Providing a voice for Washburn students since 1897 Volume 144, Issue 19
News Pages 1-3 Farley Roundtable
Opinion Page 4
Sports Pages 5-6
Letter to the Editor: UMC
WU Tennis sweeps Ottawa
Oh, say can you see Charles Rankin
washburnreview.org
February 21, 2018
American national anthem and reevaluate February is Black History its legitimaMonth. To celebrate, and to cy for black help begin important confolks in an versations, Washburn hosted era of Black a discussion on a topic that Lives Mathas been in the forefront ter, an era of American society for the of Tamir past two years. Rice, Mike Stephanie Shonekan, chair Brown, Sanof the black studies departdra Bland, ment and associate profesEric Garsor of ethnomusicology at ner, Philanthe University of Missouri, do Castile spoke Feb. 19 at Bradbury Photo by Charles Rankin [and] Thompson Alumni Center Hard questions: Stephanie Shonekan answers quesTrayvon on the national anthem and Martin, he tions during the panel discussion after her lecture on the anthem. During the panel, audience members asked a its role in black identity. is keeping variety of questions such as ways to engage with people Shonekan discussed the the faith,” who don’t want to change. origins of the U.S. anthem, Shonekan including its author, Francis said. “[Kaepernick] is “Colin Kaepernick really Scott Key, who was a slaveis amazing,” Hodge said. rethinking and responding, holder and an anti-aboliconducting a critical symbi- “I play volleyball and no tionist. She also discussed otic exercise that results in a one shows up to volleyball how many of the lyrics, gnawing question about cit- games. I still don’t have the especially verses from it, are izenship and freedom. He is courage to kneel like he often forgotten. Shonekan does. All I had the courage asking, ‘What is the essence then looked at anthems as of equality and justice? Who to do was not put my hand a whole and the fluidity of is the “we” in the first line of over my heart. He had the them. courage in front of millions the “Star Spangled Ban“Black people all over of people... to kneel and ner?”’” the world for whom muthat’s just amazing. I have a sic is a potent expression of respect for him as an “[Kaepernick] lot of culture, tradition and athlete.” is asking, ‘What identity have grappled with After Shonekan’s lecture the irony and conflicts on and a brief question and is the essence answer the concepts of a national portion, there was a anthem, sometimes changof equality and panel discussion that including their anthem as was the Shonekan, Dina Bennett, justice? Who is ed case with Nigeria in 1978,” associate director for MulShonekan said. the “we” in the vane Art Museum, Bruce Shonekan said that five Mactavish, assistant profesfirst line of the Nigerians created a new sor of history at Washburn anthem to replace their old “Star Spangled and Rodney Smith, associate one, which was created by director for student success Banner?”’” a British national. at University of MissouShonekan said that most ri-Kansas City. The panel - Stephanie African nations have struganswered questions from the Shonekan gled to come to grips with audience about a variety of their anthems because of topics such as race and civil Shonekan noted how their similarities to Europediscourse. Kaepernick did a second an anthems, even going so To continue its celebration line of reevaluating and far as playing the anthems of Black History Month, rethinking in his decision to of Belgium and Zimbabwe and to further the discuskneel instead of sit during and having the audience sion on race in America, the anthem, out of “reverguess which was the AfriWashburn is hosting Olymential” honor for veterans. can anthem. The majority pic medalist John Carlos at Shonekan went on to of those attending did not 10 a.m., Feb. 22 in White discuss the way that white guess correctly. Concert Hall. Carlos will people are often seen as “Africans should quesspeak about the 1968 Olymintrinsically and inherently tion these songs, and they pics, where he received American, while those of are,” Shonekan said. “This color are often skewered for the bronze medal in the [is] music that is supposed any perceived un-American 200-meter and protested to signify independence, during the national anthem acts, pointing to the 2016 autonomy and freedom but with gold medalist Tommie Olympics where two white sounds tightly harnessed to Smith by raising a Black shot putters and a black their colonial past.” Power salute. gymnast did not place their Shonekan discussed the hands over their hearts way many African-AmeriNo refuge could save during the playing of the cans have used their musical U.S. Anthem and how only the hireling and slave, From the terror of abilities to create what can the gymnast was eviscerated flight or the gloom of some describe as counter by the media and the generthe grave, anthems, such as “Lift Up al public. And the star-spangled Your Voice and Sing,” Jimi One student came to the banner in triumph Hendrix’s own rendition event because of her belief doth wave, of “The Star-Spangled in seeing different perspecO'er the land of the Banner,” Janet Jackson’s tives on the issue. free and the home of “Rhythm Nation” and “I think it’s important for the brave. even modern songs such as people to recognize the First An excerpt from verse 3 of “The Star-Spangled Banner” Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright.” Amendment right to free Shonekan has compiled an speech and to protest peaceextensive list of songs that fully like Colin Kaepernick could be considered counter did,” said Jade Hodge, anthems. senior math major. Shonekan then moved Hodge, who plays volleyonto the image of Colin ball at Washburn, said she Kaepernick. really looks up to Kaeper“When Colin Kaepernick nick and his protest. chooses to truly listen to the
Features Pages 7-12 ‘Black Panther’ Review
Making a new course: A Washburn exclusive
Washburn Review charles.rankin@washburn.edu
Photo courtesy of Netflix
Teaching with TV: The Netflix documentary, ‘Making a Murderer’ is being used as a veritable fountain of examples for how complicated the world of criminal justice can become. The series will be used as an outline for the class.
Whitney Clum Washburn Review whitney.clum@washburn.edu
Students everywhere, rejoice. Instead of a book, the required material for one of the summer Criminal Justice course is a Netflix subscription. Starting July 2, Controversial Issues in Criminal Justice will go over issues presented in the Netflix documentary “Making a Murderer” that plague the criminal justice system over a period of five weeks. These issues include subjects such as wrongful convictions, the CSI effect, forensic evidence on trial, different roles in the courtroom, and new complications in criminal justice caused by the media and technology. “When I first started here, we were encouraged to find for our summer classes these innovative type courses, and there’s always things that come up in class that I want to cover…But if you design a class like this one, like the controversial issues class, you can spend a lot more time digging deeper into the subject matter,” said professor Melanie Worsley, who created the course. “Within Criminal Justice, there’s always kind of these hot topic issues to talk about, so it gives me a chance to really explore those types of issues.” “Making a Murderer” encompasses many of the issues in the criminal justice system that make headlines in the news. It follows the story of Steve Avery, a man charged with attempted murder and sexual assault and spent 18 years in prison before being exonerated with DNA evidence. He ended up racking up another murder charge a few years later, while his civil suit against the county for wrongful imprisonment was still
pending. The true story incorporates many of the elements that will be discussed in the class, and since aspects of his case are still active, the discussion around the case could change as the class progresses. During the class, students will be able to see examples of nebulous situations that have been discussed in previous classes and explore them in a real-life case with real-life wrenches thrown into the circumstances that surrounded Avery’s case. “I’ve been able to incorporate a lot of the forensic investigations type things into the class from the role defense attorneys and prosecutors play in discussing forensic evidence to the use of forensic evidence at trial,” said Worsley. The class will connect with other courses taught in the criminal justice department and beyond so students from other disciplines can have more exposure to the justice system, how forensic evidence works and how some of these issues can have an effect on our culture as a whole. “I think there’s a lot of controversial issues occurring with a lot of cases today. It’ll be interesting to see those type of topics be addressed,” said sophomore physical therapy assistant major Jesse Renfro. “It sounds a like a very interesting class. I’d be very interested in taking it.” Since the class is taught as a summer elective course, it is allowed to have more of an innovative topic, pulling together bits and pieces of information taught during the school year and placing it within the context of an ongoing case. Ultimately, it helps teach students how to take information they learned in class and apply it to the real world.