Wichita State University responds to verdict
Like many of you, during these past few weeks, our thoughts, minds and attention have
been turned to Minneapolis and the trial of Derek Chauvin.
As an educational institution, we are called upon not only to be safe harbors for
diversity of thought and life, but also to be catalysts of positive change in all
respects – knowledge, research, economics and culture. One of our distinctive university
values is to be an institution of inclusive excellence: to be a campus that reflects
and promotes – in all community members – the evolving diversity of society.
Wichita State is committed to ensuring that all members of our community are and feel
valued and respected, and we know there is more to be done. The future requires us
to recognize and learn from the sacrifices and injustices that have occurred. This
demands that we speak with a unified voice and non-violent actions to end inequality
and injustice wherever it takes place and to whomever it affects.
Campus leaders and key university offices will continue to guide our institution in
strong and deliberate conversations, engagement and action. In the meantime, we are
here for you. If you need support, please seek out any of the many support organizations
on campus: Counseling and Prevention Services, CARE Team, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Office of Student Affairs, Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Marche Fleming-Randle, and many cultural student organizations.
Wear suspenders shirt for Mental Health Awareness Week
April 19-23 is mental health awareness week, and you can show your support by wearing your #WSUWeSupportU Suspenders4Hope shirt!
Shockers can also support someone in need by learning the "Share, Ask, Support" method of preventing suicide for free by visiting wichita.edu/TakeTheTraining and taking the #WSUWeSupportU Preventing Suicide Training.
WWSU scholarship applications due May 31
WWSU scholarship applications for the 2021-2022 academic year must be received by May 31.
Candidates must apply for consideration to this scholarship. The fillable form can be found at www.wichita.edu/WWSUscholarship, and should be submitted by email to WWSU@wichita.edu, along with all other required attachments (see application for additional materials).
Candidates will receive written notification of their award status in late June.
Recipients are encouraged to attend at least one WWSU event during the 2021-2022 school year as our guest.
For more information, go to www.wichita.edu/WWSUscholarship. If you have questions please contact Shannon Koehn, scholarship chair at shannon.koehn@wichita.edu.
Exchange Student Spotlight: Ruben Dominguez
Learn more from our exchange students about their experiences here at Wichita State. This week, read about Ruben Dominguez's time as a Shocker and his favorite part about studying at Wichita State! Visit www.wichita.edu/studyabroadspotlights to read more about his experience.
Blackboard login and landing pages to change
On Saturday, May 29, Blackboard's login page and landing page (the place you come to first when you login) will change significantly. This is a cosmetic change and will not impact Blackboard's functionality. The change will be triggered at 8 a.m., and by 9 a.m. it will be complete.
What will happen on May 29? Our login area will become streamlined with a photo of campus on the left side of the page, and a login box on the right. You will access the login area the same way you do now, and your same credentials will work. Once you login, you will access your "my courses" area by clicking the "courses" link in the left-hand menu.
What will not change? Once you enter your course, it will look very similar to how it looks now. There will be some color changes as all courses will be standardized in terms of color. Everything should be in the same place, however. And tool availability will be the same. Your courses will still be in "old familiar Blackboard" and will not be in the "Ultra course format."
Why is this change is happening on May 29? This date allows spring term grades to be turned in and for summer pre-session classes to be complete before the cosmetic changes to the login and landing pages happen.
How will students will be notified? Students will be notified through Shocker Blast and their advisors. Please help spread the word.
Where to go with questions: The Office of Instructional Resources has created an FAQ page. If you have other questions, please send them to OIR@wichita.edu
Register for Lavender Graduation
Lavender Graduation is a celebration of our graduating LGBTQ+ students. Join us for the seventh annual Lavender Graduation at 7 p.m. April 29 at the Rhatigan Student Center, room 233.
You must RSVP by 11:59 p.m. Monday, April 26 in order to be recognized and to receive your lavender cord. No RSVPs will be taken after the deadline.
Check in on your fellow Shockers
For Mental Health Awareness week, reach out to your friends and classmates and check in on how they're doing. Then, if they're struggling, encourage them to reach out for help from on-campus resources.
Not sure what to say to someone who is struggling? Learn the Share, Ask, Support method for free by taking the #WSUWeSupportU Preventing Suicide Training at wichita.edu/TakeTheTraining.
Shocker Cheer announces virtual tryouts
The Wichita State cheer team is holding virtual tryouts to become a member of the 2021-22 team. Perspective team members can submit a video to cheer@goshockers.com. Submissions will be accepted until May 21.
Video submissions should be made up of five sections: introduction and interview, motion technique, standing tumbling, running tumbling, and stunting.
Videos can be a compilation of past practices, previous performances or what you have access to in your area.
The selection process based on video tryouts will be announced on at 5 p.m. on May 29.
If you have any questions on the tryout process please feel free to contact Coach Megan Bayliff via email at megan.bayliff@wichita.edu or the Director of Marketing and Fan Engagement, Reginald McIntyre via email at rmcintyre@goshockers.com.
Submit your Finals Frenzy events
Finals Frenzy is scheduled to happen from May 3-7. SAC is seeking events that are being hosted by various campus departments during this time. If your department has an event during the first week of May, we would love to share about it.
The Big Lie: Nazi propaganda, Antisemitism, and the coming of the Third Reich
Jeff Hayton, associate professor of history, will present at 2 p.m. today via Zoom. Andrew Hippisley, dean of Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, hosts the "Perspectives: Reestablishing Reality" series.
After losing the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, Donald Trump spent months falsely claiming the election had been stolen from him. And despite all evidence to the contrary, many of his followers believe him (still). The historical parallel to this conspiracy were Nazi efforts to blame Jews for German defeat in WWI. During the 1920s and 1930s, the Nazis fulminated against the Jewish ‘traitors’ and ‘November Criminals’ who supposedly ‘stabbed Germany in the back,’ and through such falsehoods, generated tremendous popular support. In both cases, propaganda was essential in magnifying dishonest claims. In exploring how the Nazis used ‘the Big Lie’ to gain support, this talk examines the role which propaganda and antisemitism played in the coming of the Third Reich, and the lessons which historical comparisons can provide for the present.
Zoom information available at www.wichita.edu/reality.
Self-Care Sunday for April changes location
While diamonds form under pressure, bread rises when it rests. Be sure to take time to take care of yourself this semester and allow yourself time to relax and rebuild. One way to do this is by joining us each month for Self-Care Sunday!
Join us from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Apr. 25 for Making Mandalas, a calming and mindful art activity, to decompress and re-center yourself for the week ahead. This event will take place both in-person in the Steve Clark YMCA and virtually.
Please note: The location has changed, and this event is now in the Steve Clark YMCA on-campus.
Learn more and RSVP at wichita.edu/SelfCareSunday.
Wichita State film project: 'The Rule of Three'
Wichita State University Theatre has produced a four-episode web series, "The Rule of Three," as part of the WSU Theatre season this year. The show was written by Theatre professor and director of filmmaking at Wichita State, Bret Jones.
"The Rule of Three" is a comedy and drama that follows Douglas, a writer in the making, who has three people who are close to him all die on the same day at the same time. They come back as ghosts and haunt Douglas as he tries to get used to their deaths and with them being in his life from beyond the grave.
WSU Theatre has been making a film project as part of their annual season for the past few years. “The training for the actors working in front of the camera is a valued part of our performers’ training,” Jones said. Students that get cast in the film project learn what is required to act on camera, expectations on a set, and other aspects of performing in film. The training complements the students work in theatrical productions, as well as audio work, which the students are exposed to while participating in the theatre program at Wichita State University.
The Rule of Three cast: WSU Theatre students—TJ Wade, Alice Cashman, Nora Dooley, Mirta Santana Morales, and Wesley Sweigart. Student directors: Julian Cornejo, Sang Le, and Ryan Reise.
Philosophy Department announces Distinguished Speaker Series
The Philosophy Department Distinguished Speaker Series will this year host Dr. Kathryn Tabb from Bard College, for two talks:
- "Reasoning with the Mad: on Charles Darwin's strange debt to John Locke." 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 22.
- "John Locke on punishment." 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 29.
Both events will be online, free, and open to the public. Email brian.hepburn@wichita.edu to request access information.
Celebrate Earth Day at Wichita State
On April 22, Wichita state is celebrating Earth Day both in-person and virtually. Stop by the community garden and make your own Earth Day t-shirt, listen to Laura Lapp, vice President of sustainability at Chartwells, and view student research projects and presentations.
Check out the full schedule of events
Meet with Shocker alumnus, Mike Sudermann
Entrepreneur, CEO, author, podcaster, and Wichita STate alumnus Mike Sudermann is offering an exclusive three-part career clinic series this month.
Sudermann is the founder and managing partner of ASCENT Select Talent Capital, a globally recognized executive search firm engaged in high-priority searches for start-up to Fortune 500 organizations.
Each of these clinics will be 30-40 minutes of teaching with 15 minutes for questions at the end of the presentation.
Register below for a clinic to boost to your future career.
- Five resume must-haves to land interviews: noon Tuesday, April 27. Register via Handshake.
- LinkedIn hacks to get discovered for jobs: noon Wednesday, April 28. Register via Handshake.
- Job Search GPS strategies: noon Thursday, April 29. Register via Handshake.
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.
Opera Theater to present free performances
Wichita State University Opera Theater, under the direction of Opera Director Alan Held, will present two one-act operas by Gian Carlo Menotti at 7:30 p.m. April 23-24 at Miller Auditorium inside of the Duerksen Fine Arts Center. The performances of "The Old Maid and the Thief" and "Amelia Goes to the Ball," with the Wichita State University Orchestra, will be conducted by Dr. Mark Laycock. The comedies are favorites of audiences and will be presented in English.
The performances are free, but tickets need to be reserved. Each performance is limited to 250 audience members.
Workshop preps students for interviews
The Shocker Career Accelerator invites students to join the Ace the Interview workshop, at 2:30 p.m. today in the RSC 142. Join this hands-on session to help you understand what to do before, during, and after an interview and gain an understanding of how to best answer typical interview questions!
Round off Wellness Week with Self-Care Sunday
While diamonds form under pressure, bread rises when it rests. Be sure to take time to take care of yourself this semester and allow yourself time to relax and rebuild. This month, round off your Wellness Week with Self-Care Sunday!
Join us at 1 p.m. Sunday, Apr. 25 from Making Mandalas, a calming and mindful art activity, to decompress and recenter yourself for the week ahead. This event will take place both in-person in Hubbard 208 and virtually.
Learn more about Making Mandalas
Shocker yoga with Graduate Student Council
End Wellness Week with some outdoor yoga, led by the amazing Rex Hafenstine! Find us at the outdoor tennis courts in between the Heskett Center and the softball field at 4 p.m. Friday, April 23.
For questions, contact Amy at aebauman@shockers.wichita.edu.
Holmes Museum exhibition opening
The spring 2021 Museum Exhibition class is hosting an exhibits opening from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday, April 26 at the Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology on the first floor of Neff Hall. The opening will also include exhibits from the spring 2020 Museum Exhibition class.
Workshop helps students build resumes
Join the Shocker Career Accelerator for the Resume Building Lab at 3 p.m. April 22 via Zoom. The resume is a crucial document in the job search process. Whether you are applying for a part- or full-time position, on-campus employment, co-op or internship, graduate school admissions, research, fellowship, scholarships, or volunteer experience, you will need to develop and maintain a professional document to apply for these opportunities. Join this hands-on workshop to help you understand what information is required and the elements of a professional resume to pursue the perfect opportunity for your skillset.
Sign up for the Resume Lab workshop
Green Group hosts shirt-making Earth Day event
Come join fellow shockers and community members in the Green Group earth day event at the community garden on the east side of Ahlberg Hall. Upcycle t-shirts with custom stamps, help us fill the garden with seeds for the season, and meet great people outside in the Wichita sun. We encourage you to bring friends and keep COVID-19 guidelines in mind. In the event of bad weather, meet in RSC room 265.
Wichita State softball Family Day
Wichita State Softball will be hosting Family Day at noon Sunday, April 25 at WSU's Wilkins Stadium. Sponsored by The Wichita Eagle, purchase includes four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas, and four bags of popcorn for only $32. Come support the Shockers as they take on conference opponent USF for tons of family fun.
Holmes Museum director sheds light on African artifacts featured in exhibition
The Ulrich Museum of Art's current exhibition, "Renée Stout: Ghosts," draws much of its inspiration from the art and traditions of both Africa and African diasporas. At 10:30 a.m. today, Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology director Rachelle Meinecke will talk about the six objects from the Yoruba culture of present-day Nigeria that the Lowell Museum is sharing with the Ulrich to give audiences important context for Stout's compelling work.
The Yoruba culture had a great influence on Black diasporic culture in the Americas and Yoruba art is particularly well-represented in the Holmes collection. Meinecke will talk about the objects included in the exhibition as well as other African objects in the Holmes Museum.
"Renée Stout: Ghosts" is on display at the Ulrich Museum of Art on the Wichita State University campus through May 8. Admission is always free; open 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Saturday. Closed Sundays and university and major holidays.
This Ulrich Virtual Senior Wednesday program is free and open to all, but you must register to get the Zoom link.
Learn about oSTEM for LGBTQ+ people in STEM
Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM), Inc. is a non-profit professional association for LGBTQ+ people in the STEM community. With more than 100 student chapters at colleges and universities and professional chapters in cities across the United States and abroad, oSTEM is the largest chapter-based organization focused on LGBTQ+ people in STEM.
Join the Engineering Student Success Center and representatives from the national oSTEM organization and the K-State chapter at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 28th for a virtual informational session to learn more about oSTEM. Students interested in starting an oSTEM chapter at Wichita State will be able to learn more about the organization and the process for starting a chapter.
For questions, contact Jason Bosch at jason.bosch@wichita.edu.
Doctoral student needs participants for hearing research
A doctoral student in communication sciences and disorders is conducting a study on comparison of an existing and a newly developed clinical technique for evaluating function of the middle ear. Participants must be between the ages of 18 and 35, have normal hearing, have not had an ear infection in the past three months, nor had a cold or flu in the past two weeks. Participants will receive a no-cost comprehensive hearing evaluation and ear examination prior to testing. The testing will take about one hour in Room 106 Hubbard Hall. We have implemented a virus protection plan following university guidelines. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kara Barrus at 316-650-5329, or Dr. Xiao-Ming Sun at Xiao-Ming.Sun@wichita.edu.
JCPenney Suit-Up event is online this spring
From April 28 through May 2, shop online at JCPenney and take an extra 30% off select men's and women's career dress apparel, shoes and accessories. Register to receive your coupon.
- Check out the newest seasonal items like career dress apparel, fashion jewelry, handbags and luggage.
- Turn up the style with locks of savings. New clients get 20% off salon services with a designer or senior designer.
- Receive a free beauty consultation in-store at Sephora.
Down load the JCPenny mobile app ahead of time and start earning $10 rewards!