2 | THURSDAY AUG. 12, 2021
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SCREENSHOT FROM STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
PHOTO BY MATT STAMEY / WICHITA JOURNALISM COLLOBORATIVE
MyShockerHealth added a new feature earlier this month for students to sumbit proof of their COVID-19 vaccination.
Student Health encouraging students to submit COVID-19 vaccination records
Mandatory Title IX training introduced to create a culture of safety BY JULIA NIGHTENGALE
“Taking this step is important because we want to make sure that we are creating a culture of safety, of educating our students.”
news@thesunflower.com
BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_ KSmith
Students can now submit proof of their COVID-19 vaccination, thanks to a new feature added to myShockerHealth. Students who enter their record before Aug. 27 have a chance to win prizes. “[myShockerHealth] has been around since 2016, but the image upload feature that’s now a part of the portal is new,” Director of Student Health Services Camille Childers said. The myShockerHealth portal, which can be found on the Student Health Services home page, is where students can schedule student health appointments, refill subscriptions, schedule vaccine appointments, schedule COVID testing, and submit any immunization records. Childers said that through submitting immunization records, student health services will be able to give better direction to students when asked health related questions. “So [if ] you take a hiking trip to Colorado and need to know if you had your tetanus shot, you can sign into the portal and check the immunizations we have on file for you,” Childers. Along that same line, Childers said if they have proof of COVID19 vaccination, they will be able to
“If we have records available showing you are fully vaccinated, we can give better health advice.” CAMILLE CHILDERS Director of Student Health
give better quarantine directions. “If you have the COVID vaccine and you’re fully vaccinated … and you happen to get an exposure to COVID-19, if you’re fully vaccinated and asymptomatic you don’t have to be quarantined,” Childers said. “If we have your records available showing you are fully vaccinated, we can give better health advice.” Immunization data submitted through the portal will not be shared to the public. Childers said that while the university continues to advocate for students getting vaccinated, the vaccine is completely voluntary. “The reality is, it’s not required, it’s a personal choice,” Childers said. “I just want people to have the information that is accurate and that comes from a good source,”she said. “If you’re getting sources on
whether or not the vaccine is safe from Facebook versus, you know, the American College of Immunization practices or the CDC or the state department, I want them to have accurate knowledge to make the decision that is best for them.” Childers said currently WSU doesn’t have a specific goal of how many people they want vaccinated. But she said that the best way to protect others is to reach herd immunity— That can only be reached if the majority of people are immunized. “When they say they want X number of people vaccinated, that goes back to herd immunity,” Childers said. “For us to protect those who cannot be vaccinated a percentage of those around them need to be vaccinated.” Childers said that students should not only utilize the portal to enter their COVID-19 immunization record, but also any record that applies. “COVID is what’s going on right now,” Childers said. “But while I’ve been at WSU we’ve had measles, there’s been a case of chickenpox on campus, you hurt yourself and need a tetanus shot, it would really help us to have all your vaccines across the board.” Students can log into their myShockerHealth portal with their student id and their password.
On June 30th, Institutional Equity and Compliance and the Student Government Association announced on their Facebook that mandatory Title IX training for all incoming and current students at WSU will start July 1st, which will cover sexual harassment and bystander intervention training. Rija Khan, student body president, said that Wichita State University is one of the only colleges in Kansas that hadn’t yet implemented this mandatory training on campus, and that this is a needed step for the university. “Taking this step is important because we want to make sure that we are creating a culture of safety, of educating our students so that they know the resources that we have for them,” she said. “If they find themselves in a situation where they need help they know the resources, or if their friend needs a resource, they are now educated on how to share that.” Khan said that in the 63rd session of SGA, the student advocate was heavily involved in making this mandatory training. OIEC was responsible for revamping the training and making it new and updated. The 63rd session successfully passed the resolution for mandatory training with unanimous consent. “We can make time for the
RIJA KHAN Student Body President
things that we want to do, and as a campus this is something that we need to do,” Khan said. “This is not just about giving another training, but about educating ourselves.” Students who fail to complete the training will have a registration hold put on their account. Khan said that if something as small as a parking ticket can put a hold on your account, they believe that something with this much seriousness attached to it should as well. “The reason we come to this university is to learn and grow, and this training is intended for us to understand that there can be different environments that are not healthy for us, as well as what are the resources and how can we help ourselves and our peers around us?” Khan said. “This is a training everyone should and must take.” The training will be online, and students will receive an email from campus with instructions on how to complete the training.
Classroom wellness study aims to help students feel connected and supported BY JULIA NIGHTENGALE news@thesunflower.com
As mental health continues to move to the forefront of conversations, WSU’s Counseling and Prevention Services created a tool for faculty and staff to be involved in the discussion. The classroom wellness study is a tool for faculty and staff to implement into their classrooms in order for students to feel more connected with their other classmates and the university as well as prioritize their mental health. The study includes a pre-test and a posttest as well as 32 exercises to do in between regarding mental health. “I have been enormously impressed with the outpouring of support for this program that we have seen because of how much staff and faculty want to support student’s mental health right now,” Marci Young, Prevention and Outreach Director for CAPS, said. Young said that the study is part of the #WeSupportYou program, and the way it
was implemented changed due to COVID19. They planned on introducing the study in classrooms on campus only, but when the pandemic hit, their priorities changed. “We created this set of 32 exercises, and instructors can just read the cards and be able to do these things with their classes,” Young said. “Last year our instructors really wanted more resources, so we’ve actually given out over 600 sets of these exercises to faculty and staff and student groups. “We really didn’t want to hold anything back that would potentially be helpful.” CAPS has gotten positive feedback about the study— Connecting with other classmates over Zoom can be challenging, but these activities have helped students with getting to know their classmates on a more personal level. “It helps them get to know people in their classes, it helps them with building skills, and we have heard a lot of feedback that it has overall been helpful,” Young said. Each student has a choice to opt in or
The Sunflower, founded in 1896, is the student-run newspaper covering Wichita State University. The print edition is published Monday during the fall and spring semesters. The staff publishes daily online at www.thesunflower.com.
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 experience for students, who will have the final authority over what is published.
LEGAL One free copy of The Sunflower is available to members of the WSU community. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 in 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 advertisment sales and student fees allocated by the Student Government Association. The Sunflower is a member of Kansas Collegiate Media, the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association. Copyright © 2020 The Sunflower. This newspaper, its design and its contents are copyrighted.
PHOTO BY SEAN MARTY / THE SUNFLOWER
Marcie Young gets interviewed inside the Student Wellness Center on Thursday, July 29.
out of the study. For instructors who want to have their class participate in the study without implementing it into their classes, students will take the pre-test and post-test
EDITOR IN CHIEF Lindsay Smith news@thesunflower.com
SPORTS EDITOR Sean Marty sports@thesunflower.com
NEWS EDITOR Julia Nightengale news@thesunflower.com
PHOTO EDITOR Khanh Nguyen photoeditor@thesunflower.com
OPINION EDITOR Jaycie Nelson opinion@thesunflower.com
ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Lena Alhallaq photos@thesunflower.com
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about connection, resilience, and overall emotional wellbeing without any kind of intervention from the cards during the Read the rest at thesunflower.com
Contact Us 019 Elliott Hall 1845 N. Fairmount Ave. Campus Box 134 Wichita, KS 67260-0134 EDITORIAL
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THURSDAY, AUG. 12, 2021 | 3
Green Group receives grant from Evergy for new recycling bins in BY JULIA NIGHTENGALE news@thesunflower.com
The Green Group recently received a $5,000 grant from Evergy to purchase recycling bins for the Flats and Suites, a compost bin in the community garden, and other items for the garden. “Last time I checked, we have 15,000 students and only eight percent live on campus, but as a school we waste a lot of plastic, energy, water,” Alice Fitzgerald, president of The Green Group, said. “Because there are 15,000 people who come here and learn and eat and study.” “We thought the biggest way to kind of tackle that was with the people who do live on campus, because they are the ones hanging out and staying around here the most.” Fitzgerald said that in other European countries, it is commonplace for people to recycle, while in the United States it is not. The Green Group hopes that these recycling bins will help educate people on how to recycle properly. The Green Group applied for the grant with hundreds of ideas that would make campus more sustainable, and Evergy picked three of them to fund with the grant. “The partnership is really important especially since Evergy is one of the main sources of energy for the Wichita area and most of the U.S.,” Fitzgerald said.
“I’m really passionate about the environment and doing everything that we can to proect what we have and prevent future damages.” ALICE FITZGERALD Green Group President
“It’s good to have a strong power on our side.” Fitzgerald said she hopes that these new sustainability efforts on campus will make people more aware of the things they can do to help the environment on a daily basis. “I’m really passionate about the environment and doing everything that we can to protect what we have and prevent future damage,” Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald said that The Green Group is the only sustainable or environmentally-focused group on campus. One of their projects is volunteering at Pro Kansas Recycling, along with other initiatives on campus. “One of the biggest ones that we aren’t making a lot of progress with is making the new side of campus full of native biodiversity, so making sure that it’s not just Kentucky Bluegrass,” Fitzgerald said.
They also want to put solar panels on newer buildings, introduce a community seed library, and start using the compost bin that was bought with the grant money from Evergy. Fitzgerald said that they also want to recruit new members. “We want to put the community garden on the map,” Fitzgerald said. The Green Group will be unveiling the new recycling bins and the compost bin at an event to be held at a future date. Their first meeting will be open to the public. Details are yet to be confirmed.
PHOTO BY MONIQUE GAINES
Wichita State student Alice Fitzgerald, president of The Green Group, talks about the new recycling bins to be placed in the Flats and the Suites at WSU on July 21, 2021
4 | THURSDAY, AUG. 12, 2021
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New College of Engineering Dean focuses on keeping students at the forefront
Professors to make own choice online or in-person BY EMMIE BOESE elboese15@gmail.com / @elboese15
PHOTO BY KAYLEE STOUT / THE SUNFLOWER
Dr. Anthony Muscat, the new College of Engineering Dean, describes his plans for the university as he settles into his new position at Wichita State on July 29.
BY JULIA NIGHTENGALE news@thesunflower.com
The new College of Engineering Dean Dr. Anthony Muscat started his position barely a week ago, but is already eager to begin work at the university and connect with students. “If I have any fear, that’s the one fear I have about this new position, is losing that connection to students,” Muscat said. “I don’t want to do it vicariously through the faculty and everyone else, but have direct interaction with students.” Muscat was previously a chair for his department at the University of Arizona, which helped him learn how important it is to advocate on behalf of both students and faculty. Muscat said that the energy of students is what got him into teaching and he doesn’t want to lose that. Muscat said both the University of Arizona and WSU had a high population of first generation and low income students. He said that that inspired him to take the position at WSU. “That’s another part that I find fulfilling, is being able to help somebody really change their economic status by going into engineering,” Muscat said.
“The one fear I have about this new position is losing that connection to students ... [I want to] have direct interaction with students..” ANTHONY MUSCAT College of Engineering dean
Muscat said that the main attractor for him in this position is the hands-on learning and the depth of industrial engagement at WSU. “A lot of universities say that they do hands-on learning, but I think here at WSU, you do it in such a great way for the students,” Muscat said. “It not only has some depth, but I think it sets a student up for their entire career, some of the hands-on learning experiences that I have seen.” Muscat has already started working with students in the College of Engineering on helping them determine what makes them come to work everyday and what really makes them do a good job. “My leadership style is
hands-on,” he said. “I am really interested in trying to understand where the person is, what their career goals are, and seeing how what they’re passionate about overlaps with our mission … What I would love to do is be able to have each of the people working with me to define some projects that they would like to work on.” Muscat said his goals include working with students and finding more ways for first generation and low income students to be successful. He also wants to increase the amount of research done at the university that focuses on societal problems. “There are a lot of societal problems that really need an engineer’s know-how and I would like to see some of our faculty tackle some of those really big challenges,” Muscat said. “The other piece is trying to educate engineers who aren’t only technically strong but also appreciate the societal part. “We tend to ignore that, but I think we ignore that at our peril.” Muscat said he has a tendency to jump in and change things quickly, but plans on learning more about the university, students, and staff before he starts to make any changes.
Wichita State University students may notice a sense of old normalcy when they go back to school for the 2021 fall semester. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in the spring of 2020, many were familiar with the memory of college campuses and classes shutting down. Every student was to learn online and encouraged to stay home unless it was impossible. For the fall 2021 Semester, many colleges and departments at Wichita State will be going back to teaching in - person completely or mainly in the hybrid format. According to University protocols, students and faculty will be required to wear masks in labs and classrooms and are encouraged to wear masks in other campus settings. Professor Dorothy Harpool is a Senior Lecturer of Marketing at the W. Frank Barton School of Business for roughly 34 years. Harpool began going back to teaching in person classes as soon as she could. She is still planning to do so for the fall semester. “Why I do that is because I believe there is a group of students that learn better in person, and I believe as a faculty member I am better in person,” Harpool said. “The combination of the need for students to have that experience and my particular skill set, it’s not been a hard decision for me.” Harpool considered marketing to be a subject that is easier to discuss in an in person classroom setting. “Marketing is such a creative and dynamic subject that to have
Out of the 2,556 classes taught from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 87% are being taught in a hybrid format. everybody in the room talking about their favorite ad or I saw this on the internet or let’s all look at this webpage and evaluate types of things,” Harpool said. “Can you do them online, yes, but to have the experience of what person brought that up... I agree or don’t agree it’s just a human thing that we want to experience other humans and it’s especially true for a creative concept like marketing.” Harpool said she is glad that Wichita State has online learning options due to different learning styles but she feels strongly about the original teaching method. “ I’m proud to be an old school person to person type of teaching situation, learning situation, and I’m glad we have the online option for those students that really thrive in that area but I’ll probably stick to the in-person type of situation,” Harpool said. The Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences does not have many professors going back to teaching completely in-person classes. However, many have adopted hybrid Instruction for their classes this fall. In LAS, about 87% out of the 2,556 classes will be taught in a hybrid format. Only one professor is going to move back to completely in person learning, according to a chart provided by LAS dean Andrew Hippisley.
Important dates to put on your calendar this fall Aug 16 (Mon) - Weekday and evening full-semester classes begin. Aug 20 (Fri) - Last day to add full-semester classes or change sections fo the same course. Aug 27 (Fri) - Last day to drop a full-semester class and NOT have it appear on your record. Sept 6 (Mon) - Labor Day. (No classes, offices closed).
PHOTO BY SEAN MARTY / THE SUNFLOWER
The Student Wellness Center is located at the Steve Clark YMCA on campus.
Here’s what you need to know before you get your COVID-19 vaccine on campus BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_ KSmith
Not only are vaccines safe and effective in fighting the COVID19 pandemic, but they are also convenient to receive on campus for any Wichita State student. Student Health Services was named as a vaccine provider in March, and has since expanded its vaccinations to not only WSU community members, but also immediate family members and community partners.
SO, HOW DO I GET YOUR VACCINE? To schedule your appointment, go to myWSU homepage
and click “Schedule your COVID Vaccine Appointment.” Not only can you schedule an appointment for yourself, but also up to 5 members of your immediate family. After selecting who you are scheduling the appointment for, the website will give you an option to choose which dose you need. SHS is currently only supplying the Pfizer vaccine. After you’re all scheduled, you will receive a confirmation email with a QR code to use to check in when you go to the clinic. You will also receive a voucher to bring to your appointment.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WHEN I GET TO MY APPOINTMENT?
The Student Wellness Center is the only place on campus that has never removed their mask mandate since it first began in summer of 2020. Everyone is asked to arrive no earlier five minutes before the scheduled time. You will also be asked for a photo ID that has your name and date of birth. After you receive your shot, you will be escorted to a brief observation time. The exact time frame varies between patients. For more questions about COVID-19 vaccine, Student Health can be contacted at 316978-4792. They can be found in the Steve Clark YMCA located on campus.
Oct 6 (Wed) - Mid-semester point, first 8-weeks classes end. Oct 9-12 - Fall break. (No classes, Offices open Oct. 11-12). Oct 26 (Tue) - Last day to offically withdraw from a full-semester course with a “W”
Nov 8 (Mon) - Tentative date for Spring early registration to begin. Nov 24-28 - Thanksgiving break. (No classes, offices closed Nov. 25-26 and re-open Nov. 29).
Dec 2 (Thu) - Last day of classes. Dec 3 (Fri) - Study day.
Dec 4-9 - Final examinations (See schedule online).
When at the clinic, everyone must wear a mask at all times. ILLUSTRATION BY THY VO / THE SUNFLOWER
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THURSDAY, AUG. 12, 2021 | 5
Enhance your education beyond your coursework
Think safety in all you do
Hello, Shockers! Welcome back to Wichita State. And, if you’re new, welcome to your new home away from home. I know you’ll find all the support, encouragement and community you’ll need to help you achieve your education and career goals. Most importantly: If you need help, ask for it. Every single member of our staff and faculty is committed to your success. It’s wonderful to see more people returning to campus, and I hope you get a chance to explore all the university has to offer before you dive into your studies. Enjoy a meal at the Rhatigan Student Center or Braeburn Square, hang out at the Hammock Lounge, or take in the beauty of the Ulrich Museum of Art’s outdoor sculpture garden. Once you hit your stride in the classrooms and labs, be sure that you enhance your education beyond your coursework. This can include clubs, research, attending workshops or seminars, internships, and applied learning. All these experiences create opportunities for you to network, build a stronger knowledge base, and make you more employable and well-rounded when you begin your career. In this time of uncertainty around COVID-19 and its variants, it’s important that we take measures to promote and protect our own wellness, as well as the health of our loved ones and the community. One such precaution you can
Welcome back everyone for another year at Wichita State University! Your college experience will no doubt be a monumental cornerstone in your life. Friends and experiences will shape you and make lasting impacts on your life. The job and function of any university police department is to provide the space for students to operate in safely so that you can fulfil your learning potential and have a rewarding journey. I wish you success and for you to have an enjoyable experience and for the university to give you as much as it has given me. Wichita State University has a full service police department staffed with officers that receive the same training as any police officer in the State of Kansas. Last Year Wichita State was in the top 20 schools in the nation for campus safety and we have only improved through the efforts of everyone. The department was recognized by the Student Government Association as being an outstanding campus partner and commended by the WSU SGA during 2020. Safety of our students is our number-one priority. We operate the police department under the philosophy called Caring and Compassionate Policing or what I refer to as C2 Policing. This simply means our number one goal is to make you feel comfortable and cared for here at WSU.
GUEST COLUMN Rick Muma University president
take is getting vaccinated against COVID-19. The available vaccines are safe and effective against preventing major illnesses, and it’s the best weapon in our toolbox to end this pandemic. We’ve made it easy and free for you to receive a vaccine at Student Health Services located inside the Steve Clark YMCA on campus. You can get more information on vaccines at wichita.edu/covidvaccine. We’re also taking the added measure of requiring masks to be worn in classrooms and labs across campus. This simple step will greatly increase our chances of keeping our campus open and keeping you in the classroom. Again, welcome home to Wichita State. I hope you’ll find all the inspiration and resources you’ll need to have a successful year here. Good luck, and go Shockers!
GUEST COLUMN Rodney Clark WSU police chief
I want all new and returning students to feel safe and to please approach any of our officers with questions you may have or to report anything you think may require attention from a police officer. The department offers safety escorts to class, to your car or anywhere on campus if you feel uncomfortable with someone or with a situation. I hope you find your time here at WSU enjoyable. Think safety in all you do. It is smart when possible to travel with a friend off campus and to let others know where you are going. There is safety in numbers and simple things like looking around your environment and not walking while looking at your phone constantly helps convey the message to others that you are looking out for yourself and those around you.
There are several features the campus provides for your safety. Any blue light on top of a pole on campus marks a police call box. Should you find yourself out of battery power or without your phone, you may use these phones, which ring directly to a police dispatcher who can get you help. 911 will always get you emergency service and it is a good idea to load the phone number of (316) 978-3450 into your phone as well for direct line to police dispatch. You can also download the “Rave Guardian” app from your smartphone as a safety feature. Some of the features of this app allow you to share with friends your location and set reminders to check in with the people you choose. The shocker alert system is a messaging system the police department and the university use to send out a range of alerts such as weather and any type of criminal or emergency situation that may exist on or near campus. It is important to stay aware of these messages as well. Finally, I am aware of the national narratives surrounding public safety, freedom of speech and overall personal safety in the age of the COVID pandemic. I would encourage all of you to look at the conditions here at Wichita State University. I think you will find one of the most dedicated universities and police departments in the country that is geared for your safety and stability during your college years.
We are here to make this semester a little bit easier Lindsay Smith Editor-in-Chief editor@thesunflower.com
Normalcy. This summer, we all got some sense of it back. Masks weren’t mandated, the CDC announced that vaccinated people were safe to not wear masks, and the positive test rate here in Sedgwick County was the lowest it’s been in months. But the new Delta variant made normalcy seem far away once again. So now, we’re going into this semester in a pandemic that is still weighing on our day to day lives and minds.
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lindsay Smith and I am this year’s Editor in Chief of The Sunflower. I am a sophomore studying journalism, and I am here to serve the student body by leading The Sunflower to produce accurate, timely, and important information you need to know. At The Sunflower, we understand your struggles. We are all students so we understand the confusion you are walking into this semester with. We all have similar questions, struggles, and annoyances. But we’re trying to make it a little easier on you. Let me tell you about our mission as the campus student newspaper.
“We are here to answer your questions, look into problems, and make this semester a little bit easier for you.” At The Sunflower, we don’t censor news and information. If there’s something you need to know, you can trust us that we’ll make sure you are informed with all the proper facts and information. We perform our due diligence. We make sure to go to every source before we publish a story. We make sure we have all sides of the story
We have the responsibility to keep each other safe Welcome Back Shocker Nation, Just as we have experienced over a year since the rise of the global pandemic; our lives have changed forever. Together, we have faced loss of people, time, and experiences. Lessons of quality over quantity, adaptability, self-care, teamwork, love, grace, and much more were made clear during this global crisis. After a year of being your Student Body President, I am overjoyed to say that Shocker Nation has proved to come out stronger and more united than ever. These tough times presented us with the opportunity to experience college in a different way, but no matter how unique or difficult the situation was, we always found a way to unite and move forward together. As we slowly move through the pandemic, we all must do our part to combat the virus. The University has adopted a mask requirement in classrooms and labs. I encourage you all to continue to wear your mask in an area where social distancing is not possible. In addition, I urge you all to get vaccinated and play a part in slowing down the spread of COVID. Here’s a heads up: Student Health Services is offering the vaccine for free! As students, we have the responsibility to keep each other
GUEST COLUMN Rija Khan SGA president
safe. As student leaders, SGA has the duty to ensure that you have the resources and education to do this. This summer, SGA and the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance announced the requirement to complete a Title IX Training. If you have not done so yet, please complete this training today! A hold will be placed on your student account that will prevent you from registering, requesting documents, etc., until this requirement is competed. The due date is October 24th. If you have any questions about this, please contact oiec@wichita.edu. This requirement, spearheaded by
SGA is designed to ensure that we as students can act appropriately in challenging situations that us as individuals, or our fellow peers might find ourselves in. This campus is ours to create the culture for, so it’s going to take all of us to ensure that we are creating a safe and secure campus for us all to thrive in. When Student Body Vice President Kamilah Gumbs and I announced our candidacy, we sought out to create a Legacy of Change. The commitments and obligations involved in this job are ones that we are proud to take; and eager to lay out. With that, we invite you to attend our second State of the Student Body Address on September 1st to hear about our plans for the 2021-2022 academic year! Together, as a student body, we must continue to engage on the campus, develop our sense of beginning, and strive to leave this place better than we found it. SGA is excited to welcome you to campus this fall! Go out there, attend your classes, meet new friends, actively participate in events and join organizations, support our student-athletes, attend fine arts events, challenge your thoughts, and create an inclusive environment for all of Shocker Nation. See you all soon!
before we make something public. That way, you can trust that we have investigated enough to know that our content is accurate. We’re students, so we are still learning about journalism. Mistakes sometimes happen, and when they do, we will fix them timely and publicly so you know the corrections. We are here to elevate student voices. If you have an opinion, feel free to send me a letter to the editor at editor@thesunflower.com. Letters to the editor are a way for you to get your voice in the paper. We are always happy to get those in my inbox. Overall: We are here for you. We are here to answer your
questions, look into problems, and like I said before, make this semester a little bit easier for you. Take care of yourself. Your mental health is the most important. I would encourage you to try WSU’s Counseling and Prevention Services. They offer $10 counseling sessions for students and are conveniently located on campus. If you can, get vaccinated. Student Health Services offers COVID-19 vaccines for students on campus. It’s convenient, free and a safe and effective way to fight the spread of COVID-19. Let’s get back to normalcy together.
The fun, the odd and the useful: Tips for transfers Jaycie Nelson Opinion editor opinion@thesunflower.com
Making the change from a twoyear college to a university can be a big stepping stone on a student’s educational journey. You deal with a change in professors, class sizes, and campuses. There’s also different perks to know, clubs to join, and people to meet. Getting involved in campus and utilizing your time at the school can be important for gaining friendships, networking, and making lasting memories. A key difference in classes from a community college to a university college might be the size of a lecture hall. While it may have been easy to get help and attention from a professor in a smaller classroom, it could prove to be more of a challenge at a university. A key to unlocking success is to go out of your way to seek help from the professor. Try going to their office hours for additional help, talking to them before or after class, or emailing them for assistance. Show them you care about your grades and are willing to put in effort to do well in the class. One great way to get involved on campus is by joining Handshake. Handshake is an
organization that can help you get internships, jobs, and interview experience for after college. It also provides a list of clubs and organizations to join to help you meet other students with similar interests as yourself. Another opportunity to take advantage of is visiting the WSU Psychology Clinic. The clinic is a low-cost support system for Wichita State Students and other people in the community. You will be talking to student-clinicians that are working to hone their skills. If you’re interested in utilizing this on-campus help, you can contact 316-978-3212. An interesting yet helpful perk for students is WSU’s “Pee for Pizza.” The Student Wellness Center offers free testing for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia to help keep students safe and healthy — and you get a free slice of pizza! “P4P” will occur on the 1st Wednesday and 3rd Thursday every month. You can contact the Student Health Services at 316-978479 to find out more information. Overall, making the change from your former school to WSU is going to be based around how well you put yourself out there and how much you want to get involved. Even if you are just looking to go to class and go home — WSU still provides great classes and solo opportunities for your benefit.
6 | THURSDAY AUG. 12, 2021
BACK TO SCHOOL
Sophomores return to campus after a year of online learning, hoping for normalcy
PHOTO BY KAYLEE STOUT / THE SUNFLOWER
Julianna Meinecke, a sophomore at Wichita State explains her goals for this upcoming fall semester on Aug. 5 inside the Rhatigan Student Center.
BY LINDSAY SMITH AND JULIA NIGHTENGALE editor@thesunflower.com / news@thesunflower. com
Everyone had to make sacrifices when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world a year and a half ago. Students who came into college last fall entered far from the normal college experience— with hybrid classes, online tests, asynchronous learning, masking up, and a cancellation of many staple in-person college activities. But as the semester approaches, a small sense of normal is back in the air. And that is something now-sophomores have never experienced. Alicia Saunders, an art education major, is one of those sophomores. “I feel like I did miss out on a lot of friendships,” Saunders said. “When you come to college you expect to get friends, but I didn’t get any of that. “I had no in-person classes, so I really didn’t get any interactions. I also didn’t get any connections with teachers either, so lots of losses.” Saunders said when it comes to familiarity with campus, she lacks. “I know one building here, and it’s the RSC,” Saunders said. She said that as she enters into an in-person semester, she has to have
“There’s the incoming freshman, and then the sophomores, and people who have never been here and there’s going to be too many kids who don’t know where they’re going.” ALICIA SAUNDERS Wichita State Sophomore
time to prepare and map out her course. “There’s the incoming freshman, and then the sophomores, and people who have never been here and there’s going to be too many kids who don’t know where they are going,” Saunders said. Sophomore Julianna Meinecke relates to Saunders’ struggles. “[My first year] was definitely weird, I feel like I missed out on meeting people because I didn’t have any classes in person,” Meinecke said. “The ones that I did have on Zoom, we never really met. We only really talked in the breakout rooms, so it was really awkward.
PHOTO BY KAYLEE STOUT / THE SUNFLOWER
Alicia Saunders, a sophomore majoring in art education at Wichita State explains her goals for this upcoming fall semester on August 5
“It was kind of lame, but I hope I can make friends this year.” Meinecke said that she is working on getting more involved this year. “I feel like I do a little more since I work at the library,” Meinecke said. “My first year, I didn’t really feel like I was going somewhere to college. So I am hoping this year now that I have classes in person, I’ll feel more like a college student.” Meinecke said that when it comes to student organizations and clubs, she doesn’t know where to begin.
“Honestly, I don’t even know what I’d do,” she said. “I’m an art major, so we do have to come in a lot outside of class to work on stuff. I did have my art class in person, and that was the one class where I actually kind of talked to people.” Meinecke said that there were pros to doing hybrid classes. “Some of the classes that they offered were hybrid, and I think they should keep that,” she said. “I had some Gen-eds that I know I wouldn’t have liked driving to campus to do.”
A breakdown of WSU’s Students balancing jobs and class schedules share their tips different meal plans BY RACHEL LYONS
BY JAYCIE NELSON opinion@thesunflower.com
As the fall semester approaches, schedules change with it. This can lead to an overlapping of schedules, late-night food runs, and energy drinks to sustain your levels of functioning. However, many students feel the same way. Students from all different majors feel the weight of a new school semester. Biological sciences major Isabel Burns has an eventful upcoming semester. She’s enrolled in 15 credit hours while also working as a chiropractic assistant for approximately 20 to 30 hours a week. “I block-out my calendar and color code it,” Burns said. She saids as long as she sticks to it, she can stay on top of everything. Graduate student Vijay Matheswaran can relate to having a busy semester ahead. He is currently in his last year of schooling as a PHD student in Aerospace Engineering. He spends 6 to 8
raylyons@shockers.wichita.edu
hours a day working on it. He also is a teaching assistant and helps with around 5 labs a week. He said balancing school and stress is a skill he’s had to learn. “I’ve gotten better about stopping at the end, and taking my mind off work,” Matheswaran said. He said he knows he can be more productive after he takes a break and starts over the next day. Senior secondary education major Celese Arnold is taking 7 credit hours while also spending 3 hours in an 8th grade English classroom Monday through Friday. When asked her opinions regarding the pressure of trying to be constantly productive her response was, “I’ve had a burn-out before.” She said that students try to do too much at once at the beginning of the semester which leads to burn-out later on. Nursing Major Natalie Werner is currently a junior taking 13 credit hours this upcoming semester. She is also working
MANAGING STRESS • Color code your calender • Take time for yourself • Keep a planner • Write everything down • Block out a time of day to finish homework • Rant to a friend when needed • Try yoga! part-time as a para working 20 hours a week. Her biggest advice for students is to keep a pen and paper in hand. “Write everything down in a planner, write down the syllabus and assignments as their due,” Werner said. “I tend to overcommit and then my schedule gets really crazy. Sometimes I stay up till 3 in the morning to get school work done.” School can add a level of stress to student’s lives and students can sometimes feel like you are the only one struggling, but the truth is that feeling is very common.
With students returning to Wichita State’s campus for the upcoming academic school year come the big three: academics, housing, and food. While Academics are the primary focus of a student at WSU, a place to stay and a good meal are arguably two of the most important factors to academic excellence. For students living on campus or students commuting to campus who want an easy way to guarantee a meal or payment option for food on campus, WSU’s dining services tend to be the go-to. Most students have the options for plans of between 10-80 meal swipes and 0 dining dollars to 500 dining dollars in any combination. For only 80 meal swipes, each meal makes up $7.19 of the total $575.20 total cost. A student would need to eat in Shocker Hall’s cafeteria for all of their meals during the semester. A better option for students wishing to not only partake in traditional college dining, but
also enjoy some of the Rhatigan Student Center’s dining options might be 40 swipes for the cafeteria and 250 dining dollars for a grand total of $535 or roughly $7.75 per swipe in the dining hall. The best part is that dining dollars are more flexible than meal swipes, with the ability to purchase food in the RSC and utilize Market Groundhouse’s convenience store or coffee shop style options. WSU dining services also offers a monthly subscription style plan for either: four meals and five dining dollars per month, six meals and ten dining dollars per month, or ten meals and 15 dining dollars per month. While the top tier plan comes to roughly $6.80 per meal, a student may find more value in purchasing a semester’s worth of meal swipes and dollars at one time for convenience. Overall, dining dollars can be added at any time a student feels necessary and unused fall meals and dollars do tend to roll over to spring- which overall means that the choice lies in the hands of a student to determine what meal plan they will choose.
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THURSDAY, AUG. 12, 2021 | 7
PHOTO BY MONIQUE GAINES / THE SUNFLOWER
The Beautiful day cafe is located off of east Central street.
Where to eat on and around campus if you have allergies plethora of allergy and vegan/vegetarian options on their menu.
BY KYRAN CRIST arts@thesunflower.com
Wichita State University offers a large variety of food in both the Rhatigan Student Center and the Shocker Dining Hall. Even though they may be tasty, for those who have allergies and strict diets, it can be a struggle to find a place to accommodate them. On campus dining can be worked around with allergies depending on the restrictions. Both Fuzzy’s Taco Shop and Freddy’s Frozen Custard have been working towards offering more of a variety for those who may not choose to eat meat or have gluten sensitivities. They have a few options on the menu that can be made vegetarian as well as allergy friendly. They also offer online menus where they list the ingredients to their menu items. If you don’t t mind a bit of a walk or drive, there are a few local places nearby campus that offer a
LOTUS LEAF CAFE Lotus Leaf Cafe, open 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday - Saturday on 251 North Washington, offers a wide menu of vegan, vegetarian, and allergy friendly meals. They serve soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, smoothies and juices. All of their menu options have listed what it contains as well as if it is safe to eat for certain diets. PHOTO BY MONIQUE GAINES / THE SUNFLOWER
BEAUTIFUL DAY CAFE
Two Olives is located on N Rock road.
Beautiful Day Cafe, open 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Wednesday Sunday on 2516 E Central Ave, is another option. They offer breakfast and lunch as well as coffee and tea. Their menu is allergy, vegan, and vegetarian friendly with an assortment of dishes such as Buckwheat pancakes, Vegan Biscuits and Gravy, and Hippy
Porridge. Their menu lists the ingredients as well as what diets the dish is safe for.
TWO OLIVES RESTAURANT Two Olives Restaurant and Bar is open for brunch from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and regularly at 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on 2949 N
Rock Rd, a medditerain location that serves hot and cold vegan and allergy friendly dishes on their menu.
CHURN AND BURN Churn and Burn has your back if looking for ice cream or coffees. With two locations, the
first on 11414 E Central Ave #100, open Tuesday - Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday). The second location is on 548 South, Oliver, open Tuesday - Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays). They offer dairy free and allergy safe menu options for those who want to come enjoy.
Freshman: Here’s how you survive your first year BY ELENA KUCKELMAN @ElenaKuckelman
Starting something new is always scary. Especially when it happens to be your freshman year of college. This year may look a little different for college students, but there are many things that can help you get through. Here are some tips for freshmen, as you start a new chapter in your lives.
GO TO ANY EVENT THAT INTERESTS YOU. It can be hard to make friends at first, but joining clubs, sororities and fraternities, and participating in other fun activities around campus are great ways to meet people who have the same interests as you. Although some of these events will be held virtually this year, it is important to remember that every other freshman is in the same boat as you. They are all looking to
make friends and learn more about themselves along the way.
TAKE TIME FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH. This tip can be hard for college students. We often put our own health aside to pull an all-nighter and finish the three papers due the next day or get up at 6 a.m. to work an extra shift before class. While all those things may be normal for college students, prioritizing your mental health should also become a norm. Give yourself a moment each day to relax and take time for your own health and happiness. Afterwards, you will feel more refreshed and focused.
GO TO YOUR IN-PERSON CLASSES, IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO DO SO. As many college students found over this past year, learning over zoom is not always the
same as learning in a classroom. The communication and connections that are formed in an in-person class are just not as easy over the computer. Of course, doing whatever is best for your safety and health is top-priority, but if you are comfortable going to class, you could have a more engaging learning experience.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO TRY SOMETHING NEW. College is the perfect time to branch out and find new things that interest you. There are so many opportunities around campus to discover different foods, music, sports, and hobbies. All you have to do is to take the leap and try them. One of the most important things to remember about college is that it can definitely be hectic and stressful at times, but it can also be a fun, life-changing journey. Learning to embrace the difficulties along the way can help you survive your freshman year.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY KAYLEE STOUT / THE SUNFLOWER
Take some time away from the Jaycie Nelson Opinion editor opinion@thesunflower.com
A device in your hand, the scrolling of your finger down your feed. Small physical actions that can lead to a big mental impact. Now I have a question: what is the true weight of social media on your life and mind? Social media’s impact can be seen by some student’s struggle with procrastination, low self-esteem, and anxiety. We spend more effort trying to receive likes than actually being a likeable person. The time spent scrolling is only a fraction of the time we spend engaged with social media. After the app is closed, is the effect gone too? It’s true, social media does connect us to people we normally wouldn’t connect with. However, it also connects you to other people’s opinions and their “perfect” life they post about. It can be a subconscious toll to navigate through what’s real and what’s fabricated. Forming a connection without social media can be replicated by a phone call, text, or plans to get
together. While social media may keep you up-to-date on what people want you to think about their life, it can also leave you feeling disconnected from people outside of the app. For instance, when you are out to lunch and you pick up your phone to scroll through your feed instead of focusing on the people surrounding you outside the virtual world. As this semester approaches, schedules become more hectic and time seems to diminish. A simple way to gain more time and alleviate pressure from others is to delete the source that consumes your time and weighs heavy on your subconscious: social media. Even if it’s not a permanent delete. Take a week off from it then re-download it on the weekend. Then maybe work to delete it for a month and then possibly a whole semester. Start off small and take note of the change it creates in your life. As someone who tries to keep a distance from social media as much as possible, it has improved how I make choices, how I spend my time, and how I view myself. Put down the small weight of the phone in your hand and see how your life lightens.
BACK TO SCHOOL
8 | THURSDAY, AUG. 12, 2021
PHOTO BY SEAN MARTY / THE SUNFLOWER
Dr. Jessica Provines, the director of counseling and prevention services, prepares to answer a question during an interview with The Sunflower inside of the Student Wellness Center on July 7.
Most students can’t utilize CAPS counseling while out of state, but they can still prioritize mental health BY LINDSAY SMITH editor@thesunflower.com / @Lindsay_KSmith
While Zoom has given colleges many opportunities to get students involved no matter where they are on the globe, WSU’s Counseling and Prevention Services is a little more complicated. Due to licensing requirements, if students are wanting counseling— even if it’s virtual— they either have to be inside the state of Kansas or in a state that has granted CAPS temporary opportunity to practice. “It’s a very confusing landscape right know with all the different states having different rules,” CAPS Director Jessica Provines said. Even with this obstacle, CAPS wants students to know that there are still ways to make self care a priority. “We have tried to support those kinds of students and those kinds of situations as best we can,” Provines said. “Students can still chat with one of us, or one of the CARE team case managers on campus who will try and connect them with their local resources in the state that they’re at if they’re wanting to get treatment in the
state where they are.” Even though it can get complicated receiving counseling from CAPS, out of state students can still utilize other CAPS resources. “If they just maybe want some tips and want some helpful information, I really encourage all students to follow us on social media,” Provines said. “We continue to put out great content on a weekly basis, giving lots of free tips on how to cope.” CAPS also provides a free mindfulness mediation class to help students stay grounded in this time of change. If students are wanting support, they have the opportunity to join a non clinical support group from out of state. Provines said that students can also call the 1-800-273-8255 any where at any time for free mental health support. They can also text 741-741 if they don’t prefer to call.
‘KNOW YOUR OWN BOUNDARIES’ CAPS is now giving the students the choice between Zoom counseling and in-person counseling, following the university decision to return to normal
“I think we’re going to have more students willing to talk about their mental health, more students wanting to share their mental health histories with their instructior.” JESSICA PROVINES Director of Counseling and Prevention Services
operation next semester. For students who are utilizing in person services, the Student Wellness Center is still requiring masks. “It seems like a lot of the community is opening up and not wearing masks anymore, but we are in a clinical space so we are definitely still taking those precautions,” Provines said. While more in-person activities may serve as a ray of hope for many students, Provines recognized that this transition back to normal may be nerve wracking for some.
“We’ve gone through so much transition and change, and change is hard,” Provines said. “I recommend that people take it slowly, know your own boundaries.” Provines said that students who are nervous about returning should take their time fully immersing themselves in normal activities. “Maybe just go to a couple of things in person and kind of dip your toe in the water, see if you’re comfortable with it,” she said. “Give yourself time to establish a new routine. “Respect your own boundaries [and] respect others boundaries,” she said. “Take it slow. Give yourself time.”
‘BE PREPARED’ CAPS is launching a campaign geared toward faculty and staff focused on preparing to support students during the transition back to normal. The tag line is “Be Prepared to Support Students’ Mental Health.” “The thing that I really want to stress to instructors is to be prepared,” Provines said. “Many experts are anticipating that we
are going to experience a wave of additional mental health concerns. “One, because of the year we’ve been through … Another, just because we’ve had so much awareness and everyone is more comfortable now talking about mental health because we’ve all been through this very challenging thing that stressed our mental health.” Provines said that she hopes instructors will be more welcoming of conversations in the classroom surrounding mental health. “You know, talking about how we’re all in a transition period, and some [students] might have been really excited to get back in person where some might be really nervous,” she said. While the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges, Provines said a light in the dark is the mental health advocacy that has been introduced through it. “I think we’re going to have more students willing to talk about their mental health, more students wanting to share their mental health histories with their instructor,” Provines said.
Fun things to do in and around Wichita BY JULIA NIGHTENGALE news@thesunflower.com
With a campus of 15,000 students, it’s fair to say that many of our students have never been in Kansas before, let alone Wichita. While most of us will be spending the majority of our time with our heads in textbooks, there is still time to explore the city for fun things to do in our time off. Read on to learn about my top picks of places to visit in Wichita that have plenty of cheap events coming up!
CHICKEN AND PICKLE Chicken and Pickle is slightly new to the area, and they have loads of events going on every week. From playing pickleball and other yard games, to eating food, live concerts, or just relaxing outside, there is something there for everyone to enjoy. You can get together a few of your friends to play trivia nights, which are held every
Monday from 7-9 p.m. During September, they have Sunday Fundays from 4-5:30 p.m with live music and discounts on drinks. Renting a pickleball court varies in price from $10-40 dollars an hour depending on the time of day, so the more people you bring, the cheaper it will be. There is something for everyone at Chicken and Pickle and is perfect for those who want to get active and play games with their friends, or just watch from the sidelines.
WICHITA ART MUSEUM If you are more of the artsy type, the Wichita Art Museum is a super cheap way to spend a couple of hours. On August 21st and September 11, they have a free hour-session of yoga at 9 a.m in the Art Garden. General admission prices to tour the exhibits are $3 with a student ID, and Saturday’s are free to everyone. Check out their
website at wichitaartmuseum. org to plan your trip and see a list of the current exhibitions.
SPLASH AQUA PARK Still not over summer yet? Schedule a visit to Splash Aqua Park to get some sun and enjoy a day on the water. You get more bang for your buck if you decide to get a five hour pass for $50, and you can rent cabanas for $35 each. Get together a big group of your new friends at WSU and plan a day to have fun in the sun; it’s a little bit pricey, but the memories that you will make there will be priceless.
THE WAVE If live music is your scene, you should check out The Wave in downtown Wichita. They have tons of events coming up, and feature artists of every different genre. The venue has an inside and an outside stage, and plenty of
room to dance and sign with your friends. Tickets are usually very affordable, depending on the artist. Visit waveict.com for a full list of events coming up.
BOTANICA WICHITA Feel like you’re spending too much time staring at a computer screen? Give your brain a break and enjoy nature at Botanica. General admission is $10 for adults, and carousel rides are free on Tuesday’s from 5-8. You can get in even cheaper on Thursdays from 5-8 for $3. If you want to go all out, you can book Monarch Migration golf cart tours for 5 people at $125, which is only available in September for a limited amount of time. They do yoga in the gardens every Tuesday night in September, and each class is $15. Check out their website for a list of items to bring to participate in wellness activities posted throughout the garden.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 | 9 |
BACK TO SCHOOL
How to get your student tickets for sports events BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty
With the school year starting back up, the same can be said for college athletics. Wichita State has two fall sports – Cross Country and volleyball – which all tuiton-paying students are allowed to attend, free of any cost. Volleyball tickets can be picked up at Charles Koch on the day of the game, while cross country doesn not having any home meets on campus this year. All students need when they are picking up tickets is a valid WSU ID. The volleyball program hasn’t released their roster to this point, but is expected to in the coming weeks. Typically, their season will begin in the final week of August. Cross Country’s closest meet to campus will be the JK Gold Classic in Augusta, Kansas. The pickup for men’s basketball game is most unique for any sport as they are available on a first come, first serve basis. Students also have the opportunity to purchase two guest tickets for these games. Students can pick up these tickets on selected dates ahead of the day of the game. All student tickets for men’s basketball games that are not picked up 48 hours prior to the game, are released for purchase to the general public. Last year, these tickets could only be picked up at Charles Koch Arena but in years previous students could pick them up at the Shocker Store and Heskett Center. The process for the picking up tickets is similar to volleyball for the remainder of the sports. Students can pick up the tickets for the prospective sports on the day of the game at the stadium’s ticket office. For baseball, students can pick up the tickets at Eck Stadium. Students can pick up their tickets for softball games at Wilkins Stadium. Lastly, tickets for women’s basketball games may be picked up at Charles Koch Arena. To this point, the athletic department has not officially announced what capacity the stadiums will be at for this upcoming season. Last year, the highest capacity for games was 30% but there were no restrictions for any games of The Basketball Tournament which was held on campus earlier this summer.
FILE PHOTO BY SEAN MARTY / THE SUNFLOWER
Wichita State sophomore Kayce Litzau sets the ball during the game against SMU at Charles Koch Arena on Feb. 27.
What college athletics will look like in 2021 BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty
After a challenging year for college athletics, things are starting to return to normalcy heading into the 2021-22 school year. Last year’s sports season was filled with much uncertainty due to the pandemic. Unlike last year, Wichita State is slated to have fall sports on campus this fall, after volleyball and cross country had their seasons postponed last year. Wichita State Director of Athletics Darron Boatright said that he is hopeful that collegiate athletics will be able to return to normal for next season. “We hope that things get back to what normal is,” Boatright said. “We’ve learned over the past 18 months or so that we can adapt and we can change in ways that we’ve never thought before and to change multiple times during the course of an academic year. We have to be prepared and monitor the situations as it happens and be ready to adapt.” The athletic department and the American Athletic Conference have continually changed the COVID-19 testing procedures, since the pandemic came into full effect in March of 2020. Boatright said at the moment the plan is for student athletes to still be tested throughout the season. “Our conference will still have policies that dictate the amount
“We hope that things get back to what normal is. We’ve learned over the past 18 months or so that we can adapt and change in ways that we’ve never thought before.” Darron Boatright Director of Athletics
of testing that both in-conference teams and programs as well for the non-conference games that we participate in,” Boatright said. “Right now, we’ll be at once a week within 48 hours of the contest.” At the major league levels, some sports are relaxing their COVID protocols to teams that reach a certain benchmark of players that are vaccinated. The NCAA put that into effect last May during the College World Series, when North Carolina State was forced to forfeit its remaining games after reaching a certain threshold of positive tests. Boatright said instead of postponements after high positive tests, there will be forfeits, similar to what happened with NC State. “We can’t dictate or not to a college student whether or not they have to be vaccinated,” Boatright said. “We will just have to have rules in place where, as you saw in the College Baseball World Series,
there’s a certain threshold that we all know going in. If your team tests positive to that threshold a forfeit will occur.” “I think that’s the big difference that you’re going to see this year where ‘no contests’ were decided previously and I think those will turn into forfeitures this year.” For the first time since March 2020, a full-capacity crowd was allowed in Charles Koch Arena this summer during The Basketball Tournament. Charles Koch Arena recorded the second-largest crowd (6,510) in TBT history — second only to the AfterShocks’ debut game at Koch Arena in 2019 (7,154). Boatright said the expectation at the moment is for no restrictions for fan attendance this season. “That’s something that we’ll have to monitor as well as local, county and state health regulations and be ready to communicate that to our fan base what those restrictions may be,” Boatright said. Boatright said that the increased fan attendance this year will make up for some of the lost revenue last year. “Tremendously. Not only is it ticket sales but its concessions, apparel, pride which leads to donations, getting prospective students on our campus. When we put on an event it showcases the entire university and the changes that we’ve been through
over the past several years, a lot of folks see those as a result of athletic events.” The athletic department formed the Shocker Pride Fund, due to a loss of fan revenue last year which helped offset some of those losses. The fund allowed fans and boosters to donate to Shocker athletics to help them offset those costs. Boatright said that this was key in helping them stay afloat during a trying year, financially. “We were able to survive this past year. I think our department has done a good job over the years initially when we had made some money by putting it into a reserve. That was pretty much depleted as a result of last year. We were able to survive it once but I’m not sure that’s anything that we’re trying to do moving forward.” Despite all outside distractions that the athletes dealt with last year, WSU turned in one of its best seasons in recent years, with three different teams making it to the NCAA Tournament. Boatright said it was impressive to see that amount of success with all the outside distractions. “To say it was expected would be misleading,” Boatright said. “We had a great year athletically and competitively and even academically. I’m very proud of our programs and our students that were able to eliminate distractions and when it came gametime to focus in on the task at hand.”
How WSU plans to manage new NIL policy BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty
For the first time in the history of college athletics, student-athletes were able to profit off their name, image, and likeness starting this season.. Some WSU athletes have already announced some partnerships with companies. Men’s basketball players Dexter Dennis and Morris Udeze announced a partnership with Yoke Gaming, where they will be able to connect with fans through video games. Freshman guard Chaunce Jenkins also announced a partnership with Gopuff, a food and drink delivery service. Wichita State Athletic Director of Athletics Darron Boatright said they are supportive of their student-athletes beginning to profit through this new NIL policy, approved on Wednesday. “It’s a new day in college athletics,” Boatright said. “Wichita State and the athletic department fully endorse and support our student athletes in their ability to profit off their name, image, and likeness. The university appreciates the urgency that all this is taking place and we realize that any of our policies and procedures are going to be fluid and we’ll continue to adjust over the next hours, days, weeks, months.” The athletes will be able to profit off their NIL in some different avenues including
endorsements and social media monetization. Boatright was clear that this new introduction was not paying the athletes based on performance but rather the athletes earning money based on their brand. “This is just your brand, your likeness, your name, things that you bring with you before you ever get to an institution,” Boatright said. “I believe that they should’ve been able to monetize that for some time now and I’m glad to see this day finally arrive.” Since Kansas has not adopted any NIL regulations, WSU and other schools in the state are able to engage in NIL activities without violating NCAA rules. The NCAA has heavily limited those activities, which include having endorsement deals, leveraging social media for pay, and making money from coaching or signing autographs. Boatright said he originally felt torn but ultimately feels it can have its advantages to not have a statewide law. “I think we’re at a more advantageous situation as a state now because we didn’t pass anything,” Boatright said. “Each institution can implement policies and procedures themselves and also I’m sure there’s a time when each of the prospective conferences will weigh in so there is some consistency. I’m glad it’s not going to be completely from the university setting.” Unlike some schools, WSU is
allowing the athletes to orchestrate these deals by themselves. Boatright said the only thing they are asking for is keep them informed. “There will be hiccups, I’m sure there will be unintended consequences and we’ll figure those out as we go along,” Boatright said. “All we ask from our athletes is to let us know what you’re doing. We’ll help you where we can but just keep us informed on what you’re doing, no different than our staff members having to disclose outside business outside of their job-related business earning each year.” As part of that process, WSU will not help arrange NIL opportunities for their athletes. “We’re going to let them pursue them on their own,” Boatright said. “Based on what we know, that’s not an avenue that we want to travel down. Some may, but we’re going to be here to help them as they bring their opportunities and share them with us and help them do it the right way and hopefully avoid stepping in any potholes along the way.” Boatright said that the athletes will be able to negotiate deals with boosters for the university but the deals must still be beneficial for the athletes. The NCAA announced in its release that these payments can not be used as recruiting inticements. “As long as they’re following the rules, we’re going to be as helpful
FILE PHOTO BY KHANH NGUYEN / THE SUNFLOWER
Wichita State junior Morris Udeze dabs up Dexter Dennis during the game against Cincinnati at Dickies Arena on Mar. 13.
and give as much support to a situation as possible,” Boatright said. “As long as it’s a legitimate business and business where they’re getting paid the same as people performing a similar task, then we’re not going to have a problem with it.” As with much of this process, Boatright and WSU are still searching for the right answers to some questions in the early stages of this process. Currently, WSU is unsure if they will allow the athletes to wear uniforms or Shocker gear in promotional material and Boatright said it will be determined at a later date. “Those are the things that are going to clarify themselves over the next few weeks and months,” Boatright said. “I’m sure there will
be institutions that don’t allow that and there will be some institutions that do. I think that’s going to be a customized fit with where you are and what the decision-makers at the institution believe to be the best.” Boatright said that due to the small nature of the athletic department, they have the chance to be more impactful with their athletics than at some bigger schools across the country. “We have a small department and I think that’s going to allow us to work more hands on with more of our students,” Boatright said. “Where some of the larger institutions and athletic departments may not have that same relationship. I hope this allows us to be seen as a collaborative unit for our athletes.”
10 | THURSDAY, AUG. 12, 2021
BACK TO SCHOOL
PHOTO BY KHANH NGUYEN / THE SUNFLOWER
Former Shocker Fred VanVleet celebrates a point during the Aftershocks game against the Omaha Blue Crew on Sunday, July 18 inside Charles Koch Arena.
PHOTO BY KHANH NGUYEN / THE SUNFLOWER
Zach Brown and Markis McDuffie celebrate the Aftershocks’ second-round victory over the Omaha Blue Crew on Sunday, July 18 inside Charles Koch Arena.
TBT RETURNS
Aftershocks win regional in The Basketball Tournament, fall in quarterfinals BY SEAN MARTY sports@thesunflower.com / @TheSeanMarty
T
he Basketball Tournament made its return to Wichita and Charles Koch Arena this summer with the Aftershocks securing a regional championship. Former Shocker Conner Frankamp nailed two game-winning shots in the Wichita Regional, including a three-pointer to cap off a thrilling victory, as the Wichita State alumni team won 69-65 over Team Challenge ALS to advance to the quarterfinals. “Unbelievable heart, effort and that’s what this program’s been built on for the last 10-plus years,” Aftershocks head coach Zach Bush said. “These guys just fight, they don’t say die, they find a way. This dude, big shot after big shot after shot in the Elam all week. So much fun, I don’t want the ride to end.” For the first time since March 2020, there were no restrictions inside Charles Koch Arena. Koch Arena recorded the second-largest crowd (6,510) in TBT history during the Aftershocks’ final game — second only to the AfterShocks’ debut game at Koch Arena in 2019. Many of the players that took part in TBT spent this past year overseas, where there was no fans for most of their seasons. “A lot of us haven’t played with crowds in a while,” Frankamp said. “I had crowds in the two finals games and there were 1,000 people there that were loud. So, I think we’re all getting used to that. I think everybody was super excited to play in front of fans.” Although Zach Brown’s stats didn’t jump off the stat sheet during the Regional, his performance was also crucial in the early wins. Brown played a crucial role on the defensive end in the first three games. Bush said that Brown and his teammates focus on defense is a key part to why they’re still alive in TBT. “I think in this tournament
there’s too many pretty boys and we’ve got some dogs on this team,” Bush said. “We’ve got dudes that fight and battle and don’t want to just score points but want to get stops and get rebounds.” One of the keys entering the game was how the undersized Aftershocks would match up with a much bigger Team Challenge ALS but the WSU alumni were able to rise to the challenge. The Aftershocks won the rebounding battle by five, while also collecting nine offensive rebounds. “That just speaks so much to this program and it continues to flow out of it, the toughness, never say die. These guys just buy in and compete and it makes it so much fun to be a part of this.” The Aftershocks’ run in TBT came to a close in Dayton, Ohio, where they fell to Florida TNT in the quarterfinals, 92-63. The Wichita State alumni had a successful second year in TBT despite the loss, including a regional championship and three thrilling victories. “You don’t see a lot of teams who are new, they don’t win this many games this quickly,” Aftershocks head coach Zach Bush said. “It’s typically more veteran teams that win in this so for us to be in the second year and get this far, there’s a whole lot of teams that’d have loved to win their regional and it was just so fun to play in Wichita and in front of our fans.” Over the course of TBT, the Aftershocks used it as an opportunity to return WSU alumni back to the city in hopes of making it feel more like a reunion. “It’s been really fun,” Frankamp said. “I think we’ve all connected and became really close, I think these last 2-3 weeks have really brought us together. We had a great time in Wichita, we had a great time here. Hopefully we can get all these guys back for next year and try to make another run again.”
PHOTO BY LENA ALHALLAQ / THE SUNFLOWER
PHOTO BY SEAN MARTY / THE SUNFLOWER
Above: Rashard Kelly signals to the crowd during the Aftershocks first round game aganst the Ex-Pats on Saturday, July 17 inside Charles Koch Arena. Bottom: Tyrus McGee reacts after a point during the Aftershocks game against Team Challenge ALS on Tuesday, July 20 inside Charles Koch Arena.
PHOTO BY SEAN MARTY / THE SUNFLOWER
Aftershocks guard Samajae Haynes-Jones celebrates during their game against Team Challenge during TBT on Tuesday, July 20 inside Charles Koch Arena.
BACK TO SCHOOL
THURSDAY, AUG. 12, 2021 | 11
How former Shocker athletes are performing in Toyko BY SEAN MARTY AND EMMIE BOESE
Two former Wichita State ahtletes have taken part in this year’s 2020 Toyko Olympics. Former Shocker women’s basketball athlete Sabrina LozadaCabbage played for Puerto Rico in Toyko. Lozada-Cabbage played in all three of the country’s round robin games, finishing the tournament averaging 1.0 point per game and 0.7 reboubnds per game. Puerto Rico ultimately failed to advance past the group stage of the Olympics, dropping all three of their group stage games. Despite the dissapointing finish, Lozada-cabbage was a part of the country’s first ever Olympics for women’s basketball. LozadaCabbage is originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico, but was eligible to play for Puerto Rico because her grandparents on her mother’s side were born and raised in Puerto Rico. “The Olympics are what I think
would be most athlete’s dream and to say that I get to experience it and to actually be here is also a dream come true,” Lozada-Cabbage said to GoShockers. “This is Puerto Rico’s first trip to the Olympics and I think that it’s cool to be a part of history.” Lozada-Cabbage played four seasons with the WSU women’s basketball season. Her last season came in 2018-19, when she averaged 8.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. On Friday, former Wichita State University track and field athlete Aliphine Tuliamuk ran in the Women’s Olympic Marathon for the United States. Despite Tuliamuk’s efforts to accomplish running in the Olympic Marathon, she did not finish the race due to hip pain. According to a post on Instagram made by Tuliamuk, she had to drop out of the race at the 20k mark. Even though she did not finish the race, running for the
United States was something that Tuliamuk was proud of. Tuliamuk is originally from Tapach, Kenya. She made a statement about running for the United States on NBC after winning the Olympic Trials back in February of 2020. “Making the Olympic team will be my way of showing my gratitude to this beautiful nation that has given me so much,” Tuliamuk said. “It’s given me opportunities to help my family.” Tuliamuk also considers her Olympic debut a great accomplishment after giving birth to her first child six months ago. “Women should be empowered to be mothers and pursue their careers,” Tuliamuk said to CBS news. Tuliamuk transferred from Iowa State to Wichita State in 2011. She received 13 NCAA All-American Honors in track and cross country during her time at Wichita State. She holds four Missouri Valley Conference records from her time as a Shocker.
FILE PHOTO BY SELENA FAVELA / THE SUNFLOWER
Wichita State senior Sabrina Lozada-Cabbage celebrates from the bench during the season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Shocker Softball announces coaching staff for 2022 season BY EMMIE BOESE elboese15@gmail.com / @elboese15
FILE PHOTO BY KHANH NGUYEN / THE SUNFLOWER
Wichita State’s Neleigh Herring and Sydney McKinney celebrates during the Regional Final game against Oklahoma on May 23 during last year’s NCAA Tournament.
Shocker athletes utilize offseason training to pay dividends for upcoming season BY EMMIE BOESE elboese15@gmail.com / @elboese15
In college athletics, it is important for an athlete to take advantage of the offseason to help prepare for the upcoming season. Strength and conditioning training and competing in the offseason can help an athlete get in shape for their upcoming season but it also can help their athletic performance in their sport. Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Kerry Rosenboom has been working for the Wichita State University athletic department for over 30 years. Over the course of his career he explained how every day of the year contributes to an athlete’s success, and how he has seen athletes improve in their sport. One of the ways that Rosenboom said the impact of strength and conditioning could be seen following last year’s men’s basketball season. After the NCAA tournament, each player took two weeks off from all activity in order to recover from the season and start the process of working on each player’s weaknesses from the season. “An example of this could be improving a players lateral quickness because they had trouble staying in front of their man on defense,” Rosenboom said. “It could also be getting bigger and stronger to help a player finish through contract or to hold their post position. In basketball - I’ve seen a 7-foot center add 45 lbs. of body weight, while also increasing his strength, agility, and athleticism. He became a dominant player in the conference, as well as nationally.” Men’s basketball junior Morris Udeze said that the past two offseasons have been crucial in his development. “I feel like my three point shooting, working out with my
“I go into each summer thinking about what my weaknesses were throughout the spring and trying to improve on them.” NYLEIGH HERRING Junior
trainer back in Houston... I feel like we emphasized three point shooting,” Udeze said. “COVID gave me a lot of time to catch up to people that were kind of better than me so I used that time while people were just chilling at home and taking it off. I found a gym that was open and me and my trainer just hit the gym everyday, and hit the track and got in the best shape and became the player I am today.” Sophomore men’s basketball player Chaunce Jenkins said that he hopes to add on more weight in order to be in the physical shape it takes to play at the Division-I level. “Definitely adding on a lot more weight,” Jenkins said.” “I think that’s going to help me transition to the college level more. Definitely continuing to improve on the defensive end because I know that’s where everything starts.” Rosenboom said he has witnessed many athletes at Wichita State experience the impact of strength and conditioning. Despite using the whole year to improve an athlete’s game, Rosenboom said the summer is the best time for an athlete to make gains. “I’ve seen numerous pitchers add over 10 miles per hour by increasing their strength (especially on their lower body) and their hip flexibility,” Rosenboom
said. “I’ve seen golfers add over 20 yards to each club, and tennis players would become quicker so they covered more ground.” Neleigh Herring, a senior on the Shocker softball team, played this summer on the Bradenton Slice, a summer collegiate softball team. Herring said that getting to play with the Bradenton Slice has really helped her to work on game type of situations. “I go into each summer thinking about what my weaknesses were throughout the spring and trying to improve on them,” Herring said. “I just got back from a summer league in Florida so it really allowed me to work on in-game adjustments, see live pitching and fielding balls off the bat. I’ve been working on my approach at the plate and being able to adjust with two strikes.” Even though she didn’t play in a league this summer, Shocker softball player Sydney McKinney still has been taking time out of her summer to improve her game for her junior season. McKinney said she was caught off guard by the amount of physical shape she needed to be in when she started her career at Wichita State. “I did not come in prepared,” McKinney said. “It was a complete new world. If you haven’t done stuff they know. I know I’ll reach out to the younger kids so they are at least doing something.” McKinney said the amount of hard work that everyone put into the offseason before the 2021 season really contributed to the team’s success during the spring. “We were never taking breaks,” McKinney said. “We did it on our own so I think that helped a lot.”
Following one of the most successful seasons in Wichita State softball history, the program has announced some changes to the coaching staff over the offseason. Just this past week, Director of Athletics Darron Boatright announced that Head Coach Kristi Bredbenner has signed a contract extension. The details of the extension are yet to be announced. Bredbenner’s contract with the program was set to expire after the 2023 season and now has been extended through the 2026 season. Prior to the extension, Bredbenner had a base yearly salaray of $124,800. Bredbenner will start her 11th year at the helm for WSU this upcoming season after leading the Shockers to its first American Athletic Conference Championship, and a run to the NCAA Regional Final last season. Bredbenner and the rest of the WSU coaching staff were named the 2021 American Coaching Staff of the year. During the 2021 season, the Shockers became the winningest team in school history with 41 wins. They were also ranked second in the nation in home runs with 103. Her overall record at Wichita State is 286-234-1. Boatright expressed his excitement for extending Bredbenner’s contract. “Kristi has continued to build a model program in all aspects since arriving at Wichita State 10 years ago,” Boatright said in the release. “We are happy to show our support and appreciation with this extension.” Bredbenner said she is excited due to the fact that she enjoys her job and getting to help spread the game. “The future of Shocker Softball is bright and it’s easy to get up for work in the morning with a smile on my face knowing I love my job,” Bredbenner said. “Softball is an emerging sport and I look forward to seeing the growth and opportunities for this program on campus and nationwide. Thank you Shocker Nation!” On June 15, the program announced that former graduate assistant Presley Bell would take over as pitching coach for next season and beyond. Prior to Bell’s promotion on the staff, the Shockers were without a pitching coach. Bell served as a graduate assistant for the Shocker softball program for the 2021 season, and has been with the Shockers since the start of the 2019 season. Before coming to Wichita State, Bell played four years at the University of Houston, and was a pitcher. In her final season with the Cougars in 2019, Bell compiled a 1.15 ERA in 115 innings pitched. Bell also tallied a career-high 63 strikeouts during that season.
Bell said she is familiar with coaching due to growing up around it. Her dad was a high school football and softball coach. “I’ve always been involved in sports and I just loved the game so much,” Bell said.”Being able to graduate this last year and getting to step up a little bit really solidified the fact that I did want to coach.” Bell said she enjoys coaching for the Shockers because of the culture they have within the program. When asked about her reaction to her promotion she said it definitely crossed her mind. “I think their culture is awesome,” Bell said.“They just have a lot of fun together. It’s a lot of fun and very enjoyable for me to be out there with them. It was just a thought in the back of my head that maybe I could be the next in line to hire because it’s an easy transition with me already being there.” Earlier last month, the Wichita State Softball Program announced on Twitter that Nicole Pendley will serve as the new Director of Operations for the program. She is replacing former Shocker softball player and Director of Operations Laurie Derrico who was with the Shockers for two seasons. Pendley comes to the Shockers from Rio Ranch, New Mexico. Before coming to Wichita State, Pendley spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State and received a master’s degree in workforce education leadership. She received a bachelors in planned programs from Oklahoma University. Pendley played collegiately for the Sooners. She was a part of two national championship teams, a three-time All Big 12 honoree, and was named to the NFCA All – Region three times. She also ended her career with 47 home runs, 189 RBI’s, 177 runs, and 730 at-bats. After college, Pendley went on to play professionally after being picked as the No. 12 overall draft pick in the NPF Draft by the USSSA Pride. She also played for the Cleveland Comets. Pendley said Wichita State gained her attention because of the winning environment that the program and Bredbenner have set. “The first time talking with Coach B I could tell she demands excellence and that is someone I want to work for,” Pendley said. Pendley is most looking forward to making new relationships with the players and coaching staff in her new position. “The process of meeting and building relationships with the staff, and team, witnessing the work put in, contributing to the work be put in and watching the work pay off,” Pendley said. “Softball has been a huge part of my life and it is very rewarding to see it impact others.” The program is yet to announce their schedule for the upcoming fall season.
12 | THURSDAY, AUG. 12, 2021
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Ulrich Museum of Art invites you to our
Fall 2021 Exhibition Opening Celebration!
Thursday, August 19th 5:00-8:00 P.M.
The Ulrich invites you to join us for an exploration of our newest suite of exhibitions on display this fall. Ulrich receptions are a conversation, a gathering, an engagement of artists and art enthusiasts intertwined with music, fine fare, and possibility. Ulrich receptions are free and open to the public.
Love in the Time of the Anthropocence: Terry Evans, Philip Heying, and A. Mary Kay Look, it’s daybreak, dear, time to sing: Richard Ibghy and Marilou Lemmens
Wichita State University Mon.-Sat. 11 am-5 pm | Closed Sundays, University & Major Holidays | Social Media: @ulrichmuseum ulrich.wichita.edu | Free Admission | 316.978.3664 | 1845 Fairmount | Wichita, KS | 67260-0046