the reviewwashburn university
Faculty senate votes, success week advances A transfer made in cyber heaven
Angel platform receives praise
Washburn University is one step closer to having a Success Week.
Amidst heavy debate Monday afternoon, the proposal to make Success Week a university policy passed under secret vote by the faculty senate by a vote of 17-5, with one vote abstained. The proposal must be presented before general faculty early next semester, however, before it can be passed as policy.
The proposal was met with some trepidation by faculty from the fine arts areas of study, and concerns about the Success Week affecting end of year concerts, exhibits and performances were addressed. At one point, music department chair Ann Marie Snook said the new policy would be “crippling” to the music department. Section C of the proposal, however, states that such fears are unsubstantiated.
“Section C. If major course assignments must be given during Suc-
cess Week, they should be due no later than the Wednesday of Success Week. Exceptions include class presentations by students and semester-long projects such as a project assignment in lieu of a final. Participation and attendance grades are acceptable.”
As part of the policy, which WSGA president Garrett Love said was inspired by the University of South Florida’s dead week policy, professors may also petition to the department chair if they feel the policy infringes on their ability to effectively teach.
There were also some amendments made to the proposal during the meeting. The first was a proposed removal of two paragraphs from the policy, which Love accepted as a friendly amendment, meaning it did not have to go before a vote. The following is the removed excerpt.
“Instructors are to be reminded that the majority of students are enrolled in multiple courses in the semester, and widespread violation of this faculty handbook policy can
cause the workload of students to be excessive as the students begin preparing for their finals examinations.”
Students should be reminded that their primary reason for attending college should be their curriculum and students have the responsibility of studying throughout the entire semester.
The second amendment was made to a paragraph concerning student organizations scheduling meetings during Success Week. In the proposal, it states no student organization registered with the Student Activities and Greek Life Office may hold meetings or sponsor events without the expressed permission of designated staff of SAGL. The amendment also gives the department chair or dean of the organization’s department the power to allow meet ings or events to that organization.
Josh Rouse is a junior mass media major. Reach him at joshua.rouse@washburn.
Seniors visit Washburn
Lauren Eckert WASHBURN REVIEW
More than 125 high school seniors filtered through the Memorial Union with their parents and guests Friday, Nov. 13 to check in for the second Senior Day held this semester.
Kasey Strube, a senior at Jackson Heights High School said that overall, he was very impressed with how the day was set up.
“It has been a really positive experience so far, and I am really impressed with the University and all the people who have been involved today,” Strube said.
Strube, like many of the other seniors in attendance, is considering attending Washburn University next fall, but has not yet made a firm decision.
“I’m still checking things out,” said Strube. “But getting to know
some of the faculty and different programs that are offered here definitely makes me consider Washburn.”
After registration at 8 a.m. and a short welcome 30 minutes later, the students were walked through the general admissions process, followed by a presentation on scholarship information. The students were then broken into small groups to attend concurrent sessions, where they could attend a real class, get information on financial aid, learn about getting involved on campus, or receive information about living on campus.
Students and their parents and guests then went their separate ways, as parents explored some of the academic expectations, and students headed off to various departments that they were potentially interested in.
Destiny Lemmon, a high school senior from Marais des Cygnes Valley High School in Osage County appreciated how the day was organized and
how it allowed her to get more information on the Social Work program, the department that she and eight other students were interested in for their major.
“I think it was really good for us to learn about the program and speak with an actual professor in the department to see if that’s actually what we want to do,” Lemmon said. “Everything that we have done today has been very informative and necessary.”
Attendees finished off the day with an information fair, with representatives from 12 different programs and services, lunch, and a tour of campus.
Overall, feedback from those in attendance was positive, claiming that Senior Day was both interesting and informative.
Online courses are a big deal at Washburn University.
Of the 6,652 students announced by Washburn University as the total enrollment in the fall 2009 semester, 3,610 of those are enrolled in at least one online course. Type those numbers into a calculator and the results are a bit mind boggling, 54 percent of Washburn students have taken at least some portion of their learning to the Internet. Perhaps even more incredible is the fact that many of those students signed into Washburn’s new online course management system, the Angel Learning Management Suite, for the first time this semester. That’s because last Spring Washburn made a decision to go shopping. Perhaps it would be better said that the University had to go shopping. The outdated WebCT, not updated at Washburn in several years, was being phased out by its new owner Black-
education coordinator at Washburn.
The eventual winner was Angel and in the January 2009 meeting of the Board of Regents, it was approved to license the product from Angel Learning, Inc. Murphy said that the contract goes through February 2012.
Unfortunately the purchase wasn’t cheap. The minutes from that 2009 meeting showed a motion passed to spend $117,700 on “the purchase and implementation of the Angel Learning Management System to include year one offsite hosting.”
54% of Washburn students have taken an online class.
Thankfully it would appear that money was well spent. With each online hour bringing with it an extra $57, the university should be able to recoup its expenditures fairly quickly. In fact, if even half of those 3,610 student accounts are filled by students taking a three hour class, the university’s coffers are more than $300,000 richer than if those same students had enrolled in traditional courses. However outside of the somewhat unexplained surcharge students
Eckert is a junior mass media major. Reach her at lauren.eckert@ washburn.edu.
Please
Josh Rouse WASHBURN REVIEW
Josh King WASHBURN REVIEW
Senior Day: Potential Washburn students take a tour around campus. Senior Day, held on Nov. 13, was a chance for local seniors to learn more about Washburn.
Photo by Matt Wilper, Washburn Review
Lauren
ampus Calendar
Thursday, November 19
Day of Transformation
Mabee Library
9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Thanksgiving Buffet Memorial Union, Washburn Room
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Student Success Skills Workshop, “Staying Healthy”
Mabee Library
3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Men’s Basketball Lee Arena
7 p.m.
Giving Tree Project
Military Care Package Drive
Friday, November 20
Ichabod Transfer Day
12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Artist Presentation, Patrick Dougherty
Garvey, Room 143
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Friday Night Live (Chi Alpha)
International House
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Steven Elisha Friends Concert
Garvey, White Concert Hall
7:30 p.m.
Play, “Medea” Andrew J. and Georgia
Neese Gray Theatre
8 p.m.
Washburn Debate Tournament
Saturday, November 21
WU Celebration of Cultures
Garvey, White Concert Hall
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Women’s Basketball Lee Arena
7 p.m.
Play, “Medea” Andrew J. and Georgia
Neese Gray Theatre
8 p.m.
Eye Ball Semi-Formal Dance Memorial Union, Washburn Room
8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Washburn Debate Tournament
Sunday, November 22
Play, “Medea” Andrew J. and Georgia
Neese Gray Theatre
2 p.m.
Washburn Debate Tournament
Monday, November 23
Men’s Basketball Lee Arena
7 p.m.
WU Symphony Orchestra Concert
Garvey, White Concert Hall
7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 24
Wheel of Washburn
Washburn Tech Conference Center
3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 25
Thanksgiving Student Recess
The Bod Beat
Sculptor, activity planned for Family/Community Day
TOPEKA – A talk by sculptor Patrick Dougherty and a hands-on activity for participants are scheduled for this week at the Mulvane Art Museum.
Artist Talk: Dougherty will present an Artist Talk about his sculptures, inspirations and use of materials at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in Room 143, Garvey Fine Arts Center.
Dougherty has spent this month designing and building, along with a crew of volunteers, a site specific sculpture on the campus of Washburn University, Topeka, Kansas, outside the Mulvane Art Museum. From Chapel Hill, N.C., he is internationally known for his unusual and dynamic sculptures built with tree saplings. During the past several decades he has built more than 250 sculptures throughout the world. His signature woven sculptures, waving, willowy, whimsical and windblown-looking, tower over or fold into buildings, trees, and other landscape elements.
More information about Dougherty and his work, may be found at www.stickwork.net.
Family/Community Day will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21. Participants can help build a largescale group installation in the Mulvane ArtLab using recycled materials andalso create a woven art object using natural materials.
This project is supported in part by the Kansas Arts Commission’s Kansas American Masterpieces grant program, Friends of the Mulvane Art Museum, Washburn University and Washburn’s Campus Beautification Committee. This project is also sponsored in part by AT&T, The Real Yellow Pages and YellowPages.com.
The Mulvane Art Museum is located on the campus of Washburn University at 17th & Jewell streets. Museum & ArtLab hours are Tuesday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.. Admission is rree. For more information, call 785-670-1124 or go to http://www.washburn.edu/mulvane or mulvane.info@washburn.edu.
-Press Release
WU and WU Tech receive grants
TOPEKA – Washburn University and Washburn Institute of Technology have received grants.
Rick LeJuerrne, regional director, Washburn Small Business Development Center, received $77,000 from the Kansas Department of CommerceSmall Business Administration for the operation of the the Center. Started in 1983, the Washburn University Small Business Development Center provides small business consulting services and training seminars to northeast Kansas entrepreneurs.
Richard Stephens and Paul Verhage, instructors at Washburn Institute of Technology, were awarded $44,785 through the Kansas Board of Regents (Carl D. Perkins Reserve Fund CTE 2009-2010) to purchase new equipment for the expansion of the industrial and electrical technology programs. The equipment will enable both programs to better train students to serve advanced manufacturing facilities in the northeast Kansas region that are currently installing technically-advanced and robotic equipment.
Monica Scheibmeir, dean of the School of Nursing, will receive a $26,874 contract from the Marian Clinic as a result of a Finding Solutions in Challenging Times grant award from the Sunflower Foundation. The School of Nursing will assist the staff of Marian Clinic to provide primary health care services
to patients twice a week for the length of the grant for the purposes of eas ing staff overload and providing a teaching and learning opportunity for nursing students. Marian Clinic is a non-profit medical and dental clinic founded in 1988 that serves the unin sured and under-insured populations in Topeka, Kan., and the surrounding areas
Richard Ellis, director of Learn ing In the Community: The Center for Community Service and Civic Engagement and professor in the human services department in the School of Applied Studies, received $25,000 from the Bonner Foundation for support of Washburn’s Bonner Leaders Program. Established in 2001, the Bonner Leaders Program provides scholarships to students will ing to commit 900 hours of service to the community over a period of two years.
Stephen Angel, associate profes sor and chairman of the chemistry department in the College of Arts and Sciences, was awarded $15,000 from the National Institute of Health, through the Kansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Program to purchase laboratory equipment and supplies to augment a prior K-INBRE grant of $25,000 for a UV-Vis Plate Reader.
Trick or Treat goes Greek
TOPEKA – On Oct. 26 the Washburn University Greek community sponsored their annual Trick or Treat for Canned Goods. This year more than 100 Greek members participated by trick or treating the community for 45 minutes and they collected more than 700 canned food items for Let’s Help.
participation award, with more than 30 members present. Washburn fraternities: Alpha Delta, Delta Chi, Phi Delta Theta and
President’s Press
-paid for by WSGA-
-Press Release
Ensemble to perform concert
TOPEKA - The Washburn wind and trumpet ensembles will join for a concert, “Collaborations,” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, in White Concert Hall, Washburn University. No admission is charged and the public is welcome.
The concert will feature the performance of “Angels in the Architecture” a new work for concert band and soprano soloist by American composer Frank Ticheli. Guest vocalist will be Ann Marie Snook, chairwoman of the music department.
Visual enhancements will add
a whimsical element for “Cartoon,” by Paul Hart. The program will also include “Sleep” by Eric Whitacre and “Selections from the Danseyre,” by Susato, which is based on 15th century Renaissance dance compositions and modernized for concert band.
Mark Norman is conductor of the wind ensemble. Michael Averett conducts the trumpet ensemble. For information, call 785-6701511.
-Press Release
Culture comes to campus
TOPEKA - Washburn University international students will share the music, fashion, dance, song and culture of their home countries at a Celebration of Cultures at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, in White Concert Hall. The public is welcome and a free-will donation will be accepted to support the Washburn International Club.
Students will present a program of: Afashion show exhibition of native dress Music: Honduran popurri folklorico and popurri catracho, Afri-
Don’t see your event in the calendar? Call the Review newsroom at 670-2506 to have your event included in an upcoming edition. It’s FREE.
For upcoming Washburn athletic events, go to www.wusports.com.
can ceremonial choruses, American fiddle tunes, Chinese folk songs, opera and qin (stringed instrument) Dance: Semi-classical and contemporary dance of India, music mix dance of Korea, Zi-Reigna tribal belly dance, and hip-hop tribute. The event is sponsored by the WU international programs department. For information, call 670-1051.
-Press Release
11/10/09 - Info. report, fire alarm, LLC, report taken, smoke detector tripped, hit by paper ball, alarm reset
11/11/09 - Info. report, notice to leave, Morgan Hall, report taken, notice to leave issued, no wants or warrants
11/11/09 - Info. report, pumpkin dropped down stairwell, LLC, report taken, video checked, possible suspect identified
Hello Washburn, Thanksgiving is almost here…
The semester is almost over... While for some, endings entail the deceleration of the body before it, the nearing of the end of this semester has only signified the opposite of this as everything has been getting very hectic for WSGA. This Monday brought a very exciting day for students as Faculty Senate passed the proposed Success Week policy. This means that this policy that would limit testing and major course assignments the week before finals aimed at improving student success at Washburn is now only one step away from becoming a reality for Washburn students. It will go up for a final vote before General Faculty in January.
This past Monday also began the start of a safer Washburn University with the inauguration of the Washburn Campus Watch program. President Farley, President of the Topeka Safe Streets Coalition Barry Feaker, and Chief of Police at WU Dean Forster helped us launch the program that will increase safety awareness on campus improve relationships between students and the Washburn University Police Department with the goal of
11/12/09 -Info. report, temporary restraining order, Morgan Hall, report taken, indicidual escorted to vehicle
11/12/09 - Info. report, suspicious activity, north side 1600 block of SW 21st St.
11/12/09 - Info. report, medical call, Washburn Institute of Technology, report taken, seizures, individual refused ambulance and hospital
helping Washburn become the safest campus in the country! This is a very attainable goal. We currently are at a good level when it comes to safety, together we need to make it great. Locking and taking valuables out of your vehicle and knowing the police department (785-6701153) wants to hear from you and work with you is a good start. Also, this Friday at 7:05 p.m. is Washburn Night at the Topeka Roadrunners game. We have less than 45 tickets remaining, so make sure to bring your student ID to the WSGA office (lower level of the Union) today and claim your free ticket before we run out. It should be a lot of fun, and you will also be able to pick up your free Ichabods/ Roadrunners t-shirt at the game. In other news, basketball season began this past week for the Ichabods and Lady Blues. Hope to see you at all the games. And Morgan Spurlock, the director and star of the film SuperSize Me, will be on campus December 3rd as part of the WSGA Lecture Series. It should be a very interesting event. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving! Go Bods!!!
Garrett Love President, WSGA
11/14/09 - Info. report, DUI, parking lot 11, report taken, car stop turned over to TPD
11/16/09 - Info. report, fire alarm, LLC, report taken, caused by burnt food, alarm reset
11/16/09 - Info. report, suspicious phone calls, Morgan Hall, report taken
Military Care Packages: Mary Cottrell shows off one of the drop-boxes for donations for the Military Care Package Drive. The drive was sponsored by WU OMEP.
Photo by Brian Allen, Washburn Review
Think Pink Tournament a success
Lauren Eckert WASHBURN REVIEW
The Washburn University Wellness Club partnered with the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority to host a Pink Volleyball tournament on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
Five teams entered the tournament, checking in for registration at 9:30 a.m. with registration sheets and a $30 team registration fee. All proceeds went to the Zeta Tau Alpha philanthropy for Breast Cancer Awareness.
The tournament was set up for pool play, where all five teams faced off. The teams were then ranked and awarded prizes according to the number of wins they accumulated throughout the morning.
Sports Association conference last year and got the idea when she heard about how other institutions used the tournament to raise money to support a cause.
...It was just really laid back and a fun way to spend a Saturday.
- Ethan Komp AMSA team member
“ ”
Megan Kirkhart, Secretary of the Wellness Club, was the primary organizer of the event, and enlisted the help of ZTA volunteers to help her run the tournament.
Kirkhart said the idea for the tournament came from Akaylah Hanzlicek, an SRWC employee and Vice President of Wellness Club, who attended a National Intramural Recreation and
“We thought it would be a great opportunity to work with the ZTA’s since their philanthropy was Breast Cancer Awareness.
“We wanted to take this event and use it to involve Washburn students and help make them aware of what they could do to support the cause,” said Kirkhart.
Ethan Komp, who played on the American Medical Student Association team, said he thought that all the participants had a great time.
“It was a lot of fun playing other student teams. It was just really laid back and a fun way to spend a Saturday,” Komp said.
In addition to the AMSA team, teams representing the Leadership Institute, members of the Greek community, and two additional student teams participated in the tournament.
Every participant walked away with prizes ranging from gift certificates to Q’Doba, On the Border, Coldstone, Mr. Goodcents and the Washburn University Bookstore, to pink volleyballs signed by the Washburn University Lady Blues volleyball team. The tournament champions received pink Under Armour drawstring bags, while the second place team received pink water bottles. Third place received pink ribbon key chains, and the fourth and fifth place teams walked away with a collection of coupons.
The tournament raised $157 that will be donated to the cause, and fundraising efforts will continue until the remaining Think Pink T-shirts are sold. Students interested in purchasing a shirt can contact Kirkhart at (620) 260-5825.
Eckert is a junior mass media
Lauren
major. Reach her at lauren.eckert@ washburn.edu.
Transition to traditional college
Jennie Loucks WASHBURN REVIEW
A common misconception that many people have about Washburn University is that it is considered a private school. What many people don’t realize is that a Washburn education costs much less than one obtained at either Kansas State University or the University of Kansas. This re-education on Washburn facts is just one example of the changes that have occurred on Washburn’s campus. Another significant change that has been a work in progress for decades is the transition from a commuter school to a more traditional college.
“The evolution started about 11 or 12 years ago, when President Farley arrived,” said Meredith Kidd, dean of students at Washburn University. “It was around ’92, maybe earlier that discussions on changes that needed to be made occurred, but we needed a new president to bring us into the new realm.”
Kidd said that in the ’83-’84 school year recruitment started to get aggressive outside of the Topeka community, and then it died out until it caught its second wind with Farley’s arrival.
WASHBURN HISTORY
In 2004, the Washburn Village, apartmentstyle housing, was constructed, which added 192 available spaces for students interested in living on campus.
He also said that as the university progressed into its more traditional status, it also started to accommodate to the non-traditional students and continued to work for commuters with things such as new facilities and online classes.
“Before, Washburn wanted to serve the people of Shawnee County and Topeka, but our goal now is to make us enticing. We ask ourselves, what will make people want to live in Topeka, and on campus,” said Kidd.
Kidd said that much of the newly created WU-based community can be credited to Denise Ottinger, vice president for Student Life.
“She brought a wealth of student affairs and student life information and experiences to Washburn’s campus,” said Kidd.
Washburn’s Organization Mondiale pour L’Education Prescolare’teamed up with the local Toys for Tots Nov. 11 and 12 to bring toys to needy children.
As part of that collaboration, three baskets were offered as prizes people could win through donations to Toys for Tots. To enter to win a basket participants donated either cash or toys. One dollar equaled one entry, $10 netted 12 entries, and toys earned tickets based on the price of gift, eight entries for a $5 toy and 15 for a $10 trinket.
There was a beauty basket, one for holiday survival, and a WUthemed basket, which was given away at the end of the volleyball game on Nov. 13. Donations for the gift baskets came from local businesses.
OMEP is a world organization for childhood education, and is in its second year as an organization at Washburn. This is the first year the organization teamed up with Toys for Tots for this event. OMEP member, Ashley Ogden,
“Toys For Tots and OMEP are a perfect combination because we’re both striving to help children, both locally and worldwide.” said Ogden. Amelia Osborn, treasurer of OMEP is planning a trip to Jamaica for two weeks as part of her transformational experience.
“Last year, OMEP donated $100 to students in Jamaica for school supplies,” said Osborn.
Based on the success of the drawing from the volleyball game, OMEP may keep its Toys For Tots donations going for another week. Toys can be dropped off at drop boxes in the Union. OMEP is also encouraging the Washburn community to participate in Kansas Reads Week, Nov. 16 to 20. Kansas Reads Week is funded by the State of Kansas, and encourages everyone to read to preschoolers or kindergartners. This year’s featured book is “Wiggles.”
In the late 1950s through the 1980s three residence halls were built to accommodate those students wishing to live on campus. These were Carruth Hall, which was replaced in 2001 by the Living Learning Center, Kuehne Hall and West Hall. Kuehne and West combined can house 84 students, and Carruth Hall housed less than half the number of students that the LLC can hold.
“The number of students that we have living on campus almost always reflects the enrollment numbers for a given year, but especially in the last three to four years the number of student’s living on campus has steadily grown,” said Kate McCown, assistant director of Residential Living.
Kidd described the transition from a primarily commuter-based school to a traditional university as “seamless.”
Washburn has created and expanded numerous programs and hosted a variety of events to create a sense of community on campus for the students, faculty and staff. As a result, attendance at events has increased, and student participation is at an all-time high.
Jennie Loucks is a junior mass media major. Reach her at jennifer.loucks@ washburn.edu.
Michelle Boltz is a freshman mass media major. Reach her at michelle.boltz@ washburn.edu.
Michelle Boltz WASHBURN
Tickets for toys: WU’s chapter of OMEP gives the WU community to put a smile on a child’s face with toy donations. Donators received tickets for a chance to win baskets.
Photo by Tesa DeForest, Washburn Review
Allegiance emphasizes high ideals, not results
As much as I hate to admit it, I’ve never been much of a history buff. Sure, it’s fascinating for those who enjoy looking into the past, but I’ve always been a forward thinker, constantly considering what the future might hold for myself and the world around me.
So, as one might imagine, when it comes to looking at historical documents and events and determining their meaning, I’m not exactly the philosophical thinker to turn to. However, I happened to find someone who provides a new argument about the past that may change minds in the future.
I was browsing CNN’s Web site, checking out the latest news, when I saw a video titled “Boy won’t pledge allegiance.” In my mind, I immediately thought, “Great. Another person is making national headlines in a dispute against the ‘one nation, under God’ statement in the Pledge of Allegiance. Haven’t we heard this enough already?” Nevertheless, I decided to give the video a shot, wondering how the situation would be different this time around.
FROM THE
EDITOR
To my surprise, the story didn’t involve God at all. Will Phillips, a 10-year-old boy from Arkansas, didn’t sit when the Pledge of Allegiance was recited because of his religious beliefs – he sat because of his beliefs in fair rights for all.
According to Phillips, the final words of the pledge, “with liberty and justice for all,” are a fallacy in today’s society. With all of the racism, sexism and prejudice against gays and lesbians that still exist, Phillips believes that our country is not living up to the pledge’s ideals. He came to this conclusion after analyzing the pledge’s meaning, hoping one day that he’ll become a lawyer.
While Phillips is probably not the first person to recognize the lack of truth in the pledge, he is most certainly the first to bring it to the nation’s attention. In his interview with CNN, Phillips said, “I think [gays and lesbians] should have the rights all people should, and I’m not going to swear that they do.”
He may only be half the age of our generation, but he makes twice the argument that most of us could.
Despite the opposition Phillips has faced from fellow students, community members and citizens across the nation, he continues to stand up (or rather, sit down) for what he believes in, a trait that all too often is condoned in our society. Although progress has been made in creating equal rights for all people, we still have a long way to go.
If we ever hope to establish equality in our society, we need more people like Phillips to stand up for what they believe in. While it may require us to take a seat and let the absence of our voices be heard, it is the only way to move toward liberty and justice for all.
Roads pave way to future in more ways than one
Robert Burkett WASHBURN REVIEW
As I drive to school every morning I bounce along the roads (if you can call them that) I am reminded by where we are as a nation and where we are going.
It was almost fifty years ago that President Eisenhower passed the first of several laws calling for the creation of a national highway and transportation system. Fifty years later the nation is staring at what could be the salvation of the country’s economy.
condition of the rest of the roads and highways spanning the country then a new jobs program of an entirely different sort needs to be explored instead of complaining about the loss of high tech and other high paying jobs as companies ship them abroad. At some point when does a paycheck supersede the need to work a job that is deserving of a college degree?
At some point when does a paycheck supersede the need to work a job that is deserving of a college degree?
Robert Burkett
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“ ”
If Topeka’s roads, which have been in dire need of constant work from about the beginning of the decade, are any indication of the
Shouldn’t paying the bills and taking care of one’s family be the final decision making influence on if you take a job or not? It hasn’t yet struck anyone in the White House because the creation of high paying jobs is all that is stressed about. Perhaps President Obama and his administration should concentrate on creating jobs no
matter the educational requirement. This project would ideally give people, who are not as educated and looking for a way out of their financial difficulties a way not only to collect a good paycheck, but allow for the improvement of aging infrastructure before we have another incident such as what occurred in Minneapolis in 2007, in which a bridge collapsed injuring commuters on their way home, and is but a tip of the iceberg in what to expect if deterioration of the highway and system of bridges throughout the nation is allowed to go unchecked.
Regardless of the job, at the end of the day though Americans need to get back to work and pursue what made the country the envy of the world during the previous century in its desire for greatness as a nation.
With the semester winding down and classes getting more stressful, Washburn Review decided to get student’s thoughts on the new online class software: Angel.
Bod street onthe “ ”
Kellie Hays Senior
“It was pretty clear and easy to get to things.”
Lance Chill Sophomore
“Depends on how the teacher utilizes it whether or not it works well.”
What’s your opinion about... the Angel learning platform?
Jennifer Ditch Senior
“It was easy to get around on it.”
Kalan Norton Junior
“I guess there’s a lot of people having problems, but I haven’t”
Sara Thielenhaus Senior
“It takes a little bit of getting used to.”
Adam Andalen Senior
“It did what it needed to do, it was pretty easy to find the lessons.”
T. J. Bross Junior
“Angel had a lot of problems-emails wouldn’t get to the teacher. It was really hard to communicate with the professor.”
Caprice Cotez, Freshman
“I like it, it’s just how the teachers organize it.”
Want to share your thoughts on the online class software? Maybe a suggestion about the new online class format? Post it as a comment on the Washburn Review’s Web site!
Your source for all things about WU, Wednesday afternoons.
The Washburn Review
Photos by Tesa Deforrest, graphics by Maggie Pilcher
Nicole Stejskal is a junior mass media major. Reach her at nicole.stejskal@ washburn.edu.
Nicole Stejskal WASHBURN REVIEW
Robert Burkett is a junior mass media major. Reach him at robert.burkett@ washburn.edu.
Roses are red, Washburn is blue, not green
Brian
Allen WASHBURN REVIEW
Recycling bins are prominent on the Washburn campus. But not all of the locations are being utilized by students.
The Facilities Services department expresses the need to recycle, which doesn’t always amount to simply putting something in the recycle bin.
The university’s recycle efforts are headed up by Washburn’s Facilities Services Department. Their June 2009 Recycle Update statistics are impressive. They collected 12,500 pounds of paper for recycling, 4,500 pounds of cardboard, 8,000 pounds of scrap metal and 550 pounds of plastic bottles for a total of 25,550 pounds of recycled material. That is up 3,160 pounds from five years ago.
Though the volume of recycled material is up, the percent has only
grown .88 percent. Mike Jauken, grounds chief of Washburn’s Facility Services, said, “we can do better.”
He wants to remind everyone on campus that we can reduce the use of plastics by bringing durable drink containers from home. Even water bottles purchased on campus can be refilled and reused. If and when they do need to be disposed of, place them in the proper receptacle.
Plastic recycling doesn’t end there.
“People don’t realize that if they stuff any refuse inside the bottle it can’t be processed. Trash, food wrappers, even the peeled label inside the bottle contaminates it and it can’t be recycled,” said Jauken. “We lose a lot of recyclable material because of contamination.
“One of the worst things people can do is replacing their bottle cap before recycling. The water tight and pressure
Buildings
Their names are on class schedules, campus brochures, and spoken by students every day. It’s where Washburn students collect diplomas and memories. But, how much do you know about the buildings where you spend countless hours every semester? Who were these people, and why were these buildings named after them?
The oldest building on campus was opened as Carnegie Library in 1905. This building was made possible because of a generous contribution by the steel magnate, Andrew Carnegie, who began funding the construction of libraries around the United States. Eventually, the library
Otis L. Benton, who attended Washburn in the 1880’s, donated a large sum of money to make the construction of the second oldest building on campus a reality. Finished in 1923, Benton Hall was initially used as an all women’s dormitory and later as co-ed student housing. In 1992, Benton Hall was converted into offices, ending over 65 years as a home away from home for students.
The Mulvane Art Museum was dedicated in 1924 and was the result of a generous gift by Joab Mulvane, a fondly remembered businessman and philanthropist in the Topeka area. Interestingly, Morgan Hall is actually named for Joab Mulvane’s Daughter—Margret Mulvane Morgan. After a donation from her husband Harrison Morgan, it was decided
resistant bottles are so strong they can’t be compressed by the compactor.”
Paper, the leading recyclable, encompasses magazines, hardcover books, computer paper, newsprint and notebook paper.
“The biggest problem with paper is that they don’t want any plastic or steel in it like spiral bound notebooks,” said Jauken. “If you rip out the paper and remove the wire, that’s okay.”
The university goes through a lot of cardboard. Most everything is shipped in cardboard boxes. But they too can be contaminated.
“We once had a large Boy Scout group spend the night on campus. Well, they had pizza and thought they were doing the right thing placing all those boxes in the cardboard bin. When I saw all of them in the morning I thought, Oh Boy. We can’t do that,” Jauken said.
from Washburn and Shawnee County who lost their lives in World Wars I and II as well as the Korean War.
Henderson Learning Center, finished in 1971, was unnamed until 1976 when it was renamed in honor of WU President John L, Henderson, who was heralded as the president responsible for the reconstruction of the University after the 1966 tornado.
The structure, which is now home to many WU athletic teams and academic programs, was opened in 1984 and was named for Kelsey H, and Edna B, Petro who had given many years of support to the University. Named after Bob, and Salle Lee, Lee Arena sits inside “Petro.” It was named after the two for their passion for WU athletics. Garrett Natatorium, also located in Petro, is named for Jim, and Bon ers of Washburn. The Garrett’s were also the owners of several McDonald’s restaurant franchises around Topeka, -
“They didn’t realize that anything with food residue—greasy pizza boxes in particular—can’t be recycled.”
Though the university does recycle bulk scrap metal, it does not recycle aluminum cans.
“Since venders have gone to plastic bottles, there just isn’t enough aluminum,” said Jauken. “Nor is there a demand for the little amount of glass we produce.”
As visitors to campus, student produced recyclables tend to be plastic bottles and small amounts of paper. The big producers are the university offices. “I want to say 90 percent of our paper comes out of offices,” said Jauken. He said that most of the staff has good recycling habits, but that there is one in particular that needs to improve, the student publications office, home of the Review.
On Nov. 11 in the student publications office, there were eight paper
recycle containers that clearly listed paper, magazines, books, newspapers and envelopes as the approved recyclables. Seven of the eight were contaminated with food items or non-approved materials. That meant that what little paper had found its way into the receptacles was contaminated and doomed to the landfill.
Jauken felt that everyone should know the key points to improving Washburn’s recycle program. Know that we recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, and bulk metal. Place each in the proper container.Avoid contaminates— especially anything food related.
Josh King is a senior mass media/English major. Reach him at joshua.king@ washburn.edu. GOING GREEN
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linear and organized, and I like that.”
Students appreciated Angel’s ease of use and organized layout that makes getting through a course online easier than the earlier WebCT. A feeling shared by Israel Wasserstein, a lecturer in the English department at Washburn.
“Angel is almost immeasurably superior to WebCT,” said Wasserstein. “It’s more customizable and more student friendly. It’s better for students; it’s better for teachers, so I think it’s a win.”
It’s that customizability and “friendliness” that has made Karen Díaz-Reátegui, assistant professor of Spanish in the modern languages department, a believer.
brian.allen@washburn.edu.
courses will be a big part of that future.
“It’s here to stay,” said Keith Rocci, information literacy librarian at the Mabee Library who said that 125 of the 275 students enrolled in the IS170 library research course are completely online. “You’ll see a lot more hybrid courses and eventually it will be used even outside of courses.”
While not everything in the Angel world has gone exactly heavenly, considering the fact that a system was purchased, configured and installed in a matter of months rather than years, the change from WebCT to Angel has gone extremely well.
Díaz-Reátegui got her start with Angel this summer when she offered her Hispanic culture class online as one of the pilot courses offered in the new system.
ple have helped Washburn thrive over the years. This was merely a glimpse of a few of them. At this point, 43 buildings have contributed edly there will be more in the future.
Bryce Grammer is a senior mass media major. Reach him at bryce.grammer@ washburn.edu.
“I actually taught the class from Peru,” said Díaz-Reátegui. “It worked really well because I could interact with the students. I had virtual office hours and it really allowed me to have fluent communication with my students.”
This coming from a professor who admits to being scared of technology when she first stepped to the front of the classroom. During her career she has seen the steady takeover of technology in the classroom.
From the days of overhead projectors and slides, to computers displaying simple Word documents culminating in her MacBook and running slide shows using Apple’s Keynote.
And it’s that same mindset, the one that realizes that technology is part of the future of higher education that is spreading across Washburn University. And in a large part, Angel online
“No transition from one major platform to another goes as smoothly as you would hope, but given the timeline and circumstances we all had to deal with I am very proud of our faculty, students, and staff,” said Murphy. “Change is never easy and rarely fun, but most have embraced it as a necessary thing to do in order to stay current and move forward.”
And moving forward is the very reason the Angel purchase was made.
The earlier software was supposed to be updated in 2006 but plans were put on hold with the uncertainty of the lifeline of a recently purchased WebCT. Today, that problem is no longer a reality as the latest version of one of the most widely-used online course platforms is in use at Washburn providing faculty, staff and students an environment for online learning that will grow and adapt to the university’s future needs.
“Angel is like a Mercedes,” said Rocci. “It’s not a Yugo, it’s got a lot of bells and whistles.”
Online searches and purchases can raise money for Washburn
Topeka, Kan. – What if even a fraction of the billions generated by search engine advertisers and online shopping was directed towards Washburn University?
That is the concept behind GoodSearch.com a search engine powered by Yahoo! GoodSearch donates 50 percent of its revenue— approximately a penny per search—to organizations designated by the user. It is used just like any other search engine and the pennies add up. Just 500 people searching four times a day will earn around $7,300 for Washburn in a year. Best of all, it doesn’t cost users a thing.
Similarly with GoodShop.com, online shoppers can help Washburn by shopping at hundreds of well known retailers including Amazon, Target, Apple, Macy’s, Best Buy, Orbitz, Staples and others. The shopping experience and the prices are exactly
the same as going to the retailer directly, but by going through GoodShop, up to 37 percent of the purchase price is donated to Washburn.
Washburn Endowment Association is one of more than 72,000 schools and nonprofits registered with the
GoodSearch and to date approximately $200 has been raised through searches and online purchases.
Using GoodSearch and GoodShop is now more simple, thanks to the new custom toolbar for web browsers. This toolbar lists Washburn Endowment Association and can be easily installed on IE, Firefox or Google Chrome browsers. The web address to download the browser is: http://www. goodsearch.com/toolbar/washburnendowment-association.
Advertisement paid for by the Washburn Endowment Association www.givetowashburn.org
Brian Allen is a returning alumni. Reach him at
review a&e
wednesday, nOV
Saigon brings Vietnam tastes to Topeka
Brian Allen WASHBURN REVIEW
When it comes to Asian cuisine in Topeka, there are Chinese eateries aplenty, but only one Vietnamese Restaurant, the Saigon, at 3200 S.W. 29th St. Housed in a redecorated Dairy Queen, the drive through has been preserved for quick meals. You can order carry out at (785) 2738882, and there is limited delivery that extends to the Washburn campus. There is plenty of free parking, and dining hours run 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.
Tom Vu, owner and chef, made
it into a pleasant little eatery. It is neat and clean, with lace curtains, a matching color scheme and tasteful touches of Asian art.
The menu reflects Tom’s background, half Chinese from his 20 years of restaurant work, and half Vietnamese, reflecting his heritage. As my dinner companion and I had never experienced Vietnamese food, we concentrated on Vu’s specialties. With one disclaimer; we tried his fried wontons. They were the best we’ve had. They had a thinner than usual skin, fried up crisp with a nice size piece of sausage within.
For our Vietnamese appetizer we had the Spring Roll, fresh shrimp,
with rice vermicelli, served with shredded lettuce, cucumbers, bean sprouts and peanuts. The vermicelli, similar to snow white angel hair pasta, only much lighter, is served cold with the vegetables. It’s a plentiful bowlful offered with Mouc Num sauce for seasoning. I’ve never had the famous Vietnamese fish sauce before and was surprised to find it light and savory with a mild after warmth. To me it had a salty garlic flavor, not fishy at all. The grilled chicken was tender with a hint of peanut flavor, absolutely delicious.
We have tried a few other dishes since our first introduction to the Saigon and its Vietnamese food. The common theme is light and delicate flavors, simple preparations and savory combinations. Many dishes have cold sides that add a different but delicious balance. They hold their own in the Asian food pantheon, lighter than Chinese, less spicy than Thai. If your palate is sensitive, if you appreciate delicate foods that stand on their own, if you have the slightest interest in something healthy and
‘Love
and Theft’ takes country music in an alternate direction
Josh Rouse WASHBURN REVIEW
Love and Theft, a country trio out of Nashville, is an up and coming band that my friend and I have been following for a couple years now. It recently released its debut CD, “World Wide Open,” and the group has already heard a modest amount of airtime on the radio. The band toured for a bit with Taylor Swift and is currently on tour with Jason Aldean. This band definitely falls in the “tweener” category of country music, as it can easily fit into both country and pop formats. While the term “country music” has a tendency to scare off many listeners, this band isn’t your ordinary “God and
Beer” type of country band. It’s songs feature deep lyrics, amazing vocals that blend together perfectly and a completely unique sound.
To get a better idea of how Love and Theft’s music sounds, imagine a combination of the Eagles, Rascal Flatts and the Goo Goo Dolls. In fact, those are three of the many differing influences listed on the band’s MySpace account (www.myspace. com/loveandtheftmusic), where you can actually listen to the music and hear for yourself.
Perhaps the trio’s biggest hit so far has been “Runaway,” an upbeat song about hopping in a car and escaping the troubles of the world. This is probably the perfect road trip/ vacation/just driving around song, and it is incredibly catchy. After hearing
this song through the first time, don’t be surprised if you’re still humming or singing it.
Another catchy hit is “It’s Up to You,” where they once again show off their great vocal blend and guitar abilities. This is one of the songs that falls under a more ‘alternative’ group of music, sounding much less like country than alternative acoustic music.
For those who find the music catchy and would like to see a live show, there is good news. Love and Theft will be playing at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo., this June.
Josh Rouse is a junior mass media major. Reach him at joshua.rouse@ washburn.edu.
Helen Hocker play satirizes Broadway
Kate Fechter-Stamper WASHBURN REVIEW
Helen Hocker Theater is currently showing the off-Broadway hit, “Forbidden Broadway.” The play, which finishes its run this weekend, is a satirical musical-comedy that mocks the famous Broadway hits. It’s a fun show to watch and nothing short of hilarious.
Created by Gerard Alessandri, “Forbidden Broadway” is directed by Jo Huseman and it has a four person cast: Dan Lindquist, Chelle Decker, Rick Bixler and Secily Rees.
The play covers musical greats like “Chicago,” “Les Miserables,” “Mamma Mia,” “Rent” and “The Phantom of the Opera.” It also pokes fun at famous Broadway legends like Carol Channing, Ethel Merman and Barbara Streisand.
THEATER REVIEW
In Act 1, the satire begins with “Chicago,” making fun of the famous “They Both Reached for the Gun” scene with its ventriloquist act. Then they continue by making fun of Bob Fosse with the song “Glossy Fosse,” which comments on the lack of set and the gyrating dances which make up for it.
A 40-year-old Annie laments on her lack of career while smoking a cigarette. More hilarious songs follow, including a cover of “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” which makes fun of Carol Channing’s repeated acting in “Hello Dolly” with the song, “Dolly is a Girl’s Best Friend.” The first act ends
with “More Miserables,” which laughs at how long “Les Miserables” is, and how depressing it is, with a large part of the cast getting shot. Act 2 begins after a short intermission, and begins with “The Phantom and Ethel,” which mocks the use of microphones instead of diaphragmatic breathing. The hype of “Rent” is lampooned, and so is the campiness of “Hairspray.” The musical ends with “A Chorus Line” and “What We Did For Laughs.” The cast is outstanding, mixing comedy and musical talent. Cast members all have strong voices and wonderful expressions. The show is fast-paced, and it is surprising that the time flies by so quickly. The costuming is great — quick changes and different wigs help to bring the characters to life. Nancy Epoch is the director of music. Pat Gibson plays the piano, Bob Keckeisen is on drums and Manuel Tabor plays bass. The songs are catchy and they will get stuck in your head. I recommend taking a break from the stress of classes, and checking out the show on its final weekend. It plays at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday at Helen Hocker Theater in Gage Park. To order tickets, call the theater office at (785) 3680191 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Kate Fechter-Stamper is a sophomore mass media major. Reach her at kate. fechter-stamper@washburn.edu.
Matt Wilper WASHBURN REVIEW
This week’s YouTube pick is “Bacon is good for me.” This video is a little bit on the old side; about a month ago a friend in meteorology told me that I have to watch this video. I did and I laughed my ass off. Not to mention all the great quotes within it.
“Bacon is good for me” comes from ABC’s “Wife Swap.” Joy (a fitness and nutrition expert) and Curtis (a boy who loves junk food) start to fight after Joy begins cleaning out the fridge, throwing out junk food like chocolate and cheese-in-a-can. All hell breaks lose when Joy gets some bacon and tosses it. This sends Curtis into a frenzy and he starts yelling, “Bacon is good for me.” All right, Curtis, you tell us bacon is good for you, but it has done
nothing for your looks. Take your hair for example: it looks like someone threw a bowl on top of you head and cut whatever hung below it. You should tell your mom to take you to a barbershop next time. Curtis might have bad hair, but he is smart. He already knows the purpose of high heels. Most kids his age are trying them on, but he already knows that they were designed so women can’t run. He just doesn’t understand that usually men are the ones doing the chasing. Watch this video. I don’t think that you will regret it. If anything, it will distract you from doing your homework for two minutes. ‘Til next week, stay classy, Washburn.
Matt Wilper is a junior sociology major. Reach him at matthew.wilper@ washburn.edu.
Photo by Brian Allen, Washburn Review
Photo courtesy of MySpace.com/loveandtheftmusic
Try the Bun Ga Nuong: This dish includes grilled chicken, vegetables and peanuts. It is just one of the traditional Vietnamese dishes served at Saigon Restaurant.
“Stickworks” combines art and nature
Kristen Grimmer WASHBURN REVIEW
How often is art exciting and new, yet can also establish an immediate connection between the audience and the art itself? Patrick Dougherty’s sculptures do all of these upon first assessment because bringing nature and art together in a way everyone can understand is something that this internationally-known sculptor does best. With his artistic skills and experience outdoors he creates a unique fusion of two worlds by weaving saplings into sculptures that are functional, depict motion and are usually the size of a small house.
Dougherty says that his first inspiration for putting these sculptures together came from his childhood memories and that his vague interest in construction with sticks soon grew into something significant.
“As a child you build a lot of things and sticks are really functional,” Dougherty said, “When you’re a stick person you can look at each one and see what you can do with it, whether it can be a good walking stick or made into a trellis or something like that.”
to draw and that you use a lot of the same conventions for drawing with making these sculptures. The lines you see on the outside of the sculpture are just that,” Dougherty said.
He uses volunteers to help with the harvesting of the saplings and the basic structure of the sculpture because he limits himself to a three week time period in which he must gather materials and create his sculptures.
“It’s a great way to involve the community and get to meet people,” Dougherty said and even though he has a lot of help he always does the outer weaving of the saplings himself.
Cindi Morrison, director of the Mulvane Art Museum, said that she had seen two of Dougherty’s pieces before and had worked at a museum in Lancaster, Pa. when he had installed one of those pieces. Morrison’s reason for asking Dougherty to install a sculpture on the front lawn of the Mulvane Art Museum was that she had experienced firsthand what happens when he builds a piece in a community.
This sculpture is something that will make [people] want to get out of their cars...
- Cindi Morrison Director, Mulvane Art Museum
He also said that he had first started in ceramics but found that using saplings allowed him to do what he couldn’t with clay.
“I discovered that it’s another way
“I want the museum to become more visible to the community and to increase visitors,” she said, “People will drive by the museum but this sculpture is something that will make them want to get out of their cars so they can walk into it.”
Dougherty said that his inspiration for his work at the Mulvane Art Museum came from the architecture of the museum building, the parking lot
and surrounding light poles, and from the nearby Mount Hope Cemetery.
“Last week I drove through the graveyard and noticed the architecture and the shrubs that were trimmed to go with it. I began to wonder whether those shrubs suggested the architecture around them or whether the architecture suggested the shrubs,” Dougherty said.
After that he began to get a better picture of what he wanted for the sculpture in front of the Mulvane Art Museum.
“The museum building has these
nice arches and a sense of formalism.
It’s very symmetrical and I wanted to throw it off a little by putting something wild and untameable in front, but with a bit of classicism and formalism about it that trips and falls and doesn’t live up to the building beside it,” Dougherty said.
Dougherty also said that he can never predict what the sculpture will look like exactly before it’s finished, but that he expects that because he works toward an idea with his work rather than an object. He fully expects to be finished with his sculpture in the three
week period he has allotted himself and is excited to see how the sculpture and museum building will react to each other.
The official opening for this sculpture will be Friday, Nov. 20. Starting at 6:30 p.m., Dougherty will be giving a lecture about the sculpture in room 143 of the Garvey Building.
Kristen Grimmer is a senior mass media major. Reach her at kristen. grimmer@washburn.edu.
Fashionista elaborates on the elements of style
Mikki Burcher WASHBURN REVIEW
For those of us who are fashionconscious, winter can be a dreary, boring month, full of coats, chunky sweaters, and dull colors. But never fear! This year the Review has you covered with the ins and outs of winter fashion as we tell you what winter trends have already made their way onto campus. With cold weather comes your winter fashion staple: a quality coat.
or trench coats, but not of the detective kind. Wool is the in fabric for men’s winter coats. For more trendy outerwear, men too can don a military jacket. Both Burberry and Dolce and Gabbana offer high-fashion military-esque coats to keep the guys looking fashionable and sleek. The key to a fashionable winter ensemble for men or women is to pay attention to details and to accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. Details to look for in women’s lines include in-colors (red and purple), animal prints, studs, zippers, oversized jewelry, skinny
and a scarf and hat that match each other and contrast your coat.
Of all the fashion trends for winter 2009, some have already made the long trek from catwalk to campus. Men around campus have been looking stylish with fitted pea coats and scarves.
A few men have already picked up on the plaid-is-in element of the season, donning button-down plaids that could make the Brawny man jealous.
Women across campus have been sporting leggings all year, and the trend isn’t going anywhere. Fashionable and dramatic footwear is everywhere to be
population is, and rightly so, focused on things a little more important than fashion. And so, despite the trends of the season, watch for the sweatpants, hoodies, jeans and tees that are sure to dominate the scene this winter at WU.
Mikki Burcher is a senior mass media/English major. Reach her at mikale.burcher@washburn.edu.
Dead twigs: Volunteers and employees design saplings into archways and tunnels on the front lawn of the Mulvane Art Museum. These tree sculptures take their inspiration from the Mulvane’s own vaulted arches, and are part of artist Patrick Dougherty’s exhibit,
“Stickworks.”
Photo by Tessa DeForest, Washburn Review