THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018 • VOL. 122, ISS. 52
THESUNFLOWER.COM
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1896.
innovation!
WSU charges $1,605 for university officials’ heavily redacted emails BY CHANCE SWAIM
Wichita State General Counsel David Moses sent The Sunflower a final bill Monday charging the newspaper $1,605 for emails it requested between university officials. Under the Kansas Open Records Act, public officials’ work emails are open records. In November, The Sunflower requested all e-mail communications between April 15, 2017 and Nov. 13, 2017 to or from, including those communications in the trash or spam folders, any of the following university e-mail accounts SGA.President@wichita.edu, lou. heldman@wichita.edu, teri.hall@ wichita.edu,president@wichita. edu, anna.lanier@wichita.edu, anna. weyers@wichita.edu, tony.vizzini@ wichita.edu, andy.schlapp@wichita. edu, john.tomblin@wichita.edu, richard.muma@wichita.edu containing any of the following words/ phrases: sunflower, chance, swaim, ymca, the y, flats, MWCB, Murfin, Barrett, Weigand, Crossland. Four days later, Moses gave an estimate of $409 to provide the public records. Dec. 4, Moses gave a revised estimate for retrieval of the public records of $593. The Sunflower paid that Dec. 11. Feb. 16, Moses sent the public records in an email, but called the request “overly broad, ambiguous and vague … which does not relate to the legitimate concern to the public.” He said he would send an invoice for additional charges “in the near future.” Moses did not respond when The Sunflower asked what “near future” meant. More than a quarter of the pages included in the provided documents were completely redacted. Out of 2,102 emails received as part of the request, 539 pages were blacked out. 928 pages had some kind of redaction. The Sunflower reported on the records and then released the emails, in full, on its website last month. Monday, Moses sent a final bill asking for an additional $1,012 for the records.
How Wichita State is expanding the same way it started — with limited discussion, information
N
BY CHANCE SWAIM
ONPROFIT FORMED FOR INNOVATION CAMPUS BEFORE BARDO ANNOUNCED PLANS
Nearly two months before announcing his plans for Innovation Campus to the university community, President John Bardo had already filed articles of incorporation with the State of Kansas for a nonprofit to manage relationships with private businesses on the campus, according to documents recently obtained by The Sunflower. On Aug. 15, 2014, Bardo announced Wichita State was “becoming an innovation-focused university.” In a presentation to faculty and staff, he described a plan to transform Braeburn Golf Course on the east side of campus into an Innovation Campus, which in the first five years would include an experiential engineering building, one or more partnership buildings, a new business school with an adjacent innovation center, mixed-use buildings, a hotel, and a residence hall. On June 20, 2014, Bardo filed articles of incorporation for Wichita State Innovation Alliance on behalf of the university. Innovation Alliance is a closely-held 501c3 nonprofit. That’s almost two months before the university community knew about the plans to expand campus. NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT BETWEEN UNIVERSITY, NONPROFIT, FOR-PROFIT
A nondisclosure agreement signed by President John Bardo limits what university employees can say about Innovation Campus projects. In February of 2015, Wichita State, a public university; Wichita State Innovation Alliance, an affiliated 501c3; and Wichita State Innovation Alliance Investments Corporation, a for-profit corporation entered a nondisclosure agreement limiting what information each party can legally share about projects on Innovation Campus, according to documents recently obtained by The Sunflower. “All information, whether written, oral, electronic or other form, disclosed, provided, or otherwise furnished by DISCLOSING PARTY
to RECEIVING PARTY in connection with the PROJECT, including, but not limited to, the existence of discussions between parties … shall be deemed Confidential Information belonging to the DISCLOSING PARTY,” the agreement states. The agreement says the university, the nonprofit, and the for-profit corporation desire to work together to “develop and implement approaches for identifying, developing, managing, licensing, commercializing, marketing, and/or improving technology or intellectual property generated within WSU, and/or in collaboration with industry and/or the public” and “leverage economic development opportunities” and “create jobs and growth in the Kansas economy through supporting innovation within WSU and/or in collaboration with industry and/or the public.” In February, when a lease agreement between the nonprofit and a Koch family-funded private school on Wichita State’s main campus was announced through a Wichita Eagle article, the university said in a statement about the school that “when innovation partners are making a major investment on campus we let them shape how they want to make it public.” The agreement was signed by President John Bardo on behalf of Wichita State, Vice President of Research and Tech Transfer John Tomblin on behalf of Innovation Alliance, and Executive Director of Governmental Relations Andy Schlapp on behalf of WSIA Investments Corporation on Feb. 5, 2015. WSU CHARGES $1,500 FOR INNOVATION ALLIANCE FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
Wichita State wants to charge The Sunflower $1,500 to release financial records tracking incoming and outgoing financial transactions by the closely-held nonprofit handling Innovation Campus projects. April 3, The Sunflower requested “all documents recording incoming or outgoing financial transactions by the Wichita State Innovation Alliance between April 15, 2017 and the date this request is fulfilled” from David Moses, WSU’s general counsel.
His full response included an initial payment of $750 for at least 400 documents and an estimated total cost to fulfill the request, filed under the Kansas Open Records Act, of $1,500: “It is not clear what specific records you are seeking in requesting ‘incoming or outgoing financial transactions.’ In an effort to comply with your request, we have identified at least 400 documents (some likely contain multiple pages) documenting outgoing payments made by WSIA and incoming revenue received by WSIA for the specified time period. These records are stored in our imaging system. We anticipate a minimum of 30 hours of work to retrieve and process these records based on an estimate of 5 minutes per document, and additional time for review and redaction as we know that there will be confidential financial information and potentially other information contained within these records that are exempted by the KORA. Since the documents are financial in nature and will likely contain personal identifiers and bank information, the amount of time may be greater than 5 minutes per document. In addition to the KORA, privacy laws also require a detailed review and redaction of these type of documents. As a result, the total hours of work may exceed 30 hours which will then increase the estimated cost mentioned, below. As you know, pursuant to statutory law, WSU policy 20.01 requires the following: Public records kept in computer files: a. Access to public record(s) stored on computer files that can be accomplished using retrieval software already available and without software modification(s): $50/hour of staff time necessary to obtain the printout(s); no charge for request requiring less than thirty minutes of staff time to obtain. b. Access to public record(s) stored on computer files that requires custom programming time to retrieve and process: $75/hour of staff time necessary to provide custom programming and retrieve and process the requested information. SEE EXPANSION PAGE 4
Sunflower has strong showing at Kansas Collegiate Media awards BY JENNA FARHAT
The Sunflower took home 40 awards this week at the Kansas Collegiate Media statewide conference. The Sunflower earned first place in every writing category except one. The writing categories The Sunflower earned first place in are: news writing & reporting, feature writing, editorial writing, column writing, review writing, headline writing, and sports
feature writing. The Sunflower also earned first place awards in news photo, sports photo, page design, illustrations & infographics, online photo gallery, social media post, and special sections categories. The Sunflower competed against all four-year public universities in Kansas for the awards. The online photo gallery and social media post categories were against all colleges and universities in Kansas.
Sunflower staff members also took the top three rankings in the statewide Journalist of the Year competition. The Sunflower’s Photo Editor Brian Hayes won 2018 Journalist of the Year. Reporter Ray Strunk was first runner-up and Managing Editor Jenna Farhat was second runner-up for the award. Sunflower journalists competed against journalists from four-year universities all over Kansas, both public and private.
COURTESY OF AMY DEVAULT
From left to right: Sunflower reporter Ray Strunk, Photo Editor Brian Hayes, and Managing Editor Jenna Farhat placed in the Journalist of the Year competition. Hayes is the 2018 Kansas Collegiate Media Journalist of the Year.
INSIDE
FLAVORS OF THE WORLD
DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
TRACK AND FIELD
A local radio station for rock fans doesn’t disappoint.
Shockers got to experience food from all around the world at InterFest.
The WSU community commemorates those who lost their lives in the Holocaust.
Wichita State hosts the K.T. Woodman Classic.
OPINION • PAGE 2
CULTURE • PAGE 3
CULTURE • PAGE 3
SPORTS • PAGE 4
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
OPINION
2 | THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018
www.thesunflower.com
www.thesunflower.com
THE STAFF
The faculty of the history department write to express our dismay at the decision to cut The Sunflower’s budget. The funding reduction represents both a threat to the independence of the newspaper and a basic misunderstanding of The Sunflower’s purpose at Wichita State University. Furthermore, the justifications for the funding cuts and President Bardo’s proposed solution are emblematic of a process antithetical to best university practices. The Student Fee Committee’s recommendation for The Sunflower represents a $25,000 cut from this year and a nearly 50 percent reduction since the 2016 budget ($158,000 to $80,000). Any background for these recommendations must include administrative criticism of Sunflower reporting on activities related to the Innovation Campus and University practices. As reported by The Sunflower (“How threats to The Sunflower’s Funding have Closely Followed Coverage of the University, Innovation Campus”), this displeasure has included statements that should be considered threats to reporters and the paper. As historians, we are very aware of the importance of a free press and free speech to democracy, and we condemn any attempt to intimidate student reporters. President Bardo’s solution is that the V.P. of Student Affairs Teri Hall spend up to $25,000 on Sunflower advertising to make up this shortfall. But this is no solution at all. Simply put, if the newspaper is reliant upon Administration dollars, then students will no longer be “the final authority over what is published” (Sunflower mission statement) and will become a university mouthpiece reliant upon their good will for funding. When The Sunflower references their independence, it is this autonomy which is being referred to which the administration does not seem to understand. Further, President Bardo’s public statement (Statement from WSU President John Bardo about Student Fees and Sunflower Funding, 4-4-18) explaining his endorsement of the Student Fees Budget request misconstrues the issues at hand.
EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief Chance Swaim Managing Editor Jenna Farhat Culture Editor Marissa Campbell Sports Editor Matt Crow Opinion Editor Evan Pflugradt Design Editor Madeline Deabler Photo Editor Brian Hayes Digital Editor Nicole Byrne
ADVERTISING
Advertising Manager Christian Yost
ADVISING
Faculty Adviser Amy DeVault
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Send letters to the editor to editor@thesunflower.com or submit at thesunflower.com. Please keep letters to 400 words or less. All letters are edited for clarity and length. Please include your name, WSU affiliation and a phone number for verification purposes.
Our Mission
The Sunflower — both in print and online — will be a timely resource of information about the Wichita State University community. It will report on news, issues, activities, academics and athletics, in addition to offering a forum for discussion, reviews and commentary. It will also be an effective learnig experience for students, who will have the final authority over what is published.
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The Sunflower (published for use by WSU students, faculty and staff) is private property and unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable. One copy may be taken for free. Additional copies must be purchased for $1 each. The Sunflower is also partially funded by the Student Government Association at WSU. The opinions expressed in The Sunflower editorials, columns, guest columns, reviews, advertisements, letters and editorial cartoons are not necessarily those of the staff, publications board, student body or university. The Sunflower reserves the right to edit or reject any submission. We also reserve the right to edit or reject any advertisement.
CONTACT THE SUNFLOWER 019 Elliott Hall 1845 N. Fairmount Ave. Campus Box 134 Wichita, KS 67260-0134 ----------
SUNFLOWER OFFICES Front Desk: 316-978-3640 Fax: 316-978-3778 ADVERTISING Christian Yost: 316-978-6906 admanager@thesunflower.com EDITORIAL Chance Swaim: 316-978-6905 editor@thesunflower.com ADVISER Amy DeVault: 316-978-6052 amy.devault@wichita.edu ----------
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Signed, The History Department Faculty
100.5 The Flight
Where you going to tomor There’s a man goin’ ‘r
says she talks to angels
She’s alright,This is our last dance She’s alright, sh
Where you going Always have to steal my kisses from youWhere you going to t
Looking through the glass onionLooking through the glass onion Well if the sunshine’s so bright,-Where you goin’ with the mask I foun
There’s a man goin’ ‘round takin’ There’s a man goin’ ‘round takin’ names
Rocket man burning out Rocket man burning out Where you going to tomorrow? Will our love go on and on and on
Looking through the glass onion
FACEBOOK www.facebook.com/sunflowerwsu
INSTAGRAM @thesunflowernews
He expressed concerns that The Sunflower will face difficulties that other newspapers like the Wichita Eagle have faced such as staff reductions and a curtailment of coverage — even while cutting its funding. More problematically, his concerns speak to a fundamental misunderstanding of The Sunflower and the role which student newspapers play at universities. Unlike the Eagle and other for-profit news sources, The Sunflower’s mission is to be a “timely resource of information about the Wichita State University community … and will be an effective learning experience for students;” a job it has done exceedingly well, as the recently received 40 awards from the Kansas Collegiate Media attests; more than peers at Kansas State University and the University of Kansas. The Sunflower provides applied learning experiences (a key component of the University’s strategic plan) by giving students hands-on roles as reporters, editors, photographers, opinion writers, and designers — skills they will retain whatever career path they choose. Finally, the claim by administrators that declining advertising revenue has led to the funding cuts are disingenuous at best. As The Sunflower’s budget request showed, student fee allocations to the newspaper are in-line with what other university media sources receive in Kansas. Moreover, the relationship between advertising revenue and student fees contributions do not support the administration’s claims. In 2007, The Sunflower received $136,930 from advertising and $151,303 from student fees. In 2011, it received $81,307 from advertising and $153,000 from student fees. In 2016, it received $59,076.35 and $153,000. Across a decade, while advertising revenue has dropped (and correspondingly The Sunflower’s budget), nonetheless, student fees
You are like a hurricane
ONLINE www.thesunflower.com
TWITTER @sunflowernews
LETTER to the EDITOR
contributions have remained roughly the same: it is not declining advertising revenue this year which has led to funding cuts but administrative fiat. But more to the point: even if advertising revenue was a cause, the university funds countless projects that do not turn a profit because the purpose of a public university is not to make a profit but to invest in the future: our students. The entire affair raises serious questions. If the cuts against the newspaper were not punitive, why was The Sunflower singled out for the largest cuts? An equitable solution would be to cut all student organizations by the same percentage. If the goal was to keep student fees low, why were student fees raised to pay for the YMCA? Why does Teri Hall have a large — and increasing — budget at a time of student fee reductions? Why was this “shrinkage account” (which is funding President Bardo’s advertising solution) not part of the budget discussion when allocating resources? In his public statement, President Bardo states that the funding of student newspapers is a “conversation that’s happening, or has already taken place, on many campuses.” Where is this discussion occurring? Why does it not include The Sunflower staff, the larger student body, and interested stakeholders from the University and Wichita community? Alumni and the community have spoken out repeatedly against the cuts to The Sunflower; why are they continuously ignored? The faculty senate unanimously passed a resolution in support of The Sunflower and a call to restore the newspaper’s funding. Why has the president’s office not responded to faculty concerns? The administration keeps talking about transparency in university decision-making. The events surrounding The Sunflower funding cuts suggest that the university position is just that — talk. Meanwhile, yet another valuable resource at Wichita State University is endangered and its students are once again the victims.
The Flight 100.5 offers glint of rock radio hope
A
new addition to the Kansas airwaves is shaking things up. Thurs. Dec. 28, 2017 — KVFW Frequency 100.5 FM The Flight went live to the greater central Kansas region with its opening track: “I Won’t Back Down” by Tom Petty. The song decision was nothing if not poignant in the wake of Petty’s death two months prior. “It seemed to capture our strategy,” KVWF General Manager Jeff McCausland said. McCausland said The Flight is a platform that’s “going up against huge corporate radio conglomerates.” Upon hearing this, I was immediately struck by the station’s somewhat against-the-grain initiative. Since the stations’ inception this winter, four important features are to be noted. One, KVWF has been on the air for four months, during which time the station has been nearly vacant in terms of advertisements which would otherwise annoy the bejesus
MATT COOPER COLUMNIST
out of listeners. Two, The Flight broadcasts under the Adult Alternative Album format, one of a handful of stations in Central and Western Kansas to have recently done so. This is crucially important to listeners of rock music in general because it encompasses not only rock ‘n’ roll but also blues, post-punk, alternative, reggae, and rhythm and blues genres as well. Third, 100.5 hosts a daily track listing which is rarely repetitive. Only rarely will the listener by subject to musical déjà vu during the third shift airwave hours of the evening. This runs in stark opposition to the masturbatory antics of Alt.107.3 throwing on the likes of “Dani California” multiple times per day and 104.5 Rock Station having a
somewhat unhealthy relationship with Rush’s “Fly by Night.” The Flight’s emcees seem to have a rather adult understanding that listeners underneath the invisible umbrella of the airwaves are perceptive to the music which is offered them. This acknowledgement is refreshing. It is worth celebrating that the liberality with which the original rock radio DJs in the 1950s hooked an entire nation on the FM dials is receiving attention. Finally — and this one I admit is ripe with subjectivity — The Flight succeeds in rolling out songs over the frequency spectrum which afflict one with reminiscences, reflections and a sense of nostalgia for the melodies which made up the sum of childhoods from an entire generation. I don’t remember where I was the first time I heard The Black Crowes or Johnny Cash, the sagacious poetry of Bob Dylan or the first moment my ears took in Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. That heart-rending memory of my father scolding me for pilfering through his record collection and nabbing his treasured copy of Sgt. Pepper — these flickers in time are transients in the grand scheme of it all. Coasting to class each morning,
with the dial flipped to 100.5, these memories flutter back. The Flight is exemplifying its purpose as a medium of cultural espousal and in this case, one of musical consumption. In the end it struck me as unique that a radio platform would pay homage to the likes Petty and keep doing so four months into their existence. In writing this review I listened to their frequency and little else for an entire day. Throughout the duration of April 8, the following tracks played on 100.5: “The Man Comes Around” Johnny Cash 4:15 p.m. “Tupelo Honey” - Van Morrison 5:50 p.m. “Plush” - StoneTemple Pilots 6:31 p.m. “Glass Onion” - The Beatles 6:51 p.m. “She Talks to Angels” - The Black Crowes 6:56 p.m. “Under Pressure” - Queen Featuring David Bowie 8:49 p.m. “Steal My Kisses - Ben Harper 9:23 p.m. “Rocket Man” - Elton John 10:43 p.m. “Like a Hurricane”- Neil Young and Crazy Horse 10:55 p.m. “Bron-Y-Aur-Stomp”-Led Zeppelin 11:15 p.m.
CULTURE
www.thesunflower.com
2
THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018
OPINION
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Performing with Wichita State’s South Asian dance troupe breaks down social barriers
formed at a 9/11 unity dance. Pakistani and Caucasian gathering hosted by Global Forget what religion they descent. Ragini Faith In Action, a local were—they just wanted to At the “Aloha!” luau Venkatasubban organization that promotes dance. hosted by International In the bringing all religions Dance crosses all Student Union last week, Column by decade When my cousin Anjana together. religions, races, cultures the featured Polynesian MATT COOPER/THE SUNFLOWER austin since nd I founded The Mayfield hour-long show andYakisoba boundaries. were Senior Frank KutilekShocker (Left) and Sophomore Forrest whip up a batch of Japanese during Inter-Fest on Tuesday dancers afternoon. The twomulti-racial. were one of many who publiclyColbert prepared and served dishes 9/11, w Shakthi, Wichita State’s Student The spring opening of International bore witness to idealprayer, weather. This came in comparison to years’I’m past which have been subject to inclement weather. The Shocker lunch crowd took notice. included Jewish Even though What brought them have a first South Asian dance devotional Christian songs, Indian, I’ve done ballet together? Dance. been inundated with eam, in the fall of 2008, Islamic expression and since age 3, a dance that At the luau, the DJ played information about th our only motivation was a Hindu chanting. originated in France. I’ve bhangra, a type of Indian Middle East. desire to bring Indian Our dance team, which taken zumba, hip hop, music so upbeat you can’t The media constan usion dance to the is made up of many tap, jazz, African dance, help but dance. The dance throws out terms like Midwest. different cultures, chose belly dance, modern floor exploded with Sunni, Shia and Ram Compared to other three songs that represent dance and so many others. international and domestic dan. By now, most of universities on the east and remembrance,Abdulkareem struggle and Dance breaks down BY MATT COOPER talked about the magic students alike who came understand the dictio west coasts, which freof her home country’s dish: jollof rice. hope—the three themes of barriers because it’s only together just for dance. ary definitions of the quently host Indiantarting dance at 11 a.m.the the sounds “It’s the nation dish,”achieved Abdulkareem event.of by lowering your “There is a bit of terms and peoples. ompetitions and shows, K-Pop music and the appe-our performance, said. “People notice theinhibitions—and taste. It’s savory After when insanity in dancing that But do we truly tizing smell and you don’t want to stop eating it WSU didn’t have much of a of international many people congratulated that happens, any predoes everybody a great understand what it cuisine airfor between onceayou are full.”conceived notions about presence. We wanted to filled theus showingeven them deal of good,” said means to follow Islam Neff Hall and the Rhatigan Student Jollof rice is a west African variation hange that. snippet of our culture. religion and race autoAmerican dance critic Have we really reache Center last Tuesday. of pot rice deriving its name from the As we started performing What really struck us, matically get lowered as Edwin Denby. proper acceptance an The source was International Wolof Empire which round Wichita, however, however, werewest theAfrican Muslim well. And maybe that’s what understanding of Student Union’s bi-annual InterFest. Catholic ruled from the fourteenthTake throughShakthi—we’ve nother purpose came into gentleman, brings people together in Muslim culture? Each year, ISU hosts a take on sixteenth century. The dish consists of play—bringing the world woman and countless had dancers of Indian, dance—putting our If your answer is ye representing culture, cuisine and steamed rice, curry, thyme and ginger ogether through dance. others who asked if we African, Vietnamese, brains to rest and acting those who adhere to music from around the world. Fifteen seasoned shrimp, mixed with carrots, Sunday, Shakthi percould teach them how to Chinese, Cambodian, from the heart. international student organizations onions and chili peppers. Islam might disagree. took part and provided culinary Jollof rice boasts a natural color “I claim to be Arab samplings from their representative palette with its wide array of vegetables American more than countries. and spices. Muslim-American, ju Varying dishes were offered “People back home, they are willing because of discrimina underneath pitched tents, including to fight for it,” she added. tion reasons,” said Di samplings from India, Saudi Arabia, The weather for Tuesday’s festival Hammouri, a junior i Nepal, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Japan, was bright, clear with a hint of breeze. political science at Pakistan, Nigeria, India and Sri Lanka. It was nothing less than conducive to Wichita State. “I don Dishes varied in price from $1 to $3 a successful undertaking on the part want people to judge per serving. of ISU. based on my religion ISU President Srikanth Gampa said ISU adviser Alan Dsouza commentMATT COOPER/THE SUNFLOWER even my nationality.” detail was given to weather ofin… $449 billion. dramatically and numerous InterFest is a welcomed every intercultural, ed on the fitting compariSenior Frank Kutilek (Left) and Sophomore Forrest Mayfield whip up a batch of Hammouri was bor Column by Oh, and this Japanese would all be during other programs willafternoon. have toThe two were one of face-to-face platform. the press. son to years’ past. Yakisoba InterFest on Tuesday and raised in the U.S many who publicly and served dishes to attendees. Derek“It cuts down on the virtuality,” His plan is ambitious. paid adding to prepared be cut. “One of the issues we face for is without but her family is orig blair Gampa said. weather,” “Today we are Nearly $250 billion inDsouza tax said.the deficit. That isn’t so bad on the nally from Palestine, He said playing a rolecuts, in InterFest We ordered this weather.” at theof it, until you experience,” he said. “The students more jobsblessed. for teachers, How can thisthe beInterfest done? offeringsface rememwas an honor. Japan Culture Association’s Mediterranean food tent. know their spices well.” region of the Middle President Barack Obama firemen and cops,From massive That is an amazingly good ber how long it took East centered primari “I get to differentof money offerings of yakisoba boba tea, becauseVizzini said that each year he eagerheld a joint session ofsee people from amounts spent to and question, it remains Congress to come In tothe a end, a sign hanging from around the countries experience food,roads and roastbridges, mutton tahari, and tuna kebabs by lythe returns to ISU’s culinary selection at aIndian Student Association’s food tent Congress on cultures Thursday to different rebuild unanswered Obama decision to cut few billion Israel and Jordan. and we don’t wantspending to miss to Bangladesh and chicken shawarma InterFest. hare his planmusic to fix in a new super fast administration, who say it dollars from theepitomized budget. the event. She is a practicing anything,” Gampa said. compliments of Palestine, attendees Two simple words were the summa“Food is the ingredient that binds us America. His plan was very rail system, and investments will be answered “soon.” You know, nearly six Some hostofparticipants implored seemed content with InterFest’s tion of Vizzini’sisreasonmonths for attendance: together,” the sign read. Muslim, meaning she ecretive until the day in green energy. The only plausible answer of intense partisan fasts and prays as InterFest guests to try their offerings. “theraised food.” “All you need is egg biryani, he speech, when almost Alldishes for the low, low price that taxes will be fighting for each party’s with a fervor difficult to ignore. Provost and Senior Vice President “It’s good and there are so many pineapple pudding and required stuffed gulabby Islam. priorities. And despite the Nigerian student Maryam Tony Vizzini also indulged in different foods to try and flavors to jamun.” Why did the Obama progress made since administration decide to 9/11, Hammouri still go with this plan? finds herself ridiculed Well, because they need for her faith. to do something to deal “We get a lot of with this economic crisis, right-wing people, and putting more money right-wing Christians who don’t really accep Please see Obama on the Muslim faith,” sh page 4 Column by
‘Food is the ingredient that binds us together’
S
Obama’s jobs speech strong in delivery, but weak in content
WSU community partakes in Holocaust commemoration BY ALIYAH FUNSCHELLE
The fear of history repeating itself was a common theme in Tuesday night’s Holocaust commemoration at Wichita State The theme was ever-present in speeches and participation from Mayor Jeff Longwell, Interim Provost Richard Muma, the MidKansas Jewish Federation (MKJF) and the event featured speaker, Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff. Muma said WSU is a special place for groups to be able to raise awareness and remembrance. “Wichita State is a special place, a place to support organizations such as [MKJF],” Muma said. “We must apply the lessons of the holocaust to today’s world because everyone deserves protection and rights.” Longwell kicked off the event
with a proclamation on behalf of the city of Wichita. He stated: “We the people of Wichita should always remember the terrible events of the Holocaust and remain vigilant against hatred, persecution and tyranny,” Longwell said. “We should actively rededicate ourselves to the principles of individual freedom in a just society.” Resnicoff, a Navy Chaplain, earned the Defense Superior Service Medal for his work with military and civilian leaders throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East while serving as the Command Chaplain for the U.S. European Command. He also served in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. “So many terrible things happened [in the Holocaust] it’s almost unbelievable,” Resnicoff said. “First of all, you don’t want history to repeat itself.”
Resnicoff remains hopeful for the future. He believes it all comes down to remembrance of the past in order to make a better future. “We can be better than history,” Resnicoff said. “We can learn the lessons and make a better future than the past.” In addition to the speakers, seven community members were asked to light a candle and speak in memory of the lives lost in the Holocaust. Rhenee Clark Swing, a graduate student from the history department, was chosen as the WSU student representative. Clark Swing said rememberance of history is the key to not repeating it. “It’s important to remember because it can happen again if we don’t remember what has happened and the events that led to that,” she said.
— Best Bicycle shop —
President of Ambassadors for Diversity and Inclusion selected as a ‘Phenomenal Woman’ for 2018
Natesan described her experience with Kavya Natesan, student groups like ODI, president of the amthe Pre-Medical Student !"#$%#&'"#(%)*# bassadors for diversity Association and the Student and inclusion, is one of Ambassadors Society as !"#$!%&'()*$+',-./$01'(.! the Office of Diversity “diversified.” +'"%,#!"#$%&'()*+,-(./'(0(1(2345(+-6and Inclusion’s three “My experience at NATESAN “Phenomenal Women” of Wichita State has truly been # +'),(788(9:;<:,%(),%,*(9"6*# 2018. transformative,” Natesan said. As a senior +'-&,#="6*$:%#(>:?*@(ABC,"#'(?%8B%D8* biology major at “I came into Wichita State wanting Wichita State,!"#$%&$"&'$()"*+&,)-./,&!++0)+1&2$$3&43!5)+1 Natesan is studying to be a doctor, and that’s the only with a pre-medical emphasis, and that I was focused on, getting my E:F,(D%EC'(C#%;GC'(HB:,(C6"G:#E(G:,C aspires to practice medicine. clinical experiences, not really look“When they announced my ing at extracurricular involvement.” +'.,#I"(<*8+(&"B(8:?*(%(8"#E'(<%++&(J name, I couldn’t believe it,” D*%B,:FB8(8:F* Natesan said. SEE DIVERSITY PAGE 4 +'"/",#ABE<*C(!*,@"+"8:,%# BY DANIEL CAUDILL
="6+8*K'(L5ML(N(.2,<(),(O
The Wichita Symphony Presents
THE PLANETS Holst’s THE PLANETS perfectly choreographed with NASA imagery above the Wichita Symphony.
2011
positions
SGA Standing Senate
Campus issues/organiza
&
ORIGINAL ROUND CARRY OUT PLUS TAX
SGA Faculty Senate C
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SPORTS
4 | THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2018
www.thesunflower.com
TRACK AND FIELD
SELENA FAVELA/THE SUNFLOWER
Wichita State’s Jake Horsch throws discus on Wednesday, the second day of the K.T. Woodman Classic at Cessna Stadium.
SELENA FAVELA/THE SUNFLOWER
Left, Wichita State’s Kendra Henry throws in the javelin event on the second day of the K.T. Woodman Classic. Above, Wichita State freshman Miles Griffith pole vaults during the second day of the K.T. Woodman Classic.
EXPANSION
FROM PAGE 1
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DIVERSITY
FROM PAGE 3
After becoming involved with several student organizations, Natesan said she “really understood the importance of leadership, but also the scope of involvement.” Natesan served as a student senator during her second and third years at Wichita State. In 2015, she was crowned Miss Black and Gold during Alpha Phi Alpha’s annual pageant. “It’s essentially a pageant that helps women understand how to . . . embody the confidence that they already have,” Natesan said. “To help you understand how critical it is to be an empowered woman and what exactly that means.” Natesan now helps out with the Miss Black and Gold pageant every year. Through her work with ODI, Natesan said she developed a better understanding of “the scope of diversity,” and how that could be important as a physician. “If I’m helping treat marginalized populations, helping their communities and sustaining them, [diversity] is a really important part of that,” Natesan said. “I wouldn’t have even recognized that if it wasn’t for the office.” ODI Program Coordinator Danielle Johnson said that Natesan has “really helped mold the mission of the organization.” “As far as her presence at the office, she has come in daily, and really showcased her leadership with other students,” Johnson said. “She really walks her talk by being a leader in several capacities.” Natesan said she ultimately
rate which could also increase the cost estimate, below. Please confirm that you would like for us to proceed with pulling such records and deposit $750 of the estimated $1,500, as directed by WSU policy 20.01. A final bill will be remitted when the documents are ready for delivery. Moses did not respond to two email responses this week to his estimate asking “if there’s a cheaper solution to finding out how a university entity spends and receives money on behalf of the state of Kansas.”
hopes to practice intersectional medicine, which “[combines] community engagement and advocacy” with standard medical practice. “I think of [the ODI Phenomenal Women Award] as not just a representation of what I’ve accomplished thus far, but more of an emblem of what I need to continue doing,” Natesan said. Natesan said there is a “huge discrepancy between the administration’s perception of the student body, and how exactly the student body wants that to be addressed.” “There’s a lot that’s happening that students don’t have a say in,” Natesan said. “We have bodies like SGA, but I think the scope of that is somewhat limited.”
“THERE’S A LOT THAT’S HAPPENING THAT STUDENTS DON’T HAVE A SAY IN. WE HAVE BODIES LIKE SGA, BUT I THINK THE SCOPE OF THAT IS SOMEWHAT LIMITED.” —KAVYA NATESAN
For this reason, Natesan said that it was important for the WSU administration to be open to the student body in all of its decisions. Natesan described issues of transparency with the WSU administration, citing a Sunflower article about heavily redacted records obtained through the Kansas Open Records Act. “In the case of transparency, truly working towards making this a student-focused institution and being able to involve students in all facets of administrative decision-making is the most important part,” Natesan said.