Washburn University professor holds ‘Movie Night’ for international students (edit)

           Since the fall of 2013, there has been a regular activity called ‘Movie Night’ held by Washburn faculty member Larry McFall.

McFall holds the event at his house every Friday night.

            “In talking with my Intensive English students before and after classes, I learned that many of them really enjoyed movies,” said McFall. “I thought the movie night might provide a fun, but safe social outlet for the student to keep them working on their English.”

            McFall also holds Sunday afternoon culture discussions for international students to improve their English. IN recent semesters, however, he has been teaching basic level students who need a higher level of English to appreciate the movie discussions. So in recent semesters the students who came to the event heard about it through word of mouth.

            “They aren’t my students,” said McFall. “I’m actually very happy about this because I know in some cultures a student might feel obligated to come to an activity sponsored by his or her teacher. We want the students who come to come out of their own desire and not a sense of obligation to their teacher.”

            The hardest thing for McFall and his family is saying goodbye to so many friends that they have come to know. Most of the students they meet are only here for a semester or two. He may never see his friends who have gone back to China, Japan, Saudi Arabia, or wherever their home may be, ever again.

            “Saying goodbye is one of the most difficult things in this life,” McFall said.

He also sais that he is thankful and that he enjoys the time with the students.   

Chartwells will have a lasting effecting

Recently, Washburn and Chartwells signed a new 10-year contract that will last through the 2025 school year. For some, that did not go over well.

Chartwells has been known for not many good things. Students argue that along with the lack of selection and high prices in the union, Chartwells has to cater things instead of a different company. For example, if there was a banquet in the Washburn A/B room and whoever was holding the banquet wanted Hog Wild to cater it, Chartwells would not allow it. Whatever is catered on campus, comes from chartwells.

On top of a catering issue, a domino effect takes place as soon as you select which meal plan you want. If you select the highest meal plan while living in the Living Learning Center, you basically need to eat two and a half meals there everyday in order to get down to the price you need at the end of the semester because after the second semester the money does not carry over. With having to eat multiple meals there everyday, you begin to become sick-and-tired of the lack of selection choices. Sandwiches are only good so many times and greasy food and pasta are not something to have every day.

At the end of the day, an argument could be made that Chartwells is really screwing over students from the moment you click on the meal plan that you want.

Washburn Review Editing - 2nd Shift

      The second editing shift that I did with the Washburn Review for MM422 occurred during the Oct. 27 production night. Since the paper only did 12 pages for this issue Kenzie and I were only in charge of one pop culture page consisting of one major story: "Gilmore Girls revival excites loyal fans." 
      We were slightly shorthanded due to the absence of our overall editors so everyone had to lend an extra hand in copy-editing and page design. I was asked to write the issue's weekly editorial about the homecoming week wrap-up on the fly. It was good to experience the feeling of having to work under pressure for a newspaper. It made me feel good to know that I was able to help out in a positive way that made the other editors' lives a little less chaotic and stressful. 
       Although I didn't do as much copy-editing as I normally do on Tuesdays, I was able to help revamp some headlines and create some appealing, descriptive photo cutlines. It was another successful, productive evening in the Student Media office. 

Washburn Review Editing - 1st Shift

     Being an employee for Student Media and the assistant pop culture editor for the Washburn Review has made it convenient for me to complete these required editing shifts. I go in every Tuesday afternoon/evening to assist with production night. The biggest task associated with production night, aside from laying out pages on InDesign, is copy-editing all the stories, cutlines, briefs, etc. 
     The first editing shift I did for MM422 was on Oct. 13. I helped my senior pop culture editor, Kenzie McCoy, in assembling our page on InDesign while copy-editing all of our stories. When copy-editing for the Review it's a relief to know that multiple editors read through the stories; it's not uncommon for someone else to catch a mistake that you accidentally overlooked. Tonight the stories I focused on were "Honey Boo Boo songs brings popularity," "John Green's 'Looking for Alaska' captures public eye" and "Fall break brings students relief and relaxation." I had to apply major edits to one particular story for that issue, which really forced me to exercise my knowledge of AP style. 
     Overall, it was a positive production night/MM422 editing shift that helped me strengthen my copy-editing skills. 

Students plan success

College students are notorious for having busy schedules. Having good time management skills is very important to the overall success of the students. When it comes to school, work and other activities, bad management could contribute to a less than healthy body. 

Students usually end up sacrificing something; whether it's sleep, study time or nutrition. Effort is spent more on certain activities than others. For example, students spend long hours studying and do not get enough sleep at night. Busy work schedules make it more difficult to a healthy meal and sometimes students simply turn to fast food. 

However, it may be worth the effort to get adequate sleep and not skip meals. In an article by the National Institution of Mental Health, a lack of sleep can result in decreased performance, concentration and even reaction time. Adults should aim to get eight hours of sleep each night (education.com). 

There are many negative side effects to skipping meals. Not only does skipping meals decrease the metabolic rate, but it also zaps whatever energy remains in our bodies and can also impair our concentration. That's why it is recommended to eat a good breakfast and get a good night's sleep before a test day. Our bodies should be functioning at their best, physically, so we can perform at our best, mentally. 

Another essential to a high energy level is water. Dehydration is a common factor of fatigue. Drinking enough water each day helps a lot of bodily functions. A quick tip: if you are drinking only filtered water, make sure to supplement with an electrolyte drink, bottled water is stripped of all minerals. 

Food: Try to eat as much natural food as possible. While fresh fruits may be more expensive, it is worth it if you want your body to perform at its best. When food is processed, the nutritious parts are eliminated, and artificial additives take their place. Many online resources offer tips on preparing healthy and budget friendly meals. 

Studies have shown high energy levels in the body also relieve stress and can increase an individual's overall happiness. So if you are looking to boost your energy, remember to eat fresh foods, get enough sleep and drink water. 

Free Chipotle offered in Mabee on Mondays

Every Monday at noon in Mabee Library, the Chipotle Ethics workshop provides engaging discussion on ethics, morals and leadership; and free Chipotle. 

The Center for Student Success offers workshops to provide students with the opportunities to learn and improve on skills necessary to succeed. One set of these, started by James Barraclough, director of student success, offers more than tips. 

The Center for Student Success is responsible for Academic Advising, Academic Testing, the First Year Experience, the Tutoring and Writing Center, the “Think 30 to finish in four” campaign, and a variety of success workshops. All are aimed at providing students with tools to make the most of their time at Washburn.  

The workshop, titled “Chipotle Ethics,” is a weekly meeting that entices students with free chipotle. The topics covered in the seminars range from skills to be successful, to ethical and moral dilemmas faced in everyday life. The workshop is led by Dr. David Carter and discusses issues and topics that relate to young leaders at the university level. 

Chipotle Ethics is only open to 20 students per session, so plan accordingly. You can see the complete Center for Student Success schedule here and the Chipotle Ethics sign-up page here.

Millennials Rent: Come for the cost, stay for the benefits [Edit]

Recent reports show that with college costs on the rise, students are graduating with more debt than ever. A higher debt-to-income ratio results in la lower number of homes. An article by Forbes.com reported that homeownership for 18 to 34 year-olds was at an all-time low of 13.2% in 2014.

However, the choice to own a home is not always related to money. The drop in homeownership may have to do with the amenities and other services offered at apartment complexes. Many apartment complexes have gyms, pools, media centers, tanning beds and a clubhouses. The cost to add those features to a single-family home would be out of the budget for most young people.

Another perk of living in an apartment is having a sense of community. In an apartment setting, it's easier to have a relationship with the people next door. Knowing your neighbors also adds a layer of protection. Statistics show that strong neighborly bonds can reduce crime in the community.

Although apartment living is less personal, it's more simple to rent. Renters of apartments do not have to worry as much about maintenance or lawn care. If a pipe breaks or a toilet clogs, there is no out-of-pocket cost to the renter; a call to maintenance will solve the problem.

Potential renters research properties and landlords to ensure the location has a good reputation, trustworthy management and efficient maintenance. Slow maintenance or broken amenities can create an unpleasant atmosphere, along with a unit where smells can permeate through the walls. For example, if  you live next door to a heavy smoker, you may be exposed to secondhand smoke. 

Weigh the pros and cons yourself. Renting is temporary, so if you don't get it right the first time, you can always change it up and try something new the next time. Perks of being a millennial. 

Washburn University professor holds ‘Movie Night’ for international students

From the fall of 2013, there is a regular activity called ‘Movie Night’ that hold by Larry McFall. This activity is placed at his house every Friday night.

“In talking with my Intensive English students before and after classes, I learned that many of them really enjoyed movies,” said McFall. “I thought the ‘Movie Night’ might provide a fun but safe social outlet for the students and keep them working on their English.” Besides, McFall also hold Sunday afternoon culture discussions for international students to improve their English.

McFall started with invitations to students who were in his classes. However, in recent semesters he have been teaching basic level students who need to have a higher level of English to appreciate the movie discussions. So in recent semesters the students who have come have heard simply by word of mouth.

“They aren’t my students. I’m actually very happy about this because I know in some cultures, a student might feel obligated to come to an activity sponsored by his or her teacher. We want the students who come to come out of their own desire and not a sense of obligation to their teacher,” he said.

The hardest thing for McFall and his family is saying goodbye to so many friends they have come to know. Most of the students they meet are only here for a semester or two. He may never see his friends who have gone back to China or Japan or Saudi Arabia or Senegal or Bangladesh or wherever again.

“Saying goodbye is one of the most difficult things in this life. That’s why death is so hard,” he said.
McFall said he will not stop ‘Movie Night’ until the students stop coming to his house. He enjoy and thankful for the time that with his students.

Big events on campus this Thursday

Washburn Student Government Association will be tabling in Memorial Union on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015, for the It's On Us Pledge. This year there has been a sexual assault task force implemented into the senate that promotes awareness, implements safety precautions and provides a safe atmosphere for students on our campus. The task force is bringing the pledge to our campus because it is designed for individual's to take responsibility for themselves and their actions, while also taking responsibility for not being a bystander to sexual assault. WSGA collaborated with Dr. Sharon Sullivan in efforts to create this event. There will be whistles given out when students sign the pledge to promote safety and awareness.

Thursday night at 6 p.m. is the Take Back the Night march and vigil. There are only 10 cities in the United States that are hosts of this event. Topeka, Kansas, was one of the lucky few to be chosen this year. The march will begin at 6 p.m. and then the vigil will take place following the march. This event was created to empower survivors and community members to feel safe on the streets that they live in.

The last event on Thursday, Oct. 29, will be at 8:15 p.m. Following Take Back the Night, WSGA will also be having a movie night featuring the Disney Channel movie, "Halloweentown." The event will be held in Henderson 100 and there will be refreshments for the taking.

For more about the It's On Us Pledge or Take Back the Night, click on the names and it will take you to their websites.

Spring schedule causes panic for mass media students (edit)

It may be to believe that it's already that time of year to enroll for the next spring semester. The course catalog is now available on the Washburn University website.

While looking at the course catalog online, mass media students who are planning to graduate in May of 2016 may experience slight panic when they see that the class “promotion writing” will be offered online in the spring. This class has not been offered in several years, and the mass media department has allowed students to take another upper division elective to fulfill the writing class requirement. Several students have already taken a special topic elective titled “Murder, Media, Mayhem: Crime Reporting” that is taught by adjunct lecturer, Timothy Hrenchir, who currently works for the Topeka Capital Journal.

According to department lecturer, Regina Cassell, students who have taken a substitute for the course during the time it was not being offered will not be required to take the class. The substitute will still satisfy the requirement. This comes as a big sigh of relief for those who are expecting to graduate in either spring or summer 2016.

Be sure to keep a look at your email, to ensure you don’t miss advising for the spring. Senior registration begins on Monday, Nov. 2. Check with your advisor to ensure your proper date to enroll because it is based on class rank.

Celebrate Veterans Day with Washburn

On November 11, 2015, Washburn is having a Veterans Day ceremony honoring all of the brave men and women who have served in the United States military.

This will be Washburn's 28th time doing the ceremony. Washburn having this ceremony for decades shows how appreciative the college is for those who have served and that those who have serves should be recognized for the sacrifices they have made in order to protect the United States. The ceremony will be at the SE corner of Morgan Hall.

There is four events which are: - 11:45 a.m. Cleansing and blessing, Vietnam Memorial - 11:55 a.m. Memorial balloon release for Agent Orange Victims (see below) - 12:00 p.m. Program - 1:00 p.m. Reception in Washburn Memorial Union Agent Orange Victims were exposed to two different herbicides that was used in the Vietnam War in 1962-1971.

It was a war tactic used on Vietnamese, but Americans that were fighting in the war were exposed to it as well. Some symptoms that came out of this concoction of mixing the two herbicides were cleft palate, mental disabilities, extra limbs, genetic diseases, skin lesions, cancers, sore joints, liver damage, etc.

 If there is bad weather on November 11, you can contact Student Services at 785.670.1629 to see what changes have been made to the ceremony. Come out and show your local veterans support and thanks.

Simple tips to get your energy back and improve your health

College students are notorious for having a schedule that's full to the brim. This can be good and bad, depending on how all those activities are managed. When it comes to school, work and other activities, bad management could contribute to a less healthy body. 

Students usually end up sacrificing something; it's a rare feat that every single task and goal gets accomplished. Something has to go. Effort is spent more on certain activities than others. For example, occasionally studying takes precedence over sleep and work somehow decreases the likelihood of eating a proper meal. It happens, occasionally. 

However, it may be worth the effort to catch those extra Z's and not skip meals. 

In an article by the National Institution of Mental Health, a lack of sleep can result in a decrease in performance, concentration and even reaction time. Eight hours of sleep is the magic number suggested for adults (education.com). 

As far as skipping meals go, the side effects outweigh any positives. Not only does skipping meals actually decrease the metabolic rate, but it also zaps whatever energy remains in our bodies and can also impair our concentration. That's why we hear that eating a good breakfast and getting a good night's sleep is good before a test day. Our bodies should be functioning at their best, physically, so we can perform at our best, mentally. 

Another essential to a high energy level is water. Dehydration is a common factor of fatigue. Drinking enough water each day helps a lot of bodily functions. It's meant to be. A quick tip: if you are drinking only filtered water, make sure to supplement with an electrolyte drink, as bottled water is stripped of all minerals. 

Food. Try to eat as much real food as possible. It's hard, but worth it if you want your bod to perform at its best. The less that has been done to the food, the better. When food is processed, the nutritious parts are eliminated, and artificial additives take their place. There are tons of places to learn how to prepare the easiest, yummiest nutritious foods (and still be able to afford rent). The answer is almost guaranteed to be in a blog on Pinterest, somewhere. 

Higher energy in the body also relieves stress, and can increase the level of happiness within. If you think you wouldn't mind more energy or happiness in every day, try and make it yourself. 

My homecoing dancing party experience

“ Oh don’t you dare look back, just keep your eyes on me. I said your holding back, she said shut up and dance with me.This woman is my destiny, she said oh oh oh, shut up and dance with me.” this is lyric from Maroon 5’s song, I felt very excited when I heard this song in the dancing party, because Maroon 5 is my favorite American music group. That was the first time for me to attend dancing party, so I felt little nervous at the beginning. When the music started, everyone danced with music, even though I didn't know how to dance, I still tried my best to follow their steps. I danced with my friend when we heard a very romantic song. At the later part of the dancing party, almost every girls took off their high-heel and continue to dance. It seems everyone feel very excited last night! That will become one of my best American experience!

Health care career fair hosted at Washburn University

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015, Career Services at Washburn University hosted its annual health care career fair for students interested in employment in health care. This fair was open to all majors. The event was held from noon to 2:30 p.m. in Washburn A and B rooms in the Memorial Union.

I attended the fair because I already work for St. Francis Health, and previously at Stormont-Vail Health care, the two largest health care systems in Topeka, so I wanted to see what other companies besides those two would be present. To my surprise, there were many home health, self-owned medical groups, as well as other skilled-nursing facilities present at this fair.  All students who attended dressed professionally and came prepared as they talked to future employers.

The recruiters were all nice, friendly, and very helpful. Students were able to ask specific questions about their majors, current and future employment opportunities, internships, as well as non-career related topics such as care and missions of their organizations.

Washburn will host another health career fair spring 2016 for all majors interested in health care. For more information, contact career services on campus, and keep a look out for upcoming posters around campus. 

Immigrant population in Shawnee County nearly doubles since 2000

Foreign-born population remains a small minority in the Topeka region, but since 2000 the area has seen an influx of immigrants. According to the Topeka Capital-Journal, the immigrant population has grown from 4,554 in 2000 to 8,124 in 2013, which is a 7percent increase over the period, while the overall population has increased from 169,871 to 178,378, or just a 5percent increase over the same period. In other words, out of the 8,507 overall increase, 3,570 or about 4percent is from the increase in foreign-born residents.

The immigrant population is quite diverse, with nearly 60percen from Latin America and 20percent of Asian origin, and also in two extremes when it comes to education level: on the one end are those who have not completed high-school, and on the other are those with college education and beyond. According to the figures reported, immigrants were actually more likely to be employed than native Kansas residents with over 69percent reporting they had a job (Capital-Journal did not report what the comparable number is for native residents).

The increase in foreign-born residents has led to a growth in the English-language learning programs, with the Topeka USD 501 recently hiring 19 new teachers. The ELL student body has risen from 851 in 2010 to 1,750 in 2015, more than doubling in a span of five years. The majority of the student population counts Spanish as their native tongue, but there are other students from all kinds of cultural background.

Topeka area is not known for being the most international area, the recent growth in immigrant population is a welcoming sign of globalization and bringing in different cultures from around the world. The influx of these residents is also providing much needed labor: the number of working-age Americans aged 35-44 has been on the decrease in Topeka in recent years. The integration of Topeka's newest residents to the local community will be the key to continued prosperity and growth in Shawnee County and the rest of Kansas.

Washburn University celebrates 150th anniversary at Homecoming Ball (edit)

On Monday, Oct. 19, students celebrated Washburn University’s 150th anniversary at the Homecoming Ball in the Memorial Union Washburn rooms.

Students dressed up and danced the night away with their fellow Ichabods. The night was filled with fun, music and food. Students also had their photo taken by Kornerbooth Photography studio.

Outside the Washburn rooms, a top hat fundraising competition took place. Student organizations were assigned a specific decade and designed hand-made themed hats to match the time period. Students could then cast their vote by donating change to the hat of their choice or pay $50 to buy the hat.

Halfway through the event, the 2015 Homecoming Court was announced. The queen candidates are seniors Alexa Bowen, Emily Zimmerman and Kaitlyn Truesdell, and juniors Madison Wiegers and Catherine Steuart.

The king candidates are seniors Forrest Evans, Daniel Minton, Slater Champlin and Parker Gallion, and junior Ryan Kelly.

Students who want to cast their vote for Homecoming king and queen must do so before Oct. 24. Voting can be done online at my.washburn.edu or in the Memorial Union from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Homecoming king and queen will be announced during halftime at the homecoming football game in Yager Stadium on Friday, Oct. 24. To learn more about homecoming week, click here.

Students shake it off at homecoming dance

     Students grooved to the music in celebration of the start of the 150th homecoming during the Homecoming Ball at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 in the Washburn A/B room of Memorial Union on the campus of Washburn University.
     This Monday night gathering allowed students to dress up, tear up the dance floor and party with their fellow Ichabods. The DJ provided a variety of slow and fast tunes while students got photos taken by a photographer from Kornerbooth Photography in Lawrence. 
     In the hallway outside the Washburn A/B room the entries from the top hat competition were on display. Student organizations and other Washburn groups designed custom-made themed hats in accordance with their assigned decade. This competition served as a dual fundraising auction with the students donating change to their favorite hat's jar or utilizing the "Buy It Now" option, which directs the individual to pay $50 and then allows them to keep the hat after the week ends.
     At the dance's halfway point, Jessica Barraclough, director of Student Activities and Greek Life, announced all the nominees up for homecoming royalty. Out of approximately 30 candidates only 10, five women and five men, were selected for the homecoming court. 
     The Homecoming Court for 2015 consisted of the following queen candidates: Madison Wiegers, junior health information technology major; Alexa Bowen, senior business major; Emily Zimmerman, senior communication studies major; Catherine Steuart, junior elementary education major; and Kaitlyn Truesdell, senior business major. 
     The king candidates are Forrest Evans, senior music education major; Daniel Minton, senior biology major; Slater Champlin, senior forensics science major; Ryan Kelly, junior marketing and international business major; and Parker Gallion, senior nursing major. 
     Students are encouraged to cast their vote for their top pick for queen and king candidate before Oct. 24 in the Memorial Union or online at mywashburn.edu. The Homecoming King and Queen will be revealed during halftime at the homecoming football game Oct. 24 in Yager Stadium. The game's kickoff is set for 2 p.m.

Be ready for after graduation

The fall semester is already halfway over. Some seniors are graduating this December and the rest will graduate in the spring. Many students are anxious about what to expect from life after college. Students often wonder what skills they need to present to a potential employer.

Washburn Career Services wants to make sure that Washburn students are prepared for the transition from college life to the professional world.

Career Services is offering Mock Interview Day Nov. 4. These mock interviews are to prepare students for some interview questions and scenarios that one might encounter in the professional world.

The mock interviews will be conducted with professional recruiters. The interviews will be 20 minutes long with 10 minutes of feedback on how to improve. Students must sign up in advance through their BodJobs student account.

Career Services specialist Duane Williams says spaces are limited and encourages students to sign up for this no-risk opportunity.

Washburn Review editing round two

Yesterday I went and completed my second hour of editing at the Washburn Review. This time around I felt much more comfortable and at ease editing than I did the first time. It was a lot better knowing what to expect. Colleen was a huge help and she is great to work with! All of the staff at the Review seemed to love what they were doing and were all happy to be around each other. It made for a fun atmosphere. Overall, I would say I had a positive experience at the Review and it helped me in my editing skills.

I spent more than enough time editing stories for the WU Review. It was fun to get to correct people when they were wrong... Just kidding. It was tough to do though. it was a tedious task that is of vital importance. Much respect for Colleen and the other editors around the globe making the writers look good.

Spring schedule agitates mass media students

 It is hard to believe it's already that time of year to enroll for the next semester. The course catalog is now available on the Washburn University website, and seniors enroll Nov. 4.

While looking at the course catalog online, mass media students who are planning to graduate in May of 2016 may experience slight panic when they see that the class Promotion Writing will be offered online in the spring. This class has not been offered in several years, and the mass media department has allowed students to take another upper division elective to fulfill the writing class requirement.

Several students have already taken a special topic elective titled Murder, Media, Mayhem: Crime Reporting that is taught by adjunct lecturer, Timothy  Hrenchir, who currently works for the Topeka Capital-Journal.

According to department lecturer, Regina Cassell, students who have taken a substitute for the course during the time it was not being offered will not be required to take the class. The substitute will still satisfy the requirement. This comes as a big sigh of relief for those who are expecting to graduate in either spring or summer 2016.

Be sure to keep a look at your email to ensure you don’t miss advising for the spring. Advanced registration opens Nov. 2. Make sure to check with your adviser to ensure your proper date to enroll, as it is based on class rank.

Dole to serve as grand marshall [Edited Again]

The Honorable Robert J. Dole will serve as the grand marshal in the 2015 Homecoming Parade  Saturday, Oct. 24.

Dole graduated from Washburn with a bachelor of arts and juris doctor degrees in 1952. He held elected positions as a Russell County attorney, Representative of Kansas and a United States Congressman before he was elected to the U.S. Senate. In his 30 years with the Senate, he was chairman of the Republican national committee and the Senate Majority leader in which he set a record as longest-serving Republican leader.

In 1976, Dole was President Ford’s vice presidential running mate and a presidential candidate in 1988 and 1996.

Washburn University has honored him with many awards including Honorary Doctor of Law in 1969, Honorary Doctor of Civil Law in 1985 and the Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1966. Washburn Law honored Dole with the Law Alumni Association Distinguished service Award in 1981 and Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.

Since retiring, Dole has been traveling around the state endorsing and speaking for state officials during reelection.

Dole will ride in the first convertible of the homecoming parade with President Farley and his wife, Susan.

The Homecoming Week celebration is Oct. 18 through Oct. 25. The week long celebration includes traditions such as Yell Like Hell and Top Hat decorating.

The Grand Tailgate, Bow Tie Bash and Grand Finale are special Homecoming events in celebration of Washburn’s 150th anniversary.

Students are encouraged to attend the events throughout the week and become involved in activities. 

The week will finish up with the football game against the University of Central Oklahoma, which starts at 2 p.m. at Yager Stadium.

Washburn student attendance lacks at football games (EDITED)

The stands at football games this year are looking like a morgue due to lack of participation from students. 

I have began to notice a trend at football games within my four years of attending Washburn University. Every year the first football game always starts off with a full student section. The stands are filled with students with painted chests who are full of Washburn spirit. As the season continues, the crowd dwindles down with every home game. 

There also seems to be a correlation of how the Ichabod's season goes and the student attendance at games. Although when homecoming comes around, the stands will be filled with fans once more. The only section that seems to stay consistent is the alumni section. The dedicated alumni never seem to have missed a game since they graduated 20 years ago. 

Greek life usually lasts the longest in attendance at games but in the end, they seem to dissipate as well. At the beginning of the season, the hill where the fraternities and sororities sit usually starts off with all of them showing their letters and filling the hill. Though one can see they have a lot of school spirit, it tends to die off. After awhile, it seems that they all stay outside and tailgate or not even show up. 

In past years, the cheerleaders would rotate each quarter to cheer for the student section. Since participation is lacking, they no longer go to the other side of the field. This restricts the cheerleaders from interacting with the band who have always been the loudest people in the stands. 

With homecoming being this upcoming week, there is hope to have the stands full so the crowd could cheer the Ichabods on to a victory. The cheerleaders would love more than anything to cheer for the students of Washburn University.

Millennials opt to rent over purchase housing

With college costs on the rise, each year students are graduating with more and more debt. Having a higher debt to income ratio means many less young professionals are purchasing homes. An article by Forbes.com reported in 2014 homeownership for 18-34 year-olds was at an all time low of 13.2 percent.

However, the choice to rent is not limited to money. Millennials enjoy the amenities of apartment complexes. Many apartment complexes offer gyms, pools, media centers, tanning beds and a clubhouse that can be used to hold parties. The cost to add these features to a single family home would be far out of reach for many young professionals.

Another perk of living in an apartment is having a sense of community. In an apartment setting it is easier to get to know the people living around you. Knowing neighbors adds a layer of protection. Statistics have shown having strong bonds with neighbors can reduce crime in the community.

It's also convenient. Living in an apartment millennials do not have to worry about maintenance or where to store yard care equipment. If a pipe breaks or a toilet clogs there is no out of pocket cost to the renter, a call to maintenance will get the problem solved quickly.

However, potential renters should be sure to do research on properties and landlords to ensure the company has a good reputations and maintenance is taken care of promptly. Slow maintenance or broken amenities can make for  a very unpleasant atmosphere. Another problem with renting is that smells can permeate through the walls. When living next door to a heavy smoker, smoke may permeate through the walls resulting in exposure to secondhand smoke. 

Washburn students lack interest in attending football games.

The lack of participation from students at football games has the stands looking like a morgue.

Going to Washburn for four years now I have started notice a trend at the football games. Every year the first football game always starts off with a full student section. There are people with painted chest and full of Washburn spirit. But with every home game after the crowd dwindles until homecoming the stand will be filled once more. The only section that seems to stay consistent is where all the alumni sit. Those old people who never seemed to miss a game since they graduated 20 years ago. The Greek life usually last the longest but in the end they seem to dissipate also.

The hill where all the fraternities and sororities sit usually starts off the year with all of them showing their letters and filling the hill. Though you can see they have tons of school spirit, it tends to die off. After a while it seems that they all stay outside and tailgate or not even show up.

In the years past, the cheerleaders use to rotate and cheer to the student section during a quarter but with lack of participation the cheerleaders don’t go to the other side of the field anymore. This restricts the cheerleaders from also interacting with the band. The band has always been the loudest people in the stands.

With homecoming being this coming week there is hope to have the stands full so the crowd could cheer the team to a victory. The cheerleaders love more than anything to cheer for the students of Washburn University. There also seems to be a correlation to how many people attend the games and if Washburn wins.

Editing Experience

This past week I experienced editing in a whole new light. I was there sitting in a room staring at real stories that were up to be published. I was sitting there asking myself if I was ready to actually edit something that a lot of people could see. After a couple of minutes of editing I felt like I was actually making a difference in these stories. Now I can't say if it was for the best or not.


I made it through two stories. Both were over things I liked. The first one was over TV series that were coming back on and the other was over sports. As I was editing these stories, my eyes started to hurt from staring at the screen. I decided right then that if was ever going to edit some long paper in the future that I would print it off and write on it.

Washburn Review editing experience

I was a little nervous editing for the Review because I felt like as an editing student I really needed to know what I was doing. The student worker that was in there helped me a lot and reassured me in my editing skills.

I edited around 4 stories. I was surprised when editing my first story because there were a lot of AP Style mistakes. The rest of the stories did not have as many and they were all well written. It was hard for me when reading an opinion piece because I kept wanting to make AP Style changes that aren't necessary in opinion pieces.

I feel like I learned a lot and that it was a good experience overall to further my knowledge with AP Style.

Spring course schedule causes panic in mass media department

 It is hard to believe, but it is almost time to enroll for classes for the Spring 2016 semester. The course catalog is now available on the Washburn University website.

While looking at the course catalog online, mass media students intending to graduate in May of 2016 may have a panic attack when they see that the class “Promotion Writing” is going to be offered online in the spring.

This class has not been offered in several years, and the mass media department has allowed students to take another upper division elective to fulfill the writing class requirement. Several students have taken a special topic elective titled “Murder, Media, Mayhem: Crime Reporting” that is taught by adjunct lecturer Timothy  Hrenchir, who currently works for the Topeka Capital Journal.

According to department lecturer, Regina Cassell, students who have taken a substitute for the course during the time it was not being offered will not be required to take the class. The substitute will still satisfy the requirement. This comes as a big sigh of relief for those who are expecting to graduate in either spring or summer 2016.

Be sure to keep a look at your email to ensure you don’t miss advising for the spring. Advanced registration opens Nov. 2. Make sure to check with your adviser to ensure proper a date to enroll, as it is based on class rank. 

(Corrected: Nov 5 DC)