Shocker Blast: Monday, Sept. 11, 2023

Events

Military and Veteran Services encourages everyone in remembering 9/11

Wichita State’s Military and Veteran Services encourages everyone to take time today to pause for a moment of silence in honor of those who sacrificed so much, who inspired a multitude to service, and who strengthened the spirit of unity as a nation, and will have a banner in 105 Grace Wilke Hall that members of the community can sign acknowledging that they will not forget. The center will be open all day.

Each year on the anniversary of 9/11, the families of victims gather for a ceremony on the 9/11 Memorial Plaza to read aloud the names of the 2,983 men, women and children killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and Feb. 26, 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Six moments of silence mark the times when each of the World Trade Center towers was struck, when each tower fell, and the times corresponding to the attack at the Pentagon, and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.

Community invited to attend Wichita State’s Shocktoberfest Parade

Wichita State is holding a parade next month and is inviting anyone in the community to join in.

Starting at 6 p.m. Oct. 6 on the WSU campus, the parade is part of the university’s annual Shocktoberfest celebration.

The parade will launch just east of the John Bardo Center on WSU’s Innovation Campus and will end at Braeburn Square. Immediately after the parade, the Shocktoberfest Patio Party will be held in Braeburn Square, and all are invited to attend.

Parade winners will be announced at the Patio Party, which will include live music from The Source, giveaways and special offers from Braeburn Square restaurants. Bring your own chair or grab a spot on the patio for this casual and fun-filled gathering.

The parade and party are hosted by WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement and the Division of Student Affairs. 

Anyone with questions can contact Amber Duncan at 316-978-5483 or amber.duncan@wichita.edu; or Stacie Williamson at 316-978-3834 or stacie.williamson@wichita.edu.

Learn more about Shocktoberfest

Discounts and freebies at the RSC Open House

Join the Rhatigan Student Center for a day of discounts and freebies during the RSC Open House, happening all day Tuesday, Sept. 12 in the RSC.

Students, faculty, staff and campus affiliates/partners can enjoy deals and freebies from RSC’s departments. Attendees must show a Shocker ID.

View the full list of promotions

Join Shocker Gaming Club for Mortal Kombat 1 tournament

The Shocker Gaming Club is hosting a Mortal Kombat 1 tournament in light of the new game’s release and invites everyone to come try their luck and win prizes.

First place wins a copy of Mortal Kombat 1 and a $50 gift card.
Second place wins a Mortal Kombat poster and a $15 gift card.
Third place wins a Mortal Kombat mug

The tournament fee is $3 and will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20 at the E-Sports Hub in the Heskett Center.

Shocker Gaming Club thanks the Wichita Melee and fighting game community.

Reach out to the Shocker Gaming Club for more information and for its Discord at esportsclub@wichita.edu, and follow the organization on Instagram and Facebook.

Students can improve productivity and time management skills at workshop

The Graduate School invites all students to learn about time management methods, strategies on how to prioritize and organize tasks, and how to set and achieve professional goals.

Join Sonia Hall, BioKansas president and CEO, for the workshop from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 in 142 Rhatigan Student Center, Harvest Room. This event is open to all WSU students at no additional charge, but space is limited.

NSF’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program hosting sessions for graduates, seniors

The National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP) is one of the most prestigious programs to recognize and support outstanding graduate students. Two separate sessions will be offered: one for first-year graduate students and a second one for undergraduate seniors.

The Graduate School is hosting a session for first-year domestic graduate students in a STEM discipline who are pursuing a research-based master’s or doctoral degree from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14 in 405 Jardine Hall.

The McNair Scholar program is offering a separate session for undergraduate seniors about the NSF-GRFP program and also the Goldwater Scholarship at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 15 in 142 Rhatigan Student Center. RSVP for the event at 316-978-3139 or mcnairscholars@wichita.edu.

During both events, Dr. Coleen Pugh, Graduate School dean and AVP of research will help students craft a competitive application for the NSF-GRFP.

The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support including an annual stipend for the school and a cost of education allowance for the institution.

‘Yellowface’ is KMUW’s September Literary Feast book pick

KMUW’s monthly book club, Literary Feast, features selections made by its staff. For September, KMUW is reading “Yellowface” by R.F. Kuang.

Participants will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 at KMUW for a group discussion over dinner and drinks. Dinner is provided by Public, and guests are invited to bring a beverage to share with the group.

Purchase a ticket to the event

News

Visit the Lowell Holmes Museum of Anthropology on campus

The Lowell Holmes Museum of Anthropology in Neff Hall is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or by appointment.

The museum houses unique cultural artifacts from all over the world. If you would like to schedule a tour, contact Rachelle Meinecke at 316-978-7068 or at holmes.museum@wichita.edu.

Important info on student loan interest and payments

Attention borrowers. Interest on student loans resume Sept. 1, with the first payment due in October. Loan servicers will send the bill at least 21 days prior to the due date.

However, those currently enrolled at least half time will have their loans be in an in-school deferment. While no payments will be required during in-school deferments, interest will begin accruing on unsubsidized loans. Contact your lender for further information.

Be mindful of scammers and visit the Federal Student Aid website to find your lender’s contact information, review your loan balance and view repayment options. Students never have to pay for help with repayment and should never reveal personal information or account password to anyone.

Student Wellness Center will be available 1-5 p.m. Sept. 15

The Student Wellness Center (housing Student Health, CAPS and HOPE Services) will have altered hours Friday, Sept. 15 and will be available from 1 to 5 p.m.

For assistance with any of the services, visit their websites:

Daily study rooms available in the RSC

Did you know the Rhatigan Student Center offers a daily study room for students? Each day, the RSC designates an open meeting room as the official study room of the day.

The room will be unlocked and open to students to come and go as they please to study all day. The rooms are supposed to be a quiet, shared space. Check out the RSC’s Instagram stories daily to find out which room is the study room.

Students invited to join Shockers Vote coalition and help plan voter engagement initiatives

The Shockers Vote Coalition is seeking students to join and help plan election initiatives and events. The coalition’s next meeting will be from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 in 216 Rhatigan Student Center.

Bring your lunch and stop by to learn about the ways you can help plan civic engagement initiatives on campus. The coalition’s meetings and activities are nonpartisan, and everyone is welcome to attend. For questions, email, Loren Belew at loren.belew@wichita.edu.

Mental Health

Third step to be a Suspenders4Hope mental health advocate

Step three for students to become Suspenders4Hope mental health advocates is for them to share their stories, like Alison has for fellow students, and be visible, vocal and vulnerable.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) will feature one step a day for the following two weeks on how to be a mental health advocate. Stay tuned for the next steps.

Learn more about Suspenders4Hope

CAPS to host fall 2023 group therapy

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides a variety of group counseling services to students in multiple areas of focus and concern.

Read more of CAPS to host fall 2023 group therapy

Learn more about CAPS

Presentations and Talks

Biological sciences seminar series continues with Dr. Tatsuya Yamada

The Department of Biological Sciences’ fall 2023 seminar series continues Monday, Sept. 11, with Dr. Tatsuya Yamada, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, with his talk, “Mitochondrial Size versus Dynamics – Which came first: the Chicken or the Egg?”.

The seminar is held from 4 to 5 p.m. in 218 Hubbard Hall. Seminars are open to the public and undergraduates are encouraged to attend.

Learn more about biological sciences

Latasha St. Arnault will talk social justice at the Ulrich

Join the Ulrich Museum for a talk from LaTasha St. Arnault at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12 in the Beren Gallery of the Ulrich.

The talk, “Social Justice in Our Community,” is presented in conjunction with the exhibition, “Lesley Dill | Wilderness: Light Sizzles Around Me,” on display in the Polk/Wilson Gallery from Aug, 5 through Dec. 2.

LaTasha St. Arnault is the president and CEO of HumanKind Ministries, a homeless services and housing provider that serves more than 15,000 people experiencing poverty and housing insecurities in Sedgwick County each year.

Physics seminar series features Rodolfo Capdevilla, Fermi National Accelerator Lab, Sept. 13

Join the Department of Physics for its first physics seminar of the fall semester at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13 in 226 Jabara Hall and via Zoom.

The seminar features Rodolfo Capdevilla from Fermi National Accelerator Lab, titled “The Muon g-2 Puzzle and Implications for a Muon Beam Program.”

Learn more and find the Zoom link

Mathematics lecture series presents Dr. Keiko Kawamuro, University of Iowa

Join the Department of Mathematics and Statistics for a public lecture by Dr. Keiko Kawamuro from the University of Iowa.

The lecture, titled “Diagrammatic left canonical form of braids and applications,” will take place at 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15 in 372 Jabara Hall. Refreshments will be available at 2:30 p.m. in 353 Jabara Hall.

Find the abstract of the lecture

Volunteer Opportunities

Register to volunteer for the 2023 Wu’s Big Event

Join the Community Service Board for its largest one day volunteer event. Work with your fellow Shockers for a morning of volunteering throughout the community Oct. 7.

Individuals, groups, organizations, students, staff and faculty are all invited to attend. The kick-off will begin in 208 Hubbard Hall at 9 a.m., check-in is from 8:30 to 8:50 a.m., with a breakfast and kick-off celebration. Participants will then load the buses and be at a service site by 10 a.m. Volunteers will work until noon and return to Hubbard Hall for lunch and closing festivities. The event will end by 1:30 p.m.

Volunteers requested for research study on SWAY mobile app

Participants are needed to assess the accuracy of the balance, reaction time and cognitive assessment modules of the SWAY mobile application. Balance, reaction time, and cognitive function will be tested using the SWAY application.

Participation will include three separate sessions placed one week (seven to 10 days) apart at the Human Performance Laboratory, 210 Heskett Center. Each weekly session is expected to last about 30-45 minutes.

Inclusion/exclusion criteria:

Participants must be age 18 or older
No known muscular disorders
No known neurological or ADHD disorders
No known orthopedic disorder
No uncorrected vision

Those interested in volunteering to participate in the study should schedule online or contact Justin Burma at jtburman@shockers.wichita.edu or Jose Miranda at jmmiranda1@shockers.wichita.edu.

For any questions or concerns, email Dr. Heidi Bell at heidi.bell@wichita.edu or 316-978-5150.

KMUW is looking for volunteers for its fall pledge drive

Here’s a chance to be an indispensable part of the KMUW team. KMUW is looking for volunteers for its fall pledge drive, Sept. 19-22. Volunteers will work alongside KMUW staff and other public radio fans to help take donations, and all meals are provided.