the SUNFLOWER
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015 VOLUME 120, ISSUE 30
One year later. REMEMBERING THE FAIRMOUNT PARK ATTACK
NOW
THEN
Photos by Shelby Reynolds
(LEFT) Wichita Police crime scene investigators study the scene where Letitia Davis, 36, was found in a fire Nov. 14 at Fairmount Park. (RIGHT) A year later, the burnt scars in the grass have healed.
I
t was a night that would later shape the community’s and university’s attitudes toward campus safety and community engagement. Saturday is the one-year anniversary of the attack at Fairmount Park, and the effects are still felt by many. The brutal attack sparked a community-wide effort to improve the areas surrounding campus, with WSU as its leader. Here is a breakdown of events since the night of Nov. 14, plus what’s to come of the Fairmount neighborhood south of campus.
CHANCE SWAIM
REPORTER
@chanceswaim
Nov. 14: The attack happened on a frigid Friday night in November. A cold front had blown in mid-week and temperatures dropped from the upper-70s on Monday to the mid-20s Friday evening. That night, the Wichita State men’s basketball team unveiled banners for their NCAA appearance and Missouri Valley Conference championship the year before, and easily defeated New Mexico State, 71-54, in their home-opener. Hours after the basketball game, less than a mile from Koch Arena, a fire scorched the grass between the tennis courts and the swings at Faimount Park. Inside the fire was a woman named Letitia Davis, 36, mother of four. Davis was nude, bloody and on fire, according to a court affidavit. Davis told firefighters she had been raped, beaten and set on fire by a man she did not know. In the hospital, Davis acknowledged to Wichita Police the suspect was a black male, the affidavit said. Davis was unconscious and intubated at Via Christi St. Francis hospital in critical condition, where she was treated for second- and third-degree burns on more than 70 percent of her body. She also suffered a number of blunt-force injuries to her head. Nov. 20: Based on evidence gathered at the scene of the crime — a damaged Keyocera phone — and DNA evidence taken from a Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kit, police arrested Cornell McNeal, 27, the affidavit said, in connection with the crime. Two days after McNeal’s arrest, and eight days after the attack, Davis died from her injuries. An autopsy determined her manner of death to be homicide, the affidavit said. Nov. 26: McNeal was charged with capital murder in the death of Letitia Davis. He has also been charged with rape and two counts of arson from fires at both the park and a detached garage seven blocks from Fairmount Park; the arson charges were later dropped. McNeal’s arraignment is Thursday, where he is expected to plead not guilty, according to a Wichita Eagle article. Classroom effect Natalie Grant remembered when it first happened. She was teaching a Women and Poverty class that semester, a class of 120 students. “It wasn’t what I would call a teachable moment,” Grant said. “Just the opposite of that, actually. It was more of a serendipitous moment where I had go through that process with 120 students about learning what sexual violence means.” Grant said the Letitia Davis incident became a central focus of the discussion in her classes. The night after the attack, Grant said she went to Kirby’s Beer Store, where, the night before — the affidavit said — McNeal pocketed a pink lighter he had asked to borrow from a woman outside of the bar. Kirby’s is only few blocks from Fairmount Park. Grant’s friend, Kali Kerr, was also at Kirby’s the night after the attack. She and Grant were both deeply
WATCH IT ONLINE moved by the Visit thesunflower.com attack, even to watch university though neither of leaders discuss the them knew Davis impact of the attack. personally, Grant said. Together they started developing a plan of action. Grant said she felt responsible to do something because the incident involved so many things she cared about: the prevention of violence against women, the northeast Wichita community — one of Grant’s interests lies in the restoration of the Dunbar Theater at 9th and Cleveland Streets — and the neighborhoods around her university, where Grant has one of her classes, as part of a digital history project, interview residents from the neighborhoods around Wichita State. “We knew “It hurt me,” Grant said. She said she took flowers every if we came day after the attack and hung together we them on the fence surrounding the tennis courts near where could do Davis was found. something “We didn’t know what we powerful.” wanted to do,” said Grant of she and Kerr, “but we knew if we NATALIE GRANT came together we could do Professor, School of Social Work something powerful.”
A fundraiser Kerr organized a “Home Base: ICT Coming Together to Help One of Our Own” fundraiser at Kirby’s Beer Store to raise money for Christmas presents for Davis’ four children. “It was hugely successful,” Grant said. Local artists auctioned their artwork, local businesses donated items for auction, bands played and donated tips, food trucks donated part of their proceeds, and $10,000 to 12,000 was raised in one day, Grant said. Grant said she and Kerr are in the process of organizing another fundraiser before Christmas for Davis’ children. “We don’t want this to be a one time thing,” Grant said. ‘Enough is Enough’ In late November, after Davis’ death, WSU President John Bardo contacted retired General Counsel Ted Ayres, and the “Enough is Enough” task force was formed Dec. 2. Two days later, its formation was announced to the university and community, with Ayres as the head. “Recent assaults and other crimes south of Wichita State’s campus have led President John Bardo to direct the formation of a task force called ‘Enough is Enough’ to focus on creating safe, economically vibrant neighborhoods near campus,” a news release said. “We don’t live in a bubble at Wichita State. Our success and future are tied in every way to the success of the surrounding area . . . Yes, we live in the largest city in the state, and yes, crime will happen. But, enough is enough,” Bardo said in the release.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: A TIMELINE OF EVENTS It’s been a year since the attack, but the night of Nov. 14 kicked off a series of events that would change the way Wichita State interacted with its neighbors. NOV. 14, 2014 Letitia Davis is attacked in Fairmount Park, about a block south of campus.
NOV. 22, 2014 Davis dies from her injuries. DEC. 2, 2014 President John Bardo announces formation of the “Enough is Enough” task force to improve the quality of life in neighborhoods surrounding campus using the expertise of WSU and the Wichita community. APRIL 24, 2014 WSU and WASAC partner to host a “Take Back the Night” walk in the Fairmount neighborhood in a fight against sexual assault. AUGUST 19, 2015 Student Affairs sponsors a Safety Forum at the Campus Activities Center on campus. SEPT. 10, 2015 Kick-off community meeting (related to KHF grant) with residents of the Fairmount Neighborhood (over 100 in attendance). SEPT. 14, 2015 University Student Government Association sponsors a Campus Safety Town Hall meeting. SEPT. 17, 2015 University sponsors a campus safety walk on campus.
SEE ANNIVERSARY • PAGE 4
NOV. 18, 2014 University leaders hold a forum to address students’ concers for safety. NOV. 23, 2014 Family, friends and complete strangers gather in a vigil in memory of Davis. JAN. 22, 2015 WSU works with the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center to host a community conversation in Fairmount Park called “Confronting the Reality of Sexual Violence in Wichita.” MAY 15, 2015 Kansas Health Foundation accepts WSU’s grant proposal to support the improvement of the Fairmount neighborhood. SEPT. 2, 2015 A meeting and tour of housing is held in the Price Woodard Neighborhood with officials of Wichita Habitat for Humanity. SEPT. 12, 2015 Follow-up meeting with Fairmount Neighborhood residents to report out the results of the September 10 meeting. SEPT. 15, 2015 University organizes a Celebrate Safe Communities event in Fairmount Park. OCT. 15, 2015 The first meeting of the Fairmount Neighborhood Stakeholders/Leadership Group held on campus.
Students to represent international projects in Alternative Gift Market AMANDA HANSEN
REPORTER
@mandabri4
The Alternate Gift Market does more than give people the opportunity to buy unique Christmas gifts. It helps charities all around the world. The non-profit organization, Alternative Gifts International (AGI), hosts an annual market to raise funds to support philanthropic projects across the globe by selling gifts in the form of ornaments, gift cards and donations. The proceeds benefit more than 70 different countries and a variety of needs. About 300 people shop at the event each
year. AGI Executive Director Tony Princ said the market provides an alternative to traditional Christmas shopping. “It’s a wonderful place to go if you don’t feel like going to the mall, or if you don’t feel like going shopping at the big-box stores,” he said. “It’s a fun environment. It’s a great way to go and feel good about yourself.” Wichita’s market will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at East Heights United Methodist Church, 4407 E. Douglas Ave. The Pre-Medical Student Association and the Global Awareness Student Project are
co-sponsoring two projects each at the market. The Pre-Medical Student Association will raise money to support Healthy Bones, Healthy Teeth, Healthy Kids! — a program that provides fresh milk and formula to children in Vietnam — and Healing Nepal’s Sick and Injured, a program that helps rebuild hospitals in Nepal that were destroyed in an earthquake in April. Global Awareness Student Project (GASP) will sponsor, a Safe Haven for Orphans, “to provide maltreated children in Mexico a safe haven and a brighter future” and Bikes for
Healthcare Workers, to provide bikes for people in Africa and, “put healthcare within reach for those suffering from disease,” the AGI catalog stated. Other projects at the market are raising money to support hunger, education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, medical services and environmental sustainability around the world. When shoppers purchase a gift, it is purchased in honor of a family member or friend. “You put those [gifts] under the tree or in the mail to families and friends saying, ‘I thought of you when I sent a safe mother-
hood kit to a woman in Africa, or when I helped dig a well for kids in India or when I helped rescue a woman from sexual slavery,’” Princ said. There is no maximum or minimum limit on how much or little shoppers can donate. My-Trinh Nguyen, former president of the Pre-Medical Student Association, said the biggest challenge in preparing for the market was making 150 milk-carton ornaments and tri-folds. “It can be very time consuming,” she said.
SEE GIFTS • PAGE 3
PAGE 2 | ENTERTAINMENT THE STAFF:
EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief Shelby Reynolds Managing Editor Danielle Prewitt Multimedia Editor Xavier Mortenson Sports Editor Reece Burns Opinion Editor Alex Perry Special Sections Editor Amanda Hansen Production Editor Jillian Clough
ADVERTISING
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Marissa’s Melodies Eric Church, Grimes brings something new to music scene
November has yet to impress me with album releases. Country COLUMN BY artists Tim MARISSA McGraw and CAMPBELL Eric Church have released new records this week along with the strange and interesting Grimes, whose music doesn’t necessarily fit into one category. ‘Damn Country Music’ by Tim McGraw
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Released: Nov. 6 Genre: Country Starting off the album with “Here Tonight,” the upbeat, peppy folk song features McGraw’s daughter, Gracie McGraw. The duet was a brilliant way to start off the album with the bluegrass, banjo vibe. The title track, “Damn Country Music” slows down the album and McGraw sings about how sometimes you have to risk it all for your passion, like he did with music, (although he didn’t write the song). Even though the album is not a continuous story, it does seem to revolve around the themes of family, love and giving your all to reach your goals. A majority of the album is fairly good, but then McGraw crashes and burns with the extremely boring song “Don’t Make Me Feel at Home.” It might just be the most boring song I’ve ever heard. The album as a whole would have been much better if that song was eliminated from it. Download: “Here Tonight” ‘Mr. Misunderstood’ by Eric Church
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11
Released: Nov. 6 Genre: Country Eric Church has made a name
for himself in the country music scene because of his seemingly experimental style. From his 2011 album “Chief,” the song “Creepin’” showed off Church’s unique approach to country music with bayou, banjo and didgeridoo sounds. Although Church sings about the same thing every other country star sings about (“Mistress Named Music”), the instrumentals make his music so much more exclusive and interesting. “Chattanooga Lucy” starts with a tambourine and has organ-like keyboard sounds that almost remind me of the country song “Time of the Season” by the Zombies. Out of all the country albums that have come out this year, Church’s album is truly one of the best. His upbeat, exciting songs won’t fail to stick around in your mind. Download: “Chattanooga Lucy” ‘Art Angels’ by Grimes
Released: Nov. 6 Genre: Alt-pop-dance Grimes is an artist who is so strange that she’s almost too difficult to categorize. Even though she may not fit into one genre directly, her music can definitely be defined as different. In the first song “Laughing and Not Being Normal,” she almost sounds operatic. But then songs such as “Artangles” sound like ’80s New Wave with an EDM vibe. Grimes’ style might be a little too out-there for a majority of listeners, but those who do give her a shot should appreciate her uniqueness in “Flesh Without Blood.” She’s nothing like most musicians out there today, and she is constantly trying to bring something new into the music scene. Download: “Laughing and Not Being Normal”
Courtesy Photos
Hint of disinterest sinks ‘Spectre’ From the point of view of a would-be killer, we watch James Bond saunter COLUMN BY across the ALEX PERRY screen and fire a bullet toward us, causing blood to drip down the camera lens. This happens at the beginning of every Bond film because it has to happen. Then, we see Bond engage in some helicopter tomfoolery in the requisite introductory action sequence. This segues into a stylized opening credits sequence set to a special song by some who’s a hot-now pop singer. This time it’s Sam Smith, and the song is terrible. All of this happens because it’s expected, but at no point does it feel like anyone involved in the production of “Spectre” really wanted to do any of this. They were under contract for another Bond film so they made one, and that’s about it. This time, Bond is following orders given by Judi Dench’s M just before her death in “Skyfall.” The only problem is he’s been grounded indefinitely from fieldwork because, technically, nobody else knows about these orders. It doesn’t help that a scummy national security guy who wants to replace spies with cameras and drones has dissolved MI6. Good to see Bond take a bold stance against Orwellian surveillance techniques while it’s still a hot-button issue. Anyway, the villain this time is Christoph Waltz, which was exciting news when it was an-
Courtesy Photo
nounced. Anyone who has seen “Inglorious Basterds” can attest to Waltz’s talent in such a role. Unfortunately, Waltz is barely in “Spectre,” and his relatively few on-screen appearances feature a more restrained version of the actor than I’d like. It feels like the movie is saying to us, “Hey, you know he’s supposed to be evil so we’re not even going to try with this one.” That feeling of the filmmakers checking off just enough boxes to receive a passing grade permeates through the entirety of the movie. It’s all remarkably predictable and does nothing to shake up the formula.
SEE IT SKIP IT “Suffragette”
SEE IT
This drama about the early feminist movement in the U.K. has reviewed well, though it’s also been criticized for ignoring the struggles of non-white women. Still, it’s probably worth seeing for those interested in the subject.
“Casino Royale” and “Skyfall” worked because they at least tried to examine the character of James Bond. His relationships with the stable of regulars like M felt more meaningful than they had in the previous four decades of Bond movies. Those superior movies still fell into the series’ sexist damsel-in-distress nonsense, but there was at least some gravity to it. When it happens to this edition’s Bond Girl (played well enough by Léa Seydoux), it’s forced and anticlimactic. “Forced” is also a great way to describe the script. All of the playful banter between characters
in “Spectre” is rigid and awkward, lacking any kind of wit or punch. It’s also about half an hour too long, and the flow from one scene to the next is often disjointed. None of it is bad, necessarily, but there’s a distinct lack of effort to be anything more than competent. To channel my inner football color commentator, great films come from those who want it the most. In “Spectre,” it’s clear that Daniel Craig and Co. would rather hand the franchise off to the next suave super spy.
“Love The Coopers”
SKIP IT
Due to the popularity of “Love, Actually,” there has been a yearly influx of ensemble-cast Christmas comedies, and almost all of them are worth skipping. This looks to be the same.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11
PAGE 3 | NEWS
Guest choreographers contribute to Kansas Dance Festival CONNER CLAPHAM REPORTER @clapdaddy1
In the first week of the school year, while the average student was getting ready sharpening their pencils and packing their backpack, dance students hoping to perform in the annual Kansas Dance Festival were auditioning for a part on stage. Now, just a few days before the first show Friday, those same students will perform in front of a full audience this
weekend in Miller Concert Hall. Attendees can expect to see 10 or 12 pieces of a conglomerate of different dances such as jazz, modern, ballet and hip-hop, with a brief intermission in between. The show was critiqued by two guest choreographers this year: Detroit-native, Nathan Trice, a dancer since 1988, and Darrell Grand Moultrie, a New Yorker who has appeared on Broadway and was also selected to help choreograph the dance for Beyonce’s Mrs. Carter World
Tour. “The choreographers would come in for 10 days at a time and set up shop,” Within their limited time they clean the show and give their criticism”, said Cheyla Clawson, instructor of dance at WSU. Trice and Moultrie were chosen because of the way they challenge the students, and the experience students can get from working with a professional choreographer, Clawson said.
SEE DANCE • PAGE 5
Photo by Manny De Los Santos
(LEFT) Students showcase their dancing skills during the rehearsal for the annual Kansas Dance Festival at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday inside the Miller Concert Hall. WSU students have free admission with their WSU ID. (RIGHT) Students grab each others’ arms during a dance rehearsal Wednesday.
Speaker discusses why death penalty should be abolished
Photo by Tarun Bali
Diann Rust-Tierney speaks Monday to Wichita State students at the Rhatigan Student Center. She spoke out against the death penalty, outlining its economic and cultural impact.
Photo by Manny De Los Santos
Printmaker artist Ashley Nason adds water-based paint during her demonstration on how to make lithography prints during her ShockPress workshop Tuesday. Nason’s work explores the evolution of our environment as a result of overconsumption, pollution and the misuse of natural resources.
ShockPress showcases artists from around the United States NICK BEACH
REPORTER
@sunflowernews
Ashley Nason spoke Tuesday about her ability to use transparent paint to add effect to a printed landscape for her series titled “Transversing Imaginary Landscapes.” Nason is from Eaton, Colorado, and teaches at Metropolitan State University in Denver. Her presentation was part of Wichita State’s ShockPress series this fall that showcases artists from around the country. Nason’s work shows detail, and she makes prints under a screen and mylar. She uses blue and yellow paints to add a transparent effect on buildings and elements of nature. “I was interested in the graphic nature of the potential of incorporating a lot of different media just within the printmaking area,” Nason said. Nason started making prints while studying at West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia. “It’s not hard,” Nason said. “It takes time to learn just like any other skill.” “Printmaking is just another tool, just like painting is or sculpture,” she said. “It’s just another tool to make fine art.” Nason’s smile, humble demeanor and willingness to
display her work engaged and fascinated the crowd as many aspiring artists watched how effective Nason’s methods of screenprinting were put to action. She said she has used her passion for her work as a tool to enjoy her job and appreciates producing more. It’s given her a positive outlook on the situation, she said. “I enjoy everything about it,” Nason said. “I think what’s great about it is the students are learning so many different skill sets by watching other people work.” Nason said she enjoys seeing aspiring artists reap the benefits of her teachings. “The students come in and actually watch you work and help you work and be an assistant, so they get hands-on experience, as well as visually get to see the work,” Nason said. The prints that were produced in her presentation didn’t take much effort, as only a minimal amount of blue transparent paint was added to her landscapes. However, it left several of the observers wanting to try it out. “I love teaching,” Nason said. “I love making art and I love exhibiting my work, so you know there’s so many different arenas for the art to be seen and made, so I like that.”
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11
PAGE 4 | NEWS
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‘Her life was not in vain’
File Photos by Kevin Brown
Friends, family and complete strangers to Letitia Davis honor her memory Nov. 23 with a candlelight vigil at Fairmount Park the day after her death. A crowd of 50 people repeated, “Her life was not in vain.”
ANNIVERSARY FROM PAGE 1
Ayres reached out to Darryl Carrington — president of the Fairmount Neighborhood Association, WSU student and on-campus plumber — to join the task force. “He is — I would say — an activist resident of the Fairmount Neighborhood,” Ayres said of Carrington. Carrington said efforts to improve the community around Wichita State were already underway. The same day as the attack Nov. 14, Carrington had met with the new director of Parks and Recreation at Fairmount Park to discuss the neighborhood. “It was just so shocking that something like that could happen despite all of our proactive efforts up to the day [of the attack],” Carrington said. “I mean, we were having efforts to come together in the park, we were having back-to-the-park festivals, we’d bring kids and music and beautiful trains — and just awesome stuff — cake walks — just cool stuff. Superman walking around, I mean, just the coolest stuff ever. And then this happens. “And it felt like a shot in the heart.” During the spring semester, the Enough is Enough task force worked with the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center to host a community conversation about the reality of sexual violence in Wichita at Fairmount Park and a “Take Back the Night Walk” in Fairmount neighborhood. Community engagement In July, the Kansas Health Foundation accepted a grant proposal from Wichita State that awarded the university $250,000 to be used by the Shocker Neighborhood Coalition, a group created by Ayres made up of university faculty, students and staff. The coalition focuses on law enforcement, health and well-being, community relations, social issues, economic development, education and infrastructure. When the grant was awarded, Ayres became director of Community Engagement and Opportunity, a new department connected to the Enough is Enough task force. Misty Bruckner, associate director of the Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs, wrote the grant proposal. “The grant focus was on healthy outcomes, but based at the neighborhood level,” Bruckner said. “It’s an incredible opportunity that Kansas Health Foundation has provided to make a difference at the
grassroots level.” Bruckner said the focus of the grant was on the long-term outcome in areas of increased active lifestyle, increased access to healthy food and student achievement. Bruckner said safety was one aspect of the proposal, but there were several challenges facing the neighborhood, including challenges in infrastructure and home conditions. “Statistically, when you look at [Fairmount] in comparison to other surrounding communities and neighborhoods ... it has good safety numbers,” Bruckner said. “But the healthier the neighborhoods around WSU are, the stronger WSU is; the stronger WSU is, the more involved we are in the community, the stronger the neighborhoods are,” Bruckner said. In many ways, life in the communities around the university has become the focus of the Shocker Neighborhood Coalition. “Because that life is important and it’s tied, in my opinion, to the future of the university, it’s terribly important that we do what we can to use our human capital, and our expertise and energy to try to make a difference in working with the people that live around us to help them improve their quality of life,” Ayres said. Ayres said he has received vocal support and interest from Mayor Jeff Longwell, City Manager Robert Layton and the City Council, particularly First District Councilwoman Lavonta Williams. Safety on campus, in neighborhoods University Police assisted Wichita Police in the search the night of the Letitia Davis attack, said UPD Capt. Guy Schroeder, but they were not part of the arrest, as the incident happened off campus. “Even so, we have been a part of the meetings headed up by Ted Ayres and Enough is Enough, as well as the town hall meeting here on campus to be good partners in the neighborhood that surrounds our campus,” Schroeder said. Since the attack, UPD has added officers and implemented on-foot patrols on the interior of campus to allow officers in cars to patrol the outer perimeter, Schroeder said. “I think there genuinely is more of an awareness of safety [since the attack] and concerns being addressed around campus — the safety walk in September with students, faculty and staff as a good example,” he said. Schroeder said he believes UPD is making every effort to make the campus safer, including a meeting with Westar Energy that identified lights on the perimeter of campus to be added, replaced and redirected for
“I think there genuinely is more of an awareness of safety [since the attack] and concerns being addressed around campus.” GUY SCHROEDER
University Police Capt.
better lighting overall in the area on and off campus. Toni Loeffler, a poetry student, said Fairmount Park still makes her feel uneasy. This year she moved to Wichita from Oregon, and she has to go through Fairmount to get home. “I heard about the attack in my poetry class,” Loeffler said. “We were talking about the fact that I needed to get a car, and I was saying I needed to get a bike, and they told me that I shouldn’t bike at night, and that’s how I found out.” Loeffler said she doesn’t necessarily feel safer on campus since a suspect has been arrested because of the other incidents on campus this semester. “It creeps me out,” she said. Freshman Emily Hankins, who lives in the Fairmount neighborhood, said she feels similarly, but has yet to experience anything that has made her feel unsafe in the area near the park. “The fact that it happened so near to where I live makes me worry,” Hankins said. She said she tries not to go out at night
unless she absolutely needs to, and even then she prefers not to go alone. “I would like to believe that events such as those are isolated ones, but sometimes it is hard for me to feel 100 percent safe when out at night,” Hankins said. In memoriam The university will facilitate an evening to honor the life of Davis at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Fairmount United Church of Christ. Karen Countryman-Roswurm, executive director of WSU’s Center for Combating Human Trafficking, will provide commentary. “One year later, I’m looking forward to seeing how the community comes together,” Carrington said. “We remember how there was a community of benevolence that surfaced. There was money raised for Letitia Davis . . . there’s been a rally around Letitia Davis and her family; that spirit has been ever present for the entire year. It’s going to be really interesting to see how we come together and how we respond and go forward.”
IF YOU GO:
Memorial for Letitia Davis
When: 5:30 p.m. Nov. 20
Where: Fairmount United Church of Christ
File Photo by Christopher Bardo
About 100 people gather Sept. 10 for a meeting inside the Fairmount United Church of Christ to discuss ways to improve the surrounding neighborhoods.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11
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PAGE 5 | NEWS
WEEKENDPLANNER Your weekend guide to events on and off campus.
FRIDAY
THURSDAY
SATURDAY
Discussion with President Bardo
Wichita eSports Expo
Together, Art Gallery
In light of recent events at Missouri, President Bardo invites students, faculty and stuff to engage in dialogue about diversity and oppertunities for moving forward together.
Wichita eSports is hosting a large expo with seven prize pool tournaments. Show up ready to play all night or cheer on our fellow gamers as they take on the other colleges and communities for a total prize pool of almost $4,000
An art exhibit which reflects on how HIV and AIDS is currently affecting Wichita and the surrounding Sedgwick County community. The exhibit aims to combat the stigma that surrounds the HIV virus through education.
For more information or to register, visit www. wichita.edu/j/?4380.
For more information, call 316-978-3022.
1:30 to 2:30 p.m. RSC, room 266
For information, contact the Office of th President at 316-978-3001.
6 p.m. Heskett Center Gymnasium
8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Cadman Art Gallery, Rhatigan Student Center
MakerSpace Revolution Forum 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Devlin Hall, room 107
To innovate, learn and build community at the intersection of art, technology, science and culture. A MakerSpace is a place where people with common interests can meet, to collaborate, to share resources and knowledge and to create things. For more information, call 316-978-7427 or email jjnewby@wichita.edu Open to the WSU Community and sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Meritrust Credit Union
Hunger Games Field Day Men’s Basketball v. Charleston Southern 7 p.m. Charles Koch Arena
Cheer on the Shockers at the opening game of the season against Charleston Southern. The student tickets are currently sold out for this game. For more information, call the Wichita State Athletics Ticket Office at 316-978-3267 or visit goshockers.com.
Kansas Dance Festival Guest artists Leone Buyse, Flute 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wiedemann Hall
Leone Buyse, Mullen Professor of Flute at Rice University’s Sheperd School of Music, will perform in a concert sponsored by the WSU Scholl of Music. Tickets are $7. For more information, call the Fine Arts Box Office at 316-978-3233. Open to the public
7:30 to 9 p.m. Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center
1 to 3:30 p.m. Heskett Center Lobby
Assemble your district and compete to be the ultimate campus tribute. Teams will be challenged in a series of activities occurring across campus. For more information, call 316-978-3022.
Wichita eSports Expo, day 2 6 p.m. Heskett Center Gymnasium
The fun continues for a second day of games and more chances to advance in the tournament. For more information or to register, visit www.wichita.edu/j/?4380.
The festival will Feature work by WSU Dancefaculty, guest choreographers Nathan Trice and Darrell Grand Moultrie and invited dance programs from Kansas University. Doors open a half hour before show time. Tickets are $10.
Kansas Dance Festival, day 2
For more information, call the Fine Arts Box Office at 316-978-3233.
For more information, call the Fine Arts Box Office at 316-978-3233.
7:30 to 9 p.m. Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center
New Fellows recognized for innovation LEVI YAGER
REPORTER
@sunflowernews
Five students were named the first Wichita State University Innovation Fellows by the National Center for Engineering Pathways to Innovation (Epicenter) earlier this month. Bearing the new title, they are considered to be at the forefront of student-led innovation. Wesley Alexis, Austin Crane, Hannah Hund, Kevin Kraus and Saad Syed form what the University Innovation Fellows (UIF) organization refers to as a “leadership circle,” that spurs progress for innovative initiatives at WSU. Leadership circles are not common, as other universities may only have one or two fellows. To be designated as Innovation Fellows, the five students had to complete a three-stage process that included an application, interviews and a six-week online training program.
“It felt like a five-credit hour course,” Crane said. Although, all five Fellows recognize it as a beneficial period of time. Various faculty and staff members encouraged the five students to apply. “The training helps us find gaps in the university, so it wasn’t just basic team building,” Alexis said. Alexis and the other four students looked at how innovative programs would best serve the WSU community in the training. As a result, they each took responsibility of developing an innovative program to fill in the gaps. “The other thing that was useful was the training required interviews with faculty and staff that were interested in the programs,” Hund said. The five programs are: 1. Shocker Startup (Hund) 2. TEDx (Syed) 3. Startup HQ (Crane) 4. Innovative Curriculum
(Kraus) 5. Intellectual Policy (Alexis) Hund and Alexis founded Shocker Startup in May to provide a community for innovators such as entrepreneurs and inventors. Syed is working on TEDx, a program that involves bringing TED Talks to WSU. TED Talks host motivational speakers to inform and inspire audiences and create positive action. Startup HQ is a “low-cost marketplace for startups,” Crane said. If a student wants to make a product or start a program, he or she could use the services of Startup HQ to find resources and services that could be acquired to help start it. Crane said it can be thought of like an “Angie’s List” service for startups. Crane and his team worked on a beta signup website for Startup HQ, which was recently published. He said people can sign
up at thestartuphq.com. Kraus is working toward diversifying the university curriculum. This means implementing the curriculum with innovative structure at earlier stages. Kraus suggests offering similar opportunities at lower class levels. “You can do entrepreneurial things without the crazy climate of upper classes,” he said. Alexis wants to equip innovators with aptitude in “intellectual policy.” Alexis’ Intellectual Policy project can help innovators effectively navigate the legal world of intellectual properties. Hund said the next step is to complete their projects. This is a continual process and it keeps all five Fellows working hard. Hund appreciates being able to participate in the Innovation Fellows activities and being named an Innovation Fellow. “Training and hard work was the benefit,” Hund said.
Networking was also beneficial to the Fellows. Hund, Syed and Alexis said the networking involved in the Innovation Fellows process was helpful. As an added bonus, all five students have the opportunity to travel to Stanford University and Google in March. The trip will supplement their endeavors with more networking. “If we’re being materialistic, the trip to Stanford and Google is a benefit,” Syed said. There are still opportunities for more students to become Innovation Fellows. “People are already applying for next year,” Hund said. If another WSU student is named an Innovation Fellow next year, the leadership circle from this year will come alongside that student for support and help. UIF is sponsored and developed by Epicenter, Stanford University and funded by the National Science Foundation.
New out-of-state senator, adviser join SGA TJ RIGG
REPORTER
@tj_rigg
Two new faces joined Student Government Association during its meeting Wednesday night: Freshman Eric Kromidas as an out-of-state senator and Marché Fleming-Randle as SGA’s new faculty adviser. Kromidas is from Chicago and is majoring in psychology and international studies. “It seems like a lot, but in a good way,” he said of taking on the role of senator. “I feel like there’s a lot that we do here. I’m
DANCE
FROM PAGE 3 Another choreographer and 2010 WSU graduate, Maurice Sims, said that they were wanting something theatrical to break the ice from all the seriousness of the usual concert. “Watching concert dance can sometimes be so dramatic and
glad to be a part of it.” Student Body President Joseph Shepard said having an out-ofstate senator is beneficial. “We have the senator in place because we want a diverse senate,” Shepard said. “We want individuals who can provide a different perspective.” Shepard said an out-of-state senator can spot problems, if any, in an environment that someone from Kansas would not see. Being from California, Shepard understands how an outsider could identify things that he could not.
“If I take someone from Kansas and I put them in California, they will notice things that I don’t know because California is home to me, whereas to a Kansan, it is not home to them and they’ll be able to notice things better,” Shepard said. Kromidas said he was uncertain of how meetings ran at first, but expects to quickly learn how SGA operates. “It looks like everything is really self-explanatory with the procedural things,” he said. “It should be pretty easy to catch on what happens in meetings. It
seems like a lot got done today and I hope it continues that way.” Fleming-Randle was recognized as SGA’s new adviser during Shepard’s officer report. She replaced Eric Sexton, vice president of Student Affairs, as SGA’s adviser. Fleming-Randle is an assistant dean for the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She is an ethnic studies lecturer and her research and academic interests include mental health, substance abuse and child and youth programs, according to her biography on the university’s
website. She said she is excited to be involved with SGA and plans to be active. “I’m in the back kind of, but I want to be part of the Senate, I want to be a part of the executive board, I want to be part of the whole SGA picture,” she said. “I’m excited. I have a lot to learn. I’m just really excited to be here.” Shepard said he is pleased with Fleming-Randle’s appointment. “I think this appointment was a very smart one,” he said. “I appreciate the fact that she is here.”
heavy, so they wanted something a little lighter and a little more fun that’s accessible to an audience who might not go to the ballet dance when it comes in town,” Sims said. Clawson said there will be a lot of diversity of styles and mood. “In our program we have a triple emphasis in jazz, modern and ballet, and the works performed really brings together all of those styles.”
The pieces Friday and Saturday will encompass all the styles the dancers are learning in class. Every performer in the two shows this weekend is a student of WSU, but not necessarily a dance major. They are also all members of the Wichita Contemporary Theater, which is a professional student company headed by Nick Johnson that tours regionally, nationally and internationally. During the KDF, they open up
their Friday and Saturday for classes to the general public. This is a good time for students that are interested in the WSU dance program to come in and learn from professionals. This year, UMKC’s dancers are making a guest appearance. The KDF often invites students from other schools in the Midwest, usually just Kansas, to work together and participate in the same show. In recent years, they
featured Kansas State and Friends University. Haileigh Keirl, a dancer and senior at WSU, said she would watch the KDF performance before she was a student at WSU. “It really challenged what the traditional dance looks like,” she said. “I’m out with an injury for this show, but I still love seeing it come alive … it really teaches you how to work together in a professional setting.”
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11
PAGE 6 | SPORTS
www.thesunflower.com
Nonconference play opens with game against Charleston Southern EVAN PFLUGARDT REPORTER @evpflu
The men’s basketball team will open its pre-conference season Friday against the Charleston Southern Buccaneers. The Buccaneers are coming off its best finish in program history. It rolled through the Big South conference for 13 wins, adding to its 19-win season last year. Charleston Southern tied for first place in the Big South regular-season title last season. Charleston Southern last played in the National Invitational Tournament in a loss to Old Dominion, the program’s second post-season bid. Head coach Barclay Radebaugh is the winningest coach at Charleston Southern. Radebaugh amassed 70 victories in four seasons and is the reigning Big South Coach of the Year. He is the seventh winningest coach in Big South conference history. Five Buccaneer seniors graduated from the program’s most successful roster last season,
including Saah Nimley and Arlon Harper. Harper averaged 30 minutes per game his senior season, and Nimley led the team, averaging 36 minutes per game. The Buccaneers will rely heavily on newcomers as they try to reload with freshmen and junior college transfers. Guard Demetrius Pollard is expected to be the biggest addition and is likely to take over point-guard duties. The junior transfer from Northeastern averaged nine points a game in his sophomore season with the Huskies. As with any team coached by Radebaugh, the three-point shot will be a major factor. Charleston Southern has ranked 11th or better nationally in three-pointers made in a game and three-pointers attempted the last three seasons. The Buccaneers ranked 11th in three-point shots attempted per game, averaging 27.3 attempts and third in three-pointers made per game, averaging 9.3 made three-pointers last season. Charleston Southern also ranked
File Photo by Manny De Los Santos
Redshirt junior Zach Bush cheers on his teammates during an exhibition game against Hawai’i Pacific on Saturday at Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers defeated the Sharks 91-57.
38th nationally last season for points scored, averaging 73.5 points per game. It marked the fourth straight season the Bucs finished inside the top-40 in that
category. The Shockers will be challenged to protect the shooting perimeter early, and often. Fortunately for the Shockers, it will play to their
strengths — defending the perimeter with experienced guards Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet. “I don’t think we can minimize the defensive prowess of Ron Baker and Fred VanVleet,” head coach Gregg Marshall said. “There were times last year where a guy was scoring, and I would put either Ron or Fred on him and they would shut him down a bit.” The Shockers will get first sight of VanVleet as he is expected to return to the starting lineup Friday; VanVleet did not participate in last week’s exhibition versus Hawai’i Pacific because of a strained hamstring. VanVleet averaged 32 minutes for the Shockers last season. Wichita State is 2-0 all time against Charleston Southern with their last matchup in 2012 when the Shockers defeated the Buccaneers 65-53. The Shockers also defeated CSU the season before, 85-57. The Shockers will battle it out with the Buccaneers at 7 p.m. Friday at Charles Koch Arena.
Cross country teams head to Lawrence for NCAA Regional EVAN PFLUGARDT REPORTER @evpflu
File Photo by Manny De Los Santos
Freshman Meghan Grimes makes save against Northern Iowa Saturday at Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers swept UNI 3-0 with scores 25-15, 25-16 and 25-20.
No. 1 MVC volleyball team travels to take on Loyola, Bradley MEGAN LOOPER
REPORTER
@meglooper
Guaranteed a spot in the Missouri Valley Championship Tournament, the 21-7 (12-2) Wichita State Shockers prepare for Loyola and Bradley, with just four regular-season matches remaining. WSU will play Loyola at 4 p.m. Friday in Chicago. The Shockers beat Loyola 3-2 in October. Coached by Chris Muscat, the 19-8 (8-6) Ramblers are No. 6 in the MVC. Fighting for the last available spot in the tournament, Loyola is hitting .240 percent on the season, while opponents hit .171. Their kill leader and biggest offensive threat, is Morgan Reardon with 300 kills this year. The Ramblers are ranked third in assists and kills, and first in hitting percentage in the MVC.
At 7 p.m. Saturday in Peoria, Wichita State will face off against the last ranked team in the Missouri Valley, the Bradley Braves. In their last meeting earlier in the season, the Shockers dominated in a 3-0 victory. The 6-20 (1-13) Braves have struggled this season, both in conference and non-conference play. Bradley sits in the last two spots for all-conference statistics except service aces, where they rank No. 5. Coached by Jenny Maurer, Bradley is hitting only .166 percent while their opponents hit .248. They are led in kills by Erica Haslag, with a season total of 259 and 2.85 kills per set. Both of this week’s games will be available on ESPN3 and broadcast online at goshockers. com/watch.
GIFTS
Regional competitors Women
men
Sidney Hirsch Rebekah Topham Lycia Hollon Emilea Finley Kayla Deighan Jordan Maestas Sarah Wright Paige Wells
Brady Johnson Ugis Jocis Paul Raymond Kyle Larkin Gage Garcia Nathan Wickoren Dray Carson
seasons, but Hunter said he believes one of his veteran runners may finally end that drought. “Brady [ Johnson] has the best shot of qualifying if he runs to the level of his ability,” Hunter said. Johnson holds the third-fastest
YAK
This is a collection of yaks from the Wichita State campus. This is what you think about, talk about and wonder about. Enjoy.
We get it…it’s windy. It’s Kansas. Get used to it.
File Photo by Manny De Los Santos
Sophmore Diamond Lockhart dribbles the ball up the court against Central Oklahoma on Sunday at Charles Koch Arena. The Shockers went on to beat Central Oklahoma 68-61.
JESSICA GREEN
REPORTER
@jesserca9
Photo by Tarun Bali
My-Trinh Nguyen, former president of the Pre-Medical Student Association helped make 150 milk carton ornaments to be sold at the Wichita Alternative Gift Market in support of children’s health in Vietnam.
but the market provides a one-stop shopping opportunity. He said a donation can change a life more than 10,000 miles away. “By way of giving, [you] can change people’s lives in many different ways all around the world, and that’s the objective — to invite people to come and give,” Princ said. “It’s a great way to give, and it makes you feel good.”
8K finish in the Missouri Valley Conference this season. Johnson, a junior, broke the Shockers’ 8K school record earlier this season at the Chile Pepper Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Shockers will compete in the NCAA Regional at 8 a.m. Friday.
THE DAILY
Shockers prepare for upcoming Creighton match
FROM PAGE 1 GASP President Bach Nguyen also said making the ornaments was the most challenging part of the preparation process. GASP made 150 tiny bike ornaments and nametag cards. My-Trinh said making the ornaments was worth the effort because the market brings people in the community together. “It’s actually pretty amazing seeing how many different organizations, not just churches, but student organizations, come together and support different projects that we believe everyone should hear more about,” she said. Bach said the market gives the projects the awareness they deserve. “I feel like all these charities aren’t heard usually, but [AGI] gives them a voice,” he said. “Not many people know about all of these causes, and it’s a way to get introduced to what’s going on in the world and become globally aware.” Princ said the projects are available for donations year-round,
The fall season is drawing to a close for Wichita State cross country. The Shockers are set to travel to Lawrence this weekend for the NCAA Regional tournament. The men will compete in an 8K race, the women a 6K. Head coach Kirk Hunter said he hopes his team can earn top 10 finishes on both sides. “We will need to have a great meet in order to [place in the top 10 on both sides],” Hunter said. “We expect to run well and finish the season off great.” The top two finishing teams for each race advance to the NCAA Championships, additionally the top four finishers for each race advance, as well. The Shockers have struggled to send any athletes in recent
After defeating the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos 68-61, the women’s basketball team is ready for its next challenge against the Creighton Bluejays. “The score is what the score is,” head coach Jody Adams said of the UCO game Saturday. “Could we have gotten beaten, sure — we didn’t execute and didn’t adjust, but we did execute in the fourth quarter when the game was on the line and we were down.” In the team’s previous game against UCO, freshman Jyar Francis led the team with 21 points and six rebounds, followed
by sophomore Diamond Lockhart with 20 points, four rebounds and two steals. Overall, the Shockers out-rebounded UCO 33-29 and out-shot UCO 47 percent (22-for-47) to 44 percent (24-for-54). “I have to give our group credit for maintaining their composure and being coachable,” Adams said. The Bluejays have yet to play this season but are coming into the season after finishing fifth in the Big East conference with a 9-5 home record. The Shockers have a 24-32 record against Creighton. The Shockers take on Creighton at 12:05 p.m. Friday in Omaha.
Wichita should be the new windy city. I’ll start eating better once they put healthy food in microwavable cups that cost me 10¢ I farted in class today and 4 people turned around. I felt like I was on “The Voice.” GAME IDEA: step on as many leaves as you can while they’re blowing 50 mph your way #prayformizzou Why are events always on Wednesdays? I work every Wednesday. Could you mix it up WSU? Shocker dining has completely given up. They just gave up. How windy is Kansas? I’m sober but I can’t walk straight outside.