WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1896
Volume 131
Issue 7
www.thesunflower.com
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026
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The Sunflower
YEARS
Spectrum: LGBTQ & Allies celebrates its campus birthday BY SARAH MATADI
sarahjmatadi@gmail.com
“Just your mere existence is a radical act of acceptance,” Joseph Shepard, Wichita City Council member, said to the ballroom full of supporters and members of Spectrum: LGBTQ & Allies. On Saturday, Spectrum: LGBTQ & Allies gathered to celebrate its 50th year of LGBTQ+ groups at Wichita State. Spectrum is an on-campus organization that provides members of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies with a safe space for discussion, activism and education. “I feel like it’s super important for queer and trans students to have a community, but also for students who may have grown up more sheltered to come somewhere to get educated on queer and trans issues,” Moe Hatfield, president of Spectrum, said. Sonnia Evbota-Momodu, a supporter of Spectrum, said that getting to know people in the organization has helped her become more involved on campus. “It’s really important for students to come to a place to feel included and feel like they’re a part of something bigger than themselves,” Evbota-Momodu said. “It’s about always having somewhere that you know you’re welcome.” Spectrum events are typically centered around discussion and bonding activities, but this night was all about reflection and honoring the trailblazing students and faculty that have allowed Spectrum to blossom into what it is today. Beginning in 1976, Wichita State has seen numerous LGBTQ+ organizations that were created to advocate and provide a safe space for members of the community, even when it was unpopular and sometimes even dangerous for them to do so. “The LGBTQ community has been a part of our city’s history since the 1880s; it just hasn’t always been documented,” Jay Price, a history professor at Wichita State, said. “It was hidden in plain sight, often for protection…and so when it comes time to talk about history, there are gaps.” The event had several speakers who spoke about the importance of having LGBTQ+ organizations on campus and why students deserve to learn about LGBTQ+ history. Jennifer Pearson, Spectrum’s faculty advisor, was joined by Adán Parker, Spectrum’s historian, to pay tribute to the groups that helped lay the foundation for LGBTQ+ groups today. “Knowing all the struggles of the people
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Belonging doesn’t happen by accident, people create it.” ABI BOATMAN Kansas State Representative
who have come before you can help you not take it for granted and help you realize that we’ve made it so far and we can keep this progress alive,” Parker said. Hatfield said that it’s important for LGBTQ+ youth to know about activism done by the generations who came before them. “You know, the old saying of ‘if you don’t know history, you’re bound to repeat’ and it’s important for students to know that even though things are tough right now, we’ve always gotten through it,” Hatfield said. The organization was recently forced to scale back with some of their activities due to funding changes that are a result of new state DEI regulations. The event also served as a fundraising opportunity to support the organization and their future endeavors. Spectrum hosted a silent auction where attendees could bid on baskets of items contributed by donors from around the city who hoped to support Spectrum and their mission. Kansas State Representative Abi Boatman, who helped advocate for gender diversity training for faculty and staff at Wichita State, was also one of the speakers who came to share her story and offer words of encouragement. Boatman detailed how her experience as a transgender woman led her to feel isolated at times due to the loss of family and friends during her transition back in 2011. However, this did not stop her from finding like-minded individuals during this difficult period of her life. “I found a very small, secret transgender support group by accident and that was really my first connection to community here in Wichita,” Boatman said. “Belonging doesn’t happen by accident, people create it.” Boatman used her personal advocacy experience to motivate students to defend themselves and each other, even in the smallest of ways. “At the heart of queer advocacy, beyond the policies and the public debates, it’s something fairly simple,” Boatman said. “People deserve to feel safe, valued and welcome in their own communities, and each of us in our own way can help make that possible.”
Spectrum: LGBTQ & Allies throughout the years. Spectrum is a rebrand of the group, That Gay Group! The name switch officially happened in 2014 to include everyone under the queer umbrella. Photo illustration by Emma Wilks
Enrollment down for WSU, biggest decrease in Kansas BY KAMI STEINLE & JOSH PFLEGER-BERNAT news@thesunflower & jbernat13@gmail.com
Enrollment numbers decreased at Wichita State by 2.5% — more than any other higher education institution in Kansas. This year’s headcount is 18,003 compared to 18,458 last academic year. Full-time equivalent is 11,562 — a 2% decrease from last year’s 11,798. Headcount refers to the number of students enrolled in at least one course, and full-time equivalent is the hypothetical number based on how many fulltime students it would take to make up the total enrolled credit hours — which is 167,899. Full-time is 15 hours for undergraduate students and 12 for graduate students according to the Kansas Board of Regents definition. The second-largest decrease at a public institution was Pittsburg State University, with a 0.6% decrease. The total headcount enrollment
from both WSU and WSU Tech is 24,640. WSU Tech also saw a decrease in headcount by 0.8%, but an increase in credit hours by 2.4%. In a press release, President Richard Muma wrote, “This year’s enrollment reflects both the opportunities and challenges facing higher education… Those trends show that domestic students and families continue to recognize the value of a Wichita State education and the opportunities available through applied learning, career preparation and student support.”
Largest freshman class in WSU history
According to a WSU announcement, across all campuses, it has the largest freshman class in university history with 1,752 students, which is an outlier when comparing other universities. Colleges across the U.S. have been preparing to increase enrollment efforts, due to a lower
Photo illustration by Emma Wilks and Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower
birthrate around the Great Recession resulting in fewer freshman-age students seeking to attend college. WSU is no different, Bobby Gandu, associate vice provost of strategic enrollment initiatives, said. “We’ve known the demographic cliff is coming, and we’ve really tried to make sure we offset the demographic cliff here in Kansas
by seeking out and recruiting more students from outside Kansas,” he said. Wichita State has more Oklahomans than any other state surrounding Kansas at 674, according to data from the Office of Planning and Analysis. The number of students from non-surrounding states dropped from 719 to 605
from 2025-26, a 16% decrease. The large freshman class indicates that students and families see “return on investment” potential from WSU at a time when individual budgets are being heavily strained, according to Gandu.
SEE ENROLLMENT, PAGE 2
NEWS
2 | Oct. 6, 2026
Vivian Zavataro smiles at the crown at the Ulrich Spring Exhibitions Opening Celebration on Jan. 29, 2026. File photos by Peyton Eck / The Sunflower
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Vivian Zavataro, creative and executive director of the Ulrich Museum, addresses the crowd on Aug. 27.
THE LAST SHOW
Ulrich Museum undergoes leadership changes with director BY KAMI STEINLE news@thesunflower.com
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he end of an era for the Ulrich Museum of Art has finally come, and soon the museum will take a new direction. All the exhibitions that live in the minds of the Wichita community will be hard to follow, but who knows what opportunities lie in wait. Vivian Zavataro stepped down from her position as director of the Ulrich in mid-September, leaving Marie Bukowski, dean of the College of Fine Arts, in the interim position until a permanent replacement is found. “I think with ‘Bare It All,’ it was a perfect ending for my tenure,” Zavataro said. “We have the whole collection there; it’s such a pretty and exciting show.” “Bare It All” displays over 7,400 pieces in the Ulrich’s permanent collection and will be on display for a full year. Zavataro said this will allow the rest of the team to be able to find the next director. Since 2022, Zavataro has been in charge of approving all the artistic things that happened at the museum. She said one of the most important projects she worked on in those four years was the Ulrich Co-Lab — a collaborative exhibit designed by community members. “The idea was to take the authority of the curator down to
ENROLLMENT / FROM PAGE 1
International students and tuition
Tuition revenue makes up 54.6% of the general use fund in the university budget, with the other 45.4% coming from state funding, according to the university’s fiscal year 2027 budget. The fund covers salaries, benefits and other operating costs. International students have a higher impact on the university’s budget because they pay more in tuition revenue than other domestic students. International students on average pay 250% more in tuition compared to tuition rates paid by other students, David Miller, senior vice president for administration, finances and operations, said. The fall 2026 census showed international student numbers decreasing from 2025-26. Undergraduate international students dropped from 438 to 365 (16.7%) and graduate international
the level of community,” Zavataro said. “Just acknowledging that we all have something to share… Most museums, they curate top down; I guess the curator just tells you what you need to know and with Co-Lab we used a lot of data from interactive activities to get more feedback and more voices included in the show.” Zavataro attributed increased visitation at the museum in the past couple of years to the Co-Lab. “We put some of our materials in restaurants and neighborhoods, and we did a lot of outreach that way,” Zavataro said. “We wanted to build trust instead of waiting for people to come here, and I think that was really effective in that way.” Zavataro said the museums has accomplished many things in her time there. Multiple exhibitions got national attention, and for the first time in over a decade, the Ulrich was given a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. “I feel really proud of what we achieved these past four years,” Zavataro said. “Also, the team is incredible. We’ve been able to accomplish a lot because we have a lot of talented people within one space.” Zavataro has left a lasting impression on the Wichita community, from docents to curators.
“Vivian hired me on as the interim curator right after I graduated,” Sloane Dyer said. “... I really feel like Vivian helped instill in me museum professional confidence. As an artist coming into this world, you see it from the other side, but then when you’re learning all this stuff that goes behind it, it’s so much different.” Dyer graduated from WSU with her master’s in painting in spring 2026. Before being hired, she had worked little with Zavataro, but the entire time she had been at WSU, Zavataro was with the Ulrich. “I think she really brought a lot of momentum to the museum with the outreach,” Dyer said. “She’s just so bubbly and so outgoing, and her community engagement priority was really important.” Similar sentiments were shared by museum docent Randall Treece. “She was like the spark plug that got everything rolling here,” Treece said. “In one word, I would say she’s effervescent. She just has that amount of energy, so it was a real loss to us, but she’s getting to go to the Riverside Museum … It’ll be a good fit for her, and we’re proud of her, and we’re glad she got that position.” As of now, Zavataro is the executive director at the Riverside Art Museum in California. The RAM is home to The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art and
Culture, and Zavataro said that was one thing that enticed her most in this decision. “The Cheech has a really incredible Chicano collection,” Zavataro said. “It’s the only Chicano art museum in the country, so that sounded exciting to me. Also, when I started learning about the Riverside Art Museum, I noticed that the two locations needed kind of a more cohesive identity, so I’m excited to brainstorm about that.” Zavataro has worked in many different museums — mostly in the same role — ranging from the University of Nevada, Reno to documenta in Kassel, Germany and Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem, Netherlands. “I learned a lot there because I was the graduate intern under the director there,” Zavataro said about the Frans Hals Museum. “That director taught me a lot about being a museum director and also kind of ignited the will for me to be one. Initially I wanted to be a curator.” Leaving the Ulrich is bittersweet, Zavataro said, but she is excited about getting to start a new chapter. “I wish I could take the whole team with me,” Zavataro said. “... I’m looking at it very positively; it’s sad to leave friends and the team, but I’ll visit. I’m excited.”
students dropped from 687 to 446 (35.1%) between 2025-26. Those decreases are hitting the university hard, in part due to state funding decreasing and operational expenses increasing. “We have increased expenses tied to employee benefits,” Miller said. “We had increased expenses tied to the (Wichita Biomedical Campus) coming online and planning for that.” Other cost increases Miller mentioned were related to athletics. The decrease in funding from state support and tuition revenue — along with rising spending costs — is likely to be a challenge for next year’s budget as well. The budgeting process for fiscal year 2028 is still too early to know how a decrease in international students would affect overall student tuition rates, but that, along with potential future state budget cuts, will be the largest factors for possible tuition increases.
Graph by Mya Scott
MISSION The Sunflower — both in print and online — will be a timely resource of information about the Wichita State University community. It will report on news, issues, activities, academics and athletics, in addition to offering a forum for discussion, reviews and commentary. It will also be an effective learning opportunity for students, who will have the final authority on what is published. The Sunflower is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press, College Media Association and the Wichita Journalism Collaborative.
LEGAL One free copy of The Sunflower is available to members of the WSU community. Additional copies may be obtained from the newsroom, Elliott Hall 019. The Sunflower is private property and unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable. The Sunflower is funded by a combination of print and online advertisement sales and allocations by the Student Government Association. Copyright @ 2026 The Sunflower. This newspaper, its design, photos and all contents are copyrighted.
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The Sunflower, founded in 1896, is the student-run news publication covering Wichita State University. The print edition is published Tuesday during the fall and spring semester. The staff publishes daily online at www.thesunflower.com. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mya Scott editor@thesunflower.com
NEWS EDITOR Kami Steinle news@thesunflower.com
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SPORTS EDITOR Evan Long sports@thesunflower.com
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OPINION EDITOR Jadin Kaltenbach opinion@thesunflower.com
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019 Elliott Hall 1845 N. Fairmount Ave. Campus Box 134 Wichita, KS 67260-0134 EDITORIAL Mya Scott: 316-978-6906 editor@thesunflower.com ADVERTISING Addie Clayton: 316-978-6905 admanager@thesunflower.com FACULTY ADVISER Amy DeVault: 316-978-6052 amy.devault@wichita.edu
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MADE BY HUMANS HU MANS
Oct. 6, 2026 | 3
SGA seeks interactions through senate forums
Senate Affairs and Operations Chair Andrew Beam gives an update to the student senate during their Sept. 2 meeting. Meetings are open to the public to attend. File photo by Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower BY JAGGER JACOBS jaggerjacobs2025@gmail.com
Printmaking graduate student Aaron Maldonado inks up a woodcut piece during the Fine Arts Centennial on Oct. 1. Woodcut is a relief printmaking technique that consists of carving into a block of wood. Photo by Ella Poston / The Sunflower
Centering human experiences shaped the past century for the College of Fine Arts and now leads into the future BY MYA SCOTT & JOSH PFLEGER-BERNAT
“ Their creativity, innovation and passion represents the
jbernat13@gmail.com
future of the arts and demonstrates why investing in artistic education remains so important today.”
editor@thesunflower.com
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any changes and innovations have happened very fast the past 100 years, and anxieties around these ever evolving advancements have kept pace within the art community. The College of Fine Arts centennial celebration brought together current and former faculty, staff and students, along with many alumni who started their journey at WSU, to exemplify its longstanding impact. Attendees of the celebration got firsthand looks at the many paths students can take to find their creative drive. A live band of students performed, student dancers moved through crowds, students operated a printing press for pieces to be shown and studentmade art of all kinds was available for purchase. In her opening remarks, Marie Bukowski, the college’s dean, told an attentive crowd that the college has prepared generations of artists, designers, performers, educators, scholars and creative leaders. “Their creativity, innovation and passion represents the future of the arts and demonstrates why
MARIE BUKOWSKI WSU Fine Arts dean
investing in artistic education remains so important today,” Bukowski said. A major strength of the college is how it impacts students from all walks of life, Jennifer Ray, director of the School of Arts, Design, and Creative Industries, said. “This is a place that I would say has transformed students’ lives,” she said. “The students we have coming typically aren’t from the most privileged background.” Ray sees the transformation many students go through as they find their creative drive and build their skill sets. Students’ experience prepares them for a variety of creative fields, but many fear the growing influence of AI on the arts. Aly Horn attended the event, not just as a guest, but representing Tornado Alley Printmaking Guild at the art sale happening during the celebration. Horn is a grad student in the fine arts studio and is heading into their final semester at WSU. Horn said they weren’t even aware that the College of Fine Arts
was hitting the large milestone until the day of the event. “It is very daunting to be part of something that big,” Horn said. “... I feel like I need to have something worth being historical.” Horn said there are feelings of fear as graduation approaches. “I know there’s a lot of people who will rather use (AI) than supporting local artists, or asking anybody here in this department to help with anything like that,” Horn said. “… If we keep being very vocal about how terrible it looks, and showing up how much better ours is in comparison, I think that is some of the best ways to counteract that.” The internet, art galleries and even Wichita State itself have strengthened AI usage in the last two years. Their concerns are common amongst creative professionals as the influence of AI steadily grows. Those concerns are front of mind for administrators at the college. Ray hears those fears from students as well, and thinks it’s
important to find ways to meet the challenge. The college is working to prepare students for any possibility, as well as identify areas that technology cannot replace. An immediate example Ray pointed to was the student dancers moving around the crowd during the celebration, prompting a response of “let’s see a robot do that.” Fine arts programs at WSU have always embraced technology and the new opportunities it creates for many students, with centering the human aspect always being prioritized Bukowski said. The College of Fine Arts embraced all of its challenges, triumphs and mistakes during the celebration. Each has been integral to the college getting where it is today and where they will head in the future. “I can’t take credit for this amazing legacy, but it’s really exciting to see where the faculty, staff and all our alumni have got to be through all the work they’ve done,” Bukowski said. “That has set us up for our future down the road. “It’s really rewarding and really makes me proud to see that the College of Fine Arts has innovated from these first hundred years to get where we are. It’s a great launching point for things to come.”
Student Health celebrates 100 years of serving students BY JAGGER JACOBS jaggerjacobs2025@gmail.com
Student Health Services hosted an open house in the Student Health Center to commemorate its 100th anniversary this Saturday. The office was decorated floor to ceiling with Shocker memorabilia. They offered cake and drinks to guests, played music and even had a decorated hospital bed on display with an IV bag filled with “Shocker Spirit” — saline with yellow food coloring. “Student Health Services have been here serving students for 100 years, and the way in which they currently serve students today serves as a fundamental service that students use just about every day,” Braeden Miller, the director of health and wellness for the Student Government Association, said. “Having the chance to celebrate the turn of the century of them serving students with them is an incredible experience, not only to see the transformation of how they’ve
gotten here today, but also to get to know some of the wonderful people that administer essential services to our students.” For some, it’s more than just celebrating that they’ve been around for a century; it’s more about the work that has been done and the trials they’ve endured in those hundred years. “We have a display in the Cadman Art Gallery and Looking Glass, and we have in there old equipment and old documents, and it shows our progression through the years,” Heather Stafford, the director of SHS, said. Some of the old SHS equipment and items on display at the Cadman Art Gallery date back to the establishment of SHS, the AIDS epidemic and more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. The display also features printed documents that explain these historic undertakings. Taylor Valdez, the marketing and communications manager
Nurse Practitioners from the Student Health Services drink “shocker punch” and talk about their years at WSU. Photo by Bethany Hollis / The Sunflower
for the Student Wellness Center, said this anniversary shows the necessity of student health.” “I really think that 100 years really emphasizes how necessary we are for students, especially those who don’t have physicians nearby or any healthcare services here closer to home,” Valdez said. The SHS has come a long way
in its century of service, from just two physicians in the Department of Physical Education to obtaining an electronic medical record, allowing for up to 32,000 messages between the SHS and students each year. “We have tried to advance and create more service for students,” Stafford said.
Senate affairs and Operations Chairperson Andrew Beam introduced a bill on Wednesday that would create forums to help senators engage with the student body. The goal is for senators to hear from their constituents more directly, so that more impactful legislation can be passed. Beam tied this legislation to his main goal upon being appointed as chair. “One of my main goals when I gave my opening speech was to better connect senators to their constituents,” Beam said. “This senate forum legislation is the first step in completing my goal.” There will be 10 forums — one for each of the six colleges at WSU, one for adult learner students, one for international students, one for graduate students and one for freshmen. A senator can also serve on multiple forums, for example an adult learner student who also belongs to the College of Education can serve on the forums for both. They could also serve on multiple forums as the forum leader if elected. Each forum has to have at least two eligible senators including the forum leader to meet quorum. SGA members who are not senators can be part of forums as non-voting members as long as they fall under the constituency group of the forum. A forum that doesn’t have enough senators to meet quorum will merge with the next smallest forum, forming a joint forum. If a forum doesn’t have enough to meet quorum, and the next smallest forum is tied with another forum for the smallest, in that case, it would be up to the speaker of the student senate to decide, or they could merge with the group that has more correlation, Beam said. Forum meetings are to be held once every quarter, allowing students to voice concerns directly to their senators. “I wanted to make it where they couldn’t schedule two of them the same week or anything…and I was thinking more along of session quarters,” Beam said. The forum leader must announce meetings at least five business days in advance, and collaborate with the executive branch to promote meetings through social media and Shocker Blast. Forum leaders will also determine the location of each meeting. However, Beam suggested senators hold these meetings in their college’s building. The legislation was referred to the Senate Affairs and Operations Committee to make appropriate alterations before a second read and vote at the Oct. 14 weekly senate meeting. Students, faculty and staff can speak in public forum at weekly senate meetings to voice their opinions on various happenings, including legislation.
SPORTS
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HAVE A STORY IDEA? Contact the Sports editor, Evan Long sports@thesunflower.com
Buettenback crushes walk-off grand slam, powers Shockers to undefeated fall season BY EVAN LONG sports@thesunflower.com
In danger of finishing its fall schedule with a disappointing loss, Wichita State trailed 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and two outs when senior outfielder Max Buettenback stepped to the plate. “Just trying to stay calm, you know, big moment,” Buettenback, a newcomer from Nebraska, said. “Not trying to do too much, just gotta get a single in that moment to win the game.” Instead of hitting a single, Buettenback mashed the ball 109 miles per hour off the bat for a 428-foot bomb to right field. The grand slam gave the Shockers a 7-4 victory over Kansas City Kansas Community College on Saturday afternoon at Eck Stadium. “The first two pitches I saw sliders up, called for strikes,” Buettenback, a left-handed batter, said. “I didn’t necessarily like that
second one (being called for a strike), so I just took a timeout to calm myself down, take my time. The next pitch was fastball up, and with two strikes I’m just trying to fight stuff off, and luckily he hung a slider, and so I just kind of took advantage of that.” Prior to Buettenback’s towering shot, the Shocker offense struggled against the Blue Devils. WSU didn’t record a hit until the bottom of the eighth when sophomore infielder Liu Rodriguez Jr. singled. “Really poor performance at the plate,” head coach Brian Green said. “I thought our approach was pretty poor. I thought we panicked a little bit. From an approach standpoint, I just didn’t feel like we were committed to an approach.” KCKCC’s starting pitcher, sophomore righty Richard De Jesus, threw three scoreless innings — three strikeouts and one walk. Green and Buettenback both thought the Shockers struggled to recover after getting shut down by
De Jesus early in the game. “That first guy was really, really good, and honestly, I think it kind of shocked us a little bit,” Buettenback said. “I think guys, including myself, just kind of got off our game plan and started getting in between (with our timing).” However, WSU’s offense finally got going in the bottom of the eighth when AJ Velarde, a junior third baseman, connected on an RBI single to cut the Blue Devils’ lead to 4-2. In the ninth inning, center fielder Kaleb Duncan walked to force in a run and bring WSU to within one, setting up Buettenback for his climactic blast. “To have a walk-off grand slam, there’s a lot of confidence to be built from that,” Green said. The Shockers were also very effective on the mound as they no-hit KCKCC through four innings of play. Donovan Johnson, Kaden Longman, Dalton Smith and Maddox Meyer all pitched perfect innings to start the game.
Smith struck out the side in the third frame to contribute three strikeouts to Wichita State’s 15 total punchouts. Meyer, a right-handed newcomer from Omaha, started the fall opener against Cowley County Community College, throwing three shutout innings. He followed up by putting away all six batters he faced versus Nebraska, an outing that only required 18 pitches. In the fourth inning against KCKCC, Meyer sat down three hitters on eight pitches. “Last year my earned run average was inflated, and I was like, ‘It’s hard to score runs if you don’t let the leadoff guy on,’” Meyer said. “So I was like, ‘Might as well just pound the zone,’ and it started working for me. I’m like, ‘Now I’m just not gonna walk anybody and make it hard for them.’” The victory allowed the Shockers to finish the fall schedule with a 3-0 record, including a win over Nebraska last week. The Black and Yellow Fall World
After hitting a home run, senior Max Buettenback, runs the bases and goes home. This is Buettenback’s first season with Shocker Baseball. Photo by Bethany Hollis / The Sunflower
Series, WSU’s fall finale, will feature three five-inning games Wednesday and Thursday at 5 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. at Eck Stadium. Two captains for each team will be selected to draft their squads. “It will be real competitive because the winning team will go out for a nice steak dinner, and the losing team will eat hot dogs,” Green said.
Shockers take opening set before dropping three straight to Tulsa BY EVAN LONG sports@thesunflower.com
Wichita State freshman Rachel Skulsky competes in the 3-point competition. Skulsky was the highest scoring women’s basketball player with 23 points. Photo by Bethany Hollis / The Sunflower
TRULY MADNESS Surprising stars and disappointing absences BY EVAN LONG & NOAH DEVAULT sports@thesunflower.com noahdevault1@gmail.com
The Wichita State men’s and women’s basketball teams participated in the annual Shocker Madness event Saturday night at Charles Koch Arena. The showcase started with team introductions, followed by a knockout competition and three-point contest. The night concluded with women’s and men’s team scrimmages. There were some players who unexpectedly shined, and other athletes who unfortunately didn’t participate in the festivities. Here’s a breakdown of what went down at this year’s Shocker Madness:
Knockout competition and 3-point contest
The first event was a knockout competition, where four players from each team and two fans lined up and tried to “knockout” their opponents. They did this by making a shot before the person in front of you does. If the shooter behind them converts before you do, they are “knocked out.” This cycle continues until there is one contestant left standing. The competition started at the free throw line, moved to the 3-point line and finished in between the half-court line and the 3-point arc. Before moving to the final spot, Jordan Frison, Dillon Battie and Jahari Long were left standing. Frison eliminated Battie before taking down Long to win the knockout competition. The second event was a 3-point competition where three players from each team got 25 shots at five different spots. The last ball at each
rack was worth two points. Joy Ighovodja, a redshirt junior guard, got the men’s team off to a great start, putting up 23 points out of a possible 30. He beat senior guard Klea Kaci by nine points in the opening round. Rachel Skulsky, a freshman guard, stunned junior guard Bryce Heard, beating him 20-19. Forward Henry Thengvall helped the men’s team recover as he took down Alexis Leyva 15-13. The finals were set: Ighovodja vs Skulsky. Both teams sent their top performers and neither disappointed. Skulsky dropped 23 points to put a ton of pressure on Ighovodja. Ighovodja had 19 heading into his last rack, where he hit his first two on the last before missing the third. Needing to make his last two shots to win, everyone’s attention was on Ighovodja. He drained the fourth ball on the rack before nailing the money ball. Ighovodja beat Skulsky 24-23 to give the men’s team its second victory of the night.
Scrimmages
Heard, a Dayton transfer, put on a show, scoring 16 points and draining four 3-pointers. “It was fun,” Heard said. “At the end of the day, we just all like to compete, so it was fun to compete against the girls, compete against ourselves.” The 6-foot-6 guard will help add depth to the backcourt. Frison, a Chattanooga transfer, showcased his talent as well, scoring 11 points and draining three 3-pointers. He scored the first five points for his team, which put
them up 5-2. Guards Kenyon Giles and TJ Williams did not take part in any of the events on Saturday night. On Sept. 29, head coach Paul Mills said he would be “really surprised if he (Giles) doesn’t defend his title” in the 3-point contest. 7-foot-2 center Will Berg showed the crowd that he’s been working on his jump shot. Berg was a perfect three-for-three from behind the arc. He added two dunks in the scrimmage as well. “Just because I’ve been working on my shot doesn’t mean I haven’t been working on my post game as well,” Berg said. Berg finished as the Sixth Man of the Year in the American Conference last season, and looks to build off that during his redshirt senior season in Wichita. “I missed them. I think the whole team missed them,” Berg said about the fans. “It’s been way too long, but I’m glad to finally be back in front of them.” The women’s basketball team continued the 3-point contest during its scrimmage. Junior guard Ma’Riya Vincent, a Missouri transfer, stood out the most in the scrimmage, knocking down three 3-pointers. The 6-foot guard was recruited during her senior year of high school by head coach Terri Nooner, but ended up choosing Missouri. Not one player from last year’s team is on the roster, and there are five freshmen on the team. Based on the first look at the women’s team, it looks like they want to shoot the ball from behind the arc.
The Shocker volleyball team defeated Tulsa in the first set and looked poised to win its second conference match of the season Friday night at Charles Koch Arena. However, the Golden Hurricane swept the next three sets to take down Wichita State. The Shockers fell 3-1 to Tulsa, 22-25, 25-22, 25-11, and 25-20. Wichita State was outhit .244 to .133, outblocked 10 to five and the Golden Hurricane (11-3, 3-0 American) recorded 14 service aces to WSU’s five. “It’s gotten to the point where you can just tell the difference between experience,” head coach Chris Lamb, who started three sophomores and a freshman against Tulsa, said. “They subbed in a newly-eligible fifth-year senior; we’re subbing in a true freshman. That part’s tough because we’re just not going to get old in a hurry. We’ve been riding the wave of consistency.” Wichita State (4-11, 1-2 American) begins a three-game road trip against Tulane (11-2, 3-0 American) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Devlin Fieldhouse in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Shockers will look to recover after dropping 10 of their last 12 matches while facing the Green Wave, who have won seven consecutive. “I think we’re going to bounce back great,” senior setter Jordan Heatherly said. “I think that we took a lot of positives away from tonight. I think Janaya and Maddie have been killing it for us, and I think that we can turn that into success if our pin players kind of follow. We know that Tulane has been playing very, very well this season. We know that it’s going to be a battle, but just based on the talk in the locker room, we’re ready for what is to come on Sunday.” Sophomore middle blocker Janaya Weitkemper had breakout performances last weekend, notching a match-high hitting percentage (.444) against Memphis on Friday and finishing with 10 kills, four blocks and hitting .333 on Sunday while facing South Florida. Against Tulsa, Weitkemper continued to pace the Shocker offense with a .412 hitting percentage, while leading the team in kills with nine. “I know, and everybody around us knows that we need somebody to put the ball away, and I think that I have capitalized on that a little bit,” Weitkemper said. Maddie Wilson, a fifth-year middle blocker, recorded eight kills, a team-high four blocks and hit .238. Heatherly led Wichita
State in assists (22) and added 11 digs, while libero Gabi Maas notched 14 digs, a team-high. Addie Oeth, a freshman setter, dished out 15 assists and junior defensive specialist Grace Hett contributed nine digs. The Shockers held the American Conference Preseason Player of the Year in check offensively on Friday night. Jill Hanson, a sophomore middle blocker, finished with a match-high five blocks, but only recorded five kills on a .154 hitting percentage. “We had a plan for her, and it was nice to see that we turned them into a ‘setting the pins team,’” Lamb said. However, senior outside hitter Olivia Vance covered for Hanson, registering a match-high 17 kills and hitting .421. Campbell Hague, a senior middle, hit .333 with six kills and three blocks, while setters Brittany Bacorn (23) and Meg Goodwin (19) combined for 42 assists. In the opening set, WSU went on a 7-2 run to take a 13-9 lead, and extended its advantage to 21-13 after a 7-0 run. The Shockers looked well on their way to finish off the Golden Hurricane in dominating fashion. However, Tulsa put together an 8-2 stretch to cut WSU’s lead to 24-22 and put pressure on the Shockers, who were finally able to close out the set 25-22 with a kill from Jones. The Golden Hurricane went on a 6-1 run to seize an 8-5 lead from Wichita State before the Shockers strung together an 8-2 run to go up 13-10. Then Tulsa went on a 7-1 run to retake the lead at 17-14, and Wichita State struck back with a 5-2 stretch to tie the game 20-20. Tulsa put together a 4-1 run to win the set 25-22 and tie the match at 1-1. In the third set, the Golden Hurricane went on a 15-3 run to take a 22-8 lead over the Shockers and quickly put the game to rest, winning 25-11. Tulsa picked up right where it left off, leading by scores of 5-0, 9-2 and 14-5 in the fourth set. Wichita State cut Tulsa’s lead to 19-16 after a 5-0 run, but fell 25-20 to lose the match. Heading onto the road, where the Shockers are 0-5, Lamb expressed confidence that his outside hitters would begin “stacking” strong performances. “Whether or not we’re playing KU or whether or not we’re playing a lesser team on the schedule or whether it’s practice or matches, I still feel like ‘which version of my players are going to show up?’” Lamb said. “We’ve seen a little bit of everything from a lot of people, and we’re just gonna have to grind and fight through that.”
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SPORTS
Oct. 6, 2026 | 5
Wichita State softball junior pitcher Gabby Fakes (12) pitches the ball against Oklahoma State on Oct. 4. The Shockers competed in two exhibition games over the weekend. Photos by Ellery Prothro / The Sunflower
SOFTBALL SHOCKS OSU COWGIRLS IN A SLUG FEST “
BY NOAH DEVAULT
noahdevault1@gmail.com
Wichita State junior catcher Gabby Scott (10) attempts to make a hit against Oklahoma State during an exhibition on Oct. 4 at Wilkins Stadium.
Members of the Wichita State softball team celebrate a homerun from junior catcher Gabby Scott (10).
Fans packed Wilkins Stadium on Oct. 4 to get a look at just how good this year’s Shocker softball team might be. Wichita State faced its biggest challenge of the fall against last year’s Big 12 runner-up, Oklahoma State. The Shockers went into the game trying to learn as much as possible before off-season work begins in the winter. Along the way, the team upset the Cowgirls 5-3 in a point-per-inning style game. “It’s really good to get our kids that confidence,” head coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “It’s good to show them, ‘hey, that’s a big game,’ and you know, that’s a game we’ll look forward to playing in the spring.” Offensively, the Shockers scored early and often, posting 16 runs on 15 hits. After holding Oklahoma State to one run in the top of the first, junior outfielder Gabby Scott blasted a home run in the back half of the inning, despite the wind working straight against the right-handed bat. In the second inning, junior left-handed starting pitcher Gabby Fakes shut the Cowgirls down. With a runner on first to start the inning, the Cowgirls laid down a sacrifice bunt, then grounded two balls right back to Fakes to end the inning.
We had a great opponent that we were playing, but we’re also a good team, so just being confident in ourselves is important.” SARA WIGGINS Pitcher
“Pitching-wise, I think we had a lot of good innings. I don’t think they had too many hard-hit balls. They had 18 hits; nine of them were (bloops),” Bredbenner said. The Shockers capitalized on the inning by scoring three runs thanks to a double from sophomore middle infielder Kammie Smith and a two-run triple from freshman Jessie Shuman. “Our freshmen are getting huge hits,” Bredbenner said. “Sara Wiggins gets a double, Addi Smith rips one down the line for a double, Jess Shuman hits a double, and Kylie (Wheaton) had two hits. I mean, we’re okay, and I think those are the things that we’re going to learn.” Wiggins didn’t just have a great day at the plate, but also found success in the circle. The hurler came in to stop the bleeding after 11 Cowgirl runs scored in the last two innings. She tossed three innings, only surrendering two hits and allowing four runs. Some of the runs were scored from the situation that the inning started with. “I just take it one batter at a
time,” Wiggins said. “We had a great opponent that we were playing, but we’re also a good team, so just being confident in ourselves is important.” It wasn’t a perfect day for the Shocker pitching staff, though. Oklahoma State walked nine times, recorded 18 hits and scored 18 runs. “The innings where we struggled were big innings. They had the seven-run inning and then the fourrun inning,” Bredbenner said. “A lot of that had to do with walks, so we need to minimize the walks.” The Shockers’ bunt defense also struggled on Sunday. The Cowgirls squared five times and successfully reached three times, including the first batter of the game. The two that didn’t reach were sacrifice plays to move runners into scoring position. “We need to learn to defend the bunt a little bit better,” Bredbenner said. “Not something we were expecting as much in a fall game, which we’re just used to swinging away.”
Softball finds stride in fall opener BY NOAH DEVAULT
noahdevault1@gmail.com
Although the Shockers got out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning, the scoreboard read 1-0 in Wichita State’s favor. In its first fall matchup of the season, the Shocker softball team defeated McLennan Community College 6-1 in a 10-inning game under Banana Ball scoring rules. Banana Ball scoring follows a point style system rather than traditional softball scoring. In this format, whichever team scores more runs in a single inning gets one point for that inning, and if both squads drive in the same number of runs, neither team gets a point. Fall games also include every even inning starting with a situation, meaning runners start off on different bases. “As much as we want to shut teams out and keep people off base, we’re only going to get better if we challenge ourselves a little bit,” head coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “There are games where not a lot of people get on base, but we just don’t get a lot out of that. We’re trying to create situations to really see what our team can do.”
It not only gives coaches a chance to see what their team is made of, but it also allows them to look at some possible recruits. “I knew this team had three really good catchers,” Bredbenner said. “So I’m going to steal in the first and third because I want to see if I want to recruit that kid, what kind of arm they have.” The Shockers took the first three innings with ease, tallying 12 runs on 11 hits and earning three points. Three of those runs came in the third inning on a Trinity Allen home run to left. Allen, a senior infielder, graduated from McLennan before heading to Wichita for the 2026 spring season. “McLennan was my home for two years,” Allen said. “I loved it there and I loved coach (Chris) Berry.” “We played last year, and it’s just an exciting feeling every time we play them.” The team made a stand defensively, shutting out the Highlanders from Waco, Texas, in the first three innings. Following a strikeout in the top of the first, sophomore second baseman Kammie Smith made a
throw on the run after backhanding a ball up the middle for the second out. “Being able to make those plays gives our pitchers a little reassurance,” Smith said. “That ball hit off Ryley (Nihart’s) glove, so yes, that’s a tough play, but we still have her back, and I wanted her to feel that.” Both teams started the fourth inning with a runner on second base as part of the “situational-style” play. McLennan stole third to help manufacture its first run on an infield single from leadoff hitter Brooke Fechner. The Shockers answered with an RBI single to left field, knotting the inning at one. In total, Wichita State scored 30 runs, registered 28 hits and only committed one error defensively based on unofficial statistics recorded by The Sunflower. Bredbenner praised the pitching staff for its efforts in the win, only allowing four hits through ten innings of play. “It was a good confidence boost for our pitching staff,” she said. “I don’t think we got barreled up hard once today.”
OPINION
6 | Oct. 6, 2026 www.thesunflower.com
HAVE A STORY IDEA? Contact the Opinion editor, Jadin Kaltenbach opinion@thesunflower.com
Illustration by Mikah Herzberg / The Sunflower
STUDENTS ARE ILLITERATE AND AI ISN’T COMING TO SAVE THEM Sarah Matadi
sarahjmatadi@gmail.com
OPINION “We’re never going to use this information in the real world” is a common sentiment echoed by teens and pre-teens everywhere in relation to subjects taught in school. Even though I often found myself having similar thoughts during high school, one thing that has been helpful to me in every single area of my life are my literacy skills. Literacy, in the traditional sense, is the basic ability to read and write. However, in a country where literacy rates are on the decline, many are quick to forget that being able to read and write are pointless without knowing that comprehension and communication are what make these skills useful. I might be impressed to listen to someone read a lengthy book and correctly pronounce every word on the page, but my admiration will most likely be rescinded when they fail to effectively communicate what
the key themes were in discussion. But, with the help of new and inescapable Artificial Intelligence tools, we are no longer burdened with the task of putting basic literacy skills to use. Why write an essay for a class when AI can do it for you? Matter fact, why even come up with the idea for the essay when AI can do that for you too? A couple of years ago, I remember hoping that soon there would be more restrictions regarding AI usage, specifically in schools. While students of all ages are discouraged from using AI to write papers or give them answers to assignments, this rarely prevents AI from being used as the short cut that requires almost no learning. During my junior year of high school, I took an English class at my local community college. I remember feeling proud to have been so proficient in my English skills that I was able to qualify for a college level class. These feelings of accomplishment were challenged when I overheard a girl in my class admit that she used AI to generate
the outline for our midterm paper. When it comes to writing, forming a dependency on AI can severely hinder the ability to effectively communicate. Young adults that are students now will soon have underdeveloped writing abilities to exercise when it comes time for them to enter the work force. Reading comprehension is just as important and is in just as much danger as writing is. AI tools are commonly used to summarize and water down information that is not in any real need of simplification. I can’t help but roll my eyes every time I see an option to summarize an email that I could read faster than AI could generate a sloppy summary. This also relates to the tendency of skimming information rather than taking the time to read. The habits of skimming and summarizing are already risky enough as it is— but having an artificial tool at your fingertips that has stolen and regurgitated work made by humans makes it even more concerning. As an aspiring journalist, the growing affinity that people seem
to have for reading the watered down, oversimplified version of something is worrisome to me. In a world where speed is favored over accuracy, it’s easier to receive a summary of a piece of news, a book or a long email rather than to critically engage with media in a way that would require a shred of effort. Current and future generations will never become properly literate with new and consistently improving AI tools constantly beckoning us to let it do the work instead. Whether you’re writing a project proposal for your boss or sending a heartfelt breakup text, being able to communicate through writing is a skill that always has been and always will be inescapable. There will never be an endpoint when it comes to literacy, but I think that’s the beauty of it. No matter how advanced you think you are, I guarantee that there is still much more to go. And by relying on an AI tool that is made up entirely of parroted information, we rob ourselves of the experience of growth.
Letter to the editor:
How my electric company accidentally moved me to Kansas On Aug. 11, 2026, I had no plans to relocate to Kansas. Wichita had not summoned me. I had not received an employment transfer, entered witness protection or joined a traveling circus. I was simply a 46-year-old criminal justice student attending Wichita State University online from Northwest Indiana. This arrangement depended on advanced technological infrastructure, including electricity, a requirement that would soon prove ambitious.
Phase I: Electricity becomes theoretical
On Aug. 11, a derecho struck Northwest Indiana. NIPSCO later described the damage as the worst in its known history, reporting that about 375,000 customers — roughly 80% of its electric customers — were affected. I was attempting to conduct normal human activities while
this was happening. Among those activities was college. Before the storm, the system was simple. Wichita State was in Wichita. I was in Indiana. The internet connected us. Then the electricity disappeared. Reliable internet followed. My online degree became less “online education” and more a field-based academic survival exercise. Completing university responsibilities required some combination of cellular data, restaurants, libraries, truck stops, public Wi-Fi, battery conservation and a growing expertise in locating functioning electrical outlets. For a period, a tent entered the educational infrastructure. This was not listed in the Wichita State course catalog.
Phase II: The decentralized campus model
Universities advertise flexible learning environments. I may have
taken this too far. A restaurant became a study hall. A library became an IT department. A truck stop became auxiliary student services. My phone became a university. My battery percentage became an academic performance indicator. Eventually, the geography became difficult to ignore. I was attending Wichita State from Indiana while traveling around Indiana searching for the resources necessary to attend Wichita State. Meanwhile, Wichita State remained in Wichita, apparently with electricity. This produced what economists might call an incentive, or what normal people might call, “Nick, just go to Kansas.” One option was to continue operating an improvised telecommunications network involving public buildings, battery percentages, transportation logistics and a tent.
Another was Wichita. Somehow, moving hundreds of miles became a less complicated option. I want that entered into the historical record. I had unintentionally become Director of Continuity Operations for one undergraduate student. The department consisted entirely of me. Morale was mixed.
Phase III: Kansas accepts the transfer
Eventually, I packed what I could and came to Wichita. There was no ribbon-cutting ceremony. No utility representative handed me ceremonial keys to Kansas. No one signed an interstate memorandum acknowledging that one criminal justice student had been geographically redistributed due to an unreasonable chain of logistical events. I simply arrived. Then something remarkable happened. I obtained housing near Wichita
State. I had electricity. I had the internet. I received my Shocker ID. I could work on assignments without first determining whether a nearby fast-food restaurant was connected to the electrical grid. After weeks of improvised infrastructure, this felt suspiciously luxurious. I had traveled hundreds of miles to discover an astonishing feature of modern higher education — students can accomplish significantly more homework when the building has power. Researchers may wish to investigate this further. For the first time, my physical location also matched the name printed on my university. I was a Wichita State student in Wichita. Operationally, this was elegant. — Nicholas Young Wichita State Student
HAVE A STORY IDEA? Contact the Arts editor, Kiona Brown arts@thesunflower.com
ARTS & CULTURE
Oct. 6, 2026 | 7 www.thesunflower.com
WuShock strolls past Wu’s Birthday Bash attendants bringing energy and dancing. Photos by Anthony Gonzalez-Medina / The Sunflower
Samantha and Ruben Balboa perform at Weidamann Hall. Photo by Cleo Rapp / The Sunflower
FACULTY WITH STRONG HISTORY SHARE TRIO BALEZ WITH CAMPUS COMMUNITY BY KIONA BROWN
arts@thesunflower.com
On their first date, Samantha and Ruben Balboa decided to go to a restaurant. The restaurant was super empty, and they first assumed it was closed. Their waiter told them to call him over if they needed anything because he was watching “the game.” A while into the date, Samantha finally got curious enough to ask what game was so important. Their waiter said it was Super Bowl Sunday. The Balboas, who have been together for nearly ten years, moved to WSU last year — Ruben as assistant professor of viola and music education and Samantha as an adjunct instructor of voice. Ruben and Samantha performed with their friend and former colleague Jeanne Hourez in their group, Trio Balez, on Sept. 27 in Wiedemann Hall. They previously performed in Paris at the International Viola Congress, which felt extra special because Hourez is French. One of their favorite memories with their trio was the four-hour dinner with a crowd of Hourez’s family and friends in Paris. “That was actually a top moment for us … when we were in Paris, we got to have an amazing meal, and they basically just ordered it for us,” Ruben said. Samantha and Ruben have shared their culture with Hourez, and their trip to Paris allowed her to return the favor. Their cultures aren’t as different as they may have assumed — they found out how universal human behaviors are. “We understood everything that was happening at that table,” Samantha said. “There was the mom who’s passing down the
“ Several of the pieces that are known for this
Wu’s Birthday Bash attendants receiving face painting from face painter Hilary Louvar.
SAMANTHA BALBOA Adjunct instructor of voice
Students, family gather to celebrate WuShock’s 78th birthday
combination were written for couples that are married. Isn’t that interesting?” baby to everybody to see, and maybe the uncle who has too many political opinions. And people reaching over each other and talking, and it was so amazing to just sit there and be like, ‘Wow, like some things are universal.’” Trio Balez had no obligation to hold a recital here on campus, but they wanted more opportunities to play as a group and to give their students the opportunity to hear their group perform. “There’s some things you have to do as a musician that are kind of expected, like maybe you’re expected to play in the orchestra, maybe you’re expected to sing in the choir, to do things like that,” Samantha said. “This is no requirement of us whatsoever to have a trio or to even put on a recital, and it was just to think about, you know, we built this program, we thought about our students, we thought about what they would want to come and see.” Samantha is a vocalist, Ruben a violist and Hourez a pianist. This combination might sound a little strange, but there are rare compositions especially meant for it. The trio often has to add a part for one of them or adjust existing parts to fit their group. “On this particular program, there was a few pieces that we had to rearrange, and one of the pieces was for violin and I’m a violist, so I changed it up to make it work for our ensemble and for me,” Ruben said. “So that’s
definitely hopefully one of the plans is for us to start to talk to more composers.” Coincidentally, a lot of repertoire composed for viola and voice is written for couples. “Our last piece, it’s one of my favorite pieces because she talks about how great I am and that I play like a viola God … and it was about … a married couple,” Ruben said. “And it was written for another married couple,” Samantha added. “And actually, several of the pieces that are known for this combination were written for couples that are married. Isn’t that interesting? Voice, viola, they just apparently find each other.” Another challenge with the trio is finding repertoire that fits their priorities. Ruben doesn’t want to simply play background music, Samantha likes to find crossover musical theater pieces and Hourez wants to ensure each program features a female composer. This program gave Samantha and Ruben the opportunity to show their students what their careers look like outside of teaching. “It kind of is like a live demonstration of what it’s like to be a professional musician in that you sometimes get to pick your projects,” Samantha said. “And if you do get to pick your projects, it should be something you enjoy doing, and that brings joy to everybody else, too.”
BY ANTHONY GONZALEZ-MEDINA
65nthony@gmail.com
Students, their families and WSU staff gathered in Braeburn Square to celebrate WuShock’s 78th birthday on Friday, Oct. 2. The event was another part of this year’s Shocktoberfest and family weekend festivities, hosted by the Office of Student Engagement and Belonging. Wu’s Birthday Bash featured a variety of activities and offerings for students and their families to get into. From yard games like corn hole and giant Jenga to balloon animals, face painting, caricature drawing, music and a lot of dancing from Wu. Students received a free meal voucher which could be used at several Braeburn Square vendors and participating food trucks. Wu himself was out and about during the event, leading the dance floor. The mascot’s presence is something many students were looking forward to. “I’ve never seen the mascot in person. I wanted to see him in person today. You know it’s his birthday, you gotta celebrate people’s birthdays,” freshman Kenadi Frye said. Frye and freshman Audriana Thomas went up to Wu to extend their birthday wishes. “We went up to Wu personally, me and Audriana. We just hyped him up, we were saying happy birthday. He started dancing for us,
Wichita State students and families gather at yellow tables during Wu’s Birthday Bash.
and it was pretty funny; we shared a good laugh,” Frye said. For many students, it was nice seeing people come out and incorporate their families into the Shocktoberfest festivities. Family weekend led to Shocktoberfest court member, Erin Wilson, to bring Abby and Courtney Wilson to the event. “I like that being in Wichita, I still get to have my family be a part of my time at Wichita State. So having these events, it’s fun to be able to bring them and have them experience college with me,” Wilson said. A similar experience was shared by freshman Grace Oard. “I’m really excited to show my family all of WSU,” Oard said. “… We live in Wichita, so they just drove over from their house, so it’s super easy. We just had dinner ,and I’m probably gonna walk around campus with them.” Alicia Martinez-Newell, the assistant vice president of Student Affairs and self-proclaimed “Mama Shocker,” oversees the Shocker family programs for the university. “I get to meet a lot of our families at orientation when they come in with their students, and so I love family weekend, because it’s a time to reconnect with them and check in,” Martinez-Newell said.“Also, as a parent, how they’re transitioning their kid into college. As a mom who has a kid in college, you go through a lot of different things as a parent and not just your
The Cheesecake Factory brings the thrill of excess to Wichita Ellery Prothro
photo@thesunflower.com
REVIEW When I die, bury me at The Cheesecake Factory. America’s imperial palace of gourmet gluttony — The Cheesecake Factory —opened its first location in Wichita earlier this week. Despite lines stretching out of the door every day since its opening, I managed to snag a table at this new culinary colosseum in Bradley Fair. And, thankfully, it did not disappoint. Upon entering the establishment, settling into a seat beneath the enclosed patio and opening the menu, I was immediately overwhelmed by the sheer number of possibilities. I quickly realized, however, that neither my stomach nor my wallet would be particularly pleased with any of the choices I was about to make. They say Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was the menu at The Cheesecake Factory. Spanning more than 22 pages and featuring an alluring display of nearly 35 cheesecakes, the menu was daunting, to say the least. Offerings
ranged from American comfort to global favorites, with a separate “SkinnyLicious” menu devoted to lower-calorie options. Even with those lighter choices, those afraid of calories or a hefty bill may want to dine elsewhere. After at least 20 minutes of deliberation, I settled on Chicken Costoletta, an Italian-inspired dish consisting of breaded chicken cutlets, mashed potatoes, asparagus and a creamy lemon-butter sauce. While waiting for our meals to arrive, the table managed to devour three baskets of bread. My favorite part of this gastronomical spectacle was the endless supply of complimentary baskets filled with some of the most devourable bread I’ve ever laid my taste buds on. Put a basket of warm, not to mention free, brown wheat and sourdough bread with cold butter in front of me, and I probably would have been satisfied. But then plates began hitting the table, and I knew something would be going home in a box. Piping hot and heavily portioned, the meal lived up to every rave review I’ve seen on social media. The chicken was juicy, the mashed potatoes reminded me of my grandma’s and the bright sauce took everything to the next level.
Chicken Costoletta from The Cheesecake Factory. Photos by Ellery Prothro / The Sunflower Complimentary brown wheat and sourdough bread from The Cheesecake Factory.
“
I find myself now in awe of the sheer excess Wichita has been gifted.” ELLERY PROTHRO The Sunflower photo editor
Not only was the food great, but so was the service. Everyone at the table left satisfied, and I commend the chefs and the many employees behind the scenes and on the floor for swiftly serving a restaurant full of eager, hungry Wichitans. After eating more carbs and sodium than I probably consume in a week, I decided I’d best take dessert to go.
Dessert isn’t optional at The Cheesecake Factory. Not only is it in the name, but the case of boundless, mouthwatering dessert is impossible not to notice, luring patrons into sugary oblivion. I opted for the Pineapple Upside Down-Cake Cheesecake, which may be the most gluttonously delectable dessert I’ve ever had. I find myself now in awe of
the sheer excess Wichita has been gifted. Maybe it’s the sugar rush talking, but The Cheesecake Factory feels like the splendor of Rome collided with the appetite of America — and I am completely here for it. From its more-than-20-page menu to its mountains of food and endless baskets of bread, The Cheesecake Factory does not believe in moderation. And honestly, why should it? You don’t come here for restraint. You come here for excess, indulgence and, if you’re lucky, enough leftovers to feed you for another day.
8 | Oct. 6, 2026
SPORTS
www.thesunflower.com
UPCOMING EVENTS ‘PRINTING HISTORIAS’ EXHIBITION All Week
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Clayton Staples Gallery Stop by the second floor of McKnight to view artwork centered around socio-political issues related to immigration.
SALSA DANCING WORKSHOP Wednesday, Oct. 7
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Rhatigan Student center, Room 142 Enjoy a hand-picked instructor, chips and salsa bar, and connect with fellow Shockers through the world of salsa dance.
BASEBALL BLACK AND YELLOW WORLD SERIES - GAME 1 Wednesday, Oct. 7 5 p.m. Eck Stadium
Wichita State men’s basketball guard Joy Ighovodja (12) attempts to get past guard Jordan Frison (5) during a scrimmage on Oct. 3. The scrimmage was part of Shocker Madness and Shocktoberfest. Photo by Ellery Prothro / The Sunflower
Watch the Shocker baseball team conclude its fall practices with the annual Black and Yellow Fall World Series, a three-game intersquad series. Admission is free.
MEN’S BASKETBALL SCRIMMAGE VS MURRAY STATE Wednesday, Oct. 7 6:30 p.m. Charles Koch Arena
Watch Wichita State men’s basketball compete in a charity scrimmage against Murray State. All tickets are $20 and seating is general admission.
BASEBALL BLACK AND YELLOW WORLD SERIES - GAME 2 Thursday, Oct. 8 5 p.m. Eck Stadium
Watch Shocker baseball conclude its fall practices with game two of the annual Black and Yellow Fall World Series. Admission is free and canned food donations are encouraged.
BOBA AND BOARD GAMES Thursday, Oct. 8
6 - 8 p.m. Rhatigan Student Center, Room 265 Join the Barton School of Business Transition Mentors for boba, board games and meet fellow Barton School of Business students. Cheer performed their routine at Shocker Madness Shocker. The Dance team and the Shocker Sound performed as well. Photo by Bethany Hollis / The Sunflower
Junior Aaron Hill grills meat for tacos being served by the Sigma Lamda Beta fraternity. Photo by Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower
SHOCKER SHINDIG
SOFTBALL VS ROSE STATE Friday, Oct. 9
5 p.m. Wilkins Stadium Watch Shocker softball compete against Rose State as part of its fall exhibition schedule. Admission is free for students with student ID.
GRADUATE STUDENT SOCIAL NIGHT Friday, Oct. 9
6 - 8 p.m. Shocker Sports Grill and Lanes Join the Student Government Association and Graduate Student Council to enjoy free bowling, pizza, pool and networking.
PURPLE MILE WALK Saturday, Oct. 10
9 - 11 a.m. Rhatigan Student Center Attend the 11th annual Purple Mile during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. This is a free event and includes a one-mile awareness walk.
A member of the Shocker Formula Racing team waves to the crowd from the cockpit of the team’s car as he’s pushed down the parade route on Oct. 3. The team builds their formula and baja cars in their garage in the John Bardo Center. Photo by Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower
Shocker Sound performs their drills for the crowd at Shocker Madness. Photo by Bethany Hollis / The Sunflower
BASEBALL BLACK AND YELLOW WORLD SERIES - GAME 3 Saturday, Oct. 10 2 p.m. Eck Stadium
Watch the Shocker baseball team conclude its fall practices with the annual Black and Yellow Fall World Series, a three-game intersquad series.
WICHITA CLEAN STREAMS Saturday, Oct. 10
10 a.m. - Noon Various Locations around Arkansas and Little Arkansas River Join the Community Service Board for the Wichita Clean Streams Cleanup and help keep the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers clean.
HAVE AN EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED? CONTACT THE ARTS EDITOR: arts@thesunflower.com Members of the Wichita State men’s basketball team watch the 3-point contest during Shocker Madness. Photo by Ellery Prothro / The Sunflower
CONTACT THE NEWS EDITOR: news@thesunflower.com