The Sunflower v.122 i.7

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 • VOL. 122, ISS. 7

WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1896.

WSU drops banner investigation

SGA approves computer purchases

By RAY STRUNK

By ANDREW LINNABARY

Despite reservations from several senators, Student Government Association approved the purchase of four new computers to be used in the SGA Office, for a total of $4,480.41. The funds will come from the $5,000 SGA allocates per semester for office supplies.

The bill passed with 34 of the 39 present senators voting in favor.

SGA Advisor Nancy Loosle said that some of the computers being replaced were ten years old.

At-Large Sen. Alexis Landreth said that she opposed the purchase because of the cost.

“I just believe that we can get it for cheaper,” Landreth said.

“It just doesn’t make any sense,” LAS Sen. Eugene Potts said. “We’ve got one of the better computer science programs in the state — probably the best in the state.”

“They could build you a computer a lot cheaper.”

Marshall Johnson, SGA treasurer, agreed the price was too high, but said options were limited due to a contract through the university.

“Personally, I don’t want to spend this much on it — I mean, if I could get a cheaper option or a better option, I would have,” Johnson said. “But this is the only option we have going through the university.”

Johnson said he expects the new computers, three all-in-one desktop units and one laptop, to last upwards of five years.

Wichita State will not discipline two students who hung a banner advertising “free house tours” from the side of a fraternity house, an incident that created a social media storm and opened university investigations. The decision came after the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) criticized the university’s investigations for violating free speech rights protected by the First Amendment.

“After reviewing the incident involving a banner posted at Phi Delta Theta fraternity last week, WSU Student Affairs doesn’t believe university disciplinary action is appropriate,” Hall said in an email statement.

The banner, which hung Thursday — the first day of sorority recruitment — for about five minutes at Phi Delta Theta fraternity before being removed, read “New members … free house tours!” Some students viewed the banner as encouraging sexual assault. After a student reported the banner to student affairs, the university said it was looking into the incident as both a potential code of conduct violation and a Title IX violation, according to student affairs.

An internal fraternity investigation, conducted by chapter officers, led to the immediate

Koch money moves institute forward

By CHANCE SWAIM

A $3.64 million grant from the Charles Koch Foundation will help create an Institute for the Study of Economic Growth at Wichita State.

The institute will be part of the Barton School of Business.

The institute could open as soon as August 2018 and will be housed in Clinton Hall until enough money is raised to build a new business building on Innovation Campus. Then the business school will move to Innovation Campus, along with the Koch-funded institute.

The Dean of the Barton School of Business Anand Desai said the institute’s first order of business is selecting and hiring an executive director. He said a national search will take place.

“Everything will be consistent with the mission and vision of the institute and the university,” Desai said.

Desai said the institute will fund two faculty members, lecturers, two fellowships for graduate students, and two graduate assistant positions. Those positions will be funded by the Koch donation, Desai said.

Wichita State will pay the institute’s faculty benefits, which SEE KOCH PAGE 2

Inconsistency surrounds alcohol policy at The Flats

SEE FIRE PAGE 2

JENNA FARHAT/THE SUNFLOWER

The faculty senate met for the first time this semester Monday, Sept. 11.

Faculty senate approves new Homeland Security degree program

By RAY STRUNK

WSU police filed a report of a “loud party with alcohol present” at The Flats apartment complex in the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 10.

Unlike Shocker Hall and the now defunct Fairmount Towers — both owned and operated by the university — The Flats are privately owned. A joint venture from local businessmen David Murfin, Nestor Weigand Jr., Ivan Crossland Jr., and Steve Barrett, called MWCB LLC, owns the new 112-apartment complex. The university said that no student fees will be used to pay for the Flats.

State law permits the consumption of alcohol on private property by anyone over the age of 21.

WSU Police Captain Guy Schroeder said that the police department was told to treat The Flats the same as Shocker Hall in terms of alcohol policy.

Alcohol is prohibited at Shocker Hall, according to the 2017-18 SEE ALCOHOL PAGE 2

suspension of two chapter members.

FIRE sent President John Bardo a letter Tuesday demanding the university end the Title IX investigation.

FIRE’s letter said Wichita State’s claim that the banner constitutes sexual harassment is “faulty, at best.”

Vice President for Student Affairs Teri Hall cited United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’s decision to rescind the Obama administration’s “Dear Colleague” letter on campus sexual misconduct that expanded university enforcement of Title IX as a factor in the decision to investigate the incident.

Hall said while the banner was “absolutely inappropriate,” the timing escalated the incident, both with recruitment’s start and with Secretary DeVos’ Title IX announcement.

“I think we’re all a little more sensitive because of the statements Betsy DeVos made,” Hall said Saturday.

FIRE’s letter argues that the banner didn’t warrant a Title IX investigation.

“Even assuming that the banner was in fact intended to be sexual in nature, it would still not constitute sexual harassment, as it was not so

By JENNA FARHAT

ILLUSTRATION BY MADELINE DEABLER/THE SUNFLOWER

Faculty senate approved a proposal Monday for a new, completely online homeland security degree program.

The proposed bachelor’s degree program, which would fall under the criminal justice department, will require the hiring of two new faculty members. The proposal still awaits approval by the Kansas Board of Regents.

Several senators expressed concern over what they saw as a lack of adequate time to discuss the proposal and ask questions.

Andi Bannister, director of community affairs, said that in order to give the Kansas Board of Regents enough time to consider the proposal and implement the new degree program for the spring semester, the faculty senate had to vote on it Monday.

George Dehner, a senator from the history department,

voted against the proposal.

“Nothing against the program,” Dehner said. “Just the way that it’s being rushed through again.”

Dehner said that major issues brought before the senate are typically discussed and opened up to questions during one meeting and voted on during the next meeting.

Faculty senate meets every other week.

“Today we decided we did not have time for both readings,” Dehner said. “There’s no time for us to go back and talk to our constituents — other faculty members — and see what they thought.”

Dehner said this was not the first time a proposal had been rushed through the faculty senate without adequate time for consideration.

SEE FACULTY PAGE 2

INSIDE

“IT” DOES HORROR RIGHT

BARDO’S FOOTBALL TEAM

IS CABLE TV WORTH IT?

FRESHMAN TAKES SILVER

Equal parts terrifying and fascinating.

Is football making a comeback?

In the age of streaming services, you can do without the luxury.

“I want to be a part of the best of the best.”

CULTURE • PAGE 2

OPINION • PAGE 3

OPINION • PAGE 3

SPORTS • PAGE 4

CULTURE

2 | THURSDAY, SEPT. 14, 2017

www.thesunflower.com

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THE STAFF EDITORIAL

Editor-in-Chief Chance Swaim Managing Editor Jenna Farhat

WE ALL

Culture Editor Marissa Campbell Sports Editor Matt Crow

FLOAT

Opinion Editor Evan Pflugradt Copy Chief Matthew Kelly Design Editor Madeline Deabler Photo Editor Brian Hayes Digital Editor Nicole Byrne

ADVISING

Faculty Adviser Amy DeVault

ADVERTISING

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BUSINESS

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CORRECTIONS “2 Phi Delta Theta members suspended by fraternity for ‘Free House Tours’ banner” does not jump on Page 3. Instead, “‘This is part of my job’” jumps twice on Page 3.

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MATT GARNER MOVIE CRITIC

Horror is one of the oldest genres in storytelling. Whether it be the grisly sight of Beowulf’s mother, the flap of leathery wings signaling Dracula, or the tattooed knuckles of the Reverend Harry Powell, the horror genre almost universally revolves around a single aspect: the villain.

Fortunately for “IT,” the latest Stephen King novel to hit the silver screen, the presence of a strong and singular villain combined with a stellar young cast, lifts the film above its inconsistent tendencies.

“IT” follows a summer in the life of The Loser’s Club, a ragtag group of teens bound by their common interests and involuntary social exile. Set in the 80’s in Derry, Maine, kids mysteriously began to go missing. Enter Pennywise. We are introduced to Pennywise almost immediately, solidifying his (its?) unmistakable presence before the opening title card.

Portrayed by Bill Skarsgård, Pennywise is equal parts terrifying and fascinating. The horror genre’s longevity has been cemented by its ability to personify the ethereal element of fear, and

FIRE

FROM PAGE 1

‘severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive’ that it deprived any WSU students of access to an educational opportunity or benefit,” the letter argues.

“Equally troubling and unacceptable is Hall’s comment in relation to this incident that the campus community is more sensitive because of perceptions about Betsy DeVos’ Title IX enforcement plans. To be clear: such subjective heightened sensitivity is not a license to violate established law.”

The letter went on to warn that investigations, even those not ending in punishment, can violate students’ free speech rights.

“WSU’s investigation sends a message to all students that if their expression offends others, they will be subject to disciplinary investigation,” the letter said.

“As a result, students will likely refrain from speaking rather than risk discipline. Such a result is the

FROM PAGE 1

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inconsistencies too. Two scenes in particular are awkward and verge into the territory of parody. Dialogue waivers from oddly poignant to stilted and clumsy. The CGI work is effortless in one scene and obviously artificial in the next.

Plus, the mythology surrounding Pennywise was non-existent. I had so many questions about the logistics of Pennywise’s patterns and his back-story that the movie never fleshed out. Granted, this may be addressed in the sequel — the current plan is a duology that nicely splits up the 1,000page book — but my lingering questions bothered me during this film.

Pennywise is fascinating, and some of his appeal comes from his singular emphasis on evil — much like The Joker — but even The Dark Knight’s Joker had an ostensible motivation.

Despite these missteps, much of what makes Stephen King’s body of work special — the primal horror, the exploration of adolescence, examining the critical time in a young person’s life when adulthood becomes terminal — is present in “IT.” And fortunately for us, the film effectively furthers the conversation about the unimaginable terror of growing up.

MADELINE DEABLER/ THE SUNFLOWER

KOCH

Thinking Abortion?

Pennywise enters that hall or horrors with his striking and nightmarish depiction. Skarsgård brings physicality to the role, defining Pennywise’s presence on the screen.

His voice slithers into the ear from a drooling mouth; a crooked smile outlines a twisted thread of teeth; the chalk-white head peeks out from behind a bright red balloon. Images Director Andy Muschietti’s depictions of Pennywise while he’s terrorizing The Loser’s Club are hellish, and Muschietti’s interesting use of focus during longer takes distorts Pennywise into something otherworldly.

All of this, however, would be in vein if the cast of young actors composing The Loser’s Club weren’t equally as effective. Led by an intrepid Bill (newcomer Jaden Libenher), whose little brother Georgie has gone missing, The Loser’s Club is full of the high school cliché misfits one would expect to find in a movie, but the script does a nice job of developing each character and giving them

a villain other than the dreadful Pennywise. It’s important to remember that in Stephen King’s universe, adults are just as evil as the monsters hecreates.

For each member of The Loser’s Club, there is an equally horrifying adult (or bully) tormenting them, providing real-world conflict to juxtapose Pennywise’s supernatural terror.

While I didn’t necessarily “buy” every relationship that developed within The Loser’s Club, the overall effect was strong enough for me to feel invested in the characters.

Finn Wolfhard, who plays Richie, a fast-talking and sarcastic nerd, steals almost every scene he’s in with a comedic timing and delivery verging on preternatural. This balancing of humor and horror is the film’s strongest aspect, with scenes rubber-banding from humor to terror and back to humor again almost effortlessly. It’s no easy task to scare your audience as much as you make them laugh, but “IT” proves successful in this juncture.

Yet, for all its strengths, the film features many maddening

includes health insurance and retirement, through a “re-allocation” of the business school’s funds.

“This institute will not be on an island,” Desai said. “Collaboration is a key to success.”

“What this institute is trying to do is look at ways to grow the economy, what role markets play in that growth, and how to lift

very definition of the impermissible ‘chilling’ of speech.”

FIRE responded in an email to the university’s decision not to discipline the students responsible for the banner, saying it is pleased the university recognized the First Amendment rights of the students who hung the banner.

“The federal government’s overbroad and unconstitutional definition of sexual harassment has led to a wave of administrative overreaction to constitutionally protected speech that merely offends, and this is only the latest example.

“When students are investigated and disciplined for offending others, it reduces the willingness of all to participate in the marketplace of ideas, to the detriment of all members of the campus community—those who object to the expression at hand as much as those who agree with it.

“Administrators must take care to ensure that they do not chill expression on campus by launching and announcing investigations into clearly protected speech.”

ALCOHOL

FROM PAGE 1

Housing and Residence Life handbook. Schroeder said that, as far as he knows, the no-alcohol policy applies to The Flats as well.

Mandy Hambleton, who directs the student conduct office, said that alcohol possession and/ or consumption is prohibited in The Flats and that a state statute allows the university police department to enforce both state law and university policy.

The Flats website lays out a different alcohol policy.

According to the website, students over the age of 21 are allowed to consume alcohol in their apartments, as long as no one under 21 is present. No alcohol can be consumed in public areas.

Director of Housing and Residence Life Scott Jensen said that the inconsistency stems

FACULTY

society and enhance the quality of life for the region.”

Desai said it’s important to both WSU and the Koch Foundation that academic freedom be upheld with the creation of the institute.

“The normal university processes will be preserved,” Desai said. “We will not short-circuit the process. It starts with faculty, because they set the curriculum.

We’re going to honor the process that has been in place already.”

FROM PAGE 1

“My concern, as a senator, is this seems to be something that occurs far too often in this body,” Dehner said.

“It has certainly been part of a trend within recent time.”

Dan Close, a senator from the Elliott School of Communication, said he saw a trend in proposals being rushed through the faculty senate.

“We need to quit doing this,”

from the university’s decision to lease the entire building after the closing of Fairmount Towers.

The Flats were originally set to be available for both students and non-students, with preference in leasing for students.

When the decision was made to close Fairmount Towers, the university chose to keep The Flats available for students only.

Jensen said that the policy on The Flats website reflects the university’s original intention to allow alcohol at the privately owned complex.

“Being it was a private building just managed by WSU, we were going to expand that offering,” Jensen said. “When the decision was made to lease the whole building, it was decided to keep the alcohol policy consistent with Shocker Hall.”

Jensen said that the Housing and Residence Life staff will update the website so that the policies will be consistent across all platforms.

Close said.

Betty Elder, a senator from the College of Health Professions, said the proposed degree program would help ensure recent graduates get local jobs.

“There’s a lot of these graduates are being hired by the Department of Defense and McConnell,” Elder said. “This is the exact degree that the Department of Defense wants.

“These are the kind of students they want. This is a huge, huge need. It keeps kids local.”

OPINION

www.thesunflower.com

THURSDAY, SEPT. 14, 2017

A SUNION SATIRE

BARDO’S P.E.T. FOOTBALL TEAM JOINS AAC

By RON FAKER

President John Bardo’s pick-up administrative football team has officially joined the American Athletic Conference for the 2018 season according to a statement from Wichita State Athletics.

The squad, comprised of members of the president’s executive team and helmed by Bardo at quarterback, will be Wichita State’s first football team since 1986.

“We’re just excited to see football back in Wichita,” Bardo said. “Football has proven to boost enrollment, and I think Wichita State will become a destination school for kids who want to see their administrators mauled by college athletes.”

Vice President for Strategic Communications Lou Heldman said the team has been meeting up for daily practices at Cessna Stadium.

“Running a university can be stressful business, what with keeping students in line and maintaining a culture of fear,” Heldman said. “It’s nice to get together and blow off some steam at practice.”

Bardo, 69, said he likes to stay active,

and has made a concerted effort to get in shape for the grueling college football season.

“Ever since we partnered with the YMCA, I’ve been working out like crazy, and I feel like a new me,” Bardo said.

“Who knows, if this university president thing doesn’t work out, maybe I can get drafted into the NFL.” Heldman said students can expect a hike in fees to pay for the state-of-the-art indoor practice facility set to be built on Innovation Campus next year.

“It makes sense from a financial standpoint,” Heldman said. “And, most importantly, it benefits the students.”

Heldman said the team has been scrimmaging the 11 student interns from Airbus on their lunch break.

“Strategically, the university felt 11 was the ideal number of students to have over there,” Heldman said in an earlier interview with the Sunflower. Now we know why.

Bardo said the team has an extensive playbook, and Wichita State’s opponents will be kept on their toes.

“They’ll have no idea what’s coming

next,” Bardo said. “There will be no transparency whatsoever.”

Student Body President Paige Hungate has already volunteered to put together a cheerleading squad.

“We’ve assembled a diverse, enthusiastic group of students to cheer on the administration,” Hungate said.

At this point, Hungate broke into cheer.

“Two, four, six, eight, administrators innovate!”

At press time, several members had quit the team after signing non-disclosure agreements. ***Lou Heldman wanted The Sunflower to include additional information in our story about football. We weren’t sure why, but here it is: WSU is ranked No.1 in Industry-Funded Aviation research, and 192 WSU students are working in paid aerospace engineering internships through NIAR. Cool.

‘Rape Culture exists’ Rape Culture exists, and it breathes through our daily lives. It is almost like it weaves into unexpected places and brings you back to a time where the world tears into you until you are small. You spend years contemplating what happened, if it did happen or if it was an insignificant moment that you should just get over.

There was a time in our society where sexual assault was barely talked about. And now? We do talk about it. But it seems like society continues to rationalize it, to forgive its actions, and all while leaving behind the people who should matter the most — survivors.

People, and statistically speaking, cisgender men, will go out of their way to make sure you are nothing but an object. They will melt all over you, smudge down your multifaceted traits until you are nothing but just a one-dimensional sentient that only aims to please them. And it destroys you.

But violations also do not just come in physical form.

They come in multiple forms.

When I was 15, I was cat called.

When I was 23, I was going home and this man tries to grab me in the bus. When I was 24, I had a man follow me every day during my work commute home, asking me if I was single yet. Throughout the years, I’ve learned to find ways to cope and to learn safety tactics.

But it isn’t enough.

We know the alarming

statistics on college campuses and that most of the cases involve someone you know.

However, people rather view the world as just. It was disheartening to see the banner.

It was worse when I read the comments in defense of the fraternity.

But I wasn’t surprised.

It’s easy to rationalize this. But to survivors?

To people who have experienced being humiliated and harassed? They have seen this before.

The students who saw this banner knew what these boys meant. They knew that new members referred to the mostly freshman students who were visiting sorority houses. And they knew that these boys were not offering housing tours.

And anyone who defended them, especially those who are parents, should really learn better critical thinking skills.

This university must do more instead of censoring activists who were just building awareness. They should be more transparent about these sexual assault cases and they must stand with survivors who need their support and resources the most.

To the students who felt afraid, just know that I see you, that I believe you, and you are valid.

If you need support and counseling, the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center is here to help with their 24-Hour Crisis Line (316) 263-3002.

LETTER to the EDITOR

MADELINE DEABLER/THE SUNFLOWER

Stop letting the cable company screw you

By Evan Pflugradt Living on your own can be a challenge. You’re going to debate what luxuries you can and can’t live without.

One of those luxuries is cable television — an absolute waste of money.

Whatever you do, don’t give in. Cable companies have one mission, and that’s to charge you for something you could easily get for free.

Cox TV, for a basic cable package that includes 10 channels, will cost you $10 per month. That doesn’t include setup charges, equipment rental fees, or taxes — a real total is north of $20 per month. What you get in return shouldn’t even be considered television.

If you really want to get a selection, you’re looking at $82 per month, before equipment fees, setup, and taxes.

EVAN PFLUGRADT OPINION EDITOR

Don’t cave. You’ll manage life without cable.

I can’t live without watching the nightly news or major network sporting events, especially NFL football. I still manage.

Start by purchasing a digital antenna. Amazon has them starting for $15, and they go up to $50.

The more expensive the digital antenna, the better the signal — $30 gets you a good one and $50 is

top-of-the-line.

This’ll get you CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX, depending on your location and the strength of your signal.

Still, you deserve more than that.

If you haven’t already, sign up for Spotify and take advantage of their $4.99 Spotify Premium discount for students, which has now partnered with Hulu.

For $5 per month, you can get unlimited Spotify with access to Hulu’s streaming service.

Consider it a crime to not take full advantage of this offer.

If you have a streaming device like Google Chromecast or Roku, you can stream direct to your TV screen. Hulu has full seasons of network television shows, including classics like Seinfeld.

Stop sweating over cable bills.

This is everything you need and more.

-- DEBORAH OJEDA-LEITNER

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SPORTS

4 | THURSDAY, SEPT. 14, 2017

www.thesunflower.com

2017-18 VOLLEYBALL ROSTER 1

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JOSEPH BARIRNGHAUS/THE SUNFLOWER

JORDAN ROBERTS

MIKAELA RAUDSEPP

Sophomore Corpus Christi, TX 5-10

KORA KAULING

Senior Dundee, OR 6-2

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ABBY PUGH

Freshman Naperville, IL 6-2

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EMMA WRIGHT

Redshirt Freshman Brenham, TX 6-3

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Cortez Schenck has been bowling since the age of nine, and competing in tournaments nearly every weekend.

Redshirt Freshman Phoenix, AZ 6-3

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Freshman bowler returns with silver from PABCON Tournament ByALIYAH FUNSCHELLE

LAUREN HINRICHS

GABI MOSTROM

Redshirt Freshman Doniphan, NE 6-1

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REGAN STIAWALT

KARA MALESKI

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JENNA MAK Freshman Sonoma, CA 5-8

Freshman Goddard, KS 6-3

Sophomore Lincoln, NE 5-8

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ABBIE LEHMAN

Freshman Quartz Hill, CA 6-0

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BROOKE SMITH

KARA BOWN

MEGAN TAFLINGER

Senior Valley Center, KS 5-2

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Freshman Wichita, KS 5-8

HANNA SHELTON

Redshirt freshmen Milan Italy 5-6

Freshman Denver, CO 6-1

MEGHAN GRIMES

Freshman Cheney, KS 5-9

GIORGIA CIVITA

Junior Long Grove, IL 6-5

Senior Tonganoxie, KS 5-9

MADDY FREUND

Senior Newton, KS 6-1

CHASE JACKSON

Junior Spring, TX 5-10

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TABITHA BROWN

Sophomore Williamsburg, VA. 6-3

EMILY HIEBERT

Redshirt Freshman Ness City, KS 5-11

JENNY WHITLEDGE

ALEX KOON

Senior Springfield, MO 5-9

Senior Newton, KS 6-3

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ASPEN KRIDNER

Redshirt Freshman Goddard, KS 5-7

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ALAYNA MASLIN Freshman

Nashville, TN 5-11

Cortez Schenck has wanted to bowl for Wichita State since he was 10. The freshman’s dream came true this year when he made the 20172018 Shocker Bowling roster. “[Bowling at WSU] has been a dream of mine for a while,” Schenck said. “You hear people saying ‘Wichita State is a powerhouse. They are the best of the best.’”

The Shocker Bowling season begins in October, but Schenck recently took his talents to Mexico, where he competed in the PABCON Tournament as a memebr of the junior Team USA. He came back from Mexico with a bronze in doubles and team and a silver in the singles “all event” in which all of his games were added up. He averaged 206/207 for the week.

“It was very nerve wracking,” Schenck said. “The format is set up, you have to bowl good every day. It’s a grind.”

Schenck said he was honored to be a part of Team USA. “You always gotta remember you’re bowling for more than just yourself,” Schenck said.

“You’re bowling for a team and an organization.”

Schenck has been bowling since the age of nine, and competing in tournaments nearly every weekend.

Wichita State Bowling Head Coach Gordon Vadakin said he was drawn to Schenck’s extensive bowling experience, including his spot on the junior Team USA roster.

Schenck has been a member of the junior Team USA for two years now.

“He comes in with a wealth of experience. He’s very experienced in pressured situations,” Vadakin said. “He’s experienced with a variety of lane conditions which are really a challenge in our sport.”

Along with Schenck’s experience, Vadakin said he appreciates the mental attitude Schenck brings to the team.

“He brings a good mental attitude and calmness in him and the ability to keep not just himself calm, but also keep his teammates,” Vadakin said. “He’s impressed me as someone who is all in and wants to learn and be a part of the team.”