THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2017 • VOL. 122, ISS. 20
THESUNFLOWER.COM
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1896.
Student interns acted as designated drivers for State Rep, WSU lecturer in state capital BY MATTHEW KELLY
A Kansas state representative and Wichita State lecturer asked student interns to be his designated driver, according to a former legislative intern who worked in Topeka during the 2016 session. WHIPPLE Rep. Brandon Whipple, a Democrat who represents south Wichita’s 96th district in the Kansas House, teaches Legislative Leadership and Politics through the political science department at WSU. Last week, The Hill reported that many young women across the nation have been sexually harassed by members of their state legislatures. Kansas was one of the states mentioned in the article, which cited the experiences of the former chief of staff of the Kansas House Democrats. The former intern who spoke to The Sunflower
asked not to be named in this story out of fear of retaliation from members of the Kansas Democratic Party regarding his employment. The Sunflower agreed to grant anonymity because of the source’s firsthand experience with claims that were made by other sources contacted separately and independently from him. WSU and other Kansas universities partner with the University of Kansas to help students find political internships in both Topeka and Washington D.C. The former intern did not attend WSU. The former intern said he received a phone call from Rep. Whipple after working hours, asking him to be the designated driver for a group of Democratic legislators attending a fundraising dinner. “I was specifically petitioned by Brandon (Whipple),” he said. The former intern said Whipple and three other legislators were drinking on the porch when he arrived at the “frat house,” a Topeka residence occupied by several Democratic members of the state legislature. SEE WHIPPLE PAGE 6
SGA moves to combat rising textbook prices BY RAY STRUNK
The Student Government Association is taking steps to combat the rising cost of textbooks at Wichita State. Student Body President, Paige Hungate, said Wednesday that professors contribute to the risings costs when they fail to submit their textbook selections in a timely HUNGATE manner. The student senate unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday urging the university to reconsider its policy on textbook submissions. The bill suggests the addition of a section aimed to hold professors accountable for meeting the deadline. The student senate doesn’t have authority to change university policy, so the resolution — which
will be forwarded to members of the university administration — only serves as a suggestion. Hungate said that only 30 percent of professors submitted their selections by the Oct. 1 deadline. “A lot of people don’t even submit them at all,” Hungate said. Hungate said that the bookstore is forced to pay a higher price for the textbooks when professors are late to submit their selections. “The bookstore is not going to be able to order the textbooks at a cheaper rate because they didn’t get it by the deadline,” Hungate said. Hungate said that professors need to be coerced to meet the deadline. “We want there to be some sort of penalty for a professor not meeting the deadline,” Hungate said. Hungate said that a change in policy would allow students to purchase textbooks at a cheaper rate. “It will be better for everybody,” Hungate said.
9 traffic violations go into effect this week district court. In 2017, up until September, WSU police made 224 traffic stops. 13 of them resulted in traffic charges through the district court. WSU police tickets are only issued to people affiliated with the university. Those not affiliated with the university will be issued district court tickets, Hinshaw said. Tickets issued to WSU students, faculty, and staff can be appealed through the traffic appeals committee within twenty days. The committee is headed by Carolyn Shaw, president of the faculty senate. Rheanna Pierce, student advocate, and Ryan Siebur, a student government senator, also sit on the committee. Hinshaw, who served as Sedgwick County sheriff from 2008 to 2012, serves as interim WSU police chief after Sara Morris retired from the position late September. “Some may feel we’re trying to generate revenue and that’s absolutely not the case,” Hinshaw said. “It’s not like anybody’s making any
BY JENNA FARHAT
Until this week, university police would only enforce traffic rules by issuing district court tickets, according to Interim University Police Chief Robert Hinshaw. Hinshaw said the process was time-consuming and a drain on the county’s resources. A university news release said it was custom for WSU police to offer verbal warnings to drivers “without any real consequences for their bad driving habits.” Speeding tickets still cannot be issued by WSU police and have to go through the district court, Hinshaw said. “Because of a number of complaints and a near fatal accident in 2016, it has become necessary to change driving behaviors,” the news release stated. Hinshaw said the accident refers to an incident last year in which a professor was almost ran over by a vehicle. In 2016, WSU police made 375 traffic stops. 12 of them resulted in traffic charges through the
money off of this. “The idea is to encourage good driving behavior.” One student said she didn’t know university police couldn’t
SEE VIOLATIONS PAGE 5
VIOLATIONS AND FINES
$75 $75 $75 $75 $45 $45 $45 $45 $45
Wrong direction on a one-way Running a stop sign Improper U-turn Improper turn Failure to yield to pedestrians Driving on the sidewalk Failure to signal a turn Driving without headlights
Obstructed windshield
‘Go Back’ graffiti found on remains of immigrant’s restaurant destroyed by fire BY DANIEL CAUDILL
Graffiti was found in the remains of Petra Mediterranean Restaurant, near 21st Street and Woodlawn Street, following a two-alarm fire that destroyed the restaurant overnight. “Go Back” was spray painted on the outside of the walk-in freezer around the back of the restaurant. The Wichita Fire Department was called to the 6100 block of East 21st Street around 2 a.m. Upon arrival, crews found fire coming through the roof in the area of HVAC units.
COURTESY
Graffiti found in the remains of a fire that destroyed Petra Mediterranean Restaurant in east Wichita early Wednesday morning said “Go Home.”
Investigators from Kansas City are looking into the incident. Along with fire-related debris, a hole in the roof was visible above the restaurant’s sign. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Restaurant co-owner Ranya Taha was called around 2:10 a.m. about the fire. Taha, who came to the United States from Syria in 1995, spoke about the restaurant’s role in the community. “People enjoy the eccentric environment that we provide with our restaurant,” Taha said.
Many youth groups from various local mosques and churches host meetings at the restaurant, she said. Taha felt that the fire could be an isolated attack from someone who does not agree with the restaurant’s position in the community. “We have been building bridges between cultures and religions and communities,” she said. “Apparently someone would rather burn those bridges.” *Disclosure: One of The Sunflower’s editors is related to the Petra owners.
INSIDE
BUMP IN THE NIGHT
STUDENT WRITES BOOK
SAMAJAE’S DEBUT
See what Bardo’s packing again.
WSU instructor searches for all things creepy, spooky
CSD student writes children’s book inspired by family member
Samajae Haynes-Jones gets his first start at WSU Saturday.
OPINION • PAGE 2
CULTURE • PAGE 3
CULTURE • PAGE 5
SPORTS • PAGE 8
BARDO’S RED ROCKET