Panel discussed universities' responsibilities with Freedom of Expression
Public universities play an essential role in freedom of expression and should act as a promoter and protector, especially during contentious times that produce challenging and complex discussions.
On Wednesday, Wichita State University presented “Speaking Freely on Freedom of Expression,” a virtual panel discussion that emphasized that point, among many others.
Watch the panel discussion here.
Dr. Lee Pelton, a Wichita State alumnus who has been president of Emerson College in Boston the past 10 years, moderated the panel.
Tyson Langhofer, a 1996 graduate of Wichita State; Christine Hughes, former vice president and general counsel of Emerson College; and Neal Allen, chair of Wichita State’s department of political science, joined Pelton as panelists.
“At Wichita State, we encourage debate and civil discourse,” said Dr. Rick Muma, interim president of Wichita State. “We firmly believe that the free expression of diverse ideas helps our institution flourish and, most importantly, it helps our students develop into well-rounded and thoughtful global citizens.”
- Langhofer, senior Counsel and director, Center for Academic Freedom with Alliance Defending Freedom, said speech deserves broad protections and is protected by the Supreme Court for vital reasons. The way to combat bad information, he said, is with good information. “We are prone to censor speech we disagree with,” he said. “You can look at hundreds of examples, over time, to show that truth does, in general, win out. Frankly, censorship is counterproductive.”
- Allen encourages universities to promote a realistic understanding of what they can and cannot regulate when it comes to controversial topics. “I don't think we have any kind of special power to remove people from debate and to protect them from communication that might make them uncomfortable,” he said. “As somebody that teaches about law and civil liberties …. the only way I can actually teach is to talk about things that are, by their nature, objectionable to some. Politics is not about what we all agree on. It's about what we disagree on and how to deal with it.”
- Hughes explained that while the First Amendment offers protections from the government limiting speech, it does not protect a speaker from disagreement. The immediacy of social media adds to the challenges of this discussion. “I think people understand that even if they have a First Amendment right to say something, they are accountable for the reactions that they generate,” she said. “I think that's one thing, that for the students to understand that at some point if they excite a social media firestorm that doesn't rise to the level of people being threatened with violence that they own the consequences of their speech.”
The panel discussion, "Speaking Freely on Freedom of Expression" was held on Wednesday, March 31. The program is available on demand on YouTube.
It will also air on the local PBS station on the KPTS schedule listed below.
- Channel 8.1 at 9 p.m. Friday, April 9
- Channel 8.2 at 5 p.m. Saturday, April 10
- Channel 8.1 at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 11
Make your voice heard in SGA Elections
SGA Election Polls open at 8 a.m. Monday, April 5 and close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7. Make your voice heard in this year's election by voting for your senatorial candidate, student body president, vice president candidate, and amendments to the SGA Rules and Regulations. Ballots will be sent electronically to your Shocker email. For more information visit wichita.edu/sgaelectionsor email us directly at sga.elections@wichita.edu.
Wichita State’s engineering graduate programs are the highest ranked in Kansas
In the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings of universities offering a Ph.D. in engineering, the College of Engineering at Wichita State University is again ranked in the top 100 engineering graduate programs, the only institution from the state of Kansas to make it in the top 100.
The 2021 rankings by U.S. News and World Report are based on a number of factors including reputation among peer institutions and industry recruiters, student selectivity, faculty resources and research expenditures – an area where Wichita State far outperforms peers. A recently released National Science Foundation report of FY2019 total engineering research expenditures ranked Wichita State 27th in the nation, well ahead of any other institution in Kansas.
Learn more about Wichita's U.S. News & World Report ranking
Listen to episode 7 of 'Let's Talk about It'
March has wrapped up, and it’s time for another episode of "Let's Talk About It." Thank you to all of our listeners for keeping up with the podcast during this inaugural season. We’ve got a couple more episodes in season one to bring to you, and we’re already gearing up for an exciting season two.
Leadershipis one of the most often used, and possibly, the least understood term in businesses and organizations today. What does it mean to be a leader? Do you have to be in a position of authority to lead? What makes a good leader? Why is it even important?
“Let’s Talk About It” is tackling all of these questions by exploring the concept of leadership, as it exists on the Wichita State campus. Today we’re diving deep with three wonderful guests who practice leadership daily on our campus:
- Dr. Aleks Sternfield-Dunn – director and associate professor in the WSU School of Music and WSU Faculty Senate president
- Dr. Voncella McCleary-Jones – associate dean for Academic Affairs and associate professor in the WSU College of Health Professions
- Rija Khan – WSU student body president
About "Let's Talk About It": The mission of the FUSE ICT is to prepare and inspire students to achieve their true passion and purpose, while providing the tools, opportunities, and diverse programming options for them to grow. One of the most effective tools that we have to spark dialogue and unearth passion is dialogue. Our goal with “Let’s Talk About it” is to create a safe, comfortable and casual environment that will foster connection with diverse people in an effort to create meaning, ask questions and start honest conversations about the topics that matter most to college students today.
Apply to be on SAC's executive board
Want a Leadership position in Student Activities Council? Apply to be on our executive board. Open positions include the president, vice president of marketing, vice president of membership, graphic designer, traditions chairperson, arts and education chairperson, Shocker night life chairperson, family and community chairperson, and the immersive programs chairperson. This is a great opportunity to get involved on campus and add to your resume. April 7 is the deadline to apply.
Applications open for Shocker Leadership Awards
Applications for the ninth Shocker Leadership Awards are now open. The Annual Shocker Leadership Awards are a way to recognize the work of student-led organizations, students, faculty and staff at Wichita State University. Recognized student organizations, university affiliated student groups and individuals may be nominated by a student, faculty member, staff member, or organization; or students may nominate themselves for one of the awards. One application form must be completed for every award for which one wishes to be considered. A nomination must have all parts to be considered by the selection committee. Nominations are due Friday, April 9 at 11:59 p.m.
If you would like to nominate someone on their behalf for an awards, please note that it is the responsibility of the nominator to turn in a complete packet. The nominee (unless they are nominating themselves) would not be responsible for uploading the applications. To submit a Shocker Leadership Award, please click the application linked in each award that you want to apply or nominate someone for.
Submit a Shocker Leadership Award nomination
Still interested in running for an SGA position?
Still interested in running for an SGA position? The Elections Commission invites you to conduct a write-in campaign for any position. A write-in candidate is defined as a member of the association who publicly announced candidacy and whose name will not appear on the ballot. Questions? Reach out to us at sga.elections@wichita.edu.
Submit entries for grad student photo challenge
Submit a favorite picture you’ve taken of graduate student life — whether it depicts work, classes, or fun — and enter for a chance to win a prize. Images of graduate student life will be shared by the Graduate Student Council on social media during Graduate Student Appreciation Week (April 5-9), and the winner will be announced April 8. Deadline for submissions is April 4. If you have any questions, please contact DV Suresh at gsc.eventcoordinator@wichita.edu.
'Creative 29' on display at ShiftSpaceGallery
The Bachelor of Fine Arts graphic design candidates in the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries (ADCI) invite you to its senior exhibition, “Creative 29,” during an opening reception from 6 to 9 p.m. this today at ShiftSpace. The gallery is located inside Groover Labs at 334 N. St. Francis St. in downtown Wichita.
For the group design exhibition, students spent the semester developing a concept and identity for “Creative 29.” Learn more by following their Instagram account @thecreative29show.
“Creative 29” will be on view from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday until April 30. Masks are required at ShiftSpace, and a limited number of people will be allowed into the gallery at a time in order to ensure social distancing.
Free dental screenings today
The AEGD program will be hosting free dental screenings at 1 p.m. today at Student Health Services. Appointments are required, so call 316-978-4792 to reserve your spot.
17th annual GRASP symposium online today
The Graduate School is proud to present a virtual showcase of graduate student research with the 17th annual Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) Symposium today. Presentations will be open for viewing until April 9. Join us to celebrate the great graduate student research occurring across campus and the faculty mentorship that supports this. Take a moment today to view presentations at www.wichita.edu/grasp.
Register for the Criminal Justice Career Fair
Don’t miss your chance to engage with employers who are hiring for internships, part-time and full-time positions at the Criminal Justice Career Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 6.
Hosted by the Wichita State Criminal Justice Student Association, the Criminal Justice Career Fair is for all majors interested in chatting with employers in the criminal justice field from the Wichita metro area, across Kansas, and nationally.
Register for the Criminal Justice Career Fair
Registration open for LEAD Conference; free for students
Sign up for the 2021 LEAD Conference on May 28 in the RSC! This conference is free for students and will cover a range of leadership topics — including development, student organizational leadership, and diversity and inclusion!
Featuring Kaylon Blake as our keynote speaker, we are excited to talk about leadership, connecting with others, and gaining transferrable skills and insight for the future!
Masks are required for this in-person event! Food and gear will be provided!
Please reach out to Kennedy Rogers if you have any questions at kennedy.rogers@wichita.edu.
Mathematical Sciences lecture today
The lecture series in the mathematical sciences presents Prof. Georgy Sofronov from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, who will present "Optimal multiple stopping rules and their applications" at 3 p.m. today via Zoom.
To register for the free lecture, please email lecture.series@math.wichita.edufor the link and password.
View the abstract and a list of upcoming lectures
Join First-Gen Success to talk about career development
Are you interested in a job, or maybe looking to prepare yourself for your post-college career? Or perhaps you're still not quite sure what you want to do when you grow up. At Wichita State, there are tools and resources for every stage of your professional life.
Join us on Monday, April 5 for First Gen Success:Career Development. The in-person event will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. in Rhatigan Student Center, room 266 (Pike Room), while the virtual session will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. via Zoom. For virtual attendees, the link will be sent in your calendar invite, and both virtual and in-person sessions will be come-and-go.
Learn more and sign up at wichita.edu/FGScareer.
Come to Win $#!+ From Home hosted by SAC
Joseph Tran is the world’s top Vietnamese Magician, and we are bringing him to you live for a virtual comedy-magic-game show! Watch some amazing modern-day illusions while you become the contestant in HQ-style trivia games that test your knowledge. Did we mention prizes? We’ll have tons of prizes sent to the cleverest, the funniest, and the most knowledgeable contestants. For more information and to register to participate, go to wichita.edu/SAC.
Small business center offers free webinars
The Kansas SBDC presents the following no-cost webinars:
- Startup and Start Rightat noon April 7: This webinar will cover licenses and permits, tax IDs, business structure, funding, marketing, and other essentials.
- Market Research for Startupsat noon April 8: Learn resources and strategies for market research, discover industry trends, identify competitors, define and locate your best customers.
- Business Recruitment Strategiesat noon April 15: This webinar will identify recruitment strategies that business owners can implement to attract qualified applicants for job openings.
- Restructure — What Would It Mean For Your Business?at noon April 21: If COVID-19 stressed your business to the limits, you might need to reset. Our panel of experts will offer information on HR, finances, and strategic planning to help you move forward.
- Social Media Starter Kitat noon April 28: A birds-eye-view of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. You will walk away with the ability to create or update your business’ online presence.
- What to Expect When You Are Expecting to Start a Businessat noon April 29: Davis Business Law will cover the legal foundations that a prospective new business owner needs to consider, such as formation, insurance, contracts, and employment.
Wednesdays in Wiedemann with Lynne Davis
Please join us for Wednesdays in Wiedemann with Lynne Davis at 5:15 p.m. April 7 either in person in Wiedemann Hall or via live stream on the WSU School of Music Facebook page.
This is a special memorial concert to Pierre FIRMIN-DIDOT, husband, Louise Matthews DAVIS, mother, and Marie-Madeleine DURUFLE, beloved teacher — all three born in 1921. They would have been 100 years old in 2021. Among the many French organ master teachers with whom I studied (Marie-Claire Alain, Jean Langlais, and the Durulfe's), Madame Duruflé was very influential in inspiring the performer I have become today.
Program, the entire: Prélude, Adagio et Choral varié sur le VENI CREATOR by Maurice DURUFLE, based on the Gregorian plain chant Hymn.
Free Admission. Social distancing respected and masks required.
Holi spring festival returns to Wichita State
After the darkness of the pandemic, AHINSA is back with Holi to fill your life with colors and joy. Join us from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 17 at Hubbard Hall Lawn. Holi is open to students, faculty, and staff. Registration is required to attend.
The difficulty of evidence, argument and rationality in reestablishing reality
Join the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for the first in its "Perspectives: Reestablishing Reality" series at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 7 via Zoom. Jeffery Jarman, Kansas Health Foundation Distinguished Director of the Elliott School of Communication, will present "Motivated to ignore the facts: the difficulty of evidence, argument and rationality in reestablishing reality."
Classic conceptions of democracy are based, in part, on a vibrant public sphere where citizens are informed and engaged in public deliberation on important topics. Argumentation is central to this vision. Each side builds its case by marshalling the available evidence in support of their preferred conclusion.
A rational public, it is assumed, takes in the evidence, evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the competing positions, and updates their opinions. Unfortunately, recent research in neuroscience and political psychology provides a direct challenge to this vision. Rather than evidence and argument shaping our opinions, our opinions shape our interpretation of evidence and argument. Efforts to reestablish a shared reality must account for individual motivations to discount information that is inconsistent with pre-existing attitudes.
Jeffrey Jarman is the Kansas Health Foundation Distinguished Director of the Elliott School of Communication, a position he has held since 2017. He started at Wichita State in the fall of 1996. For almost 20 years he served as the director of the university’s competitive debate team.
He teaches classes in communication strategy, research methods, and seminars in legal and political communication. His recent research applies insights from neuroscience and political psychology to classic conceptions of argumentation. In particular, he analyzes the role of evidence and argument in presidential debates, fact-checking, and political disputes in the public sphere.
Join the virtual internship and career fair April 14
Just in time for the end of the semester, join the Shocker Career Accelerator for the Just-In-Time Virtual Internship & Career Fair 2021 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 14 via Handshake. This fair is for ALL majors at Wichita State!
Don’t miss your chance to engage with employers who are hiring for internships, part-time and full-time positions. These employers are from the Wichita-metro area, across Kansas, and throughout the United States.
Call for papers: EGSA’s Micro-Conference and Creative Activities Forum
Wichita State’s English Graduate Student Association is seeking paper submissions for its upcoming Micro-Conference and Creative Activities Forum, which will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 16 in Hubbard Hall, room 209. The Micro-Conference is open to all Wichita State undergraduates, graduates, and faculty members as a venue to share independent research, workshop current projects, receive feedback, or polish your presentation for a future conference. Scholars are welcome to submit any research or creative project for consideration. Presentations at the Micro-Conference should be no more than five minutes long, with an additional two minutes allotted for questions after the presentation.
Individuals or groups interested in presenting at the Micro-Conference should submit an abstract for their research or creative activity to the Google Form linked below by April 9. If you have any questions, please contact EGSA President Stephanie Robinson at sjrobinson2@shockers.wichita.edu.
Applications open for summer and fall 2021 Undergraduate Research Experience
Liberal arts and sciences, applied sciences, and engineering undergraduates are invited to apply for Undergraduate Research Experiences (URE) for the summer and fall. Selected students will receive $4,000 awards (minimum $3,500 for student salary and up to $500 for supplies) to work alongside a professor doing research in summer and fall 2021. Prior research experience is helpful but not required. A mandatory Intro to Research workshop will take place on Tuesday, May 25. Additional research awards are available to engineering majors.
Interested students should:
- View the list of Undergraduate and NSF KS-LSAMP Research projectsonline.
- Apply at Wichita.edu/URE. Be sure to complete steps 1-2 before submitting your application (step 3). Applications due by 11:59 p.m. Monday, April 12.
Research awards are funded by the National Science Foundation Kansas Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation and College of Engineering.
Ulrich accepting paid internship applications
The Ulrich Museum of Art on the Wichita State University campus is accepting applications from Wichita State students for its paid internship program, which offers valuable experience in the everyday workings of a university art museum. These internships offer students interdisciplinary and experiential learning that is informative on both intellectual and practical levels. Tasks may include assisting with research for exhibitions, cataloging works of art, helping with publicity, participating in exhibition installations, working on programs, and giving exhibition tours. Internships for course credit in fulfillment of curricular requirements are available in coordination with many academic departments.
To apply, please email a current resume accompanied by a cover letter to either Ksenya Gurshtein, curator of modern and contemporary art or Jana Erwin, head of education, summarizing your past experiences related to art and museum work, your goals for the future, and an explanation of why you would like to intern at a university modern and contemporary art museum. Please note: We strongly recommend visiting the museum's exhibitions and exploring this website before writing the cover letter. The application deadline is April 30, 2021.
Psych class offers youth mentoring opportunity
The INSPYRE research lab (directed by Dr. Samantha Gregus) is currently recruiting undergraduate mentors for a three-hour course for the fall 2021 semester. Mentors will eat lunch with an elementary school student twice each week. In return, mentors receive three hours of course credit and many great experiences.
Mentors are required to pass an interview with the INSPYRE lab, pass a background check, have reliable transportation to and from the elementary school, and have lunch availability from noon to 2 p.m. at least twice a week.
We do not meet regularly like a traditional class (time mentoring takes the place of class time). We do, however, have a course syllabus, class readings, and paper assignments. Mentors will receive training at the beginning of the course and a grade at the end based on attendance and completion of assignments. We are interested in recruiting mentors from any college and major.
For more information, please contact the INSPYRE research lab at inspyre@wichita.edu.
Submit a youth mentoring application
Try the Quesadilla Burger in April
Stop by the Shocker Sports Grill & Lanes in April to try its Burger of the Month, the Quesadilla Burger. The patty is topped with melted cheddar, grilled jalapenos and onions and served quesadilla-style.