the review washburn university
The Topeka RoadRunners have seized first place in the NAHL. Page A8
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VOLUME 135, ISSUE 15 • MONDAY, FEB. 2, 2009
Washburn Debate team has sights set WSGA grad lands on capturing national title fills exec top job staff spots James Ahrens WASHBURN REVIEW
Richard Kelly WASHBURN REVIEW Some people set goals and never stop until they achieve them; such is the case for Beth Martino. The Washburn University and University of Kansas graduate was hired as the new communications director and press secretary for Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, and assumed her position on Jan. 26th. Martino came from the Kansas Department of Labor, where she was the deputy secretary. Prior to that, she was the communications director. She worked there for the past five years before this new job opportunity. Martino received a bachelor’s degree in political science at Washburn. From that point she knew she could go much further. She continued with graduate studies at the University of Kansas, where she earned a master’s degree in journalism in 2005. “I’ve always tried to some goals for myself,” said Martino. “It challenges me to work toward them. I’ve been fortunate that whatever I set my mind to, I seem to have an opportunity to reach it.” The interview process for communications director and press secretary began with an initial interview, which led to a call back to meet with the governor for a second interview. At that point, the decision was made to hire Martino. She said her duties for the position include talking to the press and being the “voice of the governor’s office.” While at Washburn University, Martino spent time involved with the Washburn Student Government Association, which helped her earn leadership experience. She also was a member of the debate team and very involved with the communications department. Martino said she credits a lot of her success to Washburn. “I don’t think at another school I would’ve had the same opportunities,” said Martino. “The size of the classrooms and the faculty at Washburn were really what helped me succeed in my time there. If I would’ve gone to KU first, it would’ve been so much harder because I was coming from a small town.” Now that Martino has begun her new career, she said she was excited and it made her feel good after how much hard work she’s put in. She also explained the value of her parents help. “My parents have always been such a great support. They’ve always seen me strive to do the best I can. I know now that I’ve gotten here, they’re just excited to see all the hard work there’s been pay off,” said Martino.
Two years ago, the Washburn parliamentary debate team was ranked third in the nation; last year the team was ranked second; and this year, team captain Kevin O’Leary said the team is working to gain the national championship. “[Those who support the team] really want to see Washburn students out there competing with top level
colleges and universities,” said O’Leary. The debate team is a part of the communications department and consists of a number of teams. Each team is then scored and allotted points based on a system of judgment. Teams are ranked under the system National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence. Based on communication techniques, argumentative skills and oration, the teams compete with colleges and universities of merit from around the country.
O’Leary said this year Washburn will be in contention with the University of Oregon, Western Washington University and Western Kentucky. The team has competed against such prestigious schools as the University of California-Berkeley, Texas Tech, University of Colorado-Boulder, and Oregon and Washington University. Debate is a co-curricular activity
Please see DEBATE page A3
Graphic by ReAnne Utemark, Washburn Review
Brian Allen WASHBURN REVIEW Washburn University’s Center for Kansas Studies capped off the state’s birthday week with a “What’s Right With Kansas” presentation by Richard Wood, author of “Survival of Rural America.” A mixed audience of 40 faculty members, students and interested Kansans came to Henderson to attend the talk and book The presentation focused on the struggles of small Kansas towns and what they are doing to survive. To explain the problem, Wood presented statistical graphs documenting how rural farming towns are losing residents at unsustainable rates. “I was inspired to look into the subject when I read a story about small towns so desperate to survive they were giving away land,” said Wood. He has read Thomas Frank’s “What’s The Matter With Kansas,” and disagrees with the basic premise
that the problem is political. “I see what is happening in our small towns as more of an international problem related to peoples preference for city living,” said Wood. He pointed out how the phenomenon of rural populations migrating to urban centers is occurring around the world. The migration is spurred by jobs lost to increased farm efficiency and a social desire for what city life can offer. But some rural towns in Kansas will not go quietly. Small but determined groups of citizens are reinvesting in their towns and fighting to keep their schools. As go the schools, so go the populations. To keep their own children around, the enterprising town of Tipton financed and built its own private school. Another tactic is to increase tourism and interest in the town by creating a “purple cow,” as Wood calls it. The town of Lucas, for instance, has reinvented itself as the folk art capital of the world. Thanks to modern shipping, some
towns have become hubs of specialized manufacturing and providers of unique goods, while the Internet can offer off-site work from home. Often, residents invest money in their towns to attract state and federal money for infrastructure. Regarding his research, Wood said he came away from it with two things: As an asset, rural America is a better place to raise kids than in cities. Unfortunately, certain aspects of rural life don’t appeal to enough people. “Youth migration is a problem without a solution,” said Wood. So it seems Kansas has some growing pains on its birthday, but many determined residents are fighting to preserve these smaller homes on the range.
Brian Allen is a writer for the Washburn Review. Reach him at brian.allen@washburn.edu.
Washburn’s Student Government Association executive staff has refilled three of its seats. The WSGA staff advertised three available positions: budget director, special event director and technology director. The interview process began after a week of advertising. There were two applicants for budget director, three for special events director and four for technology director. The interview process for each position had three interviewers including P h i l i p p i , Billinger, and the person who previously held the position. Filling the William Biles chair of budget director is Keenan Hogan, freshman. Blake Bryant, also a freshman, was chosen to be the director of special events, and William Biles, junior, Blake Bryant is now filling the position of technology director. Their term is up April 10th this year. “It’s nice that there are freshmen taking up two of the Keenan Hogan spots because it’s young leadership, and William is a junior, so [he’ll] be around,” said Whitney Philippi, WSGA president. “Keenan is impressing us, he has been getting the budget organize and making sure things run smoothly because there have been many requests over the break,” said Amy Billinger, WSGA vice president. “Special Events Director Blake Bryant brings a lot of enthusiasm organizing events and bringing new ideas.” Biles is busy updating the Web site to make it easier for students using it as a tool for better communication with WSGA, and he is also simplifying it. “William was really in tune to student needs and actually told us that he read the packet every week that the WSGA gives to student organization presidents, which showed us that he had the knowledge of what WSGA needed,” said Philippi.
Please see WSGA page A5
The Lady Blues basketball team is ranked No. 11 in the nation, but was snubbed in local rankings.
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Victorian era life wasn’t quite as prudish as commonly believed.
Argo 6 & 7
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Thursday’s Study Abroad Fair offered students a glimpse into a world of possibilities.
sports
news & opinion
Richard Kelly is a freshman mass media major. Reach him at richard.kelly@washburn.edu.
Erin Wiltz WASHBURN REVIEW
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