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.

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.

Dole to serve as Grand Marshal

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

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

In 1976, Dole was President Gerald Ford’s vice presidential running mate and 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.

Dole will ride in the first convertible of the homecoming parade with President Jerry Farley and his wife, Susan. The Homecoming Week celebration is Oct. 18 to 25. The weeklong celebration includes traditional events like Yell Like Hell, Top Hat decorating and the Homecoming Parade.

The Grand Tailgate, Bow Tie Bash and Grand Finale are special Homecoming events in celebration of Washburn’s 150^th anniversary. For more homecoming information, click here. 

John Lewis to speak at Washburn's iRead Lecture Series

               Rep. John Lewis will be the speaker at this year’s iRead lecture.  The iRead lecture is Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. in White Concert Hall at Washburn University.  Lewis will discuss his book "March," as well as his current fight to pass the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2015. Tickets for this event are available at Mabee Library and at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library.

                Lewis is a congressman from Georgia.  He is one of the key members of the Civil Rights Movement.  Lewis is also a Medal of Freedom award winner who currently represents the fifth Congressional District of Georgia in the U.S. Congress.  He was a Freedom Rider, spoke at the 1963 March on Washington and led the demonstration that became known as “Bloody Sunday.”

               The First Year Experience program at Washburn University coordinates the Washburn University Experience class that each incoming freshman is required to take.  The faculty and staff at Washburn University want freshmen to be introduced to resources on campus, to advance their information literacy skills and to become more culturally aware.  

              Each year the FYE program chooses a book for students to read that will equip them to become more well-rounded students.  Lewis’ book, “March,” is this year’s iRead book for the Washburn Experience Classes at Washburn University. “March” is a graphic novel written by Lewis, that depicts his 'march' to justice.  He was inspired to start writing this book after his 2008 re-election.  

             More information can be found about the iRead lecture and John Lewis at this webpage.

WU sports enrich campus life (Edited)

At Washburn, there are 10 kinds of free sports on campus.

The Washburn Athletics program is one of the best in the country. There are many factors that make the Washburn Ichabods so relevant.  They obviously have the student athletes who make the teams great. Besides, they have experienced coaches who  lead those athletes.  

The Washburn Athletics became the best is partly because the conference that the Ichabods play in. The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association is considered by many to be the best conference in Division II. You can look at the championships of the various sports in NCAA Division II ,and you will find an MIAA team in contention.

Another reason for Washburn Atheletics's succcess is the coaching staffs of each team. Coach Bob Chipman, the 36 year head  of the men’s basketball team, is the winningest coach in the MIAA and has the 25th most wins in all levels of NCAA basketball. On the other side of the coin, first year head coach Harley Douglas has led his baseball team to one of the best seasons in Ichabod Baseball. New or experienced, Washburn has many coaches who demand respect that the University deserves.

The last and maybe the most important aspect of the Washburn Athletic programs are the athletes. You will see these student athletes next to you in your classes and around campus. Knowing the athletes will add to your enjoyment of going to the games. It is fun to see how the athletes grow from being a freshman on the sideline to a star on the golf course.  

There are so many things to do around campus and around town, making it easy to overlook the convenience of going to the venues. A quick walk across campus with your friends and your Washburn ID can provide an afternoon or evening of fun cheering on your fellow classmates. It’s not too late to check out some of the finest athletes in the game. The baseball and softball teams are still fighting to make a run at the end of the season, also the tennis and golf teams. You won't go wrong with any of these sports. The weather is nice, the teams are good, and the games are free. You are run out of excuses.     

Washburn Sports are among best in the Nation

At Washburn, you don’t have to look too hard to find free sports fun right here on campus. 

The athletics program here is one of the best in the country. There are many factors that make the Washburn Ichabods so relevant.  You obviously have the student-athletes that make the teams great. With great athletes, you have to have coaches that need to lead those athletes.  With the human aspect covered, another element of Washburn Athletics is sometimes overlooked. 

Part of what makes WU athletics the best is the conference that the Ichabods play in. The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association is considered by many to be the best conference in Division II. You can look at the championships of the various sports in NCAA DII and you will find an MIAA team in contention.

Another factor in WU’s success is the coaching staffs of each team. Coach Bob Chipman, 36 year head man of the men’s basketball team, is the winningest coach in the MIAA and the 25th most wins in all levels of NCAA basketball. On the other side of the coin, first year head coach Harley Douglas has led his baseball team to one of the best seasons in Ichabod baseball. New or experienced, Washburn has many coaches that demand respect that the University deserves.

The final and maybe most important aspect of the athletic programs are the athletes. Nobody makes the sports teams what they are like the athletes. You will see these student-athletes next to you in your classes and around campus. Knowing the athletes will add to your enjoyment of going to the games. It is fun to see how the athletes grow from being a freshman on the sideline to a star on the golf course.  

There is so much to do around campus and around town, making it easy to overlook the convenience of going to the venues. Just a quick walk across campus with your friends and your Washburn ID can provide an afternoon or evening of fun cheering on your fellow classmates. It’s not too late to check out some of the finest athletes in the game. The baseball and softball teams are still fighting to make a run at the end of the season, as are the tennis and golf teams. You can’t go wrong with any of these sports. The weather is nice, the teams are good, and the games are free. You are out of excuses.     

Free Chipotle in exchange for an ethics workshop

The Chipotle Ethics workshop offers free Chipotle, while providing an engaging discussion on ethics, morals, leadership every Monday at noon in Mabee Library.

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

The workshop starts a discussion on the tough topics to discuss – including what is right and wrong in regard to being a college student. Dilemmas faced by the student population are different from the problems adults and other non-student young adults face. The idea is that this tough topic will be easier to stomach if it is paired with food therapy. 

The Center is the department 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 use in order to find the most success during their time at Washburn. These opportunities are available to every student, just like the other services offered on campus. 

The workshop, titled “Chipotle Ethics,” is a weekly meeting that entices visitors 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 will be lead by David Carter, Doctorate Professor, and will discuss issues and topics that relate to young leaders at the university level. 

It will provide tools for students that can help them make the most of their time at Washburn, while finishing up as quickly as possible so they can move on to a job or a higher-level degree. 

Chipotle Ethics is only open to 20 students per session, so plan accordingly. It will take place Mondays at noon. Students may view the complete schedule for the Student Success Center online here and the Chipotle Ethics sign-up page online here.

Rainn Wilson speaks for WU Lecture Series [edited]

At 7 p.m. on Sept. 24, 2015, Rainn Wilson, spoke for Washburn's Lecture Series in the White Concert Hall. He is well known for his famous character as Dwight Shrute, from the hit TV series, "The Office". The event was open to students and the public. There was a suggested donation of $5 or five cans for Can Emporia. Wilson spoke about his childhood and the struggles of his life as an aspiring actor.

 The main focus during his speech was on his company, SoulPancake. SoulPancake is a media brand; for example, it produces the YouTube famous, "Kid President" videos. Its purpose is to encourage and inspire. Wilson wanted something people do not always see now, a brand representing hope.

Wilson, discussed how he grew up in Seattle, practicing and learning the religion of Bahai. Wilson's parents would invite random people over to their house to talk about Christ and religion. Wilson was inspired by his high school theatre teacher and moved to New York to act in college. He changed his lifestyle to Bohemian and left his Bahai religion behind him. As he got older he felt empty inside, so he went on a spiritual journey where he read and learned many different religions. Eventually he ended back up at the Bahai religion and is practicing it to this day.

After Wilson's talk, he had a Q&A with a few students that were mainly asking about advice or religion. A book signing followed, Wilson would only sign copies of his books. Wilson's goal is to inspire and give hope, and it showed through his speech tonight.

Kansas hike rate increases residents energy bill [Edit]

On September 24, 2015, the Kansas Corporation Commission approved a $78 million hike rate for Westar Energy, the largest electric company in Kansas. Due to the new hike rate, residents energy bill will rise about $5 to $7 a month per customer starting November 2015. This increase is going to be detrimental to the many struggling low and middle-class citizens throughout Kansas. 

The hike rate will be used for upgrades due to outdated coal power plants near LaCygne. The Kansas Corporation Commission have decided to continue to use these plants for 20 years longer than initially planned. This means they will continue to pollute the environment way past the year 2045.

The residents of Kansas should united to oppose this continued operation of the air-polluting coal power plant, especially since it was supposed to be shut down by 2025, which is still ten years away. Kansas residents should be outraged that this hike rate is justified by the Kansas Corporation Commission on the basis of keeping that power plant in operation. Instead, the increased revenue should be used for increasing use of renewable energy, such as solar power. Some residents may be happier knowing that their increased monthly bill is paying for a good cause, but not something that is outdated and obsolete. For more information, this article can be found here (KENT article here).