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SUNFLOWER WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT-RUN NEWS SOURCE
MONDAY • AUGUST 25, 2014
VOLUME 119, ISSUE 13
News: SGA gets down to business Page 3 | Sports: Women’s volleyball picked first in MVC Page 4
Pumping iron
Photo by Kyler Steinkamp
Andy Sykes uses the new Cybex equipment installed in the weight room earlier this month. The new weight room equipment took about a year to plan and install.
New weight room is open for business By Cheyenne Bullock STAFF REPORTER
F
ollowing renovations, the Heskett Center’s weight room has seen an increase in student
usage. Nearly a year ago, a committee formed to begin the process of upgrading the weight room and its equipment. John Lee, associate director of Campus Recreation, realized it was time for an upgrade. “It was 15 years old,” Lee said. “We identified the need for new equipment.”
For months, the committee researched the best equipment available, while also learning about the needs of the students they serve. After multiple vendor visits, they decided on the Cybex Eagle series of equipment. Every seven years, Cybex releases a new line of equipment, and Wichita State students now have access to the newest and most cutting-edge workout equipment available, Heskett staff said. The only other school in the country that uses this equipment is the University of Alabama, said Maggie Simpson, coordina-
tor of fitness and wellness. She is excited about the quality of workout the Heskett Center can now provide to WSU students. “Students can achieve a high-quality workout with minimal equipment adjustments,” Simpson said. “Each user can set the machine to your natural range of motion, which helps to prevent injuries.” Yellow tabs are used to indicate moveable pieces of equipment. Each machine is also equipped with holders for cell phones and drinks. “It is easily identifiable as to what needs to be adjusted,”
Simpson said. Two of the machines provide total access to handicapped users as they are wheelchair-accessible. The new equipment is also smaller, so there is more open floor space for students to utilize for various exercises, such as core strengthening. Staff members have noticed an increase in the amount of students utilizing the weight room and encourage students who do not currently utilize it to begin taking advantage of the high-quality workout now available with the new equipment.
Convocation a chance to unite students By Cheyenne Bullock STAFF REPORTER
The 15th annual Convocation ceremony will be held Tuesday at Charles Koch Arena and will begin at 11 a.m. Convocation is a traditional welcome ceremony for Wichita State students. Every year, thousands of students join together to celebrate the new school year and exhibit their Shocker pride. This year’s academic showcase will feature the College of Education. Student Government Association president, Matthew Conklin, and vice president, Brandon Baltzell will be the emcees this year. This year’s attendees will be able to hear from student-athletes during a session called, “This is Our House.” It will be a chance to create fellowship with and cheer on the student-athletes and coaches. There will be entertainment provided by various groups. Student groups such as the A Cappella Choir, Spirit Squad and the dance team will be preforming at this year’s event. Following the ceremony, students will be provided with a free T-shirt, beverages and pizza. Shanda Burch, executive assistant to the vice president for student engagement, encouraged students to come and participate in one of the university’s oldest traditions. “Our office believes Convocation is a longstanding tradition and one of the best opportunities for students to unite in celebration with thousands of their peers,” Burch said. “We feel it is an important event to show our university’s unity in school spirit as we start a new academic year.” For general questions regarding Convocation 2014, contact Burch at 978-3021.
Parking additions expected to relieve commuter stress By Kevin Brown STAFF REPORTER
Recent changes in the campus parking plan have some students looking for other options, and Wichita State administration has noted these concerns. Resulting from these changes, many students have been taking advantage of the shuttle service that is offered by the university. Only this time, students are finding a place closer to park for shuttle service than ever before — the recent addition of the leased 21st Street and Oliver parking lot. “We knew that coming in with the new [parking] permit policy, there would probably be some push-back, so we wanted to make sure that we had plenty of spaces for students,” said Ellen Abbey, financial analyst and auxiliary services manager in the Office of Administration and Finance. Abbey said she has been working to make sure that student feedback is heard when it comes to Shocker parking. “It is the $120 in one fell swoop a month before school,” Abbey said. “I understand, if I were a student, that $120 would have been the end of me, and I would be parking at Metro like everyone else.” Starting on Aug. 11, it became a requirement that students purchase a parking permit in order to park on campus. A
student permit costs $120 for a car, truck or SUV, and a motorcycle permit costs $60. The free shuttle service, accompanied with free parking at auxiliary lots off campus, however, has provided another option for students when it comes to parking. “We have noticed a terrific uptake in shuttle usage, probably three times the rate from last year. Ridership is way, way up,” Abbey said. Josh Mahon, a senior studying electrical engineering, decided to check out the shuttle service after parking on campus previous years. “Whenever I have morning classes at 9:30, it is generally pretty packed,” Mahon said. “However, coming back is usually pretty open.” Mahon, like many other students, has taken advantage of the new parking lot at 21st street and Oliver, designed to help alleviate increased shuttle traffic. “With the Shocker Hall students moving into the Metroplex (parking lot), some of the shuttle parking spaces were taken away, so we thought it would be best to get together and see what we could do,” Abbey said. After partnering with an outside real-estate firm, John T. Arnold Associates, Inc., officials at WSU went to work finding additional parking.
“We hired Marlin Penner from John T. Arnold Associates, and he was able to work with several different companies over there who have parking spaces,” Abbey said. Located in front of Extra Space Storage, the new parking lot has been popular — so popular, in fact, parking is short during prime times of the day. “The lot has been overflowing, and I have been getting some calls from the other shop owners down there, saying that our students have been parking in their lots,” Abbey said. As a result of this increased traffic, WSU officials are looking to expand the lot. “We are currently working with another group to obtain another 140 spaces over there,” Abbey said. Another goal from the addition of this lot is the increased benefits placed upon the shop owners and community. “[Increased traffic] could be good for those stores. Now that students are parking there, they may get [off the shuttle] and decide to stop into Family Dollar and pick up a few things, for example,” Abbey said. WSU officials are not the only individuals who are noticing the increased shuttle usage — some students are seeing the same thing. See PARKING on page 4
Parking at WSU $120 Motorcycle $60 permit
Regular vehicle permit
Other options: Park off campus Park at the Hughes Metroplex or the new 21st and Oliver lot and use the free Shuttle system to get to campus. The university is looking to obtain 140 more spaces in the 21st and 0liver lot.
2
OPINION
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AUGUST 25, 2014
An Alien’s Perspective: On bridging the cultural gap To those of you who missed this space, thank you for your support. I COLUMN BY took some TARUN BALI time off from writing this column because I needed a creative break. I’m back now, and look forward to an exciting semester. On several occasions, I have defended and clarified the opinions and viewpoints of international students, or at least what I considered the opinion of the average international student. Today’s column is fueled by a few interactions I had with certain people who aren’t natively from the U.S. “That’s just how these white
people are,” someone said to me when I was ranting about someone in the U.S. Needless to say, I was shocked and ashamed. One of the most underrated reasons to study abroad is cultural education. A lot of us grew up with uninformed opinions about what different cultures are like. We seldom questioned why we did things the way we did them. As international students, we are given an almost unprecedented opportunity. For many of us, traveling across oceans was nearly impossible about two generations ago. The comfort in exclusively seeking the familiarity of the company of people who share your cultural background is an obstacle in your mental and spiritual growth. It isn’t uncom-
mon to notice social groups that lack cultural diversity on campus. This behavior pattern seems to be prevalent in people of several cultural backgrounds. The downside of such social behavior is that in certain cases, it can lead to ethnocentric attitudes and misconceptions about alien cultures. Taking pride in one’s culture can sometimes be muddled up with a biased dismissal of other cultures as inferior, giving birth to a hurtful environment.
Judging another person’s culture before understanding it is mere stupidity. In certain cases, I’ve noticed a binary approach toward cultural tolerance. Experiencing, accepting, understanding and developing a respect for an alien culture doesn’t imply your heritage is insignificant or lesser by any means. For some of you, the fear of losing touch with your cultural roots might be a significant contributor to your social
“That’s just how these white people are.”
interactions. In fact, cross-cultural interactions have the potential to either expose you to an alternative belief or make you question why you’ve accepted certain practices in your lifestyle. Irrespective of the outcome, cross-cultural interactions deepen an understanding of who you are, of your beliefs and opinions. If you find your social circle lacking in diversity, I’m not implying you ditch your current friends. I merely urge you to befriend someone culturally different. Stirring up a conversation with a total stranger can be intimidating. Know that the campus is extremely friendly, and your chances for success are higher than you may imagine.
Professional boxing need educational standards?
Photo by Manny De Los Santos
Sunflower Editor-in-Chief TJ Rigg is doused with water as part of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Rigg and the rest of the Sunflower staff were challenged by business manager Robbie Norton, who dumped the water on Rigg.
Donate, even if you don’t dump ice on yourself Until Friday afternoon, I had adamantly refused to participate in the ALS Ice COLUMN BY Bucket TJ RIGG Challenge. However, that’s not to say I wouldn’t donate money to the ALS Association had I been nominated. I just didn’t want to dump a bucket of freezing ice water on myself. That all changed Friday afternoon. During our weekly Sunflower staff meeting, our business manager, Robbie Norton, announced that she would be participating in the ice bucket challenge after the meeting and would be challenging the whole staff to do the same. After the meeting, a group of us went outside Elliott Hall to watch as
one of our staff members dumped a small bucket of water on Robbie’s head. Afterward, she challenged the staff and others from around the university. Robbie repeatedly asked me if I would complete the task now that she had challenged the staff. Reluctantly, I accepted. When the time came for my video, I was a little more excited for it, since it was boiling hot outside on Friday. I knew the ice water would be a great way to cool off, while raising awareness for a good cause. After I announced my nominations for the challenge, Robbie stepped forward and dumped the water on my head. I wasn’t cold, but I did regret having a soaked T-shirt and a half wet sock until I went home, nearly two hours later. See ALS on page 3
the
Classifieds
If collegiate boxing is too dangerous and barbaric to return to COLUMN BY the NCAA, RAHIM THOMPSON then the NCAA, professional boxing leagues and gyms need to find a way to hold aspiring boxers to the same educational standards as other collegiate athletes. Professional boxing is hard-hitting and entertaining. It displays an artistry that may be unparalleled to any other sport. Top stars generate hundreds of millions of dollars throughout their careers, but unlike all other professional sports in America, one standard has been perpetually ignored when it comes to boxing: education, and it throws the hardest punch of them all. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has gone viral all over social media, and for a good cause. But the challenge became personal when rapper 50 Cent, born Curtis Jackson, issued a challenge to his former friend and business partner Floyd Mayweather via Instagram. If Mayweather could read a page out of a Harry Potter book without messing up, he would donate $750,000 to a charity of Mayweather’s choosing. Mayweather didn’t accept the challenge, which raised suspicion. Surely, someone as wealthy and charitable as Mayweather could read at least one page of a Harry Potter book on national television for a charitable cause, right? That’s
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the age of 19 with no real educational background. In 2012, Hearns was forced to auction off the majority of his possessions in order to pay tax debts of $250,000. Mike Tyson is the highest earning boxer of all-time next to Mayweather, according to Forbes. At the age of 20, Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion when he defeated Trevor Berbick in 1986. In 1991, Tyson was second on Forbes’ top earning athletes list — beating out Michael Jordan — with an estimated $31.5 million. Tyson had it all, major endorsement deals with companies like Pepsi, his own video game, and he brought in unprecedented purses from his championship bouts. In many interviews, Tyson admitted to being broke and said he is incapable attaining that kind of wealth again. Like the previous two boxers, Tyson had no educational background. Neither does Mayweather. And I’m not saying those athletes went broke because they lacked proper education, but I can assure it played a pivotal role in their decision-making. So who’s going to be held accountable? Boxing hasn’t been an official collegiate sport since 1960 when Charlie Mohr from the University of Wisconsin-Madison died after suffering a brain hemorrhage in the NCAA Championships. Mohr was in a coma for eight days before he was pronounced dead.
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what we all thought. 50 Cent was on to something. He knew something we didn’t. Well, that was until The Breakfast Club, a popular urban radio show in New York, aired audio of Mayweather reading. Mayweather was supposed to read a 10-second drop, but he struggled terribly, as he spent nearly 10 minutes fumbling over words and restarting. Superman became Clark Kent, except Clark Kent could read. Now, most people may have laughed right alongside 50 Cent — I’m guilty of this — but the overlooked problem comes when Mayweather responds to the embarrassing audio by tweeting out a picture of two checks, captioned “Read this $72,276,000.00, God Bless.” You’re rich, Floyd. We get it. But do you, and everybody else, understand that there has been a multitude of boxers worth millions while they were active, but later were broke, because they lacked the foundation of an adequate education. Consider the following boxers: Wilfred Benitez, the youngest world champion in boxing history at 17 years of age, earned an estimated amount of $3 to $6 million throughout his career. Never finished high school. Didn’t attend college. Guess what? He’s broke. At one point, Tommy Hearns held eight world titles in six different divisions. Hearns earned an estimated $40 million throughout his career, as he became the first boxer to hold five titles in five different divisions. Hearns turned pro at
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NEWS
AUGUST 25, 2014
SGA begins school year with swear-ins, bills By Cole Yancey STAFF REPORTER
The Wichita State Student Government Association swore in members, had a first read of a senate bill and reviewed three funding bills in a meeting Wednesday. It was the Association’s first meeting of the semester. Many of the Senate members are new to SGA and were swore in to their positions by taking an oath. After the formalities of swearing in new senators and appointing the cabinet, the senate bill was read for the first time. Legislative Director Steele Estes authored the senate bill, which proposed the creation of a chief of staff position for the executive staff of SGA. Estes said many other colleges with similar populations have a chief of staff position for their student governments. “Almost all of student governments that allocate more than a million dollars of student fees have a chief of staff,” Estes said. A chief of staff would help the executive branch, President Matthew Conklin, Vice President Brandon Baltzell and the cabinet manage the work of the association. The chief of staff would reside over committees, senate projects
ALS
from page 2
I don’t know what caused me to decide to complete the challenge, but I am glad I did. The money goes to a good cause and will help benefit the population in the long run. Even if you don’t want to dump ice-cold water on your head (though you should consider it, given the triple-digit heat we’ve been having), you should still donate to the ALS Association if you get nominated. Heck, even if you aren’t nominated, you should still donate.
and help manage the office. The chief of staff would also attend meetings and act as a stand-in for the executive branch when needed, taking pressure off of it so the members can focus on their jobs. Before, these duties were split between the president, vice president and legislative director — with no clear definition of what each position had to do. WSU students are restricted to 30 hours of work per week at on-campus jobs, the increase in demand of meeting students and organizations can be overwhelming, Conklin said. “It boils down to workflow and what the Association can accomplish,” Conklin said. Conklin said the executive branch can get “bogged down” with management of the office itself and the management of work outside of the office. “A lot of it is nuts and bolts duties,” Conklin said. “That is the purpose of the chief of staff. In the real world, the chief of staff is management of the office.” It was the first read for the bill. It will be debated and voted on at next week’s meeting. Other business done at the meeting included reviewing three funding bills that were done before school began. SGA will meet again at 6:30 p.m. next Wednesday on the second floor of the RSC.
It’s not like there’s a written rule that says you absolutely have to donate $100 if you don’t do the challenge after being nominated. That’s just part of the trend, and it doesn’t mean you have to donate that amount of money, though it’s wonderful if you do. Only 30,000 people get diagnosed every year, but those are 30,000 mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, sons, daughters. Don’t they all have a right to live and not suffer with the disease? We are all in this game of life together. We all need help, and we can all give help. In this case, you should definitely help — it will go a long way.
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3
Microbiologist explains Ebola By Madison Johnson STAFF REPORTER
Despite the continuing recovery of the two Americans affected with Ebola, the virus has become a household name in America — a single word laced with fear and curiosity thanks to the growing death toll and outbreak in West Africa. While Wichita State does not have a virologist, the university does have someone in the biology department who can shed light on the virus, microbiologist Mark Schneegurt, Ph. D. “Ebola is in a class of viruses that are very dangerous viruses because they are so severe in their consequences,” Schneegurt said. According to the Mayo Clinic, viruses, unlike bacteria, require hosts to live. However, what makes Ebola an interesting virus is that it’s not necessarily the virus itself that causes such internal destruction. Whenever a person becomes sick and the disease does not produce some special type of toxin in the body, it is often one’s immune system that causes the symptoms. “It’s sort of like a mosquito bite when it gets swollen,” Schneegurt said. “It’s not the mosquito that made the swelling. Your body is reacting to something and causing the inflammation.” In any type of severe sickness, the body’s natural reaction is to create a fever response, an inflammation of the whole body, to help ward off any microbial invader, he said. “In a fever response your body gets warmer, metabolic activity increases, and it just does everything faster,” he said. “At the same time, it blocks off certain parts of the body that need to be more protected.” If the fever response becomes too great, other problems start occurring internally, as well. When the body becomes too hot, blood vessels will open up and expand. “As they expand more, fluids tend to leak out of them more, because it’s just a few layers of
Ebola 900 people died in Liberia over the last five months.
Ebola has a 90% fatality rate. 15,000 people have died from water poisoning and many more have died from malaria or measles.
cells,” Schneegurt said. “The cells then aren’t pressed together as tight so things leak out of the blood vessels more, and you start getting swelling, edema (which is fluid running into the tissues).” Schneegurt said that when fluid begins to leak out of the blood vessels, the fluid isn’t contained like it is with a mosquito bite. It’s everywhere, and the body begins to fill up with water. This is how meningitis works, but with meningitis, the swelling is contained within the brain, which causes those tissues to be crushed. “If the blood vessels start to leak even more, then blood cells start to leak out of the blood vessels, and you start getting hemorrhaging, micro hemorrhaging,” Schneegurt said. According to the World Health Organization, this is what makes Ebola such a dangerous virus. When the virus goes into full swing, the body’s internal organs start seeping blood as well, leading to organ damage, failure and eventually death. Despite the 90 percent fatality rate and current outbreak, Schneegurt remains positive. “Even in this outbreak, you can say what you want about it,” he said. “You can say, ‘Well, there are 900 dead in Liberia over the last five months because of this outbreak,’ but in the same period of time, 15,000
people have died from water poisoning and many more have died from malaria or measles. “There are some major killers in the world, and Ebola is not one of them.” While Ebola is not an airborne virus, something all can be thankful of, transmission through bodily fluids continues to infect those in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, according to the International Business Times. “These are impoverished areas,” Schneegurt said. “These are developing nations. They don’t have the infrastructure for clean water, hygiene, medical care, or isolation that we have in the United States.” Along with hands-on burial practices and a general mistrust for the government and medical field, west Africa continues to battle the outbreak despite the disease’s general difficulty in transmission since one must have significant contact with an infected person in order to contract Ebola. With no vaccine currently in sight, obtaining one does not seem out of the question. “The fact that we don’t have a vaccine isn’t because it’s impossible to have a vaccine,” Schneegurt said. “It’s probably just because we haven’t put much effort into it. Now that we’re going to put effort into it, it’s a virus, and we’re usually pretty successful at finding vaccines for viruses.”
Welcomefest Labyrinth Walk TODAY! Monday, Aug. 25th & Tuesday, Aug. 26th 9am - 2pm and 5:30-7:30pm. Rhatigan Student Center Ballroom
Campus Ministry is hosting a labyrinth walk open to all WSU students, faculty & staff at no cost or obligation. Plan on 20 to 30 minutes or so, but feel free to spend longer.
Live on Campus
A Labyrinth is an ancient spiritual practice, found in several cultures and traditions. The Labyrinth is not a maze; it is a single path to the center, and back out. Walking a Labyrinth can be a deep encounter with the self and the divine. Walking one can be a stress release, a meditation, a prayer or just a stroll. Check us out at: www.wichita.edu/campusministry and see links to our Twitter & Facebook there.
Wednesday August 27 th at 7:30 p.m.
Duerksen Amphitheater
Wichita State University In case of rain, concert will be held at the CAC theater. Bring folding chairs, blankets & coolers (please no alcohol)
FREE show brought to You Live on Campus by Campus Ministry Connect. Wednesday August 27 th at 7:30 p.m.
Fans and media affiliates across the country are raving about this unique quartet of sister musicians. American Songwriter says the group is "Hypnotic." USA Today says SHEL "…appeals to fans of of Nickel Creek and Civil Wars." Lucky In case rain, concert will the be held at the CAC theater. Magazine describes it as "infectious-pop-folk, Bring folding chairs, blankets & coolers (please no alcohol) with-a-subtle-hint-of-indi-songs." Regardless of your taste in music, watching SHEL perform is a thrilling experience. Come out for what is sure to be an evening you won’t forget!
Duerksen Amphitheater
Wichita State University
Welcome Back Shockers from the WSU Libraries! Welcome Back Shockers We know you have lot to Libraries! think about right now. from the aWSU We know have a lotone to think about right now. If you onlyyou remember thing, remember this: WSU Libraries is here to help! If you only remember one thing, remember this: WSU Libraries is here to help!
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4
SPORTS
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Women’s volleyball picked first in MVC
AUGUST 25, 2014
By Madison Johnson SPORTS REPORTER
With the volleyball schedule officially set in stone, anticipation for the season to kick off grows, as head coach Chris Lamb’s Shockers are ready to enter into another year after being picked first in the MVC Preseason Coaches Poll. While basketball may get more attention nowadays, the volleyball program has consistently been Wichita State’s bread and butter when it comes to winning. Last year, for the seventh year in a row, the team made it to the NCAA Tournament. This year should be no different as the team comes off an MVC title and astounding win-loss record of 28-7. There will be nine home matches played at Charles Koch Arena this season. While they are all conference games, they will be no less exciting as the young team — lead by one senior and four juniors — takes the court against Illinois State at 7 p.m. on Sept. 15. Despite the exciting schedule, some fans were hoping to see WSU compete against other volleyball powerhouses that aren’t in the MVC. “Obviously, this isn’t the home schedule that fans would have wanted,” Lamb said. “There is a reason for it.” Because WSU is considered a mid-major college, it becomes an art form when coaches have to start scheduling games in order for the RPI to be good enough to make it to the NCAA tournament. “Every time you put yourself out there for a non-conference match, you are putting yourself in a position to raise or lower your RPI,” Lamb said. “To play lesser teams and beat them lowers your RPI. You need a combination of a tough schedule and a win.” To help the volleyball team through this year’s road schedule of big name schools like Baylor, Virginia Tech and Pepperdine, a new assistant coach has been brought into the mix to replace Jeff Sanders, who had been with the team for 10 years. In the coaching transition, Lamb moved up assistant coach Matt Hoffman, who previously coached Stanford for two years. During this time, he contributed to the team’s three NCAA appearances, two elite eight appearances, and two conference championships. With Hoffman as Sanders’ replacement, Sean Carter from Santa Clarita, Calif., has been added to WSU’s coaching staff, and will hopefully aid in another successful year for the Shockers.
PARKING
from page 1
“The parking lot is fine, it is just that people don’t like how the buses become crowded — it is like sardines in a can most days,” Mahon said. Andrew Waller, a senior studying mechanical engineering, echoed Mahon’s observations. “I honestly think that more buses would help out,” Waller said.
BOXING
from page 2
Ever since the death of Mohr, the idea of collegiate boxing resurfacing is being viewed as inappropriate and somewhat barbaric. Even though back then, college boxers wore headgear,
Photo by Manny De Los Santos
Interim Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dr. Ron Matson looks at items during a silent auction Saturday at the Volleyball 101 dinner. The event raised money for the WSU women’s volleyball program. More than 500 people attended.
Volleyball dinner kicks off the fall 2014 season By Paulo Lazo SPORTS REPORTER
Members of the Wichita State Volleyball team welcomed attendants in pairs with platters of sweets at the entrance of Charles Koch Arena. At the Preferred Health Systems Multi-purpose center, numerous items awaited bidders. The Volleyball 101 dinner on Saturday enjoyed a steady attendance from fans and pundits alike, who seized the opportunity to meet and greet players and donated money to support their squad. Among the plethora of
Shocker memorabilia and merchandise, a handful of artifacts stood out, such as a ball signed by the entirety of the historic 2012-13 men’s basketball team — which sold for $400 — and three one-hour group on-sight volleyball training sessions with former volleyball team member and graduate assistant Sam Sanders. Senior Kristin Byers, a middle blocker, repeatedly expressed enthusiasm for the event, and noted the considerable turnout. “We’re doing this to raise money for our program,” she said. “It’s fun getting to know our fans.” While freshman Emma Tynan recently joined the team,where
THE
we can do,” Roddy said. Dudzinski found that the Volleyball 101 dinner was effective in kicking off the series of events that will take place over the next few months. “This high-energy atmosphere is a good way to start the season before the season has even started,” she said. After the silent auction, head coach Chris Lamb introduced each of this season’s players. The night culminated in a scrimmage with the entire team. The volleyball team faces Kentucky on Friday, which will be followed by games against Virginia Tech on Saturday and Butler on Sunday in Lexington, Ky.
Wichita State tennis gains national media attention on Tennis Channel By Dylan Edelen SPORTS REPORTER
Wichita State men’s and women’s tennis program had the opportunity to be the featured on the college tennis program in the latest edition of “Inside College Tennis” on the Tennis Channel this past Saturday. “A great experience, being able to represent our school in
this way,” junior Tin Ostojic said. “It gives our team confidence, and the national attention will definitely help us build the team for the future.” “Inside College Tennis” follows host Tony Minnis as he goes behind the scenes of the daily grind of college tennis programs. “The Tennis Channel was a great opportunity to show the entire nation what the WSU tennis program has to offer,”
said junior Rebecca Pedrazzi, who looks to help lead WSU tennis to yet another strong season. “Inside College Tennis” had their eyes on WSU since late March. They have been sharing video content and excerpts from interviews with head coaches Brad Louderback and Colin Foster from the men’s and women’s teams, respectively. “We pride ourselves in details,” Coach Louderback said
in one of the interviews. “We make sure we do things the right way and represent Wichita State the right way.” The show’s premiere was last Saturday, and WSU fans can find content online at the Tennis Channel’s website, as well as the “Inside College Tennis” Facebook page. The program will rerun on the Tennis Channel Monday at 4:30 p.m. Sept.8, , as well as at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 11.
One thing that has been absolutely crucial in the parking renovation process, though, has been student feedback. “The feedback that we got through the form and on social media helped us make changes to the parking plan, all within a week or so of the (parking changes) announcement,” said Joe Kleinsasser, director of news and media relations in the Office of Strategic Communications. Kleinsasser said that without the feedback his team received on the parking plan, it would not
have been possible to finalize the parking changes before school started. “I know during the summer, we saw some feedback social media-wise. (The feedback) helped us get more information out to those who needed it,” Kleinsasser said. Tim Hart, web and new media content manager in the Office of Strategic Communications, wants students to know their voices are being heard, even though the parking plan has been put into place.
“I think the most important thing is that sometimes, you just feel that you are filling out a form somewhere, and you won’t be heard,” Hart said. “In this case, they do hear you, they respond, and the administration is hearing your feedback.” With the lease on the additional parking scheduled to run out in 2016, Abbey is hoping that future development will help solidify the future of parking at WSU. “(The future of the leased lot) all depends on how the construc-
tion of additional on-campus parking goes — I think we will know a year from now,” Abbey said. “We are hoping three years will take care of this, and if enrollment continues to increase while the economy grows, we are hoping to build our own lots.” Abbey hopes one thing doesn’t change or go away, though. “But, with this, I love the idea of keeping the shuttle, at least the on-campus part,” Abbey said. “As we are expanding, it really becomes a long walk — everything is all spread out.”
padded gloves and fought only three, two-minute rounds. The idea of collegiate boxing returning is out of the question, so my only suggestion is that the NCAA, professional boxing leagues and gyms come together and create an educational standard for aspiring boxers. For instance, kids under age 19 should not be able to train in a
professional boxing gym or go pro without a high school degree or GED equivalent. Just like any other sport, everybody has dreams of making it big, but few do. They need a backup plan. Someone needs to advise aspiring boxers that there are more important priorities in life than training and winning
golden gloves. They should understand the importance of literacy and being able to balance a checkbook. What good is being able to generate hundreds of millions of dollars if you can’t read a contract? Meaning, you have to pay someone to do that — money you could be using for something
else. Besides, can the person being paid to read the contract be trusted? Refer to the Mike Tyson, Don King situation. The point is that literacy is declining among athletes, especially athletes of minority. Just because boxing is no longer an NCAA sport, the educational needs of the athletes should not be neglected.
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she plays as libero, she expects similar events will help her become further acquainted with her team. “Fans are getting really interested in us new girls,” Tynan said. “It’ll be really exciting to see how it plays out.” Outside hitters Katy Dudzinski and Jaclyn Roddy remained by the gate to the center, as they approached bidders with cookies and cupcakes. “This event is all about creating good relationships with our fans,” Roddy said. Regarding the upcoming game against Kentucky, the sophomore conveyed eagerness to achieve victory. “We want to show them what
MONDAY • AUGUST 27, 2012
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Shocker volleyball season underway Interested? SEE PAGE 5 Come see TJ (Editor-in-Chief) in 019 Elliott Hall, or call 316-978-6905 VOLUME 117, ISSUE 11