THE STAFF:
EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief Evan Pflugradt Managing Editor Andrew Linnabary News Editor Chance Swaim Special Sections Editor Alex Bullock Sports Editor Grant Cohen Opinion Editor Marissa Campbell Photo Editor Manny De Los Santos Production Editor Madeline Deabler
ADVERTISING
Advertising Manager Emily Maslow Advertising Representatives Madeline Deabler Landen Swearingen Krystal Bradley
BUSINESS / ADVISING Business Manager Robbie Norton Faculty Adviser Amy DeVault
The Sunflower is published by student-employees on Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. During the summer session, the paper is printed once a month, with exceptions for holidays and finals. The Sunflower (published for use by WSU students, faculty and staff) is private property and unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable. One copy may be taken for free. Additional copies must be purchased for $1 each. The Sunflower is also partially funded by the Student Government Association at WSU. The opinions expressed in The Sunflower editorials, columns, guest columns, reviews, advertisements, letters, Yik Yak posts and editorial cartoons are not necessarily those of the staff, publications board, student body or university. The Sunflower reserves the right to edit or reject any submission. We also reserve the right to edit or reject any advertisement.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Send letters to the editor to sunflowereditor@ gmail.com. Please keep letters to 250 words or less. All letters are edited for clarity and length. Please include your name, WSU affiliation and a phone number or email address for verification purposes.
CONTACT THE SUNFLOWER: 019 Elliott Hall 1845 N. Fairmount Ave. Campus Box 134 Wichita, KS 67260-0134 ---------SUNFLOWER OFFICES Front Desk: 316-978-3640 Fax: 316-978-3778 ADVERTISING Emily Maslow: 316-978-6906 sunfloweradsales@gmail.com EDITORIAL Evan Pflugradt: 316-978-6905 sunflowereditor@gmail.com BUSINESS Robbie Norton: 316-978-6900 robbie.norton@wichita.edu ADVISER Amy DeVault: 316-978-6052 amy.devault@wichita.edu ---------ONLINE www.thesunflower.com FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/sunflowerwsu www.facebook.com/sunflowerads TWITTER @sunflowernews @sunflowersports INSTAGRAM @thesunflowernews
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MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
PAGE 2 | SURVIVAL GUIDE
Innovating the way you get news, making digital push top priority Welcome to Wichita State. Whether it is your first time on campus or EVAN PFLUGRADT you’ve been EDITOR IN CHIEF here awhile, it’s nice to have you here. The Sunflower is a valuable resource to the University and the surrounding community. It is our goal to serve you — our readers — in the best way we can. There’s a sad tale running the course of many newspapers across the United States. They’re dying off. Community newspapers are shrinking. Reporter positions are disappearing — and fast. What I’m really getting at is that community newspapers have been challenged to limit the coverage in areas where there might be a lot of content, like on a university campus. But that tale does not extend
to the campus here at WSU. The Sunflower prints Monday and Thursday mornings with 6,000 print copies all across campus and select areas in the local community. It is my wish you will see the value in a campus newspaper. Our publication has hit newsstands on the WSU campus since 1895, and 121 years later our mission statement stays the same. The Sunflower is designed to tell those stories others can’t. It’s our gift to you as it has been for more than a century. We’re proud of our rich history and the traditions. But this doesn’t mean I don’t challenge our staff to think about innovation in the publication. So, let’s talk about change in The Sunflower. First, if you hadn’t already noticed, consider the fact there’s change in design. There’s a lot of ways to do innovation in storytelling. And
while we’re not exactly changing the content — we’re moving forward in a movement to change the way it’s presented to you. If you don’t pick up The Sunflower, we get that. Journalism is going digital. It’s a realization that for most of us was an issue before we arrived at this publication. Therefore, our web presence is the top priority. We’re actively in the process of transitioning our publication to a new website. The site will function under the same domain — thesunflower.com — but will be geared toward you with easier user-accessibility. The new online presence will run smoother and quicker, for both ends. The final product will look less cluttered, have more abilities with multimedia and make browsing content — both old and new — a much simpler process. We’re not waiting on you, so why should you wait for us?
The Sunflower may have taken its time in the past, but not now. This is the time for change. There’s change in almost every element. If you’re a frequent visitor, have a look at the staff list to your left. If you recognize more than a one name from last year’s Survival Guide, I applaud you. But here’s a hint: you won’t. We’ve changed face. We’re a student-run publication, faces are bound to come and go at the drop of a hat. But we’re not sweating it; a change in culture is a good thing. This new talent will change the way we tell stories. They’re thinkers, innovators, driven to challenge the traditional processes. We’re learning. We’re changing. With all transition our purpose stays the same — deliver you accurate and meaningful information that’s unique to Wichita State. Stay with us, and watch us grow.
meetings with university officials and tough conversations, are all worth it. In the midst of a busy summer, SGA relocated the Shocker Food Locker to the SGA office, increased our social media presences, created the Shocker Freshman Council, and “Shocks Talk,” a platform giving students the opportunity to empower their voice. Additionally, we’ve restructured the duties and responsibilities of officers in order to better serve the student body, launched a partnership between USD 259 and Wichita State Inspire, in order to help more youth within our community gain access to higher education. As I embark on my second term as Student Body President, I have taken this summer to ref lect on the vision I have for Student Government Association. We will work
diligently to address the needs of the student body with the necessary administration. Historically, Student Government Association has waited for students to bring forth concerns to us. However, the 59th session of Student Government Association will work proactively to engage with students the moment they step on campus. Students are not another cold number or statistic. As a university, we should all work just as hard to retain our students as much as we do to get them here. That includes providing the tools and resources necessary to support students inside and outside of the classroom. It is my goal to make sure that all entities of the university take students voices into consideration when making decisions that ultimately impact our experience here at Wichita State University. Vice President
Azad and I plan to hold the senators of the 59th session accountable to you because they represent you. Moreover, our governmental entity works for you, not faculty, staff, or administration. While we work with all three groups to reach success, you are our top priority. I urge you all to utilize Student Government as a resource. From combating food insecurity on campus to addressing sexual assault at a national level, to reducing university traffic fines and violations to lobbying for higher education necessities at the state level, we’ve got your back. We will always have your back. Best of luck to all of you in your academic endeavors. Welcome home!
Welcome back Shocker Nation! My name is Joseph Shepard, your 2016-2017 Student Body President. Departments and student organizations on campus have worked hard throughout the summer to create a campus culture and experience to respond to our changing needs. Student Government Association has also been working this past summer to address the needs of the Student Body. We are excited to engage students and empower their voices in order to progress our institution. Student Body Vice President Taben Azad the Association’s cabinet members, senators, committee members and I are committed to serving you, our constituents. As a student, you are the most important part of the institution; therefore, we will work diligently to ensure the SGA mantra is upheld: “Students Come First.” Everything this university has accomplished could not have been achieved without your help. You are not another number on this campus — you’re an investor and a contributor to our success. With that being said, it is our job to advocate on your behalf and to make sure your voice is heard at all levels of the University. This year, Vice President, Taben Azad and I desire to take Student Government Association to the next level. This summer has been a busy one for our team. However, we realize the long hours at our desk, countless
In Shocker Spirit, Joseph W. Shepard, Student Body President
Student centered, innovation driven My Fellow Shockers, A warm welcome to all new and returning students. The beginning of the fall semester always brings a feeling of rejuvenation and a new sense of possibilities to campus. Presidential election years are frequently turning points in American history. This could be a turning point in WSU’s history and your own. I cannot wait to experience it with those who are up for the challenge. There are visible changes throughout the campus, including the completion of Alumni Walk, a beautiful pedestrian mall on the west central part of campus and the every weekday presence of food trucks on the east side of campus, across from the National Institute for Aviation Research. When you’re at the food trucks, look east onto Innovation Campus, where the
Experiential Engineering Building (EEB), GoCreate community makerspace and Airbus buildings are in their final months of construction. EEB will house 25 engineering laboratories and was recently featured in a New York Times story on North American universities building innovation campuses. The GoCreate makerspace, on the west side of EEB, is where the brightest and most innovative minds will have access to its sophisticated equipment for prototyping that could turn their invention aspirations into reality. Airbus, one of the world’s leading aviation companies, will call our campus home for more than 350 of its employees beginning at the start of second semester, giving our students internships to learn, earn and thrive without even leaving campus. The next Innovation Campus projects coming out of the ground this fall will be a 2,000 square-foot coffeehouse, with indoor and outdoor seating and drive-through lane, and a 285-bed apartment complex,
that will principally serve sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students. It will include underground and surface parking and be available for the start of fall semester in 2017. As we strive to become an international model of applied learning, having like-minded people and industries around us is vital to completing the mission. For the past year, Wichita State and Wichita Area Technical College ( WATC) have been exploring a formal merger between our two institutions. This would bring WATC into WSU as the new School of Technology and Applied Science. This would expand our capacity to create a GED to PhD education for theÅ people of Kansas, and to do much to provide a catalyst to grow the state and area economy. We think the quality of campus life is second only to academics in its importance to our students. On Friday, I talked with the universities faculty and staff about a theme for this year, “Student centered, innovation driven.”
We know that students are the reason we’re here, so we want students to be central to in our campus culture. Amidst all the large changes to our University, at the end of the day, there are still things we know we can do better. Whether you are looking for the traditional college experience leading to a degree, or a set of specific courses to advance in your career, we want Wichita State to fulfill your needs. Please take the time to fill out surveys sent to your WSU email, so your opinions can guide important decisions regarding the student experience. We want to help you obtain the knowledge and life skills to be successful professionally and personally. We think you will be more fulfilled, long-term, if you’re more than a witness to the changes on our campus. We invite you to help shape them. I hope you grow to love Wichita State, as much as I do. This is a place for you to thrive and find your passion. Now, more than ever, is a great time to be a Shocker!