Category: University Life

Hear from our International Buddy Program participants about their experiences in the program. Featured is Nicole Bloomquist, who was paired with exchange students from Paraguay and Spain. Visit www.wichita.edu/studyabroadspotlights to read more about her experience and others.

Participate in the newly established Wichita State Business Club Internationale 4-5 p.m. Thursday May 12 at 264 Rhatigan Student Center. During the meeting, the club will decide vote on their executive council. The club has been established to help students learn more about American culture, to help students who have an interest in business meet one another, to make new friends, to learn to run a business, and show how diversity impacts our interaction with our peers. 

For more information, contact Michelle Bastian, at mnbastian@shockers.wichita.edu.

Wichita State’s Student Ambassador Society (SAS) is accepting applications for the 2022-2023 academic year. SAS is supported by the Office of Admissions. SAS is a community of selfless, hardworking, and involved students from all areas of campus who seek to give back to our university through service to others.

Applications will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. April 1. For more information about SAS or SAS applications, contact the SAS VP of Selections at sasvpselections@wichita.edu.

Wichita State’s Student Involvement is now Student Engagement, Advocacy & Leadership (SEAL). SEAL will facilitate an engaged campus culture where students are empowered to maximize their potential by creating opportunities for personal growth and real world-readiness. Please help students be aware of this change.

Like Student Involvement, SEAL will be committed to providing opportunities for students to engage in co-curricular and extracurricular experiences that enhance their collegiate experience at Wichita State. SEAL will also work directly with civic engagement, fraternity and sorority life, leadership, national student exchange and student organizations while providing administrative support to the Student Government Association.

For more information, contact 316-978-3022 or seal@wichita.edu.

Have you considered joining Greek life? The Wichita alumnae chapter of Kappa Delta Chi Sorority is accepting applications until Jan. 18.

To learn more about the Kappa Delta Sorority, join an informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 14 or at 4 p.m. Jan. 16 via Zoom. For more information, contact wichita@kappadeltachi.org.

Wichita State’s Student Involvement is now Student Engagement, Advocacy & Leadership (SEAL). SEAL will facilitate an engaged campus culture where students are empowered to maximize their potential by creating opportunities for personal growth and real world-readiness.

Like Student Involvement, SEAL will be committed to providing opportunities for students to engage in co-curricular and extracurricular experiences that enhance their collegiate experience at Wichita State. SEAL will also work directly with civic engagement, fraternity and sorority life, leadership, national student exchange and student organizations while providing administrative support to the Student Government Association.

For more information, contact 316-978-3022 or seal@wichita.edu.

As we head into another election year, the Shockers Vote Coalition invites students, faculty and staff to join Wichita State’s Shockers Vote campaign. The coalition helps plan voter registration drives, deliberate dialogue initiatives and other events together for the upcoming election cycle. All events are nonpartisan and everyone is welcome to join and to participate.

For more information or to join the coalition, contact 316-978-3022 or getinvolved@wichita.edu.

This semester has been trying for so many, but we made it. Many thanks to President Muma, WSU administration, faculty and staff — and last but far from least — our students for making this fall one for the record books.

We in the African American Faculty and Staff Association (AAFSA) would like to wish you the happiest of holidays! May your celebration or simply rest and relaxation be accompanied with meaningful friends and family.

I’d also like to take a moment to show our appreciation for this year’s AAFSA scholarship recipients:

1. Tamia Trotter (nursing)
2. Breasia Williams (strategic communication)
3. Brandon Griffith (computer engineering and entrepreneurship)
4. Destanee Brigman-Reed (nursing, public health and communication)

Halloween can be a night for people to celebrate and have fun, but that is not the case for everyone. Many college students are currently brainstorming what, or who, they will be for the night. While some people do not intend to wear something offensive, certain costumes can invoke stereotypes that lead to racism, discrimination, and in some cases an increase in violence in those communities.

Whether the harm is intended or not, the result is the same and minoritized communities experience heightened anxiety and tension as they experience these stereotypes. It is important to understand how some costumes are offensive to others and their respective heritage and culture.

One of the main areas of concern is cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation is “the act of adopting elements of an outside, often minority culture, including knowledge, practices, and symbols, without understanding or respecting the original culture and context.” As you decide what, or who you will be this Halloween, take the necessary steps to make certain you will not appropriate someone’s culture.

Remember: A culture is not a costume.

The Shocker Chess club is looking to ramp up its activities for this academic year after a hiatus last year. If you are interested in joining this student organization, please send an email to the club’s faculty advisor Vinod Namboodiri at Vinod.Namboodiri@wichita.edu. The club plans to conduct games both in-person and online and build a community around this royal game.