Letter to the Editor — Ojeda-Leitner: Never lose sight of your mission
Last year when I was a graduate senator for SGA, I had the opportunity to see a fellow colleague be recognized for her dedication to creating a healthier WSU in her advocacy to make our campus tobacco-free.
As Dr. Jasmine Douglas went up to receive her recognition, SBP Joseph Shepard remarked that there are always people working hard behind the stages of social change.
I like to view my field, community psychology, as working in the background of social change. We are the toolmakers to creating a better society. My field often reminds me of Ella Baker and her belief that strong people don’t need strong leaders. I believe that a community psychologist’s job is to empower strong leaders.
“Tobacco Free, Wu and Me” was created by strong leaders in the Wichita community who are some of the most passionate people I have ever met. Tara Nolan works tirelessly even beyond campus to encourage tobacco cessation within the city of Wichita and has worked with Dr. Douglas and her research team. Dr. Greg Meissen who is a faculty member of the community psychology program also dedicated time towards this policy change. Eric Maki, former Director of Campus Recreation, became a strong stakeholder, as he also believed in the mission of a healthier campus. Lastly, the undergraduate students dedicated hours to research and asking students on campus about their opinion of becoming tobacco-free.
I am proud of my program. We are a group of talented and innovative students.
Like Dr. Jasmine Douglas, we spend late nights writing literature reviews and finding solutions to societal and public health issues.
We started conversations about gender equality and sex positivity by putting on “The Vagina Monologues.” We were involved in research and social action projects to fight against rape culture on our campus. We provide evaluations to nonprofits and the state government with the vision to make Kansan communities healthier.
I love what I do and I count myself lucky. But I get it. Sometimes we forget why we are here: to make the world a better place.
But we must never lose sight of our passions and our mission. I think Dillon Cullinan should probably do the same.
Because if The Sunflower “holds a high standard of journalistic integrity and will always try to provide every side of a story” (which for the most part is true), then perhaps he should have done his research.
Deborah Ojeda-Leitner
ok • Oct 28, 2017 at 1:22 pm
What’s disturbing is the idea of autonomy being negated by those who believe that everyone should think like them. Thus, individualism becomes a social pariah to these blowhards.
Anonymous • Oct 27, 2017 at 3:00 pm
Are you not going to credit Emma Crabtree for her initiative in having a tobacco free campus? She started it about 4 years ago, well before you started grad school at WSU.
Debbie • Oct 30, 2017 at 12:32 am
I honestly was only there to witness Dr. Douglas’ work, like you said, I wasn’t there before. I know there were others who also worked which is why I mentioned undergrads. You could have written a letter to the editor as well. Or be an adult and message me.
Tex • Oct 31, 2017 at 5:12 pm
Maybe you could be a responsible adult and do your research about the history of this movement at Wichita State.
I honestly have only been alive the last 25 or so years, but that doesn’t mean things didn’t happen before I showed up. I don’t get to discredit past events because “I wasn’t there before.”
Alternatively, you could always not write this kind of self-indulgent twaddle.
Light em if you've got em • Oct 26, 2017 at 6:51 pm
Yes, Debbie. Because we need a nanny and you sound like the woman for the job!
Shocker for life-or 4years, 8 months, 2 days... • Oct 26, 2017 at 3:47 pm
Debbie,
Very well said!
While I know we can all improve both individually as well as with the groups we connect with we need not denigrate the effort, hard-work, and intentions of those who each and every day work to improve the WSU campus community. This successful initiative will take time to take root however I do believe in the coming years this will become a part of the few positive aspects of the culture that makes up Wichita State University. Dr. Douglas led this group and was absolutely fantastic, Tara Nolen, Dr. Meissen, and others on the committee were and I believe still are committed to simply helping to foster a healthier campus environment.
I wish you continued luck as you take solace that the programs and initiatives you are leading or supporting will also help to create a campus climate of integrity, respect, care, accountability, inclusion, well-being, and transparency!