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SUNFLOWER WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT-RUN NEWS SOURCE
WEDNESDAY • JANUARY 28, 2015
VOLUME 119, ISSUE 57
Terror acts won’t stop student travel By Travis Gillespie STAFF REPORTER @November61999
Photo by Kevin Brown
American Red Cross collections technician Debi Goodner prepares Wichita State graduate student Jamie Stephens’ arm for a blood donation at the American Red Cross blood drive Tuesday in the Rhatigan Student Center.
Shockers donate blood, compassion for humanity By Kevin Brown STAFF REPORTER @krbrownjr
Wichita State freshman Amanda Miller did not hesitate to visit the Harvest room of the Rhatigan Student Center Tuesday afternoon after hearing that campus had a visiting organization — one that she had worked with many times before. As part of a two-day effort — with the first stop at the west campus — the American Red Cross visited WSU Monday and Tuesday, hosting blood drives for students, faculty and community members. Attracting a wide range of visitors, the Red Cross’ blood drive stayed busy throughout the afternoon, with a queue of patrons waiting for their bed and an opportunity to give. “I have given blood about six times now,” Miller said. I” have always done really well, never been dizzy.” Miller said she has been giving blood since she was a student at her high school in Emporia, but
has also had first-hand experience with the effects of blood donations. “I needed a [blood] transfusion several years ago — I stopped eating meat as a health thing and my iron levels dropped really low,” she said. “And they didn’t have any blood to give to me.” According to the American Red Cross, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds, and more than 41,000 blood donations are needed every day. Not only that, but, “a total of 30 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S.” During the winter months, blood donations typically are down, as bad weather and illness affect the collection process. Since 1970, January is marked as National Blood Donor Month, celebrating those who are able to donate extra blood. At the RSC, though, the Red Cross’ efforts to scout out both new and returning blood donors did not fall on deaf ears, with the Harvest Room bustling with the sounds of medical equipment and soft conversations between donors and officials all afternoon.
“When I donated towards the end of November, there was not a whole lot of people,” senior Danielle Buethe said. “But this is the most [donors] I have seen,” Much like Miller, Buethe is no stranger to blood donation — she donates every 56 days, and has done so since she was 16 years old. She estimates that her donation yesterday was her 13th time donating. Although she does not have any direct history with transfusions herself, she, like some other college students, donates to help others. “Just knowing that I could give blood to somebody who needs it, when I have extra,” Buethe said. The American Red Cross said that it hosts over 9,000 blood drives on university campuses a year, with over 3,000 students assisting with the drives. Not only that, but between August of 2013 and July of 2014, a total of 289,367 individuals donated blood on a college campus, totaling 369,608 units of blood, with roughly one pint given during a donation. One pint of blood can save up to three lives, with 5 million
patients in the U.S. requiring blood transfusions a year. “One car accident victim could need up to 100 blood donations,” said Jessica Schinstock, American Red Cross donor recruitment representative for the South Central Kansas Region. “We are just trying to maintain the blood supply throughout the country.” Humans are characterized as having different blood types, with variations of type A, type B and type O blood making up the liquid flowing through their veins. Each type is distinguished by the antigens and antibodies attached to the blood cells. As a result of this, not all blood is compatible with each other — unless an individual possesses type O blood, which is regarded as being “universal,” due to the lack of antigens on the blood cells. Individuals who have blood types other than O generally can accept type O blood, making those like graduate student Jamie Stephens a favorite in health circles. See BLOOD on page 2
It’s been nearly a month since Islamic extremists carried out attacks in Paris, murdering Jewish shoppers at a kosher supermarket and staff at the Charlie Hedbo satirical publication. In all, 17 people were fatally wounded in retaliation for cartoons lampooning the Prophet Muhammad, and repercussions of the event are still unfolding in that part of the world. For many Wichitans, France seems like a world away, and some individuals at Wichita State seem to be more concerned with the attack on the principle of free speech than the loss of life. “People here don’t seem to be terribly worried,” said Gail Burkett, lecturer in French and undergraduate coordinator for the WSU’s Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures. “Many people see the Paris attacks as part of life in modern-day times. Some are concerned, but no more than normal. There’s really nothing you can do about it.” Burkett advises students in her department, and said she helps those who are preparing to study abroad with the process. As with other times of trouble, she said, people do ask if it’s safe to travel when something happens like the attacks in Paris, but for Wichita, it’s business as usual. “Wichita just doesn’t have many ties to Paris,” she said. WSU sophomore Shawn Diemart is studying history and philosophy and plans to study abroad in the future. He said he’s not really concerned with terrorist events, either. Places where unrest is the norm is of more concern to him. “I know that as an American abroad, there are places I’d have to take special precautions,” Diemart said, “and that would concern me more than random acts of violence in a place like France. I would love to go to Egypt, but right now’s probably not the best time for an American to travel there.” See ABROAD on page 2
Fraternity chili feed spices up Clinton Hall By Kevin Brown STAFF REPORTER @krbrownjr
The lobby of Clinton Hall had the usual scents of furniture, building materials and students replaced with spices, peppers and beans mid-afternoon Tuesday. Members of Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity hosted a no-cost, donation-based chili feed Tuesday as a service to the student body. “This was more about service to the school,” said Leah Hanson, vice president of the fraternity. With a variety of chili to choose from, students were not short on options for lunch. Along with meat-based chili, the fraternity also offered a few vegetarian-based options for students and faculty who were not partial to meat, including a vegetarian chili and broccoli cheese soup. Part of the feed was based around donations to a local charity, as the food was free to students and faculty. “We are going to have a donation jar with the proceeds going to a local charity,” said Teri Loughmiller, vice-president of
membership for Alpha Kappa Psi, in a pre-event interview Monday evening. A business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi is open to both men and women, with members of varying ages and class ranks making up the roster at Wichita State. “We have a ton of diversity in our fraternity, and we wanted to build the event around that,” Loughmiller said. As part of the fraternity’s philanthropic efforts, members are planning a stand-up comedy event, scheduled to happen later in the semester. “We are bringing in a production company … guys who have been on TV quite a bit, with one evening having their own Comedy Central stand-up comedy show,” said Jeffrey Johnson, secretary of the fraternity. Johnson said the fraternity is planning prices, with a potential $5 student ticket to the event, which is scheduled to take place on April 18. For more information about Alpha Kappa Psi fraternity or any upcoming events, contact Loughmiller at taloughmiller@ wichita.edu.
Photo by Kevin Brown
Wichita State students Teri Loughmiller and Nicholas Jones serve chili at the Alpha Kappa Psi chili feed in Clinton Hall Tuesday.