CLASH OF THE DECADE
College of Health Professions takes home first Clash of the Colleges win since 2017
BY TALIYAH WINN podcast@thesunflower.com
Clash of the Colleges, one of Wichita State’s most iconic campus traditions, celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, which ended with a bang. After competitors in the College of Health Professions were announced champions, fireworks shot above the crowd at Cessna Stadium, and could be heard across campus.
The competition featured familiar games with a twist, like extreme rock-paper-scissors or tic-tac-toe, adding a physical challenge to childhood favorites. Other games included water relays, a riff-off and a Clash of the Colleges classic – tug of war.
Students had to sign up for those events, but others could help their team win points in minigames around the track, like rock climbing or archery. There were also activities that people could contribute to at home.
Prominent campus figures, like President Rick Muma and Provost
Shirley Lefever were in attendance that night. Muma said that he has been to every clash since they started.
At the time, Kim Sandlin was the director of the Office of Student Services and came to Muma with the idea 10 years ago. She wanted to create an environment that inspired “camaraderie around activities in the first couple of weeks of school.”
“And so she came up with this idea, and it’s had a lot of staying power,” Muma said. “Here we are at the 10th anniversary.”
Throughout the night, the College of Health Professions steadily gained points. And toward the end it was clear they had a lead on other colleges. Close behind in points were the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and College of Fine Arts.
Camille Reid was a team leader for the College of Health Professions. Seconds after their win was announced, Reid displayed how proud she was of her team.
“We had a point to prove, and I think we proved it,” Reid said. “I’m so proud of all of them because they did exactly what I asked, and I couldn’t be more proud.”
If you want to hear more about the significance of Clash of the Colleges on campus and the 10-year anniversary, listen to The Sunflower News Podcast episode from Wednesday, Aug. 28.
‘Creative outlet’: Resident Assistant bulletin boards go beyond educational content
BY LILY BANN arts@thesunflower.com
With school officially back in session, most of Wichita State’s on-campus residents are moved in for the fall semester. Inside the halls of on-campus housing, residents may notice a decorative nature tailored to their given floor. Colorful flyers for upcoming events, eye-catching boards that welcome the arrival of students and a properly themed name tag attached to each door are all done by Resident Assistants or RAs.
Katie Austin, director of WSU’s Housing and Residence Life, said RAs focus their mentorship on four service standards: “providing a safe home (for students), being courteous, providing connection, and being efficient in their jobs.”
RA bulletin boards can help achieve some of these goals.
“They can use their bulletin boards and wall decorations to create a sense of belonging for those students,” Austin said.
At the start of each month, every RA must create a different bulletin board following the ninemonth school calendar. These bulletin boards are curated to inform students regarding many relevant issues.
Truong Duong, who prefers to go by Max, is a fourth year RA who has experience in educating students through bulletin boards.
Max said every RA is provided this information through a resource library, however, he felt this information was too dense for the residents he was trying to reach.
“You have to think about the perspective of the resident as well, like … do people actually want to read this?” he said.
Max decided to create a new library that abridged content while maintaining its purpose.
“The content is the most important part for me. It has to be concise but informative and credible,” he said.
For Max, ensuring that his residents are properly informed is his priority. These range from social issues to mental and physical health practices.
“The star of that library is systemic racism, Women’s History Month, LGBTQ Alliance … and safe sex,” he said.
Austin also thinks certain health and wellness bulletin boards can catch the attention of students, and may be effective for those who may feel “embarrassed”
to ask for resources.
“We’ve seen some great ones with suicide prevention … those are ones that have been impactful,” she said. “And when … it’s put out there on a bulletin board in a public space for people to see … it kind of takes that stigma away.”
Although the content is the primary purpose of RA bulletin boards, Austin said that for many RAs, creating these boards can serve as a “creative outlet.”
“There are RAs that this is really a passion project for them — and so they invest a super high level into each of their residents,” Austin said.
This creativity is channeled into bulletin board competitions, where RAs can compete for prizes that benefit their residents. These competitions are hosted on a regional level, through an annual
Midwest RA conference in Iowa and by Housing & Residence Life at WSU.
“Everyone tries very, very, hard,” Max said. “There are different prizes … like more dining dollars, or … you can design a shirt for all your residents.”
Although RA bulletin board competitions can provide an opportunity for creativity and compensation, ultimately, an RA’s mission lies in the student.
“It feeds my passion when I see people (who are) happy with the resources I give them,” Max said. “It’s just so rewarding to me.”
New program connects adult learners with resources
BY AINSLEY SMYTH news@thesunflower.com
Adult learners at Wichita State University are using a new program to help them navigate school.
Adult Learners Community and Connections guides adult learners through a course about wellbeing and connects students with peers who help them navigate the university’s resources.
Pamela O’Neal and Amber Anderson, associate directors of the Office of Online and Adult Learning, said they created the program to address what they felt was a gap in resources for adult learners.
“That’s something that you hear time and time again, is that they need resources for them, and they need to feel that sense of belonging,” O’Neal said.
O’Neal and Anderson created a video pitching their idea and submitted it to a contest hosted by the Urban Adult Learner Institute. They won and received a grant which they used to launch Community and Connections as a year-long pilot program.
Cynthia Pizzini, a marketing student, said that when she left her full-time job to go to school, she initially found navigating her education difficult.
“There was a lot of resources, but I would always have to go and try to find them, and I’m on campus all the time, so I could imagine how difficult it would be for someone online,” she said.
“Digging through our website, it could be a little daunting,” Pizzini. “It’s hard to find things on there sometimes, especially when you need them, or (if) it’s an urgent matter, you don’t know
who to call.”
So when the program was announced, she jumped at the chance to help her peers.
“I was like, ‘Absolutely, I’m doing it,’” she said.
Pizzini said she hopes the program will break down some of those challenges that she experienced and keep adult learners motivated.
“The biggest step is coming back, so you don’t want another obstacle, or obstacles, put in your way to make you go, ‘Oh, this is too hard. I’m not going to do this,’” she said.
The second part of the program is a course with eight modules that focus on different types of wellness, like social, emotional and physical. The office worked with other student services to outline some of the resources available to students
that correlate with those elements.
“If you’re overwhelmed, if you’re stressed, we all know how bad that can be on your health,” O’Neal said.
Students get prize incentives when they complete modules. The prize for completing the course is merchandise from the Shocker Store.
“Sometimes an adult learner, probably through their own thinking, kind of feels like maybe they don’t belong, but we want to show them with this that they belong,” O’Neal said.
O’Neal and Anderson said they plan to keep Community and Connections going after this year.
“(The next step is) to get feedback from the peer ambassadors, the departments that we work with, and the students,” Anderson said. “And then recalibrate and do it again.”
Student government updates election rules
BY AINSLEY SMYTH news@thesunflower.com
Wichita State’s Student Senate temporarily suspended their usual processes at a meeting last week to pass a bill amending election proceedings. It made several updates to the Senate’s bylaws regarding elections.
Victoria Owens, the speaker of the senate, said a senator had noticed inconsistencies between the Senate’s bylaws and constitution which needed to be addressed urgently.
“That meant we may not be able to allow for a fall election process like we had planned last session, and as was passed in (the) government oversight (committee),” she said.
The Senate then brought the issue to SGA’s Supreme Court, who returned an opinion agreeing that the bylaws needed to be changed in order to proceed with the next election cycle.
The Senate moved to suspend the rules before reading the bill, meaning that rather than taking the usual two weeks for it to go to committee and then come before the Senate again, they were able to read the bill for the first time and vote on it the same night.
The bill, written by Sen. Andrew Bobbitt, included the addition of an annual midterm election and an in-person polling location for the general election.
“During office hours, we’re required to staff a table where people can come, and they will help them through the process of voting. They will make voting accessible and hopefully encourage a couple more of our students to actually vote,” Bobbitt said. This follows a dramatic decrease in the number of student voters during last year’s Senate elections.
Many of the bill’s other changes were altered or removed wording. This included removing references to at-large senators, a position that was removed in February.
SGA ELECTION RULE CHANGES
- Officially added an annual midterm election to fill vacant seats in the Senate
- Removed all uses of the word “statute” to refer to sections in the bylaws
- Guaranteed write-in candidates receive equal treatment to candidates on the ballot
- Removed references to at-large Senate seats
- Required one in-person polling location be available to students during the general election
- Appeals of the election results go to the Supreme Court, instead of the vice president for student affairs, which is currently Teri Hall
- Added a chapter outlining midterm election procedures and dates
- Amended the procedures for a special election
Full list available at thesunflower.com
The D building of the Shocker Hall has the Lunar calender as it’s theme. Each floor and building has it’s own theme. | Photo by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower
Pamela O’Neal and Cynthia Pizzini sit in a conference room. O’Neal is the associate director of Online and Adult Learning and Pizzini is an adult learner who mentors her peers. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
From adversity to adviser: University leader speaks on supporting students through job
BY ALLISON CAMPBELL editor@thesunflower.com
When Alicia Newell was a senior at Maize High School, she overheard her peers enthusiastically discussing their upcoming college visits, scheduled by the school’s advising office.
When Newell’s invitation didn’t arrive, she reached out to her school counselor, who told her that “college isn’t for people like you.” Instead, her counselor suggested Newell should be a cosmetologist or even learn “some secretarial skills.”
Newell turned to her grandmother for support, a “little itty bitty Mexican woman” but also “a giant,” who told her: “You find out a way to get your name on the list.”
The next day, she snuck into her counselor’s office and jotted her name down for a visit from university recruiters. A few weeks later, Newell was called out of class.
“I remember freaking out, thinking I was in trouble,” Newell said. “I turned the corner. I see this
… Wichita State tablecloth. And then I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.”
A bachelor’s, master’s and soon-to-be doctorate degree later, Newell can be found in her own advising office, helping students at Wichita State open doors to success through support and advocacy, as well as what she likes to call “tough love, but love is always underlined.”
Newell is the assistant vice president for student services, which means she specializes in “understanding students.”
“This is where, like, I learned the importance of meeting students where they’re at and helping to get them to where they need to be,” Newell said.
Newell spends most of her days connecting with and advocating for students, especially those seeking guidance and mentorship like she was all those years ago.
“She genuinely cares about students. She’s a fighter for students,” Vice President for Student Affairs Teri Hall said. “She’s about helping you figure out
what you need to get to the finish line and supporting you along the way.”
Newell initially wanted to become a lawyer, but after several internships, she realized that practicing law conflicted with her values. A single mother, Newell said, “family is the number one thing and that she wasn’t willing to compromise family “for that paycheck.”
After a serious conversation with her Greek adviser and mentor, Newell was encouraged to pursue a career in higher education.
She started as a student assistant before accepting a position in admissions as a receptionist.
“And I loved it,” Newell said. “I was, like, the face when prospective students walked in with their families.”
She then transitioned to recruiting for the university. The first school she was sent to recruit at was her own alma mater — Maize High School.
“And when I walked in as the college representative to meet the counselors to let them know that I was there — my counselor (looked as though she) could have just seen a ghost,” Newell said. “It was the best satisfaction I received of like, ‘I did this.’”
Newell then made it her goal to reach out to students often ignored to let them know college is an option.
Her desire to reach “students like me” led to a professional relationship with John BelloOgunu, the former associate dean of students and director of Multicultural Affairs.
Newell worked her way up from the coordinator of the Office of Multicultural Affairs to the director. Encouraged by BelloOgunu, Newell then applied to schools for a master’s degree in higher education.
“I never in a million years would have thought that I would have ever sought a master’s degree,” Newell said.
When she was accepted into Arkansas Tech University for her master’s, she made a copy of her acceptance letter and sent it to her counselor. When she graduated, she sent a copy of her diploma, too.
“I never heard back from her, but I know she’s gotten it,” Newell said.
Newell was working in the College of Engineering student success center at WSU when Teri Hall applied to be the vice president for student affairs in 2017.
“I thought she was a phenomenal candidate,” Newell said. “I said (to her), ‘If you have any positions open, think of me because I would love to work for this woman.’”
Hall said the feeling was mutual.
“I remember just feeling connected to her and thinking, ‘Wow, what an amazing student affairs professional she was,’” Hall said. “I’ve never really met anybody that cares as much about students as she does.”
Hall created Newell’s current position: assistant vice president for student services. Hall said she saw the joy and pride Newell took from her role and challenged her to apply for a doctoral degree.
Newell is on track to graduate with an Ed.D. in educational leadership next year.
“I have one more degree to send (my high school counselor),” Newell said with a laugh.
But Newell isn’t in any hurry to finish her latest degree; she knows that she’s already found her career calling.
“I wouldn’t trade what I do for anything,” Newell said. “Like, I love it. So freaking much.”
Her several years as assistant vice president for student services have earned her many nicknames including “Soccer Mama,” “Mama Bear,” and “Mexican Mama.”
“I answer to ‘Mom’ all the time,” Newell said. “Those are my babies, too.”
She’s also accumulated a collection of mementos from students she’s worked with. When Newell has a tough day, she opens a box on the shelf of her office overflowing with cards, letters and gifts.
“Being able to open up that box and pick out a note from a week or two ago to a year or five years ago and just … (remember) this is why I’m here,” Newell said. “There’s no amount of money that I can be paid that’s going to give me that level of satisfaction of knowing the impact that you have on students.”
Newell said that — some day — if she ever opens that box and “can’t answer my ‘Why?’” she’ll know it’s time to leave.
“But that’s not going to be any time soon,” Newell said.
Assistant Vice President for Student Services Alicia Martinez Newell speaks to the Faculty Senate on Sept. 25, 2023. | File
photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower
SEASON’S ON SET
Shockers swept by Kansas State in season-opening exhibition game
BY OWEN PROTHRO owenprothro@gmail.com
Wichita State volleyball hung its NIVC championship banner, but the team was unable to take a set off Kansas State University in the season-opening exhibition game.
The Shockers were swept 3-0 (29-27), (25-20), (25-17) in Koch Arena on Saturday afternoon. Because the game was an exhibition, the loss will not count against the Shockers’ overall record.
Wichita State head coach Chris Lamb said the team didn’t have enough firepower on offense.
“I watched our team in the same exact position — relative setter to hitter — connect for the last two weeks,” Lamb said. “I
BY JACOB UNRUH sports@thesunflower.com
Last year, Wichita State volleyball won the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The team that opens the 2024 season will look a little different than that squad. At least one player thinks this year’s roster, despite losing a multitude of point-scoring talent, could be better than last year’s.
“I think we have really gritty people,” senior middle blocker Morgan Stout said. “People who want to compete, people who have the mindset of, they want to smash the ball down people’s throat.”
POINT-SCORING DEPARTURES
Fresh off their first national championship trophy in program history and the team’s most wins since 2017, WSU’s roster lost a lot of talent via graduation, the transfer portal and injury.
The biggest loss statistically was blocker Natalie Foster, who transferred to Southern Methodist University after a career-best year that saw her lead the team in points and kills. Foster also led the American Athletic Conference in hitting percentage en route to a first team all-conference nod.
Last season’s other first team all-conference player, opposite Sophia Rohling, graduated after finishing second on the team in points and kills and third in
thought today, we just threw a lot of balls around.”
In the game’s opening set, the teams traded the lead back and forth. Junior outside hitter Emerson Wilford led the Shockers with 5.5 points during the set, but 4-0 and 6-0 runs from the Wildcats put them in the lead. After the teams tied at 25 points, the Shockers fought off multiple set points until an attack error from fifth-year setter Izzi Strand gave Kansas State the advantage.
“I think (in) the first set, we came out ready to hit the ground running,” Morgan Stout, a senior middle blocker, said. “And I think whenever things didn’t go our way … people might have freaked out about that.”
The Shockers started the second set off strong, taking an
hitting percentage.
Outside hitters Brylee Kelly, Morgan Weber and Barbara Koehler also departed after playing key roles last year, representing a major void in the team’s attack.
Stout, who ranked second on the team in hitting percentage last year, returns to anchor the front line, along with junior outside hitter Emerson Wilford, who played some of her best games near the end of conference play and in the NIVC run.
Last year’s AAC assist leader, fifth-year setter Izzi Strand, will set up the attackers while scoring some points herself.
NEW TALENT
Head coach Chris Lamb pointed out redshirt junior outside hitter Brooklyn Leggett and fifth-year middle blocker Sarah Barham as players who could step up and provide more point-scoring production.
Leggett played in eight sets last year, while Barham is a transfer acquisition from Wofford College, where she ranks second in program history in blocks and hitting percentage.
“Sarah Barham is right now a leading candidate as the other middle, and we think we figured out how to get her on the scoreboard,” Lamb said. “... Brooklyn, as a left side player or a right side player, I think has the ability to have kill percentage on her side.”
early 3-0 lead. Another run by Kansas State put the Wildcats up, 20-12, which proved too much for the Shockers to overcome. They lost the set despite a late 6-0 run of their own.
Leggett made her eighth kill of the game during the third set to send Wichita State up, 4-3. Leggett led the Shockers with 10 kills, 11 points and a .192 hitting percentage.
“If Brooklyn can get three-plus kills a game against them, that can be a sign moving forward for us,” Lamb said. “We’re going to have to get busy points going left on our team, and she played two sets on the left today and was almost at 12 (points).”
Kansas State went up 7-5 and didn’t look back, going on a 7-0 run to take a 14-5 advantage in the third
The changes in personnel might require a switch in WSU’s playing style, which Lamb said might shift from a slow-paced attacking team to a faster, defensively-oriented one.
“It may not be that we get as many points,” Lamb said. “We may have to win just (by) being better at defense and outlasting people.”
Stout was optimistic about the team’s scoring. Between herself, Wilford, Barham and Leggett, she said she’s “more than confident” they can stay strong on the attack.
“As long as we can maintain those connections with Izzi and getting our sets and routes done and our rows and the rotations and stuff figured out, I think we will be unstoppable,” Stout said.
DIGGING AND DEFENSE
Defensively, Lamb said the team’s digs leader last year, junior libero Gabi Maas, is still recovering from an ACL injury that will keep her out until at least late November. With returning liberos junior Katie Galligan and senior Annalie Heliste on the roster, along sophomore Reagan Anderson, Lamb said he felt no need to rush Maas back.
“I do feel like we have good depth there,” Lamb said. “Katie and Annalie have had a lot of time on the floor. Both have had good springs. And I mentioned … Reagan Anderson. She’s definitely been somebody who’s made an impact from spring till now.”
BY JACOB UNRUH sports@thesunflower.com
American Athletic Conference coaches have picked Wichita State to be runners-up in the volleyball standings for the second consecutive year — although this time to a different team.
A year removed from finishing second in the AAC to Southern Methodist University (SMU) and winning the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC), this season’s preseason poll has the Shockers behind the Rice University Owls.
Wichita State received four first place votes and 127 total points. Rice was given eight first place votes and 136 total points. The University of South Florida (USF) had one first place vote and 121 points.
SMU departed the AAC for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the offseason.
set. Two more kills by Leggett and a service ace by freshman libero Grace Hett couldn’t provide the spark Wichita State needed to save the set and match.
Going into regular season play, Lamb said he is confident the team will get better.
“We will turn something up that will get us ready for the weekend, and we’ll be better at something as we move forward,” Lamb said. “But we need to spend a lot of time … and I’m going to look for things that I think we can tighten up.”
Wichita State volleyball opens up its regular season with the Kennesaw State Invitational from Friday, Aug. 30, to Sunday, Sept. 1, in Kennesaw, Georgia. The first serve is scheduled against Kennesaw State University at 11
YOUNG ROSTER AND EXPECTATIONS
10 freshmen are on the 2024 roster, five last year. Lamb, who prioritizes talent over skill in recruiting, said he wouldn’t be surprised if some of the other newcomers made a difference.
“They’re talented, and several of them have a skill set that works to their advantage in our lineup, in our rotation,” Lamb said.
With a younger squad, Stout said the returning players have emphasized accountability.
“That’s what’s going to make us different from really good teams, and make us (a) great team compared to them, if everyone’s giving their all,” Stout said.
Stout said she’s trying to impart the experience of playing big games in a national tournament to the new players.
“With winning like the NIVC, we’ve been put under pressure like that before, as an upper class, but the freshman class may not have gone through something like that before yet,” Stout said.
Lamb kept his expectations for the season close to the vest, but he and Stout both said the team is in a strong position to compete for a conference championship.
“I don’t worry about what the media says or what polls say,” Lamb said. “... A good year for these guys would be to be right in it and putting ourselves in a position to be conference champions in the regular season (or) in the tournament.”
Last year, Rice finished third in the AAC west division at 12-7, behind Wichita State at 15-4 and SMU at 18-1. The Shockers played consecutive games at the Owls in November, splitting the series and taking four of nine sets. Rice didn’t compete in a postseason tournament.
Senior middle blocker Morgan Stout and fifth-year setter Izzi Strand were voted unanimously to the preseason all-conference team. Both players earned second team allconference honors last year. Stout finished third for the Shockers in kills and points, and second in blocks in 2023. Her hitting percentage of .347 ranked third in the AAC.
Strand racked up 1,340 assists, ranking first in the conference and fifth nationally. Her season culminated in being named the NIVC’s Most Valuable Player.
This year’s AAC volleyball season will look different, with 13 teams, no divisions and a postseason conference tournament set to be hosted in Charles Koch Arena.
Wichita State’s conference slate will begin on Sept. 25 with a road matchup against Memphis University.
Senior Morgan Stout, junior Emerson Wilford and fifth-year Izzi Strand celebrate after a point during WSU’s exhibition game against Kansas State on Aug. 24. The Shockers were swept in three sets. | Photo by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower
Fifth-year Sarah Barham attempts a kill against Kansas State. | Photo by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower
The City of Wichita’s decision to eliminate free downtown parking, starting in January 2025, is a troubling development for a community already grappling with vacant buildings, struggling businesses and homelessness.
The Wichita City Council voted to approve a new parking plan for the downtown area. New meters will be purchased from an out-ofstate entity, The Car Park. Meter rates will range from 75 cents to $2 an hour.
Wichita’s announcement on Facebook has garnered over 800 comments, the vast majority of which are negative — an early indication of the public’s discontent.
WRONG ROAD’
downtown area will convert to paid parking.”
In last year’s Wichita Resident Survey, residents, elected officials and city staff were given the opportunity to voice their opinions on the issues most important to them.
The most prevalent matters citizens wanted to be addressed were fire services, drinking water and crime prevention. Of all the topics on the graphic, the only one that relates to parking is “street repair.”
The only street repair these expensive parking meters will bring according to the City of Wichita’s website is “safety features such as lighting and increased security patrol.”
The post by the City of Wichita said, “Beginning January 1, 2025, all public parking in the
As a sleep-deprived student and all-around coffee lover, I am always searching for cute, affordable cafes, and Wichita has no shortage of options to explore.
One of the newest editions to the city’s coffee scene is Buffalo Brew Coffee Company, which opened in March 2024 at 150 N. Main. It is the fourth Buffalo Brew location in the greater Wichita area and the first to offer online ordering.
Located in central downtown, this coffee shop is full of light, with walls of windows and a garage door that opens right onto the street, allowing patrons to enjoy the smell of espresso from the sidewalk, and fresh air — as well as the sound of downtown traffic — from the inside.
The food items available are limited but priced comparably to other local coffee shops. The bulk of Buffalo Brew’s menu is found in their drinks, which range from classic espresso drinks to frappes
Many of the lots and garages that will soon require payment were funded by Wichita taxpayers. Charging citizens for parking is not the outcome they were hoping for. Why should Wichitans now be forced to pay for something that was previously free?
The city’s decision to charge for parking is seen by many as a symptom of mismanagement.
City Hall will pay The Car Park — an outside company that will enforce paid parking — between $2.1 million and $2.32 million per year over five years. This includes $460,000 a year for the shiny new meters.
The Car Park says it offers “simple solutions for parkers,” when the real simple solution would be not charging Wichitans at all.
When looking up “Downtown Wichita” via The Car Park app, a few locations pop up — none of which have hourly options, only monthly.
151 N. Waco Ave. is $20 per month. Prices for a few parking lots range from $20 to $50 monthly.
In the terms and conditions, before paying, the website states, “An additional monthly fee may be added depending on vehicle type (SUVs/Vans/Trucks/Electric Vehicles/Etc.)”
Will these potential fees be tacked on to Wichitans already forced to pay for their parking?
The city’s promise of hourly
to Lotus energy drinks. Lotus drinks are made from a plantbased energy concentrate and any of their 40-plus house syrups.
I have tried a few different espresso drinks from Buffalo Brew, and each one has been fabulous, maybe a little sweet.
Both their iced and hot latte drinks are made very well, and even the dairy-free milks were steamed or mixed to be deliciously creamy.
I don’t like my drinks overly sweet, but even with the strong flavoring, I found each latte to be very well balanced, with the espresso flavor coming through and evening out the sugary taste of the drink. The cinnamon roll latte has been my favorite drink so far, and I cannot wait to try their fall drinks when they come out later in the season.
The Lotus energy drinks are also very sweet but offer a nice jolt of caffeine. I tried the prickly pink flavor, and it definitely tasted pink — the strawberry syrup and pink Lotus were a fun combination that felt very Barbie.
I could not drink more than a small portion of the Lotus energy because of its sugary base, but it
and monthly parking options, with rates based on location and occupancy, is hardly reassuring.
Residents who do not have private parking are being told to purchase monthly passes, yet there is no guarantee of a parking spot near their homes. This uncertainty only adds to the burden on those who live and work downtown, forcing them to pay for the mere possibility of convenient parking space.
Having a subscription for parking to allow me to transport myself to work is costly overtime and ridiculous.
Wichita’s downtown is not Chicago, New York City or Boston. It doesn’t have the attractions, events or amenities to justify paid parking. Downtown has plenty of employees, small businesses and a few town buildings.
Imposing fees on residents and visitors will only further deter people from going downtown, exacerbating the very issue that the city claims it’s trying to solve.
As a broke college student who can barely afford her monthly bills, I am upset and disappointed that of all the problems they could have addressed and possible solutions they could have come up with, this is what the city is focusing on.
Local businesses, already facing numerous challenges, now have to worry about
was a fun treat and may be good for someone who enjoys other energy drinks, such as Alani Nu or Monster.
The sizes of the drinks also vary greatly and are priced reasonably, especially in comparison to other coffee shops in the area. All hot drinks are available in 12, 16 or 24-ounce cups, and all iced drinks are available in 16, 24 or 32-ounce cups. Milk alternatives, as well as extra espresso or additional flavors, involve an upcharge, but the base prices of each drink average between $3 and $6.
Although the main appeal of Buffalo Brew comes from its drink menu and cozy storefronts, its real charm lies in its family-owned values. The first location was opened in 2020 by Rich Beezley and Ashley Siedhoff in Valley Center.
Since the initial startup, three additional franchise locations have opened. Siedhoff’s husband has also joined their team, and the three of them oversee each franchise and work to create a family friendly atmosphere in each store. Buffalo Brew sources
whether their customers will be willing to pay for parking just to visit their stores. This could affect businesses’ revenue, signaling the beginning of the end for their open doors.
This could be the final nail in the coffin for other students who can barely afford to get themselves a cup of coffee downtown as a reward while they do their homework.
The city argues parking fees are necessary to fund downtown parking maintenance, security and improvements.
This explanation falls flat when we consider the broader context.
Meter rates will push people away from visiting, which will lead to a decline in foot traffic and further economic stagnation.
On the topic of the “necessary to fund downtown parking maintenance” explanation: After six years under The Car Park’s management, $2 to $2.32 million fee will drop to the low, practically Dollar Store-worthy price of $958,000.
Wichita’s leadership needs to reconsider this decision.
Instead of imposing fees that
will drive people away, the city should focus on developing a downtown area that attracts visitors, supports local businesses and provides accessible, affordable amenities for all residents.
Maybe next Wichita can try cleaning downtown of garbage and needles. It will at least make downtown smell a little less like garbage.
Caring for Wichita citizens is also an important step before charging anyone. Get people off the streets and into a shelter with food in their stomachs.
Charging for parking in a struggling downtown is not the solution — it’s a turn down the wrong road entirely.
everything locally, including their espresso beans which come from Alchemy Coffee Werks, a family-owned
The interior of Buffalo Brew Coffee Company, which opened in March at 150 N. Main. The cafe offers a range of food and drinks, from classic espresso drinks to frappes to Lotus energy drinks. | Photo by Baylor Henry / The Sunflower
Illustration by Savanna Nichols / The Sunflower
ARTS & CULTURE
BY ALLISON CAMPBELL editor@thesunflower.com
Ibrahim Ibn Ibrahim has a passion for translating his feelings and emotions into writing — whether it’s joy from a day spent with his friends, or sorrow from homesickness. Regardless if he’s at his highest or his lowest, Ibrahim puts pencil to paper to vividly describe what he feels.
It’s that attachment to writing that inspired the WSU criminal justice student to document his journey and to reflect on the struggles that everyone — regardless of identity or background — deals with. His recently released book, “The Bravest American,” is Ibrahim’s testament to “the daily battles, triumphs, and the unyielding spirit” of ordinary individuals.
Ibrahim is originally from Nigeria, a country which he described growing up in as a “pit of survival.” When Ibrahim had the opportunity to come to the United
States in 2011, the experience was initially everything he dreamed it would be.
It was during his time that he began to hone in on his writing and journaling skills. Ibrahim said it not only gave him the opportunity to healthily deal with his emotions, but also helped him increase his phonetics and speaking skills while he took intensive English courses.
In 2015, Ibrahim was “blessed” by the birth of his daughter. And, while he would become a single father, he took pride in raising her while doing everything within his power to serve as a positive role model.
But the fruition of Ibrahim’s “American dream” wouldn’t be without suffering and hardship.
On Nov. 24, 2017 — a date Ibrahim said he will never forget — his daughter died in a house fire. From the same blaze, Ibrahim was sent to the hospital in critical condition after sustaining life threatening injuries in his attempts to rescue
his daughter from the flames.
With no family to aid in his recovery, Ibrahim recalled feeling absolutely and utterly alone.
“The trial, the turmoil that I went through then, which is something that I’m still (dealing with) … the PTSD of that incident alone, is something unforgettable,” Ibrahim said.
But when Ibrahim woke up, he wasn’t by himself. He said firefighters and first responders from the incident regularly came to see him and ensured that he had “the best care possible.”
When the firefighters left, it was the nurses, who had to change his bandages and check on him every half hour, that kept him company and reaffirmed that everyone — regardless of what they’ve been through — has the capacity to be kind, be brave and be part of a family, even in the worst circumstances.
“Imagine me being in the United States. I have no father, no mother, no brother, no relative. I
have nobody,” Ibrahim said. “But the family — I need it when I need it — it’s something that I have to have. Because without them (the firemen and nurses), I wouldn’t know how to go on.”
Ibrahim said the American Red Cross “came out of nowhere” to help him post-recovery, and social workers at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis helped him every step of the way, even once he was out of hospital care. Members of the local Islamic community stepped up to handle his daughter’s funeral arrangements, collecting her body from the morgue and ensuring that Ibrahim wouldn’t have to pay a cent to lay his daughter to rest.
“I felt like … I had nobody to turn to. But then I felt like the family I needed most, without judgment, took care of me,” Ibrahim said. “There’s good people all over the world — you just have to find them.”
The care that the firefighters and police officers showed Ibrahim inspired him to return to school — this time at Wichita State — to pursue a degree in criminal justice. He attended Butler Community College, obtaining his associates in criminal justice, before transferring to Wichita State.
During his time as a student at Butler, Ibrahim sought to bring forth as much “positive change” as possible. He worked as a corrections officer to act as a “salve for the community.” He soon realized that he wasn’t reaching as many people as he
wanted to, though.
“All those jobs were good, but I felt like I’m only reaching … fewer people,” Ibrahim said. “And I wanted to impact, if not the whole state, it should be the whole nation.” Ibrahim then decided to use his “obsession” for writing to enact the change he wanted to see. He began writing “The Bravest American” to document “the unspoken sacrifice that I’m seeing daily.”
“I said to myself, ‘I’m going to write about the struggles and challenges of everyday individuals because nobody’s speaking about it,’” Ibrahim said.
While the book first took an autobiographical turn, Ibrahim eventually decided to base the book on the “relentless preservation of the indomitable human spirit” and what people are capable of, regardless of tragedy or obstacles.
“(This book is about) ordinary problems and extraordinary resilience,” Ibrahim said. “It captured the essence of a daily struggle. Life is a struggle, but it’s also a success.”
As part of Ibrahim’s promise to himself to make his book accessible, “The Bravest American” can be bought at Barnes & Noble or Amazon for $12.99.
“The bravest American isn’t found in the headline of history,” Ibrahim said, “But in the unspoken sacrifice and unyielding determination of the everyday citizen.”
Ibrahim Ibn Ibrahim picks up a copy of his recently released book, “The Bravest American.” Ibrahim asserted that each and every American is the bravest American because of their “unspoken sacrifice and unyielding determination.”
Ibrahim Ibn Ibrahim, the author of “The Bravest American,” smiles for a photo. Ibrahim wrote the book as a testament to “the daily battles, triumphs, and the unyielding spirit” of
Allison Campbell / The Sunflower
Sip local — A student’s guide to coffee shops
BY PIPER PINNETTI piperpinnetti12@gmail.com
If there is any in-town coffee guide that students should read, it is one by a journalist. Constantly caffeinated and on the go, a journalist knows the best locations to get your cup of joe, or tea or even matcha lattes.
So sit back and prepare for your next coffee run as I walk you through some local spots.
IL PRIMO
Il Primo, one of Wichita’s original coffee shops, is a popular spot for both students and locals. The cafe offers a range of seasonal flavors to help customers transition from summer to fall. With a menu that includes teas, Red Bull concoctions and coffee creations, patrons can find their new go-to drink for under $6.
A few of my many favorites from their menu are The Bee’s Knees — which has honey, amaretto, vanilla, espresso and milk — and The Bunny Hop — a concoction of coconut, vanilla, espresso and milk.
Il Primo is currently under construction as the owners renovate the interior of the small but beloved establishment at 6422 Central Ave. Customers are still welcome to enjoy coffee via drive-thru.
GREATER GROUNDS COFFEE & CO
Greater Grounds Coffee & Co stands out with its unique, antiqueindustrial aesthetic.
The coffee bar features wooden chairs, an antique pastry display cabinet, olive green cabinetry and a marble bar top. Exposed brick walls and tall ceilings add to the ambiance, with entrances at both the front and back of the shop. Currently, I am keeping an eye on the beautiful orchids placed in one of the front windows. Live plants in a business adds to the atmosphere and experience, and it has become a task of mine to look at their every visit.
The cafe offers specialty lattes like The Piano Man (best served cold) and The Queen Bee (recommended either hot or cold), alongside non-coffee options such as lemonade and Italian soda.
Although I love both of the drinks, The Piano Man is my go-to order. The baristas mastered all the ratios of milk, coffee and chocolates every time. Quality and quantity is never lacking at Greater Grounds.
When ordering to dine in, the drinks come in cute, clear glasses with pretty 3D patterns on them.
Tea lovers can enjoy classics like earl gray or indulge in specialty options like London fog or chai latte.
Coffee or tea usually precede
or follow another treat. Greater Grounds has bakery items to accompany your beverage.
Bakery items range from simple treats to more indulgent options, like crepes and crepe cakes. Their small bites include muffins and croissants.
Specialty crepes aren’t only sweet, but some are savory.
Strawberry and nutella can be a fun dessert to reward yourself after hard work or a spinach and artichoke crepe can accompany a tasty beverage to combat hunger.
Greater Grounds also features live performances throughout the week, offering a unique experience for customers.
Near the heart of downtown, Greater Grounds can be found at 922 E. Douglas Ave.
REVERIE COFFEE ROASTERS
Reverie Coffee Roasters is an excellent spot for students looking to study or do homework.
Located at 2202 E. Douglas Ave., this shop is a comfort option. Their mugs are my favorite to hold because of how their handle is designed with the cup. Their mugs are paired with a saucer for any utensils used to assist your experience and to possibly prevent any coffee spill getting on the table to your notebook. Keep those notes safe.
Lattes are my typical choice, as they are the safe option. Reverie’s lattes are trustworthy in giving you caffeine and a delicious coffee taste and a fun flavor if decided.
Although when I ordered a coconut latte recently, I couldn’t taste much coconut in it. It seemed like a regular latte, but I have previously enjoyed other flavors where the taste is very much present.
A banana flavored latte has since been the best that I have had there, but I have not seen it on the menu for a few months.
The cafe offers a variety of seating options and, while it can get noisy, the lively atmosphere is a sign of a thriving coffee shop. Hot coffee is served in Instagramworthy mugs, and the menu includes delicious bakery items.
Reverie also offers catering services, making it a versatile option for various occasions.
R COFFEE HOUSE
Of all the establishments on the list, R Coffee House has an immaculate playlist that adds to a community atmosphere. Daily jams to popular artists, such as Mac Miller and Kendrick Lamar, sometimes play within the walls of this shop.
The shop also holds an eclectic collection of art on the walls and sellers on booths. I have seen items from chapsticks to soaps arranged by flavors and beautiful
vibrant colors.
For my plant lovers who can’t restrain themselves, this is the perfect spot. The coffee will keep you locked into your homework and the plants will keep you company. From a tiny money tree just starting out to birds of paradise trees, you can look, but buying isn’t an option to ensure a happier wallet.
Down to business, the coffee is five shining stars at R Coffee House. Black coffee is not at all my choice, but I have enjoyed it here on a couple of occasions when money is a bit tight.
The flavored coffee is by far the most rich experience of lattes I have had in Wichita. My go-to’s here are the Almond Joy and the Banana Nut, but any of the banana drinks are delicious.
The coconut is present and happy to be there while still allowing the great taste of coffee to come through. Banana Nut has a strong taste of banana, but not in a disgusting gas station slushie way. The banana flavor is in the comforting banana Laffy Taffy way that pairs with the coffee perfectly. For non-coffee drinkers or for those who just want to feel something by not getting coffee, R Coffee House has other beverage options. They offer not only chai tea lattes but tea lattes in general. Brewed tea is $4. From lemonade to Italian cream soda, they are full of ideas to help satisfy drink needs.
The prices for R Coffee House drinks are great, usually ranging from $4 to $6.
Food includes breakfast, which is served during the weekdays from 8 to 11:30 a.m. The shop goes beyond breakfast sandwiches and pancakes. Breakfast tacos or burritos are on the menu for a different option than what you have at home.
Lunch is served daily. Sandwiches are $9 or $10 and served with chips or, for an upcharge, a side salad.
The atmosphere and coffee is amazing at R Coffee House. If it weren’t for a past Sunflower employee, I would not know about this experience. I highly recommend a visit and homework session here.
One thing to note is that this coffee destination is closed every Tuesday. It can be found at 1144 Bitting St.
GROW GIESEN PLANT BAR
For those seeking a different vibe, GROW Giesen Plant Bar combines coffee with a love for plants and a touch of alcohol. The shop is lined with shelves of plants, and the atmosphere is enhanced by a playlist featuring artists such as Lorde and Taylor Swift.
GROW offers specialty lattes such as the “Cherry Bomb” and “Adventure Awaits,” along with matcha and chai lattes.
The matcha tonics are an interesting taste, good for customers who like tea. The drinks are iced and refreshing making the perfect sipping treat during a hot summer day.
On the 21-plus menu, GROW’s espresso martinis are delicious. And this is saying something, as I am a premade or premixed espresso martini hater. I am a hater of espresso martinis made with espresso flavoring as well.
The coffee-concotion was the first drink I bought on my 21st birthday, and I was not disappointed. It is bitter and strong in the best way. They followed the “three bean rule” where three espresso beans are placed on top as a symbol of luck.
Unique to this location, the cafe features mushroom powder blends for an added boost of vitamins and nutrients. Drinks can range from $3.50 to $6.75. The specialty lattes are $5.50 to $6.75.
In addition to coffee, GROW serves cookies, breakfast burritos from Reverie Roasters, and muffins
and scones from Cocoa Dolce. All the sweet treats can be enjoyed in different sitting experiences. From their funky and vibrant chairs around the plant racks to a seating area with a relatively new mural of plants filled with pinks and greens.
GROW also debuted their new outdoor seating area which looks out to the intersection. The patio is connected to the shop via garage doors in the front.
During peak Kansas heat and humidity it isn’t the most ideal option, but it offers people watching, fresh air and a bit of separation from the rest of the crowd.
While the atmosphere can be crowded and loud, it’s a great spot for those who thrive in a social scene. It’s housed on the corner of Market and Waterman, at 320 S. Market St., Suite 120.
THE SPICE MERCHANT
For those who prefer to enjoy their beverages at home, The Spice Merchant offers a variety of coffee and tea options.
Located on the edge of downtown, the store features a booth where customers can choose their preferred grind, flavor and amount of coffee. The extensive menu includes flavors like coconut, southern pecan and Irish cream. The back of the store houses a tea section with endless possibilities, including African, Chinese, Indian and Sri Lankan teas. Seasonal and everyday spices, syrups and brewing tools are also available for purchase.
Currently, my favorite is the blueberry cobbler-flavored coffee grounds, paired with French vanilla creamer. For tea, the blackberry Sudan white tea and maple tea are perfect choices for embracing fall vibes.
The store, at 1300 E. Douglas Ave, is closed on Sundays and has special holiday hours on its website.
The Piano Man from Greater Grounds Coffee & Co in downtown Wichita. | Photo by Piper Pinnetti / The Sunflower
UPCOMING EVENTS
INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNITY FAIR
THURSDAY, AUG. 29
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Rhatigan Student Center, north patio
Learn about local involvement opportunities and services offered at Wichita State.
FALL 2024 EXHIBITION OPENING CELEBRATION
THURSDAY, AUG. 29
5:30 - 8 p.m.
Ulrich Museum of Art
SCREAM AND SHOUT
The Ulrich team guides attendees through a free exploration the Ulrich50 exhibitions on display.
CULTURAL GREEK COUNCIL AND NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL YARD SHOW
THURSDAY, AUG. 29
6 - 8 p.m.
Shocker Hall courtyard
Watch two Greek life chapters display their talent, history and traditions.
CONCERTS AT THE CORNER: KEO & THEM
THURSDAY, AUG. 29
7 - 8 p.m.
Mark Arts
Keo & Them blend neo-soul, alt R&B and ‘70s pop elements to accompany visitors while strolling through Mark Arts’ outdoor sculpture garden.
BIOKANSAS: IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY AND TIME MANAGEMENT
FRIDAY, AUG. 30
9 a.m.
Online
Learn task prioritization and professional goal setting skills in this online session. Email wsugradschool@wichita.edu for more information.
DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF ABLAH LIBRARY
FRIDAY, AUG. 30
Noon - 1 p.m.
Ablah Library
Explore the different facilities and services offered at the Ablah Library. Go to shorturl.at/2ofC8/ for registration and more information.
ARTIST TALK: RANDY REGIER
THURSDAY, SEPT. 5
5:30 - 7 p.m.
“The Celestial Mechanic” sculpture behind Ahlberg Hall Sculptor Randy Regier gives a staged field demo beside his 2018 outdoor sculpture, “The Celestial Mechanic.”
EMPTY BOWLS WICHITA: COMMUNITY BUILD A BOWL
SATURDAY, SEPT. 7
1 - 3 p.m.
Henrion Hall, rooms 106 and 107
This free event allows participants to create a personalized ceramic bowl using wheel-throwing or handbuilding techniques assisted by the WSU Ceramics Guild. Your bowl will be donated to the Empty Bowls Chili Cook-off fundraiser in October.
WRITING NOW | READING
NOW: POETRY READING BY ADAM SCHEFFLER
TUESDAY, SEPT. 10
Reception at 5:30 p.m., program at 6 p.m.
Ulrich Museum of Art
Assisstant professor of creative writing and MFA Faculty in Poetry member Adam Scheffler conducts a reading of his works. Scheffler, who recevied his doctorate in English from Harvard, has two published award-winning books of poetry: “Heartworm” and “A Dog’s Life.”
HAVE AN EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED?
CONTACT THE ARTS EDITOR: arts@thesunflower.com
CONTACT THE NEWS EDITOR: news@thesunflower.com
Sadie Cunningham cheers at the beginning of Clash of the Colleges on Aug. 23.
Photo
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is introduced. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower
Students representing the Barton School of Business enter Cessna Stadium at the start of the games. The Clash of the Colleges tradition has brought together students from all six colleges since 2015. |
Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower