‘Student Centered, Innovation Driven’
President Muma’s new book looks at the past, present and future of WSU
KASS LEWIS news@thesunflower.com
Wichita State University’s president Richard Muma tapped into his personal history with the university to write his newest book titled “Student Centered, Innovation Driven.” The book looks at the university’s history and analyzes what went right and wrong, then uses that to pave a way forward.
“I think that my fifty-plus-year connection to Wichita State gives me a unique front-row seat and credibility to tell the contemporary story of Wichita State,” Muma wrote in the preface. “It needs to be told, so here goes.”
Muma’s history with WSU started when he was a child.
“More than fifty years before I became president of WSU, I was a little kid running through campus, visiting my grandparents who worked there,” Muma wrote.
His grandparents, Mary and Edward Blowers, worked for WSU from the 1950s-80s as a secretary in the philosophy department (Mary Blowers) and a purchasing director (Edward Blowers).
As the title suggests, the book delves into the students and the innovation that happens on campus. It looks deep into the makings of new and evolving school programs — mostly within Innovation Campus — to better understand what made the programs thrive.
By analyzing these parts of WSU’s history, Muma hopes that other institutions can learn from the mistakes and successes of WSU and its leaders.
Muma said in an interview that he wrote the book with people in higher education in mind. Each chapter ends with a “considerations for the reader” section, which poses questions for other higher
education leaders to ask themselves both introspectively and about their campus.
But the book is also for “people who are, you know, industry folks; people who want to potentially partner with a higher education institution,” Muma said.
WSU takes much pride in its industry partners, and this book continues that trend. Muma writes
proudly of the collaborations WSU undertakes.
The applied learning model
Part of the innovation discussed in the book is the connections WSU has made with industries.
This includes connections within Innovation Campus, but also the applied learning opportunities within every program that connect students with companies in their
The applied learning model merges education with industry partners to bring real-world opportunities to students. This allows students to step out of the classroom and learn hands-on.
Muma thinks that the applied learning model sets WSU apart from other universities. More than once in the book, Muma discusses WSU distancing itself from the elitist culture of some other universities.
“Wichita State is not — and does not want to be — an elite private East Coast or flagship institution,” Muma wrote. When asked why accessibility is more important than prestige, Muma said the “main function” in higher education is accessibility. “I can’t get my head wrapped around exclusivity in higher education,” Muma said. He said he doesn’t understand how this exclusivity could be a good idea for society as a whole. Diversity
While the university has been rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion language in line with trends in higher education across the U.S. pushed by federal and state restrictions, the book repeatedly boasts the campus’ diversity.
Ulrich opens final exhibition in 50-year celebration
MALEAH EVANS arts@thesunflower.com
Closing out two years of celebrating the 50th birthday of the Ulrich Museum of Art, the museum hosted the fall opening exhibition with installations of exhibits by Justin Favela and Abhidnya Ghuge, drinks and hors d’oeuvres, Bollywood dancers, henna tattooing and live music by DJ Ashley.
“We’ve been now celebrating for two years, and we’ve reflected on our history and seeing forward to the future,” Vivian Zavataro, the executive and creative director of the Ulrich said.
The Ulrich Museum celebrated
its 50th birthday in December 2024. Staff decided to celebrate the milestone in both 2024 and 2025 because of its significance, according to Zavataro.
“The first year really, really reflected on our history, so we did a lot of collection-based shows and shows that reflected the past,” Zavataro said. “This year we’ve been thinking about the future, and we wanted to end installation exhibitions of artists that don’t normally get to be included in museum spaces, such as Abhidnya Ghuge and Justin Favela, both incredible artists and also a little bit burned out about how cultural institutions treat those folks … a
reflection not only for the Ulrich but for museums in general.”
Favela’s exhibit uses piñatas as a medium, and Ghuge’s exhibit is a freeform abstract floating installation made from paper plates.
This year, the Ulrich team is also working to make the community feel more welcomed and invited into the museum, to create a place of belonging.
“There’s a lot of really cool surprises coming up, but the main thing being that we’re going to take the museum outside of its walls into communities, instead of waiting for folks to come to us, we’re going to come to them in order to build
trust,” Zavatraro said. “We’re going to look at them with educational programming, workshops and other activities and fun stuff that we’ll be doing around town.”
Along with the larger installations by Favela and Ghuge, some student interns had their own artwork on display in the museum. Dante Coleman, a junior studying graphic design at Wichita State, is one of the collections interns at the Ulrich and had his artwork put on display at the fall exhibition event.
“I just love people – everyone’s unique, everyone has their own story,” Coleman said. “Painting is kind of new to me, and I was like
‘What can I paint a lot of, people?’ because there’s always endless amount of faces.” Coleman’s exhibit is full of portrait oil paintings of people he has seen in passing, on TV and on social media. He started digitally on Procreate before transitioning to oil painting on canvas, and he started painting in February of this year.
“Just make art, don’t be afraid to make art, who cares who looks at it, just make it,” Coleman said. The students’ fall exhibits will be on display until Sept. 6. For more information about upcoming Ulrich events, visit the website.
President Richard Muma signs Director of RSC Events Maria Ciski’s copy of “Student Centered, Innovation Driven.” Books can be purchased in the Shocker Store. Photo by Zachary Ruth / The Sunflower
Executive and Creative Director Vivian Zavataro laughs with guests to the Ulrich Museum of Art’s Fall 2025 Exhibition Opening Celebration. Zavataro played a large role in organizing and executing the event. Photos by Peyton Eck / The Sunflower
Evelyn Gregg looks up at the piñatas that make up Beren Gallery’s “Everything Must Go: Justin Favela’s Closeout Blowout Re-Grand Opening” exhibit. Gregg has ties to the Ulrich Museum of Art as a Newton schoolteacher who brought her students to the museum.
Attendees wander through the expansive work of Abhidnya Ghuge. Ghuge’s installation is an exploration on individual identity amongst a larger social lens.
More money, more student orgs Funding passes despite requests for more
KASS LEWIS news@thesunflower.com
Wichita State’s Student Government Association passed its funding allocations for student groups Wednesday night. SGA had $300,000 to spend in this deliberation process. Recommendations are made by the SGA finance commission to create suggestions for funding, then organizations can present if they want more than their suggested funds. The finance commission received requests totalling $700,000, requiring a pair down to fit the $300,000 budget. Representatives from many student organizations — some from organizations that didn’t present, and some that wanted more than their suggested funds — crowded into the meeting room to argue for more funding, but the Student Senate approved the funding recommended by the Finance Commission.
Although SGA had $25,000 more than last year, it also had more groups to allocate its funds to. Following the build-up of leftover funds post-COVID, Wichita State Campus Recreation gained the authority to fund club sports. This year, however, the additional money ran out, and that power was handed back to SGA.
“Sports clubs — I was notified probably a week before (the application deadline) that they would be in this process as well,” Student Body Treasurer Luke Bumm said.
After a raise in budget during last year’s appropriation budget, this year had another raise, making the total budget an even $300,000.
According to Wichita State’s website, there are 14 sports clubs available for students. They are separate from NCAA-recognized collegiate sports, which are funded through the athletic department.
The men’s soccer club was one
of many groups to show up to the meeting on Wednesday. Dillon Busby, the club’s president, said that the suggested allocation for his club – $2,824 – was a “massive disappointment,” compared to the requested $8,000
“I sifted through 4 hours of the (appropriations hearing livestream) to see my club — which I spend 10 hours plus on every week — only discussed for about 30 seconds,” Busby said. Bumm said during the presentation of the bill that some line-items that the finance commission removed in its considerations were referees, jerseys and travel costs.
SGA adviser Gabe Fonseca said that SGA cannot tell organizations how to spend their money, other than a few exceptions in the SGA bylaws. While the finance commission based its recommendations on the budgets presented by the organizations, which include specifications on
what the money will go to, the organizations can ultimately disperse that money however they choose.
Organizations may still be able to get additional funding. SGA also offers organizational funding, a way for student organizations to request funding through a separate process.
“I have been urging almost every organization that either missed out on appropriations — I know you saw some that presented at public forum last night that weren’t able to present during appropriations for different reasons,” Bumm said. “So, for those organizations, they are allowed to apply for this type of funding.”
This kind of funding is typically for one event because a rule requires the organization to spend the full amount in 10 days or refund SGA with the leftover dollars.
The full Aug. 28 meeting can be watched on SGA’s YouTube.
Ascension Via Christi names Wichita State’s School of Nursing
TALIYAH WINN
editor@thesunflower.com
Wichita State’s school of nursing is now the Ascension Via Christi School of Nursing because of the health care group’s investment into Wichita State and the Wichita Biomedical Campus. The new name went into effect Thursday.
“The College of Health Professions, as well as the university itself, has a decadeslong partnership with Ascension Via Christi,” said Telly MaGaha, president and CEO of the WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement. “And that has really been centered around delivering health care education, not just in Wichita, but throughout the state of Kansas.”
The Wichita Biomedical Campus is currently under construction off Broadway and Douglas. The biomedical corridor would include nearby healthcare facilities, including Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, COMCARE and
the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Kevin Strecker, Ascension Via Christi’s CEO, said the nursing school’s name change reflects a shared commitment to healthcare in Wichita.
“It’s an opportunity to tie our names and our futures more closely together,” Strecker said.
“Today’s announcement reflects more than an aim, and represents a shared commitment to the biomed corridor.”
Officials announced the change at the Marcus Welcome Center Thursday morning with around 100 people attending, including Wichita Mayor Lily Wu, WSU administrators, deans and faculty from the College of Health Professions.
In the announcement, Strecker said that the partnership will benefit students’ learning experiences and opportunities, as well as serve Kansas patients.
“We’re deepening our investment, not just in Wichita
State but in the biomedical campus and the future healthcare workforce that it will shape,” Strecker said. “Next year, that campus will open and be a space where nurses, doctors, technicians and researchers will learn and grow side by side. That kind of interdisciplinary training is exactly what the city’s health care environment demands, and it’s exactly what our patients deserve.”
College of Health Professions Dean Gregory Hand said that the naming will elevate the school and the students beyond the money invested.
“To have a school, like a school of nursing, that is named by a national organization, elevates the schools way beyond the money,” Hand said. “And so for the university, it elevates us, it elevates the school. It elevates the College of Health Professions. It puts us on the national stage.”
Hand said he has worked closely with Ascension Via Christi during his five years as dean, but
he thinks there is more to do.
“They became our designated – our affiliated teaching hospital in 2022, and this is the next step,” Hand said. “It’s not the last step. There’s more to do, but I’m very excited about moving to this level, and I look forward to moving to the next level.”
Ascension Via Christi currently employs more than 400 WSU alumni as nurses in its hospitals.
“Nearly 500 Shocker alumni are employed at Ascension where they care for patients, lead teams and bring our mission to life in ways both seen and unseen,” WSU President Rick Muma said in the announcement presentation. “Their support, especially in developing Kansas nursing workforce, has made a real and lasting difference.”
Phase One of the biomedical campus is expected to be open for students to attend in summer 2027.
After calling Wichita “one of the state’s most diverse communities,” — based on an article looking into diverse cities in America — Muma wrote, “This array of diversity generates a wealth of opportunity, and it’s a guiding star on our path to achieving excellence.”
In Chapter 5 — titled “Embrace Your Identity” — Muma writes, “We have a distinct culture, we’re not afraid to get our hands dirty, and we serve a diverse community of students.”
Muma said in an interview that these messages were important because multiculturalism is a “learning opportunity for students to be able to understand people’s differences, but still have a civil discourse with them.”
“I can’t imagine any time where I would not think that that’s important,” Muma said.
Muma said that “the most exciting thing” about his job is being able to talk to the diverse group of individuals on campus. Muma said that despite any law or lawmaker, diversity is inevitable.
“Gay, straight, black, brown, white, whatever,” Muma said. “It’s who we are. It’s our future, and we’re here to support them.”
Learning from Bardo
Muma wrote frequently about former university president John Bardo. His perspective is that Bardo, while not being a perfect president, was a “visionary” that did a lot for the university.
“He wasn’t without faults, right?” Muma said. “And, you know, he was moving a vision forward that was at the time controversial… He sometimes wasn’t a great communicator at times, and that caused some friction.”
Jay Price, a history professor, was quoted saying, “There’s a difference between feeling heard and feeling like you were part of the process. There was a feeling that you could vent, but it wouldn’t do any good.”
While some faculty members weren’t fans of Bardo’s way of moving forward because they felt left out, engineering professor Jan Twomey felt his actions were something the university needed.
“Bardo kind of bulldozed over everyone, but someone needs to be a leader,” Twomey was quoted saying. “Someone needs to say, ‘This is what we’re going to do. This is the direction we’re going.’ And as an engineering faculty, when it came to the Innovation Campus, I didn’t mind that. Other people on campus were upset because they didn’t have a voice in all of this. But, you know, we don’t need to have a voice in everything.”
Despite that friction, Muma still respects Bardo for the innovation that he brought to WSU. That innovative mind is what Muma said he tries to learn from going forward, but he also wants to be a better communicator than Bardo was.
“One of the things that I feel like I do a lot is communicate with the constituency groups and students and interact with people as much as I can,” Muma said.
And for students and faculty, Muma encourages bringing ideas to him if they feel they are being left out of the innovation.
“Don’t wait on me or the provost or a dean,” Muma said. “Figure out how you can be a part of that (innovation).”
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Student Body Treasurer Luke Bumm presents the 86 bills suggesting the appropriations budget. All the bills were passed on the same night. Photo by Mia Malcolm / The Sunflower
Rowing team uses annual event to attract new faces
BY EVAN LONG evan.long.soccer@gmail.com
Calvin Cupp described it as “the look.”
It’s the nervous and unsure expression that students typically have as they arrive at the Wichita State rowing team’s annual S’mores and Oars event. But by the end of the evening, the uncertain look often turns into excitement about the rowing program, which is Cupp’s primary goal.
“They meet some people, do some events, and they find they enjoy being here and are comfortable trying something new,” said Cupp, who is entering his 26th year as head coach.
Although the weather was dreary on Wednesday, the rowing team showed off its facilities and program with enthusiasm at the S’mores and Oars event at the Shocker Rowing River Vista Boathouse on the Arkansas River.
During the eighth-annual event, the rowing team took turns going onto the water in their shells, the boats they use during regattas. Other WSU rowers showed visitors the proper form of rowing on stationary machines. Some attendees kayaked and used the
pedal boats. On land, guests played cornhole, giant Connect Four, and of course, enjoyed s’mores made on a fire pit.
The rowing program, an independent varsity sport on campus, views S’mores and Oars as a kick-off event and a recruiting tool. Cupp noted the importance of experiencing Shocker rowing firsthand.
“Seeing it online or reading about it in a pamphlet is one
thing,” Cupp said. “But actually coming and seeing the facility and meeting the people who are a part of that team is a whole different animal.”
Senior Austin Weston, team captain, said he has learned some valuable lessons from being on the team. He began rowing in high school to stay in shape for soccer when he lived in the Kansas City area.
“It’s taught me teamwork
especially, and also to be accountable,” Weston said. “If you’re not doing what you’re supposed to do, you’re just slowing the boat down, slowing your team down.”
Rachel Tuck, assistant coach and former WSU rower, organizes S’mores and Oars, but she enjoys watching Shocker rowers set up for the event and welcome newcomers to the boathouse.
“It’s a nice event to be off
campus and see people around the water doing activities they’re not going to be doing typically on the average day,” Tuck said.
“This is their home, and they enjoy showing it off to people that they’ve never met that we know may never row but we’ve made at least part of their day a little different, a little more interesting, and then you see students who might never come back here again have a little fun.”
Volleyball splits weekend games at Shocker Classic
BY OWEN PROTHRO sports@thesunflower.com
Wichita State volleyball opened its season at home for the first time since 2007 in its Shocker Volleyball Classic, with games against Kennesaw State and Arkansas on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
The Shockers (1-1) split the games, losing to Kennesaw State by way of a sweep and rebounding to beat Arkansas in five sets.
Wichita State hits the road for its next tournament from Sept. 5-6 in Provo, Utah, as it takes on the BYU Nike Invitational. The first serve is scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m. against Incarnate Word.
vs. Kennesaw State
Nine months ago, confetti covered Koch Arena’s floor after Wichita State’s volleyball team swept through the American Conference tournament.
Friday night’s home-opener was far from last November’s celebration on the court, as the Shockers were swept in their homeopener against Kennesaw State (27-25), (25-23), (25-21).
The Owls blitzed Wichita State on offense, racking up 48 kills to the Shockers’ 33. Kennesaw State’s senior Manu Johnsen and junior
Olivia Burrage combined for 25 of the Owls’ kills and hit a combined .351 for the game.
“It was a lack of firepower, for sure,” head coach Chris Lamb said.
“At the level that we play, that’s a requirement.”
Lamb said that despite losing by an average of six points per set, the defensive back line during the game kept the team in most of the frames. In her return after missing all of last season with an injury, junior libero Gabi Maas tallied a game-high 19 digs, and senior libero Katie Galligan corralled eight of her own. The team made 60 total digs compared to Kennesaw State’s 55.
“It kept us in it, but you’re just playing with fire,” Lamb said about out-defending opponents. “The defensive effort and serving might have been a strength tonight, but if we don’t find points fast, it’s going to be awhile.”
vs. Arkansas
Maas said that the Shockers’ season-opening loss to Kennesaw State was far from a defining moment for their season.
“We’re going to push through our challenges,” Maas said.
After a day of rest, scouting
reports and walk-throughs, Wichita State responded with a five-set win over Arkansas on Sunday afternoon, (25-18), (25-13), (2519), (25-21), (15-6), in its second and final game of the Shocker Volleyball Classic.
“A team with a lot of firepower, we outscored them,” Lamb said of the Razorbacks. “We were at 17 points a game to their 16, I wouldn’t have predicted that.”
“I knew it was going to be a great game,” junior outside hitter Sydney Dunning added. “Just the energy prior to stepping onto the court today was completely different than our game on Friday night.”
Wichita State hit .261 against the Razorbacks after the poor outing against the Owls. The Shockers held Arkansas to a .220 hitting percentage for the game.
Senior outside hitter Brooklyn Leggett (18) and Dunning (20) combined for 38 of the Shockers’ 64 kills. Junior setter Jordan Heatherly tallied a game-high 50 assists, good for a 43% assist rate.
Dunning’s 20 kills in the game is the first time she’s reached that mark since last October, when she recorded a career-high 23 kills at Cal State Bakersfield.
Cross country makes top finishes at season-opening meet
BY EVAN TONG
evantong3@gmail.com
Wichita State cross country began its season at the annual Terry Masterson Twilight Classic hosted by Hutchinson Community College late Friday night. The men’s team finished second in the Salt City while the women finished first. The women’s team placed all within the top-15 to take the win with 30 points. The Blue Dragons finished far behind with 73 points, despite having the first-place runner.
Freshman Mercy Jepkoech, from Kenya, made her debut for the Shockers and placed second with a time of 17:51.33 in the women’s 3-mile race.
The men’s team placed second in the 4-mile race, with 48 points. The Blue Dragons took first through fourth, but WSU’s unattached runner Austin Carrera prevented the clean sweep.
Sophomore Bennett Meoli finished eight among the Shockers’ men’s team, with a time of 21:00.06. Junior Aidan Reyna finished behind him in ninth at 21:06.86.
Wichita State will return home for its annual JK Gold Classic at Clapp Cross Country Course, where a majority of the team will make their season debut on Saturday, Sept. 6. The men’s 6k begins at 8 a.m. and the women’s 5k begins at 8:30 a.m.
TEAM RESULTS
WOMEN’S 3-MILE
1. Wichita State: 30 points
2. Hutchinson CC: 73 points
3. Garden City CC: 77 points
4. Tabor College: 91 points
5. Dodge City CC: 106 points
6. Hastings College: 138 points
7. Coffeyville CC: 210 points
MEN’S 4-MILE
1. Hutchinson CC: 18 points
2. Wichita State: 48 points
3. Garden City CC: 61 points
4. Dodge City CC: 105 points
5. Bethany College: 140 points
6. Hastings College: 155 points
7. Neosho County CC: 184 points
8. Coffeyville CC: 215 points
9. Hesston College: 231 points
10. Pratt CC: 257 points
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
WOMEN’S 3-MILE 1. Mildred Roso (HCC): 16:55.7
Mercy Jepkoech (WSU):
Meryeme Mai (GCCC):
Francesca Alvarado (WSU):
Faith Ekart (WSU):
6. Ashara Frater (HCC): 18:56.8 7. Jordyn Picolet (WSU): 19:01.4
MEN’S 4-MILE
1. Cornelius Kogo (HCC): 20:04.1
2. Titus Kiprotich (HCC):
20:25.4
3. Farrin Mangelson (HCC): 20:27.4 4. Esteban Ortega (HCC): 20:32.9 5. Austin Carrera (WSU-Un.): 20:33.0 6. Thaddaeus Rotich (GCCC):
20:47.5
7. Greyson Ellensohn (WSU-Un.):
20:52.7
8. Bennett Meoli (WSU):
21:00.1
Former men’s basketball players sign overseas deals
BY OWEN PROTHRO sports@thesunflower.com Harlond Beverly
Former Wichita State men’s basketball player Harlond Beverly has signed a contract with the Derby Trailblazers, the Trailblazers announced Tuesday morning.
The Trailblazers are a semiprofessional team out of Derby, England, and play in England’s National Basketball League. The team finished last season second in the league standings, at 17-7 overall.
“I was attracted to Derby because of the team’s previous success and the kind of talent they have had in recent years,” Beverly said in a press release.
In his senior season for the Shockers, Beverly shot at a 46.7% rate and 23.7% from 3-point range. He averaged 9.3 points per game.
During his two year career in Wichita, he averaged 10.2 points per game on 45.3% and 24.8% marks from the floor and deep, respectively.
Before transferring to WSU, Beverly played at Miami and was a part of the Hurricanes’ team that appeared in an NCAA Final Four game in 2023. Miami lost to UConn, who won the tournament.
Bell
Another former Wichita State men’s basketball player has signed an overseas deal. The CIU Basketball Club, a team in the Georgia Superleague, announced that they signed Xavier Bell ahead of the 2025-26 season on Friday morning. Bell, a Wichita native, played three seasons for the Shockers after transferring from Drexel ahead of the 2022-23 season. His stats steadily rose over the course of his career in Koch Arena, going from scoring 4.0 points per game his sophomore season to 15.2 as a senior. He scored 20 or more points in eight games last season, and scored a season-high 29 points last December against cross-town Friends University. Bell finished his collegiate career with a loss to Oklahoma State in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament, but became a 1,000-point scorer at Wichita State despite this. In his freshman season at Drexel, the Dragons reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996. They were eliminated in the first round by Illinois, 78-49, as Bell scored 12.
Nova Jensen (left) and Trace Erb roast marshmallows at S’mores and Oars on Aug. 27. The event took place at the Shocker Rowing River Vista Boathouse.
Junior outside hitter Sydney Dunning screams after getting a kill against Arkansas. Dunning had a game-high 20 kills on Aug. 31.
Photo by Mack Smith
/ The Sunflower
Xavier
Sophmore rower Daniel Nelson teaches students paddling basics on Aug.
27. Attendees at S’mores and Oars had the opportunity to row around the Arkansas River. Photos by Ellery Prothro / The Sunflower
ARTS & CULTURE
PAWS & RELAX
“Edge of Oblivion:”
Logan Bodenhamer on the process of creating Black Holes in student film project
BY JONAS LORD legobricklords@gmail.com
In the summer of 2023, Wichita State student Logan Bodenhamer volunteered to work on set for Sod and Stubble, a feature film about Kansas pioneers.
Bodenhamer was initially on the game design path, but that experience made him rethink his career. Eventually, Bodenhamer created his own virtually produced short film, “Edge of Oblivion.”
“This is kind of my personal journey in a nutshell, I think, in the technical aspects of it,” Bodenhamer said. “I came from game design, and even though I’ve decided to pivot into film, I still love all of the tools that I use to create games, and the process of creating digital worlds, and that’s what initially inspired me to go into game design in the first place.”
The film, which seeks to capture the feeling of being stuck in the orbit of a black hole, originally started as Bodenhamer’s Practicum Three project during his senior year at Wichita State. While looking for inspiration, Bodenhamer recalled his fascination with black holes and thought back to the source, the film “Interstellar.”
“I saw that film in my high school physics class, and that kind of just sparked a fascination with astrophysics in general, but specifically black holes,” Bodenhamer said. “And after that, I kind of just always wanted to try making one.”
Bodenhamer was also inspired by shape language, or the use
of shapes to convey emotions in “Dune: Part Two,” and sought to create visuals that were equally grounded in science fiction and actual science.
“I wanted to create a ship that kind of blended the more fantastical, futuristic elements, while also having some more grounded design language in it,”
Bodenhamer said. “But I really was inspired by how ‘Dune’ had this striking shape language, you could just visually tell all the silhouettes and everything, it just stuck out in a very unique way.”
After completing the class, Bodenhamer would continue expanding on the project and spent most of the production process on visual effects work, which was a big challenge for him. Compositing, or layering the different visual elements, was particularly difficult.
“There were some grueling hours, especially there at the end, during compositing, where I was doing like, 14-hour days, just getting through all the shots,” Bodenhamer said. “But it was worth it in the end.”
Even though the effects work was challenging, rendering the black hole itself was a highlight for Bodenhamer.
“There was lots of real physics and light ray equations and that kind of stuff that had to go into
it to make it work physically accurately, but it was a really fun experience to learn all that,” Bodenhamer said. “I mean, I love physics and understanding how it works and that kind of thing so it was challenging, but it was cool.”
Working with his fellow digital arts students to complete the project was also a highlight.
“I got a mob of film students that came and wanted to be on the crew for the project,” Bodenhamer said. “So I had a crew that was probably larger than I needed it to be, but it made set up and tear down so smooth, and they were all wonderful people to work with.”
Bodenhamer’s professionalism and efficiency in the studio were notable to sophomore actor Nicholas Drier.
“It was one of the best experiences I’ve had,” Drier said. “Logan is a very organized director, and he knows what he wants from you.”
Director of Photography and fellow alumnus Luke Barrett also commented on Bodenhamer’s professionalism and tenacity.
“Logan is a machine. That is the best way to put it,” Barrett said. “His work output is unmatched to almost anyone I have ever met.”
Overall, Drier was impressed by the completed film.
“It is easily the best looking and written film I have been a part of,” Drier said.
“Edge of Oblivion” has already gotten some buzz at festivals, the most recent one being the Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival, which is part of the Lift-Off Global Network.
“It was a pretty interesting experience, because it was my first online festival, which was kind of hosted through Vimeo, but I got access to a lot of other films as a part of it,” Bodenhamer said. “There’s 150 in my category alone. Yeah, it was a lot, but it was really exciting to get the email, because that was the first festival selection I’d had outside of just a small local event in Kansas, which was pretty cool.”
The film will also be showing at the Salt City Film Festival in Hutchinson, Kansas, on Sept. 26, and more information about the production process is available on Bodenhamer’s website. As for future endeavors, Bodenhamer has a lot in the works.
“I’ve got more film projects I’m working on developing, both on my own end with friends that want to produce, some of which have the effects and some don’t,” Bodenhamer said. “I’m a fan of all types of filmmaking, and currently I’m looking at probably going out to LA to try and find more consistent work and really get on a lot of projects and build up a good foundation of experience. But we’ll see.”
A different look at campus with guided walking tour
MALEAH EVANS
arts@thesunflower.com
A Wichita State history professor is using his local knowledge to guide students and community members on a tour of the university’s history on Sept. 27. Professor Jay Price is leading the campus tour along with students from the Society of Public Historians and his introduction to local history students. The tour will cost $55, which includes a lunch from Social Tap.
Price leads similar tours around the city, sharing Wichita’s history with others.
“For fall, we’re going to be tying it to campus area, because it’s a student group on campus (leading),” Price said. “Spring tends to be a little bit more flexible in where we are.”
This walk boasts a different side of campus, with promises of historical discussion about the surrounding area and what used to be there, focused on the 21st and Oliver area.
Along the way, the students will give a brief history of the area and answer questions that attendees may have. Price said this event also serves as a training exercise for history students to teach them how to teach and handle a crowd.
“Part of the exercise with the students is to learn that it’s about facilitating conversations with the people on the tour and that they might have their own specific memories to chime in,” Price said.
“It’s not just a matter of ‘In 1925, XYZ happened’ … it’s a little more of an engagement in that regard.” After the walk, the group heads to lunch. While eating, the students will split into smaller groups to continue the discussions that started on the tour.
“So you presented on this topic, this area, this building, now people can say, ‘Now what did you mean by that?’ and you can have a conversation with that,” Price said. Price said that he hopes that people will leave the walk thinking about local history and how it has changed over the years, and that they will continue to share that knowledge with their companions when they travel the area later.
Irish Wolfhound, Oz, stands receives pets at the PAWS and Relax event on Aug. 27. Oz is part of Love on a Leash. Photos
by Garima Thapa / The Sunflower
Therapy dog Ava holds clothing an item in her mouth at PAWS and Relax which took place at the Ablah Library on Aug. 27. The event was hosted by WSU libraries and CHP success team.
Kasa sleeps as students pet her. Kasa is a Newfoundland breed and is a certified therapy dog. Kali receives rubs at the PAWS and Relax event that took place at the Ablah Library. Kali is a seven year old therapy dog from Love on a Leash.
Photo courtesy of Logan Bodenhamer
Mickee, a certified therapy dog dressed in WSU colors, was a part of the PAWS and Relax on Aug. 27. Mickee is a miniature poodle born in 2014.
Photo courtesy of Logan Bodenhamer
Sesame is out, let’s get Raising Cane’s in!
Sesame Mediterranean Kitchen, the restaurant located on the far right corner of Braeburn Square on Wichita State University’s campus, has been permanently closed after just two years of being open.
What should replace Sesame?
In my opinion, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers would be the perfect restaurant to replace Sesame. Raising Cane’s was first introduced to Wichita in June of 2025, a recent hot topic in the Wichita area. As someone from the Kansas City area, I remember being shocked Wichita did not have a Raising Cane’s during my freshman year, and I was very excited when I found out a new location would be opening. However, it was disappointing to find out the location would be opening on the west side of Wichita, a nearly 25 minute drive away from campus.
Opening a Raising Cane’s location in the empty space at Braeburn Square would be an exciting prospect for students who feel the same way about craving a Caniac Combo but not wanting to drive over 20 minutes for it.
Upon opening, Raising Cane’s would not only be an immediate hit, but would prove to have longevity here on campus, different from the past restaurants who occupied that space. Journey East Asian Grill occupied the space in Braeburn Square before Sesame for just four years.
One of the best parts to me about Raising Cane’s is the atmosphere and decor. The restaurant often displays paraphernalia and merchandise from local high schools and universities. Having a location reside on campus could mean an entirely Wichita State themed Raising Cane’s. This could be an additional place students could look forward to hanging out at to eat right here on campus.
Raising Cane’s has already been showing up in places around campus, from having a booth at the NXT LVL Garage Party to being provided as a free meal for the Inter-Fraternity Council’s house tours. This is proof that students and their respective organizations are already interested in and taking advantage of the popularity of Raising Cane’s.
Raising Cane’s has good comfort food, good atmosphere and students are ready for a better chicken option than Chick-fil-A. It would be a great option to replace Sesame in Braeburn Square.
OPINION
Rush week is hosted by the Panhellenic Council, one of the four Greek life councils at Wichita State University. Rush is a sevenday-long process where women at Wichita State who are interested in the Panhellenic Council can learn about the five organizations that make up the council and ultimately have the chance to become a member.
“I have never been more excited to find my home,” pledge Tumani Anderson said. “All of the houses were just so welcoming of me, and they all just showed me so much love and care. I’m so excited to go home to my people.”
As a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, this was my first time attending Bid Day. Any previous knowledge I had of Rush Week was either from what I saw online or my memory of when my freshman year roommate went through Rush Week.
I learned that Rush Week begins with a Tuesday orientation. Over the next five days, pledges visit sorority houses to learn more about each organization’s values, service and sisterhood.
On preference night, the sixth day of Rush Week, pledges narrow down which organizations they are most interested in joining and can spend additional time with the members and learn about the sororities’ history. At the end of preference night, pledges and current organization members submit bid cards.
“It was such a great experience and a great way to start my first week of college,” pledge Kathryn Welsh said.
A bid for the pledges is their final chance to let the recruitment chairs know which chapters they would most like to belong to. Most will select their top choice and their runner-up. Current organization members are also able to submit bid cards to let recruitment chairs know which pledges they would like to join their chapter.
“Primary recruitment is one of
Superhero
Nazjai Dickson Nazjaidicksons@gmail.com
OPINION
James Gunn’s “Superman” is a return to comic book lore. It is bright, hopeful, corny and at its heart, political.
In this newest iteration, Kal-El is played by David Corenswet, an actor with a history of side character roles.
The film centers on Corenswet’s Superman three years into assuming his role as a protector of Earth. The opening shots of the movie show Superman losing his first fight to the Hammer of Boravia.
Early in the film, the audience meets Superman’s team of robots, including Four, who makes jokes concerning his capacity as a robot to care or feel things. I found this to be a purposeful decision in many ways, for obvious foreshadowing — but also in a world overwhelmed with the what-ifs of AI and robots.
I found it particularly interesting that the characterization of Four was his overwhelming self-awareness of his lack of human qualities. This theme carried on in multiple aspects of the film and Superman as a character.
Superman is a literal alien on Earth raised in Kansas. In many ways Superman rather than Clark Kent, is a deep exploration into
what makes someone human. Kal-El looks like us; Four does not, but they are both by definition not human.
This tension sets the film up early for themes and questions like: What makes someone human? What are humans willing to do for the sake of humankind? Where is our humanity? We discover that a key part of humanity in this film is the relationships one creates — romantic and otherwise.
A small part of the narrative takes place in a fictional town in Smallville, Kansas.
Kent, for all intents and purposes, is a Kansas boy by trade.
The actors for Ma and Pa Kent sport something of a thick country accent, which had some people questioning how this could be an accurate portrait of Kansas. While I do think the accents were a little too much on the twang, if the Kents are from any small town in rural Kansas, they are likely to sound more country than the stereotypical accent of a city like Wichita. The accent associated with current Wichita has roots in the Transatlantic accent, because of the call centers that were in the city. So the accents, though eccentric, are not completely geographically inaccurate.
The film is also concerned largely with Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan. Lane interviews Kent as Superman about his actions in an in-universe war.
my favorite times of the year,” said Emma Radford, a current member of the Panhellenic Council. “Our main focus during recruitment is to learn more about each woman and see if they would be a good fit for our house. Work week and all the preparation we do for primary recruitment all comes down to (Bid Day). This is when we welcome our new sisters home, those who will be our friends for life.”
At the official start of Bid Day, pledges run onto the court of Koch Arena while chapter members surround them with signs and decorations, cheering in excitement.
Pledges are given their bid day cards to open, which say what chapter has selected them to join. Once they open the cards, and after a brief countdown, pledges get to run over to their new chapter, or as many of the participants call it, their new home.
After all the new pledges “run home” and take pictures with their new future sorority sisters, pledges and chapter members walk back to
their sorority house together. I can relate to the sentiment of having lifelong friendships, a place to call home and feeling like you are truly connected with a group of women and their values. I felt the same way when joining my organization in the National PanHellenic Council. After hearing from potential new members and current members of the Panhellenic Council about their experiences, it is my opinion that the Panhellenic Council is one of the best organizations for fostering camaraderie and the advancement of young women on Wichita State’s campus. I was able to speak with young women from different backgrounds, who were part of various academic colleges with unique interests and hobbies. That is not something that every organization at Wichita State has to offer. Throughout my time with the girls, I was pleasantly surprised at how much joy surrounded the entire experience.
This is where the film starts to lose some people, as it is an obvious allegory for the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. Boravia is a country with close allegorical ties to America, currently running a campaign in which they claim to be freeing the Jarhanpuriuns from their own tyrannical leader.
Viewers hear the news clearly state that Boravia is a heavily armored country, and the Jarhanpuriuns have little. There is also the very obvious casting choice of the president of Boravia being fair-skinned, where the Jarhanpuriuns are brown.
Through Lane’s questioning, the audience learns that Superman kept Boravia from invading Jarhanpur without any consideration of the geopolitical ramifications. In the argument, we have Superman stanchly in support of Jarhanpur, a stand-in for Palestine. He also states again and again that he is not a government entity, that people were going to die and he wanted to stop that.
To some, Superman’s support for a Palestine stand-in may seem jarring as Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster, two Jewish men, created him. However, they created Superman to inspire hope, as a protector of the weak and in response to the rise of Nazism and the rise of fascism.
I would certainly say the Jarhanpuriuns are weak, in need of hope and protection
from a fascist leader. Who better for Superman to save? There is also something to be said to the importance of Superman saving people of color. Of course, Superman saves everyone (at one point, he even saves a squirrel in the film), but it is not often we see a superhero save someone who is not American and not white. In doing this, we establish that Superman saves everyone, period. As a black person, and a longtime superhero enthusiast, it means the world to see and know we are all worth saving.
I would be remiss not to mention Nicholas Hoult’s performance as Lex Luthor, who is firmly hateable in this movie. He is calculated but passionate in a way I feel the audience had yet to see on film. He has times where his character is over the top, but he is always so believable. His envy—his anger — is palpable in every microexpression. He and Superman serve as foils to each other; they are the best and worst of humanity.
Superman (2025) is about what makes us human. It’s about the positive impact of radical kindness and what we can all do when faced with political turmoil. It is a film with homage to the past Superman and hope for the future. In the current climate of the world, after seeing this film, we should all be asking ourselves: “What would Superman do?”
Members of Delta Delta Delta cheer and hold up their sorority sign. Photo by Airianna Sallaz / The Sunflower
Airianna Sallaz airiannarsallaz@outlook.com OPINION
SEASON OPENING SETS
WHAT IS RESEARCH?
Tuesday, Sept. 2 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Rhatigan Student Center
Learn about research programs, companies and funding with the Office of Research.
GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP
Wednesday, Sept. 3
3 p.m. - 4 p.m. Ablah Library
Come learn about grant writing and proposal with PPMC, The Office of Research and UReCA.
ULRICH ART DRIVE
Thursday, Sept. 4 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Ulrich Museum of Art
Come to the Ulrich Museum of Art for a tour and art-making activities, followed by social time at Kirby’s.
WATER SCIENCE COMMUNICATIONS FELLOWSHIP
Q&A SESSION Friday, Sept. 5 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Rhatigan Student Center
Come-and-go from the Sunflower Room to learn about the Water Science Communications Fellowship.
DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF ABLAH LIBRARY Friday, Sept. 5 Noon - 1 p.m.
Ablah Library
Come for a tour and orientation around Ablah Library, then stay for a tour of the Ablah Library website.
AFFILIATED RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Monday, Sept. 8
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Rhatigan Student Center
Come join the UReCA Hub to learn about various research and scholars programs on campus.
DIPLOMAS AVAILABLE TO SUMMER 2025 GRADUATES
Monday, Sept. 8
All Day
Wichita State University
Diplomas become available to students who graduated in the summer 2025 semester.
SHOCKER FINANCIAL WELLNESS “BUDGETING 101” WORKSHOP Wednesday, Sept. 10
11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Rhatigan Student Center
Learn about budgeting and good spending habits in the Harvest Room in the RSC.
WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT
Thursday, Sept. 11
7:30 p.m.
Duerksen Fine Arts Center
Listen to WSU’s premier wind and percussion ensemble, directed by Dr. Timothy Shade.
VOLLEYBALL VS KANSAS Tuesday, Sept. 16
6 p.m.
Come
SYMPHONY
7:30
Come
HAVE AN EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE LISTED?
CONTACT THE ARTS EDITOR: arts@thesunflower.com
CONTACT THE NEWS EDITOR: news@thesunflower.com
Sunflower
Junior setter Hannah Hawkins throws the ball up to serve it. The Shockers had one ace in the 3-0 loss against Kennesaw State.
Senior outside hitter Brooklyn Leggett puts her hands up to block a shot. Leggett blocked three shots during the match.
Freshman outside hitter McKenzie Jones spikes the ball over the net. Jones collected two kills in her first game as a Shocker.
Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Katie Zimmerman talks with juniors Maddie Wilson and Jordan Heatherly before the second set. The Shockers lost the second set 25-13.