DAY IN THE LIFE THE SUNFLOWER PRESENTS
SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 • VOLUME 122 • ISSUE 11
2 | DAY IN THE LIFE www.thesunflower.com
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SHOCKS UP IN SCOTLAND WSU alumna learns to carry an umbrella in Scotland
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By MARISSA CAMPBELL
ain or shine, Emily Loy always has her umbrella in-hand. In Glasgow, Scotland, you never know if a light sprinkle or downpour will be on the radar. After completing her undergraduate studies with a double major in art history and anthropology this spring, Loy said she knew her next step would be to the University of Glasgow for her master’s degree. “I chose [Glasgow] because the master’s program is only one year and the opportunity to expand my worldview through easy access to travel was a no brainer,” Loy said. “University of Glasgow also has such a wide variety of art history programs that really focus on interdisciplinary skills between other departments; it’s quite innovative, really.” Loy is working towards an art history degree with an emphasis on the history of dress and textiles. “Almost every aspect of this academic adventure has been different than how I approached my undergrad at WSU,” Loy said. “First, you sign up for all your classes at once — for the whole year.” Loy said one istance of culture shock for her was discovering the importance of joining various clubs and societies at the university. There is no Greek life, but she said it is important to join clubs and truly invest time in them along with student unions. The weather is cloudy and overcast, comparable to Juneau, Alaska. Loy said she is glad to be out of the Kansas heat but thankful that the Sunflower State prepared her for erratic weather changes. Loy said subtle cultural differences in Scotland catch her off guard. “If you ask anyone, Glaswegians speak their own version of
COURTESY
Above, Emily Loy and Julie Tew, bot WSU alumni, set off for a year abroad to get their master’s degrees in Glasgow, Scotland. Right, Emily Loy spent her first few days in Scotland exploring the city and university. Loy is getting a master’s degree in art history with an emphasis in dress and textile histories.
English,” Loy said. “Half the time no one understands each other. Similar to Wichita, though, every native Glaswegian is more than happy to offer a helping hand.” Loy said she felt like “a salmon going upstream” when she walked on the wrong side of the street her first week in Scotland. Other cultural differences include meeting adults who have never driven and not being able to buy in bulk or find fresh produce like in Kansas. Loy isn’t enduring these changes alone, though. She made the journey to Glasgow with another former Wichita State student, Julie Tew. Tew was an anthropology major who also graduated in the spring and is now working towards a master’s degree in museum studies. Outside of class, Loy and Tew explore the city and its museums — attending events that apply to
COURTESY
their majors. Recently, Loy sat in on a lecture with a costume designer for the TV series “Outlanders,” “Game of Thrones” and “The Crown.” “Seminars and exhibitions help me explore different ways my degree can actually be translated into a career,” Loy said. “My program is very career-oriented; it’s a bit overwhelming, really.” Ultimately, Loy said she wouldn’t change her experience
for the world. “For anyone interested in pursuing their postgraduate degree, be willing to look internationally — especially in the UK,” Loy said. “Glasgow accepts United States financial aid, which is amazing. The programs are so diverse and the international connections these universities have are unbeatable. Also, the unicorn is Scotland’s national animal, and I think that just says it all, really.”
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DAY IN THE LIFE | 3
THURSDAY, SEPT. 28, 2017
COPIES OF SCRIPTURE in the pathways of life
By JENNA FARHAT
Anyone who frequents Wichita State’s campus has likely encountered the men handing out green, pocket-sized copies of the Bible to passersby, rain or shine. Ed Bogner has been handing out copies of the New Testament on college campuses in Kansas for three years. “The most important decision I’ve ever made in my life was to trust in Jesus Christ,” said the Winfield, Kansas native. Bogner is part of Gideons International, an association of evangelical Christians who distribute free
copies of the Bible. “We try to place copies of scripture in the pathways of life,” Bogner said. “This is one of the pathways of life — a college campus.” Bogner has spent time on the campuses of Wichita State, Cowley College, and Southwestern College in hopes of offering a “spiritual GPS” to help college students navigate life’s challenges, he said. “I hope it will help them live life in a more abundant way,” Bogner said. “There’s this verse where Jesus says, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone but by the word that pro-
ceeds from the mouth of God.’ We eat daily. This is our spiritual food that we need daily.” Bogner said he holds onto hope that students may pick up the Bible weeks, months, or years down the line. “I doubt if there are many that look at it right away,” Bogner said. “It’s the most important commitment that I have made. Marriage was important. Trusting Christ was more important.” He said he hopes others can feel the same way. “It keeps me in tune with God. I find if I don’t do that, I’m gonna be a little distressed.”
JOSEPH BARRINGHAUS/THE SUNFLOWER
Ed Bogner speaks to students by Shocker Hall and gives out free copies of the New Testament on Wichita State’s main campus Wednesday. Bogner is part of Gideons International, an association of evangelical Christians who distribute bibles on campus.
From the Army to Ablah: ‘I’m still in the place of serving’ By JENNA FARHAT
BRIAN HAYES/THE SUNFLOWER
Cynorra Jackson, access services manager at Ablah Library, poses in front of a bookshelf in Ablah.
Military service brought Cynorra Jackson from Maryland to Kansas. Libraries kept her here. As access services manager at the circulation desk at Ablah Library, Jackson knows a thing or two about dispersing information. “There are things you’re gonna need to read — publications, old stories. I love giving people those tools to take them to the next level of their careers,” Jackson said. “That is my purpose. To continue to feed people information.” Jackson said libraries still play an important role in the age of information. “I don’t believe that the library will be phased out,” Jackson said. “I think we are still gonna be a repository for information.” “Look at textbooks, for example. A lot of students don’t wanna buy textbooks. They wanna come to the library and check them out.” Jackson said libraries preserve authenticity in a way that online resources cannot. “There are a lot of things that just
haven’t been, and may never be, put into an electronic format because it’s not possible,” Jackson said. “There’s the Gutenberg Bible, for example. It has gold on it. It has gems on it. You can’t put that in electronic format.” “There are original manuscripts from a lot of the famous authors we’ve read growing up. Some of these pages are so fragile. If you touch them, because they’re so old, they’ll now fall apart.” Jackson’s library career started in an unlikely place — McConnell Air Force base. She began working at the library on base after eight years in the military. Jackson underlined a commonality between her work in the military and her work in the library — serving people. “I did eight years (in the military), then I got out and said, ‘okay, what’s next?’” Jackson said. In the military, Jackson was in charge of cooking and preparing lodging for soldiers. She said she enjoyed giving troops something to look forward to. “You’re away from family and
loved ones in a war situation,” Jackson said. “You want something to look forward to. A hot meal is something to look forward to.” During her time in the military, Jackson was deployed overseas three times — once to Bahrain and twice to Qatar. “We were responsible for quality of life,” Jackson said. That meant learning to confront the realities of death in a potential war situation. “If we had to deploy and it was a bad situation, we had to learn mortuary — how to bag and tag remains,” Jackson said. “It is dark. There’s nothing happy about it. But it’s part of it.” Her job still involves her passion for serving others. “I’m still in the place of serving, I’m just serving a specific group of people in an academic setting,” Jackson said. “It’s not my job to make you understand. It’s my job to hand you the information. And once I hand you the information, you take yourself to the next level.”
4 | DAY IN THE LIFE
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BE UNSTOPPABLE
REID LINOT/THE SUNFLOWER
Sarah Sell, director of veteran student services, poses for a photo in her office.
Sarah Sell serves veterans By ROBERT HITE
CHRISTIAN YOST/THE SUNFLOWER
Krystian Fish competes during the Miss America Pageant Sept. 11 in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Miss Kansas empowers people with disabilities By FIONA KEE
W
hen she was eight years old, Krystian Fish dressed up as Miss Kansas for Halloween. It was during her senior year in high school that she decided to compete in Miss America. Her dream came true when she was named Miss Kansas 2017. Today, Fish uses her title as Miss Kansas to implement change in the Kansas community. Her platform, “Remove the Labels: Be Unstoppable,” aims to teach Kansans how to be inclusive. “I wanted to create the campaign to empower individuals with disabilities,” Fish said. “Through the campaign, I was able to gather ambassadors from around the country who will
spread their own message of inclusion.” Fish said she hopes her platform helps people see each other’s humanity first — not their disabilities or labels. “We often see someone with a disability, and that seems to be all we notice,” Fish said. “There is way more to that person than their disability, and they deserve to be respected.” Fish said her Miss Kansas journey has helped her to grow and mature. Soon enough, Fish was in New Jersey competing for the national Miss America title. When her name was not called during the semifinals, Fish said it hurt, but that she regrets nothing. She said it was important to remain true to her self throughout the competition.
“When I went to Miss America, I told my friends and family, ‘I’m going to be Krystian. Either they want Krystian or they don’t — either way, I’m Krystian,’” Fish said. “But I was true to myself and stayed true to who I am, and now I’m going to be the best Miss Kansas I can be.” Fish said her journey has helped her to find her limits and push past them. “This organization challenges you and stretches you in ways you don’t notice at first,” Fish said. “It is so cool to look back and see all that you’ve accomplished.” Now that the national competition is over, Fish is traveling throughout the state to spread awareness of her platform. She has already started a school speaking tour to raise awareness for inclusivity. Fish said her advice to students is to remain true to themselves. “There are thousands of beautiful women on campus who should be competing at Miss Kansas this year.”
Sarah Sell grew up in a military family and later joined the armed services herself, so connecting with veterans on campus as director of Veteran Student Services comes naturally to her. “The military is a culture within itself,” Sell said. “If you haven’t served in it, it can be difficult to understand. It’s easier for a veteran to connect with another veteran.” The chocolate on her desk is readily available to anyone who walks into her office, but Sell serves mostly post-9/11 veterans. “The military and Veterans Administration are incredibly complex systems,” Sell said. “I am their point of contact for whatever. I’m kind of their ‘Google’ to figure out whatever it may be. Everyday is different than the day before.” Sell helps veterans with everything from combat stresses to disabilities, but sometimes her biggest job is just to interact with and understand veterans. Sell’s understanding for veterans comes from personal experience. She has been in the U.S. Air National Guard for 16 years, serving in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and in Baghdad during Iraqi Freedom. During her time in Baghdad, Sell’s process of earning her masters degree in counseling was interrupted. Now, Sell is continuing her
degree while she serves as director of Veteran Student Services. Her job is not condusive to a standard workday. On any given day, she could meet with a handful of veterans or as many as 30. “I can’t answer every question, but I can figure out who to go to get an answer,” Sell said. “[Sell] was able to give us an area where we could be ourselves,” Jarod Ashton, an Iraqi veteran said. “This became our community. We’re all equal.” Tori Anstine, who served as a builder in the Navy, was deployed to Guam, Afghanistan, Djbouti, and Japan over five years before working as a recruiter for another three years. “[Veteran Student Services] saved me my first year at WSU,” Anstine said. Anstine said she lost the group psychology of the military when she came to WSU, but Veteran Student Services helped her gain it back. “You’re on a team and [then] you are no longer on a team, and this place fills that team environment,” she said. For Anistine, Ashton, and other veterans in the WSU community, Sell provides an invaluable service. “It’s meeting with them, building relationships, which is the most important part of what I do,” Sell said.
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THURSDAY, SEPT. 28, 2017
Vadakin reflects on 40 years as bowling head coach By ALIYAH FUNSCHELLE
Gordon Vadakin has been the head coach of the bowling team for 40 years, but he’s been part of the team for even longer. Vadakin bowled at Wichita State from 1971 to 1975. After his four years of eligibility were up, he immediately became a part of the coaching staff. Vadakin said one of the turning points of his career came in 1996 when the university decided to make the bowling head and assistant coaching positions full-time. “In a rare move, the university went from two positions to four positions,” Vadakin said. “From that point forward, we’ve been lucky enough to do this full time not have to split our attention to the business and the sport side.” Vadakin has coached WSU to 18 of their 20 national championship titles. The first WSU bowling title was in 1975 when the women’s team won the intercollegiate team championship. “We were fortunate enough to win our first title in 1975 in Dayton, Ohio when the women’s team won the intercollegiate team championship,” Vadakin said. “My wife was on that team oddly enough.”
SELENA FAVELA/THE SUNFLOWER
Gordon Vadakin explains the art of bowling to a Sunflower reporter. Vadakin has been the head bowling coach at WSU for four decades.
Vadakin married his wife in 1979. Bowling success aside, Vadakin said one of the highlights of his career is the academic success of his athletes. Last fall, the bowling team produced 18 Academic All-Americans with 3.5 or higher cumulative
GPAs. “We’re very proud of the fact we had 18 Academic All-Americans. That to me is big-time winning,” Vadakin said. “If we can get excellent academics here and have that happen before going out on the
lanes that’s way more meaningful.” Aside from coaching at Wichita State, Vadakin was a member of the Team USA coaching staff from 1990 to 1993 and 2000 to 2009. As a bowler, he was a two-time member of team USA.
Vadakin was one of only 14 coaches in the world to be United States Bowling Congress (USBC) gold-level certified. “[The gold level of certification] is very experienced-based stuff,” Vadakin said. “Lord knows I’ve been around awhile.” Vadakin said one of the changes he has seen in his time at Wichita State is the new importance of implementing a philosophy for the team. All team members are expected to uphold the things in their philosophy statement. “When you’re around a long time you start creating things like philosophies. I’m happy to say we’ve been around long enough to have a mission, vision, and values, philosophy statements, and goals,” Vadakin said. “Those didn’t seem so important back in the day as they are now, but they really guide us big time.” After four decades at the university, Vadakin said he still feels how special the bowling program at Wichita State is. “We feel like we have something special here,” Vadakin said. “We’ve had it for quite awhile.”
Graduate dives in as Barton Community College head swim coach By DILLON CULLINAN
classes he didn’t think would be important have Jonathan Reeder, a 2017 paid off in the long run. graduate, wasted no time “One class I got a translating his physical lot from at WSU was education degree into Exercise Physiology with success. In March, he was Dr. (Michael) Rogers,” named Barton CommuReeder said. “Everything REEDER nity College’s head swim that he explained, I was coach. hesitant to pick up. How “I learned a lot about was I ever going to apply this when sports science and about teaching,” a 10-year-old comes up to me and Reeder said. “They really helped says he cut his hand? I didn’t know me explain and teach techniques that I would need that class, but and different instruments on how eventually it became extremely to grow. Now that I’m a college applicable.” coach, I get that it really pays to Reeder is no newcomer to swimunderstand the human body.” Reeder admitted that even the ming. He was a member of his
high school swim team at Wichita Heights. Reeder was recruited to become a coach when BCC started their swim program. “I came to BCC after they approached me and they told me that they were staring a program and they were looking for someone to build a program with,” Reeder said. Reeder said coaching was not in his original post-graduation plans. “I didn’t know it was a future — I thought that I would probably be a teacher until February 18 of this year. That’s what I was going to be,” Reeder said. “February 19, I decided I was going to be a college head
coach. My plans changed, but they definitely changed for the better.” At BCC, Reeder’s job isn’t to recruit just anyone for the swim team. He must create a functioning team. “In high school, everybody could join, but now you must be able to tell some people no,” Reeder said. “You have to know if your team is balanced and works well together.” “If you have too many breaststrokers and nobody to swim butterfly, no matter how good your breaststrokers are, you’re going to have a pretty crappy team.” His first meet as a coach has come and gone, and Reeder said he
has learned a lot about the difference between college coaching and high school. “In college, all the athletes are in much better shape and are much better swimmers,” Reeder said. “Every swimmer on the team is a different piece in a chess game. From day one, you begin developing your team from good swimmers to great swimmers.” Kayla Hennen, one of Reeder’s swimmers at BCC, said he has a favorite saying: “‘Work hard’. He says it all the time.” Reeder said he’s setting his goals high. “I want to see how far I can go.”
6 | DAY IN THE LIFE
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Vizzini Through a career in higher education, art remains a big piece of Provost Vizzini’s personality By ANDREW LINNABARY
A
rt — whether hung in his office, seen around campus, written in literature, or played as video games — is something Provost Tony Vizzini can’t imagine life without. Behind the desk in his trinket-filled office in Morrison Hall are two paintings, both by William Gropper, a contemporary American artist and favorite of Vizzini’s. He said he was astonished to find out WSU had a collection of Gropper originals. Vizzini said he loves many of the sculptures around campus — a particular favorite being “Tres Mujeres Caminando,” the statue of three generations of women near the Grace Memorial Chapel which depicts a daughter walking away from a mother and grandmother. “The daughter is walking away, head up high, and grandma’s like, ‘She’s going to come our way, I’m not worried,’” Vizzini said. “And mom’s looking over her shoulders to see if the daughter’s
TIMELINE IN ACADEMICS
MATT CROW/THE SUNFLOWER
going to come along. In essence it could be the same woman. You can see the difference of their position in life in their confidence. The young is headstrong and confident. The old is headstrong and confident. The one in the middle is kind of torn.” Vizzini said art is important to quality of life. His hobbies include consuming various art forms, both traditional — literature, of which Dostoevsky, Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Kurt Vonnegut are favorites — and non-traditional: He has a collection of vintage computer games, many of which he found on eBay. He buys in lots, he said, and keeps the good ones. Favorites include real-time strategy games like Commander and Conquer — “Covert Operations, Red Alert — I’ve played them all” — and first-person shooters. Vizzini applies a classic line of traditional art to video games, bemoaning the fact that new games are “not the way they used to be.” “What bothers me about new games is you don’t own it,” Vizzini said. “You own a license to it, which is problematic
1986 Received Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics from M.I.T, Joined the faculty of University of Maryland
Appointed founding director of the Composites Research
1987
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loosens up when you go to sell a game … It’s just not the stuff of a free-access world of someone who grew up with floppies.” Vizzini said he doesn’t have the time to play many video games anymore because his collection is “far too big” — but it’s something fun to show off. “It’s something that keeps you going, ‘Ah, look at this,’” Vizzini said. Nowadays, he said he just has time for quick games on his iPad or phone. “I play silly games like Clash of Clans … We won’t go there,” Vizzini said with his signature high-pitched chuckle. “It’s highly addictive.” The first video game he played was Dungeon, one of the first role-playing games, which he played in grad school at M.I.T. The game ran on a PDP-10 mainframe computer made by Digital Equipment Corporation. “That was before any PCs were out, back in 1981,” Vizzini said. “A lot of us graduate students would try to figure out how to crack the next puzzle. It was inventive. It was a video game back when there were no games besides Pong.” Vizzini said literature has been just as important to him as video games. He has a goal to read a book a month. “I’ve been keeping record since 2000, only because it guilts me,” Vizzini said.
2003 Became Professor and Department Head of the Aerospace Engineering Department at Mississippi State University
DAY IN THE LIFE | 7
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Became the Dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Western Michigan University
2009
“I have more books than I could read in a lifetime.” Vizzini said music isn’t a deep passion of his, but he still keeps an original, first-generation iPod around for flights. He said he likes newer artists such as Three Doors Down, Linkin Park, and 90s nu-metal bands like Limp Bizkit and Korn. Like music, film isn’t Vizzini’s go-to art medium, but he said he does enjoy movies — just not scary ones. He said George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead” still makes him cringe. “The ending of [“Night of the Living Dead”] is disturbing,” Vizzini said. “I did not go to sleep after that. Scary things bother me.” “But it’s a classic. Watch it.” Oh, and Vizzini isn’t a mobster — just Sicilian. “Wow, I’m a gangster?” Vizzini said. “How has Hollywood typified Sicilians in that way? I actually had a TSA agent look up at me and say, ‘Looks like a gangster.’ And you just smile because you don’t want to say, ‘Really?’ “I dress and look the way I do because it’s my style,” Vizzini said. “Where I came from, dressing this way meant you were successful. And to me, it’s also a manner of respect. The philosophy is, if I’m
WHY WSU?
“The opportunity. Hearing what Bardo had to say and what he was thinking at that time. It’s grown since then. But it was destined to be a great ride. Definitely a rollercoaster — ups and downs. You don’t just get all the highs. There’s going to be some challenges, but it’s that opportunity of what we’re doing here that excited me.”
meeting with somebody, I should not be dressed less than them.” WHAT IS A PROVOST? Dressing up has been Vizzini’s habit “Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs are chiefly the same thing,” since he started teaching, out of respect Vizzini said. “A provost is an age-old for his students, he said. Now he dresses name for the person who’s the chief acaup anytime money is on the table — demic officer. A provost, some people will which is why he’s always dressed up. say, has advocacy on behalf of the faculty “As you move to administration, you — if you want to believe that.” realize, in effect, money is always on the table,” Vizzini said. “Money is always a part of the discussion.” Vizzini said though he dresses and looks a certain way, he doesn’t expect others to look and act like him. He went straight through college and grad school right after high iPod school, but he said he Suite Judy Blue Eye Crosby Still s Nash & Yo knows his path isn’t the The Lone Sp ung ark of High -H ee le only one. His wife was d Boys - Tr affic Taxi - Harr y Chapin a non-traditional adult Drive - Incu bus student. Tears in He av en - Eric Cl “What fits for me apton Make Me Sm doesn’t fit for you, so ile - Chicag o Welcome to I shouldn’t impose it Machine Pink Floyd Tu rn the Page on you,” Vizzini said. - Bob Sege r “It’s good to experiAmazed - Lo ne Star ence other people’s differences.”
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2013 Became Vice President for Academic Affairs at Wichita State University KYLIE CAMERON / THE SUNFLOWER
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THURSDAY, SEPT. 28, 2017
Holly Harpel
THE NEW KIDS IN SGA
By RAY STRUNK
At-large Senator Holly Harpel is a self-proclaimed foodie. In fact, she even runs an Instagram HARPER page dedicated to pictures and reviews of meals from local restaurants. The page, called “Big Foodie Judy of ICT,” has amassed 81 reviews, covering the best of Kansas from “A” — Albero Cafe, whose fettucine alfredo Harpel said surpassed her expectations — to “Z” — Ziggy’s Pizza, which she said is one of her favorites — and every bite in between. “I love every restaurant,” Harpel said. In keeping with her love for food, Harpel, a sophomore double-majoring in international studies and health service management and community development, serves on SGA’s Shocker Support Locker Committee. The support locker, located in Grace Wilkie Hall 103, provides a variety of food items, sanitary products, and toiletries to students in need. “I personally want to work on removing the stigma of receiving free food,” Harpel said. “Because free food is good food.” Harpel said she plans to host an open house in Nov. to introduce students to the support locker. This is Harpel’s first year at Wichita State. She spent her freshman year at the University of Kansas. She said that, while transferring does have its disadvantages, her involvement in various student groups has made the transition smooth. “I have also found that the people here are very genuine, hardworking people, and I totally appreciate that,” Harpel said. “I am very excited to meet more people and to have more great college experiences in the Shocker community.”
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Jaiden Soupene By KYLIE CAMERON
In the Student Government Association, moderate voices can be hard to come by. Sophomore Jaiden Soupene said he hopes to be the exception. Soupene, a political science major, is one of many new SGA senators to be appointed this year. “I consider myself to be a pretty moderate person,” Soupene said. “I think it would be good to have a level-headed approach to issues and to see both sides and weigh the pros
Elle Kabler By RAY STRUNK
It wasn’t long after freshman human resource management major Elle Kabler’s appointment to the Student Senate that she found herself serving as the chair of the newly-formed Safety and Student Services Committee. SGA approved Kabler’s as an at-large senator on Aug. 30. Less than a month later, she was chosen to lead one of SGA’s six
and cons when voting to help students on legislation or dealing write letters to their with conflicts that may representatives. arise.” “Now more than ever, “I want to be one of it is important to be my great idols in the active on our campuses, Senate. I want to be the our state, and our Susan Collins of SGA.” nation,” Rowell said. SOUPENE Soupene said he Rowell said she believes the polarizing convinced Soupene to national political climate since apply for an SGA position. the presidential election has “I think Jaiden is going to be a been reflected in SGA. fantastic senator because of his “While we’re all passionate work ethic and his capacity to about certain issues, we have to work well with others,” Rowell be able to talk to the other side,” said. “He’s the type of person Soupene said. who listens to everyone and Soupene, along with Sen. doesn’t allow his emotions and Shelby Rowell, is already workbiases to fog his judgement.” ing on creating a new program committees. work with the university Kabler said her to create events that unique perspective raise awareness for as a human resources sexual assault and student has prepared mental health issues. her well for her new “I joined Student position because her Government major helps her stay Association to make KABLER “realistic, organized, the campus safer and and social.” provide students with “It’s a great balance,” Kabler new resources and opportunisaid. “And my major completies,” Kabler said. ments my SGA roles immensely Kabler also serves on Wichita well.” State’s Community Service Board Kabler said she is prepared to and is a member of Gamma Phi step up as a leader and hopes to Beta.
Maribel Sanchez By RAY STRUNK
Newlyappointed honors senator Maribel Sanchez is the first person in her family to SANCHEZ attend college. Her parents immigrated from Mexico before she was born and found jobs at a beef-packing plant in Dodge City. Sanchez said her parents’ hard work is a major inspiration to her. “My motivation to go to college is to try to strive for a better life,” Sanchez said. “Because they weren’t able to prosper the way that I’m given the opportunity to.” “Just seeing them come home from a hard day of work, it’s like ‘Wow, you need to go and work twice as hard to be able to one day pay it forward.’” Sanchez is a 2017 Harry Gore Memorial Scholarship recipient. She was one of two Wichita State students chosen for the scholarship out of over 500 applicants. Fellow senator Matthew Miller was the other recipient. Winners of the scholarship receive $60,000 over four years. “I initially didn’t even think about doing it at all,” she said. “I wasn’t really set on WSU. I was leaning towards KU.” Sanchez said one visit to Wichita State’s campus was all it took to change her mind. “It was honestly a vibe thing,” Sanchez said. “When you walk onto a campus and you just know it’s the one. I really couldn’t fight it.” Sanchez served as student council president in both middle school and high school. “There are a lot of values that I already hold true to myself” Sanchez said. “I was raised in a low-income family, so I just have those different things that I’m going to shoot for and work towards.” “There’s a lot of people on this campus that are also in the same boat as I am. . . Hopefully I can be
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Nephew’s early birth inspires nursing student just our science classes.” GPA requirements for accepRachel Taylor’s tance into the program undeniable passion for are a 2.0 overall and 2.75 people — from their first in science classes. breath to their last — has “They do it well driven the sophomore here because it’s only a pre-nursing major to two-year program and spend the year taking it’s getting your RN, steady steps towards which is your license and TAYLOR her goal of becoming a your BSN, which is your newborn intensive care degree,” Taylor said. unit nurse. After considering several Though Taylor said her interest schools, Taylor said she chose in nursing doesn’t stem directly WSU for a multitude of reasons. from family influences, an unfortu“I could do the same program nate circumstance surrounding the somewhere else — I just know it birth of her nephew sparked her wouldn’t be what’s best for me,” first real thoughts about pursuing Taylor said. “Other programs are a career. easier to get into, but ... I wanted to Her nephew was born at 27 challenge myself.” weeks, weighing only two pounds, After taking a class and passing and stayed in the NICU for five an exam to get licensed, Taylor months. She visited almost every began working as a certified nurse day. She was 12 years old. aid at Regent Park — a local “I got really close with the nursing home. nurses there who were taking care Working from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. of him.” most days, Taylor spends hours “That’s what pulled me into the caring for and bonding with the nursing field as a whole was how residents of Regent Park. close I got with the staff — seeing “It’s busy all the time and we’re how genuine they were and how it always doing something, but I love was a passion thing.” that about nursing,” Taylor said. Prior to her nephew’s birth, “I want to be a NICU nurse, and Taylor said she knew nothing that’s on the complete opposite about what she wanted to do end of the spectrum by age, but I professionally. like what I do.” “I had dreams of becoming a “I work with people from when wedding planner when I was little, they come into our care until the but when he was born, I knew that end of their life. Getting close this was what I actually wanted to to them is the best part because go into. From then on, it’s never you’re taking care of them and swayed.” they’re trusting you to protect Taylor started the application them. That’s what I’ll do as a NICU process for the Bachelor of Science nurse as well.” in Nursing program in February. Looking ahead, Taylor said she “The way the program works is is most excited about the social classes are ranked by importance,” impact of her work. Taylor said. “They’ll look at science “I’m going to meet so many difcourses more than your other ferent people and families,” Taylor courses because there’s an overall said. “I think that’s the best aspect GPA we have to meet, but we also of nursing — having a passion to have to meet a GPA requirement in want to care for people.” By HANNAH TOBIAS
THURSDAY, SEPT. 28, 2017
DAY IN THE LIFE | 9
10 | DAY IN THE LIFE
THURSDAY, SEPT. 28, 2017
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Leroy lights up the Writing Center By NICOLE BYRNE
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majority of the students who drop by the Wichita State Writing Center are seeking help with grammar or idea development for an essay, but some have a different motive. They come to visit Leroy. Leroy the Ostrich Lamp has proudly served as the Writing Center’s mascot since the summer of 2014. Prior to joining Shocker Nation, Leroy lived among reindeer, chickens, and service-dogs-in-training at a farm near Vail, Colorado. Brian Evans, senior administrative assistant of the English department, was teaching as a WSU adjunct in 2009. While visiting a friend of a friend in Vail, he was struck by Leroy’s unique presence in her living room. “I asked my friend about her lamp and she said she was thinking of getting rid of it because it was the ugliest thing she’s ever seen,” Evans said. Evans asked if he could take it, and then Leroy joined Evans on the ninehour drive back to Wichita. “He didn’t fit in the backseat or the trunk, so we had him sticking his head out through the sunroof,” Evans said. Once in Wichita, Leroy settled down in Evans’ office on the sixth floor of Lindquist Hall. Leroy got straight to work, assisting as an icebreaker between Evans and his students. “They either loved him right away or thought he was the weirdest thing ever,” Evans said. When Evans accepted his current administrative assistant position, Leroy needed to find a new home. “Leroy can be a little intimidating,”
NICOLE BYRNE/THE SUNFLOWER
Above, Leroy the Ostrich Lamp poses for a close-up shot of his face. He made sure the photo was taken from his favorite angle. Right, Mercedes Lubbers turns on Leroy’s lamp for the first time after moving him to his new spot behind the tutors’ main desk.
Writing Center Director Kerry Jones said. “There was resistance to bringing him to the front office.” Jones knew the perfect place for Leroy. He was moved into the Writing Center and has become a much-loved icon. “It’s not just go to the Writing Center — it’s go to the Writing Center and take a selfie with Leroy,” said Jones. “People come in and do that all the time. Student’s think he’s hysterical.” But this semester, Leroy has another responsibility besides just posing for pictures. Prabashini Siriwardana started working as a writing tutor this fall. She has an eye condition that makes her highly light-sensitive, and her ability to see is greatly affected by the standard issue fluorescent ceiling lights installed in the Writing Center. “When I first walked into the Writing Center with Kerry, the room so bright that I couldn’t actually see
Leroy,” Siriwardana said. “The next day Kerry mentioned that we have a lamp that we don’t really turn on, but we could if we wanted to.” Leroy was moved from his position near the entrance to behind the tutors’ main desk. He provides just the right amount of light for Siriwardana. “He’s helped us become ADA compliant,” Jones said. “Who would have thought an ostrich lamp could help us with that?” Leroy is excited for the start of October. Halloween is his favorite holiday, and of course, he has a costume ready. Leroy usually gets dressed up on the first of the month, but he might be able to convince the staff to move that up a few days. The staff expects Leroy to stick around for as long as the Writing Center exists. “Lots of writing centers have mascots, but none of them have an ostrich lamp,” Jones said.
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THURSDAY, SEPT. 28, 2017 Column by
NOT IN ILLINOIS
ANYMORE Freshman comes to Kansas for athletic opportunity By JACK CLAYTON
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efore the sun even rises, freshman Jack Drexler can be found on the Arkansas River. Along with seven other men, Drexler is a member of the men’s novice rowing team. Drexler, a native of Crystal Lake, Illinois who has been rowing for three years, said Wichita State is the ideal school for him. “I can row, study sports management, support an awesome basketball team, and not have to pay $45K a year,” Drexler said. “I can get both the big city and small town vibe from being here.”
Derek blair
President Barack Obama held a joint session of Congress on Thursday to share his plan to fix America. His plan was very secretive until the day of the speech, when almost
every detail was given to the press. His plan is ambitious. Nearly $250 billion in tax cuts, more jobs for teachers, firemen and cops, massive amounts of money spent to rebuild roads and bridges, spending in a new super fast rail system, and investments in green energy. All for the low, low price
DAY IN THE LIFE | 11
of … $449 billion. Oh, and this would all be paid for without adding to the deficit. How can this be done? That is an amazingly good question, because it remains unanswered by the Obama administration, who say it will be answered “soon.” The only plausible answer is that taxes will be raised
For Drexler, a normal day is pretty straightforward. He wakes up at 5:20 a.m. for practice on the river. Then, if he’s not in class, he can usually be found eating, sleeping, watching TV or playing video games with friends. Drexler said he has struggled to adjust to living on his own. “I’m used to my parents being a big part of my life at home,” Drexler said. “So, it’s been strange having them be so far away from me.” HANNAH ROBERTS/THE SUNFLOWER FILE PHOTO However, Drexler said the The women’s varisty rowing team practices on the Little Arkansas River on Wednesday morning. Coach Calvin Cupp rowing team has become somemotivated his team saying, “Remind yourself everyday that what you do matters.” what of a family to him. “Rowing teams are always super close because of the chemsport so some of the warm-ups are He said he hopes to move up to hopes to contribute to the team’s istry required in order to have a similar,” Drexler said. “But it is a varsity in the near future. legacy. successful boat,” Drexler said. little strange not being the biggest Since its introduction to He has plenty to look forward He said he sees very little difguy on the team.” Wichita State in 1974, the rowing to. The rowing team has their first ference between rowing in Illinois Drexler is currently a part of team has built up a legacy, placing official meet next weekend, Oct. 7, And rowing in Kansas. the novice division, where all at multiple regional and national in Oklahoma City, where Drexler “We are practicing the same new Wichita State rowers begin. competitions. Drexel said he is expected to row.
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FIRE TRAINING
Firefighters from 9 states run training drills at Fairmount Towers
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ISAIAH HITTLE/THE SUNFLOWER ISAIAH HITTLE/THE SUNFLOWER
Top, Group of Wichita Hot trainees saw work was widely used throughout the workshop. Above, Participants and instructors gather to go over breaking through locks and doors. Middle right, Group of Wichita Hot trainees testing the ground of the second floor for stability and a safe entrance. Right, Group of Wichita Hot trainees gearing up for thermal imaging class.
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THURSDAY, SEPT. 28, 2017
Mechanical engineer promotes diverse educational experiences daily By ABIGAIL FAFLICK
Second-year mechanical engineering major Payton Morgan had more options for his future than types of food on his plate Tuesday afternoon as he shared his hopes for his career over lunch in the dining hall. Classes filled Morgan’s morning — calculus III, physics, and material engineering. Despite the morning’s load, Morgan said he was eagerly anticipating his afternoon job: teaching the Project Lead the Way class at Gordon Parks Academy. “[Teaching] this class is really enlightening. It makes me want to focus more on my own education,” Morgan said. “Some of these kids definitely have more of an idea of what they want to do. Well, I know I want to become a mechanical engineer, but after that, I don’t really know. It has me thinking — after I get my degree, what do I want to do?” Outside of his work and studies, Morgan said he finds support in peer groups through campus involvement with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and Cut H8 Ambassadors. “These organizations surround me with likeminded individuals,” Morgan said. “Walking around campus, I don’t see a whole lot of African American engineers, but in that group, I am completely surrounded in a room full of them.” “With Cut H8, I am surrounded by people who want to make our campus better, make others feel welcomed, and enjoy their time here. It is a wonderful feeling being around those people.”
Morgan said it’s comforting to be a part of a peer group where he can learn about other cultures in a supportive environment. “[NSBE] is a way for me to learn about different culture, because a majority of the members are African, not African American,” Morgan said. “I can see their perspective for what events are going on in our world, our country.” “I get to learn about what their experiences have been like.” Morgan said from past experience he feels comfortable in predominantly white communities and schooling environments, but he has a deep appreciation for diversity. “I was never treated any differently (in the classroom),” Morgan said. “I had a pretty diverse group of friends — racially, gender-wise, or just the way they think… I surrounded myself with people who weren’t going to make any kind of judgment based on that aspect of who I am.” Morgan said ultimately, he hopes to continue to promote diversity in his career field, bringing together aspects of his current studies and community engagement. “My goal, dream, aspiration, is to kind of follow my mentors’ footsteps,” Morgan said. “Getting a degree in engineering but picking up a minor in say, ethnic studies, and working with diversity in the engineering work place. Making sure we have a bunch of diverse different ideas, diverse people, diverse genders. “I have a passion for equality, and diversity is one of the biggest ways to achieve that.”