The Sunflower v.122 i.53

Page 1

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2018 • VOL. 122, ISS. 53

THESUNFLOWER.COM

WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1896.

‘NO RECOURSE TO SAY NO’

Innovation Alliance attorney fields faculty questions BY CHANCE SWAIM

After giving a brief presentation on the nonprofit managing public-private partnerships on Innovation Campus last month, the nonprofit’s attorney returned to Wichita State’s Faculty Senate to answer questions. Stacia Boden, general counsel for Wichita State Innovation Alliance and associate general counsel for Wichita State, fielded questions Monday from faculty about Innovation Campus development. Questions ranged from where the money comes from to operate the

nonprofit to why there has been no student or faculty input on decisions about the campus expansion project that, according to the latest master plan, will bring 27 new builds on campus. Boden, who is not a member of the Innovation Alliance board and does not have a voting role in decisions about Innovation Campus, provided a few new pieces of information. Betty Smith-Campbell, an at-large senator, asked Boden about a for-profit corporation that’s tied to the Innovation Alliance non-profit, called Wichita State Innovation

Alliance Investments Corporation. Boden said the university was advised by legal attorneys and accountants to establish a for-profit entity so “if we had any for-profit ventures or business, we could run it through that. “There are some things that as a university, as a state agency, and then IA (Innovation Alliance) as a nonprofit agency, we are restricted under tax code from doing.” Boden said the for-profit entity will be “serving as the investment arm of any spin-off intellectual property businesses that come out of the university.”

“Such as, for example, if a faculty member were to invent something here at the campus and a patent was created and a faculty member wanted to do a spin-off business, we have various entities through the university to help facilitate, promote, trade that, including filing for the patents, at which stage there might be a faculty start-up interest. “We might, in exchange for helping them get to that point, take an equity interest in that start-up company, and that would be held by IC, because that’s a for-profit function,” Boden said. Smith-Campbell followed-up by

asking if the board for the for-profit corporation was the same as the board for the nonprofit, because it’s not listed on the university’s website. Boden said she could see if it was on the Innovation Alliance website and if not the two of them “can have a conversation.” “I will tell you it’s only one board member of IC (Innovation Alliance Investments Corporation), though, and that’s Dr. Bardo,” Boden said. Boden then answered a question about a different subject, but several senators were visibly surprised at her

SEE FACULTY SENATE PAGE 3

MATT CROW/THE SUNFLOWER

Aleks Sternfeld-Dunn speaks at Faculty Senate. Sternfeld-Dunn was promoted to the director position in the school of music.

Sternfeld-Dunn promoted to director of school of music BY ANDREW LINNABARY

SELENA FAVELA/THE SUNFLOWER

Associate professor Aleks Sternfeld-Dunn has been chosen as director of Wichita State’s school of music, effective in June. He will succeed Russ Widener, who is retiring after 37 years at WSU. Sternfeld-Dunn grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, was educated on both coasts and wound up in the middle of the country. He joined WSU’s faculty in 2011 and has taught composition, electronic music, and music theory. He came to WSU after completing his doctorate in composition with a minor in music theory from the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut. He holds a masters in composition from Washington State University and a bachelors from California State University East Bay. Sternfeld-Dunn also serves on Faculty Senate as a fine arts senator representing the school

Sajjad Naqvi plays guitar and sings during Pakistan Night in the Beggs Ballroom at the Rhatigan.

S

BY DANIEL CAUDILL

tudents from the Pakistani Student Association (PSA) hosted a cultural celebration for the nation that many of them call home. Pakistan Night was held in the ballroom of the Rhatigan Student Center, adorned with green and white national flags. “I love Pakistan, and that’s why I’m promoting it,” PSA President Zehdan Qidwai said. At Pakistan Night, the Pakistani national anthem, folk songs, and pop tunes were sang in Urdu. “A lot of people from other cultures won’t be able to understand, but they will get the idea of what type of music people play in Pakistan,” Qidwai said. Pakistan Night attendees chose from popular Pakistani dishes, including a type of flatbread called

Pakistani Student Association hosts event to share and celebrate nation’s culture naan and biryani, a spicy rice dish traditionally served with meat and vegetables. “We have [biryani] at every single festival, any special occasion, or religious festival, or cultural festival” Qidwai said. “We have to have a biryani because a lot of people like biryani and even non-Pakistani people are familiar with it.” Born and raised in Pakistan, Qidwai moved to the United States in 2015 to pursue a mechanical engineering degree at Wichita State. “The college of engineering is really good, and I heard really good things about Wichita State,” Qidwai

SHOCKERS COME BACK FOR 15-7 WIN

said. “Being an international student, we pay a lot more fees than people that are paying in-state tuition, and we don’t get any grants or any type of scholarships, so … I thought Wichita would be one of the most cost-effective places to live.” PSA Treasurer Muhammad Rohail Jamil, also originally from Pakistan, said that the most difficult part of moving to the United States was only being able to see his family over winter break during the school year. “Thank God for technology SEE PAKISTAN NIGHT PAGE 2

LAS dean candidates to visit campus BY JENNA FARHAT

SELENA FAVELA/THE SUNFLOWER

Wichita State’s Jordan Boyer rounds third base during the third game of the weekend series against UConn Sunday afternoon at Eck Stadium.

SEE ONLINE GALLERY AT SUNFLOWER.COM

of music. His music combines a “frenetic rhythmic language, lean textures and lyrical sensitivity,” his website says. His compositions are performed in the United States and Europe by groups like Composers Inc., The Kiev Philharmonic, The Conundrum Ensemble, the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra and the Interlochen Chamber Players. In addition to composing, Sternfeld-Dunn is a conductor and string bassist. He has conducted orchestras, wind ensembles, and theatre productions. As a bassist he has held positions in several San Francisco Bay Area Orchestras, as well as numerous jazz bands. Sternfeld-Dunn also serves A Google search on SternfeldDunn was telling — in addition to WSU links, top results included links to his music on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music, websites to buy sheet music of his work.

Four candidates have been selected for the position of dean of Wichita State’s Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The candidates will visit campus and speak at a public forum starting this week through early next month. The second candidate, Leslie Brothers, will be on campus today and Tuesday. Brothers will hold a public presentation at 3 p.m. today in 210 McKnight. Brothers is the director of the McDonough Museum of Art, Youngstown, Ohio. The first candidate, Andrew Hippisley, chair of linguistics at the University of Kentucky, was on campus last Thursday. He will

speak at a public forum Monday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Hubbard Hall room 231. Tomorrow, he will meet with students and faculty from the college of liberal arts and sciences. The other finalists are Robert Matz, interim dean of the college of humanities and social sciences at George Mason University; Orlando Perez, associate dean of the college of arts, humanities, and social sciences at Millsersville University of Pennsylvania; and Bessie HouseSoremekun, associate dean and professor of political science at Jackson State University. Current dean of the WSU college of liberal arts and sciences Ron Matson will retire at the end of the school year after 48 years at the university.

IF YOU GO WHERE: Hubbard Hall 231

WHEN: 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Mon., April 16.

ABOUT THE CANDIDATE: Leslie Brothers is the director of the McDonough Museum of Art in Youngstown, Ohio.

SNEAK PEEK:

Youtube: “Mattering is key to innovation: Leslie Brothers at TEDxYoungstown”

INSIDE

MYSTERIES OF LIFE

SUSPENSEFULLY QUIET

50 YEARS SISTERS

Wichita State charges prohibitive prices for public records.

Staff writer Agnes Corrigan dives into the greatest mysteries of life.

‘A Quiet Place’ uses suspense and surprise like Alfred Hitchcock.

Kansas-Paraguay exchange program celebrates 50 successful years.

OPINION • PAGE 2

OPINION • PAGE 2

OPINION • PAGE 2

CULTURE • PAGE 3

INNOVATIVE OPACITY


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