April 25, 2018 by The Wichitan

April 25, 2018 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 82 No. 27

Community leaders stress importance of city bonds TYLER MANNING EDITOR

n a matter of a few short weeks, there is an opportunity to completely reshape tone, environment and infrastructure of Wichita Falls. Those eligible to vote in the city of Wichita Falls will have the chance to vote on seven proposed bonds with significant consequences for key areas in town. Members from the Young Professionals and the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce discussed the effects of the proposed bonds to ease any misconceptions surrounding the legislation in the Clark Student Center on April 24. Henry Florsheim, president of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce, along with Shannon Coppage, president of Young Professionals, went through each of the proposed bonds stating the bonds’ purposes and potential effects on the city and community. “We want students to be aware of the is-

SCREEN CAPTURE TAKEN FROM FALLSFUTURE.COM.

If proposed bond Proposition G were to be passed, changes to downtown Wichita Falls would include underground infrastructure, widening the roads, adding bike lanes and repaving the roads and sidewalks. sues that are happening around town because they will affect the students while they are here or after they graduate if they stay here, so

we are trying to build a community that the students want,” Florsheim said. “If we are going to grow our workforce and help our com-

panies find employees, we have to build a city that our future wants and that our workforce wants.” To help better foster a more comfortable and engaging campus environment, Wichita Falls’ city community needs to be nourishing to the campus and the students. Members of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce have proposed a bond that would help revitalize downtown and make Wichita Falls a thriving environment that would attract workers and business opportunities, which is Proposition G. Proposition G is a $22 million bond that would reshape the streetscape and infrastructure of around nine blocks in downtown Wichita Falls from 7th street to 10th street. “As we’re trying to talk about becoming a more friendly, welcoming and vibrant city, one of our biggest issues is that our central

see BONDS pg. 7

Alleged sexual misconduct causes controversy for Kappa Sigma CORTNEY WOOD MANAGING EDITOR

[Editor’s note: During a recorded interview, Jessica Wollenberger received a call from Janet Hallum, Sigma Kappa Gamma Tau chapter adviser, which she answered while the recording was still on. Cortney Wood, managing editor and reporter, attempted to contact Hallum to notify her she had been recorded, but Hallum did not respond. The quotes from Hallum are from the phone call between Wollenberger and Hallum.] fter at least two incidents allegedly pertaining to sexual misconduct, a former fraternity member has been expelled from Kappa Sigma and a sorority member has been threatened with expulsion in Sigma Kappa for speaking out. According to Avery Whaite, former Kappa Sigma fraternity member and mass communication senior, he was expelled on Sunday, April 22, from the fraternity he once presided over because he stood up for a female student that was being sexually harassed by other members of his fraternity. “They said I was slandering them, that I was sworn to secrecy, but when it comes to someone’s mental health and well-being, I’m not sworn to secrecy,” Whaite said. “This was not fraternal business. This is something that could get a fraternity in a lot of trouble, espe-

cially in these days.” But for Whaite, the impact on an individual person mattered more than a connection with a fraternity. “I did something that I thought was right, and I get expelled for a reason that is quite ridiculous. I really believe I did the right thing, and I stand by what I did,” Whaite said. “I don’t regret what I did. I can stand in a mirror and be proud of what I did. But I don’t think the people in Kappa Sigma recognize that.” According to Whaite, a video was sent into the Kappa Sigma GroupMe where members of the fraternity began to make inappropriate comments about the students involved, and once Whaite disagreed with the discussion, he was kicked out of the chat to remove his voice from the conversation. Whaite said he then went to Nick Gallicchio, district grand master of Kappa Sigma, to discuss the incident. “The fact that I said something to our District Grand Master in the first place was because I didn’t want this to escalate any further,” Whaite said. “I said something because I knew if something wasn’t done about this now, [the student] would only continued to get harassed more.” Following a tweet Kappa Sigma posted at 8:18 a.m. Tuesday, Jessica Wollenberger, Sig-

Kappa Sigma fraternity tweeted a calendar with the event dates for Sexual Assault Awareness Month at 8:58 a.m. on April 24. ma Kappa member and mass communication senior, quote retweeted the post with the caption “Ironic considering y’all have been sexually harassing someone.” After Wollenberger posted her tweet, she said she began to recieve texts from other members from Sigma Kappa asking her to

take down the post. According to Wollenberger, the Sigma Kappa chapter president, Sydney Bateman, said the post looked bad on the sorority and asked her to remove it from social media. While she is a Sigma Kappa that will go alum with the chapter on Monday, April 30, Wollenberger said she felt “things don’t get done and changes don’t happen until people do something about it that people aren’t happy about.” “I knew it wouldn’t go unnoticed. I wouldn’t have tweeted it if I didn’t want people to see it,” Wollenberger said. “I am fully aware that when you are in an organization, you are a representative of that organization 24/7,” Wollenberger said. “I am a Sigma Kappa, so that does reflect on me. However, I feel it’s not our place to say we can’t speak out against sexual harassment.” According to Wollenberger, Janet Hallum, Sigma Kappa Gamma Tau chapter adviser, called her and requested she take the tweet down because “it’s causing a lot of ruckus,” Hallum said. “I hope you don’t drag Sigma Kappa in the mud because we are just surviving a very rough six months, and we can’t handle an-

see KAPPA pg. 7

2 | April 25, 2018 |

Consent is not as simple as yes or no

STAF F E D I T O R I A L

Dietz’s hiring brings hope and skepticism

OUR VIEW: Upon his hiring as vice president of enrollment management, Fred Dietz may have good ideas to increase enrollment numbers on campus; however, we are skeptical of his upcoming performance.

ut of a pool of more than 40 candidates, a search committee chose Fred Dietz to serve as the vice president of enrollment management. At a forum interview earlier this month, he discussed how he would help increase enrollment numbers. His ideas are good, though we are unsure about his ability to increase enrollment numbers due to his background at Murray State University. He discussed finding the campus’ identity and using that as a recruitment tactic. Having a staff member committed to seeking out and strengthening the identity of campus is encouraging, and we hope this leads to a strengthened school identity. Though Dietz is set to be the vice president of enrollment management on campus for the upcoming years, he is now serving as the associate vice president of enrollment management at Murray State University, in which freshman enrollment numbers have seen a decrease this last fall. With the freshman enrollment numbers not having increased this last fall, this is not an encouraging sign. However, according to Dietz, the decrease in enrollment numbers at Murray State University was the result of the university increasing admission standards to increase retention. Strengthening the identity of the university as well as increasing enrollment and retention certainly should be his priorities.

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Vol. 82 | No. 27

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n Aug. 29, 2017, I was sexually assaulted by a guy I thought was into me. That’s usually how it goes. Don’t get me wrong, people are drugged by strangers or taken from their homes, but for the most part, it’s someone you know, usually an acMaria quaintance. Gutierrez For the purpose of this article, we’ll call him David. David thought I was playing hard to get, maybe my shoving and pushing was a tease. It wasn’t. He didn’t acknowledge I wasn’t kissing him back. He didn’t realize I kept thinking, “maybe if I scream loud enough, someone would save me.” He only cared about what he wanted. Consent comes in more ways than one. It’s not just

a yes or no. If a person seems unsure about becoming intimate, it means no. Or in my case, shoving, pushing and moving away means no. If that person is drunk, it means no. It doesn’t matter if that person agreed to come over or agreed to kiss you, if they decide they don’t want to anymore, it means no. The thing is, people don’t understand that sexual assault takes different forms. It can be rape, unwanted touching or forcing a person into sexual acts. It’s a hard thing to go through. It’s something that no one should ever have to experience. I still find myself frozen in that bed, but today, I’m okay. Today, I can tell my story. I didn’t want David to touch me. I didn’t consent to it, but he decided otherwise. If you’re struggling to find out if someone gave you consent, they didn’t. Maria Gutierrez is a bilingual education senior.

Culture change from Zimbabwe to America

oming from my home in Zimbabwe and having travelled a fair amount around the world in my life, culture shock has become somewhat of a normal thing for me. Though even with all the stories of what to expect, I could not have quite prepared myself for what I would expeMarc rience here in America. Zographos Being from another country always attracts attention, especially if you have a different accent. With that, I have encountered a lot of expected questions such as, “where are you from?” which I would generally be expected to say Australia or England. When I arrived in America, I almost immediately noticed the “everything’s bigger in Texas” ideology, with the highways having more lanes and the vehicles — especially the trucks — being much bigger than those in all the other countries I had visited. I had also noticed how fast food had a much bigger presence with regards to how available it is to its customers here in America than in other countries I had visited, such as Australia or Greece. I’m definitely not complaining about that though, having gone on multiple late-night Taco Bell runs throughout my college career. Having come from a country close to the equator,

I was not prepared for the weather conditions here, only bringing some thin jackets and thinking that would be enough, but I was obviously proven wrong very quickly. The weather change was not completely unwanted, as I experienced my first snow here in Wichita Falls, and although it was not deep snow it was a great experience, given that I had only heard stories about snow and seen it on TV. Alongside all of this, the hospitality I experienced in the four years I have been here has been unlike any other and I have had nothing, but great experiences here, making friends with so many people and actually meeting people that I would consider as close family. The person arrived in Dallas four years ago is not the same today, having grown accustomed to so many local traditions and the humorous culture that comes with it. Because of this, I am hopefully planning on staying and working in America for the next couple of years so as to keep enjoying the great experiences and encounters that I have already had throughout my college career and possibly newer, different ones. Graduating comes across as bitter-sweet, given that I have never been a big fan of school, but knowing that this is the closing of a whole part of my life and the beginning of a more serious one has me nostalgic for the fun times of previous years. Marc Zographos is a marketing senior.

EDITOR: Tyler Manning

MANAGING EDITOR: Cortney Wood

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ISSUE STAFF: Maria Gutierrez, Marc Zographos, Brian Lang, Makayla Scheck, Chloe Phillips, Kristin Silva, Miguel Padron

Opinions expressed in The Wichitan do not necessarily reflect those of the students, staff, faculty, administration or Board of Regents of Midwestern State University.

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Joanne Ortega, Sarah Graves, Rachel Johnson

ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

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| April 25, 2018 | 3 UPCOMING EVENTS Coffee Talks

April 25 at 7 p.m. | Legacy Multipurpose Room | Peer conversations about sexual assault.

Trauma Informed Yoga

April 26 at noon | Sikes Lake Center | Presented by First Step, Inc.

Multicultural Community Reception

April 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. | Legacy Hall Multipurpose Room | This “end-of-the-year” reception will highlight the accomplishments of MSU’s diverse community and send off graduating seniors in style.

Scholarship Celebration

April 27 at 6:30 p.m. | CSC | Midwestern State University cordially invites you to attend the in recognition of your scholastic achievements. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m. Dinner served at 7 p.m.

Faculty and Staff Softball Tournament

April 28 at 10 a.m. | Softball Field | Faculty and staff will face off in a softball tournament.

University Choir and Oratorio Chorus

April 29 at 3 p.m. | Akin Auditorium | Come out and watch the University Choir and Oratorio Chorus.

QPR Suicidet Prevention Training Program for Faculty and Staff

April 30 from noon to 1 p.m. | CSC Cheyenne | MSU has adopted the Question, Persuade and Refer, QPR, Suicide Prevention Training model to assist all faculty, staff and students in knowing ways to talk to distressed students and to ask if they are feeling suicidal. QPR teaches people how to identify a student, friend, co-worker or family member who might be depressed or suicidal. The training also provides guidance in asking the person the important question of “Are you feeling suicidal and thinking of killing yourself?” Join other faculty and staff in learning the three steps QPR model.

Sex Signals

April 30 at 7 p.m. | Legacy hall Multipurpose Room | An unorthodox, humorous and inclusive approach to examining our culture, sex and prevention strategies. Sex Signals is one of the most popular sexual assault prevention programs on college campus in the U.S.

Opening Reception

May 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. | Juanita Harvey Art Gallery | Juanita Harvey Art Gallery presents an opening reception for the juried student show and Senior Art Exhibition.

Elisabeth Moss and Ann Dowd in The Handmaid’s Tale (2017).

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY GEORGE KRAYCHYK

‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

makes for terrifying television I n a time that’s been referred to as the “golden age of television,” it can be hard to decide which of the myriad of shows are worth the time. One show that critics and audiences alike have come to love is Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Based on the best-selling dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood, this chilling drama instills fear in audiences everywhere. Set in the near future where a Puritan-like sect has Brian overthrown the government, “The Handmaid’s Tale” Lang follows Offred, a handmaid in the home of a highpowered commander. Trapped in a caste of sexual servitude, the handmaids are used in a last resort attempt to repopulate this new world. Offred struggles to keep hope alive and fight for the life she once took for granted. This show is both completely addicting and terrifying to watch. Women’s rights have been stripped away, religious freedom has been abolished and a totalitarian government is in control in the postAmerican world of Gilead. The writers adhere closely to their source material, and with Atwood’s guidance, flesh out some of the ancillary characters. Even if you’ve read the novel, this show will knock you off your feet. The actors (mainly actresses) are superb. Elisabeth Moss carries the show as the intelligent and relatable Offred. The juxtaposition between her pre-Gilead life and her life as a handmaid is made all the more terrifying by her complete change in demeanor. The terrific use of her voice as a tool in both narration and dialogue warrant every award given to her.

Alexis Bledel, most notably known for her roles in the hit TV show “Gilmore Girls” and the film “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” returns to the small screen as handmaid Ofglen. She proves that she still has the acting chops in one episode in particular, when only her eyes are exposed, yet her wordless performance is staggering, to say the least. Lastly, Ann Dowd does a scarily good job playing Aunt Lydia, part of the caste of women assigned to train the handmaids. She manages to show a tender side underneath her brainwashed exterior that makes her character complicated, but no less evil. Not only is this show extremely relevant, it’s also beautifully produced. The camera angles are used to create fantastic shots and the bright colors of the citizens’ uniforms create stunning scenes of symbolism. The pacing is perfectly written to allow the show to breathe. Different characters take the spotlight in each episode, but the story undulates between horror and hope, spiraling into a nightmarish finale. Atwood has mentioned that everything in her novel is taken from a real-world example. This fact is made even scarier on the big screen. A women’s march is held, which is eerily similar to last year’s March on Washington, surrogates are used in a developed country with declining fertility and religion is used as a means of subjugating a nation. If you’re up for the challenge and aren’t afraid of the horrific scenes this show has in store, “The Handmaid’s Tale” is a must-see. This award-winning piece of television will resonate with you long after the credits have stopped rolling. Season 2 of “The Handmaid’s Tale” premieres April 25 on Hulu.

4 | April 25, 2018 | PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Brissia Montalvo, exercise physiology graduate, rounds the corner of Taft Blvd and Nocona Trail during one of the first couple of laps in the women’s cat. A and men’s cat. B.

PHOTOS BY JUSTIN MARQUART AND FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

Bill Ash, accounting and finance senior, races in the Men’s A category, where he won, at the campus criterium. Morgan Ballesteros, physics freshman, raced in the 2018 Vuelta del Viento.

Three cyclists place first a T PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

Alan Barrows, MIS freshman, drafts behind opponents during the 2018 Vuelta del Viento at Midwestern State University on April 21.

Vuelta

KRISTIN SILVA AND MIGU

he judge blew his whistle and the cold wind raced against their mist covered helmets as the cyclists reached speeds of 35 miles an hour. Water splashed on their faces and chests as a rider’s wheel sliced through puddles in front of them. The fans rattled their bells, while screaming and cheering each time a group of cyclists passed by. Only one can be named first. More than 75 cyclists competed in the campus criterium races as part of the two-Day SCCCC Conference Championship Event and Fixed Gear Criterium, including 14 MSU cyclists competing in various categories. Though there was heavy rainfall leading up to just minutes before the event, Charlie Zamastil, director of the cycling team, said that was not enough to stop the race. “As long as it is not flooding, lightning, or tornados we race. Miserable conditions do not stop cyclist,” Zamastil said. With the competition being set just after heavy rainfall on a cold and windy day, the cyclists had to adjust their strategies to the inclement weather. Mike Pinson, a firefighter with the Wichita Falls Fire Department who provided on-scene medical care, said, “The weather has a 100 percent chance of affecting the amount of injuries because it is a mixture of beginners and advanced cyclist.” The slippery concrete made from the heavy rainfall could have significant consequences for

| April 25, 2018 | 5

PHOTO BY JUSTIN MARQUART | THE WICHITAN

del Viento

Amy Floyd, accounting senior, races in the Women’s A category at the campus critrium around MSU campus on April 21.

UEL PADRON | REPORTERS

someone who is not prepared for the inclement weather. Zamastil said, “It is a tough person sport who are no stranger to crashing. You want to know what it is like to crash on a bike? Speed up your car to 30 mph, strip down to your underwear and jump out. Thats what it feels like.” One event that surprised people in the audience was Bill Ash, accounting and finance senior, winning first place in his division despite people not thinking he was going to compete in the first place. “I took a hiatus from the team this year because I’m looking forward to graduating in the fall. [I wanted to] just focus more on school and trying to get that last summer internship, so that’s been taking up the majority of my time now,” Ash said. “But I still love to come out and try and ride with the guys as much as I can because they’re getting ready for nationals. I love to come here and support them on that.” Coleman Reidling, one of the cyclists racing on behalf of Baylor University, completed his bachelor’s degree here. “I love coming back to Wichita Falls, it fells like home to me here. I wouldn’t be cycling if it wasn’t for Charlie or MSU,” Reidling said. Eight out of the 14 cyclists placed in their respective divisions.

PHOTO BY JUSTIN MARQUART | THE WICHITAN

Aaron Benton, management information systems senior, races in the Men’s D category at the campus criterium.

6 | April 25, 2018 |

Despite strong start, softball team falls to Tarleton State MAKAYLA SCHECK SPORTS REPORTER

T PHOTO BY CORTNEY WOOD | THE WICHITAN

As the ceremony continues, Veronica Balderas, Luka Gebel, and Neo Krtolica, wait to receive awards from their colleges at the Honors Banquet in D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

Students recognized at annual honors banquet TYLER MANNING EDITOR

onor. Leadership. Service. These three tenants were highlighted during this year’s annual Honors Banquet. More than 200 students, parents and faculty filled the D.L. Ligon Coliseum in anticipation to see who would receive academic honors and scholarships at the annual Honors Banquet on April 20. The banquet acted not only as a way for students and faculty to celebrate the hard work they have accomplished throughout the year, it was also an opportunity for many proud parents to see the accomplishments their children strived for. According to one of the people responsible for the banquet’s coordination, Treva Clifton, assistant to the university president, the event usually costs around $7,000 to host. Clifton said, “We work on it months before because we have to get all the student nomination forms in. The students fill out their forms, they go through the committee, and that is not including meeting with the caterer and the decorations and all that. It is a long [process] and there are a lot of people that help.” Though it is time-consuming to coordinate, Clifton said it is rewarding to see the event in action. “It’s good when you see it that night [in action]. It is a little hectic to get to that night, but it is good when you see it that night. It is fun,” Clifton said. Starting out the night attendees ate dinner, while a sense of anticipation filled the air as students eagerly waited to hear the names of the award winners. James Johnston, provost and vice president of academic affairs, said, “This is a celebration and a culmination for the students and the faculty. We work together to see them achieve these milestones in their lives, so to have these moments of celebration is as impor-

tant to us as it is to our students.” Throughout the night students received various honors in the areas of leadership, service and excellence. Of the honors given was the Hardin and Clark Scholarships. Luke Allen, political science graduate and previous Hardin Scholar recipient, said, “As a recipient of the Hardin Scholar award, I can confidently say that it is much more than just a financial figure. It represents a belief in our generation as future leaders and serves as a testament to the unity and longevity of the MSU community. It is an investment in not only someone’s education but also in his or her life for many years to come after graduation.” Alexandria Nelson, environmental science senior and Hardin Scholar recipient, said, “I wasn’t expecting to get it. I am very honored and appreciative to my parents and to the geoscience department for pushing me and encouraging me. They have been integral and they have helped push me to where I am today and I couldn’t have done it without them.” Nelson said her surprise from winning the award was because she never focused on being better than anyone else, rather improving herself. “I don’t try to work harder than anyone else, I just do what I can to make a difference,” Nelson said. Brendan Wynne, mass communication junior and recipient of the Clark Scholar, said winning the award wasn’t solely his own work. It was also recognition of the work others have invested in him to succeed. “It feels a lot like what the speaker Luke Allen said: a vote of confidence. Even though this isn’t the Hardin Scholarship, it is still a recognition of all the hard work that people have invested in me,” Wynne said. “My professors and my friends and my advisors all invest a lot in me, and it is nice to be able to say, ‘hey, your hard work is all for something.’”

he softball game scheduled for April 21, was postponed to April 22 by officials due to unfortunate weather. The team faced Tarleton State University in the final series of the season, losing 4-8. The teams ending season record is 15-23, and they will not be advancing to the Lone Star Conference championships. The team is going to improve some of their weak spots and they hope to better themselves for next season, as Ashley Fletcher, first baseman and kinesiology junior, said. “We did okay this season. We are going to improve this coming fall and hopefully we will be better next season,” Fletcher said. In the bottom of the first inning, Samantha Loos, midfielder and sports management junior, hit a home-run. Her home-run also brought Amanda Thomas, catcher and sports & leisure senior, home to bring the score to 3-2. This was Loos’s eight home-run this season, as well as Thomas’s 37th time making it to home plate. “This season I honestly think we did everything really good. If we had a little deeper pitching staff, we could have gone a lot further than we did,” Loos said. “We are definitely going to be prepared for next season.” At the bottom of the third inning, the score was tied at 3-3. Lauren Lindgren, outfielder and elementary education sophomore, hit her sixth home-run for the season. She bumped the score to 4-3, but the team was not able to make it past second base in the final innings. The team has some improvements that need to be made before next season, but the players are all optimistic about what is to come throughout the upcoming season. “We have a lot of things we could improve on, like defense and hitting wise. But just coming together as a team at the end of the day, and to help each other out is the main thing, that we could improve on,” Misty Muniz, infielder and exercise physiology junior said. This season the team had a total of 41 home-runs and scored 166 times including the home-runs. The teams home-run total is slightly higher than their opponents, but the total scores are significantly lower than opponents. The team will continue to work on improving their skills for next season and hopefully have a better ending to their season.

| April 25, 2018 | 7

Critical Conversations series informs on advocacy CHLOE PHILLIPS REPORTER

SCREEN CAPTURE FROM FALLSFUTURE.COM.

If Proposition B is passed, a new boardwalk will be added to Lake Wichita. from BONDS pg. 1

business district looks [aging],” Florsheim said. If the proposition were to pass, construction would update the infrastructure underneath the streets, provide new piping and electrical wiring, and would reshape the streets by repaving the roads and sidewalks, widening the roads and adding designated bike lanes. Also adding to the culture of Wichita Falls are propositions A and B. These are aimed at improving the city’s recreational parks and trails. The purpose of Proposition A is to further development of Wichita Falls Circle Trail by finishing construction (up to 99 percent) of the trail around the areas of Seymour Highway to Barnett Road, Loop 11 to Lucy Park and from Lake Wichita to Larry’s Marine. “If you ever go out to Lake Wichita on a nice day, there are people all over that trail. We have a chance to finish that trail here,” Florsheim said. What differentiates this proposition from the others is that the bond has a grant backing it that would cover 80 percent of the cost, leaving the rest of the cost left to the citizens of Wichita Falls. Proposition B plans to finish the rest of the Wichita Falls Circle Trail from Larry’s Marine to Barnett Road and would provide a new boardwalk for Lake Wichita along with a new veterans’ memorial plaza, thus adding more vibrance to Wichita Falls. Coppage said the point of the discussion was to alleviate a major problem surrounding the bonds, that being misinformation about the bonds. “So much of this bond proposition is misinformation, people are misinformed. We don’t realize what the extent of the problem is, how much it will take to fix it, we just see a number, so [a lot] of that is just, ‘how much do we have to fix? What would it take to kind of fix it? What else could we do with that money that might be something that could further the development of Wichita Falls into a place that we would want to live [in more],’” Coppage said.

o have “a proactive and supportive” conversation on advocacy and activities, staff from the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Multicultural Affairs staff hosted their final session of the semester on April 23. “We’ve had quite a bit of activism that has happened on campus over the past few months and want students to know they’re supported in that and there’s some ways to do it both on campus, as well as their local community because it’s an important part of our civic engagement as people,” Syreeta

from KAPPA pg. 1 other one,” Hallum said. “We can’t handle other fraternities and sororities being against us because of this.” In a phone call with Wollenberger, Hallum said while she understood Wollenberger’s passion about this conversation and respects her decisions, Hallum said she hopes this doesn’t affects more than just the current members. “I just hope this doesn’t blow up because it’s blowing up now it sounds like,” Hallum said. “It sounds like you’re adding fuel to the fire. If you got your sisters upset, which you do, I don’t get why you couldn’t protect the feelings of your sisters. And yeah, you’re going to be gone in a week, but they’re not. We’re going to have to deal with the fall out, not you.” For Wollenberger, the issue isn’t fraternity or sorority specific, but more of a call to action for students to protect one another. “This whole issue isn’t about Sigma Kappa whatsoever,” Wollenberger said. “In this situation, it’s not about protecting Sigma Kappa and our feelings, it’s about protecting the girl who is being harassed.” Though Hallum said she understood Wollenberger’s sentiment, she said Wollenberger shouldn’t look into other people’s issues if they can hurt Sigma Kappa in any way. “Sometimes it best to be silent on an issue,” Hallum said. “Sometimes it’s best not to stick your nose in other people’s busi-

Greene, director of EIMA, said. Kerdell Cuffy, finance freshman, said while she didn’t know about the topic until today, Cuffy ended up liking the topic because she considers herself an advocate. “It just helped me understand what more I could do, particularly for what I believe in. I’m concerned with how little people know about Africa, so I always post about Africa, the history and whatnot,” Cuffy said. Cuffy also said, in her opinion, activism on campus is “very stagnant.” “Other than the #ComplicitMSU thing, there’s never been a very big movement, general gathering or nothing,” Cuffy said.

ness when you’re hurting other people. I would rather things be handled quietly and internally rather than publicly.” According to Hallum, this is not a matter the sorority wants to get entangled with. “I’m just trying to smooth the waters because we don’t need anymore shit right now,” Hallum said. “Gamma Tau cannot handle it. I’m concerned with making Gamma Tau implode and that could happen. You don’t realize how we are teetering on a filament of spider web, and we don’t need anymore.” According to Wollenberger, she is standing up for what she believes and she said Whaite was expelled “for doing the same thing I’m doing by saying it’s not right what they are doing.” “Do you want to get expelled? Because I’ve already heard talk about that,” Hallum said. “I don’t mean to throw out threats, but the only concern is that you do represent Sigma Kappa, and we just need to make sure that it is Jessica talking and not Sigma Kappa talking.” Wollenberger said she is willing to get expelled from her sorority if that means standing up for her beliefs. “If I get expelled for standing up for what’s right and for what I believe in, then so be it, but that’s pathetic,” Wollenberger said to Hallum. Because of her background in her degree plan, Wollenberger said she is well-versed in the laws and regulations pertaining to

“Even Amnesty International [does not get involved in activist movements] because I joined the group last semester. I thought it would be more hands on, but all they do is write letters so, I just find it very complicit.” Christopher Cruz, theater performance junior and student assistant for EIMA, said he agree with Cuffy’s sentiment, stating that we can have more conversations like this with administration, but knows why people are not speaking up. “I guess people are hesitant about the fact that administration probably won’t listen to them and won’t do anything that we want and we demand,” Cruz said.

“In this situation, it’s not about protecting Sigma Kappa and our feelings, it’s about protecting the girl who is being harassed.”

JESSICA WOLLENBERGER SIGMA KAPPA MEMBER AND MASS COMMUNICATION SENIOR speech, slander and libel, and her professors prepared her to defend her beliefs. “As a mass communication student, I know my First Amendment rights, I’ve passed the law class, I’m talking to Dr. [Jim] Sernoe about the issue. There’s no case here. And any decent lawyer that would look at this would know that,” Wollenberger said. While each member contributes to their organizations, they cannot be expected to subscribe to a “perfect” character, Wollenberger said. “Everyone’s not perfect, and I understand that, but when issues happen, there are consequences, and you have to deal with them,” Wollenberger said. “When something is wrong and something needs to be done about something, somethings gotta happen. If it’s truthful, and it’s out, consequences are going to come, and that’s just part of it.”

And while he said he wants to hold his brothers accountable for their actions that affect others outside of the fraternity, Whaite said he wants what is best for his former fraternity even if that means facing the consequences of this situation. “It gives Greek life a bad face,” Whaite said. “This wasn’t the first fraternity that’s had an issue like this. It makes you think how often does this actually happen inside of a fraternities and sororities and Greek life in general.” According to Wollenberger, Greek life on campus is struggling because members will put themselves in situations that affect more than just members within the community, and for Wollenberger, that is not something she is willing to defend. “I won’t compromise my morals for standing up for something I believe in,” Wollenberger said. “Greek life on this campus is struggling, that’s true, but the reason we are struggling is because every time things are going well, something happens that somebody has done wrong that puts us in a situation.” Despite multiple attempts, Dylan Huff, Kappa Sigma president; Taylor Thornton, former Kappa Sigma president; Gavin Ritchie, Kappa Sigma scribe and member of the committee during Whaite’s trial, did not respond. Janet Hallum, Sigma Kappa Gamma Tau adviser, and Nick Gallicchio, district grand master of Kappa Sigma, declined to comment.

8 | April 25, 2018 | PHOTOS BY SARAH GRAVES | THE WICHITAN

Madelyn Williams, sports and leisure sophomore, Alex Blake, finance senior, and Zach Alvarez, excercise physiology runs through the colored chalk during the 5Kolor Run at Sike’s Lake Trail on April 18.

Zach Davis, education senior, and Bri Eipper, nursing senior, dodge the chalk being thrown at them The 5Kolor Run participants commence the race by throwing the chalk in the air and covering each other.

Sikes Lake gets colorful makeover for 5Kolor Run CHLOE PHILLIPS REPORTER

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... 2... 1... Let’s go! Takeoff. Good luck be safe,” Angie Reay, director of recreational sports and wellness center, said over the mic to commence the race. To raise funds for the Famine Faith Refuge, staff from the wellness center and the Office of Residence Life hosted the 5Kolor run event April 20. “It’s just an opportunity to get donations for them, come out and have fun,” Reay said. “And have something for all of the students to do.” Reay also stated that there was an “amazing” turnout this year. “We usually have 100 people so this is an awesome turnout. It’s a beautiful day, we have Koanah ice. It’s been a great turnout.”

Keelie Ralston, kinesiology junior and resident assistant, was also happy with the turnout. Ralston said resident assistants also help organize the 5Kolor run. This has been her third year helping out. “It’s been quite a few weeks: Just getting all the supplies we need, jobs for everyone that’s going to be doing stuff, just stuff like that,” Ralston said. She also stated that students should come because this is “the best 5k” on campus. “For one, it’s free. And for two, you get to have fun while running and get color thrown all over you, so I think it’s great,” Ralston said. Cameron O’Neal, computer science sophomore and 5Kolor run winner, said he heard about the event from one of his best friends. “I feel pretty good, I didn’t know I was going to come in first place but then I got really competitive and I ended up just going all out,” O’Neal said.