The Sunflower v. 128 i. 1 (August 21, 2023)

WSU to prioritize boosting economy, affordability

Food delivery robots introduced, able to deliver campus eats

BY TALIYAH WINN tmwinn03@gmail.com

Wichita State students can now skip the walk to the Rhatigan Student Center and befriend a small robot due to a partnership with Starship Technologies.

Starting on Aug. 14, the Starship Delivery service has offered options from the following on-campus restaurants: Panda Express, Freddy’s Frozen Custard, RSC Starbucks, Tu Taco, Cargill Cafe, Market at Groundhouse, and Black & Gold Grill.

The roots are woken up in the morning and taken to a loading zone. From there, they operate independently but need help with the door. Each restaurant has a designated ticket printer dedicated to the robots, and after completing orders, employees scan the robot’s QR codes to confirm accurate delivery.

To order from the service, students must download the Starship Deliveries app, which offers a $2.49 delivery anywhere on campus. The service coordinates with the student meal plan, allowing students to use dining dollars and shocker dollars, along with credit cards.

Once users order from a range of food options, they drop a pin, and the delivery service begins. Users are then able to track their robotic deliveries on an interactable map, and are notified when their deliveries arrive. Then, users are able to unlock the robot’s delivery compartment with the app.

According to Jamie Kraisinger, senior director of WSU Dining Services, this project has been three years in the making with many certifications and permissions required to have the robots on campus.

“We are looking forward to the

cold weather because I think it (Starship Delivery) will ease the flexibility with the food desert at the Flats and the Suites … bringing it to their door and not having to get out on a cold day,” Kraisinger said.

Since the start of the week, students are starting to notice the traveling robots.

Yumi Kikuch, a first year graduate student in the Innovation and Design program, said she was interested in the new delivery robots.

“I actually feel pretty excited. Maybe it’s because of my background in mechatronics,” Kikuch said.

Kas Kurtis, sophomore biology and forensic science student, said they were surprised WSU would offer a robot delivery service.

“I’m intrigued. I’ve heard nothing about them so they kind of showed up,” Kurtis said.

WSU is the newest campus to receive Starship Delivery robots, but colleges such as University of Wisconsin-Madison, UCLA, University of Illinois Chicago, Bowling Green State University, and many others across the country have already implemented robot delivery services.

There are currently 13 delivery robots in service at WSU, with the possibility for more depending on demand. On its first day of operations, the service completed over 20 orders.

Kelly Linenberger, director of marketing for WSU dining services, expects to see an increase in orders when school starts and people are moved in, expecting to make over 100 deliveries a week.

More information about the Starship Delivery robots can be found on the Starship Technologies website.

New and old campus restaurants opening before fall semester

BY MIA HENNEN editor@thesunflower.com

After a brief goodbye to the Rhatigan Student Center’s Chickfil-A, the restaurant reopened on Aug. 12 with new hours and dining options. The RSC will also see a new student-choice restaurant: Tu Taco.

The RSC Chick-fil-A closed at the end of May to undergo renovations. The restaurant exterior has been updated to house kiosks, which people can order on if they want to skip the line.

The restaurant also now serves breakfast and more lunch and dinner options that align with freestanding Chick-fil-As.

Tu Taco opened on Aug. 14 as well. The restaurant was voted

MISSION

in by students in the spring and replaced Brkfst & Co.

The Mexican-inspired restaurant features build-your-own tacos and bowls and chips and dip. Food will cost around or under $10.

The restaurant falls under Chartwells Higher Education, a dining service. Chartwells creates restaurant concepts for universities and colleges across the nation. Other college campuses have housed Tu Taco as well.

Chick-fil-A will typically be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tu Taco will usually be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both restaurants’ hours can be viewed on the Dine On Campus website.

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BY COURTNEY BROWN newsprojects@thesunflower.com

President Rick Muma did an impression of Ted Lasso, a fictional Wichita State soccer coach, during his speech at the 2023 Faculty and Staff Fall Address on Aug. 16.

“Success is about helping these young fellas … be the best versions of themselves on and off the field,” Muma said, impersonating the Apple TV+ character before continuing in his regular voice. “We’re here to ensure student success, however they might define it.”

Muma expanded on previous speakers’ points at the address, who discussed this year’s priorities: access and affordability, supporting Kansas businesses with a talent pipeline and increasing economic prosperity.

Muma said Wichita State has celebrated a record enrollment of 21,942 students in 2022 — the highest in 30 years, according to Shirley Lefever, executive vice president and provost.

“Most universities were grappling with steady declines, and we grew our research all the way to almost $300 million this last year,” Muma said. “We did that together.”

Muma also highlighted the Innovation Campus and the recently approved Wichita Biomedical Campus, planned to

BY ALLISON CAMPBELL news@thesunflower.com

As students new and old flock to campus for the start of the fall semester, some are raising concerns regarding one of the highest tuition increases amongst Kansas universities in recent years.

Earlier this summer, the Kansas Board of Regents approved a 5.9% increase in tuition for Wichita State University.

The percentage translates to a $13 per credit hour increase for in-state students and a $32 increase for out-of-state students.

Compared to the six other universities in the KBOR system, WSU has the second-highest percent increase. The last tuition increase, the reportedly lowest tuition increase request in 30 years, was for 1% in 2021..

Fort Hays State University, one of the six universities in the KBOR system, had the highest percent increase at 7%. The highest tuition increase in recent history at Wichita State was in 2014, with an increase from 4% to 8%.

Shortly after the announcement, Provost Shirley Lefever published a public letter, stating that the “realities of growing inflation costs have made it harder for all Regents universities to maintain current tuition.”

Incoming freshman Jackson

be completed in 2026.

“Prioritizing health care education at Wichita will send a message to our community, in our businesses, that we care about our community’s health, and … more people will be attracted to stay in Wichita, which will also boost our overall economic prosperity,” Muma said.

Wichita State also plans to offer more paid applied learning and research opportunities for students, such as through the Digital Research and Transformation Hub and WSU’s recent partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

“Learning opportunities give ur students quality experiences while helping reduce the financial burden of higher education, which simultaneously feeds the talent pipeline,” Bobby Berry, College of Applied Studies assistant dean and professor, said.

According to WSU Foundation President Elizabeth King, over 8,300 undergraduate students applied for scholarship support through the Office of Financial Aid in 2022, and only 4,678 were helped. She said WSU must expand its scholarship reach.

“We need to redouble our efforts to help those students,” King said.

According to Muma, 30% of

Wichita State undergraduates are first-generation students, which he said makes access and affordability “the epitome of the right thing to do.” He encouraged faculty and staff to approach struggling students with curiosity.

“Ask, ‘What’s standing in your way of being successful? What’s going on in your life? What can I do to help you?’” Muma said. “You’ll be surprised how much you can learn about yourself and others if you simply reframe your responses as curiosity, rather than judgment.”

Lefever said that a master plan for Wichita State is being developed, already leading to new projects with Wilson Stadium improvements, the Cessna Stadium and the Shocker Success Center.

“The master plan will provide a roadmap for campus growth and transformation, focusing on forging deeper connections between academics and industry and shaping us as a leading urban public research university,” Lefever said.

On Sept. 10, the team creating the master plan will present it in a virtual town hall and receive community feedback.

To watch the full 2023 Fall Address, visit Wichita State’s YouTube.

Stephens said that he’s tired of inflation being the alleged source for every price increase, from gas prices to tuition to groceries.

“I feel like that inflation thing is just kind of a false excuse to raise prices,” Stephens said.

According to Lefever’s letter, the funds will go toward further supporting student success and recruitment, graduate teaching assistants, retaining faculty, facilities operations, capital assessment and supplying scholarships.

“An important note is that three of the past four years, Wichita State has avoided raising tuition,” Lefever said in the letter. “And with this increase, that averages a 1.7% increase over five years — still keeps WSU as one of the most competitively priced universities in our state.”

James Cox, a freshman

The Sunflower, founded in 1896, is the student-run newspaper covering Wichita State University. The print edition is published Thursday during the fall and spring semesters. The staff publishes daily online at www.thesunflower.com.

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aerospace engineering student, said that even though the increase is distributed over time, it’s still a drastic increase for incoming students.

“The jump from 2% to 5.9% – I think that’s pretty extreme,” Cox said.

Students can also expect to see an increase in mandatory fees to support campus infrastructure and support, student support services and technology and transportation fees. The College of Health Professions, the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Engineering and the Barton School of Business will also see an increase in college fees.

A breakdown of tuition and fee increases depending on credit-hour and residency status can be found on the WSU tuition and fees website.

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The Starship food delivery robot is a new innovation that was intoduced to Wichita State in Fall 2023. The robot delivers food from restaurants in the RSC to your current location on the Starship app. | Photo by Jacinda Hall / The Sunflower

Bobby Berry, the assistant dean of the College of Applied Studies, and Michael Vermillion, the interm associate dean of the College of Applied Studies, speak at the 2023 Faculty and Staff Fall Address on Aug. 16. Berry and Vermillion discussed applied learning experiences at WSU. | Photo by Courtney Brown / The Sunflower

Wichita State President Richard Muma speaks at the 2023 Faculty and Staff Fall Address. Muma commented on the record enrollment from last year, as well as goals for the Innovation Campus and Biomedical Campus. |

Photo by Courtney Brown / The Sunflower

‘That’s pretty extreme’: Incoming freshmen react to recent university tuition increase

Illustrated by Wren Johnson / The Sunflower

STATE OF THE SENATES

BY ALLISON CAMPBELL news@thesunflower.com

Born and raised to a farming family in rural southwest Kansas, Jolynn Dowling is no stranger to hard work. Whether she was moving pipes with her father or looking after her siblings during the summer, Dowling was always eager for her next task.

“All these things build you as you grow up,” Dowling said. “That work ethic builds throughout your life, and I never didn’t have responsibility.”

Dowling’s drive followed her to university and her professional life. Dowling has what she calls “a helium-hand,” a hand that shoots up to accept new duties whenever the opportunity arises. As the new Faculty Senate President, Dowling hopes to use her resiliency and fortitude to best address the needs of Wichita State faculty and students.

Dowling first knew she wanted to pursue a career in nursing when she was 13-years-old. Her grandmother had fallen ill, and Dowling took it upon herself to clean, comfort and care for her while she was in and out of the hospital.

But it wasn’t until her junior year of high school, while in her school's small library, that Dowling discovered what specific nursing field she wanted to pursue.

“I read a book about the profession of neonatology (the care for premature infants), and it was just this knowing – I can’t describe it as anything else,” Dowling said. “I don’t even remember the title of the book … just for whatever reason, I picked that book to read, and I was just like, ‘This is what I’m supposed to do.’”

Dowling immediately set her sights on preparing for success through higher education.

She enrolled at the University of Kansas before transferring to WSU for an early spring admission. She was greeted with increased accessibility to faculty and lifelong friendships.

“I felt (like) part of a family. My class had 20 students, and we would go out with each other (and) we would study together. It was a really strong, cohesive group that helped each other to succeed along the way,” Dowling said. “ It’s something that not only did I experience as a student here, but also continue to experience as faculty.”

Dowling went straight to work at a local neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). She worked her way up the ranks while completing her master’s in nursing at WSU

and earning her certifications as an advanced practice registered nurse, a neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP-BC) and an international board certified lactation consultant.

After 17 years of clinical practice, Dowling was offered an adjunct teaching position at WSU. She later accepted a professorship role.

In 2017, WSU’s Faculty Senate permitted non-tenured employees to join as representatives, and Dowling jumped on the chance to advocate for non-tenured faculty in the School of Nursing.

“You have to have multiple voices at the table to make the best decisions,” Dowling said. “Sometimes it can be a pretty hot table – you can have difficult discussions, you can have civil discussions – but whatever the outcome, it’s going to be the best outcome to empower the majority of the people.”

Earlier this year, Dowling was selected as the 2023-2024 Faculty Senate president. Along with her position on the executive committee, Dowling will work toward completing her doctorate in educational leadership on the psychology track.

As Dowling works toward her doctorate in educational leadership, she also will focus on furthering the Faculty Senate's work from last year. Some pressing topics include the implementation and review of the new framework for a general education transfer program and working with the Student Conduct Office regarding academic integrity.

“There’s a lot of this work that isn’t complete, so it’s going to be a reboot as we begin the semester, and then we’ll see what comes down the pike,” Dowling said. “Ultimately, we want it for the good of our students who we educate.”

While the Faculty Senate will continue to address WSU faculty concerns, Dowling also hopes to inspire students and faculty members to work together to build positive relationships and create change.

“(Faculty Senate) is as much for faculty as it is for you as a student,” Dowling said. “(I would like) for students to share their experiences with their faculty. If there are positive things, we want to hear that. If there’s some challenges or barriers … We don’t know unless you tell us.”

Faculty members interested in joining the Faculty Senate or students interested in learning more about it can find additional information on the Faculty Senate website.

BY COURTNEY BROWN newsprojects@thesunflower.com

Jason Bosch planned to follow one of his high school friends to college — but that friend changed his mind shortly before the fall semester, leading Bosch to enroll in Wichita State instead.

Bosch said he’s grateful for the change of plans. After WSU staff supported him while earning his bachelor’s, he became determined to do the same — something he now does as the assistant dean for student success in the College of Engineering and, more recently, the new Staff Senate president.

Bosch described himself as “an underdog” growing up. He attended the Maize School District from kindergarten until high school graduation, then started as an undecided engineering major at WSU. After he decided the field wasn’t for him, he bounced between majors. He said this decision was “ironic” given his current position.

But Bosch became drawn to psychology and sociology, and as he faced challenges, his advisers in Student Activities Council and his fraternity encouraged him.

Those advisers helped him realize that his passion for working with people could translate to a career in higher education.

“I wanted to pay it forward to future students, just like those people poured into me when I was an undergraduate,” Bosch said.

After graduating from WSU in 2005, Bosch earned his master’s degree in higher education leadership at the University of Arkansas in 2007, with a doctorate in educational leadership from WSU to follow in 2021.

In between those degrees, Bosch worked at Lynn University and Emporia State University, before realizing his career goal to return to his alma mater in 2017, where he has held various positions in the College of Engineering ever since.

In his current position, Bosch supervises Engineering Student Success Center staff, helps students one-on-one, and runs student programs.

“I really enjoy coaching and supervising and leading teams,” Bosch said. “So this job allows me the opportunity to do both — to lead a team to coach and support other staff, but then also to still get to work directly with students myself.”

About three years ago, Bosch started the Spirit Strong First Generation Scholars Program, which he calls “near and dear to my heart.” The program partners with Spirit AeroSystems and mentors up to 40 freshmen, offering free tutoring and academic support to first-generation students in need of financial assistance.

While Bosch said he doesn’t meet the definition of a first-generation student, he can relate to the experience.

“Although my dad did go to college, I didn’t really get a lot of the benefit of his experience,” Bosch said. “My mom tried to help me navigate the college

environment, but she hadn’t been to college herself.”

With 30% of WSU students identifying as first-generation, Bosch said WSU has a responsibility to help those students succeed.

“I’ve always been a cheerleader for the underdog,” Bosch said.

As Staff Senate president, Bosch continues helping others in a new role. The Staff Senate provides representation for staff members and communicates with the administration, as well as initiating and reviewing staff-related policies.

Previously senator for two years, Bosch views his presidency through the leadership concept of “first among equals.”

“As president, I don’t necessarily see myself as being any more important or having any more power or influence than any other senator,” Bosch said. “My job is really to support the other elected senators and help us come together to work as a team to advocate for staff.”

Bosch’s favorite part of being involved in Staff Senate, like in his College of Engineering position, is forming relationships with staff across campus.

“It helps to feel like you’re part of a community, and I think that’s important whether you’re a student or a faculty member or a staff member,” Bosch said. “Staff Senate is one way for staff on this campus to … build that community and be able to talk together about their shared interests and their shared concerns.”

PRIORITIES FOR THE YEAR

While the Staff Senate is still identifying this year’s priorities, Bosch noted three concerns they will likely address: staff turnover and retention, morale, and professional development. He said that many of the staff are dedicated and love supporting students.

“I really want WSU to be a place that is so supportive and encouraging to staff that they don’t want to leave, even if they’re presented with other opportunities,” Bosch said.

While Bosch initially prepared to follow a friend to college, his colleague followed Bosch to WSU. Jacob Mendez met Bosch in 2014, and they also worked together at Emporia State, Mendez in university housing, Bosch for student affairs.

Mendez said when he saw his position at WSU’s College of Engineering become available, he jumped to apply, knowing he would get to work for Bosch.

Mendez, who also works alongside Bosch as Staff Senate secretary, called Bosch a “hero and mentor” to him.

“He is a very servant leader, (a) transformational leader, and very kind and hardworking and really encourages us all to be our best, take care of ourselves and work hard,” Mendez said.

To learn more about the Staff Senate and their mission, visit their website.

Faculty Senate president wants ‘multiple voices at the table to make the best decisions’

‘Cheerleader for the underdog’: Staff Senate President enjoys building relationship with students, faculty

Faculty Senate President Jolynn Dowling and Staff Senate President Jason Bosch speak at the 2023 Faculty and Staff Fall Address on Aug. 16. and Staff Senate President Jason Bosch joke about their senates beating the other in the Stock the Shocker Support Locker Challenge. Dowling and Bosch spoke at the 2023 Faculty and Staff Fall Address on Aug. 16.|

Photo by Courtney Brown / The Sunflower.

Free menstrual products available on Wichita State’s main campus

BY JENNIFER ANIMA jenniferanima2411@gmail.com

Free menstrual products will be available for students starting this school year, eight months after the Student Government Association passed a bill providing funding for the initiative.

The Menstrual Product Project is starting off with 14 locations around campus, which will have free menstrual product dispensers set up by the end of the year. Products will also be available in men’s and unisex bathrooms throughout campus for transgender and gendernonconforming students.

The Menstrual Product Project started in September 2022, with several executive cabinet members partnering with Delaney Jones, former president of Intersectional Feminists On Campus Uniting Students (FOCUS).

This movement stemmed from project members noticing the student body’s rise in general needs.

Alice Fitzgerald, former sustainability director, explained that from 2021 to 2022, students accessing the Shocker Support Locker increased drastically. The locker offers free food, clothing, toiletries and family products to students, faculty, and staff.

“A lot of students are struggling, and we saw the Menstrual Product Project as an opportunity to help out with some of that,” Fitzgerald said. “Basically, the goal by the end of the project is to pretty much have a free menstrual product dispenser in hopefully every bathroom that students normally access on campus.”

The group also mentioned many students reported having missed classes and extracurriculars because of the lack of these products.

“If you’re paying already, you know, thousands to go to college, it’s unfair that you’d have to miss classes that you paid for because you don’t have the products,” Jones said.

Project members also noticed

DELANEY JONES

free menstrual products being offered at other school campuses like Washburn University, which offered the group “tips” on how to bring it to Wichita State’s campus.

The dispensers and products come from Aunt Flow, a menstrual product company that works with businesses, schools and organizations to offer free product dispensers. The company was selected for its organic non-toxic products, experience with similar projects and reasonable pricing.

Fitzgerald explained the importance of free dispensers and for those in need to be able to grab menstrual products without asking someone, which could lead to an uncomfortable situation for some.

“We are a cash-free campus,” Jones said. “So the chance of me carrying around a bag of quarters is slim to none.”

When the menstrual product dispensers run low, students can fill out a form by going to the WSU website or scanning a QR code that will be available on each dispenser.

Although the bill passed with a vote of 36-5 in September, one concern was how to approach this project with people not as comfortable talking about menstrual products.

“A lot of people don’t understand how badly it’s needed, especially if they’ve never been in that situation,” Jones said.

“At the end of the day, the Student Government and FOCUS is there to serve all students, whether or not they fit what your understanding of femininity or being a woman is,” Fitzgerald said, adding to Jones’ point.

The menstrual products will be ordered in bulk each school year, and as the trial year starts, the group will monitor if the number of ordered items needs to be increased. If products run out, FOCUS will be on standby to help provide items donated by outside organizations.

The focus of the Menstrual Product Project as of now is solely on Wichita State’s main campus, but the groups hope to reach other WSU campuses in the future.

For students with similar hopes for a project, Jones says to find organizations and peers with the same ideas and not be afraid of getting told “no.”

“Don’t be afraid to talk to Student Government because your student government works for you,” Jones said.

COURTNEY BROWN newsproject@thesunflower.com

Student Government Association (SGA) and Spectrum have partnered to ensure gender-neutral bathrooms on campus are more accessible to students, in light of recent actions from the Kansas Legislature.

On July 1, Senate Bill 180, labeled by supporters as a “women’s bill of rights,” went into effect. The law prevents transgender and intersex people from using restrooms, locker rooms and other areas that align with their gender identity.

The Kansas Legislature passed the wide-sweeping bill in April, narrowly overturning Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto.

RAISING AWARENESS OF GENDER-NEUTRAL BATHROOMS ON CAMPUS

Motivated by SB 180’s passage, SGA Vice President Sophie Martins and Spectrum President Dawson Jacques have collaborated on a graphic of the gender-neutral campus bathrooms. Martins said once it is finalized, she hopes to share it via Shocker Blast and at Wichita State orientations.

“It’s not like we’re (SGA) going to restrict certain restrooms from anyone,” Martins said. “But if you don’t feel safe or comfortable using a certain restroom, we wanted it to just be a little bit more aware to students that there are (gender-neutral) restrooms on campus that you can go to.”

According to the Kansas Reflector, legal authorities said

SB 180 has no clear measures for enforcement. Wichita State administration agreed the bill doesn’t have clear direction, and said it does not anticipate changes to existing policies or procedures.

Alex Tackett, a transgender Spectrum member, said SB 180’s impact extends beyond transgender people. She referred to an article about an instance in May, where a mother was told she couldn’t bring her adult autistic son into the women’s restroom with her at the Wichita Public Library.

“This is a chilling effect, and this is an individual who is not trans, who’s just trying to help her son,” Tackett said. “It’s not just trans folks who experience this knock on violence — it’s anyone who causes a quote on quote ‘disruption.’

Martins said she approached Spectrum because she wanted to involve people that SB 180 directly impacts. Jacques, who is transgender, provided feedback on Martins’ graphic, including certain locations and more “tucked away” bathrooms.

Martins said the interactive restroom map on WSU’s website is “finicky” due to the search filters. Jacques said Martins’ graphic is more detailed than other campus resources.

“When people come to me like, ‘What about in the geology building?’ I’m like, ‘I honestly have no clue. I’ve been in there, like, two times,’” Jacques, an aerospace engineering major, said. “It’s great to see that SGA is taking the initiative on some of that stuff, too, so we can work together to make the biggest impact.”

Read more at thesunflower.com

Former president of FOCUS

A lot of people don’t understand how badly it’s needed, especially if they’ve never been in that situation.

Alice Fitzgerald and Delaney Jones next to the first installment of the Aunt Flow Dispenser located in Ahlberg Hall on the third floor. | Photo by Jennifer Anima / The Sunflower

After a wave of anti-transgender legislation, the Student Government Association and Spectrum teamed up to bring notice to gender-neutral spaces on campus. | Photo by Nithin Reddy Nagapur / The Sunflower

‘Time of need’: SGA, Spectrum partner to make gender-neutral bathrooms accessible

‘BRING THE ENERGY’

AD Kevin Saal ‘excited for what lies ahead’

BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ sports@thesunflower.com

After his first year as athletic director at Wichita State, Kevin Saal is pleased with the amount of progress that has been made in the athletics department but understands that there is a lot of work to do ahead.

Earlier this year, Wichita State Athletics announced its facility master plan which included the installed turf in the Bombardier Learjet Practice facility and a $1 million weight room renovation in Charles Koch Arena.

Saal said his approach to make decisions relies on the “Shocker Way,” a document that outlines three key tenets that for the athletic department: student athlete experience, competitive excellence and core values.

“I think at times the Shocker Way can sound like words on wall but truly it is the lens through which we make difficult decisions, through our core values, our student athlete experience and competitive excellent,” Saal said.

He said it was important to have competitive goals that help drive strategic goals.

“Our mission is to develop young people and program through the Shocker Way we do that through first class service to our student athletes or coaches and Shocker Nation that drives everything we do,” Saal said.

Over the past year, the athletic department has focused on “changing the culture” by trying to redefine the service framework within athletics but also at events.

“Our team has done an awesome job and culture and team building over the last year,” Saal said.

Saal said the department is looking to implement 50 to 60 one year objectives that will drive the work this upcoming year.

The department began implementing daily wellness surveys to students athletes that will give the department some touch points for different service elements and has done deep audits and program evaluations with each of the head coaches.

Saal reflected on his past year by addressing the amount of transition that has happened in recent years.

“I think that there’s been a lot of transition here in the last five or six years whether it’s presidential transition, political elements, basketball coach transition,” Saal said.

He said it posed the question “who are we and what do we want to accomplish, what is the expectation?”

“We serve our student athletes in a first class way our coaches and Shocker nation and what are we trying to accomplish from an academic perspective, the community perspective and a competitive perspective,” Saal said.

Saal said that at the end of the day they are in an industry that values production and results but knows that the production or results are hollow without core values.

“I’m excited and energized and enthusiastic for what lies ahead,” Saal said.

Stout spearheads winning effort against OU in first exhibition match

BY MELANIE RIVERA-CORTEZ sports@thesunflower.com

Volleyball kicked off the year with a win in an exhibition match against Oklahoma at Charles Koch Arena.

The Shockers won in five sets (25-12), (20-25), (23-25), (25-11), (15-9).

Morgan Stout led the team with nine kills with Natalie Foster and Emerson Wilford right behind with eight kills.

“My team knows that if Morgan Stout can do (her) job so (Foster) can do her job, right now we’re a better team,” head coach Chris Lamb said. “I’m excited that Morgan was pretty clean tonight

and effective.”

Oklahoma committed 37 attacking errors throughout the match compared to Wichita State’s 16.

Senior transfer Izzi Strand said that as a team they had been working on their hitting and Stout has been effective.

“She’s just the most athletic person I’ve ever seen and it’s insane,” Strand said.

In a spring match against Nebraska, Lamb was not pleased with his team’s serve-and-pass game.

Before the exhibition match, Lamb said his team was passing well in practice but struggled t0 control the ball.

“After all of the hype about the serving, we had seven aces to their six, so it’s still kind of a nice story,” Lamb said.

Lamb said with Oklahoma’s aggressive gameplay, he’s advising his team to be cautious going forward.

“Wichita State, in any configuration of our six-two offense, will be (in the) upper echelon in the conference if our five-one half of our offense can keep up,” Lamb said.

Outside hitter Emerson Wilford said that focusing on her energy allowed her and her team to play better.

“I feel like in the fourth and

fifth I literally came up to Izzi (Strand), I was like ‘Okay we’re gonna bring that energy right here’,” Wilford said.

During Strand’s first match at Koch Arena, she had five kills, 32 assists and four of Wichita State’s seven aces.

She said she was excited to see all the lights and thinks that put her in the right mindset to play hard.

“I was here to show up and compete like a D1 athlete,” Strand said.

The team will officially open their season at Texas Tech’s Under Armour Challenge in Lubbock, Texas, against Notre Dame on Aug. 25 at 1:30 p.m.

Women in sports discuss career challenges, offer advice

BY MIA HENNEN editor@sunflower.com

A panel of women in sports all said they had no idea they’d end up where they did in Wichita sports. Now, they’re working in a variety of positions, from minor league to college-level sports.

Three women involved in the city’s sports industry visited the Wichita State campus to tell their stories, offer advice and more on Thursday afternoon.

Tara Tallman used to work in hospitality as a hotel employee for 10 years. After a “come to Jesus talk” with her parents, Tallman pivoted to trying to find a job in sports. Now, she’s the assistant general manager at the Wichita Wind Surge.

Tallman said the hardest obstacle to overcome was her mindset.

“If I had really sat down and thought about what I wanted to do when I was in high school, sports would have been at the top of the list, but I just assumed that I couldn’t work in sports,” Tallman said. “There’s definitely been women in sports in my lifetime, but I never would have imagined that we would have female (general managers) of professional teams and female coaches.”

Madison Stein-Mason hopped between multiple different career points before settling on sports administration. The former softball student-athlete serves as the deputy athletics director/senior woman administrator for Wichita State Athletics.

Stein-Mason said finding a mentor in the field was a challenge. She said she originally thought she could only have women mentors.

“Over time, I’ve learned that some of my best mentors and people that have really allowed me to grow and flourish are males that have been able to say like, ‘I’m going to endorse this woman,’” Stein-Mason said.

Angie Smith, a New Jersey native, said going to sports games was her version of going to Disney World. Smith went from watching games played by the New York Jets to interning with the football team for over three years.

Now, Smith serves as the director of operations, social media and corporate fulfillment for the Wichita Thunder hockey team.

“I, for whatever reason, somehow ended up in Kansas,” Smith said. Smith said she didn’t originally think she’d end up working fulltime in sports.

“Working in sports or really anything you want to do, you set your mind to it, you’ll get there,” Smith said. “I wanted to (work in sports), and I persevered and stuck with it, and here I am.”

The three touched on NIL — name, image, likeness — as it relates to female players. The NCAA NIL policy gives student-athletes the chance to receive compensation for their name, image, and likeness.

Tallman and Stein-Mason agreed NIL can be great for colleges

TARA TALLMAN Wichita Wind Surge assistant general manager

with the resources for it. SteinMason said colleges with fewer resources may see a larger issue.

“Now for the institutions that have smaller resource pools, or maybe don’t have the support of their state, whatever the case might be, I think that you’re seeing a gap widened there because you simply just can’t fund the things you need to be able to open up … opportunities,” Stein-Mason.

“I think that the players should be getting paid at every level, so it’s just something that we’re gonna have to figure out a workaround,” Tallman said.

The panelists were asked to share their thoughts on the growth in women’s sports. Tallman said showing diverse representation is crucial in sports.

“It’s important to be here in case anybody does want to hear a story, and they can relate to mine,” Tallman said. “Just knowing that you can work your way to where I am today, where I enjoy doing what I do every day.”

Each panelist noted the importance of networking in the field.

“Never stop networking,” Tallman said. “Keep introducing

yourself; keep making sure everybody knows who you are and what you want.”

The event was hosted by the non-profit organization Women in Sports Inspiring the Next Generation (WISHING) and WSU’s sports management department.

Kristen Nett, president and founder of WISHING, said the group formed in December 2022 before getting official nonprofit status in March.

Nett, the coordinator of Kansas City Royals’ charities, said she wanted to offer opportunities to young girls and women who don’t have the resources to pursue a career in sports.

“I didn’t feel like I had a lot of great career exploration opportunities in high school, so I wanted to give back and provide, and since I work in sports, I thought why not,” Nett said.

Nett said the collaboration between the WSU department and WISHING came to fruition after the department shared a WISHING Instagram post.

“Wichita State sports management has a great social media presence, and they shared one of our posts one day, and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s close to Kansas City,’” Nett said.

WISHING offers a mentorship program that provides virtual and now in-person events for those interested. The organization can be contacted at wishingmentors@ gmail.com.

It’s important to be here in case anybody does want to hear a story, and they can relate to mine

Redshirt junior Morgan Stout dominates by the net with a spike against OU at Charles Koch Arena, Aug 18. | Photos by Nithin Reddy Nagapur / The Sunflower

Right side and outside hitter Emerson Wilford and Morgan Stout high five after a successful play.

Director of Athletics Kevin Saal shows “The Shocker Way” document, which the athletics department uses to achieve its mission. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower

Right side and outside hitter Emerson Wilford, setter Izzi Strand, and outside hitter Brylee Kelly come together during a break, strategizing and reinforcing team spirit against OU.

Following a team point in the fourth set, teammates Brylee Kelly and Morgan Stout celebrate. Kelly, a redshirt senior, and Stout, a redshirt junior, scored a combined 16 kills. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower

VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE

@ NOTRE DAME

FRIDAY, AUG. 25

1:30 p.m. | Lubbock, Texas

@ TEXAS TECH

FRIDAY, AUG. 25

7 p.m. | Lubbock, Texas

@ HOUSTON CHRISTIAN

SATURDAY, AUG. 26

11:30 a.m. | Lubbock. Texas

@ ILLINOIS

FRIDAY, SEPT. 1 4 p.m. | Urbana-Champaign, Illinois

@ ILLINOIS STATE

SATURDAY, SEPT. 2

1 p.m. | Urbana-Champaign, Illinois VS KANSAS

THURSDAY, SEPT. 7

7 p.m. | Charles Koch Arena VS COLORADO

SATURDAY, SEPT. 9

7 p.m. | Charles Koch Arena

@ BRADLEY

THURSDAY, SEPT. 14

4 p.m. | Greeley, Colorado

@ OMAHA

FRIDAY, SEPT. 15

4 p.m. | Greeley, Colorado

@ NORTHERN COLORADO

SATURDAY, SEPT. 16

7 p.m. | Greeley, Colorado

@ EAST CAROLINA

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 20

5 p.m. | Greenville, North Carolina VS CHARLOTTE

SATURDAY, SEPT. 23

7 p.m. | Charles Koch Arena

@ SMU

SEPT. 29 AND OCT. 1

7 p.m. and 12 p.m. | Dallas, Texas VS TEMPLE

FRIDAY, OCT. 6

7 p.m. | Charles Koch Arena VS SOUTH FLORIDA

SUNDAY, OCT. 8

1 p.m. | Charles Koch Arena

@ TULANE

OCT. 13 AND 14 6 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. | New Orleans, Louisiana

VS TULSA

OCT. 20 AND 21 7 p.m. and 6 p.m. | Charles Koch Arena

@ FLORIDA ATLANTIC

FRIDAY. OCT. 27

6 p.m. | Boca Raton, Florida

@ MEMPHIS

SUNDAY, OCT. 29

1 p.m. | Memphis, Tennessee VS NORTH TEXAS

NOV. 3 AND 4

7 p.m. and 2 p.m. | Charles Koch Arena VS UTSA

NOV. 10 AND 11

7 p.m. and 1 p.m. | Charles Koch Arena

@ RICE NOV. 17 AND 18

6 p.m. and 2 p.m. | Houston, Texas VS UAB

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7

7 p.m. | Charles Koch Arena

TBT REWIND

Aftershocks break records, hearts in annual summer tournament

BY MIA HENNEN & TRINITY RAMM editor@thesunflower.com & managing@thesunflower.com

The $1 million, winner-take-all summer The Basketball Tournament (TBT) returned to Charles Koch Arena for the fourth time in the tournament’s history.

The AfterShocks, a team primarily made up of Wichita State alumni, was the No. 1 seed, out of eight, in their region.

Before the July 25 against Heartfire, WSU Athletics sold tickets starting at $5 in hopes of breaking the all-time TBT attendance record, which previously sat at 7,184.

The attendance narrowly passed the 2019 record, with 7,202 people.

AGAINST B1 BALLERS

The AfterShocks kicked off TBT with a 66-54 win against No. 8 seed B1 Ballers.

No. 8 seed B1 Ballers and No. 1 seed AfterShocks kept the score close for the first half of the game,with Markis McDuffie earning the first two of the game.

By the start of the second half, the B1 Ballers were up by three points, 34-31. Despite the initial lead, the AfterShocks

amped up their defense, only allowing the Ballers to score 20 points for the rest of the game.

AGAINST BEALE STREET BOYS

The AfterShocks converted a double digit deficit into a victory (67-60) against the Beale Street Boys.

The matchup was tight from tipoff but the Shocks were plagued by turnovers throughout the first half, leaving them down by 13 (43-30) at the end of the second period.

In the third quarter, Conner Frankamp was able to hit some shots on the three-point line but it wasn’t enough to close the gap against Beale Street.

The alumni squad from Memphis fell into foul and turnover trouble during the Elam Ending, allowing the AfterShocks to come back to victory through rebounding and free throws.

AGAINST TEAM ARKANSAS

No. 1 seed AfterShocks won against No. 3 seed Team Arkansas, 63-59. With three games won, the AfterShocks believed they still hadn’t played their best game offensively.

Despite trailing Arkansas in the first quarter, the AfterShocks managed to lead the former Razorbacks for over 20

minutes.

By the start of the second half, the B1 Ballers were up by three points, 34-31. Despite the initial lead, the AfterShocks amped up their defense, only allowing the Ballers to score 20 points for the rest of the game.

In the fourth quarter, Arkansas and the AfterShocks were tied, 53-53. The Elam Ending was called with the AfterShocks leading by two.

AGAINST HEARTFIRE

After a three-year winning streak in Charles Koch Arena, the AfterShocks fell to this year’s eventual winner, Team Heartfire, 76-53.

After starting the first few minutes of the July 25 game with a lead on Heartfire, the AfterShocks quickly lost footing, letting a six-point deficit at the end of the first quarter grow steadily to a 23-point loss.

Turnovers continued to be a problem for the AfterShocks as the Heartfire converted their 20 turnovers into 19 points.

When the Elam Ending began, the WSU alumni team was down 17 points, 68-51. Heartfire scored six of the eight needed points in less than 40 seconds. 68-51. Heartfire scored six of the eight needed points in less than 40 seconds.

An Aftershock fan cheers after a successful play by the WSU alumni team on July 25. The night brought a number of fans for The Basketball Tournment.

Small forward Jordan Parks huddles together with the rest of his team during a timeout during the game against the Heartfire. The AfterShocks lost, 76-53. Photos by Nithin Reddy Nagapur

Trey Wade drops the ball in during the game against the Heatfire on July 25.

Small forward Markis McDuffie prepares to shoot at the free-throw line after a personal foul on Heatfire.

ARTS & CULTURE

GET YOUR GROOVE ON

REVIEW: Wichita’s Boss Tea brings boba and convenience to west siders

BY JACINDA HALL podcast@thesunflower.com

For residents who don’t live on the east side of Wichita, finding a convenient and close boba shop can be difficult. Boss Tea, a bubble tea shop that opened in October 2022, is located near Maple and Ridge, perfect for west siders or those just looking to get around the city.

Boss Tea has a variety of drinks, including teas, slushies and coffees/ lattes, meaning there is something for everyone at Boss Tea. This gave me the opportunity to try a new flavor instead of getting my usual matcha or Thai tea.

On top of the extensive drink menu, customers have the option to include add-in items from your typical black pearl boba to cream cheese foam.

What’s more, is that customer customization doesn’t stop at the drink; Customers can choose what cup their drink is served in as well. Boss Tea has plain, clear cups as the default, but for an extra 50 cents, customers can opt for a clear iridescent cup.

When I tried Boss Tea for the first time, I tried their Tiger Black Milk Tea with brown sugar boba. The tea had a good flavor, it was sweet, but it wasn’t too sweet at the same time and the brown sugar boba complimented the creamy flavor of the Tiger Black Milk Tea.

Boss Tea is also pretty affordable, being in the same price range as many other boba shops in town. If you decide to make a trip to the shop, keep in mind that they do charge for the toppings mentioned above.

If you have been looking for a boba fix closer to the west side of Wichita and aren’t opposed to experimenting, give Boss Tea a try.

72-sided artwork created for Wichita State discussed at ‘Artist Talk’

BY JENNIFER ANIMA jenniferanima2411@gmail.com

As you walk toward the entrance of Woolsey Hall, you might notice a new outdoor sculpture in the shape of a dodecahedron — or an unknown shape with dozens of sides.

The newest sculpture, “Stratosphere,” has 72 faces — the most faces The Hyperspace Bypass Construction Zone (HYBYCOZO) has built for a permanent public artwork.

The pattern contains a pentagon face with representations of wheat grain, sunbursts and a star. A second face is a hexagon, with the same pattern, and is broken into three pieces, representing aviation wings. The star at the center of each pentagon face was created by accident but was left by in honor of the state motto of Kansas: “Ad Astra Per Aspera.”

This piece was created, designed and built specifically for the Wichita State campus by Yelena Filipchuk and

Serge Beaulieu, who own the collaborative studio HYBYCOZO.

The pair are known for their geometric art all around the world spanning from San Francisco, California, to the United States Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. Their sculptures tell stories through shapes and patterns.

On Thursday, June 2, the Wichita State community was invited to hear from the artists who designed and created “Stratosphere,” the newest outdoor sculpture on WSU’s campus.

Rodney Miller, outgoing College of Fine Arts dean, introduced Filipchuk and Beaulieu for a speech on the new outdoor sculpture’s inspiration, building and background. Miller, who will retire this month, expressed how he felt about “Stratosphere” being the last installation during his time at the university.

“I think it’s a piece that is already becoming iconic in that people gravitate towards it,” Miller said. “I think they did a beautiful job tonight, so this was kind of the cherry on top of everything.

In the spring of 2022, Ulrich Museum of Art employees and Miller were asked by those working on Woolsey Hall to find a new outdoor sculpture for the newly built business building. HYBYCOZO was contracted to create “Stratosphere.” Flipchuck and Beaulieu said the process of their art takes deeper consideration than one would think looking from the outside.

“Isn’t the way that we see the world actually informed by these patterns in nature?” Filipchuk said. “And wouldn’t we think that the original concept of beauty or proportion comes from these patterns that appear in nature?”

Most of the HYBYCOZO artwork along with “Stratosphere” begin with basic platonic solids like a cube or a tetrahedron then go further into more complex geometric figures such as Archimedean and Catalan solids.

“For us, a big part of our practice has been finding the resonance and proportion between a two-dimensional pattern and a three-dimensional shape,”

Filipchuk said. “And you’ll see that that is something that we try to repeat in our artwork often is that there is often a very simple mathematical proportion … that informs the way that we choose the pattern.”

Some of the dimensions they considered when creating were light, motion, interactivity and immersion.

“You can see (‘Stratosphere’) differently by looking inside of it, viewing it from far away, viewing it from up close,” Beaulieu said. “And there’s so many different ways to look at it, and so we invite people to look at it differently the same way they would look at their life differently.”

Artists based “Stratosphere” on a dodecahedron, which is part of the group of platonic solids documented by Plato where each solid was associated with an element.

The dodecahedron was associated with the element aether, the highest element that, Filipchuk says, drives creativity.

After displaying their first

temporary pieces in San Francisco, the artists got the opportunity to see how people reacted to their art.

“It teaches children and kids and youth that the public sphere is malleable,” Beaulieu said. “And they can be a part of this transformation.”

Teachers can download lesson plans from the HYBYCOZO website to teach to students, then take them on field trips to the sculpture sites.

Filipchuk and Beaulieu want people to interact with the artwork and get a deeper understanding of it.

Filipchuk and Beaulieu have become advocates for public tech shops and maker spaces and hope that students along with the public take something away from viewing “Stratosphere.”

“You can create the world around you,” Filipchuk said. “In fact, it is created only through people’s imaginations because that’s the only way that anything ever comes into existence is a thought in someone’s head at first.”

Members of the Hispanic-American Leadership Organization and other students dance at a Zumba night on Aug. 17.

The Stratosphere an art installation from Serge Beaulieu and Yelena Filipchuk. | Photo by Nithin Reddy Nagapur / The Sunflower

Boss Tea is located in West Wichita. The boba shop offers a convenient spot for those used to making the drive for a drink. | Photo by Mia Hennen / The Sunflower.

Artists Yelena Filipchuk and Serge Beaulieu speak about the creation of their sculpture “Stratosphere”| Photo by Nithin Reddy Nagapur / The Sunflower

Members of the Hispanic-American Leadership Organization and other students dance at a Zumba night. The event was open to the public and took place in one of the YMCA’s studios.

Casey, a Zumba coach at the Steve Clark YMCA, leads the class in a dance on Aug. 17.

A student dances alongside other participants to lively music at the HispanicAmerican Leadership Organization’s end of summer event. The group hosted a Zumba night.

A child dances expressively at the Zumba night. Attendees of all ages were welcome to join the lively dance event to break a sweat before the fall semester began. | Photos by Nithin Reddy Nagapur / The Sunflower

BY SALSABILA ATTARIA arts@thesunflower.com

When customers walk into Blush Bookstore, they are greeted by a brightly-lit space filled with pink and white furniture. Jaclyn Wooten offers a one-stop shop for more than just books – customers can find crochet tote bags, stationary, flowers and other gifts artfully displayed. Readers can find the store on Cleveland Street, next to Viola’s

Pantry and The Workroom.

“It used to be (that) reading romance was frivolous, and it was kind of silly,” Wooten said. “Not everything needs to be serious reading.”

The avid reader shared her motivation for opening Blush after running several successful online businesses.

“Romance books make up such a large part of the market,” Wooten said. “And in a lot of bookstores,

they serve a really great purpose, but it’s not necessarily celebrated.” Wooten said that she created Blush Bookstore to allow romance readers to enjoy the genre without the stigma that often accompanies it. She cited a personal experience where a bookstore employee told her it was “refreshing” to see a woman buy a novel other than romance when she purchased a fantasy novel for a change.

“I do really love this

unapologetic-ness that we have now (at Blush),” Wooten said. Wooten stocks the store with a wide array of titles, from contemporary authors like Emily Henry to the ‘romantasy’ sub-genre.

“I read all the different genres within romance, but I do love that romantic element,” Wooten said. “It’s just an escape. It’s … the familiarity from one book to the next. Really, I think there’s a comfort in that.”

Three titles Wooten recommends are “Book Lovers” by Emily Henry, “Crescent City” by Sarah J. Maas and “Once Upon a Broken Heart” by Stephanie Garber.

Those interested in visiting Blush can find the store on Instagram, TikTok and at the store’s official website. Wooten encourages readers to keep an eye on the store’s social media for upcoming events and releases.

Susan Copich: Staged Stories exhibit at Ulrich offers dark depictions of roles played by the American woman

Welcome home, Shockers!

The beginning of the fall semester is always so full of energy, hope and inspiration; and I’m thrilled to see all your faces back on campus for the start of a new school year.

You might have noticed that there’s quite a bit of construction and commotion happening on campus right now. While the dust and detours might be somewhat inconvenient, it’s all part of transforming our campus to ensure that your Wichita State University experience is the best it can be.

Perhaps the most conspicuous campus construction project is the Shocker Success Center to the east of the Rhatigan Student Center. The former Clinton Hall will be an all-inclusive, holistic student-centric space filled with the resources and offices each of you needs to succeed.

The Shocker Success Center will house 17 student services that are currently scattered across campus in 10 buildings: the Office of Adult Learning, CARE Team, Career Closet, Military

AND CHANGE’

From the editor: Your stories are our stories

Mia Hennen Editor-in-Chief COLUMN

Every time I walk through Wichita State’s campus, there’s a high chance I’ll see someone I know, which, like many introverts, I find incredibly terrifying.

Running into people new and known has been a byproduct of my job.

Since starting at Wichita State many (two) years ago, I’ve worked at The Sunflower, Wichita State’s independent, student-led news source since 1896. And when I say “student-led,” I mean it. Students do everything, from the newspapers distributed around campus at 5 a.m. every week to the late nights spent writing and designing pages.

Being a college journalist means that when I’m not writing, I’m talking to people. This has been great for meeting people, but not so great when I want to put on my headphones and act mysterious walking through campus.

Welcome back, Shockers! Or if you’re new to Wichita State University, welcome to Shocker Nation!

Crisp new notebooks, a fresh start and a campus alive with energy — I love this time of year. It’s always a great day to be a Shocker!

I’m Dr. Shirley Lefever, and I’ve been a Shocker for 18 years. I serve as the provost of this institution. “What’s a provost?” you might ask. I certainly didn’t know when I was an undergraduate student.

As provost, I am privileged to lead the academic endeavors that shape your educational journey. Those responsibilities are multifaceted, but they all converge with the goal of supporting every single one of you in academics and your growth as thoughtful, engaged citizens of the world.

From our offices in 107 Morrison Hall, where you’re always welcome to come by and see me, my dedicated team and I are committed to enhancing your overall university experience in several ways.

and Veteran Services, Office of Disability Services, OneStop Student Services, Shocker Support Locker, Office of Student Success, Tech Help, Testing Services, TRIO Disability Services, TRIO Student Support Services, Writing Center, Math Lab, Supplemental Instruction, Physics Lab, and the Shocker Learning Center.

It’s going to be incredible to watch what was once a dark and somewhat outdated facility become an efficient and convenient building that fosters success among all Shockers. The Shocker Success Center is scheduled to be completed in summer 2024.

In athletics, you might have been shocked to see that half of the former Cessna Stadium has been flattened. Over the summer, we began demolition of the stands on the east side of what we’re now calling University Stadium.

The first phase of construction will begin this fall and will include underground utility work, a seating area for 2,390, new free-standing field lights, a ticket pavilion, restroom and storage buildings and a plaza.

Further phases of the University Stadium’s construction will include a regulation-sized soccer field, updates on the track and field facilities, bleacher seating

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

One of my core responsibilities is to work closely with our faculty to develop innovative courses and degree programming. We work to foster collaborations among faculty and ensure that the courses you take are intellectually stimulating and aligned with the demands of an ever-evolving world.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

As Kansas’ most diverse campus, I believe wholeheartedly that the rich tapestry that defines Wichita State is our greatest strength. We strive to create a space where everyone flourishes.

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Education is not confined to the classroom. Your emotional and physical well-being are paramount to your success. I collaborate with departments and offices across campus to ensure that support systems are in place to address your holistic needs. From counseling services to health and wellness programs to tutoring

on the north and south sides, and a pedestrian plaza between Charles Koch Arena and University Stadium.

The renovations on the 77-yearold stadium are vital in ensuring our athletes train at state-of-theart facilities so Wichita State can continue to host the KSHSAA Track and Field Championships each spring, and that it can be used for community events, such as concerts.

You’ll also soon see construction begin at our softball facilities with a four-phase renovation in Wilkins Stadium.

The project will include an indoor practice facility and batting cages, new locker rooms, classrooms, training rooms and office space. The Shocker softball team is fresh off a successful 44-12 season, where they ranked 23rd in the nation. Both Wilkins and University Stadium will be remarkable transformations, and I can’t wait to cheer on our Shocker athletes when the renovations are complete!

If you’re looking for Parking Services, that office will move from the University Police Department building into the former home of the Campus Credit Union branch, which closed in April. Be sure

to keep your eyes open for the updated traffic signage in that area of campus, as Research Place — the road south of Wilkins Stadium — has shifted from one-way to two-way traffic.

There are some exciting additions to the Innovation Campus, too. We’re about to open the Digital Research and Transformation Hub, which will house our National Institute for Research and Digital Transformation.

The institute is a 37,000-squarefoot facility at the corner of 18th Street and Oliver and will include research pods that can accommodate the technology and space necessary for Wichita State’s research in the emerging field of digital transformation.

With so much growth and construction happening, Wichita State’s thriving culture of innovation and growth is shining brightly; and it allows us to offer you — our students — the very best opportunities to learn, play, grow and succeed.

I wish you the very best for this school year, and I encourage you to explore our campus and learn about all the wonderful spaces and places that make Wichita State great. Go Shockers!

Regardless, I love that my job offers me the opportunity to get to talk to various people on campus, whether I’m randomly walking up to them to ask for their opinion on some niche subject or sitting down with them for hours over coffee to learn and share their stories.

It’s no surprise that in a world where the news is constantly accessible and — what feels like — constantly terrible, people choose to avert their eyes. And it certainly doesn’t help that news is often labeled as fake or biased.

My goal as The Sunflower’s editor-in-chief, though, is to show that the news is real and to be trusted. The great thing about The Sunflower is our main audience is students; we’re by students, for students. We get what people want to know, and we strive to find and tell it.

As Wichita State’s independent, student-run news source, we tell the story of students, faculty, staff, community and anyone else you can think of who might be tied to the university.

Our staff is always here to listen to the concerns of those on campus or share achievements, big or small.

services and applied learning experiences, we are dedicated to helping you thrive in all aspects of your life.

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Wichita State is a hub for innovation and discovery, and we’ve built a solid reputation around solving problems for our community and our state. One way we do that is through the applied research happening all across our campus. From firstyear undergraduate students to Ph.D. candidates, Shockers are participating in research projects that build a brighter tomorrow for all Kansans.

APPLIED LEARNING

A well-rounded education bridges classroom education with practical application. Through Wichita State’s applied learning programs, you’ll have the opportunity to work and learn in real-world offices, manufacturing floors and institutions. You’ll work alongside seasoned professionals in your chosen field of study to learn the ropes of your industry, ensuring that — upon your

graduation — you’ll be career ready and have a competitive resume to your name.

OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED

That’s a pretty comprehensive list of my job duties, but sometimes it’s the intangible aspects of my job that make the difference. My team and I are dedicated to fostering a vibrant academic community — whatever that might entail. On any given day, you might find us in the RSC, chatting with students over a latte or working with our faculty and staff to ensure that our students are living their best Shocker lives.

I’m honored to be a leader at Wichita State, and everyone in my office and across campus is dedicated to ensuring that your educational experience is transformative, inspiring and empowering.

I’m privileged to work alongside our talented faculty and staff to make this journey exceptional for each student. Our doors are always open, and your voices are heard. Here’s to a year of growth, learning and endless possibilities. Go Shockers!

We publish stories constantly, so whether your jam is sports or maybe you just want to see what our staff members have to say on controversial topics, we have something for you. Our website is updated daily, and we publish a print newspaper every week on Thursday morning.

Those who are brave enough to venture to the southwest portion of campus, visit our newsroom in the basement of Elliott Hall. We’re the first door on the right when you go down the stairs. Visitors are always welcome, whether they want to check the place out or have something to share.

For others who might be a bit more reserved (I feel you), feel free to email me at editor@ thesunflower.com or leave a tip on our website. The rest of our staff can be reached via email, which can be found on our staff page.

I briefly touched on my introverted feelings, but I do mean it from the bottom of my heart that I am willing to listen to anyone and everyone who wants to share their story or just a bit of knowledge. The Sunflower is here to listen to you, Wichita State’s students, faculty, staff and the broader Wichita community.

Wichita State University campus view from the third floor balcony of the Rhatigan Student Center on May 2, 2023. Construction for the Shocker Success Center is projected to be completed by summer of 2024. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower

Shirley Lefever Provost GUEST COLUMN

‘A campus alive with energy’: Provost extends welcome to Shockers new and old

Rick Muma President GUEST COLUMN

‘GROWTH

President looking forward to a year of innovation

BARBENHEIMER

This Barbie left the movie theater shaking and sobbing about being motherless after yet another Greta Gerwig film.

The much-anticipated, Regal app-crashing blockbuster “Barbie” has debuted in theaters at last after a summer of “Barbenheimer” weekend planning and trademark pink advertising from every company under the sun.

Yes, this is a 90-minute Mattel commercial, and no, I can’t talk about this movie without it sounding like the toy company scripted my every last word. And anyway, it isn’t just a Barbie commercial.

Despite the uncanniness of some scenes (I’m looking at you, goofball Mattel CEO Will Ferrell), the cast is far too charming and the movie’s messaging is far too clear to dismiss as just another IP movie (not sure the same can be said for the 45 other Mattel-based movies in the works).

Gerwig doesn’t shy away from how silly and shameless the advertising feels and even contributes her own ad during the film for a Depression Barbie.

If you have seen any previews for “Barbie” online or on TV, just know that you can miss about the first twenty minutes because you will recognize nearly all of it. I know that trailers have to use some parts of the movie, but it is getting ridiculous.

The movie begins in Barbieland, where all of the Barbies, Kens, and Allan live with the Barbies in charge of everyday

life. Stereotypical Barbie (Margot Robbie) is living the dream life on repeat, day after day until she isn’t. Suddenly, her showers are cold, her milk has expired and her feet are flat.

In order to fix this problem, Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) sends Stereotypical Barbie into the Real World to help the child who is playing with her. Of course, Stereotypical Ken (Ryan Gosling) sneaks into Stereotypical Barbie’s car so he can be there for her.

The whole cast is sensational at what they are supposed to do, but Gosling is on a different level. He’s funny, emotional and sells Ken hard. This guy wasn’t kidding about his Kenergy.

I don’t think “Barbie” works with anyone but Gerwig in charge. She deeply understands how wonderful and devastating being a woman is and superimposes this on both our Barbies and human characters.

Throughout her four-movie directorial career, Gerwig seems interested in three things: girlhood, motherhood, and home. She uses Barbie as a tool to show both girls coping with growing up and mothers seeing their daughters grow up.

Gerwig has sympathy for all kinds of women, from the brooding teenage girl, to the ever-worrying mother, to the grandmother with crow’s feet and deep-cut smile lines from a life well-lived.

Part creation myth, part feminist manifesto, and part company propaganda, “Barbie” will certainly change the way you look at the iconic doll and probably change the way you look at your mother, realizing that she too is just a 50-something-year-old little girl playing with her Barbie.

Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” now being referred to as his magnum opus, offers a gripping picture of the father of the atomic bomb, J. Robert Oppenheimer and the relationships that shaped his life.

We follow Oppenheimer–brilliantly cast as a chilly-eyed Cillian Murphy — from a young physics student plagued by visions of his subject to an older man buckling under the consequences of his deadly invention.

Besides Murphy, the film features a number of well-known faces like Robert Downey Jr, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, and even Josh Peck. Each cast member, no matter how little screen time they were given, put their best foot forward in supporting “Oppie,” as he is often nicknamed by his circle.

These supporting characters gave an intense, even if brief, performance to convey the influence of Oppenheimer’s peers on his work without taking the spotlight off of the film’s main subject. This is especially true for Emily Blunt’s character, Kitty Oppenheimer, Oppie’s wife and my personal favorite.

Although her largest contributions occur in the film’s final hour, Kitty’s sarcasm and scorn become the film’s source of fiery persistence as an anti-communist witch hunt works to silence her husband. Her protest of the obvious political scheme starkly contrasts Oppenheimer’s relenting fatigue to convey just how much directing the

Manhattan Project has taken out of him.

This transition from an enthusiastic academic ready to teach quantum theory to any American willing to listen to the discarded genius traumatized by his own creation is gradual over the film’s slightly exhausting run time of 180 minutes. To me, what really seemed to break Oppenheimer was the slow but sure realization of how little control he had over his own innovations.

In fact, the American government’s inevitable disposal of Oppenheimer is clear early on in an interaction with Edward Teller, the father of the Hydrogen bomb. Oppie pushes down his doubt about directing the project by stating, “They need us,” to which Teller replies with a chilling “Until they don’t.”

We see him strive to stay true to himself anyway — notice his adherence to his iconic hat instead of a military uniform — but Oppenheimer and his fellow scientists at Los Alamos are only as important as those in power decide they are.

Nolan’s character study thrives alongside an intense soundtrack and visual elements packed with enough intensity to rival the worst horror movie jump scare you can think of. We see Oppenheimer grapple with the devastation of the A-bomb when he imagines the crowd at his victory speech peeling and disintegrating as they cheer for him.

My personal favorite scene was Kitty’s bizarre vision of Jean Tatlock (played by Pugh) on top of Oppenheimer as she watches him answer questions about his affair with the young communist.

While some viewers have

expressed that the film fails to include the Japanese perspective — we don’t even see the bomb fall on Hiroshima or Nagasaki — I feel that this was not only intentional but a central point.

Oppenheimer himself was severed from the bomb the second it was in military hands — his usefulness had finally run out.

We don’t see the devastation because moral qualms were never going to stand between America and Japanese surrender anyway. Oppenheimer spirals into regret solely because of the realization that his brilliance directly created a horrifying tool that those in power have no issue disregarding human life to use.

I don’t believe this film asks you to feel bad for Oppenheimer. (I definitely did not, what did you think was going to happen, man?) It asks you to understand how little control he had — and how little control we all have — when working under the truly powerful.

It’s more than valid to fault Oppenheimer, but Nolan puts this blame into a larger context we cannot ignore.

Nolan leaves us with a terrifying final line when Oppenheimer tells Albert Einstein that he has destroyed the world with his creation. Here, Oppenheimer is truly Prometheus as he faces the devastation — and inevitable opportunities for more of the same — born out of his contributions to the science he was once so eager to make strides in.

“Oppenheimer” is more than a biopic — it is a cautionary tale that forces us to face the violent potential that curiosity and innovation hold.

How ‘Heartstopper’ gets teen queerness right and how other media may get it wrong

BY SASCHA HARVEY opinion@thesunflower.com

I’ll be honest: I cringe at “Heartstopper.” The lines, delivery, some of the plot – it can be a bit hard to watch.

When I started reading Alice Oseman’s web comic, however, many years ago, I found “Heartstopper” sweet, easy to read, and, yes, still cringe worthy. Netflix’s television adaptation is no exception.

Honestly, it would be weird and unsettling if “Heartstopper” wasn’t at least a little bit cringy. With the general nature of the web comic, the Netflix original series is a pretty accurate recreation.

For every web comic panel of Charlie and Nick saying, “Why are we like this?” in reference to something stupid and obvious, there’s a scene with Kit Conner and Joe Locke crying out the line in mock exasperation.

Every time web comic Charlie calls himself weak and fragile, TV show Charlie does too, and a gay kid out there feels more comfortable with themself.

In today’s day and age (or any), media like “Heartstopper” is insanely helpful. Shows and movies centered around straight people, like “The Kissing Booth” and “Never Have I Ever,” are relatively lighthearted. In this way, “Heartstopper” offers an escape from the oftenharsh reality of being queer in high

school. Especially with how dark a lot of media focused on queerness can be, “Heartstopper” is incredibly important.

Let’s look at some recent media with gay representation, specifically involving or marketed towards teenagers, and break down why these media can be potentially harmful.

Spoilers incoming:

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

A story in picturesque Italy: A 17-year-old boy, Elio, and a 24-yearold man, Oliver, have an intense summer fling. Both the novel by André Aciman and the film by Luca Guadagnino are beautifully done, which I think contributes to the view of “Call Me By Your Name” being viewed as a romance. If you watched this movie and thought of it as a romance versus a coming of age, you need to try again.

Especially in the book, Elio has a clearly obsessive view of Oliver and feels uncomfortable and shameful after certain events that take place. Elio explicitly expresses regret several times throughout the novel. I think reading or watching this can be super harmful for gay teenagers who go in with a view of it as a love story.

To add insult to injury, the ending of “Call Me By Your Name” is absolutely heart wrenching.

“Euphoria,” main character Rue falls in love with Jules, and a lot of season two subsequently centers around their relationship. Do I even need to list any reasons why Jules and Rue are horrible for each other?

The entirety of season two is them finding new ways to hurt each other, ranging from cheating (from a possibly-bisexual character, no less, perpetuating a harmful stereotype) to Rue being verbally abusive while experiencing drug withdrawal.

While all the show’s couples are objectively toxic and the characters just awful – so much so that having the only gay couple be the exception to this would be worse – “Euphoria” would definitely be a hard watch for anyone who decided to watch for lesbian and trans representation.

“Euphoria” is arguably one of the most popular television series of our generation, so, while I love that a lot of minority groups are represented, “Euphoria” is absolutely not meant to be “good” representation for queer people.

YELLOWJACKETS

Admittedly, I haven’t finished “Yellowjackets” (not for a lack of trying) but even just a couple episodes in, I’m able to see why this show is far from a pick-me-up. Murder and everything up to it are explored in this show, basically from the minute the pilot starts.

Yeah, there are a couple queer

relationships, but this is not an LGBTQ+ show. Well, it is, in the way that it involves LGBTQ+ people.

The plot of “Yellowjackets” can be closest described as “The Lord of the Flies” meets Gary Paulsen’s “Hatchet,” but better because it’s all girls.

With hour-long episodes and disturbing themes, “Yellowjackets” is not the show to watch before bed, or if you want to feel good about yourself and the world.

COMING BACK TO ‘HEARTSTOPPER’

This is not to say that these are bad movies or shows. At their root, all of these stories are not meant to be sweet love stories that warm your heart, so I’m not going to criticize the media as a whole on this wrong assumption. All of these function well for their intended purpose, and so does “Heartstopper.”

“Heartstopper” is not meant to be a groundbreaking and tragic gay love story. It’s simply meant to be the live action remake of a sweet

and simple web comic about two boys who fall in love. That’s all it was originally, and that’s all it is now.

“Heartstopper” is not the end-all be-all of queer media, and it can definitely leave older viewers wanting more.

QUEER MEDIA RECOMMENDATIONS MINUS THE PAIN

If you want queer media that’s deep and adult without being depressing or scary, watch “God’s Own Country.” If you want something with the same sweet and goofy themes as “Heartstopper” while having a bit more depth, check out “But I’m a Cheerleader.” If you want a queer romcom but centered around adults, check out “The Watermelon Woman” and “Bros.”

But at the end of the day, “Heartstopper” is a great story for young queer kids, and I’m willing to bet that anyone could find something to smile at in the story, even if it’s just how cringy it is.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros

‘Barbie’ director continues to tell complicated story of womanhood

Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’ puts fate of the world on the shoulders of giants — but not the one you think

Since news broke of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” releasing the same day, the world’s film enthusiasts have sat in wait for the pop culture event of the summer — and maybe even the year.

Photo courtesy of

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Freshman Calianne Jackson lounges in the pool during the Campus Recreation event on Aug. 17. The event was hosted to welcome new and old students to campus. Jackson attended the event with friends and said it, “gave me one last moment of summer.” | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower

Michael Munter, an incoming freshman studying mechanical engineering, plays a round of cornhole with a few of his peers. Other attendees of the Campus Recreation’s pool party event played outside. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower

Wichita State students play basketball at the pool party event. The event was hosted by Campus Recreation at the Heskett Center. |

Photo by Nithin Reddy Nagapur / The Sunflower

Grace Schulze grabs the ball in the large group game of catch. Schulze is an incoming sophomore who is studying music performance. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower

Freshman Ava Krekeler and Enrish Patdu hang out by the pool at the pool party. | Photo by Nithin Reddy Nagapur / The Sunflower

A student dives to spike the volleyball on Aug. 17. | Photo by Nithin Reddy Nagapur / The Sunflower

James Cox does a cannonball off of the tall diving board during the pool party on Aug. 17. Cox is an incoming freshman who will be studying aerospace engineering. | Photo by Kristy Mace / The Sunflower