THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018 • VOL. 123, ISS. 17
THESUNFLOWER.COM
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1896.
garba extravaganza
Recognizing problem key to treating depression BY AUDREY KORTE
AHINSA hosted Garba Night 2018, an Indian folk dance festival EASTON THOMPSON/THE SUNFLOWER
Above, Garba Night 2018 attendees perform Dandiya Raas dance. The event was hosted by Wichita State’s Association of Hindu Students in America on the third floor of the RSC Saturday. Right, Avantika Tiwari dances with others at Garba Night 2018 in the Beggs Ball Room.
International students will soon have cheaper health insurance options, Student Body President Kenon Brinkley says legally required to have health insurance. Health insurance In May, the Student costs increased by Insurance Advisory hundreds of dollars this Committee (SIAC) fall for many internaupdated Affordable tional students across Care Act compliance the state, but starting standards to say that BRINKLEY as soon as next semester, insurance providers must Wichita State’s internabe “authorized to do tional students may be able to business in Kansas” and provide opt out of the more expensive “coverage under a policy that has university policy. been filed and approved by the International students are Kansas Insurance Department.” BY MATTHEW KELLY
The policy was adopted as a mandate by state universities, but Wichita State Student Body President Kenon Brinkley, who has fought against the change since it was announced, said he recently learned it was only a recommendation from SIAC. “They made the decision kind of very quickly, and it was adopted by all the Regents schools as if it were mandated policy, but it’s not. It’s just recommended,” Brinkley said.
This compliance change was understood to have made it illegal for two popular insurance brokers — PSI and ISO — to sell cheap insurance plans to international students. The university-offered UnitedHealthcare Student Services plan has a $709 premium this school year — up from $625. Last year, PSI and ISO offered the same insurance plan for $309. SEE BRINKLEY PAGE 4
Depression is prevalent on college campuses but is still highly stigmatized, making it difficult for students to seek help. The Counseling and Testing Center in Grace Wilkie Hall offers students, faculty, and staff ways to track mental health concerns and seek treatment for a host of mental health disorders. The staff at the counseling center aim to offer accessible services in a high-stress community like a college campus. Cynthia Beevers, a post-doctoral fellow who works for the CTC, says it’s hard to get people to open up but talking about problems is part of the help and healing process. Beevers said if you know someone who could be struggling with depression you should talk to them. “Have a conversation with the person. That’s one of the things we always stress, is recognizing first that there might be something wrong or something that that person is struggling with. The next step is to ask them, just to engage with them.” This can be uncomfortable but it’s all about seeing if someone is okay, Beevers said. “Often we will pass people thinking, ‘That’s none of our business’ but we can just be like ‘Hey, you seem like you’re struggling with something’ or ‘You seem upset, do you need someone to talk to, can I help?’ We’re trying to get people to realize that we’re all responsible for each other,” Beevers said. The CTC staff want to help the WSU community address depression in a manner that causes the least imposition. “We want to have the least disruption possible,” Beevers said. “If we went straight to calling the police that would really disrupt a lot of things for students. If we can meet one-on-one and come up with a plan to help this person, that’s our goal — to help in a way that is the least disruptive method possible for that person.” The CTC also offers mental health screenings. “We also are trying to increase access to services, so increasing help seeking by having people take screenings,” Beevers said. The screenings are not a diagnostic tool. They help those who take them get feedback to better decide what their next step should be. SEE DEPRESSION PAGE 4
Nearly 2 months later, Beta Theta Pi still on temporary suspension BY ANDREW LINNABARY
Beta Theta Pi fraternity is still on temporary suspension pending the outcome of an investigation into unknown charges from an incident that occurred in late August. The incident being investigated happened August 24, and little details beyond rumors have been confirmed since. Beta’s temporary suspension began the next day, freezing “all organizational activities” and social events until the investigation’s conclusion. The university would not confirm or deny that Beta is currently in the appeals period of the conduct process. Two fraternity members who are not in Beta and who requested to not be identified in a news story — one a former fraternity president and the other
a member of Student Government Association — said the student conduct office concluded the investigation recently and that Beta was appealing their unknown charges and punishment. Aaron Austin, associate vice president for student affairs, would not confirm or deny that Beta was appealing a punishment issued from the investigation, but talked about the process surrounding appeals and explained how it may prolong an investigation. “There’s not a way to say when this will all be done,” Austin said. It has been more than 50 days since the Beta investigation began. “It’s not because people aren’t taking it seriously or dragging their feet,” Austin said. “We’re giving everyone an opportunity
to present their information, and making sure we’re having a process that is fair.” An organization has five days after charges and sanctions are issued to make an appeal. The timeline to a conclusion after an appeal can vary. An appeal can result in no change to an investigation’s charges or punishment, but has the potential to “put [the case] up for review” if there’s a procedural error or new information, Austin said. Beta Theta Pi’s house was almost empty Wednesday afternoon, but a handful of fraternity brothers were inside the frat. When asked to speak about the investigation, three brothers said “no” in unison. SEE BETA THETA PI PAGE 5
SELENA FAVELA/ THE SUNFLOWER
Beta Theta Pi fraternity sits near 17th and Hillside across from campus. The fraternity has been on temporary suspension for nearly two months.
INSIDE
UGLY MAN
SEASON-ENDING INJURY
MEDIA DAY
“Big Mouth” tackles puberty with grace, humor.
In 1955, WSU held a contest to find the ugliest man on campus.
Senior Kali Eaken will likely never play in another game for WSU volleyball.
Shocker basketball meets the press at the annual event.
CULTURE • PAGE 3
NEWS • PAGE 4
SPORTS • PAGE 5
SPORTS • PAGE 6
NETFLIX SEX ED