THE WWW.THESUNFLOWER.COM
SUNFLOWER WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT-RUN NEWS SOURCE
MONDay • OCTOBER 20, 2014
VOLUME 119, ISSUE 35
News: New lab to get $19 Million Page 3 | Sports: Awards presented at Shocker Madness Page 4
Shocktoberfest
Photo by Kevin Brown
Jack, 4, and Noah, 2, the children of Wichita State student Kristen Buckles, color pictures at the WSU SAC Campus Traditions drawing exhibit at the Shocktoberfest Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday.
Campus-wide activities ring in Shocktoberfest
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By Paulo Lazo STAFF REPORTER @Paulo_JLazo
ith the inevitable arrival of colder winds, one final series of outdoor events turns up on the Wichita State campus. After being kicked off with a family-friendly Trunk-or-Treat just north of Eck Stadium, Shocktoberfest was welcomed to campus with candy, coloring and young camaderie. Student Activities Council Campus Traditions chair Logan Pohl expressed enthusiasm for the celebration of school
SGA presents funding for ‘Orange is the New Black’ speaker By Cole Yancey STAFF REPORTER @CAYancey21
The Wichita State Student Government Association had a first read of a funding bill Wednesday that will help bring Laverne Cox to speak at WSU next semester. Cox is a black, transgender woman who plays Sophia Burset on the Netflix television series “Orange Is the New Black.” The funding bill will transfer $11,000 to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and will supplement Cox’s speaking cost, which is $25,000. Alicia Sanchez, director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, spoke about the money transfer. “The $11,000 is simply to meet the gap we are missing to fund Laverne Cox,” she said. Danielle Johnson, program coordinator for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, said the decision to bring Laverne Cox to WSU is significant. See SGA on page 2
spirit and emphasized the differences between this year’s Shocktoberfest and previous editions. “We have two really big different things this year,” she said. “The 3-on-3 basketball tournament — in the past, we’ve done dodge ball, we’ve done capture the flag — but this year, we’re trying something new, so that will be unique this year... [Also, Songfest] is gonna be on a Saturday night at the Wichita Orpheum, so that’s kind of cool for us.” Pohl also noted that Shocktoberfest presents a variety of activities students can partake in either as a group or individually. The Hunger Games, an activity for
groups, consists of teams competing by collecting non-perishable food items in order to create a cornucopia. Taylor Gladding, president of the Community Service Board who assisted in the planning of this competition, mentioned the importance of several campus groups’ involvement and explained the particulars of the contest. “There are 19 ‘districts’ signed up,” she said. “The point is to raise all the canned foods, and this week, we will be doing a sculpture contest out of the cans, which is kind of manipulated from what used to be can wars, and there is a secret event that all the districts will be able to participate in.” SAC adviser Jeff Nilsen praised his
organization’s idea to hold Songfest at the Orpheum this year, yet also stressed the significance of other events that will precede it. “This year’s, there’s a big focus on making it a campus-wide thing,” Nilsen said. “It’s a campus tradition, but a lot of it is geared towards Songfest. This year, we’re really trying to make it so all the events during the week are good and really try to encompass the student population.” Trunk or Treat, a Halloween-themed, child-oriented event kicked off Shocktoberfest on Oct. 18. Breakfast with Bardo, which presents Wichita State students with a free breakfast, takes place Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in the RSC Groover Lounge.
Instruments stolen from members of the WSU Symphony Orchestra By Cheyenne Bullock STAFF REPORTER @xcallmechey
Three Wichita State students and members of the WSU Symphony Orchestra have had their instruments stolen within the last couple of weeks. The stolen instruments equal a total valued loss of approximately $17,200. Cortland Mahoney said the loss of his violin was the most devastating thing that has happened to him. He was the first to have his instrument stolen. The theft took place last Saturday, a few days before the other two instruments were stolen. “My violin is what I use for my craft — my tool, my trade, my music, my life. And someone took that away from me,” Mahoney said. Despite his loss, Mahoney said they must continue to move on. Last Monday afternoon, around 3 p.m., the three students left Mahoney’s and Jorge Ortiz Moreno’s apartment to go visit a friend. All three of their instruments were left in the living room, and the place was locked and secured. When they returned later that
Photo by Manny De Los Santos
Senior Cortland Mahoney plays his violin. Mahoney, along with fellow Wichita State students Zeke Francis and Jorge Ortiz Moreno, had musical instruments stolen within the last 10 days. The stolen instruments equal a loss of approximately $17,200.
evening Moreno and Zeke Francis found that their instruments had been stolen. “I mean, you don’t think about it,” Francis said. “You would think your instrument would be safe in a locked house.”
The police were notified immediately by Francis. He said it was the first thing he did after the hard realization hit him, that the instruments were really gone. Officers inspected the premise and took their information. There
is an ongoing investigation with the Wichita Police Department. Local pawn shops’ daily intakes are being monitored as well. See THEFT on page 2