THE WWW.THESUNFLOWER.COM
SUNFLOWER WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT-RUN NEWS SOURCE
MONDAY • AUGUST 25, 2014
VOLUME 119, ISSUE 13
News: SGA gets down to business Page 3 | Sports: Women’s volleyball picked first in MVC Page 4
Pumping iron
Photo by Kyler Steinkamp
Andy Sykes uses the new Cybex equipment installed in the weight room earlier this month. The new weight room equipment took about a year to plan and install.
New weight room is open for business By Cheyenne Bullock STAFF REPORTER
F
ollowing renovations, the Heskett Center’s weight room has seen an increase in student
usage. Nearly a year ago, a committee formed to begin the process of upgrading the weight room and its equipment. John Lee, associate director of Campus Recreation, realized it was time for an upgrade. “It was 15 years old,” Lee said. “We identified the need for new equipment.”
For months, the committee researched the best equipment available, while also learning about the needs of the students they serve. After multiple vendor visits, they decided on the Cybex Eagle series of equipment. Every seven years, Cybex releases a new line of equipment, and Wichita State students now have access to the newest and most cutting-edge workout equipment available, Heskett staff said. The only other school in the country that uses this equipment is the University of Alabama, said Maggie Simpson, coordina-
tor of fitness and wellness. She is excited about the quality of workout the Heskett Center can now provide to WSU students. “Students can achieve a high-quality workout with minimal equipment adjustments,” Simpson said. “Each user can set the machine to your natural range of motion, which helps to prevent injuries.” Yellow tabs are used to indicate moveable pieces of equipment. Each machine is also equipped with holders for cell phones and drinks. “It is easily identifiable as to what needs to be adjusted,”
Simpson said. Two of the machines provide total access to handicapped users as they are wheelchair-accessible. The new equipment is also smaller, so there is more open floor space for students to utilize for various exercises, such as core strengthening. Staff members have noticed an increase in the amount of students utilizing the weight room and encourage students who do not currently utilize it to begin taking advantage of the high-quality workout now available with the new equipment.
Convocation a chance to unite students By Cheyenne Bullock STAFF REPORTER
The 15th annual Convocation ceremony will be held Tuesday at Charles Koch Arena and will begin at 11 a.m. Convocation is a traditional welcome ceremony for Wichita State students. Every year, thousands of students join together to celebrate the new school year and exhibit their Shocker pride. This year’s academic showcase will feature the College of Education. Student Government Association president, Matthew Conklin, and vice president, Brandon Baltzell will be the emcees this year. This year’s attendees will be able to hear from student-athletes during a session called, “This is Our House.” It will be a chance to create fellowship with and cheer on the student-athletes and coaches. There will be entertainment provided by various groups. Student groups such as the A Cappella Choir, Spirit Squad and the dance team will be preforming at this year’s event. Following the ceremony, students will be provided with a free T-shirt, beverages and pizza. Shanda Burch, executive assistant to the vice president for student engagement, encouraged students to come and participate in one of the university’s oldest traditions. “Our office believes Convocation is a longstanding tradition and one of the best opportunities for students to unite in celebration with thousands of their peers,” Burch said. “We feel it is an important event to show our university’s unity in school spirit as we start a new academic year.” For general questions regarding Convocation 2014, contact Burch at 978-3021.
Parking additions expected to relieve commuter stress By Kevin Brown STAFF REPORTER
Recent changes in the campus parking plan have some students looking for other options, and Wichita State administration has noted these concerns. Resulting from these changes, many students have been taking advantage of the shuttle service that is offered by the university. Only this time, students are finding a place closer to park for shuttle service than ever before — the recent addition of the leased 21st Street and Oliver parking lot. “We knew that coming in with the new [parking] permit policy, there would probably be some push-back, so we wanted to make sure that we had plenty of spaces for students,” said Ellen Abbey, financial analyst and auxiliary services manager in the Office of Administration and Finance. Abbey said she has been working to make sure that student feedback is heard when it comes to Shocker parking. “It is the $120 in one fell swoop a month before school,” Abbey said. “I understand, if I were a student, that $120 would have been the end of me, and I would be parking at Metro like everyone else.” Starting on Aug. 11, it became a requirement that students purchase a parking permit in order to park on campus. A
student permit costs $120 for a car, truck or SUV, and a motorcycle permit costs $60. The free shuttle service, accompanied with free parking at auxiliary lots off campus, however, has provided another option for students when it comes to parking. “We have noticed a terrific uptake in shuttle usage, probably three times the rate from last year. Ridership is way, way up,” Abbey said. Josh Mahon, a senior studying electrical engineering, decided to check out the shuttle service after parking on campus previous years. “Whenever I have morning classes at 9:30, it is generally pretty packed,” Mahon said. “However, coming back is usually pretty open.” Mahon, like many other students, has taken advantage of the new parking lot at 21st street and Oliver, designed to help alleviate increased shuttle traffic. “With the Shocker Hall students moving into the Metroplex (parking lot), some of the shuttle parking spaces were taken away, so we thought it would be best to get together and see what we could do,” Abbey said. After partnering with an outside real-estate firm, John T. Arnold Associates, Inc., officials at WSU went to work finding additional parking.
“We hired Marlin Penner from John T. Arnold Associates, and he was able to work with several different companies over there who have parking spaces,” Abbey said. Located in front of Extra Space Storage, the new parking lot has been popular — so popular, in fact, parking is short during prime times of the day. “The lot has been overflowing, and I have been getting some calls from the other shop owners down there, saying that our students have been parking in their lots,” Abbey said. As a result of this increased traffic, WSU officials are looking to expand the lot. “We are currently working with another group to obtain another 140 spaces over there,” Abbey said. Another goal from the addition of this lot is the increased benefits placed upon the shop owners and community. “[Increased traffic] could be good for those stores. Now that students are parking there, they may get [off the shuttle] and decide to stop into Family Dollar and pick up a few things, for example,” Abbey said. WSU officials are not the only individuals who are noticing the increased shuttle usage — some students are seeing the same thing. See PARKING on page 4
Parking at WSU $120 Motorcycle $60 permit
Regular vehicle permit
Other options: Park off campus Park at the Hughes Metroplex or the new 21st and Oliver lot and use the free Shuttle system to get to campus. The university is looking to obtain 140 more spaces in the 21st and 0liver lot.