the review washburn university
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Blameshift tour rocks Kansas. Page A6 Serving Washburn University since 1897
volume 136, Issue 8 • wednesday, October 14, 2009
Washburn counts heads WU joins state-wide trend in improved enrollment after two years of decrease
Michelle Boltz WASHBURN REVIEW
Photo by Tesa DeForest, Washburn Review
Hustle and Bustle: With the increase in enrollment figures at Washburn University comes increased student traffic, as is demonstrated in this photo taken in the morning hours between Morgan Hall and Memorial Union. There are 6,652 students this year, up from 6,545 during the fall 2008 semester, an increase of 107 students (1.6 percent).
Ben Fitch WASHBURN REVIEW Washburn student credit hours have increased by 984, a 1.3 percent increase since fall 2008, and that’s good news for Washburn and a common trend with several other Kansas universities, which had been experiencing steady declines in enrollment. After the fifth week of class, when enrollment numbers were released, the results showed a reverse of the two-year consecutive decline. Based on the information, more than 90 percent of students attend class on campus, and 66 percent are enrolled as full-time students. Other universities have not seen improvements in enrollment. Kansas University’s enrollment contrasts with Washburn’s in its size. However, there are 30,004 students presently
enrolled at KU. Fall 2008 enroll- State University is up 211 to 14,823. ment was 30,102, but the enrollment Fort Hays State University is up numbers at KU 1,201 to 11,308. are deceiving Pittsburg State because of the “ University is up large numbers of 150 to 7,277. If we strive to be students enrolled Kansas State in the medical University is up good at everything, school, which 61 to 23,581. saw an increase In fact, the we will be great at in enrollment. American CounEmporia cil on Education, nothing. State also expean association of rienced a decline 1,700 colleges in enrollment. Its and universities - Richard Liedtke head count was from around the Dean, Enrollment Management down by 90 stunation, reports dents compared college en” that to a year ago. rollment is up Overall, though, the news is posi- nationally—only five states reported a tive because the six Kansas Board of net decrease from their four-year uniRegents universities had a combined versities. According to the Council’s increase of 1,435 students. Wichita survey, the idea is that people will go
Local students participate in Science Day
back to school to gain an upper hand in a competitive professional world. Richard Liedtke, dean of enrollment management, said the tightening job market should cause many students to see a quality education as an advantage. Considering Washburn, Liedtke said he seeks to convey the quality of Washburn to create enrollment growth, improve retention and transferability. “We are gathering a lot of data and pulling themes out of it,” he said. “We can’t be everything to everybody, but we do the best we possibly can. If we strive to be good at everything, we will be great at nothing.”
Ben Fitch is a junior mass media major. Reach him at benjamin.fitch@washburn. edu.
The third-annual Women in Science Day took place Thursday, Oct. 8. This special event was for girls in both 7th and 8th grade from Topeka and surrounding communities. The schools that participated were Robinson, Washburn Rural, Shawnee Heights, Jackson Heights (Holton), and Southwest Junior High (Lawrence). There were approximately 225 students that attended Women in Science Day. Each participant received a free T-shirt, water bottle and a folder that contained information about the event along with a raffle ticket that gave students a chance to win some door prizes. There was also a contest form to help design a new logo for next year’s Women in Science Day. Linda Garinger, from the US Geologic Survey, had this to say about this fun event, “This is USGS’s first year to be involved in this event, and we’re happy to be involved.” Kris Craven, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, added, “Women in Science Day is an event that can help students stay interested in sciences, and get them ready for college.” The morning started with a welcome to Washburn by President Farley, and Susan Miller, President of the Zonta Club, one of 11 sponsors for the event. Then the students heard from keynote speaker Julie Adolphson, the Meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service for the Kansas City/Pleasant Hill Missouri area. She got to chase an F-5 tornado with the team that the movie “Twister” was portraying. She was excited to share fun stories and sparked the students’ interests in both science and math. The students got to participate in two of 15 labs spread throughout campus. They ranged from electricity and magnets to volcanoes. The original idea for the Women in Science Day came from Aberdeen, South Dakota. Michelle Boltz is a freshman mass media major. Reach her at michelle.boltz@ washburn.edu.
Campus lacks solid culture, traditions
Homecoming events are in full swing on Ichabod Island.
Ichabod fan. Sometimes this can make it hard to establish school pride. Kelci Wigger, a senior who has attended Washburn her entire college career, said she was raised a die-hard KU fan and that is still one of her passions. “I am definitely a WU fan, but I still love KU. I go to our home games and stuff but if I have a chance to go to KU, I will do that,” she said. Students’ allegiance to other Kansas schools may never change, but when students get here, there isn’t a big push toward school spirit. From the tour the students go on during their, there isn’t a lot of information given to them about the accomplishments of alumni. People like former United States senator, Bob Dole who graduated from the Washburn Law School. Please see CULTURE page A4
Photo provided by Washburn mass media department
Come Together: Dr. Frank Chorba, mass media professor, is an advocate for improving campus culture at Washburn. He suggested that local businesses get more involved.
The RoadRunners extend their winning streak this season.
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The Washburn Jazz Ensembles performed Oct. 7 in White Concert Hall.
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Throwing torn up newspaper in the air during player introductions, the twelfth man, singing the fight song to fans after the game and midnight madness all across the country bring students together through athletics. Students can be drawn to a university through its tradition. These traditions are typically long-standing; some are known by the entire country, while others are kept within the student body. Traditions create culture across these campuses that give students a place of belonging. So why do students attend Washburn? Is it because of the campus culture and traditions? Sure, the campus is beautiful, with nice facilities and small classes. But is there one tradi-
tion that every student knows about? As Washburn has become a more traditional college to attend, traditions haven’t been started, and if they have, they haven’t stuck. “There is not one event or one thing at Washburn that unites all of the students on this campus,” said Frank Chorba, a mass media professor and advocate for a better campus culture. “We need something on this campus that will bring all of the students together.” Washburn being geographically located between the University of Kansas and Kansas State University makes it hard to start such a campus culture. Both of those schools are full of tradition and the culture is vibrant. With the majority of Washburn students being from Kansas, they are usually raised as a Wildcat or Jayhawk fan, not an
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Kate Hampson WASHBURN REVIEW
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