WICHITA STATE’S STUDENT NEWS SOURCE SINCE 1896
MONDAY, NOV. 4, 2019
VOL. 124 • ISSUE 23
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THESUNFLOWER.COM
MORGAN ANDERSON/THE SUNFLOWER
Wichita State’s new president, Jay Golden, holds up the Shocker hand sign at his first public address to the university. Golden, 55, will take over as president in January, when he will move to Wichita with his wife, Dina. “Today, I am America’s newest Shocker,” he said.
Golden Era
Jay Golden named Wichita State University’s 14th president BY DANIEL CAUDILL
T
he wait is over. After a months-long closed search process, the Kansas Board of Regents on Thursday selected Jay Golden, 55, to be the 14th president of Wichita State University. Golden most recently served as a vice chancellor at East Carolina University. Golden, a father of two and husband to Dina, will take over presidential duties from Interim President Andy Tompkins when he moves to Wichita in January.
“Jay [Golden] has had a distinguished career in higher education as an administrator, researcher and faculty member, and also as a business leader and entrepreneur,” said Mark Hutton, a KBOR member and vice-chair of the presidential search committee. “His wealth of experience and commitment to innovation will serve WSU well.” The search to find a new president began in March, following the death of late President John Bardo. A 20-person search committee, with only two student
Q&A • PG. 2 Golden takes questions about his vision for WSU.
My name is Jay Golden and today, I am America’s newest Shocker.” — Jay Golden, new president
members, was formed in May to find a pool of potential candidates for WSU’s next president. KBOR selected Golden from the pool of finalists in October. Proponents of closed searches say they allow candidates at other
institutions to apply without fear of losing their jobs. Critics say the process keeps the public in the dark about leadership decisions at a tax-funded institution. Asked if he still would have applied for the position if the search process had been closed, Golden said he “hadn’t really given that much consideration.” “I hope that moving forward, whether it was an open or confidential search, I would hope that I work hard to be able to earn the trust and respect of people in the community.”
REACTIONS • PG. 3
‘SECRET SAUCE’ • PG. 6
Regents and search committee members react to WSU’s new president.
Golden says he wants to continue Bardo’s legacy, but what will he bring for athletics?
NEWS
2 | MONDAY, NOV. 4, 2019
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Meet Jay Golden Q&A with WSU’s new president
Quick Qs
BY DANIEL CAUDILL
Hours after being named Wichita State’s 14th president, Jay Golden was busy Friday morning meeting with campus stakeholders. Golden, a vice chancellor at East Carolina University, will move to Wichita with his wife, Dina, in January — when he will take over as president. He also has career experience at Duke, Arizona State and UC Santa Barbara. The Sunflower sat down with Golden for 15 minutes on Friday at the Shocker ‘70 Room to talk about his vision for the university and to help students learn more about the new president — who was selected by the Kansas Board of Regents after a months-long closed search process. Responses have been edited for length. WHAT DREW YOU TO WICHITA STATE, AND WHY DO YOU THINK YOU STOOD OUT FROM THE POOL OF CANDIDATES?
“I followed Wichita State; we’re both in the AAC conference ... I had the opportunities to work at some big institutions that are somewhat analogous to a big ship that just doesn’t move very quickly. And in some respect, the private institution I worked at, Duke — they’re not a regional university. So I kind of did some reflection: where is it and what is it that I really want to go?” “[Wichita State] is a place that has not only a close relationship with, but a close reliance on the community. It’s a place that — whether you call it an access university or an open university — doesn’t focus on selectivity. It focuses on impact for the students and the university itself.” “Candidly, it’s also a place where [with] my background and my skillsets — which are research, economic development, community engagement, student experiences — I can make the biggest impact.” “[It’s] hard to answer the second half because I don’t know who the other candidates were ... I think maybe what separated me would be my focus ... Everything we do from budget to hires to engagement [is about] the student experience.” “I describe the student experience as a diverse, inclusive, engaged and safe community for all. And most importantly that we’re providing the best academic programs on time for graduation, and with little debt. The other part is enrollment. If we focus on the student experience, and we drive everything
CHINESE OR MEXICAN FOOD? Mexican
FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Mint chocolate chip
FAVORITE SPORT? Lacrosse
FAVORITE SUBJECT IN GRADE SCHOOL? History or P.E.
FAVORITE MUSIC GENRE OR ARTIST?
“Mother was a classical pianist, father listened to jazz all the time, but I grew up with rock’n’roll. I like all music. I could listen to The Clash all the time.”
MORGAN ANDERSON/THE SUNFLOWER
Wichita State’s new president Jay Golden answers questions on Friday during an interview with The Sunflower.
toward that, enrollment and all the other good things will happen.” IN YOUR FIRST ADDRESS TO THE UNIVERSITY, YOU SAID THAT WSU SHOULD PLAY A ROLE IN PROTECTING AND GROWING THE AEROSPACE SECTOR IN THE REGION. AS PRESIDENT, WHAT WILL YOU DO TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EVERYDAY STUDENT, WHO MAY NOT BE INTERESTED IN AEROSPACE, IS INCLUDED IN THAT VISION?
“We’re going to protect that by [making] sure we don’t have any actions or programs that diminish the already existing programs, but we’re going to be very deliberate. I call it ‘convergent science.’ I’m asking the deans, students, chairs and faculty to come together ... [and] identify different programs where it requires at least three different departments in different colleges to come together to address big issues.” “Those could be health disparities, economic disparities, educational disparities or other types of programs. I want to be able to provide a place for everyone on this campus that is for us — for the students and faculty to engage the community on these issues.” “At Arizona State, we called them interdisciplinary science and technology buildings. Here, I would like to try to find a place that would be a convergent science center, potentially on the Innovation Campus.” “It could be Spanish linguistics and neuroscience. How do those come together, right? Well it’s cognitive learning and cognitive sciences. That’s going to be the basis in the future for machine-learning and artificial intelligence.” “I’ve already asked deans and
department chairs to be deliberate over the next few months in working across the campus to think through the next new academic programs, research programs, outreach programs that would best prepare our students for careers [and] would also have an impact for our community and our nation.” “I don’t know what those are; I know my field of research. So I’m going to ask and engage, and we’re going to provide the opportunity for our faculty and our students to go out, not only amongst themselves, but to bring in thought leaders from across the country or across the globe to help us develop those types of programs.” “Doing those types of things will set the university in motion to understand there’s great value and great benefit in interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and that everybody belongs.” YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR FIRST REMARKS TO THE UNIVERSITY THAT YOU WANT TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF ADMINISTRATION AND FACULTY. COULD YOU SPEAK TO SOME OF YOUR PLANS TO DO THAT?
“The first one I announced yesterday, which is that I’m going to start the President’s Diversity Leadership Fellowship. I’m going to work with faculty and staff on something that I had initiated at East Carolina University.” “We need to develop a pipeline. Some people will get into it and say ‘I really don’t want to go into administration,’ and I don’t blame them. But some will go ‘wow, there’s some interesting things that I could bring — a lot of great experience and life experiences.’ So that will be
something that I’m going to lead; I’m going to work with different units on campus to help administer it.” “In its basic form, it is bringing leaders that are diverse by race, ethnicity, [and] backgrounds onto campus to talk about their real-life experiences and the hurdles that they faced. At the same time, to have our faculty and staff have the opportunity to shadow and work with administrators to really get an understanding of what it is that everybody [in administration] is doing on a daily basis.” “My goal is that we all identify a number of individuals that — if anybody got sick or they go to a new job or whatever — we have the talent pipeline that’s ready to go and wants to come into a leadership position on this campus.” “For faculty, some things that I’m going to initiate ... is have us go to certain universities across the country that graduate high numbers of PhDs that are diverse and think about how we can bring them onto our campus as post-Docs, where they can be exposed to Wichita State, Wichita and the faculty. And the faculty get to be exposed to these great post-Docs, so when we have faculty openings, we already have things in momentum that we’re pulling in a diverse pool of folks.”
BARRING SURVIVAL SUPPLIES, WHAT THREE THINGS WOULD YOU BRING IF STRANDED ON AN ISLAND? iPhone, family and iced tea
to continue on in the sense that, as we start developing ideas for priorities for this institution, those ideas are not going to be top down — but they’re going to be engaged across this campus.” “Whether it’s thinking about new facilities on campus, new academic programs, investments, budget — it’s making sure there’s representation from students, staff, faculty and administrators at the table from the beginning. Because there’s nothing more disingenuous than saying ‘Here’s our plan, we want you to be engaged and review it.’ It has to start at the very beginning.” “It’s going to take time; it’s also going to be a culture, so people are going to need to understand that not only am I being genuine in this, but there’s also an expectation that they’re going to be able to commit the time to participate in these things. So it’ll be a learning process for me and for them at the beginning [to] kind of get our cadence and trust and all of that. But that’s how we’re going to move forward. “I said to all the senates, I don’t care what the structure has been in the past. I want you to tell me how frequently we should meet. I want you to tell me when you have formal meetings when you want me there. I want to meet more frequently than not. I want to be in touch and know what’s going on, and I think that was well received and it’s going to be to the benefit of the university.”
YOU ALSO HAVE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARED GOVERNANCE. WHAT IS THAT VISION OF SHARED GOVERNANCE FOR WSU, AND HOW WILL YOU MAKE SURE THAT VARIOUS GROUPS ARE BEING INCLUDED IN DECISION-MAKING?
“It started today by meeting with the various constituencies, from students, staff and faculty. It’s going
2019 Presidential search timeline MAY 16 MARCH 12 WSU’s 13th President John Bardo dies at age 70.
KBOR appoints search committee members, including Chair Steve Clark, namesake of the upcoming YMCA.
OCT. 20 AND 21
MAY 28
JUNE 19
WSU opens campuswide survey to collect feedback on the search process.
KBOR approves a candidate profile prepared by Wheless Partners based on community feedback.
KBOR conducts in-person interviews with finalists at the Marriott Hotel at the Kansas City Airport in Missouri.
APRIL 29
MAY 16
JUNE 6
SEPT. 5
OCT. 31
KBOR spokesperson confirms presidential search will be closed.
KBOR hires Wheless Partners, an Alabamabased search firm, to recruit candidates.
Wheless Partners leads an afternoon of public forums with campus stakeholders.
Committee recommends a pool of candidates to advance to video-interview stage.
KBOR names Jay Golden the 14th president of WSU.
The Sunflower, founded in 1896, is the student-run newspaper covering Wichita State University. The print edition is published Monday and Thursday during the fall and spring semesters and twice over the summer. The staff publishes daily online at www.thesunflower.com.
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Meet the Staff EDITOR IN CHIEF Kylie Cameron
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STAFF Morgan Anderson Olivia Babin Selena Favela Karen Galindo Brogan Gillmore Kamilah Gumbs Dylan Harmon Ben Jacobson Reid Kurkerewicz Audrey Korte David Leon Sean Marty Nathan Schale Austin Shaw Lindsay Smith Maddie Spurlock Tajahnae Stocker Jeromiah Taylor
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NEWS
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Golden: ‘Higher education is at a crossroads’
EASTON THOMPSON/THE SUNFLOWER Left: Jay Golden, named Wichita State’s new president on Thursday, answers questions from members of the press after the announcement in the Rhatigan Student Center. Golden previously served as the vice chancellor for the Division of Research, Economic Development and Engagement at East Carolina University. Right: Golden, speaks to announcement attendees on Thursday about his vision for Wichita State.
New president addresses crowded Santa Fe Room after selection BY DANIEL CAUDILL
In his first address to the university, new President Jay Golden said some of his main goals are to cap tuition rates, increase enrollment and further the university’s commitment to applied learning. “We need to prepare students for the future — not just for the jobs of today — but for the professions of tomorrow,” Golden said, stressing the inclusion of arts, humanities and social sciences in that vision. “What’s going to be our secret sauce? … It will be the legacy of late President John Bardo and the continuation of our focus on applied learning,” he said. “Higher education is at a crossroads … We need to adapt; we need to be nimble. And that’s what inspired me to come to Wichita State.” Golden will take over as president in January, when he will move to Wichita with his wife, Dina Golden. NOT A ‘CHANGE AGENT’
WSU and KBOR began searching for a new university president this spring, following the death of late President John Bardo in March. Bardo was selected as president in 2012, and was perhaps most known for leading the development of Innovation Campus. Last month, KBOR said its main criterion for the new president was a dedication to fulfilling Bardo’s vision for WSU. “Obviously, someone who can
take the programs that Wichita State, the innovative things that [Bardo’s] done there in regards to Innovation Campus and connection with industry, internships — those kinds of things that are so exciting to WSU — and really fully implement them,” KBOR Chair Shane Bangerter told The Sunflower. Golden acknowledged at a press conference on Thursday that, while he has his own ideas about improv-
[Wichita] feels like home. It’s a big city with all the amenities that you would want in a big city, but without … the claustrophobic feeling I get in certain cities.” — Jay Golden, new president
ing WSU, he wants to stick to the plan laid out before his arrival. “I think we have a great foundation and a great platform. I’m not coming in here as a change agent,” Golden said. Golden said he was excited by the facilities that Wichita State has on its Innovation Campus and the school’s unique partnerships with regional industry leaders. “Wichita and WSU are the epicenter of aerospace and aerospace research,” Golden said. “We need to protect and grow this critical sector for our economy, and bring additional value through new modes of mobility and logistics — including autonomous transportation.” A career researcher and engineer, Golden was raised in Los Angeles. Golden began his work at ECU in 2017, working beforehand at Duke University as associate vice provost for research and director of corporate relations. He holds a doctorate
in engineering from Cambridge. Golden said Thursday that he had visited Wichita a couple times before applying to be president. “[Wichita] feels like home,” he said. “It’s a big city with all the amenities that you would want in a big city, but without … the claustrophobic feeling I get in certain cities.” Since the process was closed, candidates were not announced and Thursday was the first time Golden publicly visited Wichita State. Student Body President Kitrina Miller, one of two student members on the presidential search committee, said that Golden had been her favorite candidate early on in the process. “I was (very pleased with the new president announcement),” Miller said. “Jay was my No. 1 pick from the candidates we had put forward, so I’m extremely happy.” “He was really student-focused … that was really the No. 1 thing I was looking for.” Miller said Golden stood out from the crowd because he took matters into his own hands when pursuing the presidential position. “One thing that really stuck out to me was during his interviews he shared that he came to the search firm,” she said. “The search firm didn’t come to him about this position. He really wanted to come here and he developed that passion for WSU.” Golden said he became familiar with WSU in his role at ECU because both schools are in the American Athletic Conference. Golden also said he wants to ensure faculty and administrative positions are “as diverse as the students and communities we serve.” All of WSU’s presidents have been white men. “Inclusivity and belonging are critical,” he said, including for first-generation and at-risk students.
Collegiate background Undergraduate degree in management from Stanford Master’s degree in environmental engineering and sustainable development from Cambridge and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Doctorate in engineering from Cambridge Vice chancellor at East Carolina University Former associate provost at Duke University Former assistant professor at Arizona State University
As he gets to know the campus community, Golden says he and his wife, Dina, will host a casual gathering at the President’s House each Sunday to allow community stakeholders an opportunity to chat with the couple. Golden also plans to start a new program called “President’s Leadership Fellows,” in which students and staff interested in potentially taking on administrative roles will be exposed firsthand to those roles. Prior to working at Duke, Golden has worked as a professor at The University of California – Santa Barbara and Arizona State University. He also has experience in the private sector as CEO of Golden Environmental Management and vice president at WMX Technologies. Golden’s compensation is still being negotiated.
Regents, search committee members react to presidential pick BY LINDSAY SMITH
The Kansas Board of Regents voted Thursday to name Jay Golden the 14th president of Wichita State University. A career engineer and researcher, Golden has worked in the private sector and various roles at The University of California - Santa Barbara, Arizona State University, Duke University — and most recently, as a vice chancellor at East Carolina University. Golden’s track record was one of the reasons KBOR thought he was the best choice for president. “I thought he hit all the buttons for me,” said Mark Hutton, a KBOR member and vice chair of the presidential search committee. “He had great academic pedigree, a degree from cambridge, also had some industry experience … I just felt all around that he was just the right person for Wichita State.” Hutton said he is excited to see how Golden chooses to grow WSU’s
main campus and unite the university across its satellite locations. “I’m excited about his vision to expand the Innovation Campus, and especially to include the fine arts in that discussion,” Hutton said. “That’s something we heard loud and clear from faculty and students.” Student Body President Kitrina Miller, one of two student members on the presidential search committee, said that Golden had always been her favorite out of all the candidates. “I was (very pleased with the new president announcement),” Miller said. “Jay was my No. 1 pick from the candidates we had put forward so I’m extremely happy.” “He was really student-focused … that was really the No.1 thing I was looking for.” Miller said Golden stood out from the crowd because he took matters into his own hands when pursuing the presidential position. “One thing that really stuck out to me was during his interviews he shared that he came to the search
firm,” she said. “The search firm didn’t come to him about this position. He really wanted to come here and he developed that passion for WSU.” KBOR Chair Shane Bangerter said Golden’s skillset stood out in his application. “His skill set was just a really good match for Wichita State,” Bangerter said. “His applied learning background, his engineering background, his people skills — I just think he’ll really be able to move Wichita State forward.” Bangerter said diversity is also something that Golden will focus on as WSU moves forward. “And, as he mentioned in his speech, to diversify (Wichita State) even more,” Bangerter said. “So that Wichita may be not just tied to one industry or two industries, but really broadening the scope.” Jon Rolph, who represents Sedgwick County on KBOR, said he believes Golden has a grip on the purpose and changing model of higher education.
MORGAN ANDERSON/THE SUNFLOWER
New President Jay Golden speaks to sophomore Drue Owen, a history major at WSU, after his public address on Thursday in the RSC. Golden and his wife, Dina, toured the RSC after their announcement.
“I know he has a real heart for accessibility to higher ed, an openness to how the higher education model is changing,” Rolph said. Miller said that she hopes Golden will strive to create a more welcoming campus and continue to diversify the skill sets that Wichita State provides its students.
“(I hope he continues) to grow this university, Innovation Campus. Making sure that, you know, students feel welcome and comfortable,” Miller said. “Whether that’s socioeconomic status or just diversity in general, but also the diverse skill set we provide to our students, increasing that.”
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HAVE A STORY IDEA? contact The Sunflower’s editor-in-chief, Kylie Cameron editor@thesunflower.com
First-time event puts Japanese culture on full display BY BROGAN GILLMORE
Samurais, Karate, Dragon Ball Z andramen is probably what comes to the average American’s mind when thinking about Japan. But while those things are Japanese, they don’t entirely sum up the Asian island nation’s culture. The Japanese Culture Association, Wichita State’s intercultural club concerning all things Japan, hosted the Japanese Culture Night on Friday night at the CAC Theater. The night consisted of everything from cultural demonstrations traditional dances to martial arts demonstrations. As a club that brings together Japanese and American Students, JCA President Jorge Godinez said the club wanted to host a cultural night that showcased various groups. “It’s been really difficult just because it’s the first time, and the Japanese population in Wichita is pretty small,” Godinez said. “But it’s something that our exchange students really wanted to see happen. So, we decided we would try our best and really, no matter what, we
would have fun with it.” Each display began with an explanation from the master of ceremonies, announcing the performer and going over the background and cultural significance of the demonstration. The night began with a traditional fan dance, called Kamigata-mai, performed by Marina Hata. Wearing a kimono, she danced with a single folding fan as her partner. The rest of the night was followed by more aspects of traditional Japanese culture, including Eisa drum dancing; Akishige Kuraishi, WSU judo club member, performing an Evil Knieval style flip over four people; a demonstration from the Okinawa Karate Dojo; and of course, a samurai — from the Tosa No Shugyo Dojo. “(The cultural night) has been a good experience … going and spreading the word of judo. It’s great,” said Kuraishi’s sparring partner, Stefano Bardelli. Most of the performances came from local groups, but the Japanese Culture Association also hosted
Kansas State University’s Yosakoi Dancers. They performed three dances, all with different costumes and choreography styles. “Originally we were looking forward to contacting a taiko [drum] group in Kansas City. They unfortunately couldn’t come,” said event organizer Nicole Brant. Brant also said the club went to look for more local groups, finding performers from the Wichita Asian Festival. The night ended with Shinju Baxter, named Miss Japan at the Wichita Asian Festival, singing “Precious” by Ito Yuna, and a large group photo of all the performers with Kuraishi humorously picking up two of the younger performers to get them into position for the picture. Brant said that since this was the first time for the event, the Japanese Culture Association was nervous with how the event would turn out, but she followed up by saying “I was very overwhelmed, but I’m happy it turned out very well actually.”
EASTON THOMPSON/THE SUNFLOWER
Top, Kansas State University’s Yosakoi Dancers end their performance during Yokoso: Japanese Culture Night. Left, Freshman Marina Hata performs a traditional fan dance during Yokoso: Japanese Culture Night on Friday at the CAC Theater.
WSU student spends Halloween season on the other side of a haunted classic BY KAREN GALLINDO
“Then I got in. From that moment on, I’ve just continued to grow as a performer. It’s just been so fun.” His shifts at Field of Screams begin at around 7 p.m., when he arrives at Prairie Pines in costume. Once there, most of the actors line up to get their makeup done by professional makeup artists. But after working at Field of Screams for four years and having had practice with makeup through his past theatre experience, Ross has been given approval to do his own gory makeup.
Many people visit the corn fields of Prairie Pines in the dark nights of October, hoping to get their adrenaline pumping and heart pounding. They volunteer to be chased by masked men with chainsaws, bloodied zombies and creepy clowns, all while having to conquer strobe lights and being betrayed by their so-called “friends.” Emerson Ross, a sophomore studying musical theatre at Wichita State University, isn’t one of the people being chased, nor betrayed. Instead he’s one of the bloody, scary characters that cause your friends to push you to the back of the group It’s just so fun. I’ve made to face off against a Spurlock clan a lot of friends there and I member while they flee towards safety. It’s okay, we’ve all been there. just love being able to help Ross has worked as an actor at out in any way that I can.” Field of Screams since he was 16. — Emerson Ross “Back when I auditioned, I was more shy and reserved, but I really “That can help me, because I enjoy acting and being on stage. I can actually show up a little bit was really, really nervous because it later and I can put my makeup on was really out of my comfort zone,” at home,” Ross said. “But I am also Ross said. driving all the way to Maize with “I’m not loud. I’m not scary – fake blood all over my face and I’m back then I was really tiny – but as just like, ‘Please don’t look at me.’” an actor, I wanted to push myself. Once their makeup is as scary So I was like, ‘I’ll try, but I probably as it can be, the sun setting behind won’t get in.’ them, all the actors gather for a
Holiday Recipes It’s November, the start of the holiday season. Whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or are just getting ready for the big family meals of the holidays, The Sunflower will be publishing a recipe each issue to give you some ideas. This week, we are starting off with a good holiday snack. This dish is really simple but still delicious, and it is the perfect snack to tide over the masses. Put this dish out while you are putting the last finishes on the meal and everyone is hangry, asking when the food will be ready.
Simple Crab Snacks INGREDIENTS:
- One 8oz package of cream cheese - ½ cup of cocktail sauce - 16 oz. canned crab meat - Crackers (Triscuits recommended)
INSTRUCTIONS:
(1) Spread the cream cheese on a large platter. (2) Spread the cocktail sauce on top, use however much covers the cream cheese. (3) Spread the crab meat on top, again, however much covers the cocktail sauce. (4) Eat.
brief meeting where the supervisor reviews notes from the previous night. Afterwards, they’re given water bottles and start their hike across the corn field to their designated positions where they can get into character as Spurlock Clan Members. “I think (I got creeped out) when I first started working there, because I didn’t really know the area. But now this is like my second home, basically, since I’m there for so many hours,” Ross said. “So now it’s like, ‘Wow, I’m passing by this dead corpse...and what about it.’” Ross and his colleagues work long hours, with the average shift lasting from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. They also don’t have standard, scheduled break times, as it’s a non-traditional job. Instead, they’re given time to recollect themselves between groups of visitors. “On slower nights, it’s probably anything around 11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. that we will get out. On peak nights it’s probably more like 2 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. It is very tiring,” Ross said, “I’m using my voice to scare people, I’m using my body to scare people, and on those nights I just feel dead— like I’ve been hit by a truck.” As an actor, Ross must always be on his toes and be ready to jump into
character at a moment’s notice. He also says that it’s easy to go all in all at once, but that he needs to remind himself to prioritize his health. “You always have to be ready to [switch into character] and make sure that you’re in your spot, ready to go when people come,” Ross said. “I always bring like two energy drinks, three water bottles and like so many snacks. Because if you don’t then you’re not being healthy about it, and you have to be healthy about it or else you can’t continue working.” Although the work is physically draining, Ross still comes back to play the role of a Spurlock clan member every October. “It’s just so fun. I’ve made a lot of friends there and I just love being able to help out in any way that I can,” Ross said. “I’ve gotten to know Kip and Jody Scott, who are the owners of Prairie Pines, so I’ve been able to form a relationship with them, and I want to continue to be able to help them out with their company for as long as I can.” With pyrotechnics, actors, makeup artists, props, and even talent agents, Field of Screams has become one of the most popular haunts in Wichita. “That’s why I’ve continued to work there because it such a
COURTESY Emerson Ross
professional production. You can go to these dingy haunts where people have the smell of beer on their breath –– I’m not really into it –– but I think thats what makes people keep coming back, because of the professionalism,” Ross said. “I’m never there and thinking I wish I were somewhere else.”
School of Performing Arts revives ‘Anything Goes’ The School of Performing Arts’ fall musical “Anything Goes,” which played at the Wilner Auditorium this weekend, was an impressive showcase of campus talent. It’s also a classic musical, stuffed with switched identities, failed pranks, fantastic love and questionable ethnic humor. The New York based guest director and choreographer Bradley Allan Zarr, whose residency was sponsored with donations from philanthropy group Performing Arts Angels, brought an expert’s attention to the wonderfully executed ensemble dance numbers that sit at the heart of Cole Porter’s work. Zarr wore his Kansas roots on his sleeves on opening night, mentioning his family connections to the community. “I’m so moved by the community and generosity, and I can see there’s a strong support for the arts here,” Zarr said. Composer Cole Porter and writer P.G. Wodehouse’s 1934 musical “Anything Goes” follows nightclub crooner Reno Sweeney (junior Kalene “Koko” Blanton) as she fails to marry adorably bumbling Billy Crocker (junior Trevor Seyl) and resolves to help him marry Hope Harcourt (junior Caroline Boesen),
REID KURKEREWICZ THEATER CRITIC
the debutante he really loves. Nevermind that Billy and Hope only had one date. Also never mind that everyone just so happens to be trapped in the same boat, vividly evoked by an impressive stage set, including a convincing starry night sky. It’s a musical. Reno Sweeney isn’t the romantic lead, but directs the main love story with her hilarious schemes and plots from behind the scenes, all while leading the impressive, saltery dances. A musical is only as good as its goofy cast of side characters, which “Anything Goes” is chock full of. Special mention goes to the promiscuous Erma Latour (Xan Mattek), who moved her part of the plot exclusively through raunchy escapades and nailed the ear-piercing 1920’s New York ditzy accent. In addition, Moonface Martin
(Matthew Alexander), played the role of a 13th-rate criminal with hilarious vitality, landing every joke with a saucy grin. It’s unfortunate that the musical rests on an extended gag about how hilarious it is to be Chinese. It’s not necessarily hostile racism, poking fun at white Americans by comparing opium to martinis. But it was enough for an audience member to say “Oh no,” when it became apparent the day would be won by the characters dressing up as racist caricatures. On that note, here’s a friendly reminder that the Opium Wars ruined countless lives in the name of Western imperialism and definitely wasn’t funny. The score though is undeniably catchy and the orchestra nailed it. The hit song “Anything Goes,” famous in the 21st century for appearing in the dystopian role-playing game “Fallout 3,” will worm its way into your head and live their comfortably for a few days. “Cole Porter’s music is brilliant, timeless, rhythmic and sexy,” musical director Phil Taylor says. “It does all these things a lot of these contemporary scores don’t do anymore.”
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Opinion
| MONDAY, NOV. 4, 2019
HAVE AN OPINION? contact The Sunflower’s opinion editor, Kevin Benavides opinion@thesunflower.com
We’ve heard the talk. Let’s see the walk. At a press conference on Thursday, just minutes after he was named Wichita State University’s 14th president, Jay Golden acknowledged that he may have to put in some work to earn the campus community’s trust. “I hope that moving forward, whether it was an open or confidential search, I would hope that I work hard to be able to earn the trust and respect of people in the community,” he said. Named president after a monthslong, closed search process, Golden seems like the perfect choice for WSU’s administration. With a career background that includes engineering, research, economic development and corporate relations, he has the skill set to continue developing the university’s Innovation Campus. But Golden also seems to have a different approach to public-private partnerships. In his first address to the university, Golden painted a broad stroke for his plans at WSU: improving diversity and transparency, creating
STAFF
EDITORIAL a culture of shared governance, furthering applied learning, capping tuition and growing enrollment. These all sound like great ideas, and areas in which we also believe the university could improve. But as the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words. When January rolls around, we hope to have a president who will speak openly with members of campus and the press about the university’s plans. We want to hear from Golden — not just the university’s various channels. “Whether it’s thinking about new facilities on campus, new academic programs, investments, budget — it’s making sure there’s representation from students, staff, faculty and administrators at the table from the beginning. Because there’s nothing more disingenuous than saying ‘Here’s our plan, we want you to be engaged and review it.’ It has to
start at the very beginning,” Golden told The Sunflower in an interview. We agree. Golden’s selection as president comes after a number of plans have seemingly been dropped in the community’s lap with little-or-no public input ahead of time — including last year’s failed “Shock the Future” referendum and the upcoming Steve Clark YMCA and Student Wellness Center. Golden seems to have already planted the seeds for his envisioned culture of shared governance, meeting with governing bodies and constituent groups throughout the day after he was named president. That included a 15-minute interview with The Sunflower. We hope this culture continues to grow, so the university can be on the same page about big decisions. We also hope to have a president that values diversity and inclusion as much as the students on campus. Falling along the same demographic lines as Wichita State’s last 13 presidents, it’s obvious that Golden, a 55-year-old white male, is not the most diverse pick. Some
students on campus have expressed frustration that the president is not from a more diverse background, and we feel that’s a valid concern. But with a career history that includes ECU, Duke and Arizona State — we hope that Golden has the breadth of experience required to lead a campus as diverse as WSU. Golden is off to a good start, unveiling plans for a new initiative called the “President’s Diversity Leadership Fellows,” in which students from diverse backgrounds will be able to get firsthand exposure to administrative positions they may be interested in taking on in the future. And perhaps most importantly, we hope to have a president who has his own vision for the university. While the university’s higher-ups have made clear that Innovation Campus is a top priority, we hope that future developments can be done in a transparent way that is best for the relationship between students and administration — and ultimately best for the university.
We’re getting better, for you
No, no one is keeping Republicans in the dark about the impeachment inquiry.
Over the weekend, several of The Sunflower’s editors were given the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. for the 2019 Fall National College Media Convention. The convention is hosted by the Associated Collegiate Press and the College Media Association. With over 275 different sessions, several notable keynote speakers from the journalism industry and a convention location that is mere walking distance from the White House — this may have been the best convention held so far, according to some of the editors who’ve attended in the past. I would be inclined to agree, even if I’d never attended before. Not only was the convention itself extremely educational and diverse, the setting provided the perfect context for why journalists do what we do. We got to hear from Marty Baron, former editor for The Boston Globe, which earned a Pulitzer Prize in 2013 for investigating and reporting on abuse swept under the rug by the Catholic Church. The coverage also was adapted into a movie, “Spotlight.” We also got to listen to an editor and reporter speak from the Capital Gazette, a local newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, that lost five employees in a mass shooting and then immediately turned around to report on it, earning them a Person of the Year recognition by TIME Magazine. Each speaker was extraordinarily impactful in their own ways, and solidified in our heads and hearts something we’ve known the whole time: the necessity and importance of a free and open press, no matter what risk may come with upholding the rights that come with it. In a time where the federal government, members of the public and sometimes even members of the press will criticize journalists and publications for being biased
Since the announcement of an informal impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump in late September, a whirlwind of political tension has arisen between Democrats and Republicans in the federal government. Various testimonies before the House and the release of the Trump-Ukraine transcript on Sept. 25, however, have since led House Democrats to propose a resolution of a formal impeachment inquiry. Despite this, tension has continued to grow between the two parties when debating the constitutionality and legality of the process. It is important to note that thus far the impeachment inquiry into President Trump has involved House Republicans as well as House Democrats. Since its announcement, closed-door hearings have been occurring within the House Committee of Foreign Affairs and Oversight and Reform, as well as within the House Intelligence Committee. All of such committees involve Republicans, though they cannot propose evidence themselves. However, on October 23, House Republicans stormed the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), where the Intelligence Committee was preparing to host a testimony from William B. Taylor Jr., the United States Ambassador to Ukraine. Around two dozen Republicans rushed into the SCIF, interrupting the deposition and claiming that Rep. Adam Schiff (D, CA), who is leading the panel before those being testified, is holding secret depositions. Though the interruption delayed testimony by five hours, the real issue arose from the security conflict that came when Republicans bringing and actively using cell-phones within the SCIF. To bring any electronic device such as a cell phone into a
KEVIN BENAVIDES OPINION EDITOR
or “fake,” we at The Sunflower and every other college newspaper have only one goal in mind: telling the complete truth — no matter how hard or uncomfortable that may be. We can and will make mistakes. To say that we are completely infallible in our reporting would be misleading and it would only bolster claims that journalists are self-righteous and arrogant. We try our best to do our due diligence with every story, but sometimes a mistake will slip through the cracks, and we appreciate every person who has spoken up to point them out. It shows us that you’re reading, and reading carefully. A staple of any national convention is the awards ceremony. While no publication’s main goal should be to acquire as many awards as possible, something as small as a certificate or a trophy tells a person or an organization that they are accomplishing something great. Something greater than all the other greatness being created at the same time. The award does not drive us, but it does give us validation. The Sunflower is proud of awards it received at this year’s convention. This is only the second year where it has been nominated for the Pacemaker by ACP and CMA, and this year it’s taking home several placements for several recognitions. While I feel that The Sunflower has been consistently doing great work since I’ve been attending
Opinion
COURTESY Opinion Editor Kevin Benavides poses for a photo in front of the capital building during The Sunflower’s recent trip to Washington, D.C. Staffers heard from journalists in the industry during the 2019 Fall National College Media Convention.
WSU, the amount of acknowledgement shown by these two national organizations probe that it is still getting better, to the benefit of the students. I am proud to say that I get to serve as the opinion editor for this paper because every single person working for it is also proud. We have an ongoing mission to deliver local news to the students of this campus, and it is the drive of every single reporter, photographer and editor that keeps that mission going. There will continue to be mistakes, slip-ups and oversights. We probably won’t ever be able to cover everything that happens on campus or in Wichita, but we will always try — try to deliver this public service to every student, staff member and alumnus. Not because we want to. Because we have to.
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MADELINE SPURLOCK COLUMNIST
SCIF is a serious offense, and that goes for military servicemen as well as citizens and congressmen. To further counteract the Republican opposition outcry, on October 29, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other House Democrats announced the formal inquiry against Trump; this would allow House Republicans to present evidence and testimonies in the inquiry as well. It would also allow some depositions to be made public rather than behind closed doors. This new resolution to formalize the process will allow Republicans and opponents of the inquiry the “due process” that they were demanding. The impeachment inquiry into President Trump is fully legal and not a ploy by House Democrats to somehow reverse the 2016 presidential election. It is not a “political witch hunt” against President Trump, nor has it ever been unconstitutional. Rather, it is the beginning of an investigation into potentially illegal activity done by the president himself. His call requesting foreign intervention into an election can be considered treason if it is found so by the House’s investigation. Additionally, due to Speaker Pelosi’s previous devout opposition into impeachment and her sudden support of it, the inquiry is not unfounded and, no matter how the continuation of the inquiry goes, the House has full constitutional authority to impeach any president, including Mr. Trump.
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Sports
HAVE A STORY IDEA? contact The Sunflower’s sports editor, Marshall Sunner sports@thesunflower.com
IF YOU GO UPCOMING SPORTING EVENTS MONDAY, NOV. 4 WBB: WSU vs. Missouri Southern State 6:30 p.m. Charles Koch Arena TUESDAY, NOV. 5 MBB: WSU vs. NebraskaOmaha 7 p.m. Charles Koch Arena FRIDAY, NOV. 8 Volleyball: WSU vs. SMU 7 p.m. Charles Koch Arena SATURDAY, NOV. 9 MBB: WSU vs. Texas Southern 2 p.m. Charles Koch Arena WBB: WSU vs. Northern Iowa 5 p.m. Charles Koch Arena SUNDAY, NOV. 10 Volleyball: WSU vs. Memphis 1 p.m. Charles Koch Arena
DID YOU KNOW? All students get into Wichita State-sanctioned sporting events with a valid student ID.
MORGAN ANDERSON/THE SUNFLOWER
Wichita State junior Asbjørn Midtgaard shoots a free throw during the Shockers’ exhibition game against Northeastern State on Oct. 29 inside of Charles Koch Arena. WSU won the game 92-57.
ESPN releases preseason BPI rankings; WSU outside of top-80 BY MARSHALL SUNNER
Wichita State isn't feeling the love from ESPN's Basketball Power Index rankings, which were released Friday morning. The BPI preseason ranking system is based off of four main factors: quantity of experience on the roster, quality of that experience, recruiting rankings for incoming freshman with an emphasis on
five-star recruits, and the coach's past performance. According to the metric, the Shockers are ranked as the No. 89 team in the country with a 3.7 rating. WSU returns seven players from last year’s team, but still have just three upperclassmen. The system, which relies heavily on experience, isn't buying the Shockers' chance for a rebound season. It gives WSU
a 3% chance to win the American Athletic Conference and just a 14% chance to punch their ticket into the NCAA Tournament come March. The AAC in general ranks outside of the top-5 in conference for projected tournament teams. The Pac-12 and AAC both rank behind the Big East, which is projected to have 4.0 teams in the big dance. The Big 10 is projected to land 7.1
teams in the tournament, more than any other conference. Kenpom, another metrics system used for predicitions and rankings, has the Shockers the 62nd best team in the country, a solid 20-plus spots up from ESPN’s Basketball Power Index. WSU kicks off their season at home against Nebraska-Omaha on Nov. 5. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m.
Golden’s ‘secret sauce’: How will the new prez affect athletics?
KEVIN BENAVIDES/THE SUNFLOWER
Wichita State men’s cross country runners warm up for the J.K. Gold Classic on Sept. 7 at the 4 Mile Creek Resort in Augsta, Kansas.
Wichita State cross country teams particpate at AAC Championships BY SEAN MARTY
The men’s and women’s cross country teams traveled to Memphis, Tennessee for the AAC Championships on Friday. Here are the results from this year’s meet: WOMEN’S
For the second consecutive season, Winny Koskei was victorious in the AAC Cross Country Championships. Despite Koskei’s victory and Rebekah Topham’s second-place finish, the women’s team was unable to repeat as champions. They placed as the runners-up. Koskei was dominant throughout the race as she ran the 6K at a time of 20:15. Topham was right behind Koskei, finishing just 14 seconds after her. Both Koskei and Topham were awarded all-conference honors. Tulsa was this year’s conference champion and had five of their seven runners finish in the top-10
and all seven finish in the top-20. The Golden Hurricane finished with 37 points in comparison to WSU’s 63 points. The point totals are also calculated using the top five finishers from each school. Last season, the Shockers also finished with 63 points. The Shockers had five of its runners finish in the top-30 with Yazmine Wright and Halle Johnson finishing in the top-20. Abeba Sullivan rounded out the top-five finishing in 30th place. MEN’S
Despite having a worse team finish than last year, the men’s side had a top-ten finish along with five of its runners finishing in the top-35. The Shockers were led by Ben Flowers’ seventh-place finish as he ran for a time of 24:18, which was 34 seconds behind the champion, Aaron Bienenfeld from Cincinnati. Flowers has shown vast improvements this season and improved upon his 22nd
place finish last season at the AAC Championships. The only other Shocker that finished in the top-20 was Zack Penrod who finished with a time of 24:50. WSU finished in fifth place in comparison to last year’s fourth-place finish. For the second consecutive season, Tulsa took home the team title with its five runners finishing in the top-6, all coming from the second to sixth place. The Shockers increased its point from 109 last year to 118 points this year. Of the other finishers for WSU, Ethan Kossover finished in 26th place and Jed Helker and Cory Landon each finished in the top-35 with Helker finishing in 31st place and Landon in 35th. Next up, the Shockers will travel to Midwest Regional Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Nov. 15. After the Regional Championships, the Shockers will travel to Terre Haute, Indiana for the NCAA Championships on Nov. 23.
Last Thursday, the campus community was introduced to Jay Golden, the university’s 14th president in campus history. Golden, who comes from East Carolina University, stated in his opening press conference that the university’s secret sauce will be continuing “the legacy of late President John Bardo.” Golden was mainly focusing his speech on academics and the development of Innovation Campus, but what if statements hint at continuing Bardo’s legacy for sports as well? In October 2018, Bardo said that he believed esports would be the next thing to add into campuses collegiate competition. He wasn’t wrong. On Tuesday, Wichita State is launching an esports lab in the Heskett Center to further the university’s place in the rising world of esports. But Bardo’s sports aspirations didn’t stop there. While his No. 1 goal would be to bring back a football program, he knew it wouldn’t be possible. He hoped to instead pursue men and women’s soccer at WSU. To Bardo, soccer would be a safe bet, but he didn’t want to bring it immediately because of the university’s recent move to the American Athletic Conference. He said he wanted soccer because of its growing popularity, and the even amount of women’s and men’s scholarships to meet NCAA Title IX needs. Another reason he wanted the sport was to keep students occupied with sporting events since the school’s main sport, basketball, doesn’t start until late Octoberearly November. Bringing soccer to campus would be tricky though. Currently, the AAC men’s league has eight teams and the women have 10 total teams. Adding Wichita State, an odd-numbered school, could provide scheduling conflicts for the conference. However, this isn’t Bardo’s choice — it’s Golden’s. So what other
MARSHALL SUNNER SPORTS EDITOR
possibilities are there? Outside of possibly continuing Bardo’s legacy with soccer, two more sports come to mind: lacrosse and swimming. You might be wondering, why lacrosse? Well, that is Golden’s favorite sport to watch, per a recent interview with The Sunflower. East Carolina, Golden’s former school, had women’s lacrosse and is a fellow member of the AAC. The AAC has six teams playing in their conference for the sport, but just four traditional members. Florida and Vanderbilt play in it as well, as nontraditional members who normally reside in the Southeastern Conference. Adding lacrosse would be a little more difficult because of Title IX rules. Since the AAC doesn’t officially have men’s lacrosse, it could also be difficult to find another conference. As for swimming, Title IX would be easier to accomplish with even scholarship distribution, but facility use would provide an issue. The new YMCA on campus will not have a swimming pool, but the Heskett Center does have the average college-size, 25-yard pool. But there’s a catch: despite the pool’s full length, the stands and size of the building don’t seem equipped to host meets. So if Golden wanted to have swimming, the team would have to schedule all its meets away. A timetable for change cannot be guessed; it’s up to Golden alone. But if he wants to have a lasting impact on WSU athletics, he’ll have to figure out his own secret sauce.