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Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

An illustration of the future Shocker Fly Lab (Courtesy of Wichita State University)

Shocker Fly Lab project gets started with $1 million gift

Megan Bailey, Reporter March 11, 2025

Lynn and Sherry Nichols have given a gift of $1 million to Wichita State University to begin the fundraising campaign for the Shocker Fly Lab. The Shocker Fly Lab is an “enclosed flight space to research,...

Senior Vice President for Administration, Finance and Operations David Miller answers questions about the 2026 $900,000 budget shortfall. Miller was named CFO on March 10.

David Miller named Wichita State’s CFO

Ainsley Smyth, News Editor March 10, 2025

David Miller, Wichita State’s former interim senior vice president for administration, finance and operations, has received the permanent position, WSU announced Monday. Miller has been the interim...

The Walk In Her Shoes event presented by Wichita State's Ambassadors for Diversity and Inclusion offered an interactive experience in learning about the challenges faced by survivors of domestic violence. On display were several pairs of women's heels placed between informational sheets on various resources, such as shelters and health care.

Campus group highlights local domestic violence resources for Women’s History Month

Sophia Best, Reporter March 10, 2025

The Ambassadors for Diversity and Inclusion drew attention to domestic violence awareness for Women’s History Month, which is celebrated during March. ADI hosted an event highlighting local and...

A student walks to the Rhatigan Student Center on Wichita State's campus in November.

Student services and organizations face major cuts following university budget shortfall

Kami Steinle and Mia Hennen March 8, 2025

A previous version of this story had an incorrect date for the Senate meeting, where the student fee budget will be presented. This story has been updated to reflect the real date. Many departments...

Kiora Joseph at the AIAA SciTech conference (courtesy of Joseph)

From COVID-19 to working restrictions, international doctoral student navigates higher education

Mia Hennen, Managing Editor March 8, 2025

When Kiora Joseph began attending Wichita State University in the spring of 2020 for her bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering, she quickly ran into a problem. “Everything was fine at the beginning...

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What we know so far about federal policies surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion — and how Wichita State is handling them

Ainsley Smyth, News Editor March 7, 2025

The presidential administration’s arrival at the White House in January sent waves throughout the country as President Donald Trump signed various executive orders. One of Trump’s targets has been...

Microphones reserved for Student Government Assocation senators sit unused during the Student Senate meeting on April 10.

‘This is their livelihood’: Task force works to build disability protections into WSU

Allison Campbell, Editor-in-Chief March 6, 2025

In Annie Wasinger’s shared office in Rhatigan Student Center room 219, photos of impactful and influential women decorate the walls. Among them is Judy Heumann, the mother of the disability rights movement....

Moe Hatfield talks about why they joined Spectrum. Hatfeild also discussed the organizations change from a "safe space" to a "brave space."

LGBTQ+ organization highlights new goals amidst current political climate

Riley Sipes, Reporter March 6, 2025

Last semester, WSU’s Spectrum: LGBTQ & Allies ushered in a new executive board of mainly freshman and sophomore students. In the spirit of their fresh start, they decided to regroup and take some...

Hashim Syed poses for a photo in Ablah Library.

Blind communications student defines himself by more than just disability

Evan Tong, Reporter March 6, 2025

Emerging from a van outside the Elliott School is a spectacled man. Once out of the van, a white cane, the one that guides him throughout campus, extends from his hand. His name is Hashim Syed, and...

Photo courtesy of Wichita State University.

WSU professor’s app brings graphic novels to the ears of visually impaired

Kass Lewis, Reporter March 6, 2025

A Wichita State professor is developing an app that aids visually impaired people in reading graphic novels. English professor Darren DeFrain has been working on the app, Vizling, for five years. Users...

Senators vote on legislation at Tuesday nights meeting. This was an emergency meeting regarding a $900,000 deficit in student fees to fund services and organizations.

Student Senate allows for extra funding in response to student fees shortfall

Ainsley Smyth, News Editor March 5, 2025

On Monday, Wichita State’s Student Government Student Fees Commission learned of a more than $900,000 shortfall in funding for fiscal year 2026. Tuesday evening, the Student Senate passed a bill allowing...

Grace Outwater and Mark Barlow hold signs during the March 3 protest. Barlow is a former Wichita State Student Government senator.

Campus visit by Sen. Jerry Moran draws anti-Trump protesters

Ainsley Smyth, News Editor March 4, 2025

A group waving homemade signs arrived on Wichita State’s Innovation Campus Monday to protest U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican. Moran was touring the National Institution for Aviation Research...

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