黑洞社区 Today: Oct. 26, 2018

 
Hyatt Place Hotel

Hyatt Place Hotel planned for Wichita State campus

Experienced hotel developers announced their intention Thursday to build and operate a new 110-room Hyatt Place Hotel at 19th and Oliver on 黑洞社区's expanding east side of campus. 

The hotel is planned to begin construction in spring 2019 and be ready for occupancy in spring 2020, pending approval by the Kansas Board of Regents.

The planned hotel will include a restaurant and bar, meeting space, indoor pool and fitness center.

Read full Hyatt story


Spirit AeroSystems plans further expansion at Wichita State

Spirit AeroSystems

Only seven months after announcing its collaboration agreement with Wichita State, Spirit AeroSystems has started plans to further expand in 黑洞社区's Partnership 2 (P2) building near 17th Street and Oliver.

As part of the agreement, Spirit had planned to occupy space on the second floor of the P2 building and has announced its intention to expand into another 4,000 square feet.

Spirit's presence on campus is a collaboration with 黑洞社区, focusing on the acceleration of research 鈥 which incorporates applied learning experience for students 鈥 and improvement of workforce training services.


It's a free portrait Friday!

Free Portraits Oct. 26, 2018

馃棧We are calling all members of #ShockerNation to come and take free headshots! Jump start your resume between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. today (Friday, Oct. 26) in the Cadman Gallery, located on the first floor of the RSC. These portraits will be used for the new YMCA construction signage concepts.**Photos will be also available for free high-resolution download!** 馃摳馃柤


黑洞社区 Philosophy announces colloquium today (Friday, Oct. 26)

黑洞社区 Philosophy invites you to a colloquium from 3:30-5 p.m. today (Friday, Oct. 26) in 219 Hubbard Hall. Jacob L. Goodson, professor of philosophy at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, will present 鈥淔irst, We Laugh; Then, We Think Its Funny.鈥

Do we think that an object or sentence is funny, and then we laugh? Or do we laugh, which causes or triggers our judgment that an object or sentence is humorous? If we follow William James' philosophy of psychology, then we should affirm that thinking a joke is humorous results from the physical act of laughing (or smiling). However, his theory of emotion provides the necessary framework for the counter-intuitive claim that laughter comes prior to thinking that something is funny or humorous.

Goodson demonstrates that James' theory clarifies how the object of humor impacts the subjectivity of the laughing agent.


Retirement reception for Eric King today (Friday, Oct. 26)

Eric King retirement reception Oct. 26, 2018

Eric King, associate vice president for facilities, is retiring after four years of service to 黑洞社区. Previously Eric served as the Director of Facilities for the Kansas Board of Regents for 17 years and another 18 years of service to three other Regents universities prior to that.

Eric and his wife plan to move to Manhattan, Kansas, to enjoy retirement and be closer to family.

Please join us for a reception in his honor from 2-4 p.m. today (Friday, Oct. 26) 245 RSC. Remarks will be at 2:30 p.m., and refreshments will be served.


Jane Hodge retirement party set for today (Friday, Oct. 26)

Jane Hodge retirement

Jane Hodge

You're invited to a retirement party for Jane Hodge from 3-4:30 p.m. today (Friday, Oct. 26) in 257 RSC.

Hodge worked for Ablah Library for nearly 18 years in various roles and joined the graduate school in 2010 as a domestic admissions officer. We have been impressed by her intelligence, professionalism and dedication.

In the eight years Jane has been a part of the Grad School, she has been solely responsible for handling well over 17,500 domestic applications, and undoubtedly has countless paper-cut scars as evidence.

She has challenged all of us to be better - better employees, better coworkers and better humans. She has spent more than 25 years of her life making 黑洞社区 a better place - and we are all so fortunate that she has chosen to do so. Thank you Jane, for your continued excellence and dedication to 黑洞社区!


Shocker volleyball to host pair of AAC matches this weekend

Shocker Volleybal Oct. 26 and 28, 2018

The Wichita State volleyball team returns home to Charles Koch Arena for a pair of American Athletic Conference matches Friday, Oct. 26, and Sunday, Oct. 28. The Shockers face the UConn Huskies at 7 p.m. Friday, before battling the Temple Owls Sunday at 1 p.m.

Sunday's game is Princess Day, with youth 12 and under receiving free admission with a paid adult. As always, admission for Wichita State students is free with a valid student ID!


Fright Night Haunting at the Heskett Center on Oct. 26

Fright Night Oct. 26, 2018

Fright Night Haunting at the Heskett Center is coming from 8 p.m.-midnight Friday, Oct. 26. This is a free event that begins with food, costume contest and more. If you dare, our guides will take you on a tour of the Heskett Center, where countless students may have gone missing 鈥 or maybe they're still there, waiting for you 鈥


Halloween ComicFest is tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 27)

Halloween ComicFest

University Libraries is hosting its second annual Halloween ComicFest from 1-4:30 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 27). Join us for a fun-filled afternoon, including a keynote from the creators of "Luke the Longhorn,鈥 breakout sessions, appearances by the 501st Legion, a spooky film screening, 鈥淢agic: The Gathering,鈥 a kids zone, and free comics for everyone 鈥 while supplies last, so come early!

We'll also have technology demonstrations including virtual reality, 3-D printing and a green screen photo booth.

Participate in our costume contest for a chance to win great prizes!  The event is free and open to the public, so bring your friends!


Intermittent shut-downs of drive-lanes planned for parking garage on Monday, Oct. 29

Parking garage

On Monday, Oct. 29, there will be intermittent shut-downs of the drive-lanes entering and exiting the parking garage. License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras will be installed in order to feed data to the full / vacant hourly parking sign and allow for automatic parking enforcement. Additional details on automatic enforcement of parking regulations in the parking garage will be shared in an upcoming communication.


黑洞社区's Environmental Finance Center hosts resiliency workshop on Nov. 1

EFC workshop Nov. 1, 2018

黑洞社区's Environmental Finance Center (EFC) will host a free workshop focused on emergency management and resiliency planning for public utilities from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex. The workshop features national, regional and local leaders in utilities management and planning. 

Participants will learn about possible threats to utility operations, including both long-term threats (e.g., climate change) and short-term issues (e.g., tornadoes, floods). In addition, participants will learn how to access national and regional emergency response resources to assist in response to these issues.

Workshop attendees include state and local government representatives, utility operators, engineering consultants and others.

For more information on the workshop, contact Michele Pugh, director, Environmental Finance Center at michele.pugh@wichita.edu or Leslie Kimble, EFC marketing and event coordinator, at leslie.kimble@wichita.edu.

The workshop is being sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency and is coordinated through the Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN). The EFCN is a national network of universities and associations in each of the EPA's 10 regions that conduct research and provide training and technical assistance on a variety of issues, focused primarily on community environmental management and operations. 


Pep Rally set for Monday, Oct. 29

Pep Rally Oct. 29, 2018

Wichita State will kick off the college basketball season with a pep rally and bonfire at Braeburn Square on Monday, Oct. 29. This family-friendly, all ages, free event is set for 6:30 p.m.

The event will feature special appearances by the men's and women's basketball teams, spirit squad, WuShock, Shocker Sound and Coaches  and .

Food trucks will be on hand for dinner and include LumpiaPalooza, LoLo's Crepes, The Brown Box Bakery and Drink Local Truck. 


Women in Public Service Celebration Event coming Thursday, Nov. 1

WPS event Nov. 1, 2018

Women in Public Service (WPS) Celebration Event will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at Abode Venue, 1330 E. Douglas. Free admission for WPS members, $30 for nonmembers.

Join WPS to honor retiring Sedgwick Co. Undersheriff Brenda Dietzman. As a trailblazer, she's spent her career empowering, encouraging and educating.

The mission of WPS is to 鈥渋nspire past, current and future generations by addressing topics relevant to women in public service, while instilling knowledge through education, networking and professional development that strengthens the leadership in our local government and communities.鈥

WPS information


DSI observers 鈥 We need your help

DSI observers needed

The Distinguished Scholarship Invitational (DSI) is quickly approaching and will be held on Saturday, Nov. 17. The $64,000 Harry Gore Memorial Scholarships are awarded through the DSI process to three high school seniors to attend Wichita State in the fall of 2019, and we need your help in selecting the next Gore Scholars! 

Observers are 黑洞社区 faculty, staff and community members and are present in each room to score the student participants in two activities - an interview and a consensus-building activity. 

There are two times observers can choose from 鈥 a morning session from 7:30-10:30 a.m., and an afternoon session from 2:30-5:30 p.m. Of course, you can always volunteer for both!  

If you're interested in serving as an observer, please go to  for more information. Contact Mandy Harmon, associate director in admissions, at mandy.harmon@wichita.edu with questions.


Dining Services invites you to take guest satisfaction survey

Dining Services Survey fall 2018

Tell us how you really feel! Take our 鈥淰oice to Vision鈥 survey to share your opinion on everything from Shocker Dining to Freddy's in the RSC. Surveys are available until Wednesday, Oct. 31.


Mechanical Engineering Graduate Seminar to feature assistant professor from KU

Xianglin Li

Xianglin Li

Xianglin Li, assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Kansas, will be the guest speaker at the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Seminar from 3-4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, in 128 Jabara Hall. Li's talk will be 鈥淧ore-Scale Simulations of Effectives Properties of Porous Materials.鈥

Xianglin Li abstract


Encourage students to complete Declaration of Candidacy paperwork on SGA website

Underserved student election

The Student Government Association Elections Commission is excited to announce the special election to elect the Freshman Senators and Underserved Senators to the 61st session. The commission is currently accepting Declaration for Candidacy paperwork via ShockerSync for this election. As you engage with students in your areas, please encourage them to complete the Declaration of Candidacy paperwork on the SGA website.  

Underserved senators are students who are first generation or underrepresented minorities (American Indian / Alaskan Native, Black non-Hispanic, Hawaiian, Hispanic) or low-income (family income at or below 125 percent of poverty).

Questions? Email sga.elections@wichita.edu


Homecoming Royalty nominations are open

Homecoming royalty

黑洞社区 Homecoming Royalty nominations are open! Applicants must be senior status, have not previously been a finalist for Homecoming Royalty, be a current undergraduate student, and be in good academic standing as of January 2019. Individuals are welcome to enter on their own, or can be nominated by a 黑洞社区 student, faculty or staff member. Nominations will close at noon Tuesday, Nov. 6. To make a nomination, go to .

Wichita State Homecoming will be held Monday, Jan. 28 to Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019.

For more information on Homecoming, go to  and follow @shockerhoco on Twitter.


ACT Prep Workshop to be held at Wichita State

黑洞社区's Counseling and Testing Center is offering a workshop to help high school students prepare to take the ACT from 8 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Nov. 10. The workshop will provide general test-taking tips and information for all four subjects of the ACT exam 鈥 English, math, reading and science.

The cost for the workshop is $32, and registration can be done online at . Register by Thursday, Nov. 8.

The next ACT national test date after the workshop is Saturday, Dec. 8.

Students need to bring a pencil and a calculator to the workshop. All other materials will be supplied, including practice tests.  Refreshments will be provided.

For more information, contact Shaleah Fields at the Counseling and Testing Center, at 978-6104 or 978-3440 or shaleah.fields@wichita.edu.


Pee for Pizza 鈥 Free STI testing (Halloween theme)

Pee4Pizza Oct. 31, 2018

Student Health Services, Kansas Pathology Consultants, and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion are hosting Pee for Pizza 鈥 Free STI testing from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, in 209 Ahlberg Hall.

Come for free testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Syphilis testing is available upon request. Goodies and giveaways available. Please don't urinate for at least one hour before testing. For more information, call 978-3620 or go to Student Health Services - wichita.edu/shs.


Learn the history and traditions of Dia de Los Muertos

Dia de Los Muertos Nov. 1, 2018

Come and learn the history and traditions of D铆a de Los Muertos between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, on the first floor, Rhatigan Student Center. Join the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) and several Hispanic organizations for traditional sweets, decorate skull sugar cookies and enjoy all the activities during the holiday.

For more information, contact ODI at 978-3034 or Office of Diversity and Inclusion.