the
SUN FLOWER
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2015
VOLUME 120, ISSUE 13
Annual intramural golf tournament draws students to MacDonald Public Golf Course. | PAGE 4
THESUNFLOWER.COM
Dance of the Whirling Dervishes
Campus Safety Walk raises student awareness CHANCE SWAIM
REPORTER
@chanceswaim
Turkish dancing, art celebrated at religious festival
Photos by Christopher Bardo
[TOP] The Whirling Dervishes of RUMI perform a traditional religious dance. [LEFT] Aydin Çayir creates traditional Calligraphy at the Whirling Dervishes of RUMI performance Friday.
The Dialogue Institute of Kansas and the Turkish Student Group partnered to present a live performance of traditional Sufi and Turkish music and culture last friday evening at Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center. The event, Whirling Dervishes of RUMI, encompassed a celebration of existence and presented a dance about universal peace, love and acceptance. The dancers are believed to be mediators between the spiritual and physical world. Renowned scholar, Ori Soltes, from Georgetown University gave a presentation about Sufism, and artist Aydin Çayir gave a calligraphy demonstration. —Danielle Prewitt
Mixed reactions on Kansas College Republicans’ death penalty resolution ALEX PERRY
REPORTER
@sunflowerap
As the presidential election cycle continues to highlight the differences between Republicans and Democrats, a student group in Kansas is attempting to create unity among the parties on one issue. As expected, however, not everybody thinks it is the right move. In August, the Kansas Federation of College Republicans, which represents the state’s major universities, came to a unanimous vote among its representatives to call for an end to the death penalty. While the Kansas Republican Party is officially neutral on the issue, support of the death penalty is traditionally seen as a conservative value. Dalton Glasscock, the student group’s chairman and a Wichita State student, sees the resolution as a natural extension of the party’s generally pro-life stance. “We’ve always been on the forefront of protecting bodies,” Glasscock said. In an August editorial in The Wichita Eagle, Glasscock wrote at length about the decision, saying the stance is more “consistently conservative” than before, a 2014 study suggests, 4.1 percent of death row inmates are actually innocent. “We simply cannot support a policy that would endanger even one innocent life,” Glasscock wrote.
As a member of the WSU chapter of College Republicans, Austin Gilpin is against the resolution. He said it only serves to alienate young Republicans who may passionately support the death penalty. “I think it creates an atmosphere of shutting up one side, especially when it is a really divisive issue,” Gilpin said. “It doesn’t really work to accomplish anything.” Paige Hungate, WSU College Republican Chair, however, said traditional conservative stances on certain issues such as the death penalty are eroding as younger Republicans gain more influence in the party. “I think it’s important that the College Republicans are taking a stand,” Hungate said. “We always say that we’re the grand old party for the new generation.” Hungate, a devout Catholic, also echoed Glasscock’s sentiments that supporting the death penalty is inconsistent with her personal beliefs. “In the Catholic faith, it says that the death penalty should not be used unless there is no other way of containing that person,” Hungate said. “I think that, in today’s society, we have so many different ways of containing individuals like that and we shouldn’t put that heavy burden on taxpayers.” Hungate worked as an intern for U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran in Washington D.C. in the spring. She said her experience there
influenced her decision to bridge the gap between Democrats and Republicans on this issue. “I think it’s problematic that you can sit there and count how many votes you’re going to get on a certain bill just based on party lines,” Hungate said. “The fact that we’re reaching across the aisle and we’re kind of meeting there, I think that’s important.” Paul Brink, WSU College Democrats president, agreed that unity between the parties is preferable to the gridlock that has become common in the nation’s capital. “Throughout history, the only way we get anything accomplished is when everyone can find some common ground and find things we agree on and work towards that,” Brink said. Brink also said the resolution could represent a shift among young Republicans, and to him that is a good thing. “I think reception among young people in general has been positive,” Brink said. “Most people don’t see it as true justice.” Gilpin, on the other hand, would like to see the issue discussed again among College Republicans. He said the vote occurred in the summer, and now that everyone is back in school and involved in the process, the conversation could be different. “I would like for them to reconsider it,” Gilpin said. “It is not near as decided as they would like to paint it.”
K ANSAS
DEATH PENALTY
FACTS
0 57 10 # of people executed since 1976
# of people executed before 1976
current population on death row
April 22, 1994 death penalty was re-enacted
Source: Death Penalty Information Center
Wichita State University Police Officer Chad Agnew wrote, “more emergency boxes” on his notepad during the Campus Safety Walk Thursday night after hearing complaints from students. “The most eye opening thing is the lack of emergency lights,” freshman Raven Hodges said. “During orientation — because I’m a freshman — they specifically stated that wherever you turn your eyes [on campus] the emergency lights should be there. I find that to be false.” Emergency boxes are stations scattered throughout campus with a blue light on top. If someone presses the red emergency button, the blue light flashes and university police immediately respond. About 50 students, administrators, community members and university police officers went on the walk together to identify dangerous areas on campus and brainstorm solutions in response to the recent number of crimes on campus. “It’s obvious we’ve got some work to do, but things like this really help,” University Police Chief Sara Morris said. “It helps us identify things that have become commonplace.” Students voiced concern for areas with insufficient lighting, bushes in need of trimming and the distance between emergency call boxes. The attendees split into two groups: one led by Agnew and Capt. Corey Herl, who covered the eastern part of the main campus. Officer Jeff Albert and Capt. Guy Schroeder walked the western half of the main campus with the second group. WSU’s main campus is near 21st and Hillside streets. University police officers took detailed notes about students’ concerns and Paul Lytle, building systems engineer for WSU Architectural & Engineering Service, followed the group to help answer questions about lighting. “For me this is really helpful, honestly,” freshman Akayla Portley-Steward said. “Now, at least I know the places to avoid until there is better lighting, and I do feel safer now that I know where some of the emergency lights are.” Morris said she thought the safety walk was a success. “I think it’s really interesting — some of the concepts students are coming up with and the problems they are identifying,” Morris said. “They are really getting their eyes opened to situational awareness, and that’s what it’s all about.” Part of creating situational awareness included Morris and Herl hiding in bushes and around corners. They usually remained invisible to students, even when they knew they were there. “Do you notice how you can hear me before you can see me?” Herl said, as he emerged from behind a bush. One of the keys to situational awareness is keeping your eyes and ears open, Herl said. He proved his point later in the evening when a jogger in a red shirt with headphones ran past the group. “Hey!” Herl shouted. “Red shirt!” The jogger didn’t slow down or change pace. “Can you imagine if you were in trouble, how bad you would feel if you were shouting for help and someone ran past you with headphones and couldn’t hear you,” Herl said. Students said they enjoyed the experience. “I feel this would be beneficial for other students to do,” Portley-Steward said. “Maybe doing a walk around campus to know what risks they do have if they’re not paying attention, or if they have their ear buds in.”