Author: Caelin Bragg

The art of looking convincing in a sword fight or brawl is crucial to stage and screen. Punches don’t hit flesh and knives lay flat against the victim.

The audience must believe it is real and dangerous.

“When I tell them I can kill the six inches around them, they definitely give me some interesting looks,” said Emily Redfield, a Wichita State University theater performance major.

In July, WSU seniors Redfield and Cat Kee attended the National Stage Combat Workshop in Ruston, Louisiana. The three-week course offered instruction, testing and certification with weapons such as swords, shields, firearms, rapiers, daggers and quarterstaffs.

Shockers can hear directly from Wichita State leaders at a town hall from 3 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 in 233 Rhatigan Student Center, Santa Fe Trail Room. President Rick Muma; Provost Shirley Lefever; Teri Hall, vice president of Student Affairs; SGA President Iris Okere; and Student Body Vice President Sophie Martins will lead the town hall and answer questions from Shockers.

The town hall is presented by the Student Government Association (SGA), and the town hall will also be available to watch on the SGA YouTube channel.

The Association of University Research Parks (AURP) has awarded Wichita State’s Innovation Campus with the 2023 Emerging Research Park Award at its annual international conference held this week.

Each year AURP recognizes a research park or innovation district that, within 10 years, has created an exceptional ecosystem which brings technology from inception to market, creates high-paying jobs, and contributes to the economic health of its region.

In 2012, WSU had a bold vision of what the Innovation Campus could be. And now — as the Innovation Campus nears its 10th anniversary — an underutilized area of campus has been transformed into 120 acres of state-of-the-art research facilities, collaborative partnerships and educational opportunities with more than 50 partner businesses to date.

All benefits-eligible state employees must participate in open enrollment. Log in to the Member Administration Portal to make your elections.

Events occurring this week:

• Online open enrollment presentation from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19. Registration is not required.

Take advantage of the scheduled virtual and in-person presentations, as well as on-demand options. To add meeting reminders to your calendar or for additional information, visit the Open Enrollment website. Any questions should be directed to TotalRewards@wichita.edu.

The College of Engineering is searching for a new associate dean for research and invites the campus community to attend presentations from each of the candidates sharing their vision for the future of the college:

• Dr. Bayram Yildrim, professor of industrial, systems and manufacturing engineering – 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17 in 123 Wallace Hall
• Dr. Ramazan Asmatulu, the Boeing Global Professor of mechanical engineering – 2-3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18 in A131 Partnership Building 2
• Dr. Anil Mahapatro, chairperson and professor of biomedical engineering – 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18 in A131 Partnership Building 2

All benefits-eligible state employees must participate in open enrollment. Log in to the Member Administration Portal to make your elections.

Upcoming events:

• Online open enrollment presentation from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19. Registration is not required.

Take advantage of the scheduled virtual and in-person presentations, as well as on-demand options. To add meeting reminders to your calendar or for additional information, visit the Open Enrollment website. Any questions should be directed to TotalRewards@wichita.edu.

The Wichita State University Police Department (WSU PD) invites students, faculty, staff and Innovation Campus partners to join a conversation with its department members from 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Nov. 8 in the Rhatigan Student Center foyer.

WSU PD officers, dispatchers and Parking Services personnel will be available to speak with members of the campus community about the department, campus safety or a variety of other topics. Donuts will also be provided to attendees courtesy of WSU PD and Parking Services.

Jeremy Kohn, ChFC, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) financial consultant, will be available at Wichita State on Tuesday, Oct. 17 and Wednesday, Oct. 18 for in-person KBOR retirement plan consultation meetings.

Kohn can help individuals confirm they are on track for enough income at retirement and provide specific investment recommendations at a fiduciary level of care for their TIAA funds.

To schedule a meeting with Jeremy, visit the TIAA website, login and follow the prompts to schedule an in-person meeting at WSU. Call the TIAA scheduling team at 800-732-8353 for assistance in scheduling a meeting.

Shockers, unlock your academic potential with the powerful IBISWorld Database, available at no additional charge to all WSU students.

Utilize IBISWorld:

• Comprehensive coverage: Access industry intelligence covering 98% of the U.S. economy relevant to your field of study
• Business breakdown: Covering topics in business administration, the arts, education, engineering, health professions, manufacturing, retail and more.
• In-depth insights: Get trends, statistics and market analysis at your fingertips.
• Effective utilization: Perfect for researching startup business ideas, supply chains, economic forecasts and career plans. 
• Career boost: Elevate your academic journey and enhance your career prospects.

For additional help with the database tailored for your studies, contact Meghann Kuhlmann, business librarian, at meghann.kuhlmann@wichita.edu for expert help.

University Libraries are excited to introduce an invaluable resource that can significantly enhance your students’ academic experience: the IBISWorld database. This powerful tool is available at no additional charge to all students, faculty and staff at Wichita State. WSU Libraries encourages faculty and staff to share this resource with students.

Students can utilize IBISWorld for a variety of opportunities:

• Comprehensive coverage: Access industry intelligence covering 98% of the U.S. economy relevant to your field of study
• Business breakdown: Covering topics in business administration, the arts, education, engineering, health professions, manufacturing, retail and more.
• In-depth insights: Get trends, statistics and market analysis at your fingertips.
• Effective utilization: Perfect for researching startup business ideas, supply chains, economic forecasts and career plans. 
• Career boost: Elevate their academic journey and enhance their career prospects.

For additional help with the database, contact Meghann Kuhlmann, business librarian, at meghann.kuhlmann@wichita.edu for expert help.