A message from President Golden on COVID-19
Wichita State University’s Business Continuity Pandemic Team is meeting and communicating continuously with state and local health care agencies to assure that the university is prepared if COVID-19 (also known as coronavirus disease 2019) reaches Kansas.
We know there are a lot of questions. As of Monday morning, March 2, there were no confirmed cases in Kansas, but if that changes, we will share what we know.
Student Health Services is coordinating with Sedgwick County and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for the latest information on the situation.
In the meantime, the best resource available for the latest information and tips is the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.
In addition, Student Health Services is updating Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website with information relevant to the campus community.
At this point, Wichita State is not authorizing any university-sponsored employee travel or Study Abroad travel for countries listed by the CDC as Warning Level 3. That list currently includes China, Iran, South Korea and Italy.
We are also discouraging those involved in the Study Abroad program from traveling to Japan, a Level 2 country. We will continue to communicate with our Office of International Education as the situation continues.
The immediate health risk to the general U.S. public is considered low at this time, but it’s always a good idea to have a personal preparedness plan. You can learn more tips here.
Anyone is welcome to email student.health@wichita.edu with questions or concerns.
We will continue to be in touch through your university email as more information is known.
Sincerely,
President Jay Golden
Severe weather preparedness drill scheduled today!
This year, as we have done in the past, WSU will participate in the annual statewide severe weather preparedness drill.
The annual drill this year is today (Tuesday, March 3). If the weather is clear that day, all of the severe weather sirens in Sedgwick County will go off at 10 a.m. When the severe weather sirens sound, proceed to your designated severe weather shelter area.
Emergency Building Coordinators in each building will ensure that all building occupants safely make their way to the designated severe weather shelter area.
Departments should use this opportunity to ensure that all faculty, staff and students know where to go to protect themselves in a severe weather event.
Wichita State licenses wind turbine protection technology to Lightning Diversion Systems
Wichita State University and WSU Ventures have entered into a new strategic partnership with California-based Lightning Diversion Systems (LDS), a Ducommun Company.
Wichita State President Jay Golden and Dave Wilmot, vice president and general manager of the Engineered Products Group for Ducommun, signed an agreement that will enable a new technology in the rapidly growing wind energy sector, to be further refined, with the intent of commercialization.
The partnership involves the exclusive licensing of a lightning strike protection system for rotor blades in the wind turbine industry, the product of several years of research and development by LDS and Billy Martin, senior research scientist for WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research, and his team in NIAR’s Environmental Test Lab.
Pictured above: Billy Martin, senior research scientist for WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research, has spent several years with his team in NIAR's Environmental Test Lab researching ways to protect wind turbine blades from lightning damage.
Wichita State professor uses public scholarship to help readers understand issues in Latin America
Public scholarship aims to introduce academic research to a wide audience, one that doesn’t subscribe to journals or possess the time to wade through lengthy articles or books.
Wichita State University political science professor Dinorah Azpuru is doing her part to help people’s understanding of political science with her work in the Washington Post “The Monkey Cage,” a blog dedicated to “making sense of the circus that is politics,” as the blog describes itself.
Wichita State graduate student works to help police evaluate stressful situations
Wichita State graduate student Monica Connelly is conducting research with area law enforcement to help them identify movements made by subjects in stressful situations. The research is focused on learning if threatening movements differ from non-threatening movements, and how those difference might be taught to law enforcement. Much of the work in this area, Connelly said, focuses on sports.
First-Generation Student Organization meeting on March 6
The First-Generation Student Organization (FGSO) seeks to raise awareness within Wichita State University’s student and professional community through activities and programs designed to foster the education of first-generation students.
We will have our next meeting from 1-2 p.m. Friday, March 6, in 266 RSC.
Plus, we have the pleasure of hosting President Jay Golden and Vice President for Student Affairs Teri Hall and Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs V. Kaye Monk-Morgan. While in attendance, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage in conversation concerning your experiences as a First-Gen at Wichita State University.
We are looking forward to making long-standing connections and doing great things with and for the First-Generation College Students at Wichita State University, while having fun in the process. Please join us for this exciting FGSO relaunch event!
Shocker New Venture Competition applications open soon!
The Shocker New Venture Competition gives students the opportunity to win venture money as well as receive valuable feedback on their idea from industry experts. Each year this event connects students from all academic disciplines to take key steps in developing world solutions. Applications open Monday, March 16 though Wednesday, April 1. For more information about the Shocker New Venture Competition, go to wichita.edu/snvc.
A pipe organ on campus? Discover it during Wednesdays in Wiedemann
Come join us for the Rie Bloomfield Organ Series Wednesdays in Wiedemann with Lynne Davis at Wichita University on the great Marcussen organ at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, in the magnificent Wiedemann Hall.
Everyone loves J.S. Bach, and the program will be centered around this great genius of the Baroque era.
Davis gives a brief explanation of each piece, while you sit back and relax in the comfort of the beautiful hall.
Admission is free.
KMUW marks 100 years of women’s suffrage with new podcast series
KMUW debuted a six-episode podcast series on March 2 in recognition of 100 years of women’s suffrage. “Hindsight: Looking Back at 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage,” examines the history of women’s suffrage, political involvement, and social activism in the U.S. from the middle of the 19th century through today.
Host Robin Henry, associate professor in the history department at Wichita State University, blends historical context and conversations with scholars, politicians, and activists. Hindsight aims to educate, entertain, and provide listeners a better understanding of women’s diverse voices and roles in US history.
The first episode of Hindsight premiered yesterday (March 2) at KMUW.org/programs/hindsight and wherever podcasts can be found.
Ulrich Museum seeks volunteers to help edit Wikipedia entries of women artists in the museum's permanent collection
Come join the Ulrich Museum of Art for a Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, March 6. The event needs volunteers to help edit the entries of several female artists featured in the museum’s permanent collection. The Edit-a-Thon will be held in two sessions: one lasting from 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; and another session from 12:30-3 p.m.
Each session will begin with a brief tutorial on how to edit and navigate Wikipedia pages. All research materials have been collected and will be provided to volunteers to ease the workload.
The event is being organized by Ulrich interns Nellie Elliott and Carter Bryant, both of whom are seniors majoring in art history at WSU. They wanted to create a local project to tie into the global efforts coordinated annually by Art + Feminism, a nonprofit organization that directly addresses the inequality of gender, feminism, and the arts on Wikipedia. The Ulrich event will focus on the entries for about a dozen female artists featured in the museum’s permanent collection.
Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own laptop. Refreshments, free wi-fi, and curated research material will be provided. Space is limited, so those interested in volunteering should reserve a spot by emailing Ulrich.Intern@wichita.edu.
Time to register for the 2020 Gender & Sexuality Conference
Registration for the 7th Annual Gender & Sexuality in Kansas Conference, to be held in the Rhatigan Student Center on Friday, March 13, is now live. Whether you plan to drop in and out to attend conference sessions or only plan to attend the afternoon keynote address by Dr. Sarah Deer, titled, "Sovereignty of the Soul: Confronting Sexual Violence in Native America", we ask that you pre-register if you plan to attend.
Click here to access the registration form.
Pre-registration will be open until noon on Tuesday, March 10.
As always, the conference is free and open to the public.
Please share this information widely with faculty, staff, students, or others you know who may be interested in attending.
Donations needed
The Career Development Center is in desperate need of professional clothing for our Career Closet event! Donate your professional dress items now through March 17 to Brennan III, M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed Tuesday mornings).
Professional dress items include suits, dress pants, professional shirts or blouses, professional skirts, belts, neckties, briefcases, cuff links, tie clips, and more. We particularly lack women’s petite and men’s small. For questions, contact Kim Kufahl at 978-6981 or kim.kufahl@wichita.edu.
2nd Annual Cops for Shocks Food Drive now to March 31
The WSUPD challenges departments all across campus as we did last year to help stock the Shocker Support Locker.
Donations are accepted at the Police Department lobby from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. We will be glad to pick up and deliver for you, or give your donation to any WSUPD officer until March 31.
Donate shelf stable pantry items, baby food and diapers, hygiene products and bottled water.
Avoid canned green beans, corn, high sugar foods and food past the expiration date.
Make your home equity work for you!
What can a home equity loan do for you? The equity in your home is yours to use how you want to use it. Weather that's helping pay for college, consolidating bills, vacation, or home improvements. Check out our rates online today at campuscu.org. You can use our loan payment calculator and apply online.
Or stop in, we are located in the Heskett Center parking lot, across the road from the YMCA, and next to the WSU Police Station.
We look forward to helping you put your home equity to work for you. Campus CU is an Equal Housing Lender. NMLS# 411233
Wear the official basketball team shooter shirt
Support the Wichita State men’s and women’s basketball teams by wearing the official team shooter shirt that both teams will wear in their tournaments. Available at the Shocker Store locations in the Rhatigan Student Center, Braeburn Square, Koch Arena and online at shockerstore.com. Go Shockers!
You can help prevent suicide
Learn how to support your community with the #WSUWeSupportU Preventing Suicide training. Each training lasts an hour and a half and gives you the tools you need to assist someone in need through the Share, Ask, Support method. Upcoming trainings are available Tuesday, March 10; Wednesday April 15 and Friday, May 15.
Fish and Chips at Freddy's
Fish and Chips baskets or sandwich, and the Peanut Butter Fudge Crunch Concrete are now available for a limited time only at Freddy's in the RSC!