Providing a voice for Washburn students since 1897
November 8, 2017
Volume 144, Issue 11
News Pages 1-3 Healthy relationships
Opinion Page 4 Daylight saving time
washburnreview.org
Features Pages 5-8 Ann Marie Snook recovery
Sports Pages 9-12 XC sends two to nationals
“I firmly believe that when we work together, Topeka can and will prosper.”
Topeka voters elect second female mayor Charles Rankin Washburn Review charles.rankin@washburn.edu
Topeka has a new mayor and her name is Michelle De La Isla. De La Isla won this year’s mayoral election Nov. 7, defeating Spencer Duncan and becoming the city’s 53rd mayor. De La Isla will be the second woman to hold the office. De La Isla spent time as the councilwoman for the 5th District in Topeka, a position she’s held for four years. She volunteers at Topeka Rescue Mission, helped found the local chapter of the Hermanitas mentorship program and has served as an executive director of Topeka Habitat
for Humanity. This election, candidates addressed a variety of local issues. “It’s the usual stuff as far as city politics are concerned, [like] economic development, redeveloping downtown, doing things for various problematic neighborhoods in the city, ... streets [like] always,” said Mark Peterson, professor and chair of the political science department. Peterson says that this new generation of candidates has arisen out of a group called the “creative class,” a term coined by Richard Florida, urban studies theorist and economist. According to Florida, when a higher concentration of this group
of creative minds lives in an urban area, economic development rises. This “creative class” is typically made up of people under the age of 40. “Both candidates [focused] on that demographic,” Peterson said. With younger generations less inclined to vote and a high population of older people in the city, Peterson said that focusing on this particular group of people was difficult. When interviewed Nov. 6, the day before the election, Peterson wasn’t ready to offer his prediction on who would win. “I’m pretty clueless,” Peterson said. “City elections [have] notoriously low turnout. An awful lot
Washburn first school in Kansas to earn purple heart designation [Washburn] recognize some of the obstacles that Washburn Review combat veterans have.” jessica.kneiff@washburn.edu Galindo said she believes that designating Washburn Washburn will become as a purple heart university Kansas’ first Purple Heart University with a proclama- will help veterans know that tion 2 p.m. Nov. 9 in the Se- Washburn has the resourccurity Benefit foyer outside es available to help them succeed. the president’s office. Jesse Gunnels, junior This designation comes in light of outstanding services human services major with Integrated Practice: Victim provided to active and vetand Survivors, as well as eran military members. a member of WU Student Lisa Galindo, junior Veterans Organization, has criminal justice major and experienced the benefits of president of the Washburn University Student Veterans the veterans services provided at Washburn. Organization, is excited “There is a safe camaraabout the honor. derie with all the units,” “I think it’s really good Gunnels said. “[It] doesn’t to have the community matter what branch of serinvolved, knowing that Washburn works really well vice you are here. We are all the same. We’re all equal.” with veterans and it’s very To learn about the serengaging with our veteran vices, students can visit the community,” Galindo said. Military Student Success “This is a good place for Center in Mabee Library, them to be because they Jessica Knieff
of times, it comes down to who you bought a drink for last night and do they have ten friends.” The Shawnee County Elections Office recently released data that supports up Peterson’s opinion. In a press release July 31, the day before this year’s primary election, the office predicted a 12 percent turnout of registered voters. Peterson said that Topeka will be different no matter who won this year’s election. “We just got a new city manager,” Peterson said. “We’re about ready to hire a new police chief. We’re going to have considerable change in the city council. I guess I would say that the potential is there, but we’ve
changed our form of government in recent years.” Peterson said that Topeka’s government was changed to what he called a “mayor-weak system,” where the mayor has limited powers and a lot of the typical operations of a mayor like the city’s day-to-day operations being handed over to the city manager. “With these being, like they are in most places, non-partisan elections, it’s really hard for a mayor to be an aggressive political leader,” Peterson said. “You can be a wonderful spokesman for the city and you can make a good impression on VIPs, but it’s really tough to come up with a pragmatic agenda and then push it through.”
Room 206A or the VA in Building 4. Topeka has local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legions as well. Gunnels encourages other veterans to reach out to access these resources. “There is always someone there on the other line that will help them get what they need to get done,” Gunnels said. “They are not going to put you on hold. Photo by Jessica Knieff They are going to make you Members of Washburn University Student Veterans Organization pose for their first priority.” a photo with other military veterans at Washburn’s Military Appreciation day Shannon Golden, current Nov. 4. post commander of VFW Phillip Miller post 1650, a purple heart institution at 10 a.m. and a ceremony works in the Washburn’s or a purple heart campus at Washburn University will Office of University Di— that’s really pretty aweoccur at 11:15 a.m. near versity and Inclusion and some.” the Vietnam War Memorial assists with getting veterans Events this week precedsoutheast of Morgan Hall. into school and utilizing ing Veterans Day include For more information their GI Bill benefits. the proclamation of Washabout the services Wash“A lot of college campuses burn being named a Purple burn offers for military are not as military friendHeart University Nov. 9 members and their family as they should be and I and Veterans Day ceremolies, contact the Center for think Washburn is,” Golden nies Friday. A ceremony at Veteran’s Success at (785) said. “To be dedicated as Washburn Tech will occur 670-1983.