The student voice of Hutchinson Community College
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October 1, 2021
pinion
In an editorial, The Colleigan encourages student interests.
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www.hutchcollegian.com
ampus
Brooke Greene discusses sex trafficking developments and Wayfair theory.
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ampus
Homecoming is back after a one-year hiatus, as the world continues to move back to normal.
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Vol. 63 Issue 4
ports
Anwar Lewis, accomplished a 200-yard game in a win over Fort Scott.
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The dreaded crosswalk
By Braedon Martin Staff writer
more, crosses 12th Avenue about three times a day. “I’ve had people just run it, even when I press the button, even (vehicles) coming from a good distance,” Sandoval said. The alternative to the 12th Avenue-signaled crosswalk, is the crosswalk near 13th Avenue and Plum Street. This crosswalk is less safe than 12th Avenue cars’ refusal to stop at the signal. 13th Avenue, however, has no flashing lights. It is completely unguarded aside from the painted path across the road. “I mean, if people aren’t gonna stop when it’s flashing (at 12th Avenue), why would they stop when nothing is flashing?” Sandoval said. When students are crossing either crosswalk, most cars at minimum slow down to allow students to cross, at least in front of their own car. Many vehicles, however, do not wait for the student to make it all the way across, and will power through the intersection as soon as they can. While parking is something everyone has to deal with, especially parking close enough to get to class on time, it’s up to those who drive the streets around HutchCC to ensure that they follow traffic laws, and pay attention to any signals on the roads, in order to ensure safety near the HutchCC campus.
Parking. It’s something most students and staff on campus have to deal with, especially trying to find a parking spot close to where your classes are. Hutchinson Community College has plenty of parking lots, both on and off campus. The parking lot on the west side of Plum Street between 12th and 13th avenues is one of the more popular lots, and it has two crosswalks for pedestrians to get across the street and onto campus. However, these crosswalks appear to be notoriously unsafe, with ignorant drivers and high traffic volume, as well as minimal pedestrian protection. While both crosswalks are unsafe in their own right, the 12th Avenue crosswalk at least has a crossing signal, with a yellow flashing light that can be activated on either side, to attempt to stop vehicles while pedestrians are crossing. However, Kira Bryant, Hutchinson freshman, said vehicles don’t stop often, even when the signal is active. Every day, likely hundreds of pedestrians cross the 12th Avenue parking lot, and reckless drivers put them at risk as they gun through the crosswalk, even with the signal active. Jose Sandoval, Hutchinson sopho-
A helping hand
By Connor Keating Staff Writer
In today’s society, mental health is an important topic, especially thanks to the Covid pandemic and the general polarizing political climate. Thus, it’s important for students who might struggle with mental health to know what options are provided at Hutchinson Community College. Melody Wagler is a social worker stationed in the Student Success Center at Parker Student Union, and she works to help students with a variety of needs like mental health, transportation needs, child care needs, and more. “I’m one of the therapists here. So I’ll also do therapy besides meeting with people for social work related needs,” Wagler said. “So I’ll meet with students one on one for therapy.” Prior to coming to HutchCC, Wagler was a therapist at Horizons Mental Health Center in Hutchinson. She was hired at HutchCC during COVID, and was even funded through COVID funding. “Social work is absolutely right,
needing those physical needs for people, looking for mental health support for people, those types of things absolutely related to COVID,” Wagler said. “Coming here being able to offer free therapy services, I love, love, that piece of what I do here. I think that’s an incredible piece of making it accessible to people.” Wagler also teaches the Psychology of Happiness class, which she took over from Christopher Lau. “It’s very related to being a therapist,” Wagler said. “I love the practices that we’re doing that can grow or help people become more aware of their happiness.” It’s important for people to think seriously about physical and mental needs, especially college students. Wagler said she is always willing to help out in providing services for students. Whether you need something as simple as a toothbrush, or a therapist, she is happy to help out. Her work in a variety of subjects related to social work allow her to be flexible in the different areas she can help out in.
Photos by Shelby Spreier/Collegian Leah Reusser pushes crosswalk button and the Plum and 12th crosswalk. The flashing lights are the only way to make crossing the street easier on students.
Chloe Coupe (above) and Pierce Markham (below) practicing safe crossing at this busy crosswalk. Traffic is known not to stop for pedestrians along Plum Street.
Photo by Connor Keating/Collegian Melody Wagler in her office, located in Parker Student Union, ready to help any student in need.
Upcoming events Oct. 6 — Volleyball vs Seward County at the Hutchinson Sports Arena at 6 p.m. Soccer vs Barton at the Salthawk Sports Complex at 6 p.m. Oct. 9 —Football vs Independence at Gowans Stadium at Oct. 13 — Volleyball vs Colby at the Hutchinson Sports Arena at 6 p.m. Oct. 15 — Fall break, college closed
The happenings around campus
College Student Weather Report Friday High: 74; Low 59 Fall? Is that you? Saturday High: 73; Low 55 The moment we’ve all been waiting for... Sunday High: 75; Low 48 Bust out the hot choccy. Weather source: accuweather.com
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