ARTS & CULTURE
KANSAN COM
FROM MCGRUDER
PAGE 5
Kaila Trollope/KANSAN
I wanted to influence — especially inspire those who have autism and are silent, that they are important, that they are included."
Phillip McGruder Senior
Throughout his time at the University, Phillip has looked toward visual learning to assist him as he goes. His mother, Anne Davis-McGruder, helped him instill this in himself at a young age, he said, along with important values to abide by in order to achieve the things he desires.
"Once I discovered Phillip's difficulties around cognition, I knew that I would have to teach him courage, boldness, and other values that would allow him to become his best self," Anne said.
In December of 2014, Phillip saw his determination to push further in his education pay off when he began Believe Autism Matters, a group he long wanted to establish, with an encouraging turnout. The group currently meets once at the end of every month, looking to give a voice to those who are often left out of the conversation, he said.
"I wanted to influence — especially inspire — those who have autism
A major difference, he added, between those dealing with autism at the University versus those who do not, is a feeling of social isolation due to their diagnosis. The group attempts to
and are silent, that they are important, that they are included," Phillip said.
remedy that, especially those who felt they were labeled as socially awkward before college.
Phillip said he could relate to this feeling. Verbal and physical bullying was a constant presence growing up, though he said that through those experiences he was able to grow stronger emotionally and intellectually.
Despite the difficulties Phillip has dealt with, he said he remains strong due to his parents' past struggles. Anne and Marvin Lee McGruder, his father, were born in the late 30s and late 40s, respectively, and both were close to the civil
rights movement. His mother was born and raised in the deep south.
The strength and will of his father in his later years, McGruder added, would also prove as an inspiration for him.
In September of last year, Phillip's father died after an eight-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. Philip remembers his father's willingness to hold on, even after a seizure in February 2015.
["Phillip] was in a really dark place," Christian Roberson, Phillip's
friend and fellow senior at the University, said. "It was tough to see him like that, because before then, you can really say Phillip was a very positive person, but the loss of his father, to me, was tough because him and his father were super close."
McGruder's mother has also been a motivator for him.
Despite pushback from her community, Anne became the first in the family to graduate college. For Phillip, this display of determination, despite the obstacles she faced, motivated him to graduate himself despite the stigmas he faces.
"Every time I go out that door, I think about my ancestors and I think about my mother and what she had to live through in those moments," Phillip said.
Now, he hopes he can help others with autism through his group, Believe Autism Matters, as he heads toward graduation in May.
- Edited by Christian Hardy
Next 'Tunes at Night' to feature The Ovaries-eez
SAVANNA SMITH
@SavSmith27
Lawrence band The Ovaries-eez will perform at Tunes at Night on Nov. 10.
Contributed photo
On Thursday, Nov. 10, the Lied Center will host Student Union Activities' "Tunes at Night" featuring The Ovaries-eez.
The band, which started in Lawrence, consists of Johni Lacore, Amber Hansen, and Monica George. Hansen now lives in South Dakota, but will make the trip back home to reconnect with the band.
"It's really refreshing," Lacore said. "I'm glad we can all be together again."
The band was named after a suggestion from a family member and grasps the essence of the band, Lacore said.
"I like having ovaries in it [the name] because I feel like people tiptoe around talking about women's reproductive systems and it's kind of just a punny name," Lacore said.
Bonded by their love for music, Hansen said the women of The Ovaries-eez have a personal
connection to the band and the style of music they choose to play.
"The music is driven by the lyrics and the harmonies. I would say those two things are what we focus on the most. I would say that a lot of the words are trying to poetically address social issues that are on the forefront of our minds as well as our journeys," Hansen said. "We structure the songs so people are able to hear the lyrics. The words and the meaning behind the words are what make
those songs special."
According to Lacore, the music mainly focuses on vocals and harmonies rather than instrumentation. The band's music has been described as "spooky, but dreamy," Lacore said.
The band is inspired by Vashti Bunyan, Mia Doi Todd, Malvina Reynolds, and Nina Simone, along with local Lawrence bands such as Invisible Public Library.
Lacore and Hansen also have high hopes in how their music will
reach their audiences this Thursday.
"Hopefully it will inspire them to make art about ideas that are important to them. My hope is the music and the simplicity will inspire people to make music of their own," Hansen said.
The show is free and begins at 8 p.m. at the Lied Center.
Contributed photo
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