MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2018 • VOL. 122, ISS. 39
THESUNFLOWER.COM
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1896.
Bardo talks innovation with U.S. Congress
SHOCKERS ROLL PAST CINCINNATI
Shockers snap nation’s longest home winning streak
BY MATTHEW KELLY Washington Bureau Chief
A
WASHINGTON — Wichita State President John Bardo spoke in front of a U.S. House subcommittee Thursday — citing Innovation Campus as a national model and calling on Congress to pass legislation he said would bolster local economies by creating BARDO applied learning opportunities. Bardo was one of four speakers to testify at the Research and Technology Subcommittee hearing which Chairwoman Barbara Comstock, a Republican from Virgina, said would examine how applied learning opportunities could address “the growing need for a diverse and technically-trained STEM workforce.” Comstock said the subcommittee hoped to “identify what workforce development programs should be further examined,” adding that Congress needs to make informed decisions about the “most impactful and innovative tools” already in use. Bardo discussed business partnerships being made on Innovation Campus — including the private, Koch family-funded elementary school set to open this fall — as well as the Wichita Area Technical College merger and WSU’s implementation of half-credit-hour badge courses. SEE BARDO PAGE 3
BY ALIYAH FUNSCHELLE
two point lead and 13 seconds was the only thing standing in between The Shockers and a shot at a share of the conference title. No. 19 Wichita State snagged their first road win over an AP top-5 opponent since 1964 with an upset over No. 5 Cincinnati. “We’ve had some nice wins but this is probably the best,” Head Coach Gregg Marshall said. The Shockers’ four-point win snapped the nation’s longest home win streak of 39 games. Sophomore guard Austin Reaves said their mentality for road games is to stick together as a team, which will ultimately lead to their success. “This is just what we do, we stick together on the road,” Reaves said. “Stick together and good things will come out of it.” Sophomore guard Landry Shamet agrees on that mentality for road games, but he especially enjoys playing on the road. Shamet said the opposing team’s crowd motivates him. “I love playing on the road. I love the hostility, knowing everybody in the building hates you and want you to lose,” Shamet said. “It just gets me going.” Going into the game, Shamet channeled that motivation and helped The Shockers get an early lead. By the half, Wichita State had a two-point lead over Cincinnati. The Shockers were able to hold onto MATT CROW / THE SUNFLOWER
SEE BASKETBALL PAGE 3
Wichita State forward Markis McDuffie skies over Cincy’s Eliel Nsoseme for a finger roll Sunday at Cincinnati.
Education dean: Faculty weren’t left out of Wonder conversation BY ANDREW LINNABARY
The College of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction — the department most closely associated with teaching careers — was first notified about a new, on-campus private school November 29th through a short email announcement. The two-line email from College of Education Dean Shirley Lefever described a privately-funded school coming to Wichita State, with no details beyond that. It wasn’t until a Feb. 4th Wichita Eagle story announcing the school that the College of Education’s faculty, at the same time as the public, were given any details about the new Koch-funded school, Wonder.
On February 7th, The College of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction faculty received a second email from LEFEVER Dean Lefever — an email that directed them to a new FAQ about Wonder posted on Wichita State’s website. Faculty members in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction said the Eagle article, in which Lefever is quoted as saying “we just feel very privileged to be a part of (this) conversation,” gave the impression that College of
Education faculty were asked for input into Wonder. “I’m not aware of any faculty members who were brought into the conversation,” one College of Education professor said. Other education faculty members said they weren’t given any input into or information about the school before the Eagle’s story came out. Dean Lefever herself gave the impression that she knew little detail about the school before its newspaper unveiling. She said she had a few brief meetings in the fall with the school’s co-founders, Annie Koch and former Americans for Prosperity director Chris Lahn, and that she “read in the paper that (the school) was finalized in December.”
Still, Lefever assured she “informed the faculty in November that I’d been having conversations,” and said she was surprised that faculty felt like they were left in the dark. She said her first email was an opportunity for faculty to ask questions. “Hindsight is always 20-20. There’s never been an intent on my side to not communicate. But I understand there’s always room for improvement.” Dean Lefever said the school is “just another opportunity” for College of Education students that won’t be required for graduation. It’s unclear what that opportunity will shape up to be. Students working or shadowing at the unaccredited school won’t earn student
teaching credit, Lefever said. The College of Education’s Teacher Intern Handbook says “persons certified for student teaching shall engage in student teaching only in educational agencies which are accredited or approved by the state board of education and which have entered into a written contract with a teacher education institution.” Dean Lefever said the school will still provide some kind of experience for students in the College of Education. “We place our students in a lot of settings,” Dean Lefever said. “If we have students who have an interest, we would look for an opportunity to
SEE WONDER PAGE 3
Hungate opposes GOP’s ‘divisive stance’ on transgender issues BY RAY STRUNK
Student Body President Paige Hungate spoke against the Kansas Republican Party’s “divisive stance” on transgender issues at the GOP’s annual state convention over the weekend. Hungate gave a speech to the GOP state committee prior to its vote on a resolution opposing all efforts “to validate transgender identity.” In her speech, Hungate said the party’s social stances turn some students away from the party. She said the Republican party
should not abandon its social stances but instead focus on more pressing issues. “To me, it is not a pressing issue for us to state that we believe in only two genders,” Hungate said. Hungate then urged committee members to vote against the resolution, which she said would “polarize the party” to its detriment. The committee approved the resolution. Hungate took to Twitter following the approval, saying the resolution is proof that the committee is not focusing on the most important issues.
“This is not the most important issue; it helps nothing other than to polarize,” Hungate’s tweet read. Hungate also served as a panelist for the GOP gubernatorial debate Saturday evening. The debate featured current Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer, Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, Kansas Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer, Mark Hutton, and Wink Hartman. She asked each of the candidates how they plan to address the “inconsistency and instability” looming over education funding.
BRIAN HAYES / THE SUNFLOWER
Student Body President Paige Hungate ask a question to the candidates for governor during the inaugural Republican gubernatorial debate hosted by the The Kansas Republican Party at the Wichita Hyatt Regency.
INSIDE
TOUGH COOKIE
BIKE JAMMIN’
SHOCKERS TAKE CINCY
Cooper reviews Kanai Sushi.
Pflugradt throws thin mints under the bus, favors a different cookie.
Bike Jam at Fairmount Park gave bikes to WSU’s neighbors.
See the best photos from the Cincinnati game.
NEWS • PAGE 2
OPINION • PAGE 2
CULTURE • PAGE 3
SPORTS • PAGE 4
SOMETHING FISHY