The Sunflower v.122 i.58

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THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018 • VOL. 122, ISS. 58

THESUNFLOWER.COM

WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1896.

‘THAT’S NOT WHO WE ARE’

WSU letter ends Butler’s plans for downtown culinary program BY RAY STRUNK

Wichita State thwarted Butler Community College’s bid to take over the old fire station on South Topeka in Downtown Wichita for its Hospitality and Culinary Arts program. After it was announced midApril that Butler was one of two finalists to occupy the space, David Moses, WSU’s general counsel, delivered a cease-anddesist letter to Butler President, Kimberly Krull, saying Butler would need WSU’s approval to offer courses outside its service area. The letter said WSU did not approve of the project and Butler would be breaking the law if it moved forward with it. Butler announced April 30 it would no longer be in consideration for the project. Butler currently hosts its hospitality and culinary arts classes at Boston Park in southeast Wichita, with permission from WSU. The letter from Moses said the proposed downtown project was in direct conflict with WSU’s plans to develop a hospitality programming through a collaboration with WSU Tech, formerly Wichita Area Technical College. The program will not be housed in the downtown fire station. The Wichita City Council will decide who takes over the building. Krull told the Wichita Eagle that Butler, WSU, and WSU Tech were discussing the possibility of a collaboration for the culinary arts project.

BRIAN HAYES/THE SUNFLOWER

President John Bardo talks about the state of the university and the direction it is headed in during an Unclassified Professional Senate meeting in Hubbard Hall.

‘Do we wish we were an elite little liberal arts college?’

P

resident Bardo presented to a group of Wichita State’s unclassified professional employees, and spoke heavily of the role of the liberal arts in the STEMfocused direction of Innovation Campus. The Unclassified Professional Senate held its spring general meeting Wednesday night, drawing a crowd of about 110 attendees. Bardo said creating “an elite little liberal arts college” at WSU “ain’t

gonna work.” “Do we wish we were an elite little liberal arts college?” Bardo said to the crowd. “That’s not who we are. “We’re educating people like you and me who have to go to work for a living.” Bardo said Fairmount College — what WSU was formerly known as — was founded “to serve the working people of Wichita, not to serve the intellectual elite.” He said technology was a key

part in that. “When we look at tomorrow, what we know is that technology is going to continue to underwrite everything that happens. And it’s going to continue to spread.” He said that “big science” will drive the future. “We also know that the vast majority of federal funds and almost all private money is in applied research and development,” Bardo said. Bardo addressed criticism of the university’s heavy focus on business and engineering. “There are people who don’t like businesses being on campus,” Bardo said. “Fairmount College survived because some businesses

in Wichita underwrote it. Because the reality is, times were always hard in Wichita.” Bardo said that headcount “doesn’t mean much anymore.” “When I started here, I worried a lot about headcount because that’s how we counted. I don’t worry about it much anymore,” Bardo said. After Bardo finished speaking, Interim Provost Rick Muma gave a presentation on WSU’s enrollment goals and the importance of increasing enrollment as a source of revenue for the university. Muma presented on the strategic enrollment plan, which sets a goal of 18,000 students at WSU by 2020.

Provost candidate stresses Third LAS dean candidate: importance of liberal arts value of an LAS degree is rising BY ANDREW LINNABARY

SELENA FAVELA/THE SUNFLOWER

Provost and Chief Academic Officer candidate Dr. Hesham El-Rewini answers questions during public forum held in Hubbard Hall Wednesday afternoon. BY DANIEL CAUDILL

Hesham El-Rewini, a candidate for provost and chief academic officer at Wichita State, visited campus Wednesday and spoke at a public forum as part of his candidacy. El-Rewini currently serves as senior vice provost and dean of the college of engineering and mines at the University of North Dakota. “At this stage in my career, I have been drawn to the human aspect of leadership,” El-Rewini said. “Lately, I’ve been more interested in the topics of mindfulness, self-awareness, self-reflection, empathy, these kinds of things.” El-Rewini said that as funds from the state and federal governments have decreased in recent years, it has

put pressure on universities to rely on other sources for funding. El-Rewini said that a majority of universities in the United States will overcome contemporary financial challenges, and those who “employ innovation” will “thrive and prosper.” “The Innovation Campus is a great thing. We need to engage more people, not only engineering and business people.” El-Rewini said. “Liberal arts and sciences, education, others need to be part of this movement for innovation.” El-Rewini stressed advocacy for the arts and humanities departments, and that all departments should be funded sufficiently. “Our role is, of course, to SEE PROVOST PAGE 4

Orlando Pérez, the third of four candidates for dean of the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, presented to Wichita State faculty and staff members as part of the dean search committee selection process Monday. If chosen, Pérez will replace current dean Ron Matson, who is retiring after 48 years at WSU. Pérez, associate dean of the college of arts, humanities and social sciences at Millersville University in Pennsylvania, used his presentation to stress that if the college of LAS wants to thrive, it must have a “shared vision” with the Innovation Campus and other areas of WSU. “When you look at the (WSU Foundation’s) website, and you look at the $200 million goal and look at all the areas, it’s hard to find LAS in there,” Pérez said. “The key to LAS on the Innovation Campus is to think of ways we can work collaboratively.” LAS must have “meaningful engagement,” Pérez said, with other areas of campus — particularly those in STEM — to create a “shared vision.” Administration must understand the challenges and goals of each individual college, he said. “Administration once tried

SELENA FAVELA/THE SUNFLOWER

Orlando Perez speaks in a public forum Monday afternoon in Hubbard Hall. Perez is a dean candidate for LAS.

to engage me in perfunctory engagement, and I didn’t like it,” Pérez said. “I’m into stepping into the shoes of the people I’m trying to lead.” It’s important for LAS to remember that science “is an integral part of liberal arts,” Pérez said. “When you think about STEM, the ‘S’ is actually mired in the declining enrollment in liberal arts. We’re in the same boat together — and we either sink or float together.” If selected as dean, Pérez said he would strive to be “transparent and accountable” and “willing to answer to what I say and what I do.” He said his approach would be to start conversations early in his tenure with “chairs, department heads, faculty, students, and staff” about what direction to take the college in and what challenges the college faces. Pérez said leadership is “how you inspire faculty and staff to

work through the challenges and build opportunity.” Deans don’t do much by themselves, Pérez said. “The staff, faculty, and programs are what are moving things forward.” Pérez said the key to excelling and motivating faculty is support by leadership and administration. “If I’m not supported by the administration adequately, then why should I do extra things and be engaging if I’m not being treated right?” After outlining his plan for the LAS college if chosen as dean, Pérez had time for questions from attendees. He was asked about grant funding, which he said is an essential role of the dean’s office. “It’s part of the expectation of supporting newcomers,” Pérez said. Jeffrey Hershfield, chair of the SEE LAS DEAN PAGE 4

INSIDE

KEEPER OF ELLIOTT

COMMUNITY CHAMPION

KOREAN CLASSICS

The Kansas Legislature passed a bill requiring open student fees meetings.

Bill Molash is the tatted biker guy that holds down Elliott Hall.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s Alicia Sanchez will be recognized in Topeka.

Try this tasty spot for classic Korean cuisine.

NEWS • PAGE 2

NEWS • PAGE 3

CULTURE • PAGE 4

CULTURE • PAGE 7

OPEN MEETINGS FOR ALL


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