Ryan and Chelsea, are top-tier when it comes to doing what they do. Their abilities and their work ethic made this past year go more smoothly than I ever would have imagined, with all
three of us being new.
But our relationship goes beyond professional.
The challenges we’ve faced together, both related to work and outside of it, have brought us closer together than I have ever been with a co-worker or classmate.
I find it very safe to say our friendship will not end with their graduaton, or mine, or whatever we do and wherever we go here on out.
This year would have never been anything nearly as enjoyable as it has been without the
people we have had, especially Ryan and Chelsea. Truthfully, they played a large role in my continuing with The Review at certain times.
I could not have asked for better co-workers and wish them the best in whatever comes next.
We at Student Media will continue on next year the foundation we have built this year.
I am grateful to call Ryan and Chelsea some of my best friends.
Yujie Zai
The Editorial Board: After Hours
Who are we? We are the workers of the night. We are WU.
Name: Adam Vlach
Hero Name:
Name: Derek Richardson
Hero Name:
Name: Ryan Ogle
Hero Name: Big Grumpy
The Bloodhound Ability: Intelligence increases the longer he goes without sleep Likes: Suits and autumn Hates: When people finish the carton of milk and don’t replace it
The Rascalnaut
Ability: Made of nanomachines which he can use to transform any part of his body to a super weapon Likes: Space and Teslas Hates: Liberals
Ability: When lashing at others, his muscles bulge, hardening him into an angry unstoppable titan
Likes: Nothing Hates: Everything
Name: Stephanie Cannon
Hero Name: Mr. Miss Mitten
Ability: To seduce others and lull them into a false sense of security before the claws come out
Likes: Internet cat videos Hates: Transcribing audio
The entirely untrue tale of Student Media
By day they are simple, hardworking, news editors, but once the sun sets and production of the paper is complete these latex clad lads and lasses take to the streets as the unstoppable WU!
A team of heroes with a passion for sleep (which they are often deprived of), journalistic integrity, and most of all justice, WU represents the best and brightest of the Washburn University Student Media Department.
After another grueling Tuesday night spent diligently completing the paper, the Bloodhound A.K.A Adam Vlach lays down upon the in-office sofa for a well deserved rest, but just as our super companion begins to implement his super napping abilities he’s woken with a shout by Power Positive A.K.A Chelsea Howe, the ever energized and highly motivated warrior. “Bloodhound!” shouts Power
Positive “There is still yet work to be done, our supervisor (the mysterious Miss Castle) has just sent us an emergency notice marked urgent.” The notice reads as follows: WU Crew, sev-
eral students have been found half conscious and lethargic lying around campus. Signs point towards a suspicious and malevolent force being responsible. Investigate immediately, signed Ms. C. “Interesting,” stated the Rascalnaut A.K.A. Derek Richardson, in a calculating tone, “I did notice attendence was down significantly in my orbital mechanics lecture this afternoon,” he continued. “That’s probably just the class Derek,“ teased Mr. Miss Mitten A.K.A. Stephanie Cannon from the corner where she sat preener her hair. “Can we focus on getting this s$#@ done so I can get home?“ growled Big Grumpy A.K.A. Ryan Ogle from his cubible of solitude. Off our brave heroes then embarked into the cold, mid-April darkness, not yet aware what peril would be waiting for them. As the Crew walked along the moderately lit sidewalk they came across a figure slumped over on a bench several feet off the path. The heroes ran to assist the effected youth who lay there muttering half sentences
about flash cards and test taking tips. “The perpetrators must still be nearby,“ announced Power P. and at that moment out crept from the shadows a ominous and writhing mass of darkness. The Bloodhound closest to the mass was first to feel the effect of the figures. With his powers fueled by lack of sleep he was quick to fall to the power of this whispering villan. Once the shadow had passed him by the Bloodhound was left snoring, and incapacitated on the ground. “Don’t let them near you!“ shouted Mr. Miss as she darted away from the figures in an agile and feline fashion. “It’s impossible to fight what we can’t see!“ yelled Big G. as he picked up the stone bench and threw it at the villain. Unfortunately the prior seating option turned weapon passed right through the shadows with no ill effect. “Quick, Rascalnaut, can you increase the intensity of that street lamp?“ asked Power Postive. “Perhaps with the use of your whip I could amp up the voltage.“ Rascalnaut responded. Then moving with the speed
Name: Chelsea Howe
Hero Name:
Power Positive
Ability: Strength and agility to swing around her whipping flail Likes: Klingons and dark chocolate Hates: People who try to control woman’s rights
and synchronicity needed to successfully publish a school paper, the team worked together to move the electrical cord up to the street lamp Mr. Miss Mittens climbing up Big Grump’s back and catching the cord as Power Positive threw it. Mr. Miss then delivered the power strip to Rascalnaut who was hard at work rewiring the street lamp.
The cord connected and the streetlamp blasted the area with an overabundance of light. Once the shining brilliance struck the shadowy forms they dissapated into nothingness and Bloodhound and the fallen student woke with a start. The villain had been defeated at least for the moment, but something in the twilight warned that this was only the start of a much greater battle. Will our heroes triumph? Will Adam ever get a good night’s sleep? Will we ever acknowledge or address this story again? Your guess is honestly as good as mine.
Villain Name:
The Shadow Administration
Ability: Unknown
Likes: Being a blob
Wants: every person on campus to be eliminated. It is said these shadows were left at Washburn after graduates found better more hip shadows.
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Washburn adding sports
Adam Vlach WASHBURN REVIEW
The Washburn Board of Regents last week approved the addition of three new sports at Washburn, each with a men’s and women’s team.
Outdoor track, indoor track and cross country are being added to the list of sports Washburn offers, bringing the total amount of sports offered by the university up to 16.
With 16 varsity sports, Washburn could potentially move one or more of
its sports to the Division I level. However, Gene Cassell, sports information director, said there were no plans to do so to his knowledge.
The addition of track and cross country leaves Northeastern State University and Missouri Western State as the only two schools in the MIAA that do not offer those sports.
According to a news release from the Washburn athletic department, the three-year goal is to have about 45 men and
45 women to make up the teams. The hiring for coaching positions will begin in fall of 2015 to prepare for the first season a year later.
“We are excited about being able to provide student athletes coming to Washburn additional opportunities to compete in intercollegiate atheletics,” said athletic director Loren Ferré in the release.
Adam Vlach, adam. vlach@washburn.edu, is a senior English and mass media major.
Softball heads to tournament
Adrianne Lara WASHBURN REVIEW
The Washburn softball team finished the season with two losses.
Ichabod softball played Northwest Missouri State on Sunday and walked away falling in both games, putting their regular season record at 27-22.
The Ichabods wouldn’t score until the final inning of game one. Kristen Bell would score off Megan Stegman’s fielder
followed by one last run from Alex Sweeney off of Marina Quimby’s fly ball.
At 3-2, Northwest Missouri State would take the first win as they entered into game two of the doubleheader.
Lauren Thimmesch gave the Ichabod’s a 1-0 lead after her home run to left field. The Bearcats would respond well as they captured five runs in the second inning and two more in the third for a 7-1 lead.
Taylor Zimmerman
homered to center field again in the fifth. Quimby and Cassidy Merriman would both hit home runs to left field entering the sixth, but it wouldn’t be enough to win the game. A 7-4 score would send the Ichabods home with two losses.
The No. 7 seed softball team will take on No. 2 seed Pittsburg State University (33-17, 18-8 MIAA) this Thursday. This will be the Ichabod’s first MIAA Tournament since 2012.
Baseball brawling adds excitement
People like sports, both playing them and watching them, because they like competition. People especially like action.
A leveling hit in football, a monster dunk in basketball, a grand slam in baseball – all of these are things that pump up not the teams but everybody watching it as well.
So with this fascination of cut-throat competition and this desire for action, it comes as no surprise that people, myself included, are loving this fiery, scrappy (defending America League Champion) Royals team.
The Royals are third in MLB as far as winning percentage, but they took first in another category.
Number of ejections.
These nine ejections took place over two games and included not only players but coaches as well, including man-
ager Ned Yost.
Pitcher Yordano Ventura was thrown out of both games, after allegedly intentionally beaming an Oakland A’s batter with a 99 mile per hour fastball, and again after instigating the bench-clearing brawl between the Royals and the White Sox.
While it’s always nice to see sportsmanship and everybody patting each other on the back because it’s all just fun and games, sometimes it’s fun to see some passion in sports. Clearing the benches epitomizes that passion in any given sport.
Between America’s three most popular sports –football, basketball and baseball – baseball has the least physical contact between players. So it’s refreshing to see some of that pushing and shoving in a game in which that doesn’t occur as often.
The throwing of punches is a little different. While it might be exciting, it is a little too much. If a person did that anywhere other than a sports venue, he or she would be arrested.
But on the other hand, there is a sport that is nothing but punching. So from a spectator’s point of view and as someone who grew up playing competitive sports year-round, seeing the punching and just that level of escalation in general is exciting, as long as nobody ends up in the hospital.
I don’t know what is said in the clubhouse after games like that with Oakland and Chicago, but I feel with Kansas City
having been such underdogs last fall to go to game seven of the World Series has given them a huge chip on their shoulder.
And honestly, after all they overcame, they deserve it.
And, of course, the “extracurricular activity” that the Royals have been participating in have not come without consequences. Other than the ejections, there have been issued multiple suspensions, including a 7-game suspension for Ventura, and plenty of fines to go around.
But at the end of the day, no one was critically injured in the fight with the White Sox and those involved are being disciplined. MLB is not little league where you go to make friends and get a trophy for trying. MLB is a huge organization built around competition, so with all of this in mind, I don’t have a problem with a brawl time to time. Professional sports are meant to be highly competitive and that type of mindset inevitably leads to high emotions - something a few of the suspended Royals players said led to their actions - and as a result fights occur. But that is simply the nature of it.
Teams leaving the benches to fight is nothing new, but it does seem to be new with the Royals, and that is the intriguing part: seeing our Royals show fire.
After all, this is all in the entertainment business.
Adam Vlach, adam.vlach@ washburn.edu, is a senior English and mass media major.
Washburn splits series, heading to tournament
Adrianne Lara
WASHBURN REVIEW
The Ichabods split their last regular season doubleheader on Saturday against Nebraska-Kearney.
Washburn struggled in the first three innings of game one as UNK took a 5-0 led with a triple RBI home run in the first inning and a double RBI in the second.
Washburn started their comeback in the fourth with runs from Corey Gragg who scored off of Tanner Johnson’s home run.
WU took control of the game putting 2 more runs on the board after David Gauntt homered to right field followed by an RBI score from Cole Gardner.
The Ichabods scored another two runs in the bottom of the seventh as Parker Gibson made advances to third and was sent home by Kyle Carnahan’s tworun walk-off home run, ending the game with a 6-5 win for Washburn.
Dan Gabler walked away pitching 5 strikeouts followed by Hank Wellborn’s 3-inning shutout finish.
Game 2 ended with a doubleheader split for the Ichabods. Riley Krane started off the bottom of the first with a solid left field home run.
But Washburn lost their lead in a rough third inning with Eric Schmid on the mound pitching a
2-run double, two loaded walk, and an error that would give UNK a 4-run advantage.
The Ichabods would score once more in the sixth with Carnahan’s second home run in the doubleheader and one last time with a home run to right field from Dylan Turpin.
Wellborn, Greg Mason and Ryne Dowling each pitched an inning after Tanner Kilmer relief for Schmid.
Washburn scored all three runs through home runs, but UNK took home the 5-3 win.
The Ichabods will take on the No. 4 seed Missouri Western (29-19, 22-14 MIAA) as they begin the first round of MIAA Tournament play on Thursday, April 30 in St. Joseph, Missouri. Washburn secured the fifth seed in the tournament after being tied for fourth.
“I’m really excited for the conference tournament,” said pitcher Reed Morton. It’s the playoffs and anything can happen. It adds a special element to the game and with the top teams contending for a Regional bid, we expect nothing less than every game to be an outright dog fight, no matter who we play.”
Washburn will enter the tournament with a 30-18, 22-14 MIAA record.
Adrianne Lara, adrianne.lara@ washburn.edu, is a freshman mass media major.
Daredevil's first season does not turn a blind eye to justice
Coleen Kelly WASHBURN REVIEW
“Daredevil” is Netflix’s latest hit TV series released on April 10 of this year. The series is based off one of Marvel’s most famous solo comic book titles. Unlike the 2004 abomination that was the Ben Affleck movie adaptation of the same name we don’t talk about for reasons, this adaptation is outstanding.
“Daredevil” follows Matt Murdock: fledgling attorney with big dreams for his crime-stricken neighborhood Hell’s Kitchen, New York by day, and badass vigilante standing up to drug rings and corrupt corporations by night. Yet, this isn’t your typical idealistic-average-Joe-slaps-on-a-suit origin story.
While saving an elderly man from being hit by a truck trans-
Congratulations Ichabod Graduates!
porting hazardous chemical waste, Murdock was splashed in the eyes by its spilled cargo and blinded at nine years old. The accident left him blind, yes, but his other senses became supernaturally heightened to the point that he can smell someone a block away, discern whether you’re lying from listening to your heartbeat and can sense the contents within a room better than any sighted person could hope to. That coupled with his years of mostly self-trained martial arts make for a potent combination when fighting evil, legally or otherwise.
Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock absolutely hits it out of the park. In an interview, he let slip that he hadn’t done any research for the role and had no idea the character was blind until a friend asked him the night before his audition how he would play that. I’m not sure how true to life that story is, but I hope like heck that it is.
Cox does a fantastic job of portraying a blind man without it ever getting unintentionally comical or heavy-handed. He has no trouble conveying the dry
wit and humor of his character, or delivering those more emotionally charged chunks of dialogue (like when interrogating the head of the Russian mafia in a warehouse with police circling outside). A key element of this character is body language. I like Cox’s ability to be silent in a room, yet still have presence.
Other standout performances to note are Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson, Murdock’s best friend and business partner; Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple, a no-nonsense, brilliant nurse who patches Daredevil up after fights; and Vincent D'Onofrio as our main villain Wilson “Kingpin” Fisk, who strikes a nuanced balance between sympathetic and downright evil.
The cinematography is stunning. Every shot is framed beautifully. The color palette, lighting, sound mixing and costuming (you really believe Murdock threw his suit together via eBay) are all evidence of show runner Steven S. DeKnight’s attention to detail and passion for the story.
The scene that sold me on the
show from a technical standpoint was during a fight scene at the end of episode two in which an already wounded Murdock confronts a human trafficking ring to save a recently abducted child. The result? Three long, meticulous minutes of a single camera’s shot panning from one end of the hall to the other to catch the choreographed fight in its fluid entirety. It’s kind of amazing.
“Daredevil” had a great first season. The story is updated, cohesive, exciting, dark and full of heart. The series left itself a lot of room to grow thematically and in terms of characterization, and it’s that sort of focus and self-awareness that gives “Daredevil” such a solid first season to leave you wanting more.
There are thirteen one hourlong episodes all currently available on Netflix.
Colleen Kelly, colleen.kelly@ washburn.edu, is a sophomore English major
Vivian Apple fights to find parents during supposed Rapture
Colleen Kelly
WASHBURN REVIEW
In ‘Vivian Apple At the End of the World,’ seventeen-year-old Vivian and her parents belong to an evangelical cult known as the Church of America, a group led by the fanatical Beaton Frick. The church believes that the Rapture is coming which will send all true believers to heaven, leaving everyone left behind on Earth for six months until the subsequent end of the world.
As the countdown to the Rapture draws closer and mass hysteria arises, over 75 percent of the country – the President included – joins the cult and begins following Frick’s preaching.
The story opens at the final moments before the Rapture where Vivian and her non-believer friends are having a mock end of the world party. When she returns home, she finds her parents missing and two holes in the ceiling. Not accepting that they and many others were really Raptured, Vivian and two of her friends embark on a road
trip to track down the truth of the matter.
The author, Katie Coyle, ob-
viously had a lot of fun with this story. She marries the dystopian and contemporary road trip premises in an interesting, exciting way I haven’t seen done before. These two setups are used so frequently in literature today, though, that at times it feels vaguely familiar and trope-ish, but the story itself still strikes this nice balance be-
tween adventure and comedy as the group investigates the mystery behind Frick.
At first blush, I thought this novel would be an attack on modern organized religion, but it more or less leaves that topic well alone and zeroes in on cults, mob mentality and capitalism for its criticism. It offered up a lot of interesting commentary on how terrifying Frick’s authority over both church and state is and all the ways a society can fall apart because of that.
And yes, it wouldn’t be a road trip story if there weren’t a romance. I really enjoyed both of these characters and I wanted them to end up together, but the romance happened a smidge too quickly for my liking. It was sweet and all, but the payoff would have been better if the relationship had been more drawn out in its development. However, that was the only aspect I wanted to take its time.
Even though the story dragged some for a portion in the middle of the novel, it was wonderfully fast paced as a whole and kept
me guessing and completely invested in Vivian and company’s journey. That did take some doing for me initially, though – caring about Vivian and her friends. They needed to grow on me for the first hundred pages before I was anything but neutral about them, but when they came into their own as the story picked up, I had zero trouble connecting with them and I didn’t want our time on the road trip to end.
My two largest issues were how long it took for me to feel for Vivian and how quickly we’re thrown into her romance. We’re left with quite a few questions by the end of the
novel, though to be fair, it was purposefully written that way to setup its upcoming sequel ‘Vivian Apple Needs a Miracle,’ coming out this September. Overall, the plot was exciting, the mystery was well thought out and the ambiguous ending was surprisingly satisfying. I can’t wait to finish this series and see where Coyle and Vivian take me next!
Colleen Kelly, colleen.kelly@ washburn.edu, is a sophomore English major
Godzilla to invade Washburn
Katie Wade WASHBURN REVIEW
The ninth annual Godzilla & Friends Film Festival will be held this weekend, May 1-2, in Henderson Learning Center, Room 112. This year’s festival theme is Godzilla Battles.
The festival is sponsored by KTWU and campus departments including International Programs and Multicultural Affairs and is free and open to the public.
Members of the campus community may take a break from finals studies to enjoy some good old-fashioned monster movies and a discussion of their cultural significance.
“The audience grows every year, which is really cool to see. It’s very a family oriented event,” said Bill Shaffer, KTWU program director.
The festival will kick off at 7 p.m. on Friday,May 1 with “Gamera Vs. Gyaos” and will continue the next morning with “Son of Godzilla” at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 2.
At 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Bill Gudmundson, a model maker known as The Resin Chef, will give a presentation on the creation of models including a slideshow of his remarkable works. Examples of Gudmundson’s models and artwork can be found on his website: bills-kitchen.com.
Saturday afternoon will feature “Latitude Zero!” at 3:30 p.m. The festival will conclude with a surprise feature to be announced just before its showing at 7 p.m.
The event will also see author and filmmaker Ed Godziszewski introduce several of the films with PowerPoints discuss-
ing the behind-the-scenes work that went into their making.
“He’s been to the place where these
movies were made and he’s even seen some of them being made,” Shaffer said.
The film fest will feature giveaways, a coloring contest and a roar contest.
“It’s just a lot of fun really,” Shaffer said, “And most everybody gets into the movies. I’m just astonished that even an old movie like ‘Son of Godzilla’ – they just really like them.”
Katie Wade, katherine.wade@ washburn.edu, is a sophomore history and mass media major
A Nice Night For A Ride: Washburn students, faculty and community members took part in Tuesday night’s WU Glow Ride. Cyclists of all ages adorned themselves with glow sticks and gathered in front of the Kuene Bell Tower for a nighttime ride from Washburn to the Capitol Building. Topeka Metro sponsored the ride to help promote their new bike share program.
Washburn cyclists glow during nighttime ride
Kenzie McCoy WASHBURN REVIEW
The Topeka Metro bikes allow students to rent a bike and ride it around campus for $20 a year.
With the appearance of the new bikes on campus, the WU Glow Ride event was created to encourage students to grab their own bike, or a rented metro bike, and learn how to safely bike around the community. Glow sticks, prizes and snacks were provided to students who attended the event.
“[This event] was an amazing opportunity, not only to experience a different type of community event, but also to show support of Topeka and the great opportunities it’s providing,” said Veronica Diaz, senior mass media major and cochair of WU Glow Ride.
WU Glow Ride, which took place from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on April 28, had students bike from the Washburn Bell Tower to the Capitol Building. Students who registered for the event beforehand were given a water bottle and free subway sandwich. Over 80 students, community members and faculty signed up for WU Glow Ride.
Students taking Washburn’s Public Relations II class were highly involved with the creation of WU Glow Ride.
“The WU Glow Ride is our effort here at the cyclists of Washburn, who are
teaming up with Topeka Metro Bikes, to promote bike riding here on campus. I personally got involved in this because of my public relations class; we were to help promote the bike share program with students,” said Diaz.
Diaz said the class teamed up with the Cyclists at Washburn group to coordinate and create the event.
“[WU Glow Ride] was a chance for people to try out the metro bikes; to give [students and faculty] an incentive for signing up and to try out the program before [students] leave for the summer. We wanted to give the opportunity for people to find out the functions of the bike but also to get cycling more present on campus and to just have a good time,” said Olivia Marshall, junior mass media major, co-president of Cyclists at Washburn, and chair of WU Glow Ride.
Live music and a speech from Karl Fundenberger, director of bicycle operations at Topeka Metro, were provided once bike riders arrived at the Capitol Building. After spending some time at the Capitol, riders took the Shunga Trail back to Washburn.
Kenzie McCoy, McKenzie McCoy@washburn.edu, is a junior mass media major