the
SUN FLOWER MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2016
VOLUME 120, ISSUE 61
Carnival creates enjoyment for all ages | PAGE 3
THESUNFLOWER.COM
Parking gamble Park and ride, bus stop
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Expanded parking +112 spaces
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Courtesy photo
WSU student Christian Saldana-Banuelos and Joseph Bryan have been issued misdemeanor charges for a confrontation in March.
New parking garage +400 spaces Temporary closure -200 spaces 18 month closure, awaiting approval
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Losing parking lot -240 spaces
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New parking lots +193 spaces +720 spaces Infographic by Jillian Clough
As part of Innovation Campus, the university will implement a parking garage to accommodate commuters.
Parking closure eliminates 240 free parking spaces CHANCE SWAIM
REPORTER
@chanceswaim
When Tom Pham went to Wichita State, parking was free. Where Shocker Hall now stands, a 750-space parking lot allowed students to arrive on campus five minutes before class, park, and still make it to class on time. “It was convenient,” said Pham, a 2014 WSU engineering alumnus. “You didn’t have to pay an outrageous sum of money to get to class, you didn’t have to park in a sketchy neighborhood and you didn’t have to get here an hour early and wait for the bus in the wind and the rain.” Now, if Pham wants to visit WSU he parks at the satellite lot at 21st St. and Oliver and uses the shuttle system. He visits campus several times a year to work on projects for work or to visit Ablah Library, because of its resources and its academic energy. He likes the idea of the university expanding and is excited by the plans for Innovation Campus, but he’s worried he and other alumni will not be able to return to their alma mater without paying for a parking pass.
“Visitor parking is always filled up on campus,” Pham said. “There’s no where else to park for free on campus, and I’m definitely not paying for a parking pass, no more than I come to campus.” In response to reduced state funding, last week the university announced it would not renew its lease on the 240-space parking lot at 21st and Oliver for next fall, leaving the Metroplex at 29th St. and Oliver as the only free parking lot option for students, faculty, staff and visitors (if the visitor spaces on campus are occupied). “I don’t mind waiting for the bus,” Pham said. “But the Metroplex only has so many spaces. If that fills up, people are screwed.” University officials said its decision not to renew the lease for the parking lot came in response to reduced state funding, to ensure funding is available for a proposed 400-space parking garage that could be completed as early as fall of 2017, if approved by the Kansas legislature and Kansas Board of Regents. The university said this option would allow the university to not raise parking fees next year. Andy Schlapp, executive
director of university operations, said a recent decrease in state funding to WSU has forced the university to make hard choices about how to use available resources to best serve students, faculty, staff and visitors. “We intend to be responsive to requests for a parking garage option,” Schlapp said. “But the funding climate makes it difficult to pursue that goal without sacrificing the satellite lot.” The state of Kansas faces a projected shortfall of more than $290 million in the next 15 months, according to projections by the Kansas Legislative Research Department. Instead of raising taxes to meet the shortfall, Gov. Sam Brownback and the Kansas legislature have focused on scaling back state spending. WSU has been forced to make hard choices about cuts while moving forward with the Innovation Campus expansion, Schlapp said.
SEE PARKING • PAGE 2
Misdemeanor charges filed for WSU student, motorcyclist involved in Kwik Shop fight ANDREW LINNABARY
REPORTER
@linnabary
Misdemeanor charges have been filed against a Wichita State student and a motorcyclist involved in a confrontation at a Kwik Shop last month. Court records show arrest warrants for WSU student Christian Saldana-Banuelos and Joseph Bryan, the motorcyclist. The incident took place around 3 a.m March 12 at the 21st St. and Oliver Kwik Shop. According to court records, Saldana-Banuelos has been charged with two misdemeanors: disorderly conduct and provoking an assault and/or battery. Bryan has been charged with two misdemeanors: battery and disorderly conduct. Video footage released from the Kwik Shop shows Saldana-Banuelos rolling up his sleeves and directly approaching Bryan. Saldana-Banuelos and Khondoker Usama, outgoing student body vice president at WSU, said they were pumping gasoline when they heard a man, later identified as Bryan, yelling racial slurs at a black person. They said Bryan then turned his attention to them, stopping his motorcycle right in front of their car. Usama said the man pushed Saldana-Banuelos and called them racial epithets. He said the man also continually
proclaimed his support of presidential candidate Donald Trump and telling Saldana-Banuelos that he was “brown trash” and to leave the country. He said Saldana-Banuelos told the man, “This is my country; who are you to tell me that?” The man then started punching Saldana-Banuelos, leading them to fight. Usama said the conflict escalated quickly, prompting him to call 911. Usama said Bryan left on his motorcycle while yelling “Trump! Trump! Trump!” Audio of Usama’s 911 call confirm that Bryan chanted “Trump” as he left on his motorcycle. Usama, Bryan and Saldana-Banuelos could not be reached for comment. Usama previously spoke out about the incident and said he initially did not want to go public with it, but felt it was his duty. “In this great nation we talk about freedom of speech and religion, but if we allow this kind of hatred toward each other then we can’t make America great again,” Usama previously said. “America is great when our civil rights are protected, not when people are verbally or physically abused because they’re different.” Usama had said the incident was being investigated as a hate crime. Police said since there were no felony charges the incident could not be categorized as such.
Japan Fest brings cultures together at WSU FIONA KEE
REPORTER
@sunflowernews
Wichita State’s Japan Culture Association’s ( JCA) annual Japanese Festival, produced a night filled with games, food and socializing. Davis Peck, president of JCA, said the event had several traditional Japanese activities, including Kanji — adopted, logo-graphic Chinese characters used in the modern Japanese writing system — written on pebbles, the strategy game Go, and role-playing games presented by a Wichita State Japanese film class. Nominated by friends to lead the association, Peck said he has a deep passion for Japan and its rich history. “Who would have guessed that a pasty-white American would be the president of JCA,” Peck said. “But I am both honored and excited about this position.” Peck studied Mandarin, a major language spoken in China and Singapore. He later decided to learn Japanese and aspires to do his post-graduate coursework at Tokyo University in Tokyo, Japan. Micah Mohr, vice president of JCA, said that she loves the rich
culture and history of Japan. She said she enjoyed the martial arts display the most and hoped that the activities provide insight into Japanese culture. Frank Kutilek, JCA event coordinator, and Erina Narita are dating. Kutilek is American and Narita is Japanese. Kutilek says he enjoys the cooking and culture that Narita has brought into their home. “I’ve dated American girls, but she is just the best,” Kutilek said. “She is so rich in her culture and lives her life showing it — I guess that’s why I fell for her.” Attendee Emily Miller Yamanaka left Japan six months ago to return to the Unites States. “I went to Japan for my education in art but, instead, I also fell in love with everything around me,” Yamanaka said. During her time in Japan, she finished her studies in art, and gave birth to her baby girl — Izora. Yumi Foster, modern and classical language instructor, said there aren’t many events during the school year that allow students of other nationalities to enjoy the Japanese culture, or for Japanese students to get a sense of home.
Photo by Manny De Los Santos
An attendee gets dressed up in traditional Japanese attire Friday in the RSC during the Japan Festival, an event showcasing Japanese culture.