the review washburn university
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Washburn student Bridget Walter balances BMX and school A5
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volume 137, Issue 13 • wednesday, December 1, 2010
Topeka continues to go gaga over Google Robert Burkett WASHBURN REVIEW
Photo by Robert Burkett, Washburn Review
A Sign From Above: Think Big Topeka, in collaboration with other organizations, hung this banner on the Cumulus Broadcasting building at 9th and Kansas Ave. in Downtown Topeka. On Tuesday, Topekans again showed their interest in the Google Fiber Project.
up on this idea,” said Alissa Sheley, founding member of Think Big Topeka. “We knew we wanted to do someYesterday, the past and the future thing to wrap up the year so we got collided in a fun, if somewhat chilly, this awesome banner made with help afternoon that helped to put the final from community supporters and came punctuation on an effort that has seen down here to show we love our comTopeka launched into the forefront of munity.” national attention. Among the other members of the As many remember, earlier this community, Mayor Bill Bunten spoke year Topeka became Google, Kan. for about his feelings on the process and a short time as the drive to bring a new expressed his thanks to “the young technology to the capital city courtesy people of Topeka.” of the Internet search engine giant, “I just feel like I’m 75 again,” said Google. Bunten. “I am so happy that everyone From standing on the Topeka came out even in this weather to help Roadrunners ice rink forming a human support our community. I love Topeka “Google” to appearing on national and I know that everyone here feels television on the day that Google tem- the same way.” porarily turned their website to “ToAfter Bunten’s address to the gathpeka,” there has been an effort on the ered crowd, the Topeka High drumline part of organizations like Think Big took center stage as they put on an enTopeka and Go Topeka to continue the ergetic performance that had people spirit in their bid to win the rocking back and forth in THINK BIG the crowd. The group played high-speed Internet contest. “It’s just great to see the TOPEKA and danced back and forth community rallying around in a style reminiscent of the something like this,” said Ryan Bish- movie, “Drumline” and even featured op, Gizmo Video productions employ- a drum cadence from the movie. ee and Washburn alumnus. Prior to the speakers and after All of the effort culminated in a Topeka High was done, a local music small gathering downtown near the group, Chris Aytes & The Good Ambicorner of 9th Street and Kansas Av- tion, performed classic rock and even enue, as free food and live music pro- some rock inspired Christmas music vided a backdrop for a History Chan- to help keep the crowd entertained in nel special that was being taped. weather that dipped into the low 30 The special entitled, “How States degree range. Got Their Shapes” brought further “We appreciate everyone bravattention to the city and state as the ing the weather to come out and show deadline for the announcement of everyone how much our community which city will be awarded Google’s wants positive things to happen,” said technology closes in. Sheley. “We just wanted to do some- Robert Burkett is a senior mass media thing that would show we still care major. Reach him at robert.burkett@ to Google and that we haven’t given washburn.edu.
Success week looks to Rev. Run to speak at Washburn relieve student stress Jaimie Luse WASHBURN REVIEW
Washburn students have been watching him on MTV for years, and now they’ll get the chance to interact with him live because the Washburn Student Government Association is bringing Rev. Run to Washburn as their final lecture series speaker for the semester. This Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Washburn Room of the Memorial Union, Rev. Run will be available in a question-and-answer session, with no admission fee, until 8:30. Rev. Run, whose real name is Joseph Simmons, is a rapper-turnedreverend who was one-third of the rap group Run-DMC. More recently, he is known for his reality show on MTV, “Run’s House,” where viewers see the dynamics of the Simmons family. “[The show] is really neat for Rev. Run because he is able to portray how reality shows don’t have to be negative and crazy,” said Caley Onek, president of WSGA. “You can have a successful show that portrays how you should live your life and how you should treat your family and respect them.” Onek said that the committee in charge of finding lecturers chose Simmons for a variety of reasons. They had to compare the quality and name recognition of the speaker with the price that was asked, but Simmons had the originality that the committee was looking for. “We were trying to get some name recognition that the community as well as the students could get excited for,” said Onek, “He brings a different dynamic than past speakers that we’ve had, and we’re always looking for something new, something different,
Photo courtesy of http://www.revrun.com/.
The Reverend Is In: Joseph Simmons, more commonly known as Rev. Run, will bring his interactive Q & A and lecture session to Washburn this Thursday. Audience members will have the opportunity to meet him before and after his presentation. something exciting.” Simmons’ commitment to Zoë ministries and his family cover an aspect of life that Onek says many college students don’t consider much. “When we’re in college we kind of get away from our families, and it’ll bring back the importance of family,” she said. WSGA has been promoting this as the part of Washburn Lecture Series, but Onek said that it’s actually a pretty big departure from the usual format of the series. Generally there’s about a half hour to an hour of lecture, and then a 15-minute opportunity for the audience to ask questions. After, the speaker may take a bit to sign books or take photos, but speaker-student interaction is limited.
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“With Rev. Run, it’s going to be set up like a Q&A, there’s going to be a lot of audience interaction,” said Onek. “He wants to stay after, he wants to take pictures with the students, he wants to meet them, he wants to sign autographs.” Onek said WSGA is excited about the potential for an entertaining yet educational event, but she personally is looking forward to learning Simmons’ life story. “I’m excited to hear about what he’s learned throughout his life, and about his personal journey from rapper to reverend.” Regina Budden is a senior mass media major. Reach her at regina.budden@ washburn.edu.
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eral students that there was a need for it. “That was the concern that we This year students have another heard several times from students was advantage in the fight to stay sane dur- that the week before finals was actually ing the last few days leading to finals worse the week of finals itself because week. of all the tests and everything that was Success week, the week before coming through the week,” said Caley finals, was proposed with the purpose Onek, president of WSGA. of encouraging The profaculty to use the “ posal for suctime to review cess week then course material That was the concern worked its way and not give out through the apthat we heard several proval process. any new projects, tests or fiFirst approved times from students nals. by faculty senwas that the week Success ate earlier this week is exyear on April before finals was plained in the 12 and then by actually worse than faculty handthe general facbook as, “No ulty on May 11. finals week itself final examinaIt received final tions, except go ahead by the - Caley Onek ‘take–home final Washburn Board President, WSGA examinations’ of Regents at a may be given by meeting on Sept. ” 24. an instructor during the five days Throughout prior to the first day of final examina- the whole process, WSGA and the factions without approval of the dean of ulty worked together to get the policy their major academic unit. passed. The faculty shall not administer “The success week policy could any test, examination or quiz worth not have gone through if it had not more than 10 percent of the final been for all the support that we did course grade during the last three days receive from the faculty and how they prior to the first day of scheduled final worked with us,” said Onek. examinations each fall and spring semester to allow for proper preparation for the finals.” The roots of success week started with Washburn Student Government Jaimie Luse is a freshman business major. Association after they heard from sev- Reach her at jaimie.luse@washburn.edu.
Regina Budden WASHBURN REVIEW
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