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SUN FLOWER
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2015
VOLUME 120, ISSUE 24
Shocker Madness kicks off basketball season | PAGE 4
THESUNFLOWER.COM
Campus bank robbed of unknown cash; no weapons seen SHELBY REYNOLDS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
@_shelbyreynolds
The Commerce Bank inside the Rhatigan Student Center was robbed Thursday afternoon, according to a crime alert from the University Police Department. Around 3 p.m. Thursday, the alert said, an unknown Asian male walked into the bank on the Wichita State campus, threatened the employees and demanded money. No weapons were seen or indicated. The suspect made off with an undetermined amount of money, exited the RSC through the southeast doors and headed east. The suspect is described as an
Asian male in his 20s, approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall and thin build, the alert said. He was seen wearing black pants, a blue hoodie, a black backpack and a black scarf. Anyone with information is asked to call the UPD detective section at 316-978-3450. Junior Evan Johnson said he was sitting near the west entrance of the bank when he saw the suspect — wearing gloves and a scarf covering his face — walk inside. Johnson said he couldn’t see the inside of the bank, which has entrances on both the west and east side. “His face was covered,” said Johnson, a communication
student. “He had a mask. It covered his nose and mouth.” Johnson said he thinks the suspect must have fled out the east entrance, because he didn’t see him leave. After he saw the masked individual, he said it was about 15 or 20 minutes later that police arrived. “In the middle of the day,” Johnson said. “Luckily he didn’t harm anyone.” Officers were seen walking the campus afterward. Johnson said the robbery Thursday won’t deter him from still going to the RSC. “Hopefully it’s just an isolated occurrence,” he said. “I don’t think it will happen regularly.”
Courtesy Photo
Anyone with information about the robbery are asked to call 316-978-3450.
FIGHTING HUNGER THROUGH ART
Photo by Christopher Bardo
Hundreds of attendees pick out ceramic bowls Saturday during the Empty Bowls Chili Cook-Off at Henrion Hall. The bowls were created last month in part one of the project to raise funds and awareness to end hunger in the community.
Empty Bowls Chili Cook-Off feeds campus, community REPORTER
MARISSA CAMPBELL
@soupitup13
After spending a six-hour day making, glazing and firing hundreds of ceramic bowls last month at Wichita State, students, faculty, staff and community members are finally able to put them to use. The Build-A-Bowl Workshop was the first part of the Empty Bowls project, which ended with a Chili Cook-Off on Saturday at Henrion Hall. Whether attendees went to find a new ceramic treasure or to support the Kansas Food Bank,
everyone was out and involved in the WSU art community. Under the direction of Brenda Lichman, WSU lecturer in ceramics, the Ceramics Guild partnered with the Ulrich Museum of Art, the WSU Hunger Awareness Initiative and the Kansas Food Bank in order to raise awareness of hunger in Wichita and of the arts. “Brenda came to us with this idea last year and it sounded like a great idea,” said Brian Walker, CEO of the Kansas Food Bank. “She has so much energy, and the students she works with seem so energized and committed to the
problem of hunger, so it’s a no-brainer for us to be involved.” Patrons chose a bowl then taste-tested about 30 different types of chili from Erbert & Gerbert’s Sandwich Shop, Tanya’s Soup Kitchen and different groups on and off campus. “I helped make the Ceramics Guild chili,” graduate student Laura Nave said. “I got involved because I like cooking, and I think this is a fantastic cause. I’m having a blast helping out and I love supporting the cause and teaching people about ceramics.” A panel of judges tasted each
chili and declared a winner. WSU President John Bardo was one of the judges. “I think that seeing everyone out is the best part,” Bardo said. “The chili is always fun, but seeing everyone do something that relates to the future of humanity is the best. This is all about how to help people who don’t have enough food and how do we help people understand the nature of hunger. This is a good cause, it’s a fun time and it’s great to see faculty, students and the community coming to enjoy the event.” The activity also showed that
hunger is not an abstract idea, Lichman said. All proceeds will be donated to the Kansas Food Bank. “Not only do the funds help us out, but the awareness that it creates,” Walker said. “If the people here today are here just to buy a bowl, they still have an awareness of hunger and the hunger that exists in our community.” WATCH IT ONLINE Visit thesunflower. com to find a video of the Empty Bowls Chili Cook-Off event.
Wichita State instructor reaches for ‘Community Supporting Breastfeeding’ designation in Wichita AMANDA HANSEN
REPORTER
@mandabri4
Wichita State offers lactation rooms in Lindquist, Ahlberg and Brennen halls, where mothers can breast feed. But there’s an effort on campus and in Wichita to further support breastfeeding mothers. Because WSU already provides lactation rooms and has a policy for breastfeeding mothers
returning to the workplace, Brenda Bandy, program director for the Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition, urges the university to show its support for this initiative by posting “breastfeeding welcome here” decals around campus and applying for the Employer Support Award. “We want to make sure that as an organization, WSU gets the recognition that they deserve, so that they can be counted toward
the designation,” Bandy said. “[That will show] WSU is going to be fully on board and do what they can to make sure these designation criteria are met.” The Kansas Breastfeeding Coalition hosted a conference Friday at Wesley Medical Center to discuss strategies about how to engage more businesses to help Wichita earn the designated as a “Community Supporting Breastfeeding.”
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Jolynn Dowling, an instructor in the School of Nursing, said she is pleased with the steps the university has taken to make campus more supportive of breastfeeding. But it could do more, starting with Innovation Campus, she said. “We have three designated lactation rooms for employees, but I’d like to see more of those around campus,” Dowling said. “That’s something to keep in
mind as we build our [Innovation Campus] structures is, do we have something that can serve to accommodate that population of student because [they’re] of age? Whether it’s students or employees, to be able to use and have those accommodations available to them and have a private place to be able to provide the best nutrition to their babies.”
SEE SUPPORT • PAGE 2
OCTOBER 27 | 10:30 A.M. - 1 P.M. | RSC BEGGS BALLROOM
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If you’re an undecided major, are thinking about switching your major or want to explore options for minors or double majors, stop by the Majors & Minors Fair. Admission is free, and the fair is open to everyone. For more information, visit WICHITA.EDU/MAJORSMINORSFAIR.