/The Sunflower WICHITA STATE’S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1896
MONDAY, SEPT. 30, 2019
@sunflowernews
VOL. 124 • ISSUE 14
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@thesunflowernews THESUNFLOWER.COM
JUST SAY NO
MIKROBREWS
STEP AFRIKA!
FOR THE KIDS
If you don’t want the Bible, don’t take it, Opinion Editor Kevin Benavides writes.
Mikrokosmos literary journal combines coffee and creative writing.
SAC and MGC hosted a step show Friday.
Third graders flooded Koch Arena in an effort to promote literacy.
SEE OPINION • PAGE 4
SEE ARTS • PAGE 5
SEE ARTS • PAGE 6
SEE SPORTS • PAGE 8
15 YEARS OF PRIDE
DANIEL CAUDILL/THE SUNFLOWER
Two children watch as State Rep. Brandon Woodard speaks outside the Sedgwick County Historic Courthouse at the 2019 Wichita Pride Parade. He was the first openly gay man elected to the Kansas government.
Wichitans hit the streets for annual LGBT+ rally, parade BY DANIEL CAUDILL
A
MORGAN ANDERSON/THE SUNFLOWER
Event goers march together during the Wichita Pride March on Sunday.
t the 2019 Wichita Pride Parade, members and allies of the LGBT+ community spoke of the progress made toward equal rights since the first parade 15 years ago — and the work that still needs to be done. Before paraders made the one-mile trip Sunday from the Sedgwick County Historic Courthouse to the Mid-America All-Indian Center, they gathered in front of the courthouse. Activists, politicians and LGBT+ citizens spoke to hundreds of ralliers, backdropped by a sea of flags that lined the courthouse steps — including a traditional rainbow pride flag, a U.S. flag, an AIDS awareness flag, and a trans rights flag. While those at the rally celebrated strides that have progressed LGBT+ rights in
recent decades, some also spoke of the changes they feel still need to be made. “Representation matters,” said Kansas Rep. Brandon Woodard, the first openly gay man elected to the state government. “As we saw this year . . . having two openly LGBT members in the Kansas House allowed us to stop and block terrible legislation . . . that would have defined same-sex marriage as a parody marriage.” Woodard spoke against gay conversion therapy, and advocated for Kansas to pass a statewide law that would outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation. “Even though marriage equality has come across the land, that does not mean there are equal rights for all,” said Kerry Wilks, chair of the local chapter of Equality Kansas — a pro-LGBT+ organization that sponsored the parade.
SEE PRIDE PAGE 3
Former Gov. Mark Parkinson grows closer to Wichita State with honorary doctorate BY DANIEL CAUDILL
Former Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson has been close with Wichita State University for as long as he can remember. “I grew up in Wichita, and among my first memories of life are being five or six years old and listening to Wichita State basketball games on the radio,” Parkinson told The Sunflower. But Parkinson’s relationship with the university was strengthened even further this month, after the Kansas Board of Regents approved an honorary doctorate degree for the Shocker alumnus. “It’s very meaningful to me to be recognized by your alma mater and a school that I’ve had a lifelong relationship with,” Parkinson said. A graduate of Wichita Heights High School, Parkinson earned summa cum laude honors with his bachelor’s degree in political science from WSU in 1980. He later graduated from the University of Kansas School of Law. Parkinson said most of his fondest memories at WSU come from his three years in the debate program. “Wichita State has a long history of success in debate that goes back to winning the national championship [in 1968],” he said. “I had two debate partners that I’m still good friends with.” Those friends are Kansas State Rep. John Carmichael of Wichita and Brian Hufford, a Yale Law School graduate who Parkinson said runs a “remarkably successful” law practice in New York City. “To have the opportunity to hang around people like that, travel around the country, debate the topics we debated — it was a gift that I cherish,” Parkinson said. Parkinson made it a point to return the gift to the debate program after graduating. While he was still governor in 2011, he announced that he would fund a scholarship for the WSU debate team. Each year, the scholarship covers tuition and fees for a resident student in debate. In order to qualify for the scholarship, students must be on WSU’s debate team, have at least one year of debate experience in high school, and maintain a 3.0 grade-point average. When he was a sophomore at WSU, Parkinson made the bold decision to take the 1978 spring semester off to mount a primary challenge to 12-year incumbent State Rep. Ben Foster.
SEE PARKINSON PAGE 3
Lipetzky resigns as SGA chief of operations, hopes to return as senator BY DANIEL CAUDILL
Kylie Lipetzky, chief of operations for Student Government Association, announced her resignation at Wednesday’s LIPETZKY meeting. While Lipetzky said serving in the COO role since June has been a great learning experience, she felt that she was not the most capable person for the position. “After reflection and various
conversations, I have realized that I feel I am not the most qualified candidate for this position,” Lipetzky said. “I will be stepping down due to additional time constraints and lack of experience within the governmental relations field.” Lipetzky said she sees her resignation as an opportunity for someone else to utilize the chief of operations role who has the adequate experience. SGA officially announced Lipetzky’s resignation Thursday morning on its Facebook page. “Lipetzky filled her role as Chief of Operations thoroughly and added a unique perspective to the
Cabinet and she will be sorely missed,” read the announcement, signed by SGA spokesperson Mackenzie Haas. Stressing her dedication to SGA and constituents, Lipetzky said she plans to apply for a vacant at-large senator position. “This position has brought me to realize that I am a lot more passionate about what senate does than the current position I am in,” she said. “I do not feel as though I am making the impact and influence on constituents in cabinet like I imagined, and find myself knowing I could do that as a [senator].”
Student Body Vice President Michael Bearth said four people applied for the COO position before Lipetzky was selected. While he said it could prove difficult to find a replacement for the position, he’s confident SGA will find the right fit. “From the impact I have seen Ms. Lipetzky have on the community here at Wichita State and other universities, I feel confident we should see … [people] inspired by what they saw and want to get involved,” Bearth said. The right choice for the COO role would demonstrate competence in handling the position’s SGA-related
requirements, Bearth said, as well as knowledge in the field of governmental relations. “You will almost never find someone who is the perfect fit, but what you can do is find someone close enough that they can learn the rest of what they need,” he said. SGA is currently accepting applications for the COO position at wichita.edu/sga. Liberal Arts and Sciences Sen. Zachary James said he understands Lipetzky’s resignation and hopes to see her return. “I’m glad she’s staying in SGA and planning on becoming a senator,” James said.