Washburn University
News
Volume 142, Issue 16
Features
February 3, 2016
Arts & Entertainment
Opinion
washburnreview.org
Sports
Farley named ‘Distinguished Kansan’ ‘Chi-raq’
tackles gun violence
Dylan McManis
WASHBURN REVIEW
In honor of his work at Washburn University, leadership skills that bring change to campus and amazing bow ties, Washburn President Jerry Farley was named “Distinguished Kansan of the Year” on Jan. 29. Every year, the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas organization names a “Kansan of the year” to give an award to. But some years, they give a second award which they call the “Distinguished Kansan of the Year” award, and this year, that award went to Farley. On Jan. 29, the annual Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas banquet was held at the Ramada in downtown Topeka. The event featured a social gathering before the dinner so that attendees could greet one another as well as look at the artwork entered in the high-school arts competition that the organization holds every year on display. The competition featured multiple categories that allowed for both black and white photography as well as color photography, mixed media, drawing, painting, pastels, portraits and even a category simply entitled “Freedom.” Awards for the art competition, as well as an all-ages essay competition and a grades 8-12 competition, were handed out during the dinner by Gov. Sam Brownback. Then, the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas honored Washburn University with a Distinguished Service Citation based on the university’s 150 years of excellence. Dinner guests got to watch a video about Washburn’s founding as Lincoln College and how it became Washburn University. It talked about the 1966 tornado and how Washburn went about recovering after the disaster. Then it went to talk about modern day Washburn, its many degrees, service projects and activities. The award was given to the Washburn Board of Regents by Brownback. Following directly after his Connect with us on social media! ichabodshop @ichabodshop @ichabodshop
Michael Anschutz
WASHBURN REVIEW
Feb. 1 saw the return of the University of Kansas film professor Kevin Willmott to the Washburn campus for a showing of “Chi-raq.” The film, co-written by Willmott and Spike Lee, was chosen to be a part of Phi Alpha Theta’s monthly film series. Tom Prasch, chair of the history department, cited several reasons for choosing “Chi-raq” for this month’s showing. Notably, it is a contemporary take on the classic “Lysistrata,” a greek comedy by Aristophanes with an anti-war message. Additionally, the film addresses gun violence in contemporary America and is a return to more mainstream movie making for director and cowriter Lee. “His work has always interested me; as an African American film maker, he seems [to be] an incredibly important figure,” Prasch said of Lee. “Chi-raq” begins by asserting that we find ourselves in an emergency and that more Americans have been murdered in Chicago in the last ten years Photo by Fahad Alfrayyan than American special forces Distinguished Kansan: On Jan. 29, the president of Washburn University, Jerry Farley, was given the “Distinguished soldiers who have died in the Kansan of the Year” award. A comedic video montage of Farley and his interactions both with students and his wife was Iraqi and Afghani wars. shown before the award, showing off Farley’s more “goofy” side. “The level of gun violence … it’s become so everyday. This is university, Farley received his of regents about them choosing vations and the new dorms. He a problem in a lot of American award as the “Distinguished Farley to be Washburn’s presi- even took a moment to make an cities … the notion that this is an dent back in 1997. aside about balancing Kansas’ Kansan of the Year.” Before emergency is new and fights that Of course, the video showed finances, if the governor would Farley had even gotten up to normalization,” Prasch said. the podium, the audience had quite a bit of Farley’s fun and let him. Overall, his speech Following “Lysistrata’s plot, was certainly the liveliest of the been introduced to his antics playful side. a group of women in Chicago, “I like doing it,” Farley said. night, earning him a full-fledged via several other presenters, one specifically in the Englewood of whom was a recording of “I hope this crowd tonight was standing ovation. Because of Farley’s involve- neighborhood, band together to Washburn alum Bob Dole. The ready for that. It’s a good bit audience then watched a come- different as you saw from most ment with the event, about a end the deaths of gun violence dic video about Farley, which of the presentations that were dozen students were given free by going on a sex strike. The men of the film, such as tickets to the event, which regfeatured him running around on made.” Nick Cannon’s character DemeWhen Farley got up to speak ularly cost $75 per person to campus and in his own home trious/Chi-raq, must either make with a tracksuit and shades on the crowd grew silent. He spoke attend. peace or never get a “piece” of his wife Susan and the var“The fun part for me tonight,” for a good portion of the vidagain. eo. While the video was all in ious projects springing up While retaining the bawdy good fun, the end of the video around Washburn such as the featured praise from the board KBI building, the union reno- FARLEY: continued on page 3 CHI-RAQ: continued on page 3
Washburn’s Birthday Sale! Friday, February 5th Grand Homecoming T-shirts are $3 and select Washburn 150 merchandise is 50% off Catch us at the Connect & Select Fair, and join in on our Make & Take.