Author: Caelin Bragg

Shocker softball will face South Florida in an upcoming series starting Friday, March 31 in Wilkins Stadium.

The dates and times for each game:

• 6 p.m. Friday, March 31.
• 2 p.m. Saturday, April 1.
• Noon Sunday, April 2.

Students also receive admission to all home games with a Shocker ID.

Student Health Services (SHS) is co-sponsoring Prescription Drug Take Back Day with the University Police Department (UPD).

The campus community can drop off any unused or expired medications throughout the month of April at SHS in the Student Wellness Center. Its regular office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

This national service is part of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s program to help prevent drug misuse or abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Before bringing an item, remember to bring the unused or expired medications in prescription bottles or a clear, sealed bag. Also, remove labels from the bottles or cover up personal health information, such as name, address and health insurance information.

For questions, contact SHS at 316-978-4792 or UPD at 316-978-3450.

Students have the opportunity to cast their vote for the next officials of the Wichita State Student Government Association (SGA) from Monday, April 3 to Wednesday, April 5.

SGA is the sole governing body over all students of WSU. Embracing its motto, “Students Come First,” SGA serves as the voice of students to the university and college administration, manages the allocation of over $10.5 million dollars and represents all students at the local, state and federal government levels.

Voting can be done online via Simply Voting or in person at one of the polling stations.

Contact SGA at 316-978-3480 or at sga@wichita.edu.

Wichita State’s Staff Senate is hosting a walking tour of the university’s Innovation Campus partner NetApp beginning at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday April 11. The group will be led by Katie Dawes with NetApp.

The tour will focus on NetApp’s new building features and the work within. After the tour, participants are encouraged to stop by the Food Truck Plaza on Perimeter road.

On the day of the tour, plan to arrive 15-20 minutes early for registration on NetApp’s system. This just requires the name, phone number and email address for everyone on the tour. Everyone will also sign an NDA during registration. Though the process itself is fairly quick and easy, with a large group it can take a time to get through.

The annual Student Activities Council (SAC) drag show is back and bigger than ever. Join the SAC, Spectrum: LGBTQ & Allies, and Office of Diversity & Inclusion at 8 p.m. Friday, March 31 at the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex, 5015 E. 29th St. N., for a lineup of student, regional and national talent, including the headliner A’keria Davenport. 

A’keria is the 2022 Miss Epitome title holder, 2017-18 holder of the “Miss Black Universe,” and one of the season 11 contestants of RuPaul’s Drag Race, where she placed third. 

The following are the ticket rates for the show:

• $5 for WSU students with a Shocker ID.
• $8 for WSU faculty and staff.
• $10 for the general public.

For any questions, email sac@wichita.edu or call 316-978-3022.

Join the Ulrich Museum of Art at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 4 in the Beren Gallery for a presentation from April Vollmer titled, “Looking Forward-The continuing relevance of Japanese printmaking.”

Vollmer’s presentation is a short overview of the Japanese “mokuhanga” printing technique and its history. She will connect it with contemporary use and use in her own art, with an emphasis on how the work is made. She will speak about how learning this flexible technique has affected her as an artist, and has inspired a community of creative artists who now keep in touch with exhibitions and triennial conferences. A reception will be held starting at 5:30 p.m.

In February 1986, a congressional resolution declared that Saturday, Feb. 28, 1986, should be designated as “National TRIO Day” to commemorate the annual achievement of the federal TRIO programs in communities across the country.

With a long history of 50 years, and an impressive portfolio of 10 TRIO programs, the Office of Special Programs (OSP) marked the whole month of February for celebrating the accomplishments of TRIO and GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) at Wichita State and the larger community.

The 10 programs offered by OSP:

• The Communication Upward Bound
• Talent Search and Talents Search South
• Upward Bound Wichita Prep
• Upward Bound Math Science
• Disability Support Services
• Student Support Services
• McNair Scholars Program
• Educational Opportunity Centers
• Veterans Upward Bound
• Partnership GEAR UP program and the state-wide Kansas Kids @ GEAR UP program

The TRIO and GEAR UP programs at WSU primarily serve first-generation and low-income students primarily in Wichita Public schools and state-wide school districts. The programs cover students from middle school through high school and college.

Under the leadership of Deltha Colvin, associate vice president of college readiness and retention programs, and the WSU program administrators, the OSP has celebrated in several ways, such as hosting workshops for students and teachers, student recognition banquets, College Access, Retention and Success conferences, and, since 2019, community services.

For 2022-23, the OSP program highlights have included several community service opportunities for the students. The Talent Search programs have decided to continue spreading reading and literacy by participating in the community library program in the Wichita neighborhoods. Participants of the Educational Opportunity Centers program along with the Upward Bound Wichita Prep program staff and students have actively participated in the Operation Holiday program, through which needy families receive assistance. The Veterans Upward Bound program participants have celebrated the TRIO cause by volunteering at the Lord’s Diner during 2022.

The Haysville GEAR UP program organized a National TRIO/GEAR UP Day on November 11, 2022. About 306 students participated. The event consisted of presentations by WSU offices such as admissions and financial aid. Activities included a campus tour, college resource fair and TRIO workshops.

The Student Support Services program has used this celebration to promote social justice, diversity, and equity through retention through various student activities.

For more information, contact Colvin at deltha.colvin@wichita.edu.

Faculty and staff at Wichita State University are required to complete mandatory training on preventing harassment and discrimination. The deadline has been extended to Friday, April 7.

You can access the training two ways:

• Go to myWSU under the Faculty/Staff tab, scroll down to “Employee Required Training” and click on Preventing Harassment and Discrimination Training.
• Open the email with subject line Vector LMS, Higher Education Edition Online Training, which was sent to all faculty/staff email addresses. Note: The email might say April 27 is the deadline, but April 7 is the correct deadline.

If you have not completed the training, it is very important that you do so. If you have already taken the training this academic year and see your name on a list that says you haven’t completed it, please disregard. If you have any questions regarding the status of your training completion, contact Courtney McHenry at courtney.mchenry@wichita.edu.

This prevention training, which is led through WSU’s Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, is not only important in making our campus a welcoming and equitable environment, but it’s also important for Title IX compliance. If you have completed your training, thank you for helping us make real progress in making our campus safe, inclusive and equitable.

University supervisors should follow up with their employees to ensure that they are completing the training by the deadline. Supervisors are expected to work with employees needing accommodations or extensions as necessary.

It’s that time of year again to vote for a new or returning restaurant in the Rhatigan Student Center through Student Choice Voting. WSU Dining will have open voting through Wednesday, April 12.

The campus community can vote now or visit the Powerful event at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 4 at Shocker Dining to try samples from each restaurant option.

The McNair Scholars program is accepting applications for 2023-24 academic year. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, March 31. McNair assists students who are underrepresented in higher education prepare for graduate study.

A few of the benefits and services students can receive with McNair are graduate school preparation, faculty mentorship, research experience, application fee waivers, spring semester campus visits, Individualized counseling and personal support for graduate school preparation, and participation is available to students at no charge, as the program is entirely federally funded.

Call 316-978-3139 or email mcnairscholars@wichita.edu to receive more information.