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The Washburn Transformational Experience: One year later
volume 137, Issue 25 • wednesday, APRIL 13, 2011
Nicholas Birdsong WASHBURN REVIEW
The continually shrinking budget gutted one of Washburn’s most unique programs last year. The Washburn Transformational Experience was removed as a mandatory graduation requirement and made optional for students in the hopes of reducing the number of participants and the cost associated. The effects of the change have not been uniform. The leadership transformational experience has not experienced much reduction in participation according to WTE leadership program director, Jeff Mott. The WTE international program, however, experienced an approximate 10 percent decrease in participation according to the director of International Programs, Baili Zhang. “We still have students going,” said Zhang. “However, since it became optional we saw a dip in participation level. We are not overly concerned. We feel like we have gained enough traction that the program will repair itself.” The WTE program allows students
to work on a project backed by up to $1,000 of funding. Students are able to pursue projects in any of the four project areas of the WTE: scholarly or creative, community service, leadership and international education. Funds can be made available through the program to pay for supplies or transportation in pursuit of a research project meeting the program’s guidelines. “We think about them as four amazing, incredible opportunities for students to do something that they probably never thought about doing before,” said director of WTE scholarly or creative area, Dr. Mike Russell. “The WTE is the dream program. You’ve got a dream; there is something you’ve always wanted to do. This is your chance to do it.” The WTE is unique because many other universities are unable to maintain similar such programs, according to Russell. The relatively small size of Washburn makes the administrative tasks more manageable than larger neighboring schools. Students, through the WTE program, have worked on a wide range of projects. Immersing international stud-
ies are offered in dozens of countries throughout the world through the international branch. The leadership WTE has paid for internships and service projects, giving some students the ability to learn first hand about leadership from political figures such as current Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback. The community service and scholarly or creative branches have allowed students to engage in similar projects of their own choosing and design, such as one group of students that pooled their funds to create a professional music album. “We had to figure out how much we were going to spend on CDs: artwork, producing, the actual recording costs, the studio and then actually buying the CDs,” said David Hess, a Washburn student who completed the WTE program. “You have to get everything lined up and have all of your ducks in a row. It was a great opportunity and I think if other students have projects or any ideas, they should go for it.” Nicholas Birdsong is a senior mass media major. Reach him at nicholas.birdsong@ washburn.edu
WSGA, CAB try to agree on planning Matthew Kelly WASHBURN REVIEW
I don’t think that we should be limited to where CAB is the only one that gets to invite speakers, Students may find it strange and WSGA is the only one that that there are two student orgagets to plan homecoming,” said nizations arranging for guest Jenna Seematter, chief of staff speakers to make appearances for WSGA. “If CAB wants to at Washburn University. bring a big-name speaker, and Both the Washburn Student wants our help with it, then that Government Association and would be fine. If they want to the Washburn University Camput as much work into it as we pus Activities Board are charged put into our lecture series, then I with the task of setting up events think that there’s plenty of room. involving guest speakers. HowThere’s nothing wrong with havever, some feel this is not the ing more speakers of high qualmost efficient way to get the job ity at Washburn.” done, despite the fact that both Since both organizations organizations have been known have different connections within to help one another with their the community, they ultimately respective events. bring speakers for different reaThe Washburn University sons. CAB has four sections that Board of Regents grants funding they focus on: Talks and Topics, for both organizations’ events. Variety and Entertainment, MarPictures from the Washburn Review archives The funding is taken from stuketing and Technology, and Live dent activity fees, and divided The great debate: Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons and Camille Cooper are two speakers brought to Washburn University last fall. Music. In other words, CAB is amongst WSGA, CAB, the While each promoted a positive message and discussed ways to better yourself as an individual and student, discrepancy between limited in the events they focus Washburn University Dancing the events, hosted by WSGA and CAB respectively, was in how many students attended these events. on, according to Seematter. Blues, Washburn Student PubliSeematter believes that as each section of CAB is relatively small. event, they have 1000 people coming,’” said cations and Washburn University Cheerleadlong as the two organization’s schedules are “For talks and topics, which is my area Aljupri. “That’s true, but let’s face it, when ing. not conflicting with one another, there is no in CAB, we only have $7,000 per semester. Eric Alva came, who stood next to Barack “In 2006, WUBOR [Washburn Univerreason for there to be any conflict between That is our budget to bring speakers to cam- Obama when he signed the [Don’t Ask, sity Board of Regents] met with representhem. pus. We want to bring at least two speakers Don’t Tell] repeal into law, we had 85 to 100 tatives from WSGA, from CAB, Dancing “We have all these awesome leaders every semester, so people there, but Blues, and also cheerleaders,” said Rizki at Washburn, and if we can combine their each of our speakhow much money “ Aljupri, talks and topics director for CAB. forces and get them to work together as opers only cost bedid we spend on “They agreed to have a percentage for each posed to conflicting, then that’s the best soWe have all these awesome tween $3,000 and him? Not even organization, and that’s when WSGA started lution,” said Seematter. “That’s one of the $4,000.” $4,000.” leaders at Washburn, and getting the biggest amount of the student acreasons we have the university calendar, so The WSGA Aljupri said if we can combine their tivity fee money.” that when you go out and plan your event, Lecture Series, that both orgaAljupri said WSGA was granted a disyou can make sure there’s nothing else hapforces and get them to work started in 2007, was nizations should proportionate amount of funding for guest pening on that day.” created to bring bigserve the students together as opposed to speakers when compared to CAB, especially Regardless, both organizations benefit name speakers to in their own ways. conflicting, then that’s the considering that, he feels, CAB is intended to Washburn by bringing speakers to the univerWashburn, and with He believes that be the primary student programming board sity, regardless of who organized the events. best solution. their relatively large CAB should serve for the university. Part of the issue involves Although some members of CAB would like amount of fundstudents by prothe fact that WSGA has $30,000 designated to see more name recognition for their orgaing, they have been viding events that - Jenna Seematter to speakers alone. nization, many members of WSGA feel that able to so, whereas will benefit the Chief of Staff, WSGA “CAB is the programming board here name recognition is not of any consequence. CAB, with a more students, whereas on Washburn campus,” said Aljupri. “WSGA “As a student, I am of the opinion that, limited budget, has WSGA should ” is student government of course. Last year I don’t really care who the events are being to work hard to find serve students by WSGA allocated $30,000 for their speakplanned by as long as they’re doing a good speakers that will attract students to events listening to their concerns and ideas as they ers. On the other hand CAB; we are only job with it,” said Seematter. without exceeding their budget. determine the most appropriate way to govallocated $25,000, and we have to divide CAB has arranged the appearance of ern the student body. the $25,000 for speakers, providing entermany well renowned speakers, but some of Many members of WSGA feel that there tainment, for live music, and for marketing. the members of CAB feel that these events is plenty of room for both organizations to They have $30,000 for speakers alone.” had fairly small turn outs simply because the invite their own guest speakers, as this would Currently, Aljupri is serving as a senator speaker’s names were not commonly recog- lead to more high quality speakers appearing for WSGA, in addition to working for CAB. nized compared to other speakers. at Washburn, and with hard work and deterHaving worked for both organizations, he “Many people have said: ‘when CAB mination both organizations can be equally understands both sides of the issue. However plans an event they only have 50 to 100 successful. Matthew Kelly is a junior mass media major. he feels the amount of funding allotted to students coming, but when WSGA plans an “I think that there is a place for both, and Reach him at matthew.kelly@washburn.edu